Zaytinya Mezze Restaurant - Washington, D.C.

Zaytinya Eastern Mediterranean restaurant by Spanish chef José Andrés. His Minibar restaurant, with a fixed menu priced at $225 per person, is one of the toughest reservations to have in DC. We decided to pick between Zaytinya and Jaleo Tapas for lunch.

Puffed flatbreads served with some olive oil and pomegranate syrup

Grape leaves dolmades - grape leaves with rice, tomato, fennel, pine nuts, golden raisins, served with labneh  (strained yogurt)

Baba Ghanouge - fire-roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon, garlic

Santorini Fava and Squash soup - purée of yellow split pea and butternut squash, sultans, marinated mushrooms

Garides Me Anitho - sautéed shrimps, dill, shallots, mustard, lemon juice

Spanakopita - House-made phyllo, spinach, feta cheese

Turkish Delight - walnut ice cream, yogurt mousse, honey geleé, orange-caramel sauce, caramelized pine nuts

The check

What a lovely lunch!

Zaytinya
http://www.zaytinya.com/

Ben's Chili Bowl - Washington, D.C.

We decided to have breakfast at the famous Ben's Chili Bowl located on U Street.

It was too early to try the famous chili. We shared a "Salmon cake breakfast" which included 2 salmon cakes, home fries, scrambled eggs and a pancake. The waitress was nice and divided up the meal into 4 plates for us.

Ben's Chili Bowl
Washington, D.C.
http://benschilibowl.com/

Tortilla Cafe - Washington, D.C.

Tortilla Cafe proposes cuisine from El Salvador and Mexico.

Pupusa (handmade corn tortilla filled with cheese) served with some cabbage salad

 

Beef fajitas with refried beans and plantains. All fajita dishes are served with salsa, guacomole, sour cream, and flour tortillas.

 
Shrimp fajitas with black beans and yucca.

Tortilla Cafe
Washington, D.C.
http://www.tortillacafe.com/

36 hours in Washington D.C.

We spent 36 hours in DC. Foodie highlights include trying Salvadoran pupusa at Tortilla Cafe, breakfast at the famous Ben's Chili Bowl and a Mediterranean mezze lunch at Zaytinya.


Snapshots from Washington D.C.

Library of Congress - Jefferson building

Library of Congress - Main Reading Room

National Air and Space Museum

Apollo 11  and replica of Sputnik I

The 1903 Wright Flyer

Good evening, Mr. President!

U.S. Capitol - dome of rotunda.

Newseum - Berlin Wall

Newseum - 9/11 Gallery

Lincoln Memorial

The Mall - Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol building

The Mall - reflecting pool

View from our hotel room at Donovan House - Thomas Circle