Must Get: Grilled Apricots at Dino PLUS their 7th Anniversary Specials

All of the foodie types had been buzzing about what Dino was doing with apricots last week so I had to sneak up there after the rain Sunday and try them out. The photo doesn't do it justice. Wrap your brain around this: grilled apricots, wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with mascarpone cheese.

Dino's Grilled Apricots

That was supposed to be the last of them for the season (usually there's only a two week window for locally grown apricots), but Dean just told me that he scored another flat that will be delivered today - so get there fast!

While you're there, congratulate Dean & Kay on the 7th anniversary of Dino and you'll be treated to a free glass of wine. I hear Dean's planning to open his 1999 Cerbaiona Brunello on Wednesday and the 1999 Pertimali on Friday. They've also got an amazing tasting menu celebrating their favorite regions of Italy.

A few pics from my latest dinner at Dino after the jump...

Julian Mayor & I cheersing with our "Dino Anniversary Vino"

Pasta in Salsa: Linguine with onions, garlic, parsley

Risotto al Nero di Sieppi with squid ink & squid

Pork "al Saor" (pork rolls)

Some sort of hazelnut gelato madness

Dino is located at 3435 Connecticut Avenue NW (at Ordway Street) - right across from the Cleveland Park metro stop.

Summer Vegetable Hash with Slow Fried Duck Egg, Crispy Pig & Goat Cheese

You know when you stare at your refrigerator thinking "I know what's in there, but I just don't want to make anything with it." Well, that's when I like to turn to Twitter.  For those of you who don't yet tweet, I follow a ton of people who are really creative and smart, especially when it comes to food. So, when I tweet the ingredients I have on hand, I am always inspired by what I get in return.

Last night, I tweeted the following:

Within 15 minutes, I had 17 new ideas in my inbox. I didn't want to do an omelet (it just seemed to obvious) and since I had passed on an appointment with my trainer Monday night, I didn't want something involving pasta. This @BonnieBenwick and @ChezWu-inspired take is both delicious and Paleo-diet friendly. Recipe after the jump!

Summer Vegetable Hash with Fried Duck Egg, Crispy Pig & Goat Cheese

Summer Vegetable Hash with Fried Duck Egg, Crispy Pig & Goat Cheese 

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 yellow squash (diced)
• 1 zucchini (diced)
• tomatoes (diced or just use grape tomatoes)
• onion (diced)
• 2 small rounds of goat cheese (or crumbled would work as well)
• 2-3 duck eggs (your choice of how many you want to add)
• 1 lime 
• 1 package prosciutto (diced or torn into pieces, could also sub bacon or virtually anything of the pork variety)
• olive oil
• herbs (I used cilantro but you could mix this up to your taste)
• salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions:

1. Crisp the prosciutto in a frying pan, then remove and set aside. Leave any drippings in the pan to cook the vegetables in.

2. Drizzle a little olive oil in the pan, then add onion and cook until nearly translucent on medium heat. Add the remainder of vegetables to the pan, cook 3-5 minutes (I like mine to brown a little), toss and let the other side get some color. Squeeze your lime into the vegetables. Add your herbs and salt and pepper to taste. 

3. Remove the vegetable hash and mound on serving plates.

4. Turn pan to low and slowly crack the egg into the pan. Let cook until the whites are solid and opaque. With a spatula, slowly remove egg and artful lay on top of your hash taking care to not break the egg yolk like I almost did.

5. Top with crispy prosciutto, wedges of goat cheese and herbs... then pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy!

If you want to join Twitter, but need a starter set to know who to follow, here's a list of some of my favorite people who know their way around a kitchen... or kitchen table.

The Legacy of Geraldine Ferraro

This week, back in 1984, Walter Mondale made history selecting Geraldine Ferraro as his vice presidential partner. Twenty-eight years ago this week, I was eleven and I don't recall that having much impact on my life. By then, I was into politics already and I think I had an inkling that while that was neat, they didn't have a shot in hell.

Twenty-eight years later, I work for Kevin Donnellan at AARP who was there for that moment as part of Geraldine Ferraro's team. I've worked for him for nearly seven years and at every step of the way, he's thrown me in the deep end professionally and celebrated my success with more responsibility.  I still remember how in my first few months here, he let me jump in and work on rapid response during the State of the Union. He recognized when I was outgrowing my role in media relations and gave me the opportunity to craft all of the communications strategy for Create The Good. And, when I approached him about starting a social media team, he supported it from day one. He's always had my back. And, I hope I've always had his.

I don't think a lot about the impact Geraldine Ferraro had on him. But, this morning, before work, we were tweeting about the anniversary. I told him I appreciated what he'd done for my career. I think she'd be proud of him. He wrote me back, "It was an incredible night and we all realized that our wives, sisters, mothers could now do anything they wanted."

Much like when I was eleven, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about how the industries I've chosen to work in - politics and technology - are male dominated. Whether it's hard work or dumb luck, I have always gotten to do anything I wanted. I just love what I do and hope I kick ass.  For whatever role Gerry had along the way, I thank her.

A Seasonal Summer Lunch at Graffiato in Penn Quarter

I had a great summer lunch the other day at Graffiato with Beth and Kim. It's a crazy week at work, so I'll present these photos, sans story, to whet your palate. Pop by and try out the Chef Mike Isabella flagship while these are still in season:

Watermelon Lemongrass Housemade Soda

Short Ribs with Citrus and Radish

Sweet Corn Agnolotti

The Papa Smurf Pizza: proscuitto, potato, caramelized onions and speck

Fettuccine with #TrueBlueMD crab, summer squash and zucchini

PS. One of my favorite things about Graffiato is it's use of seasonal ingredients. The menu is always sourced - even down to the farms listed on the chalkboard for patrons to peruse. That's how I learned that the crab in my fettuccine came from J.M. Clayton & Co, which was the crab house I visited in Cambridge, MD. So neat! (If you haven't already, check out my post about Clayton & Co and crabbing on the Choptank River.)

Graffiato is located at 707 6th Street NW in Washington, DC (near the Gallery Place metro stop.)

Ripple's Grilled Cheese Bar

Jen and I made plans to meet at Ripple for happy hour, which was great because I'd been dying to try the grilled cheese bar. The hours aren't so friendly to Washington workaholics because you have to get there before 6:30 (or after 10). But if you do, you'll be rewarded with a ooey gooey crispy set up pre-selected combos or you can get all DIY and make your own.

As with all things Ripple, you must start off with one of Josh's custom cocktails. I asked for gin and refreshing. I got a house infused gin with grapefruit soda combo that was perfect to combat the day's heat.

Gin & Grapefruit Soda

I ordered the Krusty Krab grilled cheese which is made with Cowgirl Creamery Mount Tam cheese, Maryland crab and sugar snap peas. Everything in this gorgeous sandwich comes from nearby!

The Krusty Krab:Mount Tam, Maryland Crab and Sugar Snap Peas

We also tried the Lotsa Mozza which is made with proscuitto, mozzarella and arugula.

Lotsa Mozza

So, make plans to sneak out of work early and try your hand at making the best grilled cheese combo.

Ripple is located in Cleveland Park at 3417 Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC.

Visiting Choptank Sweets Oyster Farm & Eating Oysters "Bubba" Feller

After we left J.M. Clayton Seafood and Captain Billy, our next destination was the Choptank Sweets Oyster Farm. Waiting to greet us and teach us how to grow and harvest oysters were Kevin and Bubba.

I knew I was going to like Bubba when he started by passing around cold beers and shucking oysters that he'd just pulled out of the water.

Welcome to Choptank Sweets

They even supplied sriracha! We decided to up it a level and top our oysters with fresh picked Maryland blue crab. Two words: DO THIS

Heaven is oysters topped with crab and sriracha

Bubba started our lesson by teaching us about the floating oyster beds - that they make - and are constantly working to innovate.

Bubba of Choptank Sweets

There are hundreds and hundreds of these floating oyster beds and each needs to be flipped every two weeks to ensure the oysters get the proper ratio of sunlight and nourishment. That means that Bubba goes in and flips them. All of them. Which didn't sound so terrible on a gorgeous summer day, but consider winter when Bubba dons waders and an ice pick to get the job done.

Oysters growing in their beds

The baby oysters are raised under cover in this boat house. Just those two floats there have hundreds of millions of baby oysters getting bigger every day. When they are large enough, they are moved to the beds.

Baby oysters

Not to give bloggers a bad reputation, but after our early departure from DC and long drive to the Eastern Shore (plus stuffing ourselves with beer, crab and oysters), it was time for a break. I popped my trunk and unloaded a beach chair, towels and a tablecloth so that we could relax and catch some rays supervise the oyster farm.

Bloggers hard at work...

Ok, not all of us were lazing in the sun. Amanda had discovered that Bubba's dad was actually one of her teachers back in school. He'd now retired over to Cambridge and Bubba put him on the phone with her.

Amanda reconnecting with her toes in the sand

With all of the touring and working done, it was time to say goodbye to Kevin and Bubba and go get some lunch. The guys recommended we hit Ocean Odyssey which served both beer and oysters sourced from Choptank Sweets.

Bloggers on the Bay with Kevin & Bubba of Choptank Sweets

 [More after the jump]



Kevin had told us back on the dock that Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, MD was using their oyster shells to brew a special beer. Naturally, on arrival at Ocean Odyssey we had to order a frosty cold Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout:

Flying Dog Brewery's Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout

Blame college in Tallahassee, but I can't pass up a fried pickles so those headed to our table as well. I usually don't like the spears but these were perfecty cooked and still crispy on the outside.

Fried pickles at Ocean Odyssey

Next up, crab tots. Yes, that is what you think it is. 100% Maryland crab in tot form. Had to be done.

Crab Tots at Ocean Odyssey

And finally, Oysters "Bubba" Feller... yes, named after Bubba from Choptank Sweets and made with Choptank Sweets oysters. We died for these. And then Bubba walked in the door and we died a little more. I don't know if it was the day on the water or the oysters but at this point, we all had a bit of a crush on Bubba.

Oysters "Bubba" Feller at Ocean Odyssey

Follow Choptank Oyster Company on Facebook to learn more and look for "Choptank Sweets" on menus. Or, just drive over to Cambridge and order some up at Ocean Odyssey (also on Facebook).

Catching Maryland Blue Crabs on the Choptank River

When I got back from Europe, I was exhausted. But no amount of jet lag was going to keep me from "Bloggers on the Bay."

I'd been plotting an excursion on the water with Steve Vilnit for months. Y'all remember Steve, he's the one that who promotes Maryland seafood to chefs... like, for a living. I can confirm after spending a Saturday on the water with him and a few of my favorite folks that, indeed, it is one of the better ways to earn a buck.

I picked up Jenna, Nikki and Laeticia bright and early in Washington, DC and we aimed my rig towards the quaint Eastern Shore fishing village of Cambridge. Within five minutes of arriving at J.M. Clayton Seafood, we were on a boat in the Choptank River with Captain Billy. The first step was getting friendly with the crabs. We each were forced got to hold a blue crab and learn what the markings mean. This guy that I'm holding is a Jimmy (boy crab), which you can tell by the "T" shape on his abdomen.

Me holding Jimmy

The females ("Sally" or "she crabs") have a triangle on their abdomen and bright, red "nail polish."

Sally and her red nails

Crabbing in the Choptank is old school. Forget those big crab traps you think of when you see Deadliest Catch (they do that out in the Chesapeake Bay.) When you crab in the river, you haul out a line that's about a mile long and tethered to a buoy. About every three feet on the line, Captain Billy ties a small net "clam bag" that acts as bait. The boat approaches the buoy and feeds the line along the side. As each clam bag passes, you can wait with anticipation see any attached crabs approaching. Then you scoop them up in a net and toss them in a bucket. Each crab has to meet certain size standards - about six inches during this part of summer (the requirement is larger later in the season.)

He's a keeper!

Now, I made that seem fairly easy, right. Run the line, scoop the crabs into a net and move on to the next buoy. When my turn came, I got excited as I saw the first crab and moved to get him. I anticipated how he'd drop wrong and lost him. Another one came down the line and I told Captain, "I got this." Yeah, I didn't have that. The third try was a charm and as I dropped him into the bucket, Captain informed me that had now earned twelve cents.

Way to put it into perspective.

Captain Billy

The other thing that is cool about this form of crabbing is that it has zero environmental impact on the watershed. And that means more sweet and delicious Maryland crab for generations to come.

Here's THE ONE I caught.

After we all took a turn, we headed back to J.M. Clayton where we'd learn how those crabs would get from the boat to our table. The crabs are sorted and weighed, then those destined to be lump or backfin are tossed into these giant steamers where they are cooked.

Giant Crab Pots

The cooked crabs then head to the pickers. During the busy season, as many as 80 women are picking crabs. They are paid by both the hour and by the pound. Some of the best can clear up to 60 pounds of crab a day!

Bad ass crab picking women!

This is where the shocker happened. We learned that most restaurants that say they serve Maryland crab are not actually serving you Maryland crab! That's right. Between Philly and Northern Virginia, restaurants import 43 million pounds of crab. Maryland produced about 700,000 pounds. Do the math. (Ok, fine, I'll do the math. That means about 2% of the crab on those menus is actually coming from Maryland.)

For the Clayton clan and Captain Billy, the 80 women picking crabs and for the amount restaurants charge for crab, I think we all deserve to know when Maryland crab on a menu actually means Maryland crab. As Jessica from Washington City Paper called them, "crab fakes" not "crab cakes."

There are two ways you can help:
1) Ask. When you see Maryland crab on the menu. Ask your server to confirm with the chef that it's actually from Maryland. Don't feel like a pain in the butt. Ask. Otherwise, you're getting cheaply-picked Indonesian crab (and paying Maryland-quality prices) that took two weeks to get here and sat on a shipping dock for who knows how long.

2) The State of Maryland has launched a "True Blue" Maryland seafood authentication seal. Chefs who use "True Blue" on their menus must prove once a month, with receipts, that what they are calling Maryland seafood is Maryland seafood. Ask your favorite restaurants to join the program and patronize those that do.

Here's the deal folks... Whether it's wine or cheese or meat... Location matters. That doesn't mean you have to be snobby, it just means things taste different and you may have a preference. In a recent test taste, Maryland blew away the imported crab. And why not? It's fresher because it's local. Also, because it gets chilly up here, Maryland crabs have a little fat (what they call "mustard"). Doesn't everything taste better when it's cooked with a little fat? (See: bacon, duck fat)

Steve showing us the crab picking machine at JM Clayton... they invented it!

The other thing I wasn't really aware of is that you can eat crab off season because J.M. Clayton pasteurizes it. Steve reported that when they did blind taste tests, some of the chefs that did the tour actually liked this product best.

J.M. Clayton's Epicure Crab - look for it at Whole Foods

But the way I like it best? Fresh picked and sprinkled with a bit of Old Bay.

Fresh picked crab on the river it was caught... life is good.

PS. We hope you enjoyed reading about this adventure. We all agreed, it was one of the most inspiring, interesting and delicious things we've done.

Jenna, Laeticia, Nikki and Amanda

 PSS. I've got one more post from this day coming your way... on oyster farming!

me, Nikki and Jenna... clearly working hard...

PSSS. And, I'm working on the next Maryland seafood adventure with Steve... and possibly a snakehead hunt! So follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to get the latest!

PSSSS. Which of my favorite spots are serving True Blue certified Maryland seafood? Woodberry Kitchen, Dino, Equinox, Cantler's, Tony & Joes, Nick's Riverside Grille, Bistro Bis, Gertrude's, Vidalia and area Whole Foods.

UPDATE: The fantastic Ben Fortney has a Foursquare list of all of the Maryland True Blue certified restaurants. Follow it here. 

Weekend in London: Shopping, Spuntino & the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant

When I booked this trip, I didn't know it was the Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years of Queen Elizabeth on the throne. But, it made for a very Union Jack experience... and I've never met a Union Jack I didn't covet.

I started off walking over to Monmouth Coffee at the recommendation of Eric, one of my friends who is espresso-obsessed in Baltimore. It happened to be closed on Sunday, so I decided my next destination was going to be TopShop on Oxford Street, where I was convinced I would find a non-cheesy, subtle Union Jack something to wear to the Jubilee that afternoon. TopShop was totally over the top and I didn't find something I wanted or really needed (what I still needed most was my Hunter boots that I decided against packing.)

On the way back to my hotel, dumb luck took me down Carnaby Street which ended up being my favorite shops of the day.  I still wish I had picked up the Grumpasaurus t-shirt from David & Goliath and the cool punk jewelry at The Great Frog.

Shopping on Carnaby Street in London

I'd been hearing all about friends who had great meals at Spuntino, so I popped in for brunch. They had me at truffled egg toast and a Bloody Mary.

Truffled Egg Toast & a Bloody Mary at Spuntino

Everyone had also been raving about Hummingbird Bakery cupcakes on Portobello Road, but honestly, trendy cupcakes are getting on my last nerve. I passed a Hummingbird outpost near Spuntino though and their Jubilee Union Jack cupcakes sucked me in. I decided I could justify it by getting one to take with me down to the Thames and that my personal tribute to the Queen would be toasting her with a cupcake.

Union Jack cupcakes at Hummingbird Bakery

After that, I booked it back to my hotel to blow dry my shoes and decide where I wanted to attempt to watch the royal barge on the Thames for the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant. I decided that since I hadn't yet seen Parliament or Big Ben or the London Eye yet, I'd head down to the Victoria Embankment. It was perfect - jam packed with partying and even though I couldn't get a spot on the river, they had enormous big screen TVs to watch the royals go by.

Kate, Harry and Wills got lots of cheers

It was neat to be near the spectacle and with such history all around me. But, honestly, what I was most impressed by was the Queen's stamina. She stood for hours and hours and hours. At some point, I had to head back home to dry off and relax before dinner. But, she was still there, in the rain, taking it all in. Sixty years ain't nothing to shake a stick at... as soon as I got home, I downloaded this biography to learn more about her and her ascension to the throne.

Me toasting the Queen as she passed by on my left.

With the River Pageant behind me and a long flight home the next day, I had a great wild rabbit tagliolini at Jamie's Italian with Dominic, enjoyed a walk back through Piccadilly Circus to my hotel and settled in to a deep sleep.

Piccadilly Circus

PS. Clearly, I'm smitten with London, but if you need a Union Jack fix back in Washington, DC, stop by Foundry on U Street. Designer Yvette Freeman is equally obsessed and has a store full of unique Union Jacks for your home.

Weekend in London: Tate Modern, Borough Market & Sweeney Todd

The work trip officially ended about 3pm, Friday in Zeist and I switched into vacation mode as I boarded the plane to London for the weekend. I checked into the W Hotel in Leicester Square (but equally as close to Piccadilly Circus) and as luck would have it, my friend Koren who lives in Seattle was in town. We met up for dinner at The Punch Bowl which was the perfect entry to a Diamond Jubilee weekend. No, it didn't involved the Queen. But, it does involve Guy Ritchie (he owns the joint), Winston Churchill (in a portrait over the fireplace) and the second oldest pub in Mayfair.

Photo: coolheadhunter. blogspot.com

The next morning, I woke up and I know this will shock you, but I had planned something. I had tickets to see Damien Hirst's exhibit at the Tate Modern museum. I expected freaky animals submerged in formaldehyde, skulls encased in crystals and exhibits involving prescription drugs and cigarettes. What I didn't expect was a well made latte (proceeds benefiting the Tate) and this gorgeous view of downtown London:

View from the 4th floor espresso bar at the Tate Modern. (Photo: Tammy Gordon)

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do next but I had markets on my mind. No less than three people that I trust told me I'd love Borough Market more than Portobello Market, so I decided to check it out. Between Tate and Borough, I passed the Millenium Bridge (cool pedestrian bridge across Thames River) and Shakespeare's Globe Theater.

I loved it so much, I have to do another post focusing just on Borough Market, but the food, the drinks, the ingredients, the shopping, the vendors, the people... I wanted to move in.

Borough Market with Southwark Cathedral in the background and Monmouth Coffee on the left. (Photo: Tammy Gordon)

I had heard about Roast, but I was curious about other vendors with lines queued up, like Hobbs Meat Roast, which featured pulled pork sandwiches with slaw.

Pulled Pork Sandwich from Hobbs at Borough Market (Photo: Tammy Gordon)

I balanced that with a fresh squeezed watermelon juice, but there were so many things I wanted to taste, I had to settle for photographs and get the heck out of there. I walked through the courtyard of Southwark Cathedral where those in the know relax with their market picnics. From there I crossed London Bridge and hopped the tube to see how Portobello Market compared. It was kind of like Dupont Circle Farmers Market vs. Eastern Market. One's good for food and one's good for gifts and home goods. I'm a foodie girl, so Borough Market's my choice any day.

After all of that walking around in drizzling London, I was ready to head back to the hotel and blow dry my shoes some more. This is something I would repeat often over the weekend.

I had a lot of dinner targets, but I was still full from snacking at Borough Market so I opted for last minute theater tickets. I mean, when in London, you have to see Sweeney Todd, right? Less than an hour before the show, I popped by the Adelphi Theater and snagged second row, center tickets, a glass of champagne and a pistachio macaron from Paul Bakery across the street.

Sweeney Todd (Photo: london-theatreland.co.uk)

After the engrossingly gory show, the cast came out for their usual encore and applause but stayed and sang "God Save the Queen," my first hint of the patriotic fervor to come for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration. The Australian couple next to met told a nearby Scottish gal that they used to do that after every show in the United Kingdom. It was a neat throwback to days of old and one that made me excited about the next day's River Pageant down the Thames River.

What to Do With a Couple Hours in Amsterdam in the Rain...

So, I do this thing when I find myself in unknown territory. I boldly act like I totally know what I am doing even though it is very clear that I do not. This is how I found myself at the Amsterdam Central Train Station, launching off on a quest to find dinner and see canals wearing a falling-apart pair of Tom's ballet flats and no umbrella during a rain storm in a foreign country where I do not speak one word of the language (luckily they speak mine.) I did have a lightweight hot pink Patagonia rain jacket that I procured because I looked at weather.com before I came to Europe in Austin when I arrived unprepared for four days of rain during SXSW Interactive.

Cute Canal Overload!

Instead of heading off in the general direction of a restaurant to assuage my growling stomach, I got distracted my adorable canals. I found myself winding down roads lined with shops of all kinds, yet somehow none carried wellies which was the thing I would need most over the next three days. So, me, in my sopping wet shoes, carrying a sopping wet map that I can't really read, but wearing an awesome rain jacket barrel through town, dodging almost getting hit by bicyclists left and right.

There's this other thing I do... I make the perfect the enemy of the good when it comes to food. And, I get hangry. So, I'm passing by these recommended places and they just don't have the vibe I'm looking for... not that I know what that is... but, I fired up Foursquare to see if I could get any local "popular" check in places. On the way to one of those, I found Cafe Wester and stopped in my sopping wet tracks at one word: albondigas. In addition, discuss this trifecta: Friendly, good-looking bartender + free wifi + a French bulldog named Lola wandering around... 

Lola at Cafe Wester

I ordered up the albondigas. They were sold out, but the bartender recommended the Indian sweet & spicy version and they were fantastic. 

Meatballs from Cafe Wester

When in Amsterdam... Heineken at Cafe Wester

With a warm, fully belly I set back towards what I thought was the direction of the train station. I think it might have been, but I was walking down one side street and thought, hey, there's a lady in the window... OH. MY. THERE. IS. A. IS. THIS? OMG. THERE. ARE. ACTUALLY. RED. LIGHTS.

Holy crap! Red lights! Red lights! Walk faster!

I'm a wuss and I booked it out of there, asked some kind stranger to help me buy my train ticket back to the hotel since I couldn't read a word on the ticket machine and slept like a rock.

[More after the jump]

PS. For those of you who don't believe that I was actually working, meet my new friends who I had a great discussion about social media and the 50+ population in the Netherlands...

The Digital Communications Team at PGGM

PSS. I'd always heard people bike a lot in the Netherlands but it was wild! This was the parking lot at the train station... not for cars... for bikes:

PSSS. I can't wait to return, bring appropriate footwear and Ike, ensconce myself in a houseboat, and yes, see the Anne Frank house which I couldn't handle in just a couple hours. 

Hiking to Prague Castle and Everything Along the Way

The next day, I was more confident in myself. Mind you, I still didn't know a word of Czech, but I had some korunas in my pocket, and I had a speech to give (and even knew how to take the train from my hotel to the Prague Congress Centre.) The conference had terrible wifi (I swear that's the last time I complain about connectivity in the United States) and so my Prezi fizzled and I had to default to the dreaded PowerPoint. Tech dramas aside, it went well and I was done with work by around 2pm. Now, what to do with the day?

The day before, I had seen Prague Castle up Petrin hill in the distance and thought it was pretty. But, I had to meet colleagues that evening for an event, so I figured there was no way I'd make it to the top. But I figured I could fit in a stroll across the Charles Bridge so, I dropped my laptop at the hotel and set off on a gorgeous, sunny spring day:

Me, basking in a sunny day on the Charles Bridge.

I wasn't the only one with the idea, so the Charles Bridge was packed with tourists and locals, musicians, artists and jewelry makers. The bridge has a long history in Prague. It was started in 1357 by King Charles IVand until 1841 was the only means of crossing the Vltava River. I loved the towers on either side and the statues that lined the bridge.

Walking across the Charles Bridge

Once you cross the bridge, you are delivered into Mala Strana, the marketplace and village around Prague Castle. The winding stairs that lead to the top make the Exorcist Stairs look like a stroll in the park.

Heading up to Prague Castle...

I was fascinated with the intricate doors.

Prague Castle stands as the largest coherent castle complex in the world. Since I was speedwalking through the experience, I didn't have time to explore the castle and cathedrals, but it is still the Office of the President of the Czech Republic and is open for tours.

St. Vitas Cathedral at Prague Castle

At the top, you can see for miles and really take in Old Town Prague across the river:

The stickers on this mirror reminded me of Cape Patton Lookout in Australia

I'd love to while away the day at the St. Wenceslas Winery where people were picnicking and sampling the local wines.

St. Wenceslas Winery at Prague Castle

Alas, I had to head back down and get back to meet my colleagues, but along the winding stairs, I encountered more musicians...

 ... and more places recommended by friends, like Vinograf, a wine bar in the shadows of the Castle.

Vinograf Wine Bar

My iPhone died shortly after this, but Prague kept going. I met colleagues and we got to see Bohemian dancers perform at the Prague National Theater. For dinner, we scored a patio table at CottoCrudo overlooking the Prague Castle and settled in for an Italian feast. I know, I know, I didn't immerse in the local... I didn't have cabbage or meat or dumplings or absinthe & Sprite... or get drunk on local beers and wine... but it was one hell of a first impression, Prague, and I'll be back one day.

[NOTE: If you missed day one in Prague, catch up here.]

Arriving in Prague Armed with Nothing But a List of Restaurants

I don't know why I thought Prague would be self-explanatory. I mean, I had booked the flight, the hotel and even made a Google map of all of the restaurant suggestions people sent me. After all, I was only going to be there for 48 hours and much of it would be at a conference.

Me, blissfully surprised by what was around every corner in Prague...

So, that's how I found myself getting off the plane not knowing one word of Czech nor the currency nor the "deal" about taxis. But I spoke the international language of airport Starbucks and "free wifi" so a quick trip to Google and I was heading into the city.

I checked into my hotel, badged up for the conference and decided to take a walk. Again, I didn't so much as Google search "Prague sights" so I decided to take my restaurant map, walk to each one and scout menus for what I wanted for dinner. Along the way, here's what I found (and yes I had to Google what each was when I returned to my hotel)... 

First up, I had been wondering why everyone gushes about Prague, popped off the train at this stop, not really knowing what would be there and saw the Prague National Museum:

Prague National Museum

The museum spilled out an avenue lined with flowers, cafes and shops, like this cute one in the center lane made from an old trolley car:

In the shadow of the museum...

I turned a corner and saw a small gaggle of people gawking at this gorgeous medieval clock. I snapped a few photos and later learned that it's the famous Prague Astronomical Clock, first installed in 1410 and the oldest clock that is still working.

The Astronomical Clock

Across from the clock, I gaped at the Old Town Square which was hopping with musicians, tourists and people just sipping and shopping at the nearby markets. It seriously felt like you had stepped back in time with the mix of buildings over the centuries, the stone streets and winding alleys. The dramatic Gothic spires in the photo below are the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn:

Musicians in Old Town Square, Prague

More musicians in Old Town Square

[More after the jump...]

I was inspired and awed by all that surrounded me and suddenly I wanted to learn more. So off I went with my restaurant map to find a spot that had wifi. Laeticia, who never steers me wrong had recommended Bar & Books which ended up being the perfect spot to settle in with my map, my iPhone and a gin n tonic. True to legend, it was Bond to the max, serving up solid cocktails, showing Goldfinger on the television and even playing Bond-vibe music in the early evening.

Bar & Books in Prague

I looked up menus from a few of the recommendations people had given me and settled on Mlynec because the chef is known for using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Sold. Oh, and it was by this thing called the Charles Bridge (one of the coolest views in town) that everyone kept talking about.

Along the way, I found a farmers market, walked the Charles Bridge and passed tons of places I would love to come back and visit one day. I entered Mlynec conscious that I was flying solo and a tourist, so I told the hostess, "Hi, it's just me, I can eat at the bar." (once a server, always a server) and she replied, "Oh, it's sunset, we've got a table for you on the patio." Did I mention the sun was starting to set over the Vltava River, with a view of the Charles Bridge, and Prague Castle in the distance. I'm not usually that caught up in the scenery, but it was an amazing moment where I just sat back and said to myself, "Life is good."

Then I ordered the tasting menu which had some of the most creative uses of asparagus I've ever seen (who knew I would love asparagus ice cream!) 

Asparagus Salad, Mlynec Restaurant in Prague

View from my table...

Are you exhausted yet? And, you didn't even fly here *and* fit in work. On the way home from dinner, I passed a singer who had a large crowd listening. He was singing in English and I legitimately loved his voice and lyrics, so naturally I looked him up - meet Kev Fox and give him a listen. 

Kev Fox performing on a Prague street

I was exhausted and had to speak at a conference the next day. I went to bed full, happy and wanting more of Prague. Luckily, I had one more day left. 

READ PART 2 of my Prague visit

Drinks and Dinner in London: The Gilbert Scott & The Draper Arms

I promised myself that unlike my Paris and Australia trips, I would actually blog the experience of going to London, Prague and Amsterdam for the first time. But, real time was too much for my jet lag combined with working full days combined with crap for wifi, so here goes (a week later...):

I landed at Heathrow about six in the morning, checked into my hotel and went straight to work. I had great meetings with our UK colleagues and learned a lot about how they are learning and leveraging social media. But after a full day of being "on" straight from the plane, I was ready for a drink, a bite and a bit of London. Through the mutual friends, I had met Marshall (a Richmond, VA transplant) who graciously agreed to show me a few of his favorite spots. First up, The Gilbert Scott which was perfect because I could walk there, it's housed in the GORGEOUS St. Pancras International Station, and they immediately served me up a gin and tonic with my own personal mini-tonic! (I guess this is a British thing. Whatever it is, it was the beginning of me falling in love with London.)

Gin n Tonics at The Gilbert Scott

Then, to make things better, my friend Farrah happened to be in town - and nearby! So she came over and met Marshall and I for drinks. At this point, I've been up and talking for so many hours, I have no idea what is reality and London is starting to feel like home.

Drinks at The Gilbert Scott

Marshall gave me a tour of St. Pancras Station which has breathtaking architecture inside and out. If you are visiting London, wandering around the train station is worth your time - in addition to being a beautiful building and the launch point for trains to Paris, there are also great restaurants and shopping.

St. Pancras International Station, London

But, my tour guide was determine that I got a bit of a neighborhood feel as well, so we hopped over to Islington for dinner at The Draper Arms.

The vibe at The Draper Arms

I ordered something super-British and not super-me: a sort of open face sandwich with a swipe of horseradish cream, some sort of rib and greens.

Dinner at The Draper Arms

After that hearty meal, being awake for far too many hours, and facing a 7 a.m. flight to Prague in the morning, I hopped a cab to Paddington Station and trained back to the hotel.

Flowers on the hearth of The Draper Arms

Stay tuned for 48 hours in Prague... coming up... maybe after the French Open and brunch...

What Should I Do In A Weekend in London?

The upside of an overseas business trip that involves five flights in seven days is that I get to spend the weekend in London... and they are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. I fear that I might have to buy a suitcase to bring back an egregious amount of things with the Union Jack on them.

The most common response when I tell people I'm visiting London for the first time is, "It's been nice knowing you. You're going to want to stay there forever."

View London in a larger map 

I'm stoked that my friend Koren will also be there for work so we're meeting up for dinner at Rasoi. I clearly need to hit as many markets as humanly possible. What else should I do? Check out what I already have on my London Google Map and share your tips!

Two Days in Prague: Where Should I Go?

I'm headed overseas next week for work. Don't hate. Help.

I'll be speaking on social media at the IFA Global Conference on Ageing in Prague. I'm really only there for two and a half days. I've been asking friends where I should stay, what I should eat and how to best get around the city - and because I'm a giant nerd, I've turned it into a Prague Google Map. Check it out and if you've got tips, let me know in the comments below or tweet me and I'll add them in!

View Prague in a larger map

Vintage Furniture & Fun in Lucketts, VA

Before noon today, I'd never heard of Lucketts. Now, I'm planning to rent a truck for my next visit to this vintage and antique home goods and furniture Mecca. (Hat tip to Rivka who told Alejandra who told me...)

This weekend was their annual Lucketts Annual Spring Market. Their website says "seriously, bring a trailer" and they aren't kidding. I saw the perfect dining room table for my condo at half the price - plus a vintage chest of drawers that I want to repurpose into a bathroom vanity. I had to leave them there because I had no way to get them home. Related: Anyone have a pick up I can borrow?

I want it all!

I mean, how can you not love a place with vintage mini trailers, Union Jack storage, antlers and laughing Buddhas all in one place?

Love. Love.

I love you too, Lucketts... and your disco ball.

I bought this nightstand and weathered mirror for a combined $100. I'm in love with them both! But, after tweeting about them, my friends reminded me I should also have brought home the Champagne and the antlers. Next time!

Bought these from Uniquely Yours... Or Mine.

The Old Lucketts Store is located at 42350 Lucketts Road near Leesburg, VA. Follow them on Facebook to get information on events - and don't forget to reserve your truck or trailer for next year's Spring Market.

Roof With a View: 1905 Restaurant

Let's be real. I come to 1905 for the food, not the view. Nevertheless, it was exciting to see that the roofdeck has been completed and was open for business tonight! I've been sneaking up to check on the progress for months, so it was so nice to have a little "friends and family" drink up there and finally get to share the fantastic sunset views of the Washington Monument along with the row houses up 9th Street NW.

Photos from 1905 Roofdeck

It's open to the public starting Wednesday, May 16th (thought be patient as they are still getting everything up and running on a new level... consider it a friend's clubhouse at this point...)  When you go, pop by the bar to say hi to Joel and make sure to try the lamb sandwich - it's my favorite thing on the menu.

Lamb Sandwich at 1905 Restaurant

1905 is located at 1905 9th Street NW in Washington, DC. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.

Taking a Spin in the Google Self Driving Car

This morning, my friend who works at Google emailed me, "Hey, do you want to take a ride in the Google self-driving car today?" Um. Yessssssssssssssssss.

me and the google car guys...

It was pretty bad ass. We took a hands-free spin around the block and it deftly dodged city buses and over eager pedestrians. And, being DC we were spotted by one of the nation's leading urban transportation experts who was excited and whipped out his phone to photo op us at a stop light!

The driver has an override if they want to take over at any moment. The computer on the right shows the visualization of the street. Cool stuff.

This was my view from the backseat.

Have you spotted it on the street? Do you think auto-driving cars would be safer than human-driven cars? This one definitely stopped if someone inched so much as a toe into the cross walk.

A Five Step Guide to Getting a Girl's Number on Metro

I just witnessed a miracle. In just five stops on the red line at rush hour, the guy sitting next to me on the Metro scored a girl's phone number. It was like Patti Stanger was all Cyrano de Bergerac in his ear.

He played ever single step perfectly. And before you go there, no, he wasn't smoking hot (he wasn't bad looking at all, but he looked like thousands of other Washington guys... balding, glasses, briefcase)... and she was really pretty. One thing was clear. He knew what he was after and he had confidence. Here's how it played out:

Step 1: Fate Intervenes at Gallery Place:
Guy is already seated. Girl sits in the adjacent seat and is reading. She looks up briefly and he says, "I think I sat next to you yesterday." She did what I would've done. Polite acknowledgment and back to the reading material.

Step 2: Paying Attention Pays Off at Metro Center:
Guy: "You get off at Cleveland Park, right?" Girl: "Um, Woodley." I could feel her internal skepticism shifting... maybe he really *did* sit next to me yesterday and that wasn't just a line.

Step 3: Reassurance You Aren't a Stalker at Farragut West:
Guy: "Small world. Have you ever been to Zoo Bar?" Girl: "No... I know where that is though." Guy: "Are you new to town?" Girl: "Yes, I've been here about six months though. I really like the neighborhood." Here, he shifted attention away from the "pick up" and into something they had in common - a spot they both know about in her neighborhood.

Step 4: Setting Up the Close at Dupont Circle:
Guy: "Zoo Bar's fun. It's a good dive. They have jazz certain nights. I have some friends that go." Girl: "Oh, cool. I'll have to try it sometime." Again, a minor shift away from the pick up. It's not that he's saying oh, let's go to Zoo Bar... more, I like it and since you're new, maybe you will too. I can tell at this point that she's interested. No more looking back down at the reading material.

Step 5: Closing the Deal at Woodley Park:
Girl gets her belongings together to exit. Guy: "Well, nice meeting you. Maybe I'll see you on the Metro again sometime." Girl "Yeah, same commute times..." Guy: "Or if you'd ever want to hang out, let me know." Girl: "Oh yeah." Guy: "Do you have a card?" Girl digs in her purse and hands him a card. Guy: "Great, talk to you later."

Done and done. It was so perfectly executed that I clearly started paying attention. Hyper-attention. As in, this is gonna make a great blog post attention.

I will stress - he seemed nice, chill, fun and genuine. If you are weird. stalker-y or douchey, this likely won't work for you.

He *better* call her.

PS. Have you ever met anyone on public transportation? What was the hook?

To Do List: Get Tickets to 100 Bowls of Compassion

You guys have read my posts about volunteering at Miriam's Kitchen (here, here and here). I love the mission - using healthy food as a way to help people who don't have a home. I love the people - Jenn, Chef John, Chris, Ali, Meghan and team are so nice and fun to work with. I love learning new cooking tips from the chefs. And, yes, I love the convenience - it works well around my crazy schedule.

This Thursday, May 10th, Washingtonian's will converge on the (amazingly cool) National Building Museum for their annual fundraiser, 100 Bowls of Compassion.

This year, the team will take you on a road trip around America. Here are a sample of what's on the menu:

• Massachusetts –Baked Beans, Brown Bread, Boston Cream Pie
• Rhode Island - Fried Clam Cakes
• New York – Little Italy Gelato
• New Jersey - Cuckoo Juice with Garden State Produce
• Pennsylvania - Philly (bison) Steak & Cheese, Keswick Creamery Cheese Course
• Virginia - Ham Biscuits with Honey Butter
• South Carolina - Shrimp & Grits
• Georgia - Peanut Soup with Peppery Brittle
• Louisiana – Pecan Pie
• Illinois - Chicago Spiced Popcorn
• Texas - Rattlesnake and Rabbit Chili
• New Mexico – Poblano Pepper Salsa and House Made Chips
• California - Specialties from San Francisco’s Chinatown including Lotus Root Salad, Dan Dan Jicama, BBQ Pork, and Spicy Eggplant; Rocky Road Bars
• Washington - Seared Salmon with Coffee BBQ Glaze and Juniper Berries

Get your tickets today and join me in celebrating the important work of the entire Miriam's Kitchen team.

[UPDATE: The event is now sold out! Get involved with Miriam's Kitchen by emailing Ashley.]

PS. If you're on Twitter, the hashtag for the event is #100bowls