Recent Eating Excursions

If you're curious about where I've been eating lately, there's a lovely little section of this blog devoted to just that, which I update every couple weeks. I mention mostly highlights, occasionally lowlights, and notable dishes I think you should try. Here are some of the most recent entries:

• Sou'Wester
The new spot in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel has fun cocktails (like the Root Beer Float, made with Jack Daniels) and Southern dishes, like a lovely poached egg with grits and sweetbreads, and chicken and dumplings.

• Bibiana
A long lunch there recently revealed delights that weren't apparent on my first visit — lovely figs stuffed with ricotta, gnocchi tossed with Brussels sprouts, black spaghetti with blue crab, a marvelous chocolate bombe for dessert...

• Oval Room
The lobster cooked in butter with jalapeno and Thai basil and served with coconut ginger rice with yellow curry? Delicious.

• Masa 14
This new 14th Street hotspot is the combined effort of Kaz Okochi (Kaz Sushi Bistro) and Richard Sandoval (Zengo), and the menu reflects their Latin and Asian influences in small plates. I found it to be hit or miss — I loved the grilled baby octopus with pickled vegetables and the vegetarian hand roll made with sweet tofu. The tuna ceviche had a nice sweetness from an addition of pineapple. But I wasn't wowed by the Kobe beef and pork meatballs, or the seaweed-jicama salad, or any of the desserts. It's still relatively new, so I'll give it a re-visit later.

Bibiana's black spaghetti with crab is a recent dish I've been eating. (Photo credit: Greg Powers)