Girl Meets Food

While I always enjoy t-shirts like “Powered by Bacon,” “I Smoke Meat,” “You Had Me at Bacon,” and “Save the Earth! It’s the Only Planet with Bacon,” I would have to say my favorite is the one pictured above.

I secretly hope that if enough people wear these, some enterprising scientist will invent a bacon machine, and my dream will come true.

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There’s nothing better than waking up late on a Sunday, being greeted with a fresh cup of coffee, a hearty breakfast, and the first cocktail of the day.

Hook in Georgetown, is known for using local produce, meats, and sustainable fish.

And now they will be known for giving me everything I ever dreamed of.

Hook’s brunch menu had the usual suspects–eggs, pancakes, french toast.  However, I spotted the Lobster Omelet and Bacon Bloody Mary.  Ahoy, sailor!

Large chunks of sweet Maine lobster folded into a rich, creamy sauce, nestled between fluffy, scrambled eggs.  There was enough for two, so Ken Noli ate the rest.  But not before I sampled the crispy, golden home fries, fat-sliced bacon, and ate the garnish—I’m trying to get more veggies in my diet.

Sadly, the Bloody Mary was not made with bacon-infused vodka, as I had secretly hoped.  It was simply a regular Bloody Mary with an albeit artfully-arranged bacon strip on top.  Would it be the same?

I nibbled off a bit before I sipped.  That didn’t work.  I pushed the bacon to the bottom of the glass, stirred, and waited five minutes.  That didn’t work, either.  The flavors refused to mix, but I drank it anyway.  I’m no quitter.

Hook has incredible desserts, like the Caramel Pine Nut Tart, with Gorgonzola Dolce and Rosemary Ice Cream.  But who could indulge after a gargantuan meal like that?  Maybe next time.  Oh, their menu changes daily, so if you want a luxurious lobster breakfast, go this weekend!

Hook
3241 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
202.625.4488

In the suburbs of Annandale, in a dull, nondescript brick building, is a bustling attraction.  Until recently, it was only identified by giant posters of grilled meats, vegetables, and Korean writing.  So if you couldn’t read it, then you could only hope that the saliva-inducing images led you to Honey Pig Gooldaegee.  Literally translated, it means Oink Pig.

That’s cute.  Unless you’re a pig.

As you walk through the entrance, be prepared to be greeted by loud Korean pop music, and the smell of grilling meat.  It’s a flurry of activity–crowded, noisy, bustling with servers wielding tongs and scissors.  Don’t bring your baby here. Trust me.

Sit down as plates of banchan whirl before your eyes.  You can snack on these complementary “small appetizers” as they fire up the grill.  They’re a little different each time; wilted spinach, potato salad, spicy kimchi, dried cuttlefish, seaweed salad, spicy tofu.

I recommend the Spicy Pork Bellies–enormous slices of bacon that look like what Jack’s giant had for breakfast.  Fee-fi-fo-fum! I smell the blood of Sam Gyup Sal!

After your server deftly cooks the meat, she’ll cut it into bite-size pieces to accompany your rice and steamed eggs–a light, airy soufflé garnished with scallions and paprika.  Or take a crisp leaf of lettuce, fill it with meat, rice, spicy sauce, and now you’re eating like the natives do.

Ever try Soju?  It’s a distilled alcohol made from rice.  It tastes and looks like vodka, but lighter and sweeter.  You can either sip it from a shot glass, or add a shot to your beer.  I like Cass or Hite Beer.

Before their write-up in Washingtonian’s Cheap Eats edition, very few non-Koreans knew about Honey Pig Gooldaegee.  Now they’ve got an influx of new customers, and a new sign in English to show the way.

My own non-Korean experience has been that the servers at Honey Pig Gooldaegee are hopeful and polite when they ask me to order.  When they realize I don’t understand them, they look annoyed.  That’s where the boyfriend, Ken Noli, comes in.  He speaks Korean, but he’s Italian.  Boy, do they get confused.

The best thing about Honey Pig Gooldaegee is that it’s open twenty-four hours.  Now I’m “gool-gool-ing” with delight!

Honey Pig Gooldaegee
7220-C Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
703.256.5229

Open 24 hours every day