Girl Meets Food

There is a God.

I know this because crawfish exist.  And there is no better, more beautiful, tastier creature put on this earth than crawfish.

I’ve eaten crawfish here, here, and here.  I’ll eat crawfish in the morning, I’ll eat crawfish at night.  Crawfish, crawfish, crawfish.

On Saturday, May 29th, you will find me happily sucking on crawfish heads and smacking my lips at the 2010 DC Louisiana Alumni Chapters Annual Crawfish Boil.

I’m arriving early and leaving when they kick me out for eating crawfish off other people’s plates.

*****

Saturday, May 29, 2010
12:00-5:00 pm
Fort Hunt Park—Area A—Alexandria, Virginia
Rain or shine

Largest Crawfish Boil in D.C.
15,000 lbs of all-you-can-eat hot Louisiana crawfish
Spicy sausage, jambalaya, corn & potatoes, and ice cream
Fifty kegs of beer*, Coca Cola, and water

Live Louisiana Music
featuring Louisiana Jazz & Zydeco music

1,500 Tickets Available
Tickets are $45 per person for Alumni Members / $55 for Non-Alumni Members
Purchase tickets here.

Parking and Free Shuttle Service
The entire park and all parking lots are reserved for the event
All parking lots (except for Area E) at Fort Hunt are open for event, but please carpool
Free non-stop private shuttle service day of the Boil from Huntington Metro (Yellow line) parking garage
First pick up time will be 11:30 am at Huntington; last departure time from the boil will be 4:30 pm

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Anyone who doesn’t love Southern cooking is a Yank.

I guess that means I’m a carpetbagger.

Hell, I wish I had a big carpetbag for B. Smith’s mini biscuits and corn muffins.  I’d stuff them in the side pockets while making room for my dinner leftovers.

My friend Black Angus and I started with crispy fried green tomatoes, drizzled with a tangy red pepper sauce and dotted with soft, creamy goat cheese. The batter was a thick, crunchy cornmeal.  I especially loved the smoothness of the warm goat cheese.

The black-eyed pea soup is truly what you call comfort food.  This is what I want if I fall ill with the swine flu.  I hope B. Smith’s delivers.  Hearty peas, carrots, onions in a tasty chicken broth.

I ordered their signature dish just because it’s called The Swamp Thang.  Well, it’s the most beautiful thing to come out of the swamp since Dick Durock.  Alas, I was to be disappointed.  While the stew of shrimp, scallops, crawfish, onions and collard greens were the peak of freshness, the Dijon cream sauce was bland, perhaps lacking enough Dijon to give it some pizazz.

Now the real star of the evening was Angus’ Shrimp and Grits.  Slices of Andouille sausage sat atop creamy, yet firm grits flavored with shallots, garlic, and get this—clam jus.  What a unique idea.  I think it’s delicious!

And what’s a southern meal without some sweet potato pie?  A dollop of crème fresh, sprinkled with nuts, this warm, soft creamy pie reminds me of what I like most about the South.  Sugar and butter.

B. Smith
Reserve now
50 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001

Open Sunday – Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Photo: Acadiana

I smell gumbo.

What is it about writing while hungry that makes my dining memories all the more vivid?

If you’ve never experienced Louisiana cooking, go to Acadiana right now.  Right now.

My memories of visiting New Orleans are all food-based; beignets at Cafe du Monde, po-boys at Mother’s, Sunday brunch at Commander’s Palace.  There was so much to eat, and I was happy to oblige.  I have a vague memory of seeing an albino alligator somewhere, but honestly, I just remember the fried alligator at Franky & Johnny’s.  Tastes like chicken, by the way.

Acadiana’s got the flavor down pat.  Addictive biscuits with cream cheese and jelly.  Tasty crabmeat ravigote deviled eggs.  (I wish they gave you more than one.)  Surprisingly tasty turtle soup.  I’m not sure what turtles taste like, but at Acadiana they taste like a thick tomato-based broth with sherry.

And everyone loves crabcakes, right?  Seeing as that we actually lack good crabcakes in DC, you will be thrilled.  Here, although small, the crabcakes are all crab, all flavor, all Lousiana-style with butter and bacon.

If it’s comfort food you seek, there’s nothing more satisying than the seafood gumbo.  It’s like a big hug from your Mammy.  Crabmeat, crawfish, oysters, clams, rice in a thick, brown stew.  That’s what I want when it’s cold outside.  Take me to Acadiana when the first snowflake falls!

What southern meal is complete without pecan pie?  I don’t really like pecans by themselves but I’m nuts over the pecan pie.  Crunchy pieces of pecans held together with warm, gooey caramel.  Topped with ice cream!  Yay!

Acadiana
Reserve now
901 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001