664496 Tue Nov 03 15:57:27 -0800 2009 16 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 5153409 I went on a food tour in Chicago this weekend. The tour guide took us to six different restaurants (a hot dog restaurant, a hot chocolate place, a gourmet grocery store that served pasta and similar dishes, a pizza place, a falafel place, and an ice cream place). Some of the places were historic, some were interesting and innovative, and all of them were great but inexpensive. At each, we had a small amount of food (a single hot dog or slice of pizza, for example) before moving on. Does DC have anything similar? I have some friends coming into town next month and would like to put something together for them if it doesn't already exist. What places would you guys recommend for something like that? We don't mind walking, but won't have access to a car, and won't want to leave the District. We'll have a whole weekend, so we can do two separate legs if that makes the most sense. Thanks! Tue Nov 03 15:57:27 -0800 2009 1098678 Garlic Guy 1 5153467 I don't know about the rest, but I'd start with breakfast and the blue bucks (blueberry buckwheat pancakes) at Eastern Market Tue Nov 03 16:12:36 -0800 2009 5153409 50613 weezycom 1 5153554 Well you should leave the district for Ray's Hell Burger, but it's not far at all. Manhattan to Harlem - and less. The general: Go by Ben's Chili Bowl and take a pic in front of it, then go to Oohs and Aahs for a bit. Ethiopian is a highlight of DC, though personally I'm not overly knowledgable on it. Vietnamese or Central/South American, but that usually gets into out-of-District options. I'd hit Johnny's on the Half Shell for their wood-fired wings and some sort of seafood small plate. Jaleo. Tune Inn for drinks. The wharf for mediocre but decent enough fried clams or something. Something (but not the crabcake anymore) at CF Folks (lunch on weekdays only). Brickskeller just for a few beers. Peruvian Chicken (again might be a foray into Arlington or Wheaton). Tue Nov 03 16:51:16 -0800 2009 5153409 11368 Dennis S 1 5154465 I'm pretty sure that Washington Walks -- a local walking tour company -- does a food tour like this (if not them, then it's a different company; I know they offer it for WalkingTownDC). I haven't been on it, but I've been on other of their tours that have been great. I suspect the tour guide is not a big chowhound, but it would be worth checking out, as they know how how to do good tours, at least. I know winter is downtime for the tour guide business, so you might need to schedule a personal tour, instead of joining one that's already scheduled. [I'm having trouble with their website (getting a malware warning, which doesn't make sense, but I don't want to send you there in case) so can't confirm, but you could give them a call.) Wed Nov 04 05:55:05 -0800 2009 5153409 112104 mselectra 1 5154508 I found this in a google search: http://www.dcmetrofoodtours.com/index.html I can't personally vouch, but it looks like it could be good. I might even do it myself... Wed Nov 04 06:14:26 -0800 2009 5153409 23389 charmedgirl 1 5154826 There are tours of the Eastern Market food scene. I'm actually going on one this Sunday so I'll let you know how it goes. http://dcmetrofoodtours.com/ The same company has a tour of Ethiopian food as well, which could be cool. I also recieved an email from the Smithsonian about various food tours coming up: Barracks Row: http://residentassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/reserve.aspx?performanceNumber=218946&utm_source=eRAP&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Nov09CulinaryArts&utm_campaign=eAlert&tmssource=181895 Adams Morgan: http://residentassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/reserve.aspx?performanceNumber=219142&utm_source=eRAP&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Nov09CulinaryArts&utm_campaign=eAlert&tmssource=181895 Wed Nov 04 08:04:26 -0800 2009 5153409 76776 Elyssa 2 5162014 Hi, I just wanted to put my 2 cents in on this one. I know DC Metro Food Tours, and went on their eastern market food tour a few weeks ago with the b/f. We absolutely loved it, and are planning on taking the LIttle Ethiopia Food Tour soon as well. I think you will have a great time ;) can't wait to hear what you think. Fri Nov 06 14:41:06 -0800 2009 5154826 1122355 jillo378 3 5162179 Oh I'm so happy to hear that! I'm going with a friend on Sunday and am really excited. I've never been on a food tour. Fri Nov 06 15:33:28 -0800 2009 5162014 76776 Elyssa 4 5167318 I went on the Eastern Market food tour yesterday afternoon and had a blast. I learned so much about the history of the vendors and hidden treats (I didn't even think to get kimchee for the Korean vegetable vendor). Definitely make sure to eat a light lunch beforehand because you fill up on all the little samples. I highly recommend it and am now interested in some of the other tours they host--I believe a tour of Old Town and a tour of Little Ethiopia. Mon Nov 09 10:22:17 -0800 2009 5162179 76776 Elyssa 5 5168822 So awesome to hear!!! We loved the kimchee too. Who would have thought that you could even get that at the Eastern Market? My personal fav. was the empanada and ofcourse the dessert at the end. I'm so glad there are things to do like this in DC. Let me know what you think of Little Ethiopia or Old Town unless I beat you to it. Oh and I believe there is the Capitol Hill one too! Mon Nov 09 18:29:41 -0800 2009 5167318 1122355 jillo378 6 5169026 My favorite was that amazing homemade baklava! Yum! Mon Nov 09 20:08:29 -0800 2009 5168822 76776 Elyssa 1 5164474 Thanks, everyone. There are a lot of interesting ideas in this thread, which I've been discussing with my friends. It looks like there's some resistance to leaving the general areas of Georgetown/Dupont/Adams Morgan and Penn Quarter/Chinatown, but that should be enough to work with. A few other specifics we've been considering: (1) either Coco Sala or ACKC (is either of them better for something like this?) for a quick chocolate injection; (2) either Baked and Wired or Tryst for coffee/pastries (again, is either one better?); and (3) possibly something like Ching Ching Cha. The food tours sound great; I'd love to hear any reviews from anyone who's been on one. Thanks again! Sat Nov 07 21:55:56 -0800 2009 5153409 1098678 Garlic Guy 2 5167132 Baked and Wired is absolutely adorable and has a huge variety of baked good options. Tryst is a cool coffee shop but the food is average, especially the baked goods. If you want a good coffee shop with also good baked goods, check out the ultra-cool MidCity Cafe on 14th St (U Street area). They take coffee very seriously as well as have some exceptional cakes. Baked and Wired still has way more variety though. I am personally not a fan of Coco Sala. It is an ultra-trendy place that is oozing with attitude. My friend and I, both critical food lovers, shared one of the tasting menus (Childhood Favorites) and we both were unimpressed. Stuff looked really fancy but honestly did not taste particularly good. I would not assume other things like hot chocolate or individual chocolates would be bad, though. I am just afraid of spending a lot of money and walking away unsatisfied again. ACKC has excellent hot chocolate (especially the ultra-concentrated one, am blanking on the name, perhaps the "Audrey Hepburn"?) and okay baked goods (not super fresh), and the environment is, well, homey but hideous. The decor in there is terribly tacky, and not in a campy way. But if you can overlook that, it's pretty good. It's a whole lot cheaper than Coco Sala as well, but I would say overall the product (and the atmosphere) are WAY fancier at Coco Sala. Depends if you're into that kind of thing. Mon Nov 09 09:25:20 -0800 2009 5164474 74330 hamster 3 5167158 I agree that the multi-course chocolate dessert I had at Coco Sala was no better than average for the DC area and expensive to boot. But I do think the tastings of chocolate are excellent. Probably the real gold there is in the sliders and salads. i didn't have any of the mac n' cheese selections. Mon Nov 09 09:34:46 -0800 2009 5167132 10156 Steve 4 5167584 Good tip. There are many reports that the mac and cheese is awesome. Mon Nov 09 11:45:05 -0800 2009 5167158 74330 hamster 5 5167843 Mac n cheese at Central is incredibly rich. Should be called The Mac n' Cheese Experience. Mon Nov 09 13:04:45 -0800 2009 5167584 10156 Steve 3 5168030 Also to clarify for the OP: Coco Sala is a fancy sit-down restaurant, while ACKC is more like a cafe where you order and pay at the counter and then seat yourself. Perhaps if you are trying to fit in a lot of places on your food tour, the more casual ACKC would be more practical. Mon Nov 09 13:55:02 -0800 2009 5167132 74330 hamster