Khoi Tran

COLCA – kanpachi, leche de tigre, sweet potato, chulpi 😋

My foray into Peruvian cuisine occurred over four years ago at China Chilcano where I first met @chefcarlosdelgg. After trying most of the menu, I concluded the food was good though not exactly memorable. So in coming to @causadc_ last weekend, I arrived with few expectations. I was more excited to see Chef Carlos again, now in his own space introducing a fine-dining concept new to Washington, DC: a Peruvian tasting menu. As for the food this time? In short, I, and my dining companion, found it remarkable! 👏

At Causa, the humble but delicious potato showed up in multiple forms: as the restaurant’s namesake for an opening snack, as salt-baked fingerlings, and later, as a pavé in a meat-and-potatoes course. A ceviche dish surprised with frozen pebbles of leche de tigre, contrasting textures and temperatures. The contemporary presentation was riveting in sight and taste. Grilled salmon belly, a play on street food, was so succulent that it practically dissolved without much chewing. It was served alongside a chunk of meltingly tender beef tongue. The morsel of meat tasted erotically alluring, comparable to a French (or Latin to be more appropriate) kiss received the same moment you consumed it. A bomba rice course infused with herby notes of culantro and stuffed with rings of squid comforted and nourished even as it stunned my taste buds 🥰

All the aforementioned descriptions only describe about half of the dining experience offered at Causa. Perhaps the best compliment I can give is the meal has motivated me to visit Peru—sooner rather than later—to explore further and deeper the wealth of flavors of its diverse cuisine. I want to learn about the cities, towns, and regions Chef Carlos used as course names in his tasting menu, so I may get a sense of the history, memories, and nostalgia that inspired his cooking. And maybe, I can also understand the pride and love that has infused this cuisine ❤️

Much thanks to @chefcarlosdelgg and his team for this holistic and revelatory introduction 🙏 Less

From a recent @mammam.dc pop-up in Shaw @hanumanh_dc 🤤😋

1) Bún Chả Giò Nem Nướng – fried spring rolls and pork sausage over vermicelli noodles

2) Bánh Patê Sô – Vietnamese meat pie in puff pastry

3) Bánh Mì – sardines in tomato sauce, spicy fish sauce syrup
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#hungryglomad_washingtondc #foodpic #foodpics #igfoodie #igfoodies #igfood #igfoods #igfoodpic #igfoodpics #foodgram #foodgrams #foodiegram #foodiegrams #foodaddict #foodaddicts #goodeats #seriouseats #forkyeah #instafood #lefooding #eeeeats #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeedfoods #igfoodporn #igfoodshare #dcdining #dcfood #vietnamesefood #vietnamesecuisine #foodporn Less

Courses from the “Solstice” tasting menu as summer comes to a close ☀️

4) Melon – peanut, chili, kohlrabi, shiso 🍈🥜🍉

A salad of delicious sweet fruits with a bit of spice. Yummy broth to drink straight from the bowl afterwards. Don’t waste that precious liquid, please 😃
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@michelinguide for 2022: 🌟

If you want to read about my numerous experiences @oysteroysterdc to date, the full review is on my blog now. The link is in my bio 🌱🍄🦪
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#hungryglomad_washingtondc #mystorywithmichelin #yesmichelinguide #vegetarian #vegetarianfood #vegetarianfoods #vegetableforward #plantbased #eatyourveggies #veganfood #vegancuisine #feedfeed #eatwell #goodeats #seriouseats #forkyeah #bestfood #bestfoods #tastytasty #yummyfoods #onthetable #foodoftheday #dcdining #greatfood #greatfoods #lefooding #eeeeats #sustainability #deliciouseats #michelinguide Less

Most of the pies @boogyandpeel aren’t traditional, but they are awfully delicious. Every visit has been a pleasure 🤤😃😋

1) 'Mater Pie – Duke’s mayo, heirloom tomatoes, asiago, black pepper 🥰

2) Sweet Baby Christos (vegan version) – red sauce, eggplant, garlic confit, pepper, herbs, honey 🤯

3) Crispy Brussel Sprouts + Romesco salad – feta, pickled craisins, honey, marcona almonds 😘

4) "Peaches + Cream" – sour cream soft serve, peaches, Ritz shortbread crumble 😍
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#hungryglomad_washingtondc #eatwell #foodgram #foodgrams #foodiegram #foodiegrams #foodaddict #foodaddicts #goodeats #seriouseats #forkyeah #instafood #bestfood #bestfoods #lefooding #dcdining #dcfood #goodfood #greatfood #eeeeats #goodeats #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeedfoods #igfoodporn #igfoodshare #lgbtqpride #lgbtqcommunity #womanowned #womanownedbusiness #pizzaking Less

1) Bánh Mì Catfish Po-Boy – salt & pepper Maryland blue catfish, mayo, pickles, jalapeño 🤤

2) Peanut Noodle Bowl – peanut hoisin sauce, Temomi noodles, pea tendrils, chili garlic crunch, tofu 😋

The current Bánh Mì @moonrabbitdc is layered with much history and heritage: baguette by way of French colonialism, fish local to the DMV, and regional inspiration that pulls from @chefkevintien’s prior experience living and working in Louisiana. You won’t find any of that information on the menu nor is it necessary to enjoy this delicious sandwich. But knowing the motivations behind a dish may increase empathy, so we might understand why a chef may purposely present a food that looks and tastes different from our dining memories of another time and place. Food doesn’t always have to be precious or so serious or even exact to be good. As long as it pleases your palate, it’s fine. This Bánh Mì does that 🙏
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#hungryglomad_washingtondc #vietfood #vietnamesefood #vietnamesecuisine #modernvietnamese #foodgram #foodgrams #foodiegram #foodiegrams #foodpic #foodpics #foodporn #igfoodie #igfoodies #igfood #igfoods #igfoodpic #igfoodpics #igfoodporn #igfoodshare #instafood #eeeeats #lefooding #f52 #f52gram #f52grams #poboy #dcdining #banhmi #letseat Less

Sometimes Washington, DC can make you forget that the district is actually part of the South. In the national capital region, the general rule is to drive fast and honk even faster lest the vehicle in front fails to notice the green light as quickly as you did. Coffee is less a pleasure to savor and more of a morning pick-me-up, mostly transported in a paper cup, both for portability and sipping while your attention is directed elsewhere. (Recently, my friend Anna from Berlin was relieved to find an eatery serving coffee in a ceramic cup!) The tendency is to hurry up, always, and move on to the next pressing task. So what a joy to come to a place like the Dabney and have time slow down, like a satisfying Southern drawl you haven’t heard in a while. Eating here is a gastronomic pleasure with no rush 🙏

Inside, the rugged brick walls and wooden tables carry echoes of a country residence, now repurposed as restaurant space. A study of the prix-fixe menu reveals the best and freshest of local sourcing—born and bred, planted and harvested—from all corners of the mid-Atlantic. The application of classic, time-honored techniques draws out their deep-rooted flavors. Transforming terrific products into tantalizing courses is made possible by the wood-burning hearth, the pièce de résistance of the kitchen. This centerpiece houses an illuminating fire that is primal, elemental, alive even. The glowing embers impart a characteristic signature on every meat and vegetable they touch. If you need proof, just order the plate of roasted vegetables with skins blistered and charred from the heat. You will find them smoky, succulent, and mouth-wateringly delicious. In many ways, the cooking reminds me of rustic simplicity from long ago. In escaping the hustle of DC, dining at the Dabney is a historical excursion that somehow feels like you have come home 🏠

OPENING SNACKS 😋

1a) Metompkin Bay Oyster, Keepwell Aronia Berry Vinegar Mignonette

1b) Charred Eggplant, Cornmeal Cracker

1c) Zucchini Fritter, Smoked Crème Fraîche, Roselle

2) Melon juice with lemon verbena and cucamelon

3) Fried catfish & sweet potato roll sandwich

@michelinguide: 🌟 Less

These dishes are some foods one might see at a traditional meal served in a Vietnamese home. Known as Cơm Nhà, the courses represent more than physical sustenance. In a typical Vietnamese household, mealtime is a cultural practice and often an important bonding opportunity to reaffirm family values and ties 🪢

This is Chef @nhatduuy’s version of Vietnamese home cooking. It was delicious and heartwarming to say the least and quite reminiscent of Vietnamese cuisine I’ve not eaten in years—far too many in fact. Much better, I got to share the meal with fellow foodie and friend @nowchowing before she departed for Chicago (Miss you already!) 🤗

1) Kho Quẹt Với Rau Củ Hấp – pork stewed in sticky fish sauce, served with steamed vegetables to dip

2a) Gỏi Rau Má Tôm Thịt – pennywort herb salad with shrimp and pork belly

2b) Mắm Chưng – steamed egg meat loaf with fermented fish sauce

2c) Side of pickled julienne carrots and daikon

3) Tôm Rang Ba Chỉ – caramelized shrimp and fatty pork with a shrimp-lemongrass chile oil dressing

4) Canh Dưa Leo Dồn Thịt – cucumber stuffed pork soup and fish sauce dip
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#hungryglomad_washingtondc #foodpic #foodpics #igfoodie #igfoodies #igfood #igfoods #igfoodpic #igfoodpics #foodgram #foodgrams #foodiegram #foodiegrams #foodaddict #foodaddicts #goodeats #seriouseats #forkyeah #instafood #lefooding #eeeeats #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeedfoods #igfoodporn #igfoodshare #dcdining #foodmemories #vietnamesefood #vietnamesecuisine #foodporn Less

When hot weather strikes, @phenamminam saves the day with his yummy riff on Chanh Muối 🍊🍋🧂

The @mammam.dc pop-up is currently on an extended break but will likely return late summer or early fall. Follow them on IG for updates 😃
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#hungryglomad_washingtondc #foodpic #foodpics #igfoodie #igfoodies #igfood #igfoods #igfoodpic #igfoodpics #foodgram #foodgrams #foodiegram #foodiegrams #foodaddict #foodaddicts #goodeats #seriouseats #forkyeah #instafood #lefooding #eeeeats #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeedfoods #igfoodporn #igfoodshare #dcdining #dcfood #vietnamesefood #vietnamesecuisine #foodporn Less

PANIMULA 1 🇵🇭

Ensaymada – sweet brioche, black truffle cream, aged smoked cheddar 🤤

The pillowy soft pastry is simultaneously sweet, rich, and a bit savory. Delicious 😋

SWIPE 👉 to see the inside 😃
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#hungryglomad_washingtondc #filipinofood #filipinocuisine #filipinofoodmovement #filipinofoodforward #pinoyfood #sarap #hiraya #ensaymada #foodgrams #foodiegrams #foodpicture #foodphotography #f52gram #lefooding #goodeats #seriouseats #forkyeah #igfoodie #igfoodies #igfood #igfoods #igfoodporn #igfoodpic #igfoodshare #instafood #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeedfoods #dcdining #eeeeats Less

A series of terrific desserts to close out the tasting menu 🤤😋

8) Coconut panna cotta, kombucha granita, kiwi, cucumber

9) Bronze fennel sorbet and mousse

10) Roasted plum, sabayon, mezcal, hoja santa ice cream

11) Lemon verbena marshmallows
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#hungryglomad_washingtondc #foodiegram #foodpic #foodpics #foodaddict #foodaddicts #foodgram #foodgrams #goodeats #seriouseats #forkyeah #igfoodie #igfoodies #igfoodporn #igfoodpic #igfoodpics #igfoodshare #instafood #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeedfoods #lefooding #modernfrench #frenchfood #frenchcuisine #bistronomy #bistronomie #georgetowndc #dcdining #eeeeats #neighborhoodrestaurant Less