Pinotnoir

So, I finally indulged in the hookah experience after all!  There are several lounges in the DC area, but I never considered it until recently.  Before I began my endeavor, I had to find out what all the fuss about hookah was.

A hookah is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-bottomed) large pipe that utilizes water and indirect heat for smoking. The most basic concept of hookah originated in what is now the present day border between India and Pakistan, and then spread throughout the Middle East, and Egypt.  It traditionally has been strictly for tobacco use; however people have historically also used opium and cannabis.

Shisha is the name of the tobacco mixture that is smoked in the water pipe. Shisha comes in several flavors, with fruit flavors being the most popular, and has a similar scent to incense.

So here’s how the hookah works…….

• A base, or smoke chamber, which is partially filled with water

• A bowl, which contains tobacco and the heating source

• A pipe that connects the bowl to the base and dips into the water in the base

• A hose, a second tube in the pipe that does not dip into the water but opens into air in the base and allows users to inhale the hookah smoke

Smoking the hookah is a social activity that continues to gain popularity all over the world, especially among young people in urban areas. A typical hookah session lasts about 45 minutes and a hookah can be shared by one or several people.  Other than being a great way to enjoy a conversation, hookah smoking provides a soothing, calming effect that intensifies with alcohol (of courseJ) most hookah lounges serve alcohol and basic appetizers. 

For habitual smokers out there, the trick to hookah smoking is not to inhale the shisha as intensely as you would cigarettes.  The object is to take a deep breathe in, and blow out most of the smoke. 

The great debate is whether or not Hookah smoking is as detrimental to your health as cigarettes.  Many believe that the Shisha is filtered through a lot of water before entering the lungs; therefore the same carcinogens aren’t present in the Shisha as they are in cigarettes.  The truth is that there haven’t been any studies conducted to compare the effects of the two.  Many believe that the long, 45 minute session causes more damage that one cigarette lasting five minutes.

My hookah journey led me to two very different Hookah lounges. Initially I arrived at one of the first real hot-spots in the U Street area called the Chi Cha Lounge.

Chi  Cha Lounge is named after the traditional Latin American drink from the Andes known as “chicha”, a concoction of corn soaked in pineapple juice, cinnamon, cloves, cane sugar and the house secret ingredient.  Over the past decade, it has built up a loyal following and a reputation as one of the best lounges in the DC area. These days, it continues to be a favorite for a variety of races and cultures in DC. 

The doormen are friendly and welcoming.  No silly door politics and a “come as you are” policy on the nights I attended.  The lounge is candle lit only, with dark red couches, chairs, red drapes, and dark wooden tables.  The service leaves a lot to be desired, but is substantial enough to have your drink refilled. Outstanding service is not necessarily needed to have a good time here.   They offer a full dinner menu, but hookah and full dining don’t mix to me, so I preferred to stick to drinks only.  I ordered a drink and a mixed fruit hookah, in that exact order. Out came the cranberry and vodka, along with this……..

…….and plastic, individual covers to place over the hookah pipe to smoke. 

The hookah is about $20-$24 dollars at Chi-Cha, and then add on the drinks.  Good thing the session lasts almost an hour!

On the contrary, I also visited an Ethiopian based hookah lounge in Adams Morgan that I still don’t know the name of to this day – just know how to get there (Florida Ave., between 18 an 19th Street).  This lounge was less “glamorous” than the Chi-Cha lounge, but offered hookah, non-alcoholic drinks and the NBA finals on a flat screen for $12 bucks.  The service was excellent, friendly and had a “homey” feel to it.  Ethiopian’s frequent this lounge to play cards and watch the finals, while Mediterranean music purrs away in the background; surprisingly calming I might add.  Although this hookah lounge was not about ambiance, it definitely got the job done.

In my recent quest for good seafood last weekend, I decided to visit Hook Restaurant in Georgetown. Their mission is to offer a seasonal menu featuring the best sustainable seafood, meat and local organic produce in a unique dining environment.  Sounds……interesting, right?

 Hook is located on M Street, NW, right in the heart of all the action in Georgetown.  Its narrow, external framework is easy to miss in the midst of all the shops, boutiques, hustle and bustle that surrounds it.  Once you enter the restaurant, you are surprised at how spacious and open it is.  Hardwood floors and modern, neutral toned furnishings give you a fresh, open, airy feeling – which is what seafood should be all about.  I immediately noticed the interesting artwork that adorned each available space on the wall, and realized they were pictures of the sea, crustaceans and ocean life. 

The restaurant has two levels, and we were seated on the upper level.  I was glad I dressed appropriately because the crowd oozed old money and young, fashionably dressed couples.

After being seated for a few minutes, they brought out the regular bread basket and spread.  I wasn’t eager to try it, and completely wrote it off.  That is until my company tried it and raved about it. So of course, I was reeled in.  The spread was delicious and the bread was warm and in portions that were easy to eat.  There’s nothing like large, dry bread to prepare you for a disappointing meal.  I was glad this was not the case at Hook.

I felt uncomfortable at first because there were several waiters/hostesses circling our area.  I soon realized they were trained to anticipate our needs.  They weren’t just roaming around our table, but other tables as well.  No flagging down or making eye contact with your waiter for service at this establishment.

Although the menu has six courses, all are not required and you can choose to indulge in whatever you like.  In reviewing the menu, I realized this was a great visit for anyone who wants to eat adventurously, but lightly.  The menu included items such as grilled calamari (as opposed to fried), shellfish combination (lobster, prawns, taylor bay scallops, oysters, mussels), and beet salad (goat cheese, yellow and red beets, pistachios, blueberry sauce).  I started out with the steamed mussels in white wine garlic sauce.  The sauce seemed to permeate through the shells to make the mussels that much more favorable. They were delicious. 

Our entrée choice was the king salmon with grilled broccoli, and the artic char with sweet potato purée and broccoli.  The only meat selection on the entire menu was the grass fed rib eye.  The staff is fully knowledgeable of the cuisine in case you’re surprised of the abundance of fish on the entrée menu. 

Both the king salmon and artic char, were seasoned precisely.  Not too salty, not too dull.  The broccoli was definitely a surprise stand out.  It literally tasted like it was grilled outside during a cookout and was accompanied with bacon and onions.

The main courses were judiciously portioned, so I wasn’t worried about having room for dessert.  Although I wasn’t tempted by what the desert menu had to offer, a follow up visit to Georgetown’s Ben and Jerry’s was the perfect finish to a great meal that evening.  

Overall, Hook is a great restaurant for special occasions, and a change of pace to the regular dinning experience.  I wouldn’t say I am “hooked” necessarily, but it definitely comes highly recommended in my book.

Indebleu allows visitors to enjoy a 3 in 1 special; strong drinks, bar/lounge, and a restaurant all in one. This cozy, swank lounge is located in the heart of Chinatown -DC, and allows for a full night of entertainment all in one place.

Ladies, Indeblue gives you a reason to get cute for drinks after work, enjoy great ambiance, and mingle with a mixed professional/sexy crowd, w/out waiting until 9:00 at night to do so. 

Although the portions are small and a bit pricy, the chef does an amazing job executing nicely flavored dishes/appetizers, creating a fusion of Indian/European dishes that actually work. The lounge/bar menu is just as tasty. My only complaint is that I wanted more of it, for what it cost.

The ambiance is beautiful. The décor in the lounge, precisely called the Tantric Lounge, is modern with Asian influenced accents. The walls are scarlet and the couches are deep and comfortable.  Along with the dim lighting, this place feels  quite cozy. The music also adds to the ambiance.  Eclectic house music, and other original sounds, made me bob my head a couple of times- after a few peach martini’s of course.                     

In my opinion, the best feature of Indebleu is the Tantric Lounge, which is quite beneficial as a venue for after work, rather than a weekend hot spot.

Pinot Noir (pea-no NWARH):

A fragile red grape that is difficult to grow. Most of all the burgandy wines from France are made from the Pinot Noir grape.

Great Pinot Noir creates a lasting impression on the palate and in the memory. Its aroma is often accented by a pronounced spiciness that suggests cinnamon, sassafras, or mint. It is full-bodied and rich but not heavy, high in alcohol, yet neither acidic nor tannic, with substantial flavor despite its delicacy. The most appealing quality of Pinot Noir may be its soft, velvety texture. When right, it is like liquid silk.

Well, this is an introduction, describing myself , for the souls that hopefully bless this blog with their presence, thoughts and comments.

Yes folks, I’m as original as they get. Fragile and delicate, yet strong and stubborn, or “difficult to grow.”

I can make quite a lasting impression by being sweet with a little touch of “spiciness.”

I can be qute “heavy” and demanding of others, yet “delicate” and as the last line of the definition states, “when treated right it is like liquid silk.”

I hope you can visit this blog for the latest in fine dining, culture, wine, music and my ever present random rants and raves.  I also hope we can be enlightening, encouraging and respectful to eachother in the process.

I hope this blog will be an escape for you as much as it will be for me, and that you may find it as pleasing as “liquid silk.”

1 a : a constant background noise; especially : one that drowns out other sounds
2 : meaningless or distracting commotion, hubbub, or chatter

I once heard my former Director refer to her back pain as “white noise” pain.  That was the first time I heard that term used to describe a physical symptom.  She described it as a constant, ongoing, distracting pain that acted as a backdrop to her everyday life.  It was tolerable, yet irritable and always present.  A pain that was masked but looming in the background, quietly affecting everything she did. The strange thing is that I never witnessed her in any pain.  I never caught her wincing or rubbing her back.  She had learned to live with constant pain, without relaying it to outsiders.

I’ve come to realize that white noise pain is usually present in all of our lives; whether it’s physical pain, emotional pain, or our secrets that constantly eat away at us.  Upon first glance, everything appears to be resolved with us, but as we allow people into our lives, and into our hearts – we can only mask our white noise for so long.  Eventually, someone “hears” it and inquires about it.  Many of us do such a phenomenal job of covering white noise up with other noise; over-talking, laughing, shouting.  But when it’s quiet, the white noise becomes so distinct and noticeable.  During your quiet times, when no one is around, is when white noise becomes obvious and at times, unbearable. 

So what is the white noise in your life?  Is it your secrets, your hidden pain, your insecurities, childhood, relationships….?  We all have it; it’s just that some of us mask it better than others.

I learned later on that my former Director had a condition since childhood that resulted in constant back pain.  She had several surgeries to try and resolve it, but the doctor’s told her she would live with the pain for the rest of her life.  Once she told me about this, I realized her back pain was the reason she walked slightly hunched over. It never dawned on me that her posture had something to do with chronic back pain.  It certainly didn’t stop her from succeeding, being active, or finding a significant other. Being able to find others that aren’t bothered by the constant background noise you create, and not feeling obligated to mask it, is half of life’s battle.

Labeled as a great, all-American restaurant, Coastal Flats of McLean, Virginia, often remains overlooked by urbanites in the midst of DC’s surplus of bistro’s, cafes and fine dining experiences.  Coastal Flats is connected to the same popular restaurant chain as Sweetwater Taverns and Carlyle’s, with several locations in northern Virginia.  The most exclusive location is at Tyson’s Corner Mall, the swankiest mall in the DC Metropolitan area.  

This “all-American” restaurant is sure to deliver an unexpected, twist. Diners can point to a dish off of the menu, while blindfolded, and receive a flavorful, delicious, savory appetizer, entrée or desert, sure to satisfy them.

Upon entering the restaurant, you are quickly greeted by a friendly hostess with a headset. The headset appears to be strange at first, but once you look around the restaurant, you realize why it is necessary.  Coastal Flats is large, spacious and – well – noisy.  They don’t take reservations, so you may be waiting to be seated if it is packed.  However, trust me when I say, the food is definitely worth the wait.  Once your order is placed, your food will arrive quickly and your waiter will be readily available to meet your every dining need. Guaranteed your experience with your waiter/waitress, will be as friendly and quick as your encounter with the hostess. Once you are seated, you begin to take in the spacious, beach themed atmosphere.  Yes – I said beach themed.  The name of the restaurant IS Coastal Flats.  Don’t worry, although the beach theme sounds corny, it looks a lot better than it sounds.

Literally, everything on this menu is unique and delicious.  Stand outs include the hot, buttermilk rolls and sweet butter topping, you receive when your waiter first greets you.  The rolls are replenished upon your request.  Don’t be mistaken.  These aren’t just any rolls.  They are supplied by Best Buns Bread Company Inc,. an exclusive bakery in the northern Virginia area.   An appetizer favorite is the blue crab and rock shrimp fritters, with grilled corn salsa and lobster ginger butter.  This appetizer is so tasty, two orders are necessary just for satisfaction.   Coastal Flats specializes in seafood, with entrée favorites such as sea bass, trout, grouper, salmon, crab cakes, shrimp and calamari – good calamari that is.  My most repetitive choice on the menu seems to be the sautéed shrimp and creamy grit cakes.  It is accompanied with asparagus, Smithfield ham, roasted corn, peppers, sweet onions and Cajun cream. Just when you think you’ll get a turkey burger, or baked chicken from this “all-American” restaurant, the menu surprises you with a shrimp and grits dish! Another menu favorite is the Drunken Ribeye; ribs marinated in their Great American Pale Ale, with basil red skin mashed potatoes, and mixed green salad.  The desert menu is just as diverse, offering whole desserts for special occasions with 24 hour advanced notice. Desserts include warm white chocolate bread pudding, key lime pie, banana pudding and a warm flourless chocolate waffle. 

Coastal Flats could charge a lot for cuisine this delectable; however, dinner for two can easily fall within the $40.00 range.  Great service, great cuisine, and great prices, makes Coastal Flats a restaurant that’s worth escaping the city for.

Sauteed Shrimp and Grit Cakes