This weekend I had the chance to go to our wonderful capital! I was completing a stage at a restaurant called Birch and Barley. (For those that don't know what a stage is....it's where someone who wants to work in a restaurant goes in for a day to work and shadow.) I also had the chance to check out the food scene during my short trip. My stomach was certainly full at the end of this trip!
I have only been to D.C. once before when I was just a youngin' in middle school but being all grown up now I can truly say that the city is amazing! There are so many different people, cultures, and lots of fun things to do around the area. I only had Friday and Saturday night and some of Sunday to explore but I made the most of my time while I was down there.
On Saturday at Birch and Barley, things were grooving right when I walked in the door. It is right below another restaurant that is part of their restaurant group so the kitchen cooks for both restaurants. That means we made A LOT of food! I mostly prepped for the others and then when it was time for service I was helping them cook orders and do other prep they needed. One thing about this industry is that you are never bored. Those nine hours I worked, there was something new and exciting to get my hands on. I started out slicing endless amounts of cured meats. Progressed to processing and grinding pork and then fabricating pork bellies. Hello bad-ass butcher status!
Check out some of the pics from Birch and Barley below!
I have only been to D.C. once before when I was just a youngin' in middle school but being all grown up now I can truly say that the city is amazing! There are so many different people, cultures, and lots of fun things to do around the area. I only had Friday and Saturday night and some of Sunday to explore but I made the most of my time while I was down there.
On Saturday at Birch and Barley, things were grooving right when I walked in the door. It is right below another restaurant that is part of their restaurant group so the kitchen cooks for both restaurants. That means we made A LOT of food! I mostly prepped for the others and then when it was time for service I was helping them cook orders and do other prep they needed. One thing about this industry is that you are never bored. Those nine hours I worked, there was something new and exciting to get my hands on. I started out slicing endless amounts of cured meats. Progressed to processing and grinding pork and then fabricating pork bellies. Hello bad-ass butcher status!
Check out some of the pics from Birch and Barley below!
Sunday was a great day as well! My friend and I took the metro (metros are my new obsession lately) down to Eastern Market. Eastern Market is amazing! SO many people from local farms, orchards, restaurants, and home made creations all selling things on the street that is closed every Sunday. It is situated in Capital Hill and has been around for 136 years! It was amazing to see all of the wonderful booths and sense of community that was present. There were booths selling crafted items and food like apples and strawberries! I couldn't believe there were strawberries ready to be sold! Guess that is a good first sign of spring!
After browsing around for awhile, we decided we needed to be like regular DC folks and join into the Brunch scene. If there is one thing that DC knows how to do well, it is brunch! We went to this Italian restaurant, Acqua Al 2. It was honestly the closest thing to Italy I had since my return from there! I skipped the brunch menu because the pasta menu looked scrumptious! I opted for the spinach and ricotta stuffed pasta baked in homemade tomato sauce. My friend got my second choice for his meal, the fusilli in a spinach cream sauce. They were both divine! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. I was on the Italian cloud nine. Like true Italians we walked over the gelato shop down the street to cap off our adventure!
I loved exploring DC and can't wait to go back there.....maybe even live down there! ;)
Check out some more pictures from my weekend!
After browsing around for awhile, we decided we needed to be like regular DC folks and join into the Brunch scene. If there is one thing that DC knows how to do well, it is brunch! We went to this Italian restaurant, Acqua Al 2. It was honestly the closest thing to Italy I had since my return from there! I skipped the brunch menu because the pasta menu looked scrumptious! I opted for the spinach and ricotta stuffed pasta baked in homemade tomato sauce. My friend got my second choice for his meal, the fusilli in a spinach cream sauce. They were both divine! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. I was on the Italian cloud nine. Like true Italians we walked over the gelato shop down the street to cap off our adventure!
I loved exploring DC and can't wait to go back there.....maybe even live down there! ;)
Check out some more pictures from my weekend!