DC Dining: CherCher Ethiopian

 

@CherCher Ethiopian

As we researched for our trip to Washington D.C., the fam discovered that Ethiopian food is a staple in D.C.’s restaurant scene. The culinary traditions of the refugees from the 70s and 80s were kept alive and we made it a point to have some Ethiopian food.

Recommended by Hubby’s cousin, who was a local, we went to CherCher Ethiopian Restaurant and Mart. I have to say this was the best Ethiopian meal we have had. We tried a couple of places in Downtown TO which were also good, but I have to say that CherCher is even better.

We ordered the Deluxe Vegan special where various veggies were set on Injera bread (fermented pancake-like flatbread with a slightly spongy texture). The Injera was not overwhelmingly tangy but instead was a perfect complement to the spice-loaded dishes. The veggies we had included yellow pea sauce, split lentil sauce, collard green, cabbage, chickpea flour sauce, chickpea firir (with injera), whole lentils, string beans, salad (tomato, onion and jalapeno mixed with pieces of injera) and beets.

We also got some Beef Tibs which were so tender and beautifully seasoned with onions, garlic, peppers and herbs. Absolutely delicious.

The group was torn in choosing their favourite dish. Some really liked the Lamb stew (Yebeg We’t) simmered in red pepper sauce, with ginger, garlic and spices. The others enjoyed the Fish Dullet which was chopped fresh tuna mixed wit onion, jalapeno, and hot chili powder (mitmita). I liked all of them! Beef Tibs and Lamb Stew are tied while the Fish Dullet had a slight advantage. We didn’t think we would finish it all, but we did a pretty good job!

We had no space for dessert, but some of the lucky folks in our group who could drink coffee after dinner got some. They did not have the coffee ceremony in the 14^th St location and while the coffee was superb, it could have been served warmer.

All in all, it was indeed a most wonderful Ethiopian meal and I highly recommend CherCher.

Seafood in DC: Hank’s Oyster Bar and The District Fishwife

 

Seafood Plateau @Hank's Oyster Bar

In Old Town Alexandria, we had a celebratory dinner at Hank’s Oyster Bar.

We started off with popcorn and shrimp calamari, nicely seasoned and crunchy.

Then we ordered their signature, Seafood Plateau, with oysters and middleneck clams on the half shell, chilled jumbo shrimp, seafood ceviche, mussels escabeche, and chilled Maine lobster. It came with the usual cocktail sauce with horseradish, vinegar and oyster crackers. The seafood was fresh and the large portion was indeed good for 2-4 people. Service was prompt (they did like to tidy things up quickly) and pleasant. There was a bit of a wait despite reservations. It was packed on a weeknight.

The place was vibrant and they had a good drink selection to go with the raw bar. Hank’s is a good place to celebrate!

We also headed to Union Market, as recommended by Hubby’s cousin. There were so many great options, but grandma and I kept gravitating towards seafood. So, we got some sandwiches from The District Fishwife.

Grandma got shrimp cheesesteak hoagie bun with provolone cheese, peppers and onions and a lime crema. It came with a side of super yummy, crispy fries. DD#1 got swordfish sandwich.

Shrimp cheesesteak @The District Fishwife

Swordfish sandwich @The District Fishwife

I got the Shrimp Banh Mi, which was really good. The deep fried Vietnamese spiced shrimp patty was sandwiched on a baguette with lemon mayo, cilantro, pickled daikon & carrot, and pickled jalapeño. It also came with fries which the rest of the fam really enjoyed.

Shrimp Banh Mi @The District Fishwife

The seafood was fresh and tasty. It was a wonderful, hefty lunch that truly hit the spot.

DC Museum dining: Sweet Home Café

Pulled pork @Sweet Home Cafe

We didn’t think we would get decent food in a museum cafeteria. Usually, the captive market really has no choice but to get overpriced blah food within the museum (as no other food or drinks are allowed).  Sweet Home Café, housed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, threw that notion out the window.

Fish of the Day @Sweet Home Cafe

Grandma’s fish of the day and DD#1’s pulled pork were yummy. But the winner for everyone was the fried chicken. The southern style fried chicken was tender, juicy and deliciously crisp. It was so flavourful with each bite making you want more. We had sides of collard greens, baked sweet potato and the to-die-for corn bread.

Fried chicken with sweet potato and corn bread @Sweet Home Cafe

There was plenty of seating and the line was orderly. Needless to say, the food was great and we would go back just to eat here.

 

Wanderlusting Mama’s tips for Washington DC

Lincoln Memorial

 

Here are my tips for a Washington DC trip!

A train-ride away: We didn’t stay in downtown DC, we actually got a hotel in Alexandria. Prices were more reasonable and we had free parking and breakfast! I was told later on that Bethesda is nicer, so you can consider that as well. It is so convenient to take the train to downtown DC.

Old Town Alexandria

 Cheaper or More Convenient depends on your group: If you are more than 3 in your group, you may want to consider driving into DC and getting parking for $25. However, you would have to contend with traffic and the confusing signage. You will be driving along in a lane which suddenly turns into the highway or be forced to take a left/right or go straight, with no option to change lanes. If you want the convenience, taking the Metro is a breeze. Fares are based on time/distance. Ours cost about $8 round trip so it was definitely more expensive for our group of 5. We also had to pay for Metro station parking.

Washington Memorial and the reflecting pool

 Don’t forget your timed-entry tickets: some of the more popular museums such as Air and Space and African American Museum have timed-entry tickets. Be sure to check the main website in advance and book your tickets. These are free.

US Capitol

 

WWI memorial

Which museums to go to? The Smithsonian museums take anywhere from 1-3 full days to explore. We only had about 3 hours for each museum we went to. Museums are generally open from 10am to 5pm. Here are our picks:

• National Air and Space Museum—undergoing a multi-year makeover, but still with lots to see such as the Wright flyer, Apollo Lunar module and various enormous air and spacecraft dangling from the ceiling

National Air and Space Museum

• National Museum of Natural History—check out the 45 carat Hope Diamond and their 14-ft-tall elephant

National Museum of Natural History

• National Museum of African American History and Culture —the newest among the museums. It tells a great, albeit heavy on the heart, story of slavery and the oppression of the African American people

Contemplative Court @National Museum of African American History and Culture

• National Museum of American History—see Abraham Lincoln’s iconic top hat and various war artifacts

from the Vietnam war @National Museum of American History

• While not a technically called a museum, I loved the National Gallery of Art. They had a wonderful collection including some from my favourite Impressionist artists, Van Gogh and Monet. The gallery is home to da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci, his only painting for public viewing in this side of the world.

National Gallery of Art in DC

 What about food in the museums?

Mitsitam Native Foods café inside the National Museum of the American Indian is good. We got some bison chili and bison burger for a taste of something different. Not bad at all. 

National Museum of the American Indian

Bison burger @National Museum of the American Indian

I do highly recommend Sweet Home café inside National Museum of African American History and Culture—their Southern fried chicken with corn bread is still something we crave long after our visit. There are many food trucks outside the museums, though the museums with timed-entry will not allow you re-entry privileges. For those where you can go outside (if you are willing to go through security again, which is almost like airport security), there are many food trucks. Be sure to walk a little bit farther from the entrance. The same half-smokes or burgers cost $1 less for the trucks farther along the street. The ice cream and cold drinks are pricey so hold off if you can. Grandma was so thirsty, she ended up paying $10 for a glass of lemonade half-filled with ice.

Food trucks @Washington DC

We really enjoyed DC. It did take quite some planning but the whole family enjoyed learning and exploring.