June 21st, 2010
Georgetown, Washington, D.C., In a Matter of 48 Hours
In a matter of 48 hours, from last Friday until Sunday, there was a drive, a stay in a hotel, International Food; Italian, Lebanese and Mediterranean, Austrian, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, American, and let’s not forget The Wedding and lots of dancing.
It is that time in my life when I am being invited to weddings. Some of my friends’ children are getting married. So much fun to hear all the planning that takes place for such an event.
Off to Washington on Friday and this is how the week-end started.
Stuck in traffic. Why do they have to blow the horn and cut me off? What’s the matter with people? It must be that, here, at the Delaware Beaches we really don’t get those traffic jams. Well, in the summer there is an exception but throughout the year we come and go with no problem. No lines either. I get a little impatient to say the least.
I arrived at The Latham Hotel located on M Street. Cute little boutique hotel in the center of the action in Georgetown. It was Friday and you could tell people were getting ready to start the evening.
The rooms at The Latham are not very big but they are well appointed.
I decided that dinner was not going to be for another few hours so appetizers at a little side street restaurant near the Canal could tie me over. The name? Il Canale. Italian was spoken here. I just answered in Spanish. Close enough. The restaurant surprised me. The oil and garlic served with dipping bread was very sweet. I was told that they boil the garlic in the oil and that gives it that sweetness. The beef carpaccio was very good and so were the mussels.
Later that evening it was time to have dinner. I chose Neyla because it was suggested it had superb Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine.
It was crowded. One of the appeals of this type of cuisine is that you can order many dishes and share. The Falafel was a hit. Several more orders were requested. My main dish was Branzino which is a European seabass I really like; it was moist and very nicely seasoned.
Our waiter was from Morocco and very friendly and efficient.
The restaurant was good but I did not love it.
Taking a walk after dinner with friends was a treat; checking the stores and the people. Wait, what happened was that all of a sudden I realized that I had not heard anyone passing me by speaking in English. I was fitting right in with my accent. It felt good. I was looking at my friends, who only spoke English, like they were foreigners. Amazing, isn’t it? But then, at the same time, I thought that speaking two languages was not enough.
Saturday, morning:
Walking by the canal was beautiful. Lots of runners, joggers and people just enjoying a hot summer morning.
Then it is time to find a cute place to eat breakfast. I like foods that are different and if I am in an area that is known for their international food, I am then going for it.
I found Leopold’s by Caddy’s Alley. It was Austrian. Outdoors seating was perfect. This restaurant has a full bar and it is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
To tell you the truth the breakfast was not that great. The menu looked better for dinner.
Walking by the Canal the Mule-Drawn Barge was taking people for a ride. This is sponsored by the C & O Canal. It is the C & O Canal National Historical Park. A series of locks had to be opened for this barge to go through.
The locktenders were responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of liftlocks.
How does lock work? Liftlocks raised and lowered boats to overcome changes in elevations. A boat heading downstream enters the lock. Mules are unhitched and the locktender closes the upstream gates. The locktender opens the downstream paddles. Water flows out and the boat is lowered. With water levels equal, the locktender opens the downstream gates. The mules are hitched and the boat moves on.
I could not believe I was thinking about food again. Well, just something. It was very hot in Georgetown and as I was walking I saw a restaurant called Zed’s – Ethiopian Cuisine. It was located on M Street.
I only had time for a few appetizers. I ordered Kaisa which is a mild Ethiopian cheese, Beef Zizi Tibbs which are beef strips with a red chili pepper sauce and Mushroom Inguday Tibbs which were sauteed mushrooms with onion, a special sauce with a touch of chili pepper.
Again, I was not thrilled with my choices but I was glad I tried them.
Finally, I went to the wedding ceremony. It was beautiful. The bride was glowing. The parents and sisters were so proud and happy. All of us were witnesses to such an important event in her life.
When the band started playing everyone got up to dance. This band was the back-up band for Wilson Picket who died in 2006 and was buried in Louisville, Kentucky. He was an American R & B/rock and roll and soul singer and writer. His hits? In the Midnight Hour, Land of 1,000 Dances, Mustang Sally, Funky Broadway, among others. I believe the band’s name is the Midnight Movers. They played and we danced all night.
One more bite to eat before going to bed on a busy Saturday night in Georgetown. It was Vietnamese across The Latham and I cannot even remember the name. Good and a lot of food. No idea Vietnamese cooks use a lot of collard greens in their dishes.
Sunday Morning. Please, coffee before driving back home. But, wait, how about breakfast?
A stop in Annapolis, Maryland, will do the trick. Again, it was crowded and hot. Annapolis is beautiful any time of the year. On Sunday there was a bright blue sky.
I ended up at The Kitchen on Randall Street. It was small but it had a courtyard, where I enjoyed breakfast.
I had scrambled eggs but the best part of my dish was the smoked Rockfish. It was so good and I could have had more.
The other breakfast ordered was eggs benedict and they were good also.
I cannot believe I have eaten my way for 48 hours. Don’t worry I paced myself, and watched the carbs.
I knew I was in Delaware when I came upon the following scene.
And then I found myself on the top level of the Cultured Pearl, eating sashimi and overlooking Rehoboth Avenue on a very balmy evening….
I am exhausted…talk to you later….as usual….
Tags: Activities, D.C., Georgetown, Il Canale, Neyla, Restaurant, Restaurants, Reviews, The Lathan Hotel, Washington
