By the Gastronomes River Bend Bistro & Wine Bar In October of 2013 Bill Ross and his wife Caroline Bruder Ross opened their dream…River Bend Bistro in the Hollin Hall shopping center. An accomplished chef, Caroline had always wanted her own place. In 2013 they made it happen and today have a very popular and successful restaurant catering to the locals as well as some of their longtime friends from Old Town. Conveniently located between Mt. Vernon and Old Town Alexandria, River Bend has become a go-to place along Fort Hunt Road. The restaurant features wines from around the world and their seasonal menu relies on locally sourced products. I might mention here that the wine selection is one of the most rounded out and complete in the area. There are offerings in each area that run the gamut and are sure to please any palate. Another bonus is that the wines are very reasonably priced, which is a testament of Caroline’s years of managing a local wine store years ago. The restaurant is casually comfortable with tables along the far wall, four tops throughout the dining room leading up to a very comfortable L-shaped bar. The staff is well trained and very friendly. We try to make it up there at last twice a month for lunch so we can visit Kathy Coombs behind the bar. We thought that March would be a good time to write about River Bend because on March 19th Caroline will introduce her spring menu. You can go early in the month and then again later in the month to see what changed. The quality of the offerings are top drawer and the portions are a perfect size to allow room for an appetizer or one of their enticing desserts. Appetizers or “Snacks” range…
Brick Wood Fired Bistro Spicy Mussels Recipe: (Serves 5-6) 5 lbs PEI Mussels 1 lb Cooked Mexican style chorizo 5 tblsp Chopped garlic 5 tsp Red chile flake 1/2 Cup blended oil Fish Broth (see recipe) 2 Cups diced tomatoes For Garnish (optional) Grated parmesan Fresh chopped parsley & oregano Fresh baguette or other crusty bread for dipping Ingredients for fish broth: 5 Roma tomatoes 1 bunch cilantro 1 clove chopped garlic ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup sherry 1 10 oz can clam juice or fish stock Place the tomatoes, cilantro and garlic on a roasting rack or pan, coat with oil and roast at 450 degrees for 40 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes then add to a blender with clam juice and sherry and puree. For the Mussels: In a medium pot over high heat add oil, garlic, chorizo and tomatoes and saute until garlic is golden brown (about 4 min). Add mussels and fish broth, cover and cook until mussels are fully open. Remove and transfer mussels into a serving bowl and top with hot broth. Garnish with parmesan cheese, parsley and oregano. Serve immediately.
Kat Warren R.T.’s Restaurant 3804 Mount Vernon Avenue Alexandria, VA 703-684-6010 rtsrestaurant.com Kat is behind the bar Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. Kat conjurs up a Creole 75 #1. A variation on the French 75. It has Leopold’s small batch gin that is infused in house with pear and rosemary, fresh lemon juice, house-made ginger syrup, topped with champagne, and garnished with a lemon twist. How did you get started in the bartending business? My first bartending gig started at a local restaurant in my hometown of Maryville, Tennesee. I was barely 21 at the time and I was really excited to try something new. However, my love for the trade really transpired while working at a jazz and martini bar. This was in the days before mixology and craft cocktails had become what they are today. A regular of mine came in one day with a book for me called Aerobleu written about a nightclub in Paris in the late forties. It documents anecdotes of the great jazz musicians, like Miles Davis for example, who performed at the club and the libations and martinis that were created for them by the bartender, Jean-Pierre. I found that the stories would be only half as interesting without the cocktails that were created expressly for the artists that were drinking them. I was inspired to experiment with all types of alcohol to create fun martinis for different seasons as well as special holidays. I became a bit of a celebrity with the local ladies who would come over for happy hour after getting off work excited to try any and all new creations. It was all fun and games until the first Sex and the City movie came out while I was working there. I couldn’t tell…
Restaurants for June 2016 For this months restaurant we thought that we would highlight our favorites and give you a little insight as to what they are. Here in so particular are the best! Ramparts Tavern & Grill A tradition in Alexandria for over 30 years Ramparts has been a local place serving quality food at a very reasonable price. The newly renovated dining room is a calm respite from one of the best local bars in Alexandria. With different lunch and dinner special every day there is a variety from the regular menu serving great soups and salads to their focus on hearty servings of beef, ribs, pork and seafood. Prices are in the moderate range and check out their monthly specials. Union Street Public House Occupying a renovated Colonial warehouse, USPH has been serving revolutionary American cuisine in a warm and lively atmosphere since 1986. Locals and out- of-towners alike flock to the waterfront location for fresh seafood, grilled steaks, and a taste of Old Town’s “favorite tap and grill.” The Oyster Bar is one of Old Town’s best-kept secrets where you can get the freshest catch from the Chesapeake Bay. T.J. Stones A relative newcomer to Alexandria, T.J.’s made an immediate impression with their house specialty of barbecue, steaks and southern cuisine. The bar area is separated from the masculine dining room which has one of the few wood burning fireplaces. Not necessary now, but you get the idea. They have a craft beer selection that is huge. This is casual dining at a very moderate price. River Bend Bistro Going into their second year, River Bend has made a great addition to the Hollin Hall/ Mount Vernon area. At a very reasonable cost you can enjoy Chef Caroline’s…