"From the Bay to the Blue Ridge"
“Al Fresco Dining” With nice weather finally here, we thought it a good time to check out some of our favorite outdoor dining venues in and around Old Town Alexandria. The phrase “al fresco” is borrowed from Italian for “in the cool air”. Warm days and cool evenings make for a unique experience when it […]
Kyle McNeely Blossom Cocktail Lounge MGM Grand Casino 101 MGM National Avenue National Harbor BlossomMGM.com Kyle conjures up the Nellie Blossom – Grey Goose Vodka, Cherry Blossom Tea, Pomegranate, Lemon, Rose Syrup shaken and topped with Champagne and a Fresh Orchid Garnish How did you get started in the bartending business? My fraternity in college […]
Let’s Eat by Charles Oppman Porcine Perfection With Fathers’ Day just around the corner many families are wondering what they can do for dad to make his special day a memorable one. No, you can’t just give him a card and be done with it. And cutting the lawn for him isn’t good enough either. […]
By Doug Fabbioli Making the Most Success From a Failure As you may know, I tend to enjoy watching movies. At the end of Apollo 13, the mission was described as a successful failure, in that the astronauts did not land on the moon but they did get back home safely. The work that was […]
By Nancy Bauer Three Days in Madison County: Five Wineries and A Taste of Old Country If you’ve spent any time exploring Virginia Wine Country, it’s likely you’ve met Madison County, maybe without even realizing it: her farmlands fall on either side of Route 29, the road between Charlottesville and Northern Virginia and her western […]
By the Gastronomes La Trattoria Old Town – Le Dolce Vita on Washington Street This month we decided to give the new La Trattoria Old Town a try. As most of you know, the restaurant is not new, but the ownership, management and style is certainly new. Let me start off by sharing one of […]
Let’s Eat By Charles Oppman A Rite of Spring – Pasta Primavera Now that spring is in full swing we’re likely to see the seasonal springtime dish pasta primavera on Italian restaurant menus across America. It just makes sense―the word primavera means “spring” in Italian. But what is pasta primavera exactly, and what’s its culinary […]
Trading Cards Arn’t Just for Baseball! By Doug Fabbioli The rural team of Loudoun County’s Economic Development Department started a unique program a couple of years back. On opening day of the Major League Baseball season, in conjunction with the Loudoun County Public School Nutrition Services, they release a series of Farmer Trading Cards. The […]
Chef Darryl Bolling McLoone’s Pier House 141 National Plaza National Harbor 301-839-0815 Chef Darryl enjoys his succulent Rack of Lamb with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Chef Bolling was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Before beginning his career as a banquet chef for Hyatt Hotels, he perfected his craft and graduated from Pennsylvania Culinary […]
By Nancy Bauer Wine Finds in Fauquier County With nearly 30 wineries less than an hour’s drive from the DC Beltway, Fauquier County is a quiet powerhouse in Virginia Wine Country. A favorite trek for in-the-know fine wine lovers, Fauquier is home to the state’s most acclaimed winegrower (Jim Law, Linden Vineyards) and best high-end […]
