Filed under: Food and Drink
Met up with an old friend in Washington D.C., back in that crazy capitol city where J and I first met as bright eyed and bushy tailed college sophomores eons ago. This time out the trendsters were all gabbing about a new place named Art & Soul. It sits just a few blocks from that hotbed of power and farce known as Capitol Hill, and focuses on Southern Style food (but done up all fancy).
J pronounced his dining experiences at Art and Soul as “inconsistent”, and suggested Cafe Atlantico.
Cafe Atlantico features a mouth watering wine list - which I did not access since I don’t go drinking before noon. Entrees on the menu included such beguiling features as lamb empanadas and Dominican conch fritters, but I had to avoid such distractions.
We were there for “Nuevo Mundo Latino dim sum brunch.”
Uhm, aren’t small plates of Spanish food called “Tapas”??
Hmm. I am always a fan of small, tasting portions. I don’t have the gut to take on giant meals & I appreciate when flavors are delicate yet impactful in a dosage size that never overwhelms. Of course, small plate eating also allows for varied sampling of more dishes than one could normally enjoy in one sitting.
I decided I don’t really care what they want to call it, and we settled down to chow, me with iced coffee in hand.
A Chef selection of 14 small dishes runs for $35.00 per person, $25.00 for vegetarians.
An beautifully presented array of dishes emerged, in small duos and trios such as:
Malanga chips
Mango Anchovy ravioli
Cebiche con coco
Pork Belly confit with passion fruit oil
Pineapple unagi with advocado
teeny, perfect oysters with mango lime oil
fried egg with black beans & pork
huitlachoche and wild mushroom quesadilla
shots of vanilla foam with caviar
and for dessert:
Pan dulce with cinnamon (a cross between french toast and a churro)
Honestly, I lost track of all the dishes as we descended into a glut of yum…and they don’t tell you this in advance, but if you are truly in love with one or two of these little culinary gems-they offer to bring another small portion out.
Absolutely my new D.C. #1 favorite! Someone please schedule another meeting or conference in D.C so I can return to Cafe Atlantico! (I’m also a fan of Zaytinya, an airy, contemporary Mediterranean mezze place which is also a Jose Andres restaurant.)
Jose Andres not brought some muy fabulousa restaurantes to the East Coast, he hosts a “Made in Spain” PBS cooking show, a culinary tour of Espana (Spain). Heavens, what could be better? Two of my great passions: food, meets travel.
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