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Russell Warnick

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Russell Warnick

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Dining: Pizza Studio

April 30, 2015 Russell W. Warnick
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"Scalability, simplicity, consistency and quality" is not the only 4-step program that the latest restaurant chain to enter the DC pizza revolution has to offer. It's the pick of one of its 7 crusts, 5 sauces, 3 cheeses and over 35 unlimited toppings at a warp-speed efficiency that Pizza Studio hopes to draw the crowds in with.

I was invited to an early peek of the first Washington, DC outpost of Pizza Studio, a fast-casual restaurant a la Chipotle - allowing customers to build their meal from the bottom up, choosing from an array of ingredients that are enough to overwhelm the senses, but with the help of "pizza artists" to guide you along the way so not to make any culinary missteps. Pizza Studio, located just south of Dupont Circle on 19th Street hopes to stand out by offering up unlimited toppings at one price at a very quick speed. $7.99 will get you an 11" pizza in 2 minutes, or at least that's the time it takes for each pizza to cook in the 600 degree oven. For a company that's only been around for a little over two years it's a pretty impressive feat, these pizzas taste and look as if they belong on a more established menu.

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In Restaurants Tags Pizza, Restaurants, Dupont Circle, Fast-Casual, Washington DC
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Dining: S.E.R.

April 6, 2015 Russell W. Warnick
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Don't let a simple and easy crossing of a river detract you, as it will set the tone when eating at S.E.R., for the Spanish restaurant in Ballston has made a real mark as a seafood destination for the DC area. From culinary duoChef Josu Zubikarai and Javier Candon, with Christiana Campos-Candon, they will not just introduce you to new flavors from the ocean but its whimsical decor will have you forgetting your closest body of water is the Potomac. 

I grew up not far from the sea and on breezy days you could smell the salty air throughout the town, but as a youngster I was never a fan of seafood - perhaps it was because our towns finest harvest were cockles, too salty and slimy for my liking. I've come along way since then, apparently now I can happily clean a plate of gooseneck barnacles (or percebes), a prehistoric looking crustacean that offers up a briny salt-like meat from it's black and incredibly ugly looking shell. I can picture myself on the beach sipping on a sangria with a plate of these without a care in the world. Or in Arlington. When in Basque, right? 

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In Restaurants Tags Restaurants, Seafood, Ballston, Spanish
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News: RAMMY NOMINEES 2015

March 31, 2015 Russell W. Warnick

Another year, another award season. You've go to admit these past twelve months we've had some pretty epic restaurants and culinary stars to grace DC, and as always the industry is on hand to throw accolades over the esteem group of food and beverage stars of our fair city. So without further ado we have the RAMMY nominees for 2015. 

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In Events, News Tags Events, Rammys, Restaurants
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Dining: Bar Pilar

March 17, 2015 Russell W. Warnick
Toasted Faro Salad

Toasted Faro Salad

Brunch doesn't have to be all grits and eggs or bottomless mimosas. Bar Pilar has a menu that caters all types of hangover, but as swimsuit season approaches it's their healthier options that will have you veering away from the usual options. Pork belly hash soaked butter biscuits topped with a fried egg, not this time. Fried chicken and biscuits with gravy (the bar's fried chicken is the best you'll find on 14th), move over. For it's the toasted faro salad with butternut squash, pecorino and roasted tomatoes with vibrant crisp watermelon radish in a green goddess dressing that will have you feeling like spring arrived weeks ago. It's a salad that's packed full of flavor, crisp and nutty with enough cheese to not make you not be too good. I've had this on a few occasions, a rare feat as I'm usually loyal to the hangover cure. Another healthy option that will catch your eye is the goi ga salad, Vietnamese style poached chicken with cabbage and fried shallots in a spicy fish sauce. If you've ever had the banh mi with pho dip for dinner at Bar Pilar, I assure you this is just as good. 

Thankfully the cocktail offerings for brunch buck the trend, no bottomless mimosas or bloody's can be found here, instead there is a selection of baller drinks to choose from, $12 for your first then $1 each thereafter. The Ruffled Shirt, a blend of Saint Germain and bitters over sparkling wine and ice is a popular choice.  Not limited to your first selection so mixing it up with the other drinks is a fun way to get to know your server and tipsy by mid-afternoon. 

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In Brunch, Restaurants Tags Brunch, Bar Pilar, 14th Street, Washington DC
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