Dining: Chloe by Haidar Karoum

June 14, 2018 Russell W. Warnick

The photos don't do it any justice, one of the most enjoyable restaurant experiences I've had in a long time was at Chloe by Haidar Karoum in Navy Yard. From the dish of olives with pickled garlic to the crispy cauliflower to the cobia crudo, which we ordered twice, there wasn't a dish that disappointed. The service was spot on too.

If you've dined at Estadio, Proof or Doi Moi then you'll be familiar with Karoum who served as executive chef prior to opening Chloe. In true DC fashion the menu is designed for sharing, because of course it is, but if you're a larger table, here I actually recommend it as you're going to want to order as many of the dishes as you can stuff in your face. There are more dishes that are smaller than those that are larger, so you may order more than one like we did with the crudo - which has the right blend of thai chilies and lime to balance each other out, topped with crispy shallots to add that much expected crunch. A stand out dish.

Dining: Haikan

November 21, 2016 Russell W. Warnick

A few months back I moved neighborhoods, from Logan to (North End) Shaw, and in the space of a few months some pretty awesome restaurants have opened up, it's akin to when 14th Street started to become a destination five or six years ago, now it's Shaw's turn. I may not get around to writing about the likes of Shaw Bijou, unless I date rich (anyone?), but I will tell you about the more affordable options. I'll start with Haikan.

Dining: Green Pig Bistro

July 9, 2015 Russell W. Warnick

I wasn't looking for a place to have dinner, just a spot I could park my butt for an hour to have a drink and maybe a quick bite while waiting on the boyfriend to join me before heading off to a friends place in the depths of Arlington (read: Clarendon.) Green Pig Bistro was in my general direction and after a quick look at the drinks menu I was sold, right at the top was a listing for a sparkling pineapple wine from Hawaii, Hula O'Maui. I had no idea that Hawaii produced wine, but I was eager to give it a try. You'd imagine the pineapple would provide a sweet dessert like taste, but far from it - it was crisp and bubbly with a hint of pineapple primarily from its aroma, closer to a Prosecco on the spectrum of sparkling wines. I should have ordered the bottle.

Green Pig offers a weekday happy hour menu, with $5 snack plates and discounted drinks at the bar. I ordered a plate of the Snail and Mushroom Toast which was less of a snack and more of a meal, a creamy plate of sauteed mushrooms with a few snails nestled in between. If you're adverse or new to snails this dish would be a good introduction, few of them to pick around and not too overwhelming in flavor, the creamy mushrooms are the players here. And easily enough to fill up on.

The boyfriend arrived, we stayed for dinner.

Dining: Doi Moi

June 17, 2015 Russell W. Warnick

As far as restaurants go on 14th Street Doi Moi is a veteran, it's been with us for nearly two years now, opening in the late summer of 2013. Yet it took the restaurant quite some time to enter the bustling brunch scene that so many of us crave, debuting the late-morning weekend soiree this past April. It's a more relaxed affair than its neighbors, no bottomless or unlimited plates anything, but an adapted dinner menu featuring more eggs and the usual pricey cocktails. If you've visited the restaurant for dinner you'll find the menu familiar and comfortable, many of the favorites such as Goi Cuon (garden roll), Goi Chai (steamed garlic chive & mushroom dumplings) and Bun Bo Xao (stir fried lemongrass beef with vermicelli noodles) are all available, but it's breakfast you came for so that means eggs and pork.

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