Once a upon a time, two dudes met at college, and a beautiful comedic friendship was born. I’m talking about my grill-loving friend, Greg, who enjoys hosting porch dinners, and the ever-present Guy, a spice fiend. Both enjoy being lavished with attention, so naturally when it comes to cooking together, the kitchen becomes a mini Kitchen Stadium. Each seeks to outdo the other. I, the fair and impartial judge, have the wonderful privilege to sit back, watch, and enjoy a beer.
A couple weeks ago, we trekked to Harris Teeter and bought some fresh groceries. On the menu? Shrimp veggie curry by Guy, sautéed bok choy by Greg, and strawberry shortbread by Greg. My role? Line chef aka chopping those veggies then taste tester.
It was a flurry of activity in the kitchen. The rice cooking need to be matched with the curry cooking time (which didn’t actually happen), and Greg and Guy were improvising because why would any young man ever consult a recipe? The shrimp was seared quickly with an unknown mixture of spices. Then, a jumble of vegetables such as carrots and sprouts simmered in the pan with coconut milk, curry powder, tomato paste, and chicken broth. Greg was occupied with slicing strawberries and sprinkling orange zest on top. The shortbread, bought frozen from the supermarket, went into the oven to bake. About an hour later, G squared’s dinner was ready! I really do have to give them a lot of credit. Both the main and the dessert were delicious and filling, and not to mention on the healthier side. (Yes, we bought low-fat whipped cream.)
In my group of friends, the women follow cookbooks and read food blogs and have a method for the kitchen. The men improvise more often, but everyone makes good food. Is there a difference in how men and women work the stove?
…is the day that I see a Nintendo 64 at a museum. Unfortunately, this has already happened, and my existence now feels like a relic. So sad.
Despite how old an on-going exhibition at the American Art Museum makes me feel, “The Art of Video Games” provoked me to re-think how we interact with game consoles and alternate worlds. Curator Chris Melissinos organized the exhibition to explore how video games are a medium to express our society. He opens the exhibition by asking us, the visitors, if video games might be considered art. After all, video games are visual, they are designed, and they contain elements central to art such as storytelling and the journey of the viewer. Like artistic breakthroughs such as figuring out perspective, video games have also developed since their inception. Today’s games feature lifelike graphics, while the first games such as Pac-Man look simpler with a flat appearance and large pixels.
When Delhi Dhaba in Bethesda Row closed its doors about a year ago, I wasn’t too sad. In my 10+ years of living in the area, I had never once stepped foot into the Indian restaurant probably because family favorite, Raku, was right next door. In Delhi Dhaba’s place, Tandoori Nights opened with a slick, modern interior. Guy, an Indian cuisine fanatic, pulled me into Tandoori Nights one day, and since then, we have become regulars. It didn’t occur to me to write a post about my neighborhood favorite (maybe because I wanted to keep my special Indian place just for me and not you) until I purchased a Groupon for Tandoori recently. Yes, I will always buy online deals for my favorite places – Tandoori Nights, Mia’s Pizza (twice!), etc. Anyway, I am excited to share with you why I love Tandoori Nights so much.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and I think every adult should take his or her mother to dinner or make them a home-made meal. My mother lives in another country, and she visited last week briefly. I took her to newly opened La Forchetta right by American University for an idyllic dinner outside on the patio. She loves Italian food, and some of her favorite haunts in the District include Siroc by McPherson Square and Al Tiramisu in Dupont Circle. My mom even lived in Rome briefly, and really briefly a.k.a. three months, but still, she can be picky about her Italian food. Good thing La Forchetta pleased with a winning combination of well-seasoned food, gracious service, and a flower- and sun-filled patio.
I was browsing Pink Line Project’s list of events this week, when “Handi-Hour” caught my eye. It’s a creative after hour event at the Renwick, one of my favorite museums in DC.
The Renwick Gallery is part of the Smithsonian and celebrates American arts and crafts. It’s tucked away in a small building on Pennsylvania Ave., sitting diagonal from the White House. When my friend, Garrett, and I go museum hopping, a tradition that started in middle school, we’d always visit the Renwick on our way to the Corcoran. The permanent collection is fun and imaginative, and we’d always go see Game Fish by Larry Fuente. We just loved the creativity of the piece and wished we could combine so many disparate, random objects to form a playful swordfish!
Image from http://americanart.si.edu.
Anyway, back to Handi-Hour. Get ready to taste craft beers, socialize, and make your own arts and crafts! The event, which runs from 5:30-8:30pm this Thursday, May 10, combines music, visual art, scavenger hunts, and food and drink. I can’t think of a better excuse to not go home after work. Expert crafters help you make duct tape wallets and t-shirt necklaces. You’re encouraged to bring your own old t-shirt, but the Renwick will also have some shirts in case you forget yours. Remember art class in middle school? I’m hoping Handi-Hour will be like that, where I can just experiment and make crazy looking things to take home.
You must be 21 or older to participate in Handi-Hour, and the admission price is $20, which includes two drink tickets. Hope to see you there!
