Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Inauguration Week Day Five - Thu 1/22

Today?.....we fast.

We go sans food.

We pass the hours with bellies empty.

Why? We're gearing up for dinner in DC on 11th and Pennsylvania tonight at....Fogo de Chao. A Brazilian steakhouse with gobs and gobs of meat. But first, if not food, then what to satiate us?

Beer.

James and I, with all intentions of hitting an art museum or two during the afternoon, decided on the Metro into DC to hit District Chophouse & Brewery for a pre-museum brew. Their delectable Bourbon Stout (aged in Woodford Reserve barrels) is divine. Upon entering, the board states they have a Barack Bock seasonal brew. Well we just MUST try that offering now won't we? Then the lush and velvety Bourbon Stout. Thinking, it IS early, and just an appetizer wouldn't ruin dinner would it? So we break our fast in a matter of an hour and get chicken fingers. But fret not, we're good. Plenty of room for dinner tonight....


With the Barack Bock crossed off our beer ticking list, we discuss the seasonal at Capitol City Brewing, InaugurAle. So, onto the Metro to Union Station and Cap City. InaugurAle was sweet and tasty, which of course was then followed up with their unfiltered version Forty-Four. Finally a coffee stout of coffee stouts, Fuel, was downed as a "dessert beer" this afternoon.

Discussing the InaugurAle at Cap City, it was noted that DC's third brewpub Gordon Biersch also had an InaugurAle on tap. I had it while meeting Jim and Cecile (and Kimberly too) for lunch on Monday. Odd for a lager brewpub to offer an ale, but InaugurLager didn't have the same tone. What are two American Homebrewers Association members to do when GB offers a 10% discount for AHA members? Why we bypass an art museum visit yet again and hop back on the Metro to Gordon Biersch!

The InaugurAle, Gordon Biersch edition, was enjoyed followed by their stellar Schwarzbier. From here, we have a little bit of time to kill before dinner, so let's nab some cigars, shall we? To Georgetown!

The Metro really doesn't serve Georgetown well, which is a shame since it is such a nifty part of town. So, we hopped in a cab to M Street and Wisconsin to Georgetown Tobacco. A meaty Camacho Triple Maduro for James, and a Zino Classic No.6 for me. A really neat shoppe (proper spelling for this establishment) with friendly patrons, friendlier staff, and huge tobacco leaves hanging over the rafters. A dark wood man-cave. Really fun.

So now, we get the call from Monica. She and Kimberly (yes, the four of us got together for the first time since Kimberly's bombshell marital decision. [singing] Awkward....) are on their way to Fogo de Chao. We say our goodbyes to our new cigar friends and hail a cab to 11th and Pennsylvania. It's time for meat!

Fogo de Chao. Gauchos in leather boots with meat on swords bandy about the place! Little coasters, or discs, are involved. Red on one side, green on the other. Ready for meat? Flip your disc to green and watch the gauchos come flying to the table offering meat on swords. Razor sharp knives slice the meat with ultimate ease. Lamb, chicken, filet, 15 different cuts of meat. FIFTEEN!!! Sure there's a delicious salad bar, sure there's tasty side dishes of polenta, mashed potatoes, cheese bread, and fried bananas. But there are FIFTEEN cuts of meat! Have plenbty of meat during this go 'round? Flip your disc to red and chow down. Wow. Gluttonous once again.

Uncomfortably full, James, Monica, and I retire away to Alexandria. Ugh, we're so full....

No comments: