Frank Ruta’s Palena [On The Road/BurgeReview: Washington DC]

I had the chance to have another quick diner in Washington before taking my plane, and just by chance found that James Beard award winner chef Frank Ruta has a place called Palena that serves one of the best burgers in the US according to the Food & Wine magazine. 

The Place

Palena

Got to the place, three venues in one, a fine dining with a taste menu, a  café  with a more casual menu, and a foodie paradise market. The burger is at the  café, the place is relax, café style, friendly staff, a decent bar, saw the menu just to check and order the Palena cheeseburger with pickles and shoestring fries. 

Inside

The burger is full of flavour and not pretentious, well just a bit, Kobe beef patty, perfectly cooked, juicy, the special garlic mayo is excellent, some herbs and a little of spicy touch, I just love when they take their time to produce a home made sauce that plays well with the burger, melted Sottocenere al tartufo truffled cheese superb, the shoestring fries were outstanding, crispy outside and soft inside, they fried them cover on rice flour, and that gives and excellent touch. 

Palena Cheeseburger

Shoestring fries

I can say I think I might have found my favourite burger in DC 

Burger time

Flights remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Airport” 

Elaine: Wait up! 

Jerry: You see? Never be late for a plane with a girl. Because a girl runs like a girl, with the little steps and the arms flailing out, you want to make this plane, you've got to run like a man! Get your knees up!

Palena

T: +1 202 537 9250

European Cuisine

Approx Damage: $26pp

Area: Cleveland Park

Washington DC

Twitter: DCpalena

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Spike has a Pizza in DC [On The Road/PizzAttack: Washington D.C.]

Back in DC for a quick stop before continue to Charleston so instead of staying in the boring One World lounge of the airport decided to go explore a bit the US Capital. You know big fan of Top Chef, Yada Yada Yada, Spike Mendelsohn has a burger joint and literally beside it’s his pizza joint We, The Pizza. 

The place

I was keen to go for it as the burger was nice, not great but quite decent, messy, a little bit smallish but good flavours, so the pizza might be a surprise. Got to the place, nobody on the counter, a couple clients waiting to get their orders, it was a chaos and the staff couldn't care less. I wait at least more than 5 min in front of the counter with nobody in front of me and no staff to take my order, unbelievable. 

Lonely counter

Pizza trays

Options

Finally ordered a beer and two slices, Spicy Mexican and sausages and peppers. Sat with my buzzer waiting to get my slices, and overheard the table besides impressed with the size of the pies. Got my call, and they were right the slices were big completely opposite to the petite burger next door, these guys are going for quantity. 

Pizza time

Spicy Mexican came with tomato sauce mozzarella,, chicken, peppers, onions, chipotle, cilantro, Mexican spices, and a splash of lime, not to good, spices mild, not even a spicy punch, and to be honest not a big fan of chicken on a pizza as always gets overcooked, surprise it was overcooked! Then sausages and peppers, tomato sauce, mozzarella, homemade Italian sausage, oven roasted peppers, fennel seeds, and fresh basil, a little bit better, sweet peppers blah! Not the combination I was looking for, and finally home made Italian sausage? Seriously I have been in Italy sorry that’s not home made Italian sausage. 

Bere our birra responsibly! Nice!

At least it was a nice crust, even they were reheated, the beer was good, and the day was awesome, sadly We, The Pizza didn't deliver. 

You got to love DC

I got a pizza Yada Yada Yada wasn’t good, that brings to mind Seinfeld episode “The Yada Yada” 

Marcy: You know, a friend of mine thought she got Legionary’s disease in the hot tub 

George: Really? What happened? 

Marcy: Oh, yada yada yada, just some bad egg salad. I'll be right back 

Jerry: I noticed she's big on the phrase yada yada 

George: Is yada yada bad? 

Jerry: No, yada yada is good. She's very succinct 

George: She is succinct 

Jerry: Yeah, it's like you're dating USA Today

We, The Pizza

T: +1 202 544 4008

Pizza

Approx Damage: $13pp

Area: Capitol Hill

Washington DC

Twitter: chefspike

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Spike has a burger in DC

You should know I’m a big fan of Top Chef, I love the show, and as a result I try to visit the restaurants of the contestants or chefstants. In my last visit to DC I discovered that Spike Mendelsohn opened two restaurants there, a pizza place and a burger joint, actually one beside the other. Quite good if you want to check how your places are doing, or too lazy to move more than a couple metres, don’t know, don’t care. 

The Place

I convinced my colleagues to go to the burger place, Good Stuff Eatery, a nice place, apparently a favourite of Michelle Obama, potential to franchise which is good for Spike bad for the punters as I think it losses a little of the magic and mystery of being an independent restaurant. They opened in 2008, family operation, but hoping to grow across the country, it’s nice if he’s involving all the family on the business, apparently is already expanding as two new locations will be opening soon, quite simple offering, handcrafted burgers, handcut fries, handspun shakes, and fresh salads with fresh quality ingredients. 

Logo

There wasn't a big queue, just enough to made my head around the menu, but the place was packed, I ordered the Prez Obama Burger, what can be better than the actual USA leader of the free world named in a burger, applewood bacon, onion marmalade, Roquefort cheese, and horseradish mayo sauce, as a side Spike’s village fries, and some onion petals. 

Where the magic happens

Tasty Wreck

Burger was wrapped and served as any take away place, it has the look of a really greasy, cheap but tasty place, something like the ones you get in this small corner vendors that only the locals know about. The flavour was good, juices all over the place, a complete tasty disaster which is good, my only complaint it was too little, seriously! Fine dining portions for fast greasy food! It’s a burger joint not L’Atelier of Spike. Fries were good, the thyme, rosemary, and sea salt seasoning is great. 

As it comes

Burger Time or Burger Tasty Wreck

Onion Petals

Nice burger, good flavours, not the most good looking one, and extremely small, you will have to order two as one is not enough, at least for me, strategy or naive, like Phil Collins would say I don’t care anymore. Go judge by yourself it's good stuff.

Cowbell

Chef reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Pie” when Jerry saw that Poppy didn’t wash his hands after using the toilet. 

George: How could he not have washed? 

Jerry: Even if you're not going to soap up, at least pretend for my benefit. Turn the water on, do something 

George: Yeah, just like I do 

Jerry: You know a chef who doesn't wash is like a cop who steals. It's a cry for help, he wants to get caught

Good Stuff Eaterie

T: +1 202 543 8222

Burgers

Aprox Damage: $15pp

Neighbourhood: Capitol Hill

Washington DC

Twitter: chefspike

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Italian Top Chef in Washington

One of my favourite reality TV shows is definitely Top Chef, so every time I visit a city I checked if there is a restaurant or any of the chefs are working around the city, well in Washington Mike Isabella who was a cheftestant from season 6 and season 8 (All Stars) where he ended as a runner up in the final, opened a restaurant to give you the chance to try his food.

Top Chef Season 8 Final Mike and Richard (Copyright © Bravo Media LLC)

An Italian tapas place called Graffiato, with the chance to get a special menu where Mike decide what you’re going to eat. There is everything there, vegetables dishes, salads, soups, pasta, pizza, ham & cure meats, cheese, bone marrow, and even pork belly. All these in an industrial environment a little informal yet cozy.

Graffiato

Inside

Got with a couple of colleagues, asked for pony beers, yes a Coronita bucket, and a couple dishes each to share and try different things. First a flatbread with pepperoni sauce yes the same one from the episode 16 “The Finale”, awesome the sauce took it to the next level, then we got crispy Brussels sprouts with pancetta, maple, and egg, the sprouts were superb probably the best dish of the day, following wild boar with chestnut, apple, and aged balsamic, which was excellent, then a roasted potato gnocchi with black truffle, and wild mushroom, the gnocchi was tasty and perfectly cooked, and finally the pork belly which was superb.

Pony Beer

Pony Bucket

Gnocchi

The Star of the Day Brussels Sprouts

Faltbread

Boar

Fish Time

Pork Belly

I think Mike hit a grand slam here, the food was superb, the service great, I would love to eat at Graffiato at least once a week.

Graffiato Art

Finals remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Finale”

Robber: Alright fatso, out of the car

Kramer: I want to capture this

Robber: Come on! Give me your wallet

Victim: Don't shoot

Jerry: Well, there goes the money for the lipo

Elaine: See, the great thing about robbing a fat guy is it's an easy getaway. You know? They can't really chase you!

George: He's actually doing him a favour. It's less money for him to buy food

Graffiato

T: +1 202 289 3600

Italian tapas

Neighbourhood: Judiciary Square

Washington DC

Twitter: Graffiato

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Ben’s Chili Bowl: A True D.C. Landmark

Again thanks to Bourdain and his No Reservation Washington episode I went to Ben’s Chili Bowl, the place is an institution, even president Obama and Sarkozy have had a chili dog there, and during the riot after Martin Luther King assassination, the place was granted a permit to operate after curfew hours and serve food and shelter to the activists, firefighters, and public servants. The place was open to business on August 22 1958 by Ben and Virginia Ali. Located on U street, by that time known as the Black Broadway, the place was frequented by Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Bill Cosby, and even Martin Luther King Jr.

Washington Landmark on U street

The place can’t be more diverse, I was sitting beside a group of Georgetown students, and in the bar also a homeless guy that was asking for money outside the place, everybody enjoying the food with a jukebox playing Michael Jackson songs in the original booths, stools, and counter since they open back in 1958.

Where the magic happens

I ordered the original chili half smoked, a ¼ pound half pork and beef smoked sausage, with mustard, onions, and their signature spicy homemade chili sauce, as a side cheese fries. The chili dogs were great, amazing smoky flavour, and the sauce is excellent.

What is better than 1 chili dog... 2 chili dogs

Too much history in that place, is a must if you’re in the District, and in top of that the food is simple but good.

Say Cheese Fries

Hot dogs remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Chaperone” when Jerry starts dating Miss Rhode Island.

Jerry: Hot dog?

Miss Rhode Island: No, thanks. I'm watching my weight.

Jerry: Ah. I'm watching my height. My doctor doesn't want me to get any taller. So you're Miss, uh...

Miss Rhode Island: Rhode Island.

Jerry: I was almost Mr. Coffee. They felt I was a little too relaxed.

El Jaleo of Jose Andres

Watching Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservation episode in Washington I discovered a Spanish chef from Asturias that moved to D.C. and is the owner of 6 restaurants in the area. Jose Andres trained at El Bulli, and credited for taking the tapas concept to the USA. The restaurant I wanted to try was Minibar which was completely full, actually, you have to reserve with months in advance, so I decided to try his fine dining tapas restaurant Jaleo.

Jose Andres Jaleo

Just waiting for the tapas

The place has a distinctive modern Spanish atmosphere, service adequate for a fine dining establishment, I spend at least 15 minutes trying to decide which dishes to try, everything looked amazing. At the end I went for pimientos del piquillo filled with goat cheese, duck rice Jean-Louis Palladin (which is rice with duck confit, duck breast, and foie gras cream), lomo de buey (grilled hanger steak), and finally bombas de la Barceloneta (mashed potato fritters with goat cheese and Catalan pork sausage). To drain the pipe I tried the Bloody Gazpacho which is a twist of a Bloody Mary.

Pimientos del piquillo 

Barcelonetas

Duck Rice

Lomo

The food was unbelievable, amazing as expected, I’m not able to choose a favourite dish because all were top notch, and the Bloody Gazpacho was just great, the only comparison of this experience is in my trips to Spain.

Bloody Gazpacho

Gazpacho reminds me the Seinfeld episode "The Soup Nazi".

Kramer: How can I possibly thank you?

Soup Nazi: You are the only one who understands me.

Kramer: You suffer for your soup.

Soup Nazi: Yes. That is right.

Kramer: You demand perfection from yourself, from your soup.

Soup Nazi: How can I tolerate any less from my customer?

Customer: Uh, gazpacho, por favor.

Soup Nazi: Por favor?

Customer: Um, I'm part Spanish.

Soup Nazi: Adios muchacho!

Kramer: Git.