Post-Race Brunch: The Heights

I am not a morning person.  Not at all.  If I'm going to wake up before 8 am there had better be a good reason like "if you don't get up and go to work, eventually you will be fired" or "if you don't get up and go to the airport, you will miss your flight to Miami" or "if you get up now you can have peanut butter, run 5 miles, and then have brunch."  

Pre-race fuel.

We found a stowaway in MG's gym bag. 

Sadly, he wasn't registered, so we had to leave him at home.

This morning involved the last.  MG and several of our friends and I ran the Navy 5 Miler around the Pentagon.  It was my first race of the fall season (I have 4 more to go), and it was great!  For the first time, I really felt ready for a race.  I've run a few races now, and generally I feel like I *can* do it, but not that I'm necessarily as prepared as I could/should be.  But this was probably the first race I've ever run where I felt like I was truly ready.

He loves it when I force him to pose for pictures at 6:15 a.m.

Despite some threat of rain in the forecast, the weather held, and although the humidity was less than desirable, overall we had good weather.  I was really proud of how well the race went for me.  I achieved my goal and ran a PR, and felt good throughout the race, despite not being very good at operating my watch or keeping an eye out for mile markers. 

Afterwards we came back, took showers (and had a much needed cup of coffee) and then headed out to a restaurant in our neighborhood for brunch.  Despite being a stone's throw away, I'd still never been to the Heights, so we decided that we'd take advantage of the weather and enjoy our breakfasts and beverages on their patio.

I treated myself to a Bloody Mary (my favorite drink, and not just because it comes with olives to snack on) and MG had a Bell's beer (I can't remember what kind).

 

Celebrating one race down!

For brunch I ordered the spinach, tomato and zucchini benedict, which came with an awesome spicy tomato sauce (I do not like Hollandaise).  

One of the better Benedicts I've had, and I do consider myself a connoisseur.

MG ordered the huevos motulenos, which was an awesome combination of black beans, chicken, plantains and avocado, with two eggs any style on top.  Although my dish was really delicious, after I had a bite of MG's I had a little bit of buyer's remorse.  I should have known that anything with "plaintains" in the ingredient list would be the best choice.  But, there will be a next time :)

If you look carefully, you can see a plantain peeking out from under the eggs.

We shared home fries and fruit salad - I wasn't impressed with the home fries, they were a little soggy and didn't have a lot of flavor.  The ones at Busboys and Poets are definitely better.  

Melon.

Although I'll probably need a nap later, it's always exciting to feel so accomplished (and so contentedly full) before noon on a Sunday!  Totally worth the early morning alarm.  

Dining Out in the City of Brotherly Love

Over the weekend, MG and I went on our second (and my third) weekend trip in a row.  This time, we headed off to Pennsylvania for the wedding of one of MG's college friends.  We had a great time at the wedding!

Sunday morning we got up early and after a workout in the Holiday Inn Express fitness room (where apparently the circuit can't handle 2 treadmills and the TV all operating at once) we drove to Philadelphia to meet up with MG's parents, younger brother and family friends for lunch.  I had only been to Philadelphia once before (so I'm told - I think I was about 4 years old), so we arrived early and did a little sightseeing.  We toured the Old Quaker Meeting House and the Christ Church Cemetery where Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush are buried.  It was very cool, but there are so many other things I'd like to see, so we definitely have a full weekend trip planned sometime in the next year.

 

For lunch we went to the Old City neighborhood where MG's parents had made a reservation at Fork.  It was a fantastic meal with great food and great company!

We started with a roll service - I selected the whole grain and MG had the fruit and nut.  Although there were a lot of really delicious-looking options on the brunch menu, I knew immediately what I wanted when I saw butternut squash soup with toasted pepitas.  I am a sucker for all squash (it might be my favorite veggie ever.  Except for eggplant.  And avocado.  Hmmm...) and the the cooler weather has got me all excited for fall flavors.  I also had a pickled beet salad with garden vegetables, chevre and a lemony aioli dressing.  Beets - another favorite of mine (I'm going to just take it all back and not pick a favorite veggie).

 

Tastes of fall and summer, all in one meal!

MG had fruit salad and a frittata with potatoes, green olives, tomato sauce and almonds.

 

After lunch we stopped for coffees at a local shop and then walked over to Reading Terminal Market.  I was really excited to visit, because I am a big fan of big indoor markets, but unfortunately about 1/3 of the booths were closed on Sundays.  We did find an awesome little shop that sold lots of fun kitchen items and bought some cookie cutters and two mini-springform pans!  I am a sucker for mini-baking items.  I can't wait to make a mini-cheesecake or two.  They are just so cute :)

We spotted this storefront next to the coffeeshop.  I have no idea what it is. 

Possibly something from a Stephen King novel? Obviously I had to take a picture.

We got a little lost on our way here.

Trotters.

 

Why don't we have this in D.C.? I love Eastern Market, but this is way better...

Finally we headed back to the car for the return trip to D.C.  It was a great weekend, although I have to be honest - I'm really excited about the next three weekends at home before we kick off our October of crazy travel.  Despite all the busy-ness though, we have found time to cook here and there, so I promise there will be some recipes in the near future!

Dining Out: Surprise Brunch at Tabard Inn!

MG and I like to plan surprise dates for each other - in July, I took him on a surprise day trip to Annapolis. Today was his turn to surprise me, and he did!

We went to the Tabard Inn for brunch. The Tabard Inn is a lovely old hotel in Dupont Circle. It's still operational and also has a gorgeous dining room and lounge area on the first floor. The decor is all dark wood and antique knick-knacks - but in an old Victorian library sort of way, not in a chintzy grandma sort of way.

The Tabard Inn brunch is well-known in D.C. and MG had to make a reservation a month ago to make sure we got a table. I am so glad we did, because this was a seriously good brunch.

We started off enjoying the basket of breakfast breads they placed on the table - focaccia and little mini pineapple muffins.  So good! I had a cup of coffee, of course (there was a brief moment where I almost ordered a Bloody Mary, but decided I'd rather indulge in the food).

Everything on the menu looked fantastic and we had a hard time choosing. I was tempted to order the Cuban sandwich, but I reminded myself I'd be having plenty of the real thing in Miami in a few weeks, so I resisted. In the end MG went with the huevos rancheros on housemade corn tortillas with a side of applewood smoked bacon, and I had eggs benedict with Tasso ham (Hollandaise on the side) and a side of homefries.

I tried to take pictures, but it was dark in the dining room and I didn't want to disturb the other diners with the flash, so you'll have to imagine the colors on the plate :) 

We were both very happy with our decisions, although I must say, after trying MG's, I think I might have to order that next time. My eggs, however, were perfectly poached. The homefries were just the way I like them - big chunks of roasted potato with sauteed onions and just a few herbs...mmm! The portions were perfect, too. We were both full, but not overly stuffed (although MG did say that the side of bacon was probably unnecessary).

To make up for the poor food photo quality, I did get some lovely pictures of the Inn to share.

I took this picture and the next in the restroom because the art and the yellow walls were awesome. 

Is it weird to take pictures of a restaurant restroom? Maybe. What are you going to do about it?

The lobby of the Tabard Inn.

The stairs leading up to the guest rooms. 

I especially like the Three Penny Opera poster on the landing.

On the way home we passed some books someone had left out for people to take. I picked up four (I love books), including the Life of Pi and the Phantom Tollbooth. Fancy brunch + free books = Sunday FTW!