Taste your way in DC: "Taste of DC" 2015

I love food festival, because you can always taste your own way around. For me, last weekend at “Taste of DC” was to volunteer and get free admission in return, explore the vendors and DC restaurants, observe and get inspired! 

First, let's check out the video and take a tour!

Volunteer is the the most REAL job that grows from one’s heart.

Who says volunteer is not a real job? I always feel that volunteer is the real time to esteem myself, other than a full time job, I always have a strong sense of achievement when helping out! I really enjoyed meeting and talking with a range of people from different fields who came to help and attend the food festival, no one was forced to volunteer, but everyone was enjoying from his heart!

The event was not flawless.

Things are hard to be perfect, so is “Taste of DC”. I noticed three defects that are better to be improved:

1.  Fall of personnel risk. The venue was nice and surrounded by all the beautiful scenes of DC, however, there were delineators on the center of the road (Pennsylvania Ave NW) which became a barrier for the guest, the guests may get stumbled especially after alcohol!

2.  There was no line control in front of each vendor, it was sometimes hard to pass through the crowd. It would be better to set up a waiting line and let other guests to pass behind the line.

3.  The event was unsustainable in some way. Such as the huge barbeque machine of the smoked rib which released all the carbon dioxide to the air. I suggest the event planner should regulate on this next year.

You don't want to miss these restaurants in DC.

1. Luke’s lobster roll

I’ve been heard of Luke’s Lobster for so long, but this was the first time for me to try, the lobster meat was very fresh, sweet and firm, it deserves its reputation!

Address and website:

          PENN QUARTER
624 E St NW

         GEORGETOWN
1211 Potomac St NW

http://lukeslobster.com

2. Smith and Wollensky

A good thing about the food festival is you can get cheap bites from fine dining restaurants. I have tried the stake at “Smith and Wollensky” in New York City and it was definitely the best stake I’d ever had. The Restaurant is famous for many reasons and “Warren Buffett’s charity lunch” is one of them.

Address and website:

1112 19th Street NW

Washington, DC 20036

https://smithandwollensky.com/locations-2/washington-d-c/

3. El Chu cho

Isn't the name sounds cool? El Chu Cho is a Mexican, homemade and inexpensive restaurant. “Elote Callejero”, which is a street style corn on the cob, was recommended by one of our interviewees (you may have seen in the video). It was just delicious and I can’t wait to explore more in their restaurant!

Address and website:

3313 11^th St. NW

http://www.elchuchodc.com

Overall it was a good experience, and I will definitely come back to volunteer and enjoy next year! Last but not least, thanks for everyone who helped us with the video, and thanks for my roommate Daniella, we hit it off so well and we hang out every time with simple joy!

Eat at Taste of D.C.

Taste of D.C.
October 11, 2015 12p.m. to 7p.m.
Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Street

WOW, going to need bigger sized pants after Taste of D.C. The food, the music, the weather all summed up to a wonderful afternoon in the District...let me walk you through it. After much humming and hawing over whether or not to attend Taste of D.C. this afternoon, my boyfriend, Jonah, and I agreed to make the trek off of our Foggy Bottom bubble to Federal Triangle. We committed to the event and purchased our tickets online, glad we did because we were able to cut the line when we arrived.

The sense of arrival was okay: many cow-herding gates as I like to call it, a simple banner, and some white tents. As we crossed the street to the entrance, Jonah and I understood we were headed in the right direction, however were unsure if we could enter from the right or left side of the street. I decided we should forge ahead on the path we were on, and I like to point out I was right. (Although, you could of entered from either side...excellent crowd control set-up.) We shuffled through the twist and turns of the gate to the first check point: ID check. Other than the man having trouble reading my Pennsylvania license we continued on with no problem. Second check: bag check and thankfully we know better than to bring a bag so again we got to skip the line. Third check: ticket scan. All in all, Jonah and I made it through the line in about 2 minutes.

Once we were inside, it was a little overwhelming. There we a couple of stands both food and sponsors shouting at us, people stopped in the middle trying to figure out what was going on, and tables. I think they should have pushed it back maybe a couple of yards so it was less in your face.

Jonah, hungry turning on hangry, quickly spotted a Plan B Burger hut and dragged the mapped-reading me over to the line. Holy cow, that was probably one of the best burgers I have ever had (pun inteded?). A classic beef patty with a sliver of cheddar cheese on a heavenly soft brioche bun, can I please have 10 more?  Satisfied with our first choice, we decided to walk along the road taking the paths less taken by pedestrians. See most people huddled to the left side of the road, while Jonah and I split to the right heading towards wine alley. It was a nice D.C. spot choice because the road made the visitor naturally circumambulate the area. Thankfully, because the map was a little confusing so it was easier to just roll with it. We passed all the wine, spirits, and beer tasting tents wanting to save our money for food and stopped next at an alcohol-infused ice cream food truck in front of the main concert stage. Yep, alcohol-infused ice cream, it was crazy good! Ours was a chocolate cookie core with vanilla and bourban ice cream coated in a milk chocolate shell, we split it 80% me and 20% Jonah.

We really enjoyed our spot in front of the stage where some indie punk band was playing so we walked a few tents back to The Pittsburgh Grill to grab a Cajun chicken and cheese sandwich, we both had our eyes on, to then return and eat while jammin'. It was maybe 1:00 p.m. and the grill already ran out! As Jonah decided between wings or a steak and cheese sandwich, I looked around to notice a bunch of other places had crossed out items on their menu. Strange being only one hour into the event. Did the event planner miscalculate how many people per tent a restaurant would get or was the restaurant ill-prepared? Either way for next time, I hope the counts are a little better.

Jonah decided on a steak and cheese, while a little greasy for my liking, it was pretty delicious with the hot sauce. We stood at our high-boy table and listened to the band for a couple songs until I decided I was ready for my free drink. Part of the admission fee got you one free drink ticket and a voucher to a bowl at Shophouse. The beverage tents were not hard to spot. I think I counted almost every 6 tents was a green sign marking the Beverage location. Since it was sponsored by Stella, both of us found it only appropriate to have one. We picked up our canned Stella (him beer, me cider) and were quickly hunted by Roadie rep who gave us a coozie. Those reps were on it, at every beverage tents--I think the event probably had 15 different brands of coozies going. I was happy, because my drink definitely would've gotten warm.

Next, we stopped at Uprising Muffin company, who doesn't love a mini muffin? Then the goodnessknows free samples (that's where our GW Athletics shout out is from). Finally, ended on a Jamaican restaurant where I purchased something called a Beef patty but looked like an empanadas. Jonah and I both agreed it was the best food we had there. Tired, stuffed and unfortunately out of money we made our way out about three hours later.

The Taste of D.C. was amazingly fun. My only negative was that it was so expensive. The admission was $20. Then the food was priced on top of it. While on the website it said food was $1 to $4, the prices were more like $2 to $8. However, it was a great time with great company so well worth it.