Best of DC 2011

It's that time of year kids!  Where the best of the best are nominated and chosen by the readers of the Washington City Paper in their "Best of" competition.  I always enjoy voting in the "Best of" competition because I feel like it is a true reflection of what DC wants and likes.  And this year we are throwing our main man, Todd Gray, into the pool an d would love for you to support and vote for him in the "Best Chef" category.  So please vote and support Todd and all that he has done for DC!

Budding Chefs

All pictures taken by Dani of Dos Gildas.  Check out the blog: www.dosgildas.com

The boys of St. Albans came by for a cooking class and we had a blast having the boys back in the kitchen.  Fun was definitely had by all, and they learned about different cooking techniques and produce, practiced their cutting skills, and even got to use a molcajete, or mortar and pestle, to add some spice to their guacamole. 

And of course after all was said and done they got to eat all of it, which was definitely their favorite part of the class.

Not too shabby boys, not shabby at all.

Sugar Rush

Who let the dogs out? Okay, so that was a completely predictable way to start out but my creativity may be lacking with the amount of sugar rushing through my system.  To say that this event was a success is an understatement.  This year's Sugar & Champagne exceeded all our expectations, with even more restaurants and wineries participating and the happy new addition of our local food trucks.  Why have been people gone to the dogs over this event?  Oh, I don't know it could be this....

Or this.....

Or even this...

I am seriously in love with that little goober above.  I wish I could have just swooped him up and taken him home.  But instead I picked up this cannoli and hoped that calories ingested for charity don't count. 

Cupcakes, brownies, donuts, gelato, cookies, panna cotta, mousse, eclairs.  Any sweet you could desire was there.  My personal favorites were ones with a touch of savoriness to them.  Like the donut and hot chocolate from Cork.

The donut was rolled in a mix of cinnamon, sugar, salt, and cardamom, which took this simple sweet treat to a whole new level.  I wanted to take them all, but had so many more things to try.  

And then there was the sea salt gelato and candied pork belly from Kushi.  

This was absolutely unreal.  That's all that needs to be said.  

The creativity that all of our amazing pastry chefs brought was truly unbelievable.

                                      

                                      

                                      

Yes, there were definitely plenty of sweets and bubbly, but when it comes down to it, people come to support the Washington Humane Society.  We are all animal lovers and it shows.