April in France and Belguim-continue

 Later in the month, we enjoyed a vigorous game of doubles tennis and then cruised over Chain Bridge to Et Voila on MacArthur Blvd. for lunch.  It was a cold and rainy day so we were looking for some warm and comforting food.  The Chef at Et Voila is from Belgium.  Our waiter was very friendly and appeared to have a French accent.  The attractive space is small and narrow with a small bar.  The restaurant prides itself on serving natural, local grown produce.  Once again, Kari and Dad enjoyed the same dish:  Casserole de Moules Diable Pommes Frites, succulent steamed mussels in flavorful garlic white wine sauce with tomatoes, shallots and tasty lobster bisque.  A side of crispy Belgium fries accompanied the large bowls with lids.  Mayo and ketchup were ordered to dip the yummy fries in.  Delicious bread and butter was enjoyed in the remaining broth.  Lori ordered the Sandwich de Homard et Ses Chips au Panais, a delicious and moist lobster sandwich with parsnip chips and mache salad.  It tasted divine.  Sheri enjoyed the warm melted Guyere cheese over white ham on a toasted thin slice of delicious french bread.  The Tartine Parisienne et sa Salade Verte came with lightly dressed greens.  Pleasant ambiance and staff.  Good food.  Worth a visit.  http://www.etvoiladc.com

April in France and Belguim

 

Well, not really but we did have a great April enjoying the Picasso exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond followed by lunch at Can Can Brasserie in Carytown, and later in the month tennis and lunch at Et Voila on MacArthur Blvd, in DC.

The Picasso exhibit was fabulous, but we were extremely impressed with the architecture of the museum, fabulous gift shops with friendly volunteers and staff, and expansive space with tremendous windows and light for numerous exhibits.  The Amuse, its restaurant, is very chic and contemporary with lots of windows. The museum is well worth the drive.  Visit http://www.vmfa.state.va.us

Can Can is fun and very Parisienne in its decor and feel.  It was a beautiful day so the large front windows were open.  It has a massive bar, high ceilings, fans, dark wood, and tin ceiling.  Our waitress was super friendly and Dad enjoyed talking to her about traveling in France.  Dad and Kari enjoyed the savory Bouillabaisse with shrimp, mussels, clams and fish in a saffron, rouille tomato-fennel broth served with warm and doughy bread and crispy frites..  Lori loved the tasty Braised Lamb Sandwich with rosemary aiole, braised cabbage, and citrus and chickpea salad.  Sheri enjoyed the light and flavorful Roasted Chicken Salad with arugula, apricot, pistachio and lemon herbes aioli.  We have been here once before and definitely plan to come back for great atmosphere and good food.  http://www.cancanbrasserie.com

Kari's weekend continues

Back to our home away from home for our sunset cocktail hour with hummus, pita, olives and carrots.  We quickly freshened up and we were back on the road again going north to the big city.  Our friends who own the condo strongly recommended Catch 31 in the Hilton on the boardwalk.  Talk about chic, cavernous, open space with huge modern lights hanging from the ceiling, circular booths, open kitchen with eating bar, and huge lounge area with bar and flat screen TVs for the March Madness crowd.  Sheri was disappointed with our table.  While it was a window seat, it was in the corner away from the action and she was facing a wall.  We had called several times to let the staff know this was a special occasion so our table was a disappointment at least to Sheri.  The waiter was a little stiff initially rattling off the specials and how to read the menu.  However, by the end of the evening, we made him laugh and he warmed up to us.  Now to what you really care about...the food.  It did not disappoint.  Broiled fresh mahi mahi and rockfish served with savory risotto carbona, moist oyster mushrooms, tasty pancetta, brown butter spinach and chive oil (love the lime green color).  Need we say more....The other entree we shared was perfect fettuccine with sauteed fresh shrimp and chicken in a gorgeous gorgonzola cream sauce, roasted tomatoes, and pepper.  Our taste buds were in heaven. www.catch31.com  Off to see the moon!!!

Back to Aqua Boogie for Mums champagne (Mom and Dad's favorite) and yummy chocolate cupcakes from Pastry Expo in Merrifield.   Kari opened gifts wearing a silver and pink tiara and purple feathered boa.

Day 3

We toasted off the new day with bagels, salmon, cream cheese, fresh fruit, juice and left over cupcakes.  Having picked up Starbuck's the day before, we nuked the coffee and enjoyed hot beverages.  We sadly packed up and loaded the car realizing the weekend went by too fast.  We drove down to the Back Bay Park at the end of Sandbridge and walked among the dunes to the beach.  Very windy and cold, but sunny.  No one else was there so we had the beach all to ourselves.  After an hour of walking, we were in the car heading north to Bubba's Seafood Restaurant & Crab House on Shore Drive. However we got tangled up in another marathon and it took one and a half hours to get to North Beach following detours.  Saw some beautiful neighborhoods though.  Bubba's was on the water and we sat on the covered deck.  Great view watching boats coming into the marina.  Broiled fresh tilapia (catch of the day) and crab cake ("Absolutely the best") sandwiches with fries, lettuce, tomato, onion and ice tea.  Simple but so delightful.  Never ate so much seafood in a short period of time like this weekend. www.bubbasseafoodrestaurant.com

 Stuffed with seafood we headed home the back way via Route 17.  Pretty countryside and nice ride until we got to Fredericksburg.  Both Route 1 and I-95 were backed up so it was a very long ride home, but the memories and chance to be together more than made up for the hassle.  Great sisters.  Great Memories.  Great Restaurants.  Now that is something to talk about.  (It took us a week of diet and exercise to lose our "weekend" weight.  Can't wait for Lori's 50th next year.)

"Kidnapped" Kari for her 45th to VA Beach

A couple of weeks ago, Lori and Sheri "kidnapped" Kari for her 45th birthday which really isn't until April 22.  We had a glorious weekend at friend's very cool condo facing Back Bay in Sandbridge.  The weather couldn't have been better...87 and sunny when we arrived.  We did lots of fun things including eating at some great restaurants (see notes below)...checking out the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia and Virginia Aquarium, cruising the boardwalk with all the Shamrock marathon runners and families, and walking the beach.  Cocktails and yummy appetizers were enjoyed on the balcony overlooking Back Bay and the beautiful sunsets.  We got a call from Dad on Saturday evening telling us to look at the biggest moon ever...so we did after dinner at Catch 31 on the beach.  It was spectacular.

Day 1
So to keep Kari on her toes guessing our final destination, we stopped off at Old Chickahominy House for lunch in Williamsburg.  Friends told Lori it was a place we just had to go to enjoy southern food.  Very small and old--some of the building is over 200 years old--although there is a large gift shop, and the restaurant was full of regulars. No reservations although we got on the list before we left home so we didn't have too wait long. Basically you get  unsweetened or sweetened tea.  Then you get flat rectangular biscuits which was a real surprise for us, ham, chicken and dumplings, and they really push the pie.  They thought we were weird not wanting any pie.    Being a Lenten Friday, Sheri had veggie Brunswick stew which was more like veggie soup. Biscuits were great even though they were flat and rectangular instead of round and deep.  Ham salty good.  Chicken and dumplings tasty and very filling.  www.oldchickahominy.com.

 After settling into our condo  (Aqua Boogie in The Sanctuary), we took a walk on the beach and saw a pod of dolphins flying out of the water and twirling around to our amusement.  When we decided we walked off lunch, we headed back to the condo to enjoy cocktails, nachos, fresh salsa and guacamole, and watched a beautiful sunset over Back Bay.  Ready for dinner, we skipped across the street to Baja Bayview Lounge & Grill.  It doesn't look like much on the outside but is very cute inside.  A little surprising it isn't more open to the bay views though.  (Dave Matthews mom lives nearby and sometimes he just shows up and plays until it gets too crowded.) Waitress was fabulous.  Above picture to the left is Angry Mussels which Kari, who loves mussels, and Lori enjoyed for the first time.  Lori was a little skimish but gave it a try.  They were served with a flavorful broth and toasted bread.  Sheri is allergic to shellfish which is a bummer.  We enjoyed mouth watering panko crusted flounder with crabmeat and spinach salad with grilled tuna and sweet vidalia onion vinaigrette.  Yummy all around.  http://hamptonroads.com/2009/06/baja-bar-and-grille-offers-sunset-views-live-music

Day 2

After a good night sleep, breakfast of yogurt, berries and delicious muffins from Greenberry's in McLean, we were off to Virginia Beach.  We stopped off at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia and saw an incredible exhibit by Marc Sijan.  The sculptures of people, many of his friends and family, are so real-like...muscles, facial expressions, veins, skin, everything.  You got to check it out. The museum is beautiful too and there was a great exhibit by area students as well. www.cacv.org

Back in the car, we drove a short distance and parked at 25th Street.  So excited to see the Norwegian Statue honoring American and Norwegian sailors who perished after a ship wreck.  We cruised up and down the boardwalk with thousands of exhausted runners (many dressed in St. Patty's day attire and colors) and their families with cameras and signs.  It was sunny with a chill in the air and slightly windy, but beautiful.  So fabulous being outside, hearing the waves breaking, and basking in the sun.

After all that walking (we must have burned off a couple of hundred calories at least), our minds turned to lunch.  To Mahi Mah's we headed for some more scrumptious seafood.  Wanting a nice ocean view and being warmed up from our physical exertion, we sat outside.  However, the inside of the restaurant was very cozy and attractive with a sparkling aquarium full of coral and brightly colored exotic fish.  Huge dark wood bar too.  Our waitress was nice, but a little busy and service was inconsistent.  We started off with avocado rolls which were delish.  Kari enjoyed a tasty Bloody Mary...it is her birthday weekend after all and the runners seated next to us were lapping them up. Crispy lightly fried tilapia tacos with shredded cabbage, cheddar cheese, chipotle sour cream, rice and beans, and a giant stuffed yellow fin tuna burrito arrived shortly after.  As you can see from the photo above, it was GIANT.  Fries, fresh tomato salsa, lettuce, jack cheese, sour cream and beans joined the burrito.  Tangy and spicy sauces heightened the flavor of the dishes.  Tasty all around.  Another home run.  www.mahimahs.com


Now it was time to burn off those calories although we were eating pretty healthfully.  Drive down the road a piece to the Virginia Aquarium which is packed with families.  As aquariums go, it was very nice and we got to pet some sting rays. www.virginiaaquarium.com.