Let's talk about Washington DC Eats Day 1

I was sick as a dog this past weekend so my meals for the week are the same as last. Since I already posted about those meals, I thought I would take you on a brief  memory road and share what I ate when I vacationed in Washington DC. If last week's WIAW theme was "Full of Green" then this weeks theme might just be the opposite of that. 

Onto the food for WIAW April 1, 2015…..

Since I was only in DC for a couple of days, I decided to lace up my running shoes and go for a sunrise run along the national mall. It was the most breathtaking, eye opening run I have had in a LOOOONG time. A lot of reflection, enjoyment and pure bliss drove each pounding pavement step. How can you not help but have a huge smile with a view like this?!?!?

Tidal Basin facing the Thomas Jefferson Memorial

I was still learning my way around DC and I did not want to be late to some of the tours I had booked so I decided to grab something quick and on the go since I wasn't sure how long it would take me to go from point A to point B .  After consulting with my handy food guide, Yelp, I settled on The Protein Bar for breakfast. After glancing at the breakfast menu I order the Santa Fe Power Scramble turned int a bar-rito  and the Blue Line Smoothie.

Outside view of their 17th Street Location

The Santa Fe Power Scramble was "fluffl egg whites" (their description) with fresh spinach, fresh salsa, cheddar, and Cholula Sauce all wrapped up in a whole wheat flat. All of their smoothies contain protein powder and you can choose the type of milk and the protein powder you want in your drink. For my Blue Line Smoothie I choose almond milk and a plant based protein powder which was blended with blueberries and a banana. It was all so good and I'm still so upset at the fact that they are not in the West Coast. I would describe the Protein Bar as a fit foodie, macro counting, health conscious food paradise for those on the go. Also, up until then I had never had Cholula Sauce and I now blame them for being solely responsible for my new addiction. In fact I have gone through two regular bottles of Cholula since I've been back #NoShame.

Blue Line Smoothie and Bar-ritto

A couple of tours later, I was STARVING. While the meal from the protein bar was filling I definitely underestimated how long it would be until I was able to have lunch so I basically sprinted to Union Station to try one of the restaurants that I've seen Ashley from Miles on Oats mentioned various times. Roti Mediterranean Grill is similar to Chipotle in that you get to chose whether you want a salad or rice bowl followed by your choice of protein and sides. Included in the meal is a warm and soft pita bread. 

Cold but the views were amazing

I decided to get the rice bowl with chicken roti, mixed vegetables (onions, bell peppers, and broccoli), their cabbage & carrot slaw, sliced onions all topped with tazaki sauce. Something that I don't love about chipotle is that their flavors get muddled together and often times the food is  too greasy. None of that was evident with this rice bowl. The chicken had a nice curry taste and was balanced by the cooling taziki sauce. My favorite part was the cabbage & carrot slaw because it wasn't drenched in a heavy mayo sauce, instead it had a slight sweet cilantro  vinaigrette that paired perfectly with the chicken.  Also check out that huge glob of hummus…..they are definitely not shy with their portions. Lets just say this lunch plate did not stand a chance against my raging hunger. Like The Protein Bar, I am just as sad that Roti Meditterean Grill is not on the West coast. I feel like I'm being deprived of such good quick on the go food. 

Roti Rice Bowl

Since I was still hungry, I grabbed a soft served cone that I devoured before I could take a picture. 

AHHHHH for diner was the much anticipated restaurant…..Founding Farmers.

I think I spent hours and days prior to my trip just reading every Yelp review, viewing every Yelp picture and pretty much drooling whenever I thought of tasting this food. Since I did not make a reservation I got to the restaurant and was told that it would be a one hour wait for a single table or I could try the bar for an open seat. After almost 30 minutes of waiting,\ a seat at the bar finally opened up and I snatched it up like I was Katniss Evergreen in the hunger games. Nobody and I mean nobody was going to get to that seat before me. 

Cocktail 1 of 2

A friendly bartender served me and suggested that I try one of their cocktails called The Constitution. It was their take on a gin and tonic which was made with beefeater gin, chamomile, ginger, blueberries, lemon and seltzer. Boy was it good and dangerous since you could barely taste the alcohol. I had two and probably could have had more.

Dreaming of this....

Of course after my endless studying I knew what I wanted as my appetizer and meal. I quickly order their Cornbread as an appetizer and their famous chicken and waffles as my meal. The cornbread quickly arrived in a hot iron skillet with a sea salted honey butter. FOODGASM. My taste buds were partying as I took my first bite. The sides and top of the  corn bread were crispy while the inside was fluffy and warm with real pieces of corn mixed in. After my first bite I decided to top it with the sea salted honey butter. OMG I don't think I can describe how good this butter was. It brought the corn bread to a different dimension, you had a mixture of sweetness from the honey, followed by the richness of the corn bread and finally a hint of salt at the end. I would go back just for these two things. 

Look at the caramelized citrus rings

After my taste buds exploded with the appetizer, I gladly welcomed my Chicken and Waffles which came with green beans and mac and cheese. The chicken was crisp and juicy, the waffles were soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside but the real MVPs of this dish were the sides. Mac and cheese was creamy and not at all greasy which I was very surprised about. The sauce did not weigh the past down and you could tell that it was made from milder cheeses since nothing was too overpowering. My favorite were the green beans. I don't know what or how they were cooked but they definitely had a sweet citrus glaze that paired perfectly with the crunchy crispy beans. I wished I could have ordered an entire plate of those green beans. 

I was planning on ordering dessert but I was stuffed by the end. By the end of the day I head back to my hotel room and went to bed dreaming about having another skillet of the cornbread with sea salted honey butter. A must eat place if you are ever in the area.