DMV Munchies

I’ve lived in Williamsburg for 4 years and I’m still discovering local gems 💎 This chicken kabob plate from Anatolia was DELICIOUS and I’ll definitely be back! The meat was juicy and seasoned to perfection, and the vegetables of the day tasted as if they were roasted on the same flavorful grill as the meat.

Terry Black’s BBQ, Austin TX 🍗🇺🇸⭐️

🍴Ribs, Brisket, Chopped Beef Sandwich, Sausage, Pinto Beans, Mac and Cheese, Mexican Rice, Potato Salad, and Creamed Corn.

👍 The chopped beef sandwich was definitely the star of the show! It was juicy and flavorful. We also loved the ambiance and decor of the restaurant. The lines were long but moved fast thanks to a super organized ordering system implemented by the staff. We appreciated how many menu options there were and liked trying all of the different sides. Lots of GF and DF options.

👎 The brisket was incredibly tough and dry. We had heard such great things about it from reviews online so that was a big let down. The pricing was also on the higher end and we felt like the quality of the meat we received did not measure up to the price.

A trip to New York is not complete without a food crawl at Chelsea Market ✨

Our Chelsea Market highlight was definitely this bacon, egg, and cheese on a gluten free bagel from Black Seed Bagels. The bagel was one of the best gluten free bagels I’ve tried and just look at the cheese pull!!

MR. SUSHI & MRS. ROLL IN LEESBURG ‼️🔥

Mr. Sushi & Mrs. Roll is a Japanese/Korean Grill and Sushi Bar in the Landsdowne Shopping Center in Leesburg, VA. I don’t head out to Leesburg very often but decided to stop by this restaurant while running errands in the area.

Here’s what we ordered:
🍣 Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
🍱 Pork Katsu
🍚 Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap

Everything was delicious and we loved the variety on the menu! Great place to go when you and your dining partners can’t decide between sushi bar and Japanese/Korean kitchen items.

Low-FODMAP Feature!

Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been less active on this account in the past few months. For my health, I had to take a step away from food blogging and completely change my eating habits as part of the low-FODMAP diet.

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, which are short-chain carbohydrates (sugars) that the small intestine absorbs poorly, causing unpleasant symptoms in people with IBS, SIBO, and other digestive disorders. Following a low-FODMAP diet helps to heal a person’s gut from chronic inflammation and helps to identify food sensitivities.

As part of the elimination stage of the diet, I cut out a lot of high-FODMAP foods including gluten, dairy, soy, garlic, onion, and certain fruits/vegetables. At first, it was difficult to adjust to the restrictiveness of the diet. I had to cook 90% of my meals from scratch at home and social situations felt isolating. I gained a lot of empathy for others with life-long dietary restrictions such as celiac disease.

Now that I’ve been cleared to start the reintroduction phase, I have been trying foods one-by-one to identify my triggers and expand my diet. My symptoms are currently at an all-time low and I’m doing very well!

I’m excited to come back to this account and share some of the meals that I cooked during elimination phase as well as some of the rare safe meals that I ate at restaurants.

This salmon sushi bake was a meal that I leaned on heavily during elimination. I could make a big batch and separate it into meal prep containers to eat throughout the week. It’s made by baking a mixture of salmon, kewpie mayo, soy sauce, and sriracha (low-FODMAP in 1 tsp serve) over a bed of white rice. Top with furikake and serve with cucumber and nori.

Disclaimer: The low-FODMAP diet is a medical diet that is prescribed to patients by their gastroenterologist and supervised by a registered dietician. The foods/quantities that I can tolerate without symptoms may be different from another person’s.

OMAKASE IN A BOX ‼️🍣

Last month, I had the chance to stop by Sushi Umi in Herndon. Based on Yelp reviews, I knew I had to try the Taste of Umi, which is a chef-curated sushi omakase in a wooden bento box. For $75, our box included 7 different types of sashimi, two slices of wagyu, and a selection of fish roe and uni with a quail egg yolk. Each dish was served over rice. The presentation was beautiful and the concept was inventive, but we were left wanting a bit more given the price.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of at Pike & Rose. I recently had the chance to try their new vendor, . Pictured is chicken hibachi with fried rice, fried gyoza, and scallion pancakes. Would recommend skipping the appetizers and sticking with the mains. Portions were very generous and I had a lot of yummy chicken left over.

Moved back to the Burg for my senior year of college and one of my first stops was 7 Mares. 7 Mares is a (newish) Mexican restaurant located on Richmond Road offering classic Mexican dishes and a full drink menu. We tried the chicken taquitos, birria tacos, and frozen strawberry margaritas. Everything was delicious and I definitely recommend checking them out! W&M Students get a 20% discount on Wednesdays! 💛💚

Had to share this delicious Mediterranean spread from my recent European vacation! My highlights were the falafel, sujuk, and summer burrata salad.

📍Bouf’s
🗺️Tervuren, Belgium

Happy Memorial Day Weekend 🍦

We celebrated by checking out The Scoop, a new ice cream parlor in Cabin John Village. The Scoop rotates out their flavors every day and serves classics like Mint Chip as well as international flavors like Matcha and Thai Tea! I tried the Fudge Brownie 😋

📍Emily’s Donuts, Williamsburg VA

Emily’s is of my favorite local businesses in Williamsburg! They have so many donut flavors to choose from and they’re always generous to W&M students and clubs 💛

We love Moby Dick 💛💙

🍴Barreh (lamb), Kubideh (beef), and Spicy Chicken Kabob platters
📍Moby Dick Ashburn (over 20 locations across the DMV!)

Spring Break Feature ☀️🌊

🍴Shrimp Mojo Bowl, Birria Tacos, Hawaiian Fizz Mocktail
📍Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, Fort Lauderdale Florida

DIY Afternoon Tea 🫖🍰

Afternoon tea doesn’t have to be inaccessible or expensive. I hosted a tea at my house this winter and was able to put together much of what you see here using things that I already had in my pantry, fridge, and freezer. It was delicious and lots of fun!

🍴Scones, clotted cream, lemon curd, and jam.
🥪 Cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwiches, smoked salmon toasts, and mini quiche
🍫Mini-waffle cookies, assorted chocolates, and cranberry bliss bars from Starbucks.

Cold weather calls for ramen 🍜❤️

📍Jinya Ramen Bar
🍴Chicken Ramen and Spicy Chicken Ramen
🗺️ Locations across DC, MD, and VA

Run, don’t walk to try iHop’s pumpkin spice pancakes!! Perfect hearty breakfast on a chilly fall day 🎃🥞

📍iHop Williamsburg
🍴Chicken and waffles, bacon mac, quick 2-egg combo, pumpkin spice pancakes short-stack.

Still thinking about this blooming onion from the Montgomery County Fair this summer ☀️

BREAKERS KBBQ IN FAIR OAKS MALL 🇰🇷🍖
eats.everything and I tried this AYCE spot in NoVa recently. A little pricey at ~$40 a person but we loved their wide selection of banchan and the included appetizers like mandu and shrimp fried rice. and you can never go wrong with brisket and bulgogi.

Cozumel enchiladas from Surfside Tenleytown 🏄‍♀️🤙

GREEK FOOD IN MOSAIC DISTRICT VA 🇬🇷

I visited Our Mom Eugenia in Merrifield this month and had an experience straight out of Mamma Mia! For my appetizer, I tried the spanakopita and for my main, I ordered the seafood orzo with shrimp, calamari, and mussels. Super delicious! A must try the next time you’re in Mosaic District.

Earl Gray milk tea with boba from Gong Cha 🧋✨ (feat. Covent Garden views)

BANANAS FOSTER FRENCH TOAST 🍌🍓🫐

📍Beyu Cafe in Durham, NC.

My favorite meals in London 🇬🇧🇬🇧
📍Sunday Roast from St. Stephen’s Tavern in Westminster
📍Eggs Florentine from Bermondsey Garden
📍Tonkotsu Ramen from Tonkotsu Ramen Bar Bankside
📍Veggie Nachos from Wahaca in Canary Wharf
📍Rump Cap from Blacklock City
📍Afternoon Tea at Roast Borough Market

My favorite meals in London 🇬🇧
📍Rump Cap from Blacklock City
📍Afternoon Tea at Roast Borough Market
📍Sunday Roast from St. Stephen’s Tavern in Westminster
📍Veggie Nachos from Wahaca in Canary Wharf
📍Tonkotsu Ramen from Tonkotsu Ramen Bar Bankside
📍Eggs Florentine from Bermondsey Garden

My favorite meals in London 🇬🇧

🍴Rump Cap from Blacklock City
🍴Afternoon Tea at Roast Borough Market
🍴Sunday Roast from St. Stephen’s Tavern in Westminster
🍴 Veggie Nachos from Wahaca in Canary Wharf
🍴Tonkotsu Ramen from Tonkotsu Ramen Bar Bankside
🍴Eggs Florentine from Bermondsey Garden

Shrimp teriyaki bento from Sarku Japan is my go-to from the Montgomery Mall food court 🍤🍱❤️

Frittes from my recent trip to Brussels! Many people think the French invented fries but my European family insists it was the Belgians. 🍟🍟

AFTERNOON TEA DELIVERY IN WILLIAMSBURG 🫖🍰

Last month during finals week, I decided to treat myself to an afternoon tea box from .rosy.kettle. I ordered the “Violet” menu which included 4 sandwiches, a scone, and an assortment of tea cakes, cookies, and macarons. I love this service because it is woman-owned and supports different small business in the Williamsburg area. Will definitely order again when I’m back on campus in the fall!

Fine dining at 38,000 ft aboard Icelandair ✈️

🍽 Bagel with smoked salmon, chia pudding with berry compote and granola, and a plate of eggs, grilled mushrooms, and roasted tomato.

🍽 Rack of lamb with roasted parmesan potatoes, burrata with prosciutto and cherry tomatoes, cookies and cream dessert.