Hush Supper Club

Hush Supper Club
Washington, DC
Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays by reservation only
http://www.hushsupperclub.com/

Hush Supper Club is an underground Gujarati Jain Indian supper club in the DC area.  You can only get ‘invited’ to partake in the dinner once you apply (yes, you actually have to submit a mini application answering some questions and a photo of yourself)!  This is a way for the host to get to know a little bit about you (and make sure that you are not some psycho) as well as strategically plan for an interesting group of unique individuals.

The location, time, and menu are all divulged on the morning of your reserved date (offered usually on the weekends) and you get to have supper with 11 other attendees.

The experience itself is about 6+ hours (which goes by unbelievably quickly with the stimulating, intellectual conversations on culinary traditions, culture, and religion) while enjoying a set course menu (you can advise of any food allergies/aversions).

We had Kachori with Cilantro Chutney & Tamarind Chutney (little spherical samosas), Chana Chaat (fresh, delicious, and addicting!), Masoor Dal, Saffron Pulao with Cashews and Peas, Makai no Chino, Green Beans with Peanuts (one of my absolute favorites, this had perfectly-cooked al dente green beans with a bit of a salty kick to it), Spinach Parathas (thin and spicy, a great way to dip into your sauces), Cucumber and Mint Raita (great to add a saucy addition to the items), a cup of Masala Chai (not sweet but perfectly spiced and soothing), and Sheero (creamy and multiple kicks from the spice).

The menu changes often, but each dish was fresh, flavorful, and delicious!

The atmosphere was relaxed and fun, and it was definitely a one-of-a-kind dining experience – we absolutely LOVED it!

Definitely check this supper club out – you will learn a lot and meet very interesting people, and I’m so glad that there’s a club like this one, right here in DC!

+underground supper club
+homemade Gujarati Jain cuisine
+great cultural experience!
+6+ dining experience
+mini application process required

Zenebech Injera

Zenebech Injera
608 T Street NW
Washington, DC  20001
202.667.4700
Mondays – Sundays, 10 AM – 11 PM
http://www.zenebechdc.com/

One of my friends was visiting from out of town, and she wanted to try out an Ethiopian restaurant (as DC is known for Ethiopian food).  I found Zenebech Injera, as it was the closest restaurant.

This restaurant is family-owned and has been around since 1993, which first started off as a bakery.  It relocated to T St in ’99 to add a restaurant.  Their menu includes items such as sambusas, dabo kolos, breakfast items (ful, yetelba juice, genfo), main dishes (meats, vegetarian), and sides (veggies, more injera, etc.).

The server were sooo friendly and sooo sweet; he was very patient with us when we were trying to decide what to order, and suggested us in doing the 50/50 option to get a variety of samples to share.

We had the Derek (dried lamb with onions, jalapenos, tomato, & herbs), Nech Tibs (lamb with a mild curry-like sauce, onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, and garlic), Doro Wot (chicken stew simmered in awaze sauce, seasoned with Ethiopian butter, a boiled egg, an da drumstick), and the Keye Wot (tender beef stew immersed in chili pepper sauce, ginger root, and cardamom).  We also had a side of veggies (collard greens, shiro (chickpeas stew) and cabbage).

My most favorite was the Derek, as the lamb was perfectly cooked, very crispy, very savory, and oh-so-lovely with the slightly-sour injera bread.  Yum yum yum!  I could have eaten that dried lamb and the sauteed/caramelized onions all day long like popcorn!

The Nech Tibs were really delicious as well, as it was in this creamy tomato-based sauce that had a slight kick to it – this, too, was great to scoop up with the injera bread.  I would probably stick with these two, as the others were just okay (I wasn’t a fan of the chickpeas).

They have a soda selection (ginger ale, Coke, etc.).  Very cute hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant, I’m so glad I was able to check this place out – there are metered parking available, and I found one a block away that was free after 6:30PM – yahoo!  Our dinner was very delicious and I will be back!

+Derek!!!
+Nech Tibs
+free parking after 6:30PM
+get there early; lines can get long!

Sushi Capitol

Sushi Capitol
325 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Washington, DC  20003
202.627.0325
Mondays – Fridays, 12 PM – 2:30 PM, 5 PM – 9:30 PM
Saturdays, 5 PM – 9:30 PM
Closed Sundays
http://www.sushicapitol.com/

This is a sushi restaurant that is chef-owned and ran by Chef Minoru Ogawa.  He is a trained sushi specialist and he was in charge of all the sushi preparation/quality control/menu of the Mandarin hotels.

John, the awesome and most friendliest manager ever, gave us a brief history about the restaurant as well as how humble and wonderful Chef Ogawa is.

My husband and I first came in for lunch, literally the first ones through the door.  We were seated promptly, and we had a chance to look at the menu.  The server, Keegan, was super awesome as well – everyone had just a great sense of humor and just so unbelievably nice!   I wanted to try out the Chef Omakase, but the chef himself had to be there; I was so disappointed, and thought that we would probably just had to come back another time.  However, my husband, with his supersonic ears, overheard a conversation, mentioning the word ‘wagyu.’  He asked John and Keegan about it, and they said that they just received a shipment from Tokyo – yes, LEGIT Kobe beef!  Yahoo!  They were planning on serving it for dinner; so, we had a very light lunch (since we were there anyway).

My husband had the Chicken Karrage (deep fried chicken, Japanese style, on a bed of lettuce), and I had the Oo’toro nigiri (extra fatty tuna).  The chicken was fried perfectly and great with the soy sauce; I enjoyed my nigiri as I just loooove fatty tuna.

We made reservations for that same evening.  We were seated at the sushi bar, with Chef Ogawa himself, as well as two other sushi chefs.  We had the Chef Omakase (which is a minimum of 2 orders as you get a sampling of one each) – you basically trust the chef for him to serve a combination of sushi, sashimi, and rolls, based on the most freshest items he has.

The experience was unbelievably AMAZING.  Each item we received was so fresh, so delicious, and you don’t even have to use soy sauce (I have a habit of dipping everything into soy sauce – I am so glad I didn’t and was able to enjoy the freshness and loveliness of each piece); we had a chance to try out Sawagari, fried soft shell crab, flying fish, striped jack, amber jack, etc.  I couldn’t believe how delicious the Japanese tamago egg was – slightly sweet but sooooo good!!!

We ordered 3 differently-prepared wagyu – an appetizer where it’s generously-sliced, flamed in front of you, with lovely sauce; nigiri style (yum yum yum); as well as a a tataki style (just with salt and pepper) – the Kobe literally melted in my mouth, and it was just so unbelievably flavorful and delicious!!!  My husband literally died and continues to be in a state of bliss.

My favorite was the Oo’toro, as it was buttery and delicious, and I have always been a fan of the fatty tuna – nom nom nom.  I even ordered an extra oo’toro temaki, as it was just so delicious and the generous amount of the fatty tuna lined up throughout the temaki (and not just bunched on top).

The chef himself was so unbelievably awesome and soooo skilled – I could literally just sit there and stare at him make the sushi all day long – so peaceful!  I had mini crushes on him and the rest of the staff; I just am such a huge fan of this place!

I cannot wait to go back, and I can literally say that DC finally has a genuine and a legitimate sushi restaurant!!!  YAY!!! The restaurant itself is small, so reservations are highly recommended.

+Omakase with Chef Ogawa