A Study of José Andrés- Part One: Overview

Having lived in the metro area of DC my whole life, I've been accustomed to seeing great restaurants come and go. Since I've only very recently discovered my "foody" passion, I have yet to experience a lot of them first hand. Growing up in Bethesda, I watched my hometown turn into a restaurant-Mecca of sorts with bug names such as Mussel Bar's Chef Robert Wiedmaier,  Chef Tony's (formerly Visions) Chef Tony Marciante, and of course, Jaleo's Chef José Andrés. My chef instructor, Susan Callahan, has told me on numerous occasions that she would gladly run away with José Andrés. Thats a bold statement. I'd like to know more about this man. 


Luckily I live within metro-distance of most of his restaurants (the others are in Las Vegas). So I decided to do my own impromptu study of him; researching his life, going to each of his restaurants, tasting and experiencing his cuisine. This is going to be a 5-part post. I can't promise promptness, but I can assure you all that I will eat as much as my student-limited budget will allow and bring you all the details I can on each restaurant; from atmosphere and service to food and drink. 
Through what I have found on the internet, here is a brief overview of the restaurants that I will be reviewing (in my own unique way) one at a time:

• minibar by José Andrés 

• 405 8th Street NW Washington, DC 20004
• One of two flagship restaurants; the other one is "é", is located in Las Vegas. 
• Three chefs serve a prix fixe menu of thirty to thirty-five small courses to six diners at a time. 
• For a cool visual of how José Andrés uses molecular gastronomy at this location, watch this video: Almond Cups with Spanish Blue Cheese
• America Eats 

• 405 8th St NW Washington DC 20004
• This restaurant serves traditional American dishes 
• Works in conjunction with the Foundation for the National Archives in the former Cafe Atlantico space.
• Named after the Works Progress Administration (WPA) writers project of the 1930s
• A "casual tavern menu" is offered on the first floor, while a "more refined and elegant menu" (minibar)  is featured on the second and third.


• Jaleo

• 480 7th Street NW Washington, DC 20004
• The restaurant serves traditional Spanish tapas. 
• Jaleo has four locations, in Washington, D.C.; Bethesda, Maryland; Arlington, Virginia and at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. 
• "Jaleo" is named after a painting by John Singer Sargent.


• Zaytinya 

• 701 9th Street NW Washington, DC 20004
• This restaurant serves mezze, known regionally as meze, maza or mezethes, small plates of food from the Mediterranean regions of Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon. 
• The word Zaytinya means "olive oil" in Turkish. 
• The restaurant is a short distance from the Verizon Center.
• Since it's opening in 2003, Zaytinya has repeatedly ranked as a "Top D.C. Dining Destination" 
• Oyamel 

• 401 7th Street NW Washington, DC 20004
• This location serves a variety of small plates and antojitos. 
• It was originally located in Crystal City in Arlington, but reopened in Penn Quarter in February 2007. 
• Andrés consulted Mexican food expert extraordinaire Diana Kennedy (one of my personal favorite references for Mexican cooking) while developing the menu for Oyamel.

So now I will go on my Chef José Andrés-inspired adventure. Stay tuned for fun-filled reviews of each and every one of these restaurants (and more) in the coming weeks. And please let me know if you have suggestions, comments, or advice. From one foody to another. Eat well!!!

For more information on José Andrés, check out these sites:
Jose Made in Spain

Think Food Group

José Andrés' Facebook

@chefjoseandres

**Please be aware, I am in no way an expert on anything that I write about. I'm just a young woman who loves food and wants to learn more about everything**

Eat What they Give You! Brio Tuscan Grille

I walked in from the pouring rain on Wednesday, February 29th. The warm hospitality hit me immediately as I pushed my way through the revolving door at Brio Tuscan Grille, a restaurant that had opened that night in North Bethesda. I had made reservations for 8 people, but that wasn't until 7:00 pm. I had arrived an hour early to take everything in, get some pictures, and write some notes.

Flirtini

Immediately, almost as if I'd planned it, I was greeted by the assistant general manager, a man named Chuck Snow who became my go-to guy for the rest of the evening. He told me where to put my coat and introduced me to the General Manager, Richard Dugan. I took a tour of the restaurant and was most impressed by the bar. It was such a beautiful scene, so nicely lit and organized. I couldn't help myself- I ordered a Flirtini off the "$5 Martini Menu" (Wednesday special!)

I sat down at the table and Chuck brought me some things to taste. First was the Lobster Bisque, which he said was one of the most popular items on the menu. I could see why! It was thick and creamy, with just the right amount of salt. A hint of sherry creates the perfect background to the heaviness of the cream. Hints of fresh herb and tiny pieces of lobster give it just the right amount of texture. It nicely coats the tongue and throat with a delicious seafood taste. A wonderful dish on a cold, rainy day!

Calamari Fritto Misto

The next thing I tasted was the Calamai Fritto Misto, served with mustard garlic aioli and tangy pomodoro. The light batter doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the squid and the panko bread crumbs coat perfectly without taking over. Pepperonchini, battered and fried, sneaks into the flavor of the calamari and gives a nice tang. I could tell the calamari was fresh by the color and bite. Overall a beautiful, delicious dish.

Roasted Red Pepper
and Fresh Mozzarella Bruschetta

Next on my tasting menu was Brio's Bruschetta Quatro, a sample of four homemade bruschettas; Roasted Tomato and Ricotta Bruschetta, Sliced Steak Bruschetta, Roasted Red Pepper and Fresh Mozzarella Bruschetta, and the daily special (varies). My favorite, and according to Chuck also the best seller, was the Roasted Red Pepper and Fresh Mozzarella. Made with fresh mozzarella, basil, parmigiano-reggiano, and balsamic drizlle. The sweet and tangy pepper adds a nice balance to the luscious, rich cheese. The bread is crisp enough not to get soggy from the balsamic drizzle and the basil was extremely fresh.

Brio's Bruschetta Quatro

Raviloi Caprese

My friends arrived and we spent some time socializing. When it was finally time for us to order our meals, I was so full I was about to burst! I decided to order another appetizer and just pick on my friend's dishes to get a taste of what else Brio had to offer. I ordered the Ravioli Caprese; "romano crusted ravioli topped with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and pesto drizzle." A beautifully prepared dish, it was too heavy for me to truly enjoy given how much I'd already eaten! It was delicious, though- just the right amount of crisp from the outer shell, cream inside and tart tomato sauce on top.

Beef Carpaccio

Another delectable appetizer, ordered by my foodie friend, was the Beef Carpaccio, "served with field greens, capers, mustard aioli and Parmigiano-Reggiano." I'd never had the opportunity to taste anything "carpaccio" before, and was pleasantly surprised by the delightful taste.

My friends ordered some other great items; Lobster  Bisque (at my urging), Strawberry Balsamic Chicken Salad, Campanelle Carbonara, Penne Gorgonzola, Sweet Potato and Chicken Risotto, and something I'd never seen before, Tournedos De Manzo. The menu describes them as " two 4oz. filets served with Romano crusted tomatoes and Hollandaise. Served with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables." Holy moly that looked good. If my friend, Mark, hadn't been sitting on the opposite side of the table, and if I'd had any room left in my stomach, I would have snuck a taste. I'll have to wait until next time, though. And there will be a next time!

Our Crazy Dessert

And then it was time for the best part of any meal- the dessert. The selection was so amazing and overwhelming, we decided to literally order everything. This is what we ordered:

• A flight of 5 mini desserts including Tiramisu, Red Velvet Cake, Carrot Cake, Milk Chocolate Caramel Cake, and Cheesecake with Berries 
• A trio of desserts including Butterscotch Pecan Bread Pudding, Creme Brulee, and Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake 
• A slice of Cheesecake
• A slice of Chocolate Cake

We passed them all around the table like it was a relay race. None of us at any one time were without a dessert in our hands. Eventually, we all decided on a favorite and hunkered down to finish them. My two favorites really surprised me as they didn't have any chocolate in them! The Butterscotch Bread Pudding was delicious and I couldn't get myself to share any of the Carrot Cake with my friends. 

One side of the table; my friends Ashley, Laura, Mark, and Andrew

I highly recommend this restaurant. While the location is not one that has been very developed (yet), everyone knows that this little promenade, which includes Whole Foods, LA Fitness, Arhaus Furniture and more, is going to be very big in the future. The restaurant has complimentary valet parking, which I recommend because parking can cost at least $5.00 for two hours.

The restaurant is open for lunch and they even have a frequent lunch club; purchase five lunches, get one free! 

They offer a $2.95 bar menu (available on weekdays at the bar only) that includes little "bites" of their best-selling menu items. Wednesdays are $5.00 martini nights and with ample space, lounge rooms and quite a few HD televisions hanging all around, this place is destined to become one of the go-to destinations in North Bethesda. Check it out, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.