11 Dec 2013

First Bites: Off-The-Beaten Path Finds

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Tis’the season is Jrink’s new seasonal flavor with pears, apples, sweet potatoes, and cinnamon.

Our neighborhood is filled with dining surprises both big and small, but sometimes it’s easy to miss the little guys, especially given the breakneck pace of restaurant openings recently.

Case-in-point, in my last month of eating, I stumbled across a half-smoke sausage where the toppings take center stage; a fresh-pressed, juice that comes straight to your door; and a pop-up taqueria stand that might just be the best $5 you spend, especially after a late night at H Street bars.

One of the biggest surprises was finding a decent half-smoke in a place that I vow to never go — the Union Station food court. I get cold sweats just thinking about the tourist-packed lunch tables or those pushy free sample guys. But, nestled within the insanity is Bold Bite Burgers, Dog & Fries. They opened about six months ago and take a creative approach to DC’s iconic half-smoke. Here, it’s all about the toppings. Sure you can order a half-smoke with chili and onions, but try the DC Guac version. It’s topped with pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro lime sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, and crispy tortilla strips. It’s surprisingly delicious. Most of the sauces are house-made and the half-smokes lock-in a juicy flavor.

Second, on the list of ‘first bites’ is Jrink … Actually, this is more of a first sip because Jrink deals exclusively in fresh-pressed juices. The company is a new food start-up run out of Union Kitchen, and they deliver throughout the Capitol Hill neighborhood. I sampled their seasonal flavor with apple, pear, sweet potato, and cinnamon. It was a refreshing mix of ingredients and a detox badly needed after some holiday eating. Inside this 16-ounce glass was about two to four pounds of fresh produce. The delivery was also pretty simple. It was hand delivered the same day it was made, and it fit inside my mailbox. Added bonus: an ice cool pack keeps the drink cold. The full Jrink menu is online.

And, for something definitely not for the health-conscious among us (actually it’s probably for the drunk or hungover) there’s the Impala Cantina y Taqueria late night menu on H Street. Every Saturday across the street from Biergarten Haus, is a shining beacon of a taqueria stand that serves Impalocas — a taco served inside a bag of Fritos or Doritos (yes they have Cool Ranch flavor). For $5 you are eating one of the most satisfying, late-night specials in DC. It’s your choice of meat (go for the lengua) or veggies mixed with beans, pico de gallo and cheese. Generally, the stand stays open from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. and you can also find it at The Pug on Taco Tuesdays.

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