Thank you, Will Smith, for your epic Summertime lyrics.
That rhyme makes me happy and makes me crave a few more long summer nights.
Alas, all good things must come to an end.
I know there are a few days left, but the close of summer means saying goodbye to my tan and hello to sunless tanner - amongst many other hellos and goodbyes.
I’ll miss you, sweet summer, for you bring such hope and longer days filled with sun, plentiful picnic baskets, giant cold cut sandwiches, men running the track without shirts, lush green grass, flowers and fun times in the great outdoors. But my buddy fall is on his way, which means many comforting food items will be in full effect (not like I’m eating that light in the summer, I just make sure I nom in restaurants and homes with arctic air conditioning) and the drop in temperature will make it much more appealing to get down in the kitchen. I will soon say hello to cute scarves, weekend harvest trips in search of bodacious apples, the perfect pumpkin and fat cider doughnuts …
I have goosebumps just thinking about it …
It’s been a grand summer in nom noms and weekend trips, so I wanted to do a super quick re-cap as birthday and birthing season has been thrust upon me, and I’ve some cakes to start baking and gift baskets to make this weekend.
From many a birthday celebration to David Burke’s Summer Spit BBQ, Luke’s Lobster Roll and down home cooking in S.C …
From Ben’s Chili Bowl in D.C, pulled pork sandwiches stacked with broccoli rabe and whiz laden cheesesteaks in Philly …
I walked and bopped around so much, I didn’t even gain weight.
Life is so good.
And I’m still full.
Yes.
Farewell, summer, you were hot, delicious and stellar.
Until next year …
Ben’s Chili Bowl, D.C. is home to the half-smoke, a half pork and half beef delight, with just a little bit of spice. Better, bigger and more filling than a little Central Park dirty water weiner will ever be. Although, dirty little dogs have their place in my belly too - but not when put up against the beauty that is the half-smoke. 
Half-smokes getting charred and ready for the taking
One might think Stefanie and I to be daring broads for ingesting Ben’s Chili Cheese Fries on a 95 degree day. We’re fearless. The risk was calculated and the plan to split the order was brilliant. We topped our meal off with their vanilla shake.There was nothing to be disappointed with at this D.C. foodie institution, even the humming voices of The Temptations on their house stereo was the perfect accompaniment.
Peppery fried green tomatoes from Market Lunch at Eastern Market are a standard when I visit Stef and Chris on The Hill. 11am is never too early to get your fried tomato and crab cake sandwich on. With just the right amount of pepper and vinegar in the batter, the crust on this fried green tomato is thick without overwhelming the tomato itself. I shouldn’t be writing this food porn in bed at 11 at night. Now I’m guaranteed to go to sleep having dirty fried food fantasies. 
Fresh lump crab cakes, slaw on the bun. Jesus, I could eat these crabcakes daily and never grow tired of them. The fluffy and tantalizing texture of the crabcake can be likened to the soft lipped touch of a new or first kiss. They have a tendency to make me all smiley and I’ve even caught myself lifting my left heel off of the ground upon a first bite. Be warned, if you’re going to eat at Market Lunch, don’t even think about taking a seat before you purchase your food. No, no, no. You buy, then you find a place to plant yourself. And if you don’t abide, and you dare take a seat without a tray stacked with food, the fine ladies behind the counter will have no trouble shouting over the cash register and telling you to move it. Don’t forget to wash all of the goodness down with their Sweet Tea. 
Two girls, two pickle pops. Sonds like it could get dirty, but it didn’t. Good, clean fun with 6 pickles on 2 sticks from In A Pickle Inc., one of the many vendors that form the line of farm stands outside of Eastern Market. Their pickles were also rated second best in D.C. by the Washington City Paper in 2009. I went with the Kosher Dills and Stef went with the half-sours. Neither of us left disappointed, but 3 pickles a piece was a lot to handle after crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, sweet tea and a stop at the Sweet Nuthouse stand for some candied pralines.
The mac and cheese at Eric Ripert’s West End Bistro in D.C. was creamy and speckled with ham; divine and served piping hot in an individual cast iron pan it serves 2 - so Stef and I shared. The only thing that would’ve been better, is if Eric were to be sitting next to me - whispering filthy French nothings in my ear as I gobbled up his mac and cheese. 
I love a Slim Jim. Maybe my childhood fascination with the Macho Man Randy Savage sent me down a road paved with beef sticks and tanning options … Although, the bodegas that line the Beach 116 block of the Rockaways do not carry the Slim Jim - I don’t front - I’ll take my beef how I can get it, even if it’s generic. Happy Trails sticks are a solid second choice. 
10:30am, pulled pork hoagie with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone. Every morning should start off with a good green and the other white meat. The men at DiNic’s in Reading Terminal Market know what to do with their pork to make a lady sing. 
Nancy getting down with her DiNic. We share our pork and ‘rabe well. 
Su went for the crab cake. Also a fine breakfast choice. 
Frank’s grilled chicken with hummus on multigrain bread was probably the lighter option for a morning jumpstart, but not the tastiest - as he left the bread behind. Don’t worry, we all followed up with giant ice cream cones afterwards, as we hiked across town to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 
The Dan Dan Noodles from Han Dynasty were spicy without killing all of my tastebuds. Thank you Brad and David, my Philly sweet bun friends, for the szechuan suggestion.
Plastic chopsticks make for great walrus teeth. Frank was full. I proceeded to eat the lone chili wonton left in its bowl and the slabs of pork belly left on Su’s plate.
Hello Sunday morning. Hello my good friend Mary … Bloody Mary. I die for the olive treat with my Mary. The fine wait staff at Farmicia was not only painfully handsome, but happy to refill the Mary’s and suggest new items from their growing brunch menu. With my beverage I enjoyed an egg salad sandwich on multigrain, stacked with a heap of finely sliced Nova Scotia salmon. The side of shaved fennel and cucumber salad dressed with fresh tarragon was perfectly balanced and a complimentary accompaniment to the weighty sandwich. 
My boys at Jim Steaks on South Street know how to build a cheesesteak, they also know an Italian girl when they see one. No discount on my cheesesteak, but free Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry soda and an ask for my phone number - check. I should’ve given cheesesteak man my number, imagine a life filled with cheesesteaks to be made on an instant request? Holy I could be loved and be the size of a small house … I’m swooning. 
Whiz Steak. When we were in line at Jim’s, we were told to go with their classic cheesesteak which is comprised of a super soft hoagie roll, slathered with yellow whiz, piled high with chopped steak and smothered in greasy onions.
*photo credit: Nancy “The Love Muffin” DePoalo
I lived through a very food filled summer (how could I forget the Berkshire Pork Korean Tacos from Continental in Philly? Those were solid, but the Shrimp Po Boys won me over with their crispy deep fried coating encased in a soft, hot, steamed bun that was bathed with spicy mayo and thinly sliced jalapenos) and many a food coma. I even had quite a few dalliances with my good friends Sam Adams, Grey Goose and Jim Beam (intoxicated nom nom photos not displayed in this log as this is a wholesome family space). I can’t wait to find out what Fall 2011 and Winter 2012 have in store for the nom noms. And, yes, I wear leopard. It was chilly in Philly and cooler weather means the animal prints come out.
xo
