The webseries will be called TUFF STUFF. After a series of delays and a lot of thinking, the webseries crew has decided on the name TUFF STUFF. With its pilot season being released this summer, anticipation for the series has reached a zenith. Keep checking the blog for more updates on release dates and special guests. 

I'm in the middle of my spring break right now, and I find myself in DC with a couple of days to mess around in DC. I haven't paid for food I've posted in almost two months, so I decided to knock off one of the restaurants on my hit list who would never fall for sponsoring Instagram posts. I previously visited the Himitsu space before the restaurant opened for their Poke Pop pop-up a couple of months ago. I loved the poke bowls, and the space itself was fantastic, so I made it a priority to return to the full restaurant at night. 

The food was top-notch. For real, it was dope. The red snapper ceviche/crudo-type joint, pictured at the top, was light and refreshing. The foam on top was a tuff addition to a solid collection of flavors. 

We also crushed some "age ebi" which were shrimp, shell-on and all, with a fine coat of spice. It was a simple dish that didn't do too much. The shrimp and the spice were the only flavors and it was awesome. Splendid stuff. 

Tuna tartare is always something I can get behind. I can down buckets of the stuff. Himitsu's take was a very thoughtful, nuanced take on a dish that can often be botched. Our server explained that the lean tuna was balanced out by the fatty quail egg. I'm sure they were telling the truth. 

We capped off dinner with a new addition to the dessert menu -- a sort of strawberry shortcake made with yuzu cornbread cake, strawberry preserve, creole cream cheese ice cream, and strawberry chips. Very, very, very good. 

I spend an inordinate amount of time scrolling through DC food accounts on Instagram. There are always a couple of dishes that I see everywhere, and I've decided to unscientifically compile them into a list. If you are looking for likes, these are good bets. Also, I think most of them taste really good. 

I had the opportunity to travel all over the country and world this summer and one of the best destinations, speaking in terms of food, had to be Austin for me. I got to eat an early dinner (the best kind because there is still sunlight!) at Launderette, which had just been named one of Food&Wine Magazine's Best New Restaurants of 2016. It was awesome and I grabbed a few good pictures.  

Pictured above is the Soft Egg Toast with asparagus, taleggio, truffle vinaigrette, bottarga, on focaccia. 
​Below are the Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwiches. 

It all started when I was reading a Congressional Research Service report on members of the 114th Congress of the United States of America. 

I had to know who the two almond orchard owners were, and I was determined to do so.

This past Pi Day, I celebrated by getting some pizza from Campono. This Foggy Bottom establishment makes some of the most underrated 'za in the District in my opinion.  

The "Bianca" -Mozzarella Blend, Parmesan, Ricotta, Garlic, And Parsley

The "Carciofi" - Fior Di Latte, Artichoke Lemon Cream, Baby Artichokes, Green Olives, Pecorino, Pancetta

I just received an email that asking -- "I'd love to have your top 3 recommendations for meals under $10 in the city." I answered the email, and wanted to share my answers on here. 

Eating for cheaper is becoming easier and easier as restaurants get faster and more casual, but ten dollars is still a low number, so I have restaurants where the meal would be no more than 12 not including beverages.  My top three probably are --

Donburi (Adams Morgan, Japanese) This place is a narrow space with a counter and a small front for takeout. They serve both meat and fish (chicken, sushi tuna, salmon) over rice with other fresh ingredients. A sample dish of theirs is their "Oyakodon" which is a sous-vide cooked chicken thigh, caramelized onion, two eggs, scallion, and donburi sauce for $8.18.

Bub and Pop's (Just South of Dupont, Hot Sandwiches) This place serves gourmet Italian sandwiches, and it's name is always brought up when discussing best sandwiches in the city. It's a small space, so seats are hard to come by at lunch but later in the day seats are usually available. The sandwiches are huge, and are available as whole sandwiches ($15) or halves ($8.) There are tuna melts, hoagies, brisket, pork, and turkey and one or two vegetarian options. 


Taqueria Nacional (14th Street Corridor, Tacos) Considered the best tacos in town by some (including me,) the tacos are $2.75-3.50 each and are big enough that eating three is good for a meal. The space is really cool, and it is a quick and cheap alternative to the more expensive sit-down restaurants that line 14th Street. A steak taco, a chicken taco, and a refried bean taco would come out to $9.75 before tax. 

So that's my answer. But also who am I to tell you what the best cheap eats are in DC. Washingtonian's List of Best Cheap Eats is probably a better place to start than me. These three places are all the bomb though. 

I forgot to round up 'grams in December, but that's okay, because it's already time to round up the best of DC food instagramming in January. It was a busy month in DC food openings and big things like the Washingtonian Best 100 Restaurants list came out. @thetufftruffle passed 4k followers, passed 4500, and is closing in on 5k. But that was not the only big thing happening on Instagram. Here are other big things happening on Insta. All of these accounts post some awesome pics, so check them all out and give them a follow.