Ahhh must keep trying to catch up – I hate being so behind! Started yesterday morning off by tackling the kitchen – quite the project. I made a lot of progress though!
Rather than spend another full day trapped inside among the mess and boxes, we thought we’d treat ourselves to a break and head out to the city to show my mom all of the wonderful reasons we wanted to move here.
It’s pretty amazing to pass things like this when you are simply walking to meet a friend for lunch…
We took the Metro from our house up to the mall, and then walked up past the Capitol to meet Blake for lunch in Capitol Hill. The original plan was to try Good Stuff Eatery – a burger joint owned by Spike from Top Chef! But sadly they were closed on Sundays, boooo. So we went down to Barrack’s Row and went to a fun little Mediterranean place instead.
A lovely afternoon lunch eating outside with the most PERFECT fall weather! I am so excited that after ten years of living very far apart, Blake and I are now about 7 miles from each other. :) He is my very best boy friend!
After a fun day out in the city, we headed back home for a monumental event – my first home cooked meal in my new kitchen.
New kitchens always take a bit of an adjustment, especially when half of it is still in boxes, but I can already tell I am going to love it.
My new Front Burner! :)
It wasn’t exactly a complex or fancy meal, but it was a nice break from all the eating out we’ve done. There are so many wonderful places to eat out here, so we are setting a rule that we can only eat out once a week! Delicious spinach salad with grapes, strawberries, apples, and olives – topped with my perfect sauteed tofu!
We didn’t eat until after 9pm – hence the dark kitchen photos.
Soooo nice to eat a home cooked meal again. The first of many to come!
And now it’s getting late, and I’m off to attempt meal number two! I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day weekend. :)
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I am a history nerd so I think its so cool you get to just hang out among all of that history! very very neat!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
I think it’s cool too! :)
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Looks like you have made it home Emily! Enjoy it! Glad you got some time to relax and show your mom around. Have a great evening!
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You look happy in your kitchen! :)
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aaah, you’re so lucky. I love the capitol. I visited for a few days in May. I could totally see myself living close by!
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It takes me a while to adjust to a new kitchen too and it’s hard to tell if your gonna like the kitchen until you make the first meal.
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I’m so impressed you’re already cooking. I know you’ve missed it! We try to only eat out once a week too. I bet it’ll be quite the challenge in DC :)
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Congrats on your home! It looks beautiful!
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Looks like a fun city! Your salad looks amazing as well.
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You’re going to LOVE living here! We seriously live very close to each other. It would be so fun to meet up :)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Yes – let’s meet up soon!!
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You look so happy!!!! :)
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I’ve only been to D.C once, but I remember it being beautiful, and a little mind boggling… There’s just so much history!
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Congrats on the new homestead! DC is a big small town, so I know you’ll love it.
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Can’t wait to come visit!!
if you’re anything like us, you better just go ahead and schedule 2 nights out a week :)
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Oh Emily it is so great so see you (mostly) moved in! You seem much more happy and relaxed!
FYI Great idea for a big move, even if it looks a bit dorky! (everyone’s jealous). I worked at an art gallery for a semester as an art preparer/installer, and we wore gloves for EVERYTHING. I can’t move anything heavier than a laundry basket without them anymore.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Thank you! I FEEL much more happy and relaxed. :)
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first home-cooked meals in a new place are fun :)
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Congrats on the move! Glad to see you are settling in. Speaking of your tofu…
Last week I followed your tofu tutorial and it was simple and DELISH!!!! We paired your tofu with Rhodeygirl’s bulgar pilaf (also DELISH), and some haricot verts sauteed in coconut oil with some garlic pepper on it. BBQ sauce for dipping. A perfect meal- thanks!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Awesome – so glad you like the tofu! That meal sounds delicious.
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Glad you are settling in! I bet you’ll feel caught up and refreshed in the next couple of days. :)
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I love the colors in your kitchen! Super cute!! That tofu is my total comfort food – good meal!
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The salad looks scrummy – I went for a walk with my husband from Dupont Circle, where we live, all the way to teh mall and back. It was a lovely 4 miles, and such a nice reminder of how fun it is to live here. :)
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Are you going to redo your site header then, in honour of your new stover top?! Actually, scrap that, it might get a bit faffy if you do it everytime you move! x
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Haha NO! :)
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awww congrats on your first home cooked meal in your new place! how nice to get back in the kitchen again! and lovely that you got a wee break today to do a bit sight seeing! x
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Don’t give up on Good Stuff…their vegetarian burger (mushroom burger) is omgwow delicious. The opposite of healthy, but so very good :)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Oh trust me, I will be going back. As soon as I read the description I was sold!
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You make moving look so much fun! I want to move too! Well, not really, maybe just a vacation out of the city would do… ;)
I look forward to all your new recipes in your fancy kitchen! I would love to see how you’ll organized your stuff in your cuboards! Yes, I’m a dork… I like organizing!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Haha I must be a dork too, because I totally planned on doing a kitchen organization post. :)
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YAY for being (mostly) settled into your new place!!
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Your new kitchen looks beautiful. Enjoy your new city! :)
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Emily,
So good to see you getting settled.
And so glad to see you cooking.
I found a veggie burger recipe somewhere that has pumpkin and black beans, pastry flour and cumin and chili, well it was not good. Mushy and all I through mine out my hubby ate some but not much.
We’re glad we can get advice from your expertise.
So wish I could visit Washington, DC.
Someday hopefully next year. The pictures were wonderful keep them coming.
Gal in Lancaster County PA
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Booo the pumpkin was a good idea – too bad it didn’t turn out well. Come visit DC! I told my mom about my Lancaster reader this weekend while she was here. :)
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So great that you took some time off while unpacking to see DC!!! Much deserved relax and fun time!
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My husband and I have been eating out too much lately too! We defintitely need to plan some new fun meals to make at home.
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Hi Emily,
Congrats on the move! And welcome to DC! DC is just rolling out the extra nice weather just to welcome you here– it is the nicest it has been since April. The house looks great, and I hope you enjoy making it your own.
PS: Just wanted to let you know I ran 5.7 miles today in prep for my Oct. 10K, so when you are ready, maybe we can go for a DC area run together. It’s a really fun way to see some different neighborhoods, too. :)
Lani
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Thank you so much! I would love to run together. :)
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Ilana Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Wonderful! just shoot me an email when you want to go. :). Btw, there is probably great yoga in Alexandria but I wanted to tell you about Tranquil Space in Arlington. I go to the one in DC but it’s a great studio.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Oh wonderful! I was just researching yoga studios last night – will have to add that to the list. Thank yoU!
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Is that a MADE IN OHIO t-shirt?! Awesome!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
YES – had to represent my loyalties, even in my new hometown. :)
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I also enjoy getting back into the kitchen after lots of eating out on trips and such. Too many restaurant meals (even good ones) leave me longing for healthy & delicious homemade meals. I guess that’s both a benefit and a drawback of being a good cook :)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 7th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Haha exactly! :)
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Hi Emily, welcome to Alexandria. My sister forwarded me your blog link since I live here (and have for eight years). One place to try in DC, and you’ll be so happy you did, is Teaism. One of my absolute favorite places and you’ll feel nourished when you leave. -Lori
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Hi Emily, I just started to read your blog recently and love it! Next time you’re around the area for Good Stuff you’ll also have to check out The Eastern Market-by far my FAVORITE place to go in DC on the weekends-and the fall is the best time to check it out. If you haven’t been there yet I have a feeling you’ll love it. Welcome to DC! Happy exploring and eating.
Kelly
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
So glad you found the blog – welcome! I have actually been to Eastern Market when we’ve visited in the past. I am obsessed with Le Pain Quotidien right there on the corner, and have been like five times. :)
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Kelly Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Possibly one of my favorite places to eat of all time! Luckily we have one there and right in Bethesda where I live.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
There is one here in Old Town too – hurrah! :)
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Looks like a great kitchen and there’s nothing like perfectly cooked tofu on the first night of the new home. Congrats!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Agreed!
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Good luck with that resolution – I have a hard time limiting myself to eating out once a week, and that’s just in Cincinnati! :-) Good Stuff Eatery would be super-exciting…I always liked Spike. If it were me, I’d be back there within the week!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I am headed back tomorrow! :)
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