Holidays in DC

"Our earliest memories of food are inextricably bound up with maternal love, community, bounty and want, the teaching of right and wrong, loss, forgiveness...By our crimes, we may have severed ourselves from the community; yet by sharing in the community's plain and honest food once again, as we did at Mama's table, even the worst of us may go home again in our hearts, for a moment, before we get what's coming to us for the terrible things we done." - Mike G.

I read that quote after being sated by an incredible dinner prepared by none other than one Mr. Tim Springmann, husband to Ms. Lisa Slusher-Springmann, a remarkable cook married to a remarkable hostess. Together, they created and served a birthday memory I will cherish for years to come...

Duck breast in a port cherry sauce, wild mushroom risotto (porcini and chantrelles), and brussel sprouts and granny smith apples with bacon, onions, and blue cheese--finished with a cream sauce.

Before my birthday, I celebrated St. Patrick's day by running too far for my fitness level and ordering take out sandwiches from one of Arlington, VA's favorite sandwich shops, The Italian Store. The sandwiches were pastrami and the Capri. Sharing my excitement and sheer delight, the sandwich craftsman labeled the pastrami sandwich "priceless" and smiled. True words, Mr. Sandwich man, true words....

More later...