Hey, hey friendly friends! We know we haven’t posted in a while, so we wanted to put something together to make sure our followers know we are still alive and kickin’. Sorry we’ve been MIA! We were both training for the Nike Women’s Half that occurred last weekend and have had plenty of boring, adult responsibilities keeping us busy lately. I’m sure all of you can relate. (Insert deep sigh).

Anyway, I wanted to share some photos from a few trips I took over the last two months. One was to San Francisco (my second favorite city) and the other, Richmond. Hope you all enjoy!

-Steph

P.S. We are on Facebook now! Please do us a favor and ‘Like’ our page.
P.P.S. If you have been following on our social media accounts, we have been tweeting and posting about starting a fun little ‘Wine Club’ with friends and followers. We have a tentative plan to host our first Wine Club meeting the Friday or Saturday of the last weekend in June. Keep a look out for updates on the blog, Twitter and Facebook. We hope you all can come hang out.

Ok.. and now with some fun photos. ENJOY!

<WEST COAST>

I left my heart in San Francisco  (or Tartine Bakery…or both)

Every time I head to San Francisco (about once a year) I head to Tartine. It is my absolute favorite bakery. Check it out next time you are on West Coast.

Fleurs | Cable Cars | Lattes | Chinatown

Half Moon Bay

When I was in 6th grade my Dad introduced me to surfing. I’ve been in love ever since. In middle school and high school my family traveled to Hawaii almost every summer where I spent my days on the on the board. I took a little hiatus from surf vacations from my early to mid-twenties, but made it back to the ocean last year and rode some epic waves in Costa Rica. If you are a fan of the sport, you know that Half Moon Bay is famous for the Mavericks Invitational. I actually missed it by one week but am glad I got to visit the area with my family for the first time.

<EAST COAST>

Virginia is for Lovers

The bar @ Can Can Brasserie

Virginia Cider

The End.

Hello, friends! Now that we’ve recovered from our extremely successful event for 876 Cafe we wanted to get things back to normal and post. We’ll be putting up a ‘Portfolio Tab’ on the page soon to highlight the event and ways you – or a restaurant/bar you know – can reach out for us to do the same thing. Sound good?

So speaking of the event, today we wanted to highlight one of our raffle sponsors who donated to our event – Los Verracos Event Catering.

Los Verracos was started by three friends of different ethnicities – Thai, Italian and Puerto Rican. Ok,  STOP – If you are just reading this blog and just read all three ethnicities, we’re hoping you realize that this is going to result in a deliciously dope combination. If not, please read again. Thank you.

Continuing on… As most friendships blossom so does time around the dinner table enjoying food. What these three friends found was the common food thread between all cuisines was pork. What started as pig roasts among family and friends became the foundation to start a small catering business serving culturally ethnic food.

We reached out to Los Verracos to see if they would be willing to support the event 876 event and Wesley, one of the three friends (see his photo below!) generously donated a $40 voucher for Pernil (Puerto Rican pork shoulder) we could raffle off.

Wesley of Los Verracos featured in Borderstan.

We were so grateful to Los Verracos (and all our other raffle sponsors, of course) that we decided to make a catering order for the one year anniversary of “A Little Something to Nosh On”. On our plates for the night? Pernil, Arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) and flan.

So, ready for the photos of our one-way-ticket to “Yumtown”? Here we go.

Pernil

In Puerto Rican cooking, pork has a permanent home. Pernil, or Pernil Al Horno, is made with pork shoulder, picnic cut, with fat (fat is flavor, friends) and spices. This meat was succulent, flavorful and rich. Unfortunately, scratch and sniff does not exist yet on the internet so you’ll have to trust us and this photo. Los Verracos gave us a full platter of shredded meat AND a few pieces of the skin! Now, if you have ever been to a pig roast, or of a nationality that enjoys pig in general, you know the skin is one of, if not the, best part. As you can see, there are no photos of the skin. That’s right… it was eaten before we remembered we are food bloggers and we need to take pictures. Lo siento, amigos.

Arroz con Gandules

Translated “Rice with Pigeon Peas” is Puerto Rico’s national dish. This recipe is a rice and pea dish typically seasoned with sofrito – an aromatic puree of tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, onions, and garlic braised in cooking oil – and diced ham. The rice did not include ham bits but was flavored with smoked pork during the cooking process.

Now, the Pernil was fabulous, but the arroz con gandules may have stole the show. There was something about the flavor and completeness to this dish that hit the spot.

Flan

A traditional Puerto Rican dessert typically made with sugar, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla. This sweet dessert was a great cap to an incredibly dense flavored, gastronomical experience.

Unfortunately for Los Verracos, they have to compete with the flan recipe of Steph’s grandmother (Mama Greta, the token Spaniard, if you will) which she has eaten since baby-food days. So, although it was delicious, who beats grandma’s cooking?

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up – let Los Verracos cater your next event. This team knows how to prepare authentic, ethnic cuisines and are incredibly wonderful to work with. We actually received an email from Wesley the other day letting us know he has a few new recipes up his sleeve. We’re excited to have him cook for us again!

If pork isn’t for you, there are plenty of other options on their catering menu. Please contact Los Verracos to coordinate your catering needs. You can reach Los Verracos @ (973) 433-6123 or info@losverracos.com. Happy eating, DC!

Photo taken on the one year anniversary of “A Little Something to Nosh on”.
Thanks for helping us celebrate, Los Verracos!

Love,

J&S

IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!! – The Swedish Band, Europe

Hey friends! We’re exactly one week away from our Escape to Jamaica event. Remember, we are not selling tickets at the door so if you plan on attending you will need to buy tickets in advance. Buy your tickets here!

Disclaimer: This is not what the restaurant in  Van Ness looks like. This is just a nice picture of Jamaica.

To recap, our “tapas style” tasting-menu goes as follows:

Yum, right?!

Your ticket also includes your choice of one alcoholic or non-alcoholic rum punch. Not to mention – the happiest of hours conveniently falls right in between our event (4PM-7PM). HOORAY! DRINK!

Food will be passed so you can enjoy an evening mingling, eating, drinking and listening to some live music. While you’re there we will be raffling off some fabulous prizes from other local businesses in the area.

1. $25 gift card to Seoul Food DC Food truck
2. Four (4) $10 gift cards to use at Curley’s Q BBQ Truck
3. A voucher for you and four friends to eat at CapMac Food Truck
4. One voucher for Pernil (Roasted Pork Shoulder) from Los Verracos catering

We hope you are excited as we are. Please let us know if there are any questions. See you all next week!

Love,

J&S

P.S. The NoshingtonDC team has put together some cool swag bags for each of our guests. They’re awesome. Trust.

Well, we have another awesome reason why Escape to Jamaica will be worth every penny. You now have a chance to win some of the best mac and cheese the District has to offer! That’s right friends, CapMac – one of DC’s favorite food trucks (For real! Don’t believe us? Check this out) is our newest raffle sponsor. CapMac is generously offering a delicious meal to our winner plus four of his or her closest friends. Can’t find four friends? We would be happy to serve as two of the four friends. KIDDING… but seriously (wink).

So, for only $25 (+$2.37 tax) you have an opportunity to support a small business, get a taste of Jamaican cuisine AND possibly get a free meal for a later date?! What are you waiting for? Buy your tickets here.

In other exciting news, we want to let our Maryland readers know CapMac is now offering delivery service to Silver Spring from 5PM-10PM Tuesday through Saturday. Check out their Facebook page for the delivery menu. One of our personal favorites: “Balls Out”, the classic mac topped with chicken meatballs (see delicious photo below). Don’t waste a minute and give them a call at (301) 708-1472 to place an order and if you talk to Vicky, tell her we said hey!

Only two weeks left to get tickets and there are limited quantities available. Buy today!

Love,
J&S

P.S. A ticket to our event also makes one awesome Valentine’s gift for all you last minute shoppers out there (Hint, hint)!

Here are a couple reasons why you should buy your ticket to the “Escape to Jamaica” event today.

1) Today is Bob Marley’s Birthday.
2) We’ve locked down TWO amazing food trucks to donate gift cards for our raffle!

The Seoul Food DC truck serves a variety of Korean & Japanese recipes, including bibimbap, maki rolls, kimchi quesadillas and an assortment of Asian fusion breakfast dishes. We love them even more for their commitment to organic and sustainable products. Their team only uses local grass-fed beef; local chicken (vegetarian fed); organic tofu; cage free eggs; and 100% pole and troll caught Skipjack tuna. In addition, the proteins used in their meals have no added hormones or antibiotics and they pride themselves on using seasonal and wholesome ingredients. Not to mention, their food is really great. If you don’t believe us, ask all the other patrons who will likely be standing in front of you during their lunch hour – they’ll confirm. Seoul Food DC mainly serves the Arlington area and occasionally you can snag a FREE drink if you show them their book of choice (2/6 book of the day: Franzen’s “Freedom”).  Twitter handle: @SeoulFoodDC

The Curley’s Q food truck is an award winning BBQ bus. Curley’s serves only local meats and smokes their BBQ on 100% hard woods. They recently won 1st place in the 2013 DC Meat week BBQ competition for brisket and are the #1 ranked BBQ food truck in Montgomery County. The Curley’s team has received media attention with features in both Washingtonian and Bethesda Magazine, respectively. If we haven’t sold you on visiting this truck yet, we’ll have you know that the Curley’s team is one of the nicest we’ve come across (and we know a lot of nice people!). So nice, in fact, that this week (Monday 2/4 – Friday 2/8) they are serving FREE sandwiches from 4:30-7:30PM on 355 (Rockville Pike) next to the Shell station and  TGIFridays. Twitter handle: @CurleysQ

Might we add “a great sense of humor” to our list?

So this is our event  in a nut-shell: Delicious Jamaican food, some rum, a chance to win a gift card to one of these local food trucks, live music, potential dancing, making new friends, and a chance for us to hang out with YOU. Not to mention… you’ll be supporting small, local businesses that keep DC alive. Buy your tickets here folks!

(One) Love,

J&S

So yeah, we are working on opposite coasts right now thus, a little delayed on our invite post. Better late than never, right?! Ok, let’s cut the crap and get down to it:

COME TO OUR PARTY!

(Please?)

Check out the invite, menu, and general deets, here.

Love ya, mean it – J & S

NoshingtonDC formed an exciting partnership with 876 Café to support in marketing their small business campaign.  From a previous post you met sibling owners, Moreen and Michael Wallace, who bring their Jamaican culture and passionate souls into everything that lies within these restaurant walls.

These siblings are no strangers to the culinary world. Growing up they watched their father, a chef, prepare some of the very meals you eat at 876. The business evolved when Moreen, a single mother of two, saw an opportunity to transform this space into a tropical escape. She brought in her brother Michael, an 8 year veteran in the food and beverage industry, to provide the creative island flavors into the main dishes the restaurant sells.

The restaurant has gained press on several local blogs, Fox5 News, WUSA9/CBS, the Forest Hills Connection and the Embassy of Jamaica community review, showcasing one of their best sellers, the 876 Café Rolls.

In the last few minutes we have introduced you to a family that believed in their island culture, this city and themselves to open this restaurant. However, the unfortunate reality that most small restaurants face is that passion, press and good food may not be enough to foot the bill. After 9 months of infancy, the restaurant is in need of additional funding to move to the next phase. As most local restaurants can attest, receiving additional funding is never easy. As Moreen put it, “It’s never the lack of a good concept, but usually the low working capital that strangles such small businesses”.

The business is catching on and anticipates reaching a breakeven point within the next 3-6 months. This means critical working capital to carry the them through this period. The goal? To raise $50,000 through this campaign to help with marketing & signage; purchase ice machine, HVAC system, display refrigerator & warmer; install draft in that beautiful rum bar and; provide working capital.

On the campaign website, customers can purchase different contribution levels which receive various perks and benefits. Here’s the breakdown:

• $10 contribution
  •  $15 gift card good for 60 days
  • “I Love 876Cafe” wristband

• LEVEL ONE ($25 contribution)
  • 10% Discount Member Card for 1 year
  • Choice of 1 painting by Artist Jennifer McIntosh
  • $25 gift card good for 60 days

• LEVEL TWO ($50 contribution)
  • 15% Discount Member Card for 1 Year
  • Choice of 1 painting by Jennifer McIntosh
  • $50 gift card good for 60 days

• LEVEL THREE: ($100 contribution)
  • 20% VIP member discount for 1 year
  • Choice of 2 paintings by Artist Jennifer McIntosh
  • 1 case of Caribbean Blue Water
  • $100 gift card

• LEVEL FOUR ($250 contribution)
  • 25% VIP member discount for 1 year
  • Choice of 4 paintings by Artist Jennifer McIntosh
  • Name on VIP 876Cafe Family Wall
  • 2 cases Caribbean Blue Water
  • $250 gift card
  • Birthday party celebration on 876 Café
  • Birthday celebrant drinks free (Value up to $50 in drinks)

Additionally, for every $1 raised, 10% will be contributed to support a program for international college students. Moreen recently founded and developed a scholarship program as president of the Jamaican National Association (JNA) of Washington, DC. As past president and a current business owner, she is deeply affected by  international students who may have fallen on hard times while pursuing their education and a better life in the country of opportunity.

Should the restaurant reach the $50,000 goal, $5,000 will be distributed evenly between three programs:

• Jamaican National Association Book Scholarship
• The UDC International Student Emergency Fund
• Howard Law Caribbean Student Association Book program

The District is full of passionate people such as Moreen and Michael who believe in the patrons of this city to keep small, local businesses like 876 alive. If you are looking to try this restaurant, please consider purchasing one of the contributor levels before dining. Remember, you will not only support this small, local business but local college students as well.

For those of you would like to try the restaurant first, please check the blog this Friday, for we will be posting the invitation for our fundraising, “tapas style”, tasting event that will take place on Friday, March 1^st from 6PM-8PM. At the event, you will still have an opportunity to purchase a contributor level perk and be entered into a raffle for a bottle of Jamaican rum. It is bound to be a great night of community, food, drinks and live music. Not to mention – it falls on the one year anniversary weekend (March 2nd) of this very blog!

So, please, check out the campaign and look out for the fundraising invite this Friday. Should you have any questions, you can reach us on Twitter or email at somethingtonoshon@gmail.com.

We love ya, DC! Have a great rest of your week,

J&S

We have some exciting news to share with you all! Recently, we partnered up with our friends at 876 Cafe (see our previous post on the restaurant here) to help them run their small business campaign. So, for a few weeks, the blog will be a little silent as we focus on preparing for a fundraising event we are hosting. Continue to check the blog and twitter for details to our event and the campaign.

To answer a few questions about the event before we go any further: Yes, it will involve food and YES, you are definitely invited.

Stay tuned for another post (maybe a video post if we get ourselves organized!) with more information in the next few days. Stay warm out there, DC!

Love,

J&S

Happy 2013 to all our friends and followers! As everyone recovers from their New Years Eve celebrations, we wanted to share another quick photo post of our dinner from Casa de NoshingtonDC.

The appetizers

Cider tasting and some vino

Chef Steph with the cider brats

Potato medley

Spätzle

Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, chicory, dried cranberries, and roasted pumpkin seeds mixed with a poppyseed dressing

Sauerkraut during a New Year’s Eve meal is a long-standing tradition in Germany and is said to bring blessings and wealth for the new year

Jess with the German Chocolate Brownies

We hope you had a great start to the new year like we did. Cheers to food, friends, you and yours!

Friends and Toucan Sam

Love,

J&S