Bayou Brunch Review

I live just blocks from Bayou (located at 2519 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) and have somehow never stopped in. This weekend for brunch I decided that I wanted to test it out. I left Bayou feeling pleasantly full, with a small doggie bag in tow for the next day's breakfast, and without a major dent to my wallet. 

Bayou has a great dining area, in addition to some outdoor seating. My friend and I decided to sit outside since it was a beautiful fall day. Although their brunch menu is on the short side most brunch-fanatics will be pleased with the options. I was torn between the Bananas Foster French Toast and the Breakfast Po' Boy. But ultimately my sweet tooth won and I decided on the french toast at a very reasonable $9.95. I was served four large pieces of toast with plenty of bananas mixed with dark rum and maple syrup. Boy, was it delicious. Luckily my friend ordered the City Park Scramble so I got to try the scrambled eggs and  well-seasoned home fries. 

I will definitely be returning soon to this great New Orleans-themed restaurant for brunch so I can make sure to try that Breakfast Po' Boy. It was so convenient to the Foggy Bottom, West End and Georgetown neighborhoods and charges a very reasonable rate for a delicious brunch!

DC Food Truck Review: Captain Cookie and the Milkman

Last week the Captain Cookie and the Milkman food truck made its return to GW's campus right outside of Gelman Library on H Street. If you are a GW student or spend time in DC I would check out one of their two food trucks because their dessert is not one to miss!

I was adventurous and decided to choose a different cookie sandwich and stray from choosing a classic sandwich of two chocolate chip cookies and chocolate ice cream in the middle. I chose two Snickerdoodle cookies and paired it with the ice cream special Dutch Apple. I am a sucker for anything apple flavored, especially at the start of the fall season. This unique sandwich did not disappoint. I would also like to point out the food truck driver is extremely friendly and ensures a positive customer experience. The great choices of ice cream, cookies and milk is sure to brighten up your day. Also, the cookies always fresh out of the of the oven and sometimes they are still warm.

Check out Captain Cookie and the Milkman at their other location including: L'Enfant Plaza, 13th and K NW, 20th and Virginia NW, and their Wednesday Wildcard locations. In order to see where they are baking follow them on Twitter @captaincookiedc.

First Listen: She Keeps Bees

She Keeps Bees is a fantastic duo that consists of Jessica Larrabee on vocals and guitar and Andy LaPlant on drums. Although the band is bass-less they can't easily be compared to famous duos such as the White Stripes or the Black Keys. Larrabee's brilliant voice is atypical compared to most female singers and has the perfect tone to match the blues-infused indie rock sound of the instruments. 

"Gimmie" is the first song I heard of theirs a few years back and I fell in love with the relaxing tempo, something that comes across throughout my other favorites such as "Vulture" and "See Me." While setting the songs at a slower pace, don't let that fool you because they still bring the power and the noise. Since Larrabee is a Washington, D.C. native I hope that they will play again live sometime soon, because unfortunately I just missed their show at The Pinch in Columbia Heights last weekend. But for now playing their seven songs on their  MySpace page will have to suffice.

Rock and Restaurants Does Boston: Stephanie's on Newbury

Stephanie's on Newbury is a wonderful restaurant to dine at, especially on a summer evening. With great outdoor seating right on the corner of Newbury and Exeter Streets it's a prime spot for people watching. I love to go to Stephanie's for any meal, their Sunday brunch is also delicious!

I decided to start out with a bowl of their New England Clam Chowder. It was creamy and delicious, filled with a few extras that gives a classic dish a unique spin. The clam chowder was filled with clams and a few extras - prosciutto, bacon and potatoes - that gives a classic dish a unique spin. Fresh herbs added extra flavor to this tasty starter.

For my main course I opted for another seafood option because it's too hard to pass up fish during the summertime in New England. The Pan Roasted Native Cod was served in a bowl with corn chowder, potatoes and topped with buttermilk onion strings. The light taste of the delicious cod paired with a creamy chowder was great. I enjoy Stephanie's menu because they take something as simple as a white fish like cod and turn it into a unique comfort food dish with toppings like the onion strings and swimming in a tasty chowder. 

I highly recommend Stephanie's to any local Bostonians to stop by after a long day of shopping on Newbury St. or to any tourists visiting the city. Stephanie's takes comfort food to the next level (another menu option I've had in the past is homemade macaroni and cheese with prosciutto and truffle oil), in addition to having a great staff of hosts and waitstaff. I would advise that you make a reservation because there can be a wait, especially during peak weekend meal times, but that isn't hard to do because Stephanie's reservations can be found on OpenTable or by calling the restaurant. In the summer (and if the weather is nice in the fall or spring) the outdoor seating helps assuage longer wait times making it even easier to get a table!