DCFoodPorn's Top Picks for Healthy Meals in the DMV

I'm SO beyond excited for today's post because my frand, Justin Schuble (aka the one and only DCFoodPorn), is talkin' all about clean eating today on SS.  He spilled the beans on 6 fab eateries in the DMV that make healthy living fun and easy.  So without further ado, I'm going to let him tell you guys all about his fave joints!

1.  Chaia specializes in vegetarian tacos, offering seasonal varieties that are packed with nutrients and flavor.  This is my go-to place when I want something healthy yet hearty.  Everything can be made vegan and gluten free!

2.  Beefsteak (right) is a fast-casual concept created by one of my favorite DC chefs, Jose Andres.  The restaurant's name is a play on words (think beefsteak tomato) and veggies take centerstage here.  I recommend building your own bowl so you can get all of your favorite vegetables and toppings.  I also suggest splurging on the avocado - it's worth it!

3.  Little Sesame (left) is a shop that sits below DGS Delicatessen in Dupont and is a great place to grab a quick, healthy lunch in the city.  The menu is simple, with just a few bowl options. Hummus is the star of the show here so if you love hummus, you'll love Little Sesame.

4.  Union Market is one of my favorite places in the city.  Located inside is DC Dosa (left), serving up dosas (Indian dish similar to a crepe), filled with veggies and topped with bold sauces.  There are a ton of gluten free and vegan options here, but you won't even notice that you're being healthy!

5.  This fast casual spot is Middle Eastern-inspired and completely vegan (but you wouldn't even know it)!  At Shouk (right), you'll find a variety of pitas, rice bowls and salads as well as a creative selection of dips like cashew labneh and beet tahini.  The Shouk burger, which can be served in a pita or a bowl, is one of the best meatless burgers I have ever tried.

6.  I don't believe food has to be fat-free, sugar-free and flavor-free to be healthy.  To me, health is about embracing natural ingredients.  Glen's Garden Market offers fresh groceries as well as a variety of sandwiches, pizzas, salads and soups that are perfect for a healthy lunch.  I usually get a cheese-less pizza loaded with vegetables for something hearty and nutritious.

Andddd that's a wrap!  Have you guys tried any of these places?  If yes, leave me a comment below! Where do you all like to get your nom on when you're looking to eat clean?  Do you have any recommendations for us?

4

SS Eats: Encantada

I don't even know where to start.  I was totally blown away by my experience here!  Encantada is foodie paradise for real - if you live within driving distance and haven't visited yet, you're seriously missing out. Everything from decor to flavor is on point, and by "on point," I mean ridiculously amazing.

They partner up with local ranchers and farmers to offer the freshest products possible on the daily so their dishes reflect what's in season.  They choose their animal proteins carefully (those who have been raised humanely with a GMO free diet) and offer a "starring" role to veggies, grains and fruits! Many dishes are gluten free + vegan friendly so your vegetarian friends will have PLENTY to choose from.  

Anywho, for today's lunch, my bf and I got fresh juice to start.  He ordered Carrot Top (carrots, apple, ginger, lemon) and I went with Mean Green (kale, cucumber, kiwi, ginger, apple, parsley).  Both drinks were tasty + refreshing, AND they came with cute straws (!!!)  What can I say? I'm a sucker for presentation, and Encantada does NOT disappoint when it comes to aesthetic.  Everything looks as good as it tastes!

We got the following apps to start:  Deviled Turnips (think faux eggs w/ smoked paprika), Mussels (with herbs, butter, and pesto toast), and Buffalo Cauliflower (with pickles, drizzled with vegan ranch).  Each dish was nomtastic, but my fave was, hands down, the cauliflower.

Just look at all that deliciousness!  I seriously need to go back and get my fix STAT.  

For entrees, Robby and I got three dishes and shared.  We ordered the Roasted Portobello Mushroom burger, the Grilled Cheese sandwich, and the Grains & Greens salad.  Everything was (unsurprisingly) amazing!  

The salad was a giant mix of greens, farro, quinoa, tomatoes, goat cheese, and sliced pears topped with a light apple cider vinaigrette.  It was the perfect flavor combination, and as you can see, the serving size was ginormous!

A closer look at our mushroom burger.  These photos just don't do it justice!  It came stacked high with several portobellos, zucchini, and tomato with fontina cheese oozing out of the sides.  Everything was cooked to perfection!  If you're a fan of vegetarian sandwiches (or even if you're not), you NEED to try this dish out for yourself.  Trust me, your tastebuds will thank you!

Last but certainly not least, we're going to talk about my FAVE dish from today's meal: their asiago, gruyere, and cheddar grilled cheese with tomato and zucchini.  Words can't even express how amazingly nomtastic this sandwich was.  Each bite was gooey magic, and the accompanying sweet potato fries were incredible.  They were super crispy and had a barbecue-y taste to them, which I loved!

We finished our meal off with their chocolate cake, and it was the perfect ending to a truly spectacular meal.  I can't wait to go back and try their vegan carrot cake!  Anywho, if you guys are looking to try a new restaurant in the DMV, head on over ASAP.  Take a few hours out of your day to explore the American Visionary Art Museum and grab lunch afterwards.  You're welcome in advance!

A huge thanks to Encantada for hosting us!

2

SS Eats: Choolaah

Sharing yet another fabulous food adventure with you guys today on SS.  If you follow me on IG + watch my instastories, you've probably already seen my coverage on Choolaah...BUT just in case you missed it and don't know what they're all about, they're a fabulous fine-casual Indian restaurant that just opened in Fairfax, VA's Mosaic District.  

I can't even begin to tell you guys how much I loved this restaurant!  I'm so beyond impressed with their entire operation.  Their food is a-MA-zing, and their decor is unique, fun, and impeccably clean. Justin aka DCFoodPorn - did I mention that my friends are all really ridiculously good-looking - and I got to watch the chefs in action, and it was super cool.  They made fresh naan and tandoori chicken right before our eyes!

See?  The naan making process begins...

They stick the naan to the sides of the tandoori oven to cook 'em...

...and whip them out after a few minutes after they're cooked to perfection.

A shot of their amazingly delish chicken cooking.

A slew of incredibly nomtastic bowls for your viewing pleasure!  Choolaah has these awesome build-a-bowl BBQ meals that appeal to pretty much everyone.  Whether you're a vegetarian or whatevs, you'll be more than satisfied with whatever grub you get here.  I got a chicken tikka masala bowl with brown rice + wheat naan.  The chicken and rice come separately with the curry on the side so you control how much or little you have.  

The other curry options are as follow:  chickpea masala, black lentil, yellow lentil or veggie masala. In addition to chicken, they offer 5 other proteins:  lamb, salmon, paneer cheese, veggie croquette, and tofu + veggie.

Paneer cheese + veggies? Um, I think yes.

A shot of their samosa chaat.  So. Freaking. Tasty!  They're topped with chickpea masala and drizzled with yogurt, sweet & tangy sauces with savory crispy noodles.

Mmm, why is lamb so good?

Now, in addition to these yummy bowls, they also sell different salads, lettuce wraps, naan wraps, and biryanis.  I've tried both the chicken + veggie biryani, and they are ridiculous in the best way possible.  I'm talking about a serious flavor explosion in your mouth!  Trust me, you'll be blown away.  Andddd while you're at it, get a mango lassi and choolaah chai.  Both of them are straight up amazeballs.  OH, and I almost forgot about dessert.  I didn't have a chance to try the kulfi, but their chocolate truffles are to DIE for!  Rich, creamy morsels of goodness that'll have you salivating for days on end.  

One last thing before I leave y'all.  Remember to take full advantage of their kickass sauce station. Like all their food here, their sauces pack serious flavor.  I tried their mint yogurt sauce, their choolaah fire sauce, and their choolaah lava sauce and loved each and every one of them!

A huge thanks to Choolaah for having me and the wonderful DCFoodporn.

1

My Naples Travel Diary: Part Deux

Alright guys, it's time for part 2 of my Naples, FL travel diary!  I know this is kind of belated, but I wanted to post other content first soooo that's why I'm sharing this late. Anywho, if you missed part 1, no worries - simply click here.  Now, without further ado, let's tackle days 3 & 4.

Day 3

I spent the entire morning + afternoon at the Waterside Shops with my mom.  This place is like the Rodeo Drive of Naples, FL.  It's an outdoor mall with designer stores that'll tickle every fashionista's fancy.  I spent the majority of my time at Saks Fifth sifting through their sales racks.  The Saks in PGH closed a few years back so I was indulging hardcore.  They had ALL of my favorite brands, and I ended up purchasing two fabulous pieces from Alexis:  a stunning B&W dress and a fancy lace top.  I can't wait to feature them both on here!

After our shopathon, we went to the fitness center to got our sweat on before heading to dinner at HobNob. Man, I can't even begin to tell you guys how awesome their food was.  Naples equals foodie heaven for sure!  We started with the most amazing seafood app.  OH, and I almost forgot to talk about the bread.  The waiter brought out a basket of house made cornbread, and I'm convinced it was blessed by Dumbledore's wand or something.  Oh my GOD, it was seriously magical.  I'd go back just to eat that!  And the honey butter that came with it? Um, yes x 100000.  What an amazing flavor combo!

Ok, I'm done.  I've gushed about the bread enough so it's time to move on to the appetizer.  We decided to split the octopus + white beans dish because our fabulous waiter recommended it.  We also got a cup of the crab & roasted corn chowder.  Both starters were absolutely phenomenal.  I was worried that the octopus would be tough, but it was the most tender octopus I've ever had.  The soup's flavor profile was also spot on.  It was just the right amount of rich and creamy.

For my entree, I went with the two way duck - it came with corn bread stuffing, watercress, and peaches.  The leg melted in my mouth, but the breast was a bit tough for my taste.  I really enjoyed all the different flavors though! It was definitely an enjoyable meal from start to finish.  My dad ordered the sea bass pictured above.  It was drizzled with coconut pesto, garnished with butternut squash, and came with a side of jasmine rice.  I didn't get to sample his dish, but he said it was quite tasty!  I think he preferred the USS Nemo preparation of it overall though. My mom got the crispy grouper, and it came with fries and coleslaw.  I didn't get to try hers either, but she said it was cooked to perfection.   

My parents and I were totally stuffed, but we wanted to try their dessert menu so we ordered a slice of carrot cake. It came with walnut brittle and house made vanilla ice cream.  I don't know what it was, but the ice cream tasted really unique, in a good way, of course!  I kind of wanted to order another bowl of it, but I refrained since I inhaled WAY too much food already.  Anwyho, I really can't recommend this place enough!  If you're in the area, make sure you check HobNob out.  Your tastebuds will seriously thank you.

Day 4

Since it was my last day in Naples, I decided to spend the day frolicking on the beach!  I ate breakfast & lunch at Baleen and then hit up Bistro 821 for dinner with my parents.  The evening started off well - we ordered two delicious appetizers:  Mussels (sautéed with root veggies and spinach in a lemon sake sauce) and a Chile Relleño (stuffed with garlic shrimp, spiced beef, and mozzarella cheese in a roasted tomato-chipotle sauce).  I absolutely loved the mussel's broth, and the chile was super flavorful.  The bread here was delish, too.  It was warm because it came straight out of the oven, and the accompanying oil dip was nomtastic.  

Entrees, however, were just ok.  I ordered duck, and it came with a roasted breast and a braised leg in a honey mustard glaze.  Sides were included as well:  mashed taters & grilled asparagus.  The duck here was actually way more tender than the meat I had at HobNob, but the flavor there was superior (for my taste at least).  

My dad got the snapper, and he thought it was way too sweet.  His fish was encrusted with coconut, lemongrass and ginger and came with jasmine rice and stir-fry veggies topped with a sweet and spicy thai chili sauce + crushed peanuts (pictured below).  I think he would've enjoyed it much more if the sauce came on the side!  My mom decided to try their sea bass because it was their no. 1 best seller.  It came glazed in a miso-sake marinade and was topped off with a lemon beurre blanc sauce.  Like my dish, it came with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. She actually really enjoyed the dish so I recommend trying it out if you decide to come here!

We finished our meal with a cup of creme brulee.  This was probably the weakest part of the meal because it tasted kind of burnt!  I do have to give this joint props for its service though - our waiter was a total boss!  He was very attentive and helpful.  

So that's it, guys!  That pretty much wraps up my Naples trip - lots of shopping, food adventures, and beach time. Have you traveled anywhere recently? If yes, let me know where in the comment section below.  I'm always looking to check out cool new places so I'd appreciate the recommendation.

2

SS Eats: Fig & Olive, Part II

Pumped to tell you guys all about my latest nom adventure with Justin Schuble aka DCFoodporn.  We went to Fig & Olive last week to get our grub on.  I had heard really good things about their prix fixe lunch menu so I was beyond excited to devour it all.  

To start, we ordered two cocktails: The Fig & Olive and the Cucumber Cosmo.  The former was made with organic cucumber vodka, blood orange olive oil, simple syrup, egg white, celery, lime juice, and blood orange puree.  The latter was a mix of elderflower liqueur, cucumber puree, lime juice, and cucumber vodka. 

We were starving so we placed our order quickly.  Our waiter was super helpful and attentive!  Fig & Olive definitely gets a 10 for service, and as always, the ambiance was on point.  If you're big on beautiful decor, you'll absolutely love this restaurant.  Their interior is sublime!  I still can't get over how gorgeous their bar is.

Now, back to food!  Their prix fixe lunch set costs $29 for three courses, but you can start with a crostini tasting for an extra $8.  There are 9 different flavor combinations available, but I went with the Proscuitto, Shrimp, and Gorgonzola.

For starters, they offered four different appetizers as choices.  Justin went with the Salmon Crudo, and I ordered the Burrata & Heirloom Beet Salad.  The salmon was marinated in a pink peppercorn pomegranate dressing and was garnished with pomegranate and grapefruit segment.  

My dish had slivered red apple, radicchio di Treviso, and hazelnut and was topped with a dill apple cider dressing. I'm a sucker for cheese in general so this was pretty much a slam dunk in my book!  I haven't had burrata in forever either so I was excited to indulge.  

Now, moving onto our main entrees.  Justin went with the Riviera Salmon, and I got the Walnut & Gorgonzola Linguine with shrimp.  I don't eat fish so I didn't have a chance to try his dish, but he told me it was tasty.  It was accompanied by braised endive, baby kale, cauliflower puree olive & piquillo condiment.  

My noodles were tossed with white dried fig, shaved red pear, and scallion.  The sauce was very unique - I've never tasted anything quite like it before!  If you're a fan of interesting pasta dishes, give this a go!  Note:  the shrimp (or protein of your choice) costs extra.

For dessert aka my favorite part of any meal, we got both offerings and shared.  The Chestnut Mousse & Amarena Cherry (pictured below) came with a walnut meringue and cherry sorbet.  The other dessert was called Chocolate Pot de Creme, and it came with a crunchy praline financiers + vanilla cream.  I definitely preferred the second, but that's probably because I love chocolate everything so I may not be the most objective judge.  

Have any of you guys tried their food yet? They have several locations throughout the US so head on over it you live close by.  Also, who here's a fan of prix fixe menus?

A huge thanks to Fig & Olive for having us.

5

Sensible Stylista Eats: Silver

Alright everyone, I'm super excited to tell you guys all about my latest food adventure with Justin (aka DCFoodPorn).  We went to Silver in Bethesda, MD last week to get our nom on for lunch.  I seriously felt like I had died and gone to food heaven! We got to try a bunch of different dishes - all of which were super delish.

We started thangs off with nomtastic drinks.  We ordered a Heath Bar milkshake (made with breyers ice cream) and a Beachbum cocktail (made with bacardi, blackwell rum, apricot brandy, pineapple, and lime).  We sipped on them while looking over apps.  Everything looked BOMB so it was a hard decision, but we ended up going with Creekstone Angus sliders and Tuna Tartare.  

DCFoodPorn werking it.

A close-up snap of our sliders!  They also have black bean veggie + wasabi salmon ones.

Our tuna tartare!  Marinated in a ponzu sauce with chunks of avocado, garnished with micro greens and dressed with lime peanut dressing - comes with a side of crispy wontons.  Available in a half + whole portion!

Then, we ordered 3 different entrees to share for our main course:  Caramel French Toast, Pan Seared Scallops, and Carolina Shrimp Picatta.  Sooo, let's just go in order.  If you're a fan of all things sweet, the french toast will blow your mind.  This plate of deliciousness was coated in maple sugar + salted caramel drizzle. 

The scallops were on POINT.  They were perfectly cooked and flavored with MD Bay seasoning, lemon garlic sauce, feta, cilantro and served on a bed of wilted spinach (!!!!) They came with mashed butternut squash and mixed vegetables.  I didn't take a photo of the shrimp dish, but that was also super nomtastic.  It was dressed in a scrumptious lemon garlic caper sauce and garnished with italian parsley - it came with the same side dishes mentioned above.  FYI, both of these fabulous plates were under 600 calories each.  I love that they offer a lighter menu here!

Conclusion:  I'll be back to try their other dishes soon!  If you live in the DMV area, head on over and try 'em out. Their grub is definitely on the pricier side, but remember that you're paying for quality noms.  A huge thanks to Silver for having us!  

3

Top 10 Healthy (and Quick) Snacks

Alright everyone, the topic of today's post is healthy snacking.  If you're like me, you're most likely running from place to place all day, every day because you're busy hustling.  It's important to find the time to eat right though, especially if you're looking to keep your body in check.  It's easy to indulge when you're on-the-go, but there are plenty of other quick and delicious options out there that'll fuel your bod so you can always bring your A game. Here are a few of my favorite healthy snacks:

1.  Banana Shake:  Take one ripe banana and blend it with low-fat milk.  Yeah, it's the easiest smoothie ever.  It's not creative by any means, but it's delicious and quick.  I do this whenever I have bananas that are about to go bad!  The drink's naturally sweet so I make it when I'm craving dessert. TIP:  rinse your blender out quickly to minimize your cleaning efforts.  To see more recipes, make sure y'all browse my smoothie pinterest board.

2.  Whole Grain Chips + Guacamole:  I pretty much buy everything in bulk (to get the most bang for my buck) so I'll be talking about Costco a LOT today.  Purchase individually packaged containers of guac from 'em and pick up whole grain tortilla chips for a solid midday snack. I always make sure to grab a bag of Luke's Organic Sweet Potato, Hemp & Buckwheat multigrain & seed chips their because they're healthy AND delicious.  Make sure you guys pay attention to serving size though - it's easy to go overboard so don't eat from the bag.

3.  PopChips + Salsa:  PopChips are yet another fave of mine!  I'm a potato chip junkie so these are a godsend when I'm in the mood for salty morsels of deliciousness.  They're available in a slew of different flavors, but I'm all about sea salt.  Eat it with some chunky salsa - Jack's Special Garden Fresh Gourmet is my fave - and you'll be good to go.  Oh, and like no. 2 above, pay attention to serving sizes.  Salsas aren't usually high in calories, but you want to pay attention to sodium and whatnot.  Be mindful of nutritional labels!

4.  Assortment of Nuts:  Fat intake is crucial to your diet!  Contrary to popular belief, eating fat does not MAKE you fat.  In fact, you need a solid amount of unsaturated fat in your diet to fuel your body and absorb key nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K & antioxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene.  The only fat you don't need? Trans fats.  A handful of nuts will give you a good dose of vitamin E, fiber and magnesium so grab your favorite kind and get your munch on!  Oh, and if you prefer peanut butter, you can enjoy a spoonful of that instead - just make sure it's natural peanut butter.  You know, the one with the oil at the top?  That's where the party's at!

5.  Almond Flour Banana Bread:  I know this may sound disgusting, but I'm all about almond flour. I'm not going to lie to you and say this taste's better than "regular" banana bread, but it'll grow on you.  I've been using Live Simply's recipe, and it's super on point, but instead of walnuts, I mix in dark chocolate chips!  If you decide to try this, let me know what you think.

6.  Bare Fruit Chips:  I can't even begin to tell you guys how awesome these chips are - I even got my dad hooked on these babies!  They sell a good number of flavors and carry a bunch organic options as well if that tickles your fancy.  I recommend the toasted coconut chips, fuji & reds organic apple chips, and simply banana chips.  

7.  Tomato & Feta Salad:  This is hella simple, but super nutritious and seriously nomtastic.  Take a bunch of grape tomatoes and slice them in half!  Toss them in EVOO + balsamic vinegar and add sliced basil (as much or as little as you want) and a bit of feta cheese to add that extra dimension of flavor.  If you're looking to cut calories hardcore, skip the cheese - trust me when I say it's not necessary!  The salad still tastes delish without it.

8.  Grapefruit Cups:  Costco's Kirkland Grapefruit cups are the bee's knees.  I purchase a box of these every time I go because they're so freakin' yummy.  Yes, they're packed in light syrup, but that's ok - just don't drink all of the liquid, ha. 

9.  Low-fat Yogurt with Fresh Fruit:  I pretty much love all things yogurty - I'm not really sure if that's a word, but I'm going to go ahead and assume that you know exactly what I mean - so I couldn't resist listing this.  I've tried to get into low-fat plain greek yogurt, but I just can't do it because I think it tastes awful.  Lucky for me (and you), fresh fruit and honey swoops in to save the day.  Adding healthy mix-ins make all the difference in the world!  I like to buy yogurt in large containers to save $$$, but Costco sells individually packed containers for much less if you find yourself constantly on the go.  NOTE: they almost always have coupons for them so keep an eye out.  Oh, and one last thing, make sure there isn't a ridiculous amount of sugar listed on the nutritional label.  Remember, we want to stick with healthy options!

10.  Oatmeal n' Berries:  I don't know about you guys, but I'm a fan of both sweet and savory oatmeal dishes.  In fact, when I was in college, I used to eat Quaker oats with kimchi every day for breakfast. That may sound gross to you, but it was all sorts of yum for me.  Nowadays I'm all about oatmeal with frozen berries...which I also purchase in bulk at Costco, ha.  Yes, I get fresh ones when I can, but if not, I just toss a handful in when I'm cooking up a storm at my stove.  If I feel like treating myself fully, I throw in some brown sugar as well!  I'll make sure to write a post featuring my fave combos soon, but until then, enjoy these recipes.

Alright folks, that's it for today!  What do you guys like to snack on? Do any of these sound good to you?  For more healthy snacks and recipes, make sure y'all hit up my pinterest account.  I'm obsessed with the platform so I update it pretty much 24/7.  Here are some boards you may be interested in: Avocado Love, Let's Eat Clean, Healthy Body, Healthy Soul, and Healthy Breakfast Foods.

1