Goin' to the Local Hockey Bar

Though we asked for no gifts at the wedding, some very sweet and thoughtful people ignored our directions and we ended up with, among other things, two gift certificates for José Andrés restaurants.  He is a noted DC chef and restauranteur, who recently made headlines by announcing he was breaking his contract with the new Trump Hotel in DC after Donny boy's comments about Mexican immigrants.  (Trump said he'd sue; Andrés said "Go ahead; I've got the money."

We started with a lovely walk though the Christmas Market in front of the National Portrait Gallery, off of the evening hustle and bustle of 7th St. NW, with its restaurants, night spots, and the Verizon Center Arena.  

For dinner we went to Zaytinya, a mezze restaurant (Mediterranean small plates, mostly Greek and Turkish - www.zaytinya.com/).  The hostess asked if we were going to the hockey game; the Caps were playing at Verizon Center that evening.  I said no, but that explained all the Caps jerseys I was seeing.  In scant minutes, the place - which has a lovely bar the length of the restaurant - was filled with people in jerseys going to the game.  Where else but DC would a world class chef's mezze restaurant serve as the local hockey bar?

Wonderful food, and tastes that we never tasted before.  There was a tomato-based soup with assorted scallops, shrimp, and clams and Persian jeweled rice that was to die for.  Another nice stroll past the museum and then down to the Metro and home.