DC Restaurant Review: Rice Bar

This wonderfully chic Korean spot on 1020 19th St NW (between K St and L St) has quickly become my new favorite lunch locale. It’s located in the spot that was formerly known as ‘Chopsticks’. The food at Rice Bar is not only affordable, but absolutely delicious! I’m a big fan of ethnic food, and in a city that prides itself on international fare, I find that good Korean food is sorely lacking at times. DC is fortunate to have RiceBar, and I’m hoping it quickly becomes a staple around here (hopefully rounding out the overpopulation of Devon and Blakely deli’s that have been popping up everywhere).

The staff here is incredibly helpful and friendly, which is excellent because all ethnic food can be quite intimidating to a international culinary novice. Upon my first visit, the lovely Korean gentleman behind the counter walked me through all the combinations available for my ‘Bibimbap’ (this is a bowl of rice topped with a variety of cooked seasonal veggies, meat and sauce). He explained everything in detail, and told me which flavors would compliment one another.

I designed my own Bibimbap with white rice, egg plant, bamboo shoots, kimchi, asparagus, zucchini, spicy chicken, and ‘gochujang’ (red pepper sauce). Not only was this bowl incredibly healthy, but every item was fresh, vibrant and full of flavor. The kimchi had just the right touch of spice, and the spicy chicken was a nice compliment. Also, if nothing else, my bowl was full of color! In fact, ‘bibimbap’ blends together five colors in its dish – yellow, green, red, white and black. This is a tradition in most Korean dishes, and a tradition in which RiceBar takes seriously.

I plan on going back this week to try to the ‘donburi’ and sushi. This is a wonderful spot for locals and tourists. As I always say, skip the typical street fare (Potbelly’s, Corner Bakery, etc.), and try something authentic and exciting. RiceBar will not disappoint. Fresh teas and noodle boxes are also available. And, did I mention the décor was stylish, and the dining area was immaculately clean? The world music playing in the background was also a nice touch.

D.C. Invading Your T.V.

Don't forget to set your DVRs for the new shows recently taped in our fair city.

We have become quite popular haven't we??

Top Chef DC

Premieres June 16 at 9pm on Bravo

Cupcake Sisters (based on the ladies of Georgetown Cupcake)

Premieres July 16 on TLC

Real Housewives of DC

Premieres August 5 at 9pm on Bravo

Transformers 3 to Film in D.C.

Attention all DC natives - yet another epic movie will be filming in the DC area this fall (as reported by DCist and WashingtonPost). The word is Michael Bay is looking to film parts of Transformers 3 in the national's capital. I'll keep you all posted as I hear about scouting locations or calls for film extras or production crew assistance.

You better believe I will try to spot some of the filming. It was pretty exciting seeing a couple scenes of Salt being filmed at the Navy Archives last year.

Viva Las Vegas!

This past weekend, I had my much anticipated vacation to Vegas with my girls. I so needed this vacation. .Things have been hectic, and I feel as if I have no free time. It was nice to just do whatever I wanted for a weekend…including sleeping until 2pm!

Since we packed so much into this trip, there’s no way I can give a synopsis of the entire vacation. So, because I love top 10 lists so much – here are the top 10 experiences I had in Vegas.

1. Vegas is expensive! I knew it would be pricy – but at times, I felt as if I were being robbed. We didn’t gamble, so I can’t imagine how expensive Vegas is for gamblers. The food is pricy, mostly because the cheapest place to eat is the odd dodgy buffet or Denny’s. We never found a Wendy’s, Taco Bell, etc (not that we really eat that kind of food). Also, you can’t hail a cab from the street, you can only get them at the hotels. So, you have to tip the doorman for hailing you a cab, then you have to pay and tip the cabby! *sheesh*


2. The Stratosphere is a tourist trap. If you ever go to Vegas, skip the Stratosphere (hotel, restaurant, and rides) all together. The hotel is super old, and wreaks of whiskey, cigs, and body odor. Strange enough, we saw tons of families there – babies and all. The ‘Top of the World’ restaurant food was subpar, and I actually felt a little nauseous from the revolving restaurant floor. What’s worse is you can vaguely see the roller coaster ride above you and bungie jumpers flying off the side of the building. Super tacky – skip it!


3. The Palms. Next to the Venetian, Encore, and the Aria – this is definitely the place to be. While we were there, Vegas was holding the “Love Festival” which is a 4 day fest full of DJs ‘spinning’ all over the city. The music was constantly pumping through this hotel. It was kind of fun spotting Pauly D from MTV’s Jersey Shore. The only con to the Palms is, it’s a bit away from the Strip – so you must take a taxi. No walking to this venue. If you really want to spot celebs, book a reservation at N9NE steakhouse.


4. Alize Restuant atop the Palms. This French restaurant had the best food that I’ve ever tasted in my life – hands down! We were a party of four, but it felt as if every waiter catered to our table. They were so attentive, and it also helped that our waiter was French as well. I had the French onion soup, and the roasted chicken (which was super moist and tender). My friend got the salmon (which was topped with black truffles!). And I finally got to try an ‘amuse bouche’ (term which I happily learned from Top Chef).


5. The Bellagio. This is where we stayed, and it’s definitely high class all the way – starting with the lovely ceiling glass sculpture, and vast marble foyer. We booked two deluxe rooms for the 4 of us – but we all could have really stayed in one room. The bathrooms were huge, and of course – marble from floor to ceiling. My friends booked a room overlooking the Bellagio fountain. And here’s a tip – the Bellagio fountain show is spectacular from the street, but it’s even more breathtaking from the upper rooms. If you’re going to Vegas solely to party, this may not be the hotel for you. It can appear quite stuffy and a bit formal. But it was nice to feel like I was in a scene from Ocean’s Eleven for the weekend. And sitting by one of the eight calming swimming pools was so relaxing after a night out.


6. Caesar’s Palace. Caesar’s is next to the Bellagio – but it’s nothing like it’s next door neighbor. In fact, Caesar’s is the complete opposite of stuffy and formal. This is one of the party hotels, and you get that vibe just walking through the casino and hallways. Lots of young people here, and not a ‘family’ or ‘baby stroller’ in sight. This hotel may be just as grand as the Bellagio, with it’s lovely fountains, shops, marble, and gardens. Pop over to Serendipity’s 3 right outside Caesar’s for a fabulous ice cream sundae.


7. The Strip. I had this idea that as soon as I got to Vegas, I would be instantly bombarded by advertisements of peep shows, and debauchery around every corner. Oddly enough, Vegas can be somewhat tame. You almost have to go out of your way to find that kind of stuff. The Strip is actually quite beautiful – especially when lit up at night. There’s tons to do for the ‘innocent’ – like comedy shows, Cirque du Soleil, live concerts, etc. There’s always something to see. The Strip itself is sensory overload for newbies. Definitely make time to just stroll the street (and bring comfy walking shoes).


8. Cirque du Soleil “O”. This show isn’t overrated. It’s spectacular! A little on the odd side in parts (hey, it’s French! lol), but quite riveting. You won’t be able to take your eyes of the pool/stage/platform. It was such awesome choreography, seeing how the pool was integrated in every scene with the acrobats and divers. My favorite part (besides the fire handlers) was the 3 diving ‘swing’ platforms. “O” tickets are well worth the price tag. And remember, the front rows are ‘wet’ seats – which means you will need a poncho. In my opinion, front/center in the Orchestra section was a perfect view. And far enough away from the French clowns that ran through the audience.


9. Fashion Show Mall. This mall has many of the same stores you’re probably used to (Nemians, Macy’s, Saks, etc) – but they are all on steroids! The stores are twice as big, and the clothes twice as glamorous. And, the mall sports quite a long runway for it’s periodic runway shows. Another bonus, here you can get reasonably priced food. We saw a Johnny Rockets and California Pizza Kitchen here.


10. The People. Everyone is glamorous – or at least, they think they are. You can wear just about anything. And for those who are normal enough not to expose all their ‘goodies’, it’s fun to people watch. There are some strange characters in this town. And every now and again, if you look closely, you will spot a DJ, a celeb, a sports personality, etc. If nothing else, stake your spot in a high-traffic area and just stare people down. It’ll be the highlight of your day (or night). Trust me.
    
    

One of Bellagio's Outdoor Pools