amanda mcclements

Arlington's EatBar This Thanksgiving edition of Five Bites, featuring Virginia spots, comes from Deepthroat's Guide to Washingtonian Foodie Life . 1. Hong Kong-style sea bass at Coastal Flats 2. Bacon-wrapped figs at EatBar 3. "000" at Restaurant Eve 4. Pork and shrimp egg noodle soup at Nam-Viet 5. Cinnamon sweet potato fries at Red Hot & Blue Don't be shy, Metrocurean readers! Five Bites is a weekly opportunity for you to share the dishes and drinks you're enjoying around town. E-mail five of your favorites and whether you'd like your name and a picture included to metrocurean AT gmail DOT com.

Thanks for reading, commenting, emailing me and otherwise being a wonderful audience. Eat well, and happy Thanksgiving.

The AP talked with former White House chef Walter Scheib about what it takes to be White House chef and why it doesn't make sense for the Obamas to hire a star. Improbable foodie speculation over the job has run rampant — from Art Smith, Oprah's former personal chef and the creator of Capitol Hill's new Art and Soul restaurant, to Nora Pouillon, Alice Waters and Rick Bayless (who tried to squash the rumors on CBS 2 ). "It's not about advancing your agenda," Scheib told the AP. "It's not about building your repertoire. It's not about getting your business promoted. It's about serving the first family, first, last and in every way. That's the only job." I suppose the position could be politicized and used to send a message (like the importance of sustainable and organic foods, see Waters and Pouillon), but I doubt it. Cristeta Comerford, the current chef, became the first woman selected for the job in August 2005. Scheib thinks sh...

Smith Meadows' oat and winter-wheat fresh pasta, available at the Dupont FreshFarm Market Just because it's freezing outside doesn't mean you can't find great products at farmers markets that are worth bundling up for. Case in point, Smith Meadows ' fresh pasta made with the farm's own eggs from free-range chickens. I picked up the oat and winter-wheat pasta ($5) last Sunday at the Dupont FreshFarm Market , which operates year-round. For a quick lunch, I topped the pasta with sauteed collards and a sauce of garlic, cream, butter and a little tomato paste. The pasta has a great texture and a hearty flavor. Smith Meadows also makes ravioli in flavors like blue cheese pecan, sweet potato and apple cheddar. The selection at the market changes each week. I'll be back for seconds of the oat pasta and a taste of the ravioli.

Blue Duck Tavern's wood burning oven Today's Five Bites come from Mike Cherner, Mie N Yu 's marketing and events coordinator. These are the dishes he says he can't go without. 1. Grilled cheese with avocado and tomato soup at Bourbon (two locations) 2. Roasted marrow bones at Blue Duck Tavern 3. Homemade duck salami at Sonoma 4. Honey pecan bar at Baked & Wired 5. Fried oyster sandwich at Market Lunch at Eastern Market Don't be shy, Metrocurean readers! Five Bites is a weekly opportunity for you to share the dishes and drinks you're enjoying around town. E-mail five of your favorites and whether you'd like your name and a picture included to metrocurean AT gmail DOT com. Photo by Len DePas

Red Velvet Cupcakery will open in Penn Quarter Photo from neverbashfulwithbutter.com Aaron Gordon, owner of Dupont frozen yogurt shop Tangysweet , will have two of DC's favorite sweet sensations under one roof when he opens Red Velvet Cupcakery and a second Tangysweet, both at 675 E St. NW, in mid-December. Gordon and sister Canada (who also happens to be the art department coordinator for HBO's "Entourage") are launching two unique spaces side-by-side, with Tangysweet dishing out frozen yogurt and Red Velvet serving cupcakes. "I think they go together well," Gordon says. "They're sort of the angel and devil of treats." They turned to longtime DC pastry pro David Guas of Damgoodsweet to help create the cupcake recipes. The shop will start with eight flavors. "We really want to keep it simple and very good," Gordon says. There will, of course, be red velvet (aka the Southern belle), along with flavors like Summertime (lemon cake with...

Mio's bar The delicious deals just keep rolling in ... Mio is now offering a $15 lunch deal, available at the bar. Chef Nicholas Stefanelli is offering mixed greens, an individual pizza with toppings that change daily and sorbet for dessert. This is a kind of "while supplies last" deal — only 20 orders are available per day and there are 10 seats at the bar, so go early. Mio is open for lunch Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Cowgirl Creamery is now opening at 7:30 a.m. weekdays and serving coffee and breakfast pastries. Better yet, the coffee is from the fabulous Counter Culture , which hails from my hometown of Durham. While you're there, you can also pick up one of my favorite cheeses, Cowgirl's super decadent Mt Tam triple-cream cheese. Cowgirl Creamery 919 F St. NW 202.393.6880

After 15 years, Brasserie Les Halles has closed its doors, effective today. The restaurant reached the end of its lease at 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, and is biding DC au revoir. “While this is a sad occasion, it is a natural progression, as our lease is over,” said owner Philippe Lajaunie in a release. “I don’t have the words to express my gratitude to the many friends we have in Washington, from our loyal customers, to the mayor, the City Council and staffers who have been tremendous neighbors. I hope we will still have the chance to see many of these people in New York City.” Lajaunie gathered a group of friends and media last night for what few knew would be the restaurant's last supper. I'm sorry to have missed that chance to say goodbye. Les Halles was the host of the popular Bastille Day waiter's race and one of the city's top Beaujolais Nouveau parties — this year's was scheduled for Wednesday night but is now canceled.

Next Friday, Nov. 21, chef Thomas Keller of The French Laundry , Per Se and Bouchon will join CityZen chef Eric Ziebold at the Mandarin Oriental to discuss his new book, " Under Pressure: Cooking Sous Vide ." The event, hosted by the American Institute of Wine and Food, kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with a champagne reception including hors d'oeuvres and canapés. Following will be a discussion about sous vide, moderated by writer Michael Ruhlman , between Keller and Ziebold, who was Keller's French Laundry chef de cuisine . Afterward, Keller will greet guests and personalize books, which are included in the ticket price. Tickets are $95 (if you're not an AIWF member). Follow the instructions on AIWF's web site to get tickets. Space is limited and ticket requests must be sent by Monday.

Rob Streibel, at right, offers up some wallet-friendly bites from Petworth and Columbia Heights and an old favorite from Eastern Market, which could move back to its original home by next summer . 1. White hot chocolate at Columbia Heights Coffee 2. Sweet potato fries at Red Derby 3. Shredded beef burrito at El Riconcito II 4. Pollo pizza at Moroni and Brothers 5. Pork barbecue sandwich at Market Lunch in Eastern Market Don't be shy, Metrocurean readers! Five Bites is a weekly opportunity for you to share the dishes and drinks you're enjoying around town. E-mail five of your favorites and whether you'd like your name and a picture included to metrocurean AT gmail DOT com.

Bake your own pizza from the new HomeMade Pizza Company There's another Chicago transplant moving to town, but this one deals in pizza, not politics. The HomeMade Pizza Company , a Chicago-based chain, just opened at 4857 Massachusetts Ave. NW in the Spring Valley neighborhood. What sets this pie place apart is that the pizzas are made fresh to order, boxed up uncooked, and then baked at home. Sounds like a good option for nights when frozen pizza won't cut it and making your own pizza from scratch is more than you care to bite off. Toppings include meats like southwestern chicken sausage, prosciutto and pancetta, cheeses like chevre and asiago, fresh herbs, caramelized onions and more. Wheat crusts are also available. Delivery will start in a few weeks. A second location is slated to open in Herndon in December at 13300 Franklin Farms Rd .

If you haven't caught the new Frugal Foodie series on Washingtonian 's Best Bites blog, written by Metrocurean friend Kelly DiNardo, it's a must read in these shaky economic times. This week, 2941 chef Bertrand Chemel cooks a multi-course dinner for two , including pork loin with red wine sauce and an apple dessert, for just $10. Two weeks ago, Oval Room chef Tony Conte cooked for four with the same budget. And I can't wait to see next week's column, featuring Vermilion chef Anthony Chittum's $25 Thanksgiving dinner for four. Goes to show you great food doesn't have to cost a fortune.

The forthcoming Georgetown outpost of frozen yogurt shop IceBerry (3001 M St. NW) is sporting an eye-catching coat of paint. Kind of nice on a dreary day like today. And in case you're keeping track, the once fro-yo barren District now offers a plethora of choices including locally-owned spots TangySweet (with a second location headed to Penn Quarter), Mr. Yogato , and salad-focused SweetGreen (with a second location planned for Bethesda). Canadian chain Yogen Fruz , sampled by President Bush , is planning multiple DC and Virginia locations. Cali Yogurt is setting up in Adams Morgan, and Pinkberry was supposed to arrive this year, but no official word yet.

Vidalia is celebrating the holidays and its 15th anniversary with a three-course tasting lunch for $19.90. (The price references the restaurant's address, 1990 M St. NW.) Diners can choose a tasting portion of one appetizer, entrée and dessert from the entire lunch menu. Drinks, tax and gratuity are not included. You also may notice the piggy bank graphic in the righthand column. Click on that and you'll find all Metrocurean posts on restaurant and food deals.

OpenTable.com is launching a clever promo next week dubbed the Appetite Stimulus Plan . Participating restaurants will offer $24 three-course lunches and $35 three-course dinners from Nov. 17-21. Seems like the perfect excuse to try out some newbies like 1905 , Art and Soul and PassionFish , as well as old favorites like the Oval Room and Cafe Atlantico .

Bibimbap chicken from the Korean cart at 14th and Vermont from WhereInDC's flickr stream Fellow food blogger WhereInDC offers five favorite spots for meals under $10. 1. Pedro and Vinny's : "For $5.25, this is one of the best deals EVER. Always fresh with 50-plus different types of hot sauces, the Burrito Man makes the best burritos." 2. Super Tacos and Bakery : "You may know them better as Tacos Pepitos, but I know them as making some of the biggest sandwiches such as the Cubano or Carnitas for only $7." 3. Adam Express : "If you haven't heard, this is a tiny restaurant that provides some of the best Korean in DC." 4. Korean Cart/Bulgogi Cart : "This mother and son duo are serving some of the best kimchi and bibimbap in DC ... and it's a steal for $7." 5. Pho Xe Lua : "It's the best pho I've found so far! The flavorful and aroma-rich broth with the razor-thin beef is ridiculously good." Don't be shy, Metroc...

Here's an opportunity to get involved in one of the biggest and best food events of the year, Taste of the Nation . From the call for volunteers: In preparation for the 21st annual Taste of the Nation event in March 2009, the DC Taste of the Nation Volunteer Committee invites all DC foodies to lend a helping hand. Alongside Chef Chair R.J. Cooper, Chef de Cuisine of Vidalia, the volunteer committee seeks new members to become involved in the planning process of this highly anticipated culinary event. On Monday, November 10th, 2008 from 6-8 pm, Vidalia's acclaimed wine-tasting happy hour will host a special recruitment event, offering more than a flight of wine. Learn more about how to become an active member in the fight against childhood hunger while sipping and munching on tasty treats, courtesy of Vidalia's dedication to the cause. Feel free to bring along any guests who may be interested in further involvement with the DC Taste of the Nation Committee. We look forward ...

Don't feel like cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving this year? Rocklands will be smoking the birds with red oak and hickory for the holiday, and you can get a free taste of the turkey this Thursday, Nov. 6, during lunch hours at all four locations . Whole turkeys with two quarts of side dishes range from $59.99 to $99.99 and will feed 8 to 16 people. Smaller portions of turkey can be ordered for $4.99 a pound and turkey breasts for $8.99 per pound. Rocklands' regular sides are available for the holiday dinner, along with special sides like cornbread stuffing with sage, mashed potatoes with thyme and ginger-candied baby carrots. Order by Tuesday, Nov. 25 to ensure a prompt Wednesday delivery.

CulinAerie , a new cooking school just south of Thomas Circle, is now welcoming its first crop of aspiring cooks. “DC’s really coming into its own, and I think it’s certainly ready for a cooking school,” says Susan Watterson, who founded the school with Susan Holt. Both women have been instructors at Maryland’s L’Academie de Cuisine (they’re also graduates), as well as chefs — Holt as executive sous chef at 1789 and Watterson as executive chef at Cafe Bethesda . CulinAerie's classes run the gamut from basics like knife skills and pasta primers to Indian cooking and wine tasting. Lunchtime lectures cover such topics as food writing and kitchen remodeling. Check out the class calendar here . Well-known DC chefs and food experts will teach many of the classes. This Friday, Nov. 7, chef Gerard Pangaud will teach Moroccan cooking, while next Thursday, Nov. 13, pastry chef and New Orleans native David Guas tackles pralines and heavenly hash in a "Bayou Sweets" class. “We woul...

The District, as sugar cookie That, my friends, is a sugar cookie in the shape of our fair city, the District of Columbia. The cookie cutter that made this masterpiece possible came from Capitol Hill's fabulous kitchen store Hill's Kitchen . The shop carries cookie cutters in the shapes of all 50 states. Now, I fully meant to write about this in enough time for the really motivated bakers out there to make a complete cookie electoral map for the election. I was picturing red and blue icing, the whole nine yards. But I didn't get around to it in time. Which is no excuse when it comes to voting ... so go! Vote! Then bake cookies.

Georgetown Cupcake's election cupcake with a fondant donkey Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne, owners of Georgetown Cupcake, on the Martha Stewart show Georgetown Cupcake owners Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne joined Martha Stewart this morning to make election-themed chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting. (That's one of Sen. John Kerry's favorite flavors at the shop, Kallinis told Martha.) If you're so inspired to get baking before any election parties tomorrow, click here for the cupcake recipe . Of course, if you have no inner Martha, you can always call the shop to see if there's still time to place an order.

Cayenne spiced pumpkin seeds Have a pumpkin looking for a new role in its post-Halloween life? Try these pumpkin seed recipes . I like mine with lots of cayenne. My version of Alain Ducasse's cream of pumpkin soup If you have smaller sugar pumpkins on hand, try the Alain Ducasse cream of pumpkin soup recipe I posted recently. I cooked it last week (above) and it's simple and delicious.