D.C. Must-Tastes + Must-Dos

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A long weekend in Washington offered, yes, new freedoms. Unlike the tour-led activities I had grown accustomed to during childhood and high school trips, this vacation offered a breath of fresh air and a pure appreciation for the patriotic capital. Alex, Lindsey, Dan and I spent hours walking and wondering, noting new spots and historic sites. We graced the patios of friends and long-lost cousins, cheered on the Nationals, drank countless cups of coffee (and later rosé) in park lawns, and experienced restaurants worth revisiting.

Below were the culinary highlights, categorized by meal and classified for their unique offerings...

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Breakfast at Ted's Bulletin, during which we splurged on not one, but two housemade strawberry pop tarts (with sprinkles, of course) and a full breakfast spread with runny eggs, crispy hashbrowns and peppery breakfast sausage.

Brunch at Table, an intimate one-room restaurant that reveals every step of the chef's process from a visible kitchen bar. I watched my shakshuka and Alex's duck eggs with polenta come to life through the focus of one chef, who modestly mastered initial preparation and final plating flourishes.

Lunch at Momofuku, the world-famous ramen bar with a wildly unique yet seemingly effortless execution of innovative noodle, rice and steamed bun dishes. The warehouse-style aesthetic complements its turn-and-burn demand for satisfying lunchtime soup service.

Oyster happy hour at Senart's, where we were perfectly tucked away in the window booth with a crisp glass of pinot overlooking the quiet, cozy neighborhood of Eastern Market.

Dinner at Tail Up Goat, a phenomenal gesture of young yet seasoned culinary talent. Shared plates of in-house pastas, adventurous toasts, lamb ribs and limited half roasted chickens grace the minimalist tablescapes on a corner of northwest Washington.

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Upon my next visit, I am pining for a classic Italian dinner at Fiola Mare in Georgetown, Duke's Grocery lunchtime sandwiches, and All Purpose Pizza for casual dinner fare. Food & Wine's esteemed mention of The Dabney also leaves me curious.

Where are your favorite D.C. dining destinations? Share in the comments.

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A St. Louis Grand Getaway

More like a gooey butter cake getaway. Earlier this month, I had the wonderful opportunity to experience a refreshed Downtown St. Louis experience at the recently remodeled Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel on Washington Avenue.

Swanky and sophisticated, the towering hotel nods to its classic origins of the Statler Hotel (opened in 1919) while tactically attracting the modern business traveler. Through refreshed details in amenities and atmosphere (hello gold lamps and charging outlets at every reach), I was grateful to enjoy a concierge-level city view in my suite. We also snuck up to the rooftop Crystal ballroom during a wedding set-up to explore unbeatable views and elaborate restored architectural details.

The weekend's open slate prompted me and Madeline to enjoy as much of the city as possible; our daylong timetable led us to Soulard Market, brunch at Winslow's Home, Central West End for Jeni's ice cream and a stroll, and a wine flight happy hour on Washington Ave. at Robust. So much to eat in so little time! We made a pit-stop at the Arch for a photograph, obviously.

For our evening dining experiences in St. Louis, Madeline and I drove to The Hill for authentic, historic Italian at the original Charlie Gitto's. It was unbelievably filling -- the St. Louis-famed toasted ravioli and a good bottle of red wine kicked off our dinner, followed by lobster linguine, Seabass, and sausage rigatoni. We were essentially rolled out of the restaurant by our waiter, Tony.

Saturday's dinner at the Zenia Bar & Grill was joined by a group of other regional bloggers, whose camaraderie was enjoyed over with dishes upon dishes from the seasonal menu. I consistently recommend venturing away from a hotel for meals upon visiting a new city, but the 8th Street Pantry grab-n-go market at the Marriott St. Louis Grand was impressive. The Pantry prepares paninis and salads for the business traveler. Locally-sourced sweets, sips, and other snacks are available for pick-up.

If you're ever searching for a quick weekend trip, I highly recommend St. Louis in the springtime! Follow more of my adventures on Instagram with #caramelizedtravels.

This Caramelized getaway was brought to you by the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

Shaya (New Orleans)

Do not be mistaken upon planning your New Orleans itinerary. Sure, you can tell yourself it's vital to squeeze in the cup of gumbo or po-boy; but in my opinion, those Creole rituals can be pushed aside. Shaya should be prioritized.

An homage to Chef Alon Shaya's (and my) nostalgia-inducing Israeli homeland, the highly-acclaimed restaurant exceeds expected cultural depths of today's modern dining experience while remaining ever-so humble and grounded from small plate to entrée.

"Pillows of perfection" is, after much thought, the most appropriate description of  Shaya's pita. The culinary canvas for shared tapas of spices, spreads and salads, each piece eludes a piece of art, honoring Mediterranean cuisine and reintroducing flavors once forgotten in the New Orleans neighborhood.

As the pita was kneaded and baked fresh in a blue-tiled oven in the main dining room, I quickly understood the need for three chefs in the exposed prep area. The unlimited pita service is a diner's challenge and, in my opinion, a reward.

A portion of the menu is dedicated entirely to hummus; topping ranged from lamb ragü to soft-boiled egg or butternut squash. We delved into the fried cauliflower version, which was drizzled in fresh cilantro and fragrant olive oil. I was reminded of Alon Shaya's last mark at Domenica, where the cauliflower side is a crowd favorite.

We also managed to dominate the table tasters of Israeli salad, brussels sprouts and tabouleh bowls, continuously dunking our pita in each to ensure full appreciation.

My absolute favorite portion of the meal was the crispy halloumi, plated perfectly atop celery root and pomegranate and balsamic reduction. The cheese is such a rarity in the United States, though it's celebrated at Shaya in a preparation similar to fried mozzarella...but so much more phenomenal.

Here's my opinion: Get a table on the patio for lunch during your next visit to New Orleans. Load up on the tapas and a couple of main courses, and you'll have plenty of room by 4 p.m. for a Creole app. Don't miss this spot; it's a national winner for reason.

SXSW Through The Memphis Lens

SXSW, unsurprisingly, unleashed a whirlwind of unparalleled sights, beyond blog-worthy tastes, and memorable connections across all mediums--panels, parties, meals, and even social media hashtags.

Just as I packed my schedule to the brim with new restaurant trials, branding and tech discussions, and innovative keynotes, I opted to fill my bag with new apparel pieces and accessories to match the "Best Of" faces and places at SXSW.

Upon packing, I realized that my three-year-old Ray Bans weren't going to cut it, especially with Austin's sunny weekend forecast. I soon-after stopped into Eclectic Eye Memphis', a unique eyewear boutique in Midtown, for a wow-factor pair of sunnies. Naturally, I couldn't decide on just one pair...and with the store's superior customer service and high-quality recommendations of truly "art for your face," I walked out with three.

Each pair complemented the facets of my Austin agenda, from colorful meals and classic coffee dates to chic events. Similarly, the three eyewear brands represent a diverse offering of design and color for Memphis, whose vibes I intentionally brought along to my old stomping grounds. Which pair do you like best? Casual and classic, mod and black, or loud and bright?!

During the first full day of SXSW, I eagerly biked to the Whole Foods headquarters to try Tartinette, the latest Whole Foods test kitchen concept. My pop-up lunch of colorful veggies and tartine garnishes paired perfectly with New Orleans-based Krewe du Optic Josephine frames in blonde tortoise 24K. The chic cat eye literally mirrored a sophisticated yet approachable lunch: grilled bread topped with addictive ingredients such as crushed pea with parmesan and salmon; or avocado crema with assorted mushroom and shaved radish.

The super dreamy Camille Styles + Who What Wear party was a weekend highlight for every guest. We mingled over flutes of Veuve and passed bites from Launderette, nodding our heads to tunes by a local female DJ, who spun poolside overlooking the Austin hilly, golden and green landscape.

A pair of SALT Leif frames in Brushed Honey Gold accompanied my spring romper at the sunset event. Even The Darling Detail complimented the unique take on a 90s-esque classic aviator.

My panels and exhibitions throughout Downtown -- demanding detail-oriented attention among thousands of pedestrians -- called for a polished look during #SXstyle and #SouthBites tracks to a Neiman Marcus pop-up "School of Self-Expression." Thus, I brought along black oversized frames by Anne & Valentin, which seamlessly worked with every outfit from dawn at Café No Sé to dusk at Geraldine's (on Rainey).

Until the next Austin Caramelized critique, check out more SXSW snapshots on Instagram...

...and shop my SXSW wardrobe below!

[show_shopthepost_widget id="1472935"] This post is brought to you by Eclectic Eye Memphis. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

Café No Sé (Austin)

Austin, Texas delivers yet again; this time, in the form of a minimalist, West Coast-inspired oasis with clean, crisp accents and perfectly ripe avocados.

Prior to a day of SXSW panels on food trends, creative capital and digital influencers, I clicked "accept" to an Uber Surge in order to properly kick off my day at Café No Sé in the heart of South Congress at the to-die-for boutique hotel. The refreshing experience was well worth the surge.

From an interiors perspective, the café masters textural elements, incorporating light oak tables, raw wood walls, curvacious chairs, and mint tile. An area of the space is dedicated entirely to coffee + pastries--the large countertop boasts piles of almond croissants, chocolate scones and butter croissants. Diners in a hurry can walk right up and order. A to-go cup of French Pressed coffee wonderfully compliments a late morning walk among the antique stores and boutiques on South Congress.

My waiter guided my ordering process since I (per usual) struggled to make a decision. The menu options are delicate, offering just the right number of ingredients per dish without overwhelming the concept. My café scramble, which I couldn't help but photograph from ten angles, folded in spinach and toasted pine nuts with a small dollop of fresh ricotta.

The side of avocado called my name to complement the eggs--Best decision of the weekend yet.

Alas, my plate was a sectioned dish from heaven: avocado slices, grilled whole wheat toast, arugula with a sea salt and olive oil, and the egg scramble. Breakfast has never been so good.

The Best Memphis Burgers

These, my friends, are the best Memphis burgers. I cannot select just one, as my hometown unsurprisingly challenges the identity and definition of an American classic. Whether Asian-inspired, French-inspired, or dive-bar inspired, you'll be blessed to bite into one of these during your weekend in town. Which do you most prefer?

1. KWIK CHEK, Bibimbap Burger Korean bibimbap takes new form -- Burger style. Spicy red Korean sauce and mayo are spread on either side of the grilled bun, then layered with steamed cucumber and bean sprouts, a slice of cheese cheese, and a sunny-side-up egg. The patty itself is most impressive and thoughtful -- chopped ribeye with a teriyaki-style marinade.

2. BABALU TACOS & TAPAS, Baba Burger Oddly enough, I prefer the burger over the "tacos" or "tapas" namesake. The fluffy sourdough bun hosts roasted roma tomatoes, truly divine caramelized onions, ripe avocado slices, applewood smoked bacon, and chipotle aioli alongside the natural angus beef.

3. EARNESTINE & HAZEL'S, Soul Burger Best enjoyed after midnight, the soul burger draws tourists and neighbors regularly in the South Main dive bar and lounge. Cheddar cheese, pickles, grilled onions, "soul sauce," and juicy patties grilled on the bar back define the establishment's rule, "Keep it simple, stupid."

4. FOLK'S FOLLY CELLAR LOUNGE, Gourmet Burger Taste the legend in a more casual form than the steakhouse's ribeye. A blend of renowned ground prime beef from Humphrey's Prime Cut Shoppe is prepared exclusively on weekend evenings in the Cellar Lounge (or for take-out).

5. CAFE 1912, 1912 Burger Spread with aromatic roasted garlic aioli, this hearty French bistro-style burger melts in your mouth, especially with crumbles of bacon and Maytag blue cheese. Parmesan pommes frites pile high on the side.

6. OSHI BURGER BAR, Oshi Burger Though other burgers on the menu are tasteful, this burger is named for the restaurant for a reason. Wagyu American Kobe beef is topped with soy glaze, shiitake tapenade, Swiss and housemade Umami mayo.