| Nathans of Georgetown, Washington D.C. |
DCist.COM Happy Birthday, Mister President Of course there's always his Micky D's guilty pleasure. Yet Clinton's appetite for local dives surpassed his love for this fast food joint. While living in Washington, Clinton also went for the sloppy mac n’ cheese at Florida Avenue Grill, a soul food institution where he oft directed drivers on whim. The Grill serves up a fatty fare—the kind where absolutely nothing is good for you. The kind Clinton’s doc would clearly tsk-tsk about. Even the veggies are drowned in pork fat, lard, or butter. But don't let that stop you from going. Florida Avenue Grill is an institution for good reason. Another comfy Southern spot with a N’awlins emphasis is RT’s Seafood Kitchen in Alexandria. Clinton liked it so much he licked off a plate that is now memorialized on their wall. George’s King of Falafel in Georgetown also displays a Clinton memento—a signed, framed headshot near the register. Behind the screen door of this diner-style greasy spoon, people sit on bar stools to watch cable and Vin Diesel movies. Clinton liked to shoo away secret service to eat with the “regular folk” here. Up M Street, he’s smiling in a framed shot at Filomena, towering over the two apron-wearing “Pasta Mamas.” Watch them in their quaint mock-kitchen off Wisconsin Ave, folding and shaping dough through a pasta press all day. His first taste of Filomena’s hand-crafted fettuccini was with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Many visits later, he baptized the fried calamari appetizer as his personal choice. With such steep prices though, DCist recommends keeping within a budget by stopping by for the $11 (on Fri and Sat) or $14 (on Sun) weekend brunch. The buffet showcases textbook-thick pizza, a daily crostini, fish and chicken dishes and a fluffy whipped cream to slather on desserts. A couple storefronts away is another favorite of his and every other administration since 1969, Nathan’s. Owner and former journalist Carol Joynt loves to see politicos discussing heavy issues. And as we know in Clinton's case, heavy issues tasted best with heavy, no-frills food. For Clinton, Chinese take-out also falls in this category, such as that from Meiwah's West End location. Owner Larry La often delivered Clinton’s usual order of chicken and broccoli to the White House himself. Clinton greeted him to pay the bill—often around $40 or $42— leaving "a very good tip of $10," notes La. When somebody asked why La never asked Clinton to sign the $50 bills he used, La responded that he "needed that $50." A 2005 City Paper review calls Meiwah the unofficial First Restaurant and another review compares Meiwah's menu to one of Clinton's better speeches—“it's long but it touches all the bases...it contains hints of greatness.” Other restaurants in Clinton's rotation include Tunnicliff's Tavern in Eastern Market, where Clinton celebrated his brother in-law's engagement and The Red Sage, where he dined with Hillary for Valentine’s Day. She apparently snuck in a bottle of Tabasco—as she did elsewhere—just in case their tomatillos, habanero chilies and prickly pear cactus weren’t spicy enough. Even when dining on a grander scale, as with Red Sage, he liked to tone it down with a casual, cowboy-ish attire. And what did Clinton have to say about the magnum opus of Washington’s dining scene, none other than Spanish luminary Jose Andres? He called him "one of the premier young chefs in America.” Yet we question how often he ordered small plates at Jaleo, since deep down, we know Clinton wanted nothing mini about his meals. Bring on the Big Mac. Posted by Erin Zimmer in Food and Drink | Recommend this! (10) | |
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