Blueberry Pancakes

I came across this coffee shop on a local's recommendation. I was actually cruising around Old Town Alexandria (Virginia) in search of another breakfast spot, which woefully turned out to be closed (even though it was 9 am. On a Saturday. And their hours said otherwise). It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as a man sweeping his stoop nearby was happy to recommend this place just down the street!

Now, I LOVE pancakes. Give me batter, blueberries, and real maple syrup, and I will be one happy girl. But I'm always a little cautious order them out because (well for one, most places don't offer real maple syrup, but also) they're often just too sweet for me. I like my breakfasts more "hearty" than "sugary," but a lot of restaurants like to sweeten up their pancakes, muffins, etc. However, these cakes were GREAT - they had a real home-made taste to them. I could have taken a few more blueberries cooked in, but the fresh berries that came on the side more than made up for anything missing inside. This was definitely a meal I'd come back for - and freshly squeezed orange juice, too!

Where you can enjoy these yourself:

Extra Perks Coffee Shop
822 North Fairfax
Alexandria, Virginia
http://www.extraperkscoffeeshopandcafe.com/

Cream of Mushroom Soup

I have a weakness for creamy soups. Cream of chicken, tomato, mushroom, broccoli - you name it, I'll love it. There's just something so comforting about a hot bowl of your favorite foods in a splash of cream. Topped with fresh croutons and drizzled with truffle oil, what made this soup stand out was its consistency. Rather than a homogeneous texture, the creamy broth was light with substantial pieces of mushrooms throughout. I think it's nice when a chef is proud of their ingredients and shows them off in a dish that typically hides them. The mushrooms were small and whole and plump and sliced. The fresh croutons, as always, added a nice crunch to each otherwise quiet bite, and I always love the enhanced, rich flavor truffle oil adds to a mushroom-heavy dish - it just gives it that extra punch of refined mushroom that lasts the whole meal.

Where you can enjoy this yourself:

Tuscarora Mill Restaurant
203J Harrison St SE
Leesburg, Virgina
http://www.tuskies.com/

Japanese Pan Noodles

To come across this cute little bistro with fresh ingredients and smiling service, and craving noodles as badly as I was, this was a nice little snack that just hit the spot. The slight heat to the soy sauce stopped me from scarfing the whole thing down in just a few minutes, but it was balanced nicely by the vegetables underneath. Though, in all honesty, I can't say this was quite what I was expecting to get. It was chock-full of Asian sprouts, cilantro stalks, and had a nice combination of shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and broccoli, but I was hoping for a little more 'noodle' and a little less 'pan,' as they say (or at least a better noodle-to-Asian-sprout ratio). I think I would best describe this meal (snack) as feel-better twist on typical fast food - I always give extra credit for fresh ingredients!

Where to find this yourself:

Noodles & Company
4238 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, Virginia
http://www.noodles.com/

I'm used to finding Asian food at noodle houses, but I was thrown for a loop when I first saw the menu for this restaurant: there are three sections for Asian, American, and Mediterranean noodle varieties. Talk about being international! I suddenly had to choose between teriyaki, pesto, or salad with my noodles, which I have to say was a little unusual at a place where you order at the counter. I'd recommend going with either a very open mind or one firmly set!

BEST French Toast

How good is this French Toast? Good enough that I didn't even add syrup (in part because they didn't have real maple syrup, but that's beside the point). Really, this was THE best French Toast I've ever had. The toast was so light and fluffy, made with - get this - HOMEMADE Challah bread! The texture and flavor of the bread itself is extraordinary. There's a sweetness to it that complements the seasoning in the egg batter that makes you really sit back and say "Wow." The seasoning definitely had notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, but there was something else in there, too, that I just couldn't put my finger on. But the whole meal was delicious - definitely come with an appetite (note how small that fork looks)!

Where you can enjoy this yourself:

Metro 29 Diner
4711 Lee Highway
Arlington, Virginia

Brick Oven Margherita Pizza

I love pizza. As Guy Fieri (on the Food Network) has said, even bad pizza...is good pizza. But this pizza...is REALLY good pizza, and in a really nice little restaurant. Perfect for a date night, catching up with friends, or just enjoying your own company. And it's also reasonable, which is always a plus! Cafesano, Italian and Mediterranean food, would be one of my regular spots if I was in the area more often.

So back to this pizza. Let's start at the bottom. For someone who doesn't usually eat her crusts unless she's STARVING, take this for all it's worth: this was one delicious pizza crust. It was chewy but had enough of a crunch to it to hold the pizza up on its own, and the flavor was a little different - in a good way - than what you normally find (I'm guessing semolina flour). The sauce was light and tasty and was strongly reinforced by the fresh tomato slices on top. They also get extra bonus points for using fresh mozzarella across the entirety of the pizza, and the basil (which you'll also find layered between the sauce and the cheese) garnish was not only beautiful but added just that extra little touch of freshness to each bite, if you wanted it.

Where you can enjoy this yourself:

Cafesano
South Lakes Village Center
(Sunrise Valley & South Lakes Drive)
11130 M South Lakes Drive
Reston, Virginia
http://www.cafesano.com

You're greeted by a huge menu full of wonderful-sounding dishes and options, and then you place your order at the counter, where you're surrounded on one side by olives, salads, and cheese, and on the other, by homemade soups. After you place your order, you get a number for your table and sit down, then wait until your food is ready and is then brought right to you. It's like a fusion of counterside order+pick up and a regular restaurant set up. A little different than what I'm used to, but quite nice!