Holy Trinity of Beer

Okay, I gotta end my last post from Colorado with a bang. So on my last night in Colorado Springs with my co-workers, we decided to hit up another brewery. We decided on the Trinity Brewing Company near the Garden of the Gods in CO Springs. When we pulled up to this place I was little hesitant considering it was in strip mall, but once we stepped into the joint it had the feel of an eclectic outdoorsy Belgian tavern. The first thing that caught my eye was the huge beer menu atop the bar.

The Trinity offers Belgian Beers, Micro-Brews and their own crafted beers. I had the Flo IPA which was aromatic and had the right balance of hoppiness. I also tried the Kwak which soon became my new favorite. Once we found a table the gang ordered some food. I ordered the bacon basket (yes bacon) and beer cheese soup.

Bacon Basket

Beer Cheese Soup

Chicken Avacodo Sandwich

The food at Trinity is not only good, but it's done with high quality ingredients. Washington, DC needs more places like Trinity which boast artisan beers and slow food for conscious people. The vibe at this place was laid back with a mix of folks coming off work and the slopes, parents with kids and babies, fellas chillin with the boys and co-workers having happy hour with Bob Dylan playing in the background. I definitely recommend checking this place out if you're CO Springs.

Five Guys from Coast to Coast

I saw a Five Guys during lunch yesterday while in Colorado. I had to take a picture with the mountains in the backdrop. I'm not surprised how successful this once little restaurant has become. I used to live by the original one in Alexandria off of King St.

Phantom Canyon Brewery in Colorado Springs

Okay gang just wanted to post some pics from dinner last night at Phantom Canyon Brewery in CO Springs. Situated in downtown CO Springs, this pub has some decent beer and pub fare. Beer sampler was okay, light beers were pretty weak. IPA onward were nice. Food was decent.

Beer Samplers


Chopping Board

Cherry Cricket

Well a co-worker and I flew into Denver today on our way up to Colorado Springs without any dinner plans and we tried using the Urban Spoon application on our iPhones to no avail. So, I decide to make a call into Munoz Headquarters, I mean Arlene and she finds a restaurant called Cherry Cricket for us to check out. She tells me it was named "Best Bar Burger in Denver". As soon as I walk in I new this was my kind of place -- Arlene knows me too well. The hostess tells us it's a 15 min, I then proceed to make a bee line to the bar and order a Fat Tire (RJ introduced this beer to me several years ago when we were in Breckenridge). Anyway, once we sat down I ordered a cup of green chili which was awesome and a Cricket Burger medium rare with smoked cheddar, bbq sauce and chopped jalapenos.

This burger was money, not greasy and not overwhelming. The bun was soft and sweet and the toppings were well proportioned. Definitely check out this place if you're in Denver.

Good Stuff Eatery

Hey gang check out my brother Jason's Review of Good Stuff Eatery. It's a new restaurant in DC owned by former Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelson. I need to check it out and compare their burger to my top five DC burgers.

1. Ray's Hell Burger
2. Matchbox
3. Five Guys
4. Big Buns
5. Elevation Burger

Chef Spike


5 Napkin Burger

First Pictures with the Nikon D90

Here's a couple of shots with the new camera. Check it out.

Rooster...


Rooster again...


Steak Dinner...


Noah...


Noah and Arlene in the nursery...

Saturday Night in the Atlas District

Well the in-laws were in town this weekend which gave Arl and I a chance to meet up and catch up with our old double date partners Randy and Daphne. We headed out to the Atlas District in Northeast (NE) DC for dinner at Dr. Granville Moore's and drinks at The Pug. After putting our name on the wait list at Dr. Granville Moore's we took a quick hop in the cold to The Pug. The Pug is my kind of bar, it truely is a hole in the wall with maximum capacity of 60. This boxing themed bar has old brick walls and original wood flooring that gives it that true dive bar feel (no facades here). I was surprised to see they serve San Miguel along side Boddington's and Bare Knuckles Stout. Randy and I later find out that the owner is part Filipino and we later notice a huge Filipino flag in the corner and a couple of Filipino items on the wall -- very cool. After a few rounds we finally got the call from Dr. GM's that our table was ready -- by then we were starving and craving their famous moules (mussels). Dr. GM's describes itself as a Belgian Beer Bar and Gastropub. It's had that feel of an old world pub with heavy wood and stone; and with the dim lighting it had the feel of being in a pub in Dublin or London (even though I've never been to those places). Service is slow here, but that's okay cause there's no rush to leave this place, especially since you'll need time to go through their expansive beer list.

Whether it's your first, second or tenth time here, you'll want to order their moules and frites. Arl, Randy and I had moules and frites and Daphne had the chicken sandwich, which looked equally tasty too. Hands down best moules I've ever had.
Moules Provencale


Moules Fromage Bleu


Randy and I also ordered the Bison chili which really hit the spot after coming in from the cold. If you've never been to the Atlas District, you need to check it out. It's in transition, so some parts are shady. There's a of potential here and it's a different vibe than other neighborhoods in DC. It's laid back, affordable and real.

Comfort Food...Filipino Style

Chicken Adobo. Every Filipino kid I know grew up on chicken adobo and everytime I eat this dish it takes me back to my childhood waiting for my grandma or my mom's version of this dish to finish simmering on the stove. With so many versions of adobo out there I wanted to share my techniques and ingredients for making this Filipino staple.



Mike's Chicken Adobo - Ingredients

1 Whole Chicken Cut Up
2 Medium Onions
4 Garlic Cloves
2 Bay Leaves
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce & 1/2 Cup Distilled Vinegar Mixed
1/4 Cup Honey
Fresh Cracked Pepper to taste
1/2 Tablespoon of Vegetable Oil

First step is to coat a stainless steel pan with vegetable oil and turn the heat up to high. Sear the chicken pieces in batches until both sides of the chicken parts are golden brown.


Once the chicken is finished set aside and pour the excess oil out leaving the "burnt" bits in the pan. With the pan on medium-high, deglaze the pan with a 1/2 of the soy sauce and vinegar mixture. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to get all the crispy tasty bits. After deglazing the pan, mix in the honey then add the cooked chicken, garlic, onions, and cracked pepper. Continue to add the rest of the soy sauce and vinegar mixture and bay leaf. When adobo starts to boil bring down to a simmer and let it braise for an hour. Be sure to turn the chicken over at the 30 minute mark to ensure the chicken will be cooked evenly. After an hour the adobo should be done and ready to serve with rice.



Be sure to taste frequently when cooking. To me adobo is the best dish to balance the four S's:

Sweet - Honey & Onion
Sour - Vinegar
Salty - Soy Sauce
Spicy - Pepper (Tabasco optional)

Anyway, this is my version of Adobo - let me know if you're ready for an adobo throwdown!

Inauguration with Jigga

So to continue the Inauguration Weekend, I ended up going to Jay Z's "Eve of Change" concert the night before the Inauguration. Man, what a performance - Jay Z knows how to put on a show. Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Young Jeezy and Memphis Bleek came out to peform as well. Jason Campbell, Samuel Jackson, Mayor Fenty and many others were there in attendance in the jam packed 1,800 seat Warner Theater. The setting was intimate and Jay Z had a live band backing him up which made the performance even better. Here are some videos and pix of the show.



Jay Z and Young Jeezy...


Mary J and Jay Z...

Inauguration Weekend

Wow! Inauguration Weekend was an event to behold. Although I wasn't able to make it down to the Mall for the actual swearing in of President Obama (cause I over slept), I still felt the need to be in the heart of DC for the historic weekend. DC was truly buzzing with out of towners visiting to witness the historic event. The metro was packed and bars were overflowing with folks celebrating change in America.

I made it down with the usual suspects (Sal, Eric and Paul) to the U St. Corridor to do some bar hopping for our own celebration. We made it down to Marvin's and perched on their rooftop beer garden. That night the temperature was in the bone chilling 20's. Marvin's had outdoor heaters that provided some warmth, but we spent most of the night drinking with our gloves, scarves and hats on. It was all good cause the mood was right and the shots of Patron kept us warm. The bar was filled with good people and no one was complaining.

I'll have to check out their bistro sometime.


We put ourselves on the waitlist for The Gibson next door, the new speakeasy joint, but we never made it in...I'll have to review next time. So we headed over to my favorite bar in DC - Aroma in Cleveland Park. This place still makes the best mixed drinks and plays the best music (hip-hop and house) in DC. Non-smokers beware, cause Aroma is one of the very few bars that still allow smoking.

Anyway, after a long night of drinking and feeling the vibe of the Inauguration in DC, we ended the night at a familiar place, Bob & Edith's for some late night eats.

Nikon D90

Alrighty, I finally got clearance to purchase the Nikon D90! This digital SLR camera is sweet!!! With Noah growing so fast I wanted a camera that could capture all the little details and allow me to do all the cool camera stuff like depth of field shots. Anyway, I'll be posting some new photos very soon.

American Flatbread

If you've never been to American Flatbread in Ashburn, you need to check this place out. AF is all about using organic products and eating seasonally when ingredients are most fresh. What's even more impressive is this place serves organic beer and wine! They also have Dogfish head on tap! Arlene and I (w/Noah) ate here last Friday and had the cranberry, brie and chicken pizza and the brie with apple cranberry relish appetizer. Yeah we went a little cranberry crazy, but I have to admit it was pretty darn good. Anyway, I know most don't live out here in Ashburn, but if you're ever in the area you gotta check it out!

Brie and Cranberry Relish on a Crostini

Ashburn Hearth
43170 Wynridge Dr. (Suite #110)
at The Broadlands Marketplace
Ashburn, Virginia
phone: (703) 723-7003

Green Tea with Pearl Tapioca

...Tea Noodle Rice Cafe in Arlington.

Double Tall Soy Latte

Today's coffee break at Murky Coffee in Arlingon (off of Wilson Blvd.).

No Reservations...Venice...Risotto!

Okay, I know I'm posting way to many videos on my blog. I swear I'll cut it back, but I couldn't resist...this is what I'll be watching tonight.



This video reminded me of Arlene and our trip to Italy in 2007...


Arlene in Venice...

Putting things in perspective...Living the Good Life

Okay, this must be post YouTube Video Sunday. I found this video while checking out Free Range Studio's website. This video puts things in perspective for me. Enjoy!

The Story of Stuff

I've forwarded this video to many of my friends in the past and now have included a link to the full video on this blog. It's a 20 minute video on consumerism and sustainability which walks through the process of sale, use and disposal of products and its effect on communities. Now I'm guilty of buying "stuff" and replacing it with the latest gadgets, but this video makes you think about how you are contributing to global waste without even knowing it. Anyway check out the clips below and the full video at www.storyofstuff.com.

Planned Obsolescence


Consumer Treadmill

Chef Cristeta Comerford To Remain in the White House Kitchen

I read today on the Huffington.com that yesterday Michelle Obama announced that Cristeta Comerford (who happens to be Filipina) will stay on as White House executive chef, putting to rest all the speculation surrounding the decision. Great to see a strong Filipina woman holding it down in the White House kitchen.

From the AP:

Cristeta Comerford took the job in 2005 and is the first woman and first minority to serve as executive chef.

"Cristeta Comerford brings such incredible talent to the White House operation and came very highly regarded from the Bush family," Michelle Obama said in a statement released by the transition team. "Also the mom of a young daughter, I appreciate our shared perspective on the importance of healthy eating and healthy families."


Comerford presenting the holiday menu in 2005:

And in 2006...

And in 2007.

Obama Inauguration Balls

With Inauguration Day only a few weeks away, have you made plans to attend a ball or throw a party to celebrate which is sure to be one of the nation's most historic days of all time? Whether you lean towards the right or the left, Inauguration Day is a day when all Americans welcome the new president into office (and I'm not just saying this because I supported president-elect Obama). With that said, I've listed a few Inauguration Balls that looked interesting to me. There are a ton of balls that cater to every and anyone and range from inexpensive to outrageous! So check them out and take part in the celebration, which is sure to be a great experience.



1. Asia Society Inaugural Reception

2. Hop Hop Inaugural Ball with Russel Simmons, LL Cool J, and Young Jeezy

3. Pearl Gala benefiting the Asian Pacific American community

4. The Virginia Inaugural Ball - A Celebration of Turning Virginia Blue

5. The Urban Ball hosted by Ludacris with scheduled performances by Big Boi, Cedric the Entertainer, T-Pain and Lil Jon

6. Virginia's Black Tie and Blue Dominion Ball at Udvar Hazy with Tim Kaine

7. Young and Powerful Black Tie Gala geared towards young professionals

Mac Book Wheel...for real!

This video cracked me up. It's close to being true, describing how die hard Apple users are about Apple products -- sounds like my brother (just kidding Jason).



"I'll buy almost anything as long as it's shiny and made by Apple!"

Happy New Year!!!

Okay folks I'm back! Don't worry I plan to blog strong in 09! With the New Year comes new goals (not resolutions for me), so here are a few for me.

1. Be better organized
2. Finish my first marathon
3. Learn wood working
4. Be more patient
5. Run faster
6. Eat healthier
7. Play less poker (haha)
8. Work harder (even though I really worked hard in 08)
9. Blog/Write more
10. Read more

What are your goals for 09?