The Wharf Restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia

On December 6, 2017 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Virginia3 Comments

We tend to try and find good seafood whenever we travel places and our recent visit to Old Town Alexandria in Virginia was no different. We chose to go to The Wharf Restaurant and we were not disappointed. Located on the historic King Street in the heart of Old Town in a building that is over 200 years old, it has wonderful charm as well as fresh and delicious seafood. We stopped in for lunch and were surrounded by a variety of locals, a sure sign of a places popularity.

We started with a half-pound of steamed shrimp with an herb butter and what we assumed was Old Bay Seasoning. That probably could have been lunch on its own, but we followed it with Salmon Chesapeake, which is salmon stuffed with lump crab and a crab butter cream. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the crab was fresh and delicious. Although we didn’t get dessert while we were there, the bartender told us about a local ice cream shop called Pop’s because we kept seeing people walking by the window with ice cream cones.

With its exposed beams and stone walls, the ambiance couldn’t have been more perfect. Although we were there for lunch, it would be a wonderful location to have a romantic dinner for a special occasion. Every member of the staff that we talked to were all very friendly and welcoming. We certainly hope to have another opportunity to enjoy a meal at The Wharf again on a future visit.

Do You Prefer Casual or Fine Dining when Traveling?

On November 15, 2017 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Food, Travel Tips5 Comments

Especially when traveling to larger cities, there tend to be an abundance of restaurants to choose from. Although we might select a nicer restaurant for a single night or a special occasion, we typically find more casual restaurants to grab a meal or quick bite. We go with casual restaurants for a variety of reasons. First of all, it is likely that we have been walking quite a bit and are usually dressed relaxed as we visit the various sights, so we don’t want to feel underdressed. We also find that some finer restaurants can be a little pretentious and we are all about simple food with great flavors that represent the region as opposed to a gourmet presentation. As we walk the streets of a city, we tend to look for a place that is warm and inviting, where the owners are typically visible, and where locals seem to be frequenting.

That isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with going to a fine dining restaurant, they certainly have a lot to offer as well, but we just tend to lean towards the more casual locations. We do, however, tend to go to an actual sit-down restaurant versus just grabbing something from a street vendor. We will get something from a street cart if we are in a rush and it looks like they have a clean cart and fresh looking food, but our preference is to be able to sit at a table, sip on a glass of wine or beer, and people watch. Sitting at a small café in a plaza or square and relaxing over some nibbles while watching all of the other tourists scurry around can be quite the interesting experience.

Sauerbraten with Red Cabbage and Potatoes

On November 8, 2017 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Czech Republic, Germany, Recipes8 Comments

Sauerbraten is something that we had several times during our time in Germany. It is basically a pot roast and it is typically served with red cabbage and potatoes. We decided to recreate the Sauerbraten that we ate at a restaurant in Prague, Czech Republic, in December last year. It is fairly easy to make, but does take a while to fully marinade the beef. Because it is marinated and then slow cooked, it is possible to use a less expensive cut of meat and still have it tender and tasty. We cooked our red cabbage with an apple as that was often the way that it was served in Europe. We have to admit that it turned out really well and tasted wonderful.

Sauerbraten with Red Cabbage and Potatoes in Prague

INGREDIENTS

2 lb Rump Roast
Kosher Salt
1 cup Onion – diced
3/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar
1 cup Water
2 tbsp Pickling Spice Blend (you can make your own if you can’t find it pre-made)
1 tbsp Honey
8 Black Peppercorns – whole
4 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
3 to 4 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 cup Beef Broth
Potatoes – boiled until fork tender
Butter
Parsley
1 jar Red Cabbage (we used @AuntNellies)
1/2 Granny Smith Apple – peeled, cored, and diced

INSTRUCTIONS

Season all sides of the roast with a generous amount of kosher salt. Combine the onions, red wine vinegar, pickling spice, honey, peppercorns, water and roast in a large plastic bag and let marinade for 1 to 2 days. Remove the roast from the bag, keeping the rest of the marinade, and pat the roast dry. Dust all sides of the roast with the flour. In a medium sauce pan, heat the oil to medium-high heat and then brown the roast on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the roast to a slow cooker or crock pot and pour in the reserved marinade and the beef broth. Cook on low for 8 hours until the roast is tender. Sauté the red cabbage with the diced apple until the apple is soft. Boil the potatoes, drain, and add the butter and sprinkle with parsley.