Seafood At The Grill Room

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Seafood At The Grill Room

If you are an East Coast native, I am almost positive we have at least one thing in common, the love for SEAFOOD!  It’s difficult not to love seafood when you live on the East Coast, where Chesapeake Bay crabs (my personal favorite) and many other types of seafood are so readily available and the quality cannot be beat.  I was so happy to learn that The Grill Room at Capella Washington D.C. would feature some of the most mouthwatering seafood dishes I have ever seen and I would like to share several of them with you.

Seafood At The Grill Room

For starters, Chef Esko presents the “Seafood Tower for Two”, featuring Main Lobster, Blue Point Oysters, Alaskan Crab Legs and Prawns, all served with a delicious champagne mignonette & cocktail sauce.  This first course has already won me over because it brings back memories of my childhood, when I learned how to open my first crab and lobster tail, so much fun!  The @CapellaDC Twitter followers have also been raving about the Seafood Tower, which tells me our Washington D.C. locals really love it!

Next up, the “Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake.”  The dish is also served in mini crab cake slider form at The Rye Bar.  This dish is served with Piquillo Pepper Aioli & Radish Salad.  I have to tell you, my brother came to visit and when he tried the crab cake, he said it was the best one he has ever had in his life! (That says a lot coming from a boy who’s grown up in Maryland and has tasted hundreds of crab cakes in his lifetime).

For the main course, Chef Esko presents a variety of seafoods.  My personal favorite has to be the “Grilled Scallops”, served with Sundried Tomatoes, Pearl Barley, Caramelized Endives, Mustard and Sherry sauce.  Also on the menu, “Roasted Wild Rockfish” served with Parsley Risotto and Orange & Horseradish Shrimp- this is one of my go-to dishes for lunch!

With summer just around the corner, these are my picks for all the seafood lovers in Washington D.C. and guests planning to visit Capella D.C. this season.  View The Grill Room’s full menu here.

I love sharing culinary images and updates with you from The Grill Room & Rye Bar so be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and most recently, Instagram!

See you all soon!

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The Older Fashioned Cocktail At The Rye Bar

May 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Rye Bar

Are you a fan of Rye Whiskey cocktails?  I have a confession:  I wasn’t always.  But that has all changed!  Capella Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s The Rye Bar has helped to change my opinion by introducing me to a series of specialty rye cocktails, each prepared with one of their featured Rye Whiskey’s and each with its own flavor profile.

The Rye Bar

The Older Fashioned Cocktail recipe features a striking and smooth Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, which has a slightly spicy, yet lighter rye flavor and a long luxurious finish.  This sophisticated Rye combined with the dense and velvety Pedro Hidalgo is truly an explosion of flavor.   The Pedro has hints of raisins, figs and honey which work perfectly with the addition of muddled Luxardo Cherries and oranges.  I was surprised by the complexity of flavors and really enjoyed the sophistication of the drink.

I decided to let you in on the secret of this cocktail.  In fact, I joined forces with staff from The Rye Bar to create a video tutorial with all the steps needed to create the Older Fashioned Cocktail.  Let me know what you think on Twitter!  Tweet me @CapellaDC #TheRyeBar.

Recipe:
1 shot Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
½ ounce Lustau Pedro Ximenez
2 Luxardo Cherries
2 Oranges Slices

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A Visit To Washington D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival

April 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Cherry Blossom Festival

Earlier this month Washington D.C. began the spring celebration of the 101st National Cherry Blossom Festival!  Hundreds and thousands of visitors from all over the world attended this special two week event that began on March 20th and ended April 14th.  During this period I had the chance to watch each cherry bud grow into flowering pieces of art on my way to work.  It was during the days of the peek bloom when I had the opportunity to actually walk through the Tidal Basin, taking photos; admiring the beauty of the trees and interviewing a few Cherry Blossom visitors!

Over two thousand cherry trees arrived in Washington, D.C. as a gift from Tokyo on January 6, 1910.   I could see the remarkable difference between the stunning ancient tree trunks of the original trees versus the more recently planted saplings.  After speaking with one of the ladies at the help desk, she said this season was particularly wonderful because of the great weather during peak bloom.  The cherry blossom trees bloom when the weather reaches above 70 degrees.  But it is the evening time that can’t be missed, as that is when the flowers truly start to flourish.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Capella Washington D.C., Georgetown is located less than 3 miles from the Cherry Blossom Festival, making it the perfect destination for springtime.  I look forward to next years events!  If you join us during the Cherry Blossom Festival be sure to let your Personal Assistant help plan the experience for you.

 

Photo Credit, Sarah Corneal

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Introducing Capella Washington D.C.’s Resident Stylist

March 19, 2013 by 1 Comment
April Yvonne Resident Stylist

We are now just a few days from opening!  The past few months I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the most creative people who have all been involved in the opening preparations of Capella Washington, D.C., Georgetown.  More recently I had the opportunity to meet our new Resident Stylist April Yvonne.

April Yvonne Resident Stylist

April has been styling since she was a young girl in grade school, which over the years progressed into a part-time gig with her co-workers and friends.  Later, her styling passion and skills transformed into a full time career that has taken her to New York Fashion Week and throughout the world.  Traveling from Tokyo to Buenos Aires and even landing a styling job for Dior, April has developed a keen understanding of fashion and personal style.  In 2010 April brought this fashion knowledge to D.C. and established her blog MyDCStyle.

Recently I had the chance to ask her a couple questions about her role as Capella Washington, D.C.’s Resident Stylist.

What are you most looking forward to about being the Resident Stylist for Capella Washington D.C., Georgetown?

I’m truly looking forward to being a part of an amazing team – which in my opinion is comprised of the best-of-the-best.  There is absolutely nothing like the Capella Washington, D.C. and I’m eager for guests to see first-hand just how fabulous this hotel is.  As the Resident Stylist, I’m excited to work with the guests to bring them the finest fashions and introduce them to the fashion scene in DC.  I also can’t wait to partner with some of the hottest designers to deliver high-end fashion shows for the guests.  There is much more planned and I just can’t wait to get started!

What unique personal style services will you offer for guests?

I am here to fulfill all of their fashion styling needs!  I can arrange exclusive shopping excursions including private after-hours shopping at some of the area’s finest luxury stores or should they wish to remain in the comfort of their suite, I can curate a selection of amazing looks to bring to them to try on and choose from.  I also have a great relationship with many designers (even those based in New York or Paris!), making it a seamless process for me to obtain unique pieces.

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Signature Cocktails At The Rye Bar

February 27, 2013 by 1 Comment
The Rye Bar

If you haven’t heard by now Capella Washington DC, Georgetown’s, The Rye Bar will feature a unique and special selection of cocktails, featuring the finest Rye Whiskey available.  Food & Beverage Manager Will Rentschler devised the plan to create our own barrel aged Rye Whiskey cocktail on the menu.  After some fun tastings and a few meetings, the recipe was finalized and plans were made to meet the distributor at his facility to mix and barrel the cocktail.

We began with an American Oak Barrel and then added the ingredients: Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey, Dolin Vermouth and Byrhh quinquina (the term for sweetened fortified aperitif wines containing quinine and spices).  The barrel was then sealed  with a soft oak cork and gently mixed together by rolling the barrel  slightly back and forth a few times.

The Rye Bar

This process was so exciting that I was fascinated to learn more.  Hicham from LeDroit Brands, LLC explained to me that the inside of the barrel is charred, which is where the Rye will pick up colors and flavors of caramel, toffee, vanilla and wood.  He further explained that the barrel aging will remove some of the sweetness from the Vermouth and mellow the flavor of the rye whiskey.

If you are a Whiskey lover, I know you will enjoy this sophisticated cocktail that is the perfect balance of spice, fruit and sweet.  I know that I am looking forward to enjoying one when The Rye Bar opens!

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Chef Jakob Esko Joins Capella Washington D.C.

January 31, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Chef Jakob Esko

I have been patiently waiting for the day when I would meet Executive Chef, Jakob Esko and get the chance to learn more about his vision for The Grill Room at Capella Washington D.C.  I finally had the opportunity earlier this month when our team gathered together for a much-anticipated welcome for Jakob at our pre-launch office!

On a brisk wintery Monday, Jakob seemed more than delighted to join us as we assembled for our first New Year cultural potluck.  He had traveled across the world from Capella Singapore, where he was the executive chef, to join our team.

With great anticipation, we sat down for our first interview!  I am certain it will have you planning your next trip to our hotel and The Grill Room, set to open this spring.

Chef Jakob Esko

What excites you most about the restaurant industry in Washington D.C.?

The quality of the produce, seafood and meat is amazing and really top notch.  I enjoy being able to find local ingredients, which is exactly what The Grill Room will focus on.

What unique experiences can guests expect when dining at The Grill Room?

You can expect to see constant diversity in our menu, altering to the pace of the local produce available in Washington D.C.  Guests can continually expect fresh, vibrant and simple food that is straightforward and certain to be filled with flavor.

Do you see yourself having to adapt your cooking style?

Adapting will be easy with the facility of local produce that will give me the opportunity to create incredible food and seasonal menu items that will showcase only the finest ingredients for our guests.

Can you give us a sneak peek into the menu at The Grill Room?

I can tell you that guests will be in for a unique dining experience when they taste our exclusive Rye Whiskey infused dishes, like our Orange & Rye Cured Salmon and our signature Rye Whiskey sauce served alongside a perfectly grilled and seasoned steak.

 

 

I am eager to share even more about The Grill Room & Rye Bar concept at Capella Washington D.C. as well as more recipes & cooking tips from Chef Jakob Esko.  As the countdown continues, be sure to follow me, your Capella Washington DC Insider, on Facebook & Twitter for plenty of live updates and exclusive images!

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