Gabby goes to Founding Farmers for Breakfast, just 3 blocks away from the White House!

After a late night in the DC streets 2 weekends ago, I was ready for some grub in the morning. My brother picked the perfect place, Founding Farmers, just 3 blocks from the White House where we would go sight-seeing afterwards. The place was filled with people, like The Cheesecake Factory lines to get a table. But apparently they have just started giving the option of making reservations. We didn’t know that, so just decided to wait until spots by the bar were vacant, since that would be quicker. Sitting by the bar didn’t look much less comfortable than booths or tables. It seemed cozy nonetheless. The two-story restaurant had old, wooden, farm table decor mixed with modern crafted elements throughout. It was a beautiful day with the sunlight flooding through the glass windows, highlighting various features and finishes of the designs by award-winning CORE architecture and design.

I ordered a Hot Chocolate immediately, which was divine. Then I ordered the Farmer’s Fare that consisted of Breakfast Chicken & Waffles with a side of Eggs anyway you liked it, white gravy and syrup. Despite the more than ‘full house’, my breakfast arrived quickly in less than 10 minutes and at a glance, I was salivating. Then the taste, mmmm. The Waffle was so big and thick, but light and fresh. The Scrambled Eggs were fluffy topped off with that Farm Fresh Fried Chicken. The Breakfast Fare was just $12USD, which was more than worth it. My stomach was full and satisfied. I mean, it was just typical ‘Breakfast food’ right? But it was so delicious. IHOP and Waffle House what?!

It was also a delight to experience such great service in a busy atmosphere. Heading to DC or the US Capitol anytime soon? Founding Farmers is a MUST STOP for Breakfast. Can you imagine they are practically open all day for lunch and dinner too?! Can’t wait to revisit and try those menus.

The award-winning Founding Farmers is also located in Montgomery County, Maryland and will soon be adding a new location in Tysons Corner, Virginia this fall. They have various Certifications showing that they are dedicated to environmentally friendly practices, including being a Certified Green Restaurant. Their products are sourced from local farmers with seasonal menu changes to always contain local produce.

For more information, visit http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com.

Founding Farmers True Food and Drink, Washington D.C.

Ph#: 202.822.TRUE (8783)

Address: 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20006

Date of visit: 19/10/14

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★☆

Ambience: ★★★☆☆

Decor: ★★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★★☆

Speed: ★★★★★

Food quality: ★★★★★

Serving amount: ★★★★★

Plating: ★★★★☆

Value for $: ★★★★★

SuGa Endorsement: ★★★★★

Gabby from SuGa goes to BRIO Tuscan Grille in Annapolis, Washington DC

Cool, relaxing spot to eat with friends, family or a date.

The Tomato soup was flavourful. The Roasted Tomato and Herb Pesto Bruschetta was off the chain and the Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccine was quite tasty. I expected the Fettuccine to be more savoury being a Tuscany inspired Grille with the addition of mushrooms, green onions, tomatoes and spicy lobster butter sauce topped off with parmesan cheese, but it was slightly disappointing and had a scanty serving of lobster.

The service was on point though and seating was comfortable with both indoor and outdoor options. Outdoors was tented with heat for the cold DC weather.

BRIO has different locations across the States. So check their website and find the one nearest to you.

BRIO Tuscan Grille at Annapolis Towne Centre

Ph#: (410) 571-5660

Address: 305 Sail Place, Annapolis

Date of visit: 18/10/14

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★★

Ambience: ★★★☆☆

Decor: ★★★☆☆

Comfort: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★★★

Speed: ★★★★★

Food quality: ★★★★☆

Serving amount: ★★★★★

Plating: ★★★☆☆

Value for $: ★★★★☆

SuGa Endorsement: ★★★★☆

TGI Friday’s Jamaica still on a Decline but the Oreo Madness is still Crazy as ever

TGI Friday’s Jamaica

Ph#: 876-978-8443; 927-8810

Address: 51 Hope Road, Kingston 6

Date of visit: 20/10/14

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★★

Ambience: ★★☆☆☆

Decor: ★★★★☆

Comfort: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★☆☆☆

Speed: ★★☆☆☆

Food quality: ★★★☆☆

Serving amount: ★★★★☆

Plating: ★★★★☆

Value for $: ★★★☆☆

SuGa Endorsement: ★★★☆☆

SuGa Comments: It is always a little too cold for comfort. The quality of food is not nearly as good as early days after their opening. Thankfully the Pastas and Quesadillas are still decent. The menu is revised from time to time, for instance, Chicken in Chimichurri sauce was added. However, they need to offer more sides other than the dry rice served with it. The Chicken complemented with the Chimichurri sauce was tasty though. The service for at least the past 2 years continues to be horrible, from waitresses forgetting orders, waiting forever on food to arrive with no updates as to the status of it (always 35 minutes or more), to hardly any pleasant faces besides when they are forced to do their perky Birthday Jingles. Thank goodness the Oreo Madness is divine though the topping is a borderline toothache and it is definitely for two based on serving size, however there is a price option for half the serving. But what is up with NEVER having mint to make Mojitos?! Unacceptable. Support our Jamaican farmers and reaping homeowners. Disappointment to the franchise. Miami and DC still booming!

 

Its not Summer or Christmas but these Movies are Gooooood! When last have you gone to the Theatres?

After hearing The Equalizer was oh so good, not going to the movies in months and saying, is Denzel Washington back? Hell yea, let’s go see. And indeed he is. BEST movie out right now. Catch it while it’s still out. The movie will have you at the edge of your seat the whole way through, thoroughly impressed with the smooth, ‘badassness’ of Denzel at his age. The movie shows Denzel living a strictly routine, OCD life but some suspect that it has become that way for a reason, what the hell did he do for a living way back?! Curiosity got a young hooker innocently befriending Denzel, but it didn’t kill her. It was the best thing she could have done after her life was threatened and the clock for Denzel went tick tock to go for an entire Russian mafia!

Now, after being pleasantly surprised by The Equalizer, I tuned in to see what else was buzzing on the movie scene. I kept hearing about this Gone Girl with Ben Affleck. Ben Affleck? Boringgggg. I still gave him the benefit of the doubt and watched the trailer. Ok, interested. I wanted to know, did he really kill his wife? Where is this Amy? Watched it. What a freak show! But a good one. What started out to be puzzling, became upsetting, then more dark and finally, hilariously twisted. The movie was inspired from the #1 Best Selling New York Times Novel, ‘Gone Girl’ by Gillian Flynn. It didn’t matter if Ben Affleck is a boring actor because his character was to be emotionless anyway. So it worked out. Wasn’t totally satisfied with the ending, it left you wanting more or a different angle after all it put you through watching it. Could there be thoughts for a Gone Girl 2? I won’t give anything away on this one, but men, this ain’t no chick flick, you should watch as well.

Fury with Brad Pitt and more men that are quite easy on the eyes is also out in the theatres. Cool trailer as well, involving soldiers in dangerous territory behind enemy lines. But the jury is still out on that one.

Now, November Man with Pierce Brosnan, another veteran actor and ladies sweetheart, showed he is just as fit as Denzel. The movie was full of action. Although it had a cliche CIA storyline, it was still enjoyable.

The Judge with Robert Downey Jr. is out today! Downey Jr. plays a successful lawyer returning home for his mother’s funeral, then faced the fact that his father, the town’s judge, played by Robert Duvall, is suspected of murder. They don’t seem to have the best relationship but ofcourse Downey Jr. tries to get to the bottom of it. What makes it look like more of a good watch, is the fact that Billy Bob Thornton plays the Prosecutor. I am sure Billy Bob will be entertaining, but is that just a set up for a disappointing movie plot overall? We shall see.

Its movie season people, break your usual routine and go see some. Pick, choose and refuse. SuGa’s first pick…..The Equalizer! 

Its not Summer or Christmas but these Movies are Gooooood! When last have you gone to the Theatres?

After hearing The Equalizer was oh so good, not going to the movies in months and saying, is Denzel Washington back? Hell yea, let’s go see. And indeed he is. BEST movie out right now. Catch it while it’s still out. The movie will have you at the edge of your seat the whole way through, thoroughly impressed with the smooth, ‘badassness’ of Denzel at his age. The movie shows Denzel living a strictly routine, OCD life but some suspect that it has become that way for a reason, what the hell did he do for a living way back?! Curiosity got a young hooker innocently befriending Denzel, but it didn’t kill her. It was the best thing she could have done after her life was threatened and the clock for Denzel went tick tock to go for an entire Russian mafia!

Now, after being pleasantly surprised by The Equalizer, I tuned in to see what else was buzzing on the movie scene. I kept hearing about this Gone Girl with Ben Affleck. Ben Affleck? Boringgggg. I still gave him the benefit of the doubt and watched the trailer. Ok, interested. I wanted to know, did he really kill his wife? Where is this Amy? Watched it. What a freak show! But a good one. What started out to be puzzling, became upsetting, then more dark and finally, hilariously twisted. The movie was inspired from the #1 Best Selling New York Times Novel, ‘Gone Girl’ by Gillian Flynn. It didn’t matter if Ben Affleck is a boring actor because his character was to be emotionless anyway. So it worked out. Wasn’t totally satisfied with the ending, it left you wanting more or a different angle after all it put you through watching it. Could there be thoughts for a Gone Girl 2? I won’t give anything away on this one, but men, this ain’t no chick flick, you should watch as well.

Fury with Brad Pitt and more men that are quite easy on the eyes is also out in the theatres. Cool trailer as well, involving soldiers in dangerous territory behind enemy lines. But the jury is still out on that one.

Now, November Man with Pierce Brosnan, another veteran actor and ladies sweetheart, showed he is just as fit as Denzel. The movie was full of action. Although it had a cliche CIA storyline, it was still enjoyable.

The Judge with Robert Downey Jr. is out today! Downey Jr. plays a successful lawyer returning home for his mother’s funeral, then faced the fact that his father, the town’s judge, played by Robert Duvall, is suspected of murder. They don’t seem to have the best relationship but ofcourse Downey Jr. tries to get to the bottom of it. What makes it look like more of a good watch, is the fact that Billy Bob Thornton plays the Prosecutor. I am sure Billy Bob will be entertaining, but is that just a set up for a disappointing movie plot overall? We shall see.

Its movie season people, break your usual routine and go see some. Pick, choose and refuse. SuGa’s first pick…..The Equalizer! 

Not one other diner in sight for Dinner on a Saturday night at Japanese Restaurant Cocoro ?!

There were surprisingly NO other diners at Japanese Restaurant Cocoro on date night last Saturday. But was it really a surprise? With the currently revamped, more modern and more comfortable Roe in Sovereign North, the popular East Japanese and scenic Majestic Sushi and Grill as competitors? The advantage was a private, more intimate environment. But what about first dates where persons may not be as comfortable together with conversation yet or groups that come for dinner? I’m sure they would like a bit more buzz around. The only obvious thing that has changed at Cocoro are a few new items on the menu. Good service and food quality have never been an issue, but surely the decor needs a change. The surroundings are just outdated and not even modern antique. Some kind of marketing also needs to be done with new offerings to make persons remember Cocoro exists.

Japanese Restaurant Cocoro

Ph#: 876-929-0970

Address: 4 West Kings House Close, Mayfair Hotel, Kingston. 

Date of visit: 11/10/14

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★★

Ambience: ★★☆☆☆

Decor: ★☆☆☆☆

Comfort: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★★☆

Speed: ★★★★★

Food quality: ★★★★★

Serving amount: ★★★★★

Plating: ★★★★★

Value for $: ★★★★☆

SuGa Endorsement: ★★★☆☆

 

Simply Red! Wine and Food Galore! Gabby checks out BBQ Oxtail, Cheese fountains and more

Simply Red’s 25th Anniversary was a night to remember. Relaxed atmosphere with a wide variety of wine and food as expected. The only thing lacking was a range of desserts. Chocolate Dreams locked up shop pretty early and there seemed to be mainly Mousses and Pana Cottas. Other than that, nothing to really bite or cut into. The tents were also pretty hot, probably as a result of humidity setting in after the evening rain, but no fans were in sight. The logistics however, allowed enough space for persons to walk around freely in the large central area to cool off.

It would be hard to give highlights, as every chef, caterer, company or organization had something special to offer. UTECH had a few stations. You could hardly taste the lobster in their Lobster roll with red pepper remoulade, but their Brined Duck Breast with breadfruit soffrito was cooked to perfection. Brian Lumley’s signature Herb de Provence Chicken marinated with white wine was up to good standard as usual, complemented by mushroom cream sauce and red pepper coulis. The Ham stuffed 689 Croquettes were decent as well. Chef George Matthews had a wicked Steak flank with Corn on the Cob and Barbecue Oxtail! The Barbecue Oxtail was alright, I expected more with the sauce and it surely didn’t slide off the bone.

Rainforest Seafoods had Smoked Marlin sandwiches that had way too much butter, but a Bread pudding with cheese and an optional honey topping that was delish. Their Avocado salad with arugula was also divine. The Chilean’s Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Pebre had a savoury, unique taste. Unfortunately the beef was not tender enough and the representative did not sufficiently or enthusiastically explain the dish. Perhaps the kids also representing the booth that were oh so adorable, stole her spotlight.

Interesting and fun options were Tastee’s cheese fountain with potato wedges and Kendel’s Mackerel Tempura rolls.

Persons that wished to load on the carbs had unlimited options of pastas, noodles, lamb and beef burgers as well.

Jacqui Tyson put on quite a show with her Best Dressed Fried Chicken and dancing chefs. Her area as well as the Pop Up Gourmet/CPJ booth, were crowded all night compared to all the others that had a free flow. Kudos to Jacqui for occasionally going on the mic to keep the crowd in the know of what she had to offer, raising person’s interest and having them go back for more.

Mission Catwalk also had a booth showcasing red dresses made by contestants, of which there was a poll going for the best dress. Only two were impressive, though the others showed great potential and it was a good promotion for the show.

Grace, Campari, BETCO Premier Ltd. along with JMMB, CPJ wines with Pop UP Gourmet, Select Brands and the Chilean representatives kept the spirits flowing all night. The Little Penguin Chardonnay and BETCO’s René Barbier Blanco were the winners for me.

The event seemed to be well supported, so hopefully The Heart Foundation reached their target and it will be even more spectacular next year.

Cost: $5000JMD or $4500JMD from Pop Up Gourmet