Carmine's Washington D.C.

The other day my friend John and I, when for a great relaxing lunch at Carmine's, is just couple blocks away from my house, they opened the restaurant located at 425 7th Street NW at the Penn Quarter in the center of Chinatown-Gallery Place in Washington D.C., four months ago, this was my second visit, I usually go to a restaurant 3 times before I write something, the portions are huge, but don't think that the quality is bad, is the opposite is great.

By far in DC this is one of the best Italian home cuisine that I ever had, you want to share everything, one plate can be divided into 4 portions, plus the bread to clean the sauce from the plate after your finish add up.  This time we had the penne alla vodka and last time I had the linguine with meatballs, we have a side of Cesar salad that was just like the one I used to eat in Rome, the flavor and freshness of the lettuce are incredible, the sauces are cook and design with love and it feels like when you go to a small town in Italy and the Nonna is cooking for you.

I recommend the restaurant for a nice lunch-dinner chat experience, just enjoy, eat, drink and relax and eat some more, the services is great, the waiter was patient, smiling and very attentive, they have suggestion from the menu and a good aptitude, desserts are real desserts, the tiramisu and the Italian cheesecake are tasty and creamy, you have to share the dessert, you will take some home for your 9PM TV time. They have a selection of house wine and other spirits.

If you want to feel like family and eat like in family, make sure that you visit Carmine's in my city of Washington DC. La Desayuneria give this restaurant a 5 gold folks for comfort traditional Italian food.

Picture from Carmine's website

Tuna Sauce Only Mom Recipe

When I was a baby, my mom used to make a yummy tuna sauce that was great, she told me that I used to eat so much, that my belly used to pop out, this is a very easy and cheap recipe that including my mother that never cooked, could do, it can be done in 15 minutes if you are not an expert maybe 20.

You will need;

• 375 g of whole grain Penne pasta
• 2 cans of tuna packed in water, drained
• 1can of tomato sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
• A green pepper chopped
• 1 small onion chopped 
• 2 spoons of basil powder
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of smoke paprika powder
•  Salt to taste

Set penne water to heat, salt it when it boils, and cook the pasta, draining it when it's al dente.
In the meantime, heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic, onion and the pepper for 5 minutes, being careful not to let the garlic burn. Crumble the tuna into the pot and let it brown a little big, and stir in the tomato sauce.
After a minute check seasoning; reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce until the pasta is done.
Mixed the penne into the sauce pan and stir until everything comes together, let it seat for 5 minutes and serve, if you have some parmesan cheese add some on top when serve.

Hope you enjoy as much as I always do.

My mom and me

Chao

Cuba Libre in Chinatown DC

My expectations were fulfill, I was very impress with the quality, presentation, flavors and service, I was there twice, the first time was a very quite night, them very busy and crazy, but the attention was the same, they take care of you, like you are a long time friend and you are in a street restaurant in la Havana, the fist time my Dad and I have a taste of everything is was glory the ceviches, yummy, the arepas, you most have a bite, the ropa vieja inside is incredible and also the most intense, rich and filling, well prepare dish, that I always will eat is the lechón Asado, is this slow roasted marinated pulled pork, classic sour orange mojo, amarillo chille smashed yuca and black bean broth top with a vigoro slaw, this is delicioso, we also have the Paella Nueva, a forbidden black rice paella of pan roasted Mahi-Mahi, shrimp, clams mussels and squid, with a  Mojito salsa verde and chipottle allioli, I can write all the menu but you better go and try yourself, it was a New culinary Hispanic Cocina, like I never had, don't be expecting the traditional Cuban food, they mixed techniques from all over South, Central America also Spanish food is present but the trick is that the Chef make this flavor better, tastier and just incredible, like their rice, it will be forbidden is you missed this experience, also they have more than 100 different rums, and the mojitos are incredible, my favorite is passion fruit,  I have to tried 10 times to make sure it was the best option, dessert, the new reinvented Tres Leches de Banana is incredible and to finished the cafe con coconut milk, too delicious. I will be back for more.

Pictures from Cuba Libre website

Hope you enjoy as much as I did, make a reservations, it pack almost every day but it worth it.