food Archives - Cammo Style Love

Best Moscow Mules in the Washington, DC Area

March 18, 2019 No Comments

The Moscow Mule is a relatively simple drink, one which you might not think you can get wrong. However, I’ve had some really bad mules. First, if it’s not served in a copper mug you know that you’re dealing with people that don’t appreciate the mule. The type of ginger beer used is also key. You want that nice ginger flavor, but you don’t want it to be too overpowering. You have the lime and mint in there as well, so you’re really looking for a nice blend of all of those flavors. I don’t necessarily write a place off if they don’t serve it in a copper mug, but it goes a long way in telling me that they know what they are doing. True Mule aficionados will tell you that the copper mug is key for several reasons. First of all the temperature, the copper keeps that drink cold in a way that a regular class or plastic cup cannot. Some mule drinkers and bartenders will offer more complex arguments for the copper mug, for example, increasing the bubbles in the carbonated ginger beer, while some suggest that it really maximizes the flavors of the lime and mint. Whatever the case may be, make sure you get that first (and frankly any if you ask me) Mule served in Copper Cup. First coming to popularity in the early 40s, the Mule has continued to develop with many restaurants throwing their own special twist on them, one of which I include here!

Mike’s American Grill

{Springfield, Virginia}

Mike’s, located in the bubs of DC (Springfield, Virginia) is a staple in the area. It is always busy, and you can frequently expect a wait. If you don’t have a large group you can find the whole menu served in the bar area, which is surprisingly very large. Mike’s is good food, good atmosphere, amazing steak, interesting appetizers like the Southwest Egg Rolls which are my favorite. They also do not disappoint and bring you your Mule served in a copper mug!

Founding Farmers

{Washington, DC}

Last year I had my first experience in a Founding Farmers. Dc-ers rave about this place, especially for its desserts and drinks. Founding Farmers is unique in that family farmers of the NDFU (North Dakota Farmer’s Union) are majority owners in the business, bringing a certain level of excellence to the experience when it comes to the food. Founding Farmers is also the owner of several of their own spirits, produced in partnership with Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, VA. They also have opened their own distillery, Founding Spirits, where they produce Vodka and American Whiskey. So, right out the gate you know they take their alcohol seriously. Of all of the traditional Mule’s I’ve tried here in the DC area this one might be my very favorite!

Martin’s Tavern

{Georgetown, Washington, DC}

Celebrating 86 years in the Georgetown DC area, Martin’s clearly knows what they are doing. Providing amazing Irish tavern food in a warm and classic environment, with recipes that have stood the test of time. Martin’s is a great place to take visiting friends and family because of its unique historical and political background. Find a table and you’ll also get a fun political history of who sat their regularly. Enjoy the same space that Presidents, Senators and Ambassadors once did, where they came after a long day on the hill to unwind and have a drink. Who knows how many decisions or deals were actually made here? For a more romantic flare make reservations at the Proposal Booth where John F. Kennedy proposed to Jackie. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Martin’s does a Mule right. A classic drink for a classic joint.

For a fun date night idea check out my post here, and enjoy a night in Georgetown!

The Block Food Hall

{Annandale, Virginia}

One of the only ones to serve a traditional mule, not in a copper mug, this one makes the list simply because you have to go! It is one of the coolest places in the burbs and one of the weirdest. First of all the location is crazy. Tucked into a strip mall next to a Kmart (which is now closed) you wouldn’t even know this place was there unless you were looking for it. Step inside and you completely forget where you are. A traditional food-hall greets you, and everything has an Asian twist. From the Asian-American fusion entrees to the Poke and the sno-cream. You will have to go back to eventually try everything. Even the bar food is amazing! Here, at the Block Bar, you can snag a super yummy Mule! One of the sweeter versions of the Mule I have had (from the type of Ginger Beer they use), it is still fantastic and worth a try.

The People’s Drug

{Alexandria, Virginia}

The People’s Drug is a modern take on the familiar People’s Drug Store which first made its appearance in Alexandria in 1905. It takes its cue from the original concept which was a traditional counter-style lunch cafe and general store. As the world modernized the lunch counter concept became a thing of the past, but the owners of The People’s Drug sought to bring that classic feeling back. People’s is a small place, which a few tables inside and out, and obviously the traditional lunch/bar counter. It is easy for this place to be crowded, but it is worth braving the crowds to snag yourself the Mule and the Herb parmesan truffle french fries! Aside from the classic drinks, you can also find some quirky season drinks like the Jabberwocky and the Widow’s Kiss. It is worth noting that the People’s Signature Mule isn’t made with vodka, but instead is made with Old Forrester Signature Bourbon in a “Kentucky Mule” style, with two types of bitters. So clearly worth whatever crowds you might have to brave! If I’m not drinking a tradtional mule, this is where I want to be for my favorite non-traditional mule!

The Yard House

{Chinatown – Washington, DC – Springfield Town Center, Virginia – Multiple US Locations}

Last but not least we have the Yard House, with the most diverse Mule menu on this list. Not only can you get the traditional Moscow Mule made with New Amsterdam Vodka, but you can also grab yourself an Irish Mule made with Jameson Whiskey and two other twists on the classic drink unique to The Yard House. My favorite is the Mayan Mule made with Tequila. Tequila is typically not alcohol I will go with, but the Yard House muddles of fresh fruit to really complete the drink. Also on the list is the Hawaiian Mule, made with Pineapple Vodka. So, if you’re feeling adventurous head over to one of the Yard House locations and try their mules. These mules win the favorite creative versions of a classic drink. No boring Mules here!

DC/NoVa Adventures, food

The World is Your Oyster at Roy Boy’s

February 18, 2019 No Comments

In the Shakespeare Play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, we hear the phrase “The World is thine Oyster.” The original meaning of the phrase is a little more on the intense side then we modern-day folks might mean, but the gist of it is the same. The world is ours to enjoy! What better place to enjoy then by having some mouthwatering chicken and biscuits? I was so excited and lucky to be able to check out the new Shaw eatery Roy Boys DC. First, let’s talk about the vibe in this place. From the fluorescent green lighting, dark walls and bright pops of color, the atmosphere is everything you would want. Small seating areas for date nights, booths, and a more family style seating option make Roy Boys the perfect place for whatever type of night you want.

The tag line is Fried Chicken and Oysters, and both of those things are seriously on point. The CCB, which is fried chicken and biscuits with bacon, apple, onion jam, and sausage gravy, is absolutely to die for! The Oysters Rockefeller was expected to be just fine. I mean, I’m not the biggest fan of Oysters. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I ate one and was like “Awesome, order that again!” Well, here I am to tell you that these Oysters were amazing! But perhaps the coolest thing on the menu is the dessert. The ice cream tacos, with waffle cone shell. The ice cream simple and not too sweet, the fresh and creative ingredients on the top – I might go just for dessert. However, I wouldn’t be a self-proclaimed Old Fashioned expert if I didn’t talk about the Old Fashioned at Roy Boys. Nothing is done by the book here at Roy Boys, always thinking a little outside of the box and putting their own twist on things. Same goes for the Old Fashioned and the expert mixologist, putting a special twist on it. One of the best Old Fashioneds I’ve had in the city, with house-made bitters to boot. You’re going to have to go to find out what the other ingredients are, but it will be worth it.

Happy Hour is the perfect time to check out Roy Boys for the first time! Score $10 craft cocktails and $8 apps! On Mondays you can score $1 Oysters all day!

Make the world your oyster and head to Roy Boys!!

Applebee's, food, giveaway, review, wood fired

A Night Out with Applebee’s New Wood Fired Dishes + {Giveaway}

July 13, 2016 32 Comments

I was so excited to check out some of Applebee’s new Wood Fired Dishes a couple weeks ago! They have hand-cut quality meats (USDA Choice Hand-Cut Wood Fired Steaks and Bone-In Pork) and a new way of cooking with a literal piece of wood they are grilling this on!! Let me tell you, you can smell it when you walk in. A yummy smell that I don’t remember ever smelling when I’ve gone to Applebee’s before. YUMMM!!!!!!!

The new menus are very nice and really play up the new additions; as well as adding in a new feature that I’ve not seen before – drink pairings of red and white wine, and beer. I think that is very cool, especially for someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience pairing drinks. We like what we like but will it taste good with any given meal? Who knows, so having something like this really takes the guess work out of it.

They have also included many new sides that they are also wood firing, or adding wood fired meat to ( like my quesadilla I had!). The sides are all really fresh and unique, and the ones we had were amazing!! The items really reminded both Mr. Air Force and I of choices we would find at a high-end restaurant. But these are so much more affordable and it is a comfy and relaxed atmosphere that you have come to know when dining at your neighborhood Applebee’s.

Mr. Air Force went all out with the 12 oz steak, garlic mashed potatoes and some wood fired squash! He’s kind of a steak snob, the hubbs is. He doesn’t eat a lot of meat in general, so when he does he’s going to order a quality steak. Trust me when I say he would really let me know if wasn’t good. He said it was cooked well, the cut was great and it was on par with what you would probably pay double for a four-star restaurant.

I chose another new item for them – their cedar-grilled salmon on a bed of spinach. I added to that garlic fries and their new rice side dish. The portions were great and the all of it was yummy. Just the right amount of garlic on the fries and the rice was amazing! The salmon cut smoothly with my fork, just the way I like it.

If you are looking for a inexpensive date-night, or perhaps a place to eat out with the whole family, I would absolutely recommend Applebee’s. Check your local restaurant because they may even have a kid’s eat free night like ours does! One kid per adult entree ordered, so that really does help you save some dollars.

Now, I’ve got a surprise for one lucky reader! Applebee’s was so generous and decided to giveaway a gift certificate to one of you!! So if you win you can definitely go grab yourself some of these delish Wood Fired menu items! All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know if you would use it for a date night or a special family night out….or maybe even give it away to someone. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

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food, giveaway, Happy Family, happytot, review

New Products from Happy Family! Review and Giveaway

January 19, 2014 No Comments

I am so pleased to announce some new products that have just hit the Happy Family website. As a huge fan of Happy Family, and their products, I was absolutely thrilled to give these products a try and let you all know what I think of them.

We have the new HappyTot – Apple Cinnamon Yogurt and Oats and the Banana Blueberry Yogurt and Oats. Once again you have quality products from a quality company, with ingredients you can rely on. The one allergy notice is Milk; but for my Gluten Free boy we are in the clear. These items have organic fruits, whole grain oats and whole milk. HappyTot morning also contains “Salba the SUPER chia,” which is slightly different then a regular chia seed. It is organically grown exclusively on one farm and more nutritionally dense then other chia seeds. I personally liked the banana blueberry, but they are both quite yummy.

These are a great, healthy options for moms on the go in the mornings – getting and taking your older ones to school, or on a morning when you have an early doctor’s appointment. What I love about the Happy Family line is that I don’t have to sacrifice health for ease. Sometimes we are just too busy in life, but that doesn’t mean our littlest ones have to sacrifice. Happy Family provides options for a healthy morning.

You can purchase these items on the Happy Family site, or on Amazon. You also should be able to soon, if not already, find them on the shelves of your local Target store.

But one of my lucky readers has the chance to win a case, with eight of each flavor in it, of the new HappyTot morning SuperFood pouches!

Good Luck

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**I received a product in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I was not compensated in any other way, and as always I strive to be honest and open with my readers. thank you.
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