Columbia Room

We continue our food tour after a prolonged hiatus of which I offer my sincerest apologies. As many of you may know I have decided to start a new chapter in my life by traveling across the country and moving to Los Angeles.  While I like to gloat that my travels were as courageous and daring as Jack Kerouac they were not but my experiences driving cross country share a number of similarities. 

My transition has been difficult in many ways and have inevitably affected my daily routine. Now that I have fully situated myself and begun working again I can revert back to the routine that I enjoyed so dearly. While my posts will be primarily on the west coast from this point on I hope you continue to read and interact even if they may not be relevant to you. 

I changed the name of the blog to Channeling My Inner Fat Child and hope to get more creative as I continue to feed my culinary curiosity. During my time off I have experienced a quasi-catharsis; I came to a realization that I enjoy traveling quite a bit and will dedicate more of my resources to feeding this hobby. 

With all that taken care of we continue the topic at hand right were we left off. My last post was about the culinary outlandish and cocktail enthusiast bar The Passenger. Our next post deals with the Columbia Room which is a bar within The Passenger. Hidden discretely in the back Columbia Room is a reservation only bar intended for cocktail savants or people interested in taking a tour of sophisticated spirits.

Listed as the 18th Best Cocktail bar in GQ the Columbia Room is easily on of the best bars in DC proper. As mentioned above Columbia Room is a reservation only so you can not simply stroll in at your own convenience. Luckily reservations aren't too hard to come by so don't fret.

Once you have reserved a time you simply go to one of the servers in The Passenger before your alloted time. The appointments take about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how many people are at the bar. The cost is $65 which includes two drinks that are predetermined and one drink of your choosing as well as a small appetizer. You can continue drinking after that but you start a new tab with the bartender and drinks cost a certain price which I don't know off the top of my head.

I have had the luxury of visiting this bar twice during my time in DC. As you may have discerned from previous posts I fancy myself a sophisticated drinker. Having a friend who owns a liquor store, going to a number of wine tastings and have a small click of friends who love fancy cocktails enabled me to believe that I knew a good deal about spirits and the art of cocktails. But after my first visit I was humbled and embarrassed to a small extent of how little I actually knew.

During this humbling first experience I was merely a spectator enjoying the experience. I took no photographs or notes, I just breathed in the experience. After that I set up another reservation for a friends birthday in hopes of recuperating a tiny bit of my dignity.

Once you enter you are greeted by the bartender who will be serving you for the evening. The bar itself is quite small which gives a really intimate feel. The exposed brick, dim lighting, and low ambient music offer a very chic modern atmosphere. Everything that is done here is as precise and organized as can be. From cooled glasses, shaved ice and even cucumber infused wash cloths everything is performed to perfection.

My tour started off with an absinth based drink which was magnificent. This was followed by a drink called Look Before You Leap which composed of Plymouth gin, sweet vermouth and acid phosphate with a orange garnish. The drink was smooth and complex and was accompanied by a seared scallop with a sea foam reduction which was also quite elegant.

As I mentioned above the final drink you consume is up to your choice. The bartenders are obviously very knowledgeable and can assist you in your decision. I remember during my first visit I had a playful argument with one of the bartenders about how horrible olives and olive juice were. The bartender disagreed so I dared them to make me a martini that I would actually like. Low and behold he made a fool out of me, he also provided me with their olives which were quite amazing.

During the next instance I had some more fun with my bartender. I asked her to make me a drink with similar qualities to a rum and coke. After she raised her eyebrows I said I was joking and threw her a curveball. I asked her to make the drink that made her fall in love with cocktails. She took a moment to compose herself and started making a traditional Italian cocktail composed entirely out of Vermouth. I wish I wrote down the name because I truly enjoyed every aspect of it which is a bit surprising because I am not a fan of Vermouth.

In conclusion I highly recommend making a reservation for the Columbia Room. It is a great way to take a date, celebrate a birthday or anniversary or just learn about the art of mixology. People think the price of admission is unreasonable, especially for only three drinks. I counter by telling them to either use Mint.com or ask them if they ever buy shots and if so to look at how expensive they are. Also this is a only a yearly experience, its not as if you are doing it frequently. I hope my pitch sold you because I know you will not be disappointed if you chose to visit.

Masa 14

DC's rapid transformation into a hub of local activity is best personified by the growth of contemporary fine dining outside of the Golden Triangle. In the past you were forced within the confines of this area to get both a upscale meal as well as the sophisticated crowd that accompanied it.

Over the past five to ten years that has changed as historic neighborhoods have been gentrified with young professionals. The demand for sophisticated dining has spawned an array of restaurants catering towards fine dining in neighborhoods such as Logan Circle, U St., Columbia Heights, and the up and coming H. St..

(Picture brought from link)

No where further exemplifies these characteristics than Masa 14. This chic spot offers the best interpretation of fine New York style dining in both atmosphere and food. Located along one of the best food streets Masa 14 has quickly established itself as the go to place for those with a keen eye in contemporary cuisine.

The interior decor is pristine which gives it a lounge feel. The asian adornment coupled with the post-modern interior architecture serve to enhance the dining experience. While their outdoor seating provides patrons a scenic view of a burgeoning neighborhood.

(Picture brought to you by Yelp)

My first dining experience came on a calm sunday afternoon with my family. Living only blocks away we decided to give this place a shot. Prior to this I had been only once for drinks with a friend. My quick experience gave me the feeling that this would be a place that I would go to regularly when I had the money.

(Orange Mojito)

I started off with an orange mojito which was both interesting and refreshing. We followed by ordering a couple of plates to share between the three of us. My sister decided to try the watermelon gazpacho and let me have a sampling. I found it to be light and flavorful. We both enjoyed it very much and I left thinking that this would be an ideal appetizer on a humid summer day.

(Watermelon Gaspacho)

I decided to go for the shrimp ceviche which is one of my favorite dishes of all time. Growing up in a hispanic family I was weaned onto this dish and have tried it in almost every imaginable form. The dish presented to me deviated a bit from its traditional form which is served exclusively with lemon juice. This dish incorporated orange slices which added the sweet component which to me did not play well with the bitterness of the lime juice.

(Shrimp Ceviche)

While I did enjoy the components of the dish and the quality of the ingredients I could not say that I would order it again, mainly because I enjoy ceviche when it's served in its traditional manner.

The next dish we ordered was the grilled baby octopus which was by far the best dish we had during our meal. If you have no experience cooking octopus then you have absolutely no idea how difficult it is to properly cook this mollusk. The octopi were perfectly grilled, they were charred just enough to fully evoke the proper flavor without ruining the consistency of this creature.

(Grilled Baby Octopus)

We went through this dish in a flash and consided ordering another plate. I know for certain that this will be a dish that I will continue to order and will introduce to my friends for years to come.

Next we had the yucca fries which are a staple in latin american culture and a personal favorite of mine. They were served in a traditional style and served with a lime aioli dipping sauce. From the first bite I could taste the garlic and chimichurri that were incorporated in the seasoning. The lime aioli sauce provided an extra layer of flavor which easily made this the second best dish of the entire meal.

(Yucca Fries)

Next we had a peking duck flatbread which included the aforementioned duck topped with cotija, mangos, and scallions all slathered with orange-hoisin bbq sauce and baked on a flatbread. The dish was a success, the ingredients blended well with each other and the duck was pristine. While I can't say that I would order it again I believe that the experience was well worth it.

(Peking Duck Flatbread)

The last dish we ordered was fried calamari. While this is a relatively cliche dish, I was interested in seeing their take on it. When it presented to us I immediately knew that this was a very non-traditional rendering of this dish. To me it read more like a salad to be split between two or more people than finger food.

While I did enjoy the freshness of both the lightly fried calamari and the salad on top of it I left disappointed, I could easily rate this as a downer and the worst dish of a meal. Thats not to say that I would not recommend it, I just did not like the way the calamari was used and the lack of a dipping sauce didn't help much either.

(Salt and Pepper Calamari)

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this meal. We all left both full and satisfied with our shared meals. The final price wasn't bad for the both the quality and quantity of food we ate. Our server was pleasant and diligent. She did not hesitate answering any questions and offering insight on the most popular dishes there.

So if you are in the mood for culinary pizazz Masa 14 should be a place to visit. I recommend you make a reservation because it tends to be full, especially during peak restaurant hours. The drinks are great and the sushi is excellent. Prices while expensive aren't too bad for the quality of food you are eating. Great for a happy hour or quick meal before you hit the bars which are only blocks away.