Todd Kliman
Crispy Brussels sprouts at Cafe Rue
You’ve seen this dish.
You’ve seen it so much, in fact, that you’re probably sick of it.
This is one of the better ones, maybe the best I’ve had all year.
Cole Whaley, the chef, owner, waiter, runner, and busser of this bare-bones but immensely likable spot, halves them and fries them up so that the outer leaves separate slightly and turn crunchy, like the skins of potatoes when you bake them.
The adornments: a touch of coconut oil for a rounding-out richness and a squizzle of clover honey for a balancing sweetness.
Whaley is good, and he’s consistent, too. I’ve had this dish twice now, and both versions were terrific.
Ann Limpert
Breakfast pastries from Frenchie’s (available at La Colombe)
I’m pretty ascetic about breakfast during the week, but weekend mornings I give up the extra-large green tea in favor of bacon-egg-and-cheeses, pancakes, and other nap-inducing indulgences. My new favorite: the breakfast pastries from local baker Erica Skolnik, which they have tons of at La Colombe, the open-air coffee shop in the same Shaw alley as Rogue 24.
I’d be hard-pressed to pick a “best” of the large array we tried—they were all so good. But here are my top three: the ethereal almond croissant, a danish-like pastry with a creamy lemon custard center and a crunchy sugar coating, and the plain croissant, which tasted both airy and as if it were the delivery system for a pound of butter. Totally worth a week of green tea-fueled penance.
Anna Spiegel
“Warning-label” sangria from Steven Raichlen
I’ve played with several sangria recipes over the years, but always come back to my very first. This classic red-wine version comes from Steven Raichlen’s Barbecue Bible, which cocktails aside, is one of my longtime favorite grilling cookbooks for summer. The Madrid-inspired formula doesn’t need much modification. I like to cut down the sugar a tad and add a mix of fruits like strawberries and apples to soak up the boozy goodness. Make that very boozy. My friends have nicknamed the drink “warning-label” sangria because I always give guests a heads up about the potency. Cups (and cups) go down smooth, especially if you brew it a few hours in advance to let the flavors meld. Still, the combination of dry red wine, cognac, gin, and brandy is anything but mild. Try it once and you’ll be making it for barbecues all season long.