The Houndstooth Gourmet

As reported on THG earlier, Del Ray’s Artfully Chocolate, now ACKC (Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Chocolates), has moved to Mount Vernon Avenue. This is the second ACKC location for owners Eric Nelson and Rob Kingbsbury. ACKC’s DC location opened in 2007 and delighted Washingtonians with hot chocolates, gelato and frozen drinks.

I vistited ACKC’s Logan Circle location last December and enjoyed the Diva Hot Chocolates. So much so in fact, I wished that the Del Ray location had a cocoa bar! Well, my wish came true with the opening of ACKC Cocoa Bar of Del Ray.

A demi-wall topped with a bright flowered-glass partition leads guests into the new space. ACKC’s decor sports Nelson’s signature red on wainscoted walls, topped with butterscotch yellow. His bright art hangs on the walls and adorns the cafe tables, giving a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

Behind the display counters is a large blackboard announcing the menu; Stars of Stage and Screen (hot chocolates), The Hot Stuff (espresso and tea), Good Eats (tempting sweets and pastries), and The Cool Stuff (Italian soda, frappes, chai, lemonade). Dolcezza gelatos are also on the menu.

Oh, did I mention CHOCOLATES?

Next up for Nelson is the opening of Artfully Chef, where chocolate making classes will be offered for $25 each. Ingredients and equipment for chocolate making will also be available. Be sure to sign up for ACKC’s newsletter here.

Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Chocolates
ACKC Cocoa Bar of Del Ray
2003A Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 635-7919
Website: The Cocoa Gallery

Tags: restaurant, Alexandria, chocolate by Ramona
1 Comment »

Finally, the sun broke out yesterday and I forayed into Del Ray and Old Town with my trusty Bichon Frise, Cole. Here’s what I found:

La Strada

As reported earlier on THG, La Strada is a restaurant opening in the old Los Amigos space on Mount Vernon Avenue. Set to open later this month, La Strada will offer Northern Italian cuisine, heavily influenced by Executive Chef Stephen Scott’s grandmother, Nonna Argia.

While growing up, Scott watched his Nonna cook roast beef, meatballs, and tortellini. In fact, I can’t wait to try Nonna’s Bolognese Tortellini in Broth-homemade tortellini filled with chicken, prosciutto, mortadella and Parmesan. La Strada plans to emphasize family in the restaurant. Scott’s parents and two sisters will manage the place,  and they plan to offer affordable, communal- style family meals.

La Strada will seat 60 people inside, where a communal table anchors the front of the restaurant. The communal table space will also serve as the private Wine Room when cordoned off by a curtain. An outdoor patio will seat 15.

A changing, seasonal a la carte menu will offer dishes such as Herb Stuffed Leg of Lamb and Grilled Fish.

After opening, Scott and his family plan to offer cooking classes (I for one want to know how to make Nonna’s tortellini!), wine dinners, a to-go menu, and Nonna’s Sunday Feast.

ACKC Alexandria

In December, I reported on ACKC (in DC) for D.C. Foodies. My first thought was “damn! I wish Artfully Chocolate in Del Ray offered these Dive Hot Chocolates” Well, now we can get these hot, delicious cocoa treats in Del Ray!

If you are unfamiliar with ACKC, it is a joint venture between two Alexandria, VA chocolateries-Artfully Chocolate in Del Ray, and Kingsbury Chocolates in Old Town. Eric Nelson and Rob Kingsbury opened their cocoa bar and cafe in 2007 in the Logan Circle neighborhood in Washington DC.

Artfully Chocolate will become Artfully Chef (where chocolate making and classes will be held) and Kingsbury Chocolates has closed its second floor store on King Street. The new ACKC store on Mount Vernon Avenue will offer all the wonderful chocolates as before, in addition to hot chocolates, frozen drinks and gelato. The space is cozy (and surprise! no red walls) and has about 6 cafe tables.

ACKC Alexandria opens this Saturday!

A Cupcake Store?

In last week’s Ask Tom Wednesday WaPo chat, a chatter asked Tom if he knew anything about a cupcake store planned for the space next to Grape and Bean on S. Royal St. in Old Town.

I am using my best hound skills to track down the veracity of this speculation. The space is completely empty and well, could become just about anything. But, yeah, cupcakes next to Clover-produced coffee would be awesome.

Tags: restaurant, Alexandria, a la minute update by Ramona
10 Comments »

This week, Frank and I attended a Farm To Fork dinner held at Vermillion. Vermillion is part of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, who has joined with Fresh Farm Markets to do dining events focused on local foods and providers (written about previously on The Houndstooth Gourmet). Each dinner brings farmers and diners together for an opportunity to learn about the farmers, their food, and their work.

For a detailed account of our wonderful dinner, go to Don Rockwell and read my blog.

Tags: restaurant, Alexandria by Ramona
2 Comments »

I have been looking forward the reopening of Doggy Happy Hour at the Hotel Monaco in Old Town, Alexandria for a year and a half. Held in the former Holiday Inn Select, Doggy Happy Hour was suspended for renovation of the 241-room building. Prior to renovation, I was assured that this treasured Old Town pastime was not gone for good, and the courtyard would once again be filled with wagging tails and chowing guests.

I arrived last night at 6:30 to find the mascot, a Bichon Frise named Charlie, presiding over the “leash cutting” ceremony. A red wagon filled with dog biscuits anchored the sleeker, more modern space. Wooden tables and woven chairs have replaced the decrepid green iron patio furniture. Hand sanitizers and menus featuring a small bites menu from the hotel’s restaurant, Jackson 20, topped each table. Servers take orders and bring food tableside now-no more ordering inside and getting a pager.

We ordered pulled pork sliders, shrimp corn dogs, and a plate of cheddar fries with creme fraiche. I got to sample a bit of each and have to say, the shrimp corn dogs were my favorite-a great riff on traditional fair food. The fries were crisp and the pulled pork sliders were good, but needed to improve their pork to coleslaw ratio. I have to be honest however-I longed for the old cheeseburger and buffalo wings we used to snarf down. Sometimes bar food ought to be just that-bar food. And my 2 glasses of pinot noir set me back $20. For white-tablecloth dining? Sure. But,I’m hanging out……with dogs.

Nonetheless, we will be back for the dogs and their people. I’m just switching to beer is all I’m sayin’.

Doggy Happy Hour is held at the Hotel Monaco each Tuesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., April-October.

Tags: doggy happy hour, restaurant, Alexandria by Ramona
6 Comments »

I remember visiting ACKC Cocoa Gallery in Washington DC’s Logan Circle neighborhood last December, shortly after it opened. The collaboration between Eric Nelson’s Artfully Chocolate in Del Ray, and Rob Kingsbury’s Kingsbury Chocolates in Old Town is a combination boutique chocolate shop, cocoa bar, art gallery, and cafe. ACKC’s bold red walls, and jeweled chandeliers brought a lively vibe to the space which somehow meshed with the intimacy of small cafe tables. I was, to be truthful, a bit jealous of DC for having this cocoa bar where genuine hot cocoas are made to order. Diva hot cocoa drinks such as the Lucy (with a bit of spice), and the Charro (with caramel) were made from shaved chocolates. For certain, ACKC’s hot cocoa was far superior to Misha’s (grainy and thin) in Old Town, and just edged out Murky’s (very respectable and solid) in Arlington. I wished it was closer to home.

Well Virginia, there is a Santa Claus because we will be getting an ACKC in Del Ray soon! The new location will be located on Mount Vernon Avenue, in the old Sundae Times space, at 2003 Mount Vernon Avenue. While only half the size of the DC location, ACKC Del Ray will not have a cocoa bar, but will be serving up their signature Diva chocolate drinks. Be sure to go to Artfully Chocolate’s website to sign up for updates and chocolate tastings.

La Strada is a new restaurant opening this Spring at 1905 Mount Vernon Avenue, in the old Los Tios  Amigos space. Northern Italian cuisine will be served at communal tables with choices from a fixed-price family-style, or a seasonal a la carte menu. In May, Executive Chef, Stephen Scott, plans to serve Nonna’s Brunch, followed by cooking classes and wine dinners in the summer. A to-go menu will also be available.

Zikrayet, meaning memories in Lebanese, is scheduled to have a Grand Opening on April 26. Joyce Abdallah and her husband, Charbel, plan to launch the swank suburban location, complete with low sofas and hookahs. Along with a variety of vegetarian dishes seasoned with herbs and spices, Zikrayet will feature mezzah, or “slow enjoyment” appetizers.

Zikrayet adds to the growing selection of restaurants in the Eisenhower Valley, and is located at 540 John Carlyle Street in Alexandria.

Next….Zorkafor’s SandVeg. And no, I’m not making that up!

Tags: restaurant, Alexandria, a la minute update by Ramona
5 Comments »