eat local | Heirloom DC

Refresh for Summer: Veggie Style

May 25, 2016 By Vicky Leave a Comment

Summer is just a few days of sunshine away, and we having been taking advantage of all of the fresh veggies around. We thought we would share with you some of our favorite veggies and the benefits on munching on these colorful bites!

Eat Your Beets

_{Photo by Abby Jiu}

Not only are beets totally nutritious, but they’re one of our favorite trending vegetables this spring. Vitamin C, fiber, and minerals like potassium boost your immune system, while
manganese strengthens and detoxes your bones, liver, and kidneys.

Beets are thick and filling, so they’re a great base for a homemade fruit juice. Beet salads are a sweet and healthy treat, as are Beet chips. For a dose of protein, crush up your beets and mix them with quinoa. It’s the most delicious natural sweetener you’ll ever eat!

We Heart Artichokes

Salty and delicious, artichokes help detoxify your liver while helping you break down food more effectively. High in fiber, they also keep your digestive system healthy and on track.

Artichokes are delicious when marinated or grilled with a bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Or just simply steam your artichoke and enjoy as is. There’s enough flavor in there to keep you satisfied!

Under The Sea (weed)

_{Photo by Wanderlust}

Some people shy away from this super food. If you’ve ever had a seaweed salad as a side dish for your sushi, you know just how delicious this undersea green can be.

Making your own seaweed salad is simple: just soak seaweed under water for five minutes. Then mix with vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Toss well and top with sesame seeds, scallions, and cilantro. Enjoy–and reap the benefits of one of the most nutrient-dense plants in the world. Plus, you’ll also enjoy the additional benefit of strengthening your skin, hair, and nails. Who couldn’t enjoy that?

Incorporate these these three vegetables into your weekly diet, and you’ll be glowing and healthy just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Cheers to a happy and healthy spring!

Rosé Every {Thurs}Day, Valdo Brut Rosé

May 19, 2016 By Vicky Leave a Comment

We love Rosé, this is true. We love Rosé everyday, but we especially enjoy a glass on Thursdays to get our tastebuds ready for the weekend.

So, since we love being the hostesses with the mostesses, we are here present to your our new micro series: Rosé Every {Thurs}day, where each Thursday we combine our love for tasty bites and meals with our love for Rosé. We will share with you our thoughts on a Rosé and then give you a recipe that we think seasonally compliments it. We hope that you can join us! {comment away!}

Let the tasting begin.

This week we are featuring: Valdo Brut Rosé

A bit about this Rosé. The Rosé is created from the perfect blend of two typical Italian vines, the Sicilian black berry Nerello Mascalese, and Glera, the fruity grapes from the Veneto region. The winemakers describe it as such:

“The bouquet has fine and elegant blossoms, with a consistent presence of raspberry. The palate has a tickling fine perlage of minute bubbles; pleasant round warm flavor with a charming fruity aroma. The whirlwind of sensations generated by this excellent Rosé wine from the Valdo expertise, is pure delight.” (read more here)

The Rosé itself is beautiful. A deep scarlet color with complimentary bubbles throughout the bottle.

Pop, pour, and sip. We sip, and we take a second.

We both smile, this is a good one. Three words we would use to describe the flavor: fruity, crisp, & floral, just as the winemakers described. You can definitely taste the Prosecco side to this Rosé. It is not overpoweringly sweet as some Rosés can be, which we enjoyed. We imagine the perfect setting to be drinking this is in the late afternoon as the sun is going down over the beach, a little breeze, and a little bubbly.

On that note…..as the summer approaches, we think that this Rosé will pair perfectly with locally sourced Crab salad in mini Cucumber bowls.

The Recipe:

Locally Sourced Lump Maryland Crab (6.4 ounces)

Cucumbers (3 or 4)

Cilantro, finely minced (0.71 ounces)

Red onion, finely minced (1/4 of the whole)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice

Salt to taste

Go ahead and cut up the Cucumber into about 2/3-inch pieces. Scoop out a good amount of the insides with a melon scoop to make it easy. Add a taste of salt, and put aside.

Combine all of the ingredients for the crab salad, and give it a taste. Balance out the tastes, and violá! Add the crab to your little Cucumber bowls and serve.

Take away: would we drink this again? Yes, probably the whole bottle next time. Our final rating: we give it a 7/10. We are excited to pop and share with you again soon, and hoped that you enjoyed it too! We hope to see you again next Thursday…Cheers!

Grill Time: Entertain with Spring Inspired Recipes

April 22, 2016 By Vicky Leave a Comment

The sun is out, flowers are blooming, and our taste buds are craving some Spring inspired bites. It’s time to dust off your “Kiss the Cook” apron and break out the grill. Whether you’re cooking for a large group of friends, your family, your significant other, or just yourself, a simple and tasty meal involving locally sourced grilled meats and vegetables will hit the spot.

We’ve outlined some easy ideas below, to help you entertain and satisfy everyone at the table (even the picky ones).

Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Fresh Parmigiano

Yes, you can grill your salad, too! Split a fresh head of romaine lettuce down the middle and char, add some sliced cherry tomatoes, drizzle with Caesar dressing, then sprinkle with Parmigiano cheese – and if you’re feeling adventurous, add bacon bits!

Grilled Avocados with Cherry Tomatoes

Halve an avocado or two and try it yourself. When grilled, the insides begin to melt a bit–the ideal condition for when you top with sliced cherry tomatoes, nuts, and herbs.

Pineapple Kabobs

Slice up some pineapple in a sweet glaze–add brown sugar for extra flavor. Surprise your guests by getting creative and use a Rosemary twig as the skewer instead of a traditional wooden skewer. Then just grill until charred, and enjoy!

BLT Skewers

Add a new twist to your favorite type of sandwich. Cut up some bacon bought from your local Farmer’s Market and romaine lettuce, then thread it onto skewers with cherry tomatoes. Grill and serve outside on a warm spring afternoon!

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Bake your sweet potatoes and slice into large chunks. After grilling for a few minutes, toss with a tangy mixture of olive oil, mustard, locally sourced honey, and apple cider vinegar

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Not in the mood for burgers? Substitute a few locally sourced hearty portobello mushrooms for those beef patties and enjoy with or without a bun.

Grilled Squash Pizza

All you need is a premade crust (we suggest stopping by your local Italian store for the freshest) cheese, some savory veggies, and an appetite. Cut up your squash and spread across the crust with fresh tomatoes and zucchini, then top with cheese get grilling.

Grilled Eggplant with Goat Cheese

Grill your eggplant in a pan until tender. Sprinkle with goat cheese and basil, and top with pine nuts for good measure.

Smoky Shrimp & Charred Corn Quesadillas

Skip the pan this time–create some delicious quesadillas on the grill. Brush your tortillas with olive oil, then top with the fillings: fresh smoky grilled shrimp, charred corn, cheese, beans, peppers, onions, etc. Seal by folding over once the cheese begins to melt. Try matching with grilled avocados!

Chipotle Chicken

Concoct a mouthwatering mixture of Mexican flavors and spices, thoroughly coat your chicken breasts or thighs. Once marinated, grill up and enjoy the flavorful kick. For boneless chicken, you can also cut up and thread onto skewers for a fun twist.

With your Spring inspired ingredients, your grilled meals can be as versatile as you want them to be. And so can your menu for your next big (or small) event. If you don’t want to do the cooking yourself, your friends at Heirloom are happy to work with you to create a memorable meal that will leave taste buds pleased and guests speechless! Interested? Click here, and let’s get those creative ideas flowing!