Lady of Leisure Activity: Jose Andres' Dine N Dash

If you live in DC you already know that Jose Andres has his chef hand in it all! With at least seven culinary destinations in DC and more throughout the DMV, one of his restaurants is bound to be one of your favorite places to dine!  I guarantee it!  Zatinya and Oyamel are two of my favorites in DC!

And every summer culinary goodness happens.  Dine N Dash is the ultimate experience for any foodie!  General admission tickets were $105 and includes an amazing experience of food, cocktails and vibes in over 30 restaurants in Washington DC!  Once you pay for the ticket, you need to not reach for your wallet again throughout the experience! And the best part?  All proceeds go to support World Central Kitchen! This year Dine N Dash raised over $540k for the charity! The organization focuses on Health, Education and Jobs in countries in South America, the Caribbean, Zambia and the US!

Map of Dine N Dash 2017

The event is from 6-10pm and you assume that will be enough to really hit most of the restaurants - wrong! haha ... In those 4 hours we were able to enjoy only six of the restaurants.  We decided to start at Doi Moi and enjoy the restaurants on 14th street.  After Doi Moi we went to Taqueria Nacional, Jubilee Ice Cream, Colada and Lupo Verde. After Lupo Verde we wanted to end the night at Zatinya.

Usually Zatinya is a favorite but as we arrived after 9pm there was not much food left .... but plenty of wine, sangria and live latin band! This being said, my favorites were Doi Moi and Colada! But I cannot wait to return to Colada to sit down and enjoy the full dining experience.

First stop: Doi Moi

The delicious pork and shrimp dumpling

Next stop:  Taqueria Nacional

Tacos!

The margarita was really good!

*I enjoyed the gin and tonic sorbet from Jubilee but um enjoyed it before taking a photo. Ooops*

After Jubilee:  Colada (my fave!)

These chicken empanadas were amazing!

The Cuban and the mojito were the perfect combination!
So delicious!

Cocktail? Yes please! Hello El Juanito
(tamarind, lime, Havana cold brew and tonic)

Drinks only please:  Lupo Verde

Amalafemmina:  if you like tequila, this
cocktail is for you!

Toto: too tart for me.  Add a little agave
nectar and you may have the perfect summer
cocktail!

Lupo Alberto:  my fave of the three cocktails!
Great for sipping after dinner.

Final destination:  Zatinya

Spanakopita.  Always delicious!

My favorite bite of the night:  Bantijan Bil Laben.
It is crispy eggplant but taste like potato and the flavor
is absolutely amazing!

Next year my friend, Kizi, and I plan to enjoy this experience VIP style! Yes, tickets are over $300 but who does not appreciate a pre-party, an after party, being transported via pedicab throughout the night AND contributing even more to such a great organization??? Overall, while we did not get to as many restaurants as we planned, we ended the night full and tipsy! I would say that is a WIN for the evening!

Smiling at the end of a great night!

As always you  could have DINED and DASHED with me!  Follow me on Snapchat (pmkenney79) and never miss out! XOXO

His Sacrifice, My Freedom

Everyday I rise realizing I can sit, dine and be educated where I please.
I confidently walk the streets knowing blasts from hoses won't bring me to my knees.
While my parents were the first in their counties to integrate,
I've always simply been known as "Phoebe Kenney, classmate."
And King, if you refer to the Black women, the Queen as a ho, treat her with disrespect, judge her beauty on how light her skin or how straight her hair...
You're not building the Dream, you're contributing to the original nightmare.
And Queen, remember after hundreds of years of being beat down, depressed, told he was nothing,
That Black man is not a "nigga" but a King.
My parents, aunts and grandparents marched, fought and sacrificed.
My freedom is a child of their dream.
So I remain awake, eyes open, clear in the future vision.
Marching forward with grace and respect for Dr. King's Dream has been realized.
Everyday is a day to strengthen each other --
Sister, brother, regardless of color.
This one day is a simple reminder for every freedom for which Dr. King peacefully fought but violently lost his life.
A man and his Dream - to be celebrated not just 1 day but all 365.

Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968).  Amazingly it took 18 years for the federal holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr Day, to be observed.  The federal holiday was observed for the first time January 20, 1986.