11 Questions with The Dining Traveler

Jessica van Dop Dejesus - The Dining Traveler

Photo courtesy of Jessica van Dop Dejesus

If you’re a food and/or travel blogger in the Washington, DC area, you probably already know Jessica van Dop Dejesus aka The Dining Traveler. If you don’t, well… you’re missing out on a generous blogger and local influencer who pays-it-forward more than any person we’ve ever met. Seriously, almost every cool trip, blogger-friendship, and restaurant relationship that we’ve established over the last year can in some way be traced back to her.

Jessica is currently in the last leg of a Kickstarter campaign to fund her Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico, a photo book and travel guide that portrays the island from a Puerto Rican perspective. Take a moment and check out her campaign video below, then channel some holiday spirit and make a donation to help her close in on her goal. And “donation” is a loose term, since you’re basically pre-ordering the guide along with some other cool perks at different pledge levels (including a home-cooked Puerto Rican meal made by Jessica herself!).

Despite being insanely busy with the campaign, as well as traveling, and finding time to enjoy the holidays, Jessica was kind enough to answer 11 questions about Puerto Rico, traveling, and (of course) food.

1. What’s the one food dish that you recommend people try while in Puerto Rico?

Where do I start? My favorite places on the islands are the panaderias (bakeries). I love a medianoche sandwich. It’s similar to a panini; a soft baguette filled with roasted pork, ham, and Swiss cheese.

The Dining Traveler - Jessica | getinmymouf.com

Medianoche | Photo courtesy of Jessica van Dop Dejesus

2. If someone wanted to stay away from touristy areas in Puerto Rico, like San Juan, what area(s) would you tell them to check out?

The west coast of Puerto Rico. Cabo Rojo in the southwest coast has beaches to die for, like Playa Buye and Playa Sucia. The town of Mayaguez for the food; they are known for their artisanal sangria and the guava jelly roll (Brazo Gitano).

Playa Buye in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico | Photo courtesy of Jessica van Dop DeJesus

3. What is the one thing that you’d like to share about Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican culture that people might not know?

That Puerto Ricans are very welcoming and open people. Don’t get weirded out when people tell you their whole life story after five minutes of meeting you!

4. On average, how many days do you spend traveling each year?

This past year I have been on the road over 100 days so far.

5. You seem to have already traveled almost everywhere, but what’s one country or city that you haven’t visited yet, but would like to?

Peru. It’s my dream destination. We’ve been trying to go for the last two years but something always happens. Hopefully in 2016.

6. Do you have any travel rituals that you follow before a big trip?

I always wait until the last minute to pack. Does that count as a ritual?

7. Do you remember your first plane ride?

I was five. We flew Eastern Airlines (dating myself here, LOL). We moved from Rochester, NY to Puerto Rico. I was super excited. The whole family, including our German Shepherd, was on the flight!

8. When you’re back home in DC, what are some of your hobbies and other activities that you like to do to relax?

I love exploring DC. I enjoy going for a run along the Mount Vernon Trail and admiring the monuments across the Potomac. I also love checking out the new exciting restaurants that continue to pop up in the city.

9. Okay, it’s late at night and you’re craving a sweet and/or salty snack. What do you make or grab from your kitchen to satisfy your late night hunger?

Well… this food blogger is trying to lose weight! I’m trying to be disciplined! However, my downfall is cheese. We always bring tons of cheese back from Holland, where my husband is from.

10. You currently live in Washington, DC; what other U.S. city or cities do you think you would enjoy living in for an extended period of time?

I lived in Miami for three months and truly enjoyed it; there are so many cultures converging in this area. Wouldn’t mind returning. I would be open to living in Chicago or San Francisco. However, I love DC. It will be hard to get me out of here.

11. If you could have one person from any time period, dead or alive, be your tour guide in any city in the world, who would you choose and why?

I would have loved for Pablo Neruda to show me his native Chile. I studied his poetry in high school and college. His words made me feel as if I was already in the country.

Many thanks to Jessica for taking time out of her non-stop travel schedule to chat with us. Don’t forget to check out her Kickstarter, Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico, before the campaign ends on December 10th!

Travel

DIY Food Tour: San Francisco’s Mission District

When we were preparing for our last trip to San Francisco, something quickly became apparent: The Mission District’s food offerings would require us to set aside an entire day. Now, obviously San Francisco as a whole is one of, if not the best food city in America, so it goes without saying that you could easily create a food tour in any of its neighborhoods. But as I Googled, Yelp’d, and food blogged the heck out of San Francisco, I kept finding Mission District gems that required a visit.

Thus, this is the first in series of DIY food tours that we’ll be posting here on the blog. And what better way to start than with San Francisco?

Aside from all the tasty food stops, the Mission District is also home to a ton of great thrift stores. With the amount of food you’ll want to eat, they’ll be a good way to kill time in between stuffing your face.

How to get there: All of the places are easily walkable via one of the two BART stations in the Mission district. I will note that there is a bit of back-tracking involved based on the order that I set up; feel free to mix and match your own order to fit what you have time and/or want to check out.

Stop #1: Breakfast at Craftsman and Wolves

Closest BART Station: 16th Street Mission
Address: 746 Valencia Street, San Francisco 94110
Website: craftsman-wolves.com

The Rebel Within – asiago, sausage, green onion, soft cooked egg

Having gained attention for their soft-boiled egg-filled sausage and cheese muffin, The Rebel Within, Craftsman and Wolves is the perfect place to start your tour de eating. I fueled up with said muffin and some cold brew; a near perfect breakfast that helps set the foundation for a long day of eating. Although The Rebel Within has garnered the most attention, their pastry counter is worthy of its own mini-food tour, filled with items such as a Thai scone (green curry, candied ginger, coconut) and matcha snickerdoodles. While the food at CAW is exciting, the atmosphere is calm and makes for a spot that’s easy to get some work done.

Stop #2: Lunch at La Taqueria

Closest BART Station: 24th Street Mission
Address: 2889 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Website: Ha. Nope.

Carne Asada Tacos Dorados – steak, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, monterey jack cheese

Does La Taqueria have the best burrito in America? I’m not skilled enough in the ancient art of burrito eating to provide an insightful answer. The burritos are good, but that’s not why you’re here (and from experience, eating an entire burrito in the early legs of a food tour is not a smart choice). Why are you here? Four words: Carne Asada Tacos Dorados. A mountain of moist carne asada, covered with salsa, guac, and sour cream, all wrapped up in two tortillas–one of which has been fried crispy with Monterey Jack cheese. This taco satisfies every taste and texture you’d want from a taco. Show up early to avoid lines, because aside from the national attention that this place has received, the locals clearly love it just as much. More than a few native San Franciscans I talked to mentioned La Taqueria as their go-to Mexican joint.

Stop #3: Dessert at Tartine Bakery

Closest BART Station: 16th Street Mission
Address: 600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Website: tartinebakery.com

Banana Cream Tart – flaky pastry coated in dark chocolate with caramel, pastry cream, and lightly sweetened cream

A James Beard Award winning bakery, Tartine will surely be the reason your sweet tooths will need to spend hours in confession on Sunday. A sucker for anything combining cream and bananas, my instincts took over and I tried their Banana Cream Tart. FYI, objects in picture are larger than they appear. Did I mention food tours are best done with a companion? Yeah, a partner would be really helpful here. However, despite its intimidating size, the tart is surprisingly light. And for you cocoa nib groupies out there, grab a Cocoa Nib Rocher for the road.

Stop #4: Cocktails at %ABV

Closest BART Station: 16th Street Mission
Address: 3174 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Website: abvsf.com

Special Note: This bar opens at 2 PM, so plan accordingly.

Fogerty – rye, campari, cacao, orange bitters

Mumbai Mule – saffron vodka, lemon, ginger, mint, soda

If you’ve done your job, you should be fairly full and your feet should have marshmallowed from all the walking. This is where %ABV comes into play: Time to take a seat, order some cocktails, and enjoy the company of one of their talented and friendly bartenders. Speaking of talented and friendly bartenders, I want to give a shout out to Eric (90% sure that’s his name) who mixed up some great drinks and was full of delicious restaurant recommendations. I enjoyed a refreshing Mumbai Mule and a strong, yet smooth Fogerty. Although I was too full for any solid food, I’d love to go back to try their kimchee fritters, pimento cheese burger, and some PB&J “ice cream”.

Stop #5: Ice Cream at Bi-Rite Creamery

Closest BART Station: 16th Street Mission
Address: 3692 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Website: biritecreamery.com

Strawberry Soft Serve

An ice cream institution, no trip to the Mission District is complete without a treat from Bi-Rite Creamery. Have time to kill and are still a little full? Stand in the long line headed inside where you’ll find a large selection of their hand-made, small-batch ice cream like vegan strawberry coconut; Blue Bottle coffee with Alfieri almonds and chocolate chips; and brown sugar with ginger caramel swirl. In a hurry? Then jump into the “express” soft serve lane to see what flavors are swirling up.

Stop #6: Coffee at Four Barrel Coffee

Closest BART Station: 16th Street Mission
Address: 375 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Website: fourbarrelcoffee.com

Iced Latte

After some serious eating, drinking, eating, walking, and eating, it will be tempting to crash and sleep through dinner. Remedy that by ending your Mission [District] Impossible with a caffeine boost from Four Barrel Coffee. I did not have a chance to visit the shop, but I did enjoy an iced latte from their stand at the Ferry Building farmer’s market. They roast their beans in-house, so I’m sure their store smells so good you’ll take a bag home as an air freshener. You’ll probably be force-fed coffee from a blue bottle the rest of your trip, so you might as well experience another great west coast coffee house.

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Disclaimer: Visiting these restaurants can result in San Francisco Deficiency Syndrome. Talk to you doctor before participating in any food tour. Also, we were not provided any free goods or services to write this post.

Reviews, Travel

Red Truck Rural Bakery – Marshall, VA

Thanks to DriveShop and Mitsubishi, we had a Rally Red 2015 Outlander for a week that begged to be driven (check out our review here). And thanks to a grey, rainy day, our original outdoor plans were nixed, so we decided to head west to add some color to our day at Red Truck Rural Bakery in Marshall, VA.

Red Truck Bakery - Marshall, VA #getinmymouf

Red Truck, meet Red Mitsubishi. #DriveMitsubishi

Red Truck Bakery is an iconic bakery and market that has historically only had one small location in Warrenton, VA. Luckily for us, they had their grand opening of the new, larger Marshall shop. How grand was the opening? I dunno, maybe you should ask Academy Award Winning Actor, Robert Duvall:

Ribbon (actually a cowboy rope) cutting today with Robert Duvall, then the doors open Friday morning. pic.twitter.com/3TA0to2hvj

— Red Truck Bakery (@RedTruckBakery) September 8, 2015

The trip out west on Route 66 is much different than the mess that I normally sit in every weekday. The small town of Marshall is about an hour outside of Washington, DC; once you get past the cookie-cutter residential developments of Prince William County, you start to feel the calming sensation of being surrounded by green stuff–you know, actual nature, like trees, hills, mountains. So, despite the rain, we had a comfortable ride in the Outlander along with some pleasant scenery to take in.

When we arrived at Red Truck Bakery, we were met with an exterior that was charming and blended in well with that small town vibe. Parking is easy, as they have plenty of space out back, but there was also ample street parking available. We parked on the street thanks to my stellar parking abilities (aka a backup camera).

That small-town feel follows you inside, as the staff and customers were all friendly and eager to provide recommendations on what to order. It’s the kind of place where you get the impression that everybody knows each other, even if they don’t.

The wall of deliciousness.

These fellas would have made a fine picnic had it not been for the rain.

When it comes to the actual food, the choices were quite overwhelming for us first-timers. First, there’s a glowing case of baked goods–all of which were fighting for our attention–as well as two refrigerated grab-n-go cases with sandwiches, drinks, and other goodies. On top of that, there is this wall of jars and bottles of packaged goods from other local and lesser-known companies. Who knew a mini food mecca could exist in a small town bakery?

Tina tried their (highly coveted) Veggie “Beetloaf” Sandwich (roasted beets, sweet potatoes and ground walnuts). She was instantly a fan and for me, as someone who doesn’t really like beets all that much, I enjoyed the few bites I had. It doesn’t taste as “beety” as it looks, and rather has more of an “herby” taste.

Veggie “Beetloaf” Sandwich: roasted beets, sweet potatoes and ground walnuts.

For us meat eaters, you can’t go wrong with their Chicken Salad Sandwich. Or as I will forever call it, the Kitchen Sink Salad Sandwich (as they put everything but) in this jam-packed sandwich, including fresh local roasted chicken, grapes, apples, celery, raisins, walnuts and a hint of curry, with local Bibb lettuce.

Chicken Salad Sandwich: fresh local roasted chicken, grapes, apples, celery, raisins, walnuts and a hint of curry, with local Bibb lettuce.

Sandwich Tip: The sandwiches are pre-made and are grab-n-go, so they can sell out fast. So, it’s highly reccomended that you give them a call to reserve what you want. Luckily, we called ahead and got the very last Veggie Beetloaf Sandwich.

Peach pie. Maybe the last of the season…

Our dessert included peach pie and a cookie, but was completely overshadowed by one of the best cranberry-orange walnut muffins we’ve ever eaten (sorry, not pictured). I can’t remember getting this excited about a muffin before… I mean, it’s just a muffin, but it’s not.

We didn’t try them (still not sure where I discovered that willpower), but the pumpkin scones with maple glaze beckoned like an old friend, while the ham scones looked as if they could be my new future best friend. Until next time, scones…until next time.

Overall, we really enjoyed this little gem of a store and highly recommend giving them a try. The Marshall shop is also in proximity to two of our favorite wineries, Barrel Oak Winery and Aspen Dale Winery, so Red Truck is a convenient place to grab a picnic lunch before heading out for a day of wine tastings. And if you do go, leave the willpower at home and take ALL the scones home with you.

Red Truck Rural Bakery
8368 W. Main Street
Marshall, VA 20115
RedTruckBakery.com
Twitter: @RedTruckBakery
Facebook

Disclaimer: We were not compensated by Red Truck Rural Bakery in any way for this post. We really like ’em and you should too!

Travel

10 Hours in Annapolis, MD

GET IN MY MOUF | Annapolis, MD Waterfront

I’m busy. You’re busy. He’s busy. She’s busy. We’re busy.

Everyone is always so busy around here…

No matter how busy you are, you can surely spare just ten hours for a trip to the waterfront in Annapolis, MD. It’s a great place to escape the “busyness” of the Washington, DC area, without having to spend too much time in a car.

We were recently invited on a #DCTravelBlogger day trip (thanks, Jessica!) to explore the city with Susan Steckman, Vice President of Communications for the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau (AAACVB). Susan was a wonderfully sweet tour guide who helped ensure every minute of our short trip was packed with delicious food and beverages as well as interesting sights and historical information. And of course, we must give a shout out to the wonderful #DCFoodBlogger crew, as Tina and I had a blast hanging out with such a friendly, talented, and fun group of people.

So, below is a recap of our adventure, which can also work as a loose itinerary for anyone looking for a quick day-trip to this historical city on the water.

Take a trolley tour

This is a very touristy thing to do, but you don’t live in Annapolis, so you ARE a tourist. Don’t fight it. Step on the trolley with Discover Annapolis Tours and embrace the chance to not only learn about Maryland’s capital city, but to also get the lay of the land. The tour covers a wide area, so keep an eye out for sites, restaurants, and shops that you might want to visit later on.

Visit an Irish Pub

Did you know that there are more Irish pubs per capita in Annapolis than in Ireland? You probably didn’t, because I just made that up. However, when you walk the streets, it sure feels like every other restaurant is a pub. So, to not stop into one for lunch and/or a pint would be blasphemy. We lunched at Galway Bay Irish Pub (you might’ve seen them on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives), opting for crispy fish and chips and a no-filler jumbo lump crabcake. The wildcard surprise, however, was a sampling of the pub’s proprietary egg nog. The restaurant doesn’t stock any during non-holiday months, but we were fortunate enough to be treated from the owner’s personal stash.

Have a glass of wine

Sure, you could enjoy a glass of wine at many of Annapolis’ great restaurants and wine bars, OR you could visit Great Frogs Winery, the ONLY winery in Annapolis. Enjoy a tasting or two in their rustic, yet restored barn only a short drive from Annapolis Harbor. They have a wine for every palate, but the stars were clearly their dessert wines, so don’t forget to take a bottle home.

Take a boat ride

This is a must. I don’t care if you have to beg, borrow, or steal a yacht—If you visit Annapolis, you better find a way on to the water. After all the eating and drinking of the day, we had a relaxing ride on the Harbour Queen with Cruises on the Bay by Watermark. This narrated cruise of the Annapolis Harbor and the banks of the U.S. Naval Academy, schools you on the history of the Naval Academy and Annapolis’ role as an historic seaport. So, not only do you get a chance to get out on the water, but you also learn something. Don’t be afraid of knowledge.

Have dinner on the water

There’s no better way to end the day than having a nice meal on the water. Tucked in the Annapolis City Marina, Carrol’s Creek Cafe is easily accessible via one of the city’s water taxis. Beautiful ambiance, fresh seafood, waterfront view and a setting sun are hard to complain about. Scallop lovers will enjoy their house-specialty appetizer: A plump scallop rolled in shredded phyllo, fried crisp, and served on a bed of wilted spinach, lump crab and prosciutto ham with a shrimp cream sauce. We also enjoyed an herb encrusted Rockfish fillet, roasted and served over sun dried tomato pesto risotto, sautéed baby spinach, jumbo lump crab, and sauced with a beurre blanc. Luckily we left room for dessert, which included a smooth espresso crème brûlée for me and a rich flourless chocolate molten lava cake for Tina.

Treat yo’ dog!

Annapolis might also be the pet-friendly capital of the east coast. Not only will you find plenty of pet shops and dog-friendly restaurants with patio seating, you can even take your dog on many of the boats and water taxis. Cooper didn’t make it out on this trip, but we’re already planning another visit to take full advantage of his future favorite city. Plus, he heard how good the Annapolis Ice Cream Company is and hasn’t stopped bothering us about it.

Disclaimer: We were guests of AAACCVB and the establishments mentioned above as part of a #DCTravelBlogger promotional trip. As always, opinions remain our own.

Get in my Mouf

Food Stories

11 Questions with The Dining Traveler

DIY Food Tour: San Francisco’s Mission District

Red Truck Rural Bakery – Marshall, VA

10 Hours in Annapolis, MD