Hot August Night Menus
Coping with the heat of the end of summer can be the toughest part of the year for me physically. At least during summer break I can get up really early, and run out of the house in the afternoon to get some relief, but once we’re bound to the school runaround schedule again and the temps are pushing 100s, I find myself completely exhausted by the time the sun crushes me into submission around 5:00 pm. Turning on the stove to cook dinner seems nearly impossible after 8 hours next to an oven. I’ve been leaning on some of my favorite places in downtown, so I figured I’d share with you my hot august coping favorites. They get less respectable as they go…
Papaya Salad and Spring Rolls from Thailand Restaurant on 10th street. So cold and refreshing and hydrating! The staff there are so lovely and no matter what I swear they always say my order will be ready in 15 minutes no matter how much I order and how busy it is.
Cold Vermicelli Rice noodle salad from Phoenix Noodle House on H street. It’s a truly epic quantity of food that could easily be split between 2 people or saved for lunch the next day. Cold rice noodles with piles of julienned carrots and cucumbers and grilled meat. It also come with 2 little egg rolls on top, which really takes the edge off a long day!
Hummus Plate & Warmed Olives at Penny University on J street. Penny has a great happy hour menu, and their house made hummus comes topped with fresh herbs and lemon zest, with cold veggies and sourdough bread on the side. The olives are just really great olives, trust me. Restorative snacking dinner.
Old fashioned and Popcorn at Intermission on J street. The jazz is lovely, the environs are dark and cool, the velvet couches are plush and the cocktails are perfection. They bring free popcorn from the movie theatre to your table while you drink, and just keep bringing more! You’ll need a second drink in no time. They also have a menu of bites that includes some pretty substantial meatballs with garlic bread if you get hungry.
Lengua Tacos from Tacos Vallarta taco truck on D street. They are open late every night, and walking 4 blocks under the stars for a paper plate of spicy tacos with those cold pickled carrots and jalapenos and lemons on top is so necessary. When I’m a reasonable person I order a mineragua.. when I’m not I will be drinking a giant glass bottle of coke. Will I sleep well after doing this at 10pm? Not likely. Gotta embrace it and stay up until midnight watching a weird movie with my teenager, but hey the heart wants what it wants.