Helping Haiti, One Cupcake at a Time

Since the tragedy in Haiti, many of us have been looking for ways to help. Of course you can always donate to the efforts at Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders. But did you know that you could help just by eating cupcakes?

Sound too good to be true? This is one of the few times in life that it's not. Just pick up a Red Cross cupcake at Buzz Bakery, and its proceeds will go to the Haitian Emergency Rebuilding Organization (H.E.R.O.) (website should be active tomorrow) and Red Cross.

What if you're more in the mood for dinner and drinks? No worries, just hit up Tallula, Columbia Firehouse, Evening Star Cafe, Rustico, Birch & Barley, and Churchkey and look for a red cross menu item!

The Neighborhood Restaurant Group will also host a fundraiser for H.E.R.O. next Wednesday, January 20 at Columbia Firehouse from 6 until 9. There is a $40 donation per guest (no reservation needed, donation collected upon arrival, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar).

While supplies last...

Tonight I was at Trader Joe's and picked up a box of my current appetizer obsession, Ratatouille Bites:

(A French classic with a flaky pastry twist, really, you can see why I love these, right?)

So you can imagine my dismay, when the cashier said that the Ratatouille Bites are seasonal and will not be available much longer.

How will I make it through the rest of the winter???

Nandos

Over the weekend I checked out Nados Peri-Peri, an import from South Africa. Nandos specializes in Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri chicken. It is inexpensive, but the decor is trendy and the atmosphere is fun. The ingredients are high-quality and the chicken is excellent, even if you opt for the sandwich or pita option instead of a whole chicken. And I am in love with their chocolate spoon cake. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for something low key in Chinatown.

Happy New Year - Restaurant Week January 11 - 17

January pales in comparison to the whirlwind December holiday season. Most of us wake up the first Monday after New Year's with a money hangover and seven pounds heavier than we were November 20. It can be hard to get out of bed.

Fortunately, there is one thing standing between us and total demoralization: Restaurant Week. For one glorious week, DC's best restaurants offer lunch for $20 and dinner for $35.

While Restaurant Week probably won't take off the seven pounds, it will ease the money hangover, and maybe even get us through January...