Best Bites DC: Best Entrees, Apps, Drinks 2007

There's no lack of restaurant reviews covering the latest, greatest, cheapest and hippest DC region eats. But the missing piece in the wide-ranging best lists is that if you're the type who returns time after time to a restaurant to order the same phenomenal dish, the lists might miss. Here's my rock-solid list of best dishes and drinks in DC. No polls, no external validation. Trust my taste.

El Nopolito
Silver Spring, MD
El Nopolito Salad, salsa

Giffords Ice Cream
4 locations in DC and MD
Strawberry ice cream, hot fudge

Indebleu
Washington, DC
Pomegranate Mojito

Jaleo
Washington DC, Bethesda MD
Spinach & pine nuts, Apple & Manchego Salad

Lost Dog Cafe
Arlington, VA
Italian Pie Pizza

Matchbox
Washington, DC (MCI Center)
Sliders (forget the pizza)

Metro 29 Diner
Arlington, Va
Chicken Souvlaki

Moby Dicks
Multiple locations in DC area
Chicken Souvlaki Platter with rice

Mon Ami Gabi
Bethesda, MD
Steak Classique, Onion Soup, Banana Crepes

RAKU
Bethesda, MD
Portabello Mushroom and Asparagus Warm Salad

Rosa Mexicano
Washington, DC (MCI Center)
Guac appetizer

Spices
Washington Dc (Cleveland Park)
Ginger Salad, Tom Yum soup with noodles

Zengo
Washington, DC
Mango Mojito, Zengo Roll

Soulful Symphony Paint Factory Rocks

Thanks to Darin Atwater and his Soulful Symphony for one of the coolest evenings in recent entertainment memory. Performed as a world premiere at Strathmore Hall on May 20th and Meyerhoff in Baltimore on the 21st, Atwater's symphony combined with a raucous and talented chorus, dancers, and two rap groups who brought new energy to the usually staid symphony tones. Atwater's Soulful Symphony is a partnership with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, but the fusion Paint Factory show is brand new and can't miss. The heavily African American performers -- so unusual in the symphony world -- brought the crowd to its feet. One of my friends called it church for nighttime, and while the content was not religious, it was consciously uplifting but not too cloying.

Atwater is shifting the cultural needle with a new form of entertainment and music that breaks down walls and invites a huge swath of new listeners in.

If you get the chance, catch Paint Factory or the Soulful Symphony and come ready to dance. For more background on the show, check out these pretty divergent reviews from the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post:

Trumpeting Diversity
A Rare Majority-Black Orchestra Tries to Build Cultural and Racial Bridges
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/21/AR2007052101623.html

Making rap nice is counterintuitive
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/music/bal-to.poppaint21may21,1,3793372.story?ctrack=4&cset=true