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Namaste: Fine Indian and Nepalese Cuisine

January 6, 2015 by

When you enter Namaste, you'll find yourself transported into a quiet, serene environment, where eating is elevated into an art. This Alexandria restaurant serves pan-Asian cuisine, though it specializes in Indian and Nepalese dishes.

Many of the dishes require several hours of gentle simmering to reach the ideal flavor, and most employ custom spice blends that have to be added in precise amounts. You'll find rich chicken tikka masala simmered in a creamy tomato sauce, as well as fiery lamb vindaloo with potatoes and peas. You can also snack on unique finger foods, like peanuts that have been marinated in chopped tomato, onion, cilantro, and a custom blend of Nepalese spices, or bite into a Nepali-style dumpling filled with spiced, minced vegetables and served with a chutney dipping sauce.

If you're unsure about what to order, try going for the lunch buffet, where you can sample a variety of different dishes in order to hone in on your favorite.

Namaste
6138 Rose Hill Drive
Alexandria, VA 22310
(703) 822-0408
namasteva.com
www.yelp.com/biz/namaste-alexandria-2

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Grounded Coffee Shop: Grab Coffee in Alexandria

December 16, 2014 by

According to Yelp reviewers, Grounded Coffee Shop is just what a great neighborhood coffee house should be. The owners are committed to keeping prices as low as possible, and they only serve fair trade organic coffees and teas. The baristas are skilled and knowledgeable about the coffee they're preparing and are happy to make recommendations. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and kid-friendly (you'll even find a miniature train table for the little ones). The shop's baked goods are prepared on-site, and the 100 percent real fruit smoothies are freshly prepared to order.

And, most importantly, the coffee is dark, rich, and delicious. Treat yourself to a foamy cappuccino, or spend an afternoon sipping a sweetly spiced chai tea. Start your morning right with a steaming cup of joe, or wind down after a long day at the office with a comforting cup of hot cocoa.

Whatever you choose, it’s hard to go wrong at Grounded Coffee Shop.

Grounded Coffee Shop
6919 Telegraph Road
Alexandria, VA 22310
(703) 341-6612
www.groundedcoffeeshop.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grounded-coffee-shop-alexandria

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

Happy Holidays!

December 15, 2014 by

We wish you and your loved ones all a very happy and safe holiday season.

Filed Under: Life at The Asher Apartments Tagged With:

What to Look for When Shopping for Quality Cashmere

December 9, 2014 by

Whether you purchase it secondhand or invest in a brand-new piece, cashmere is a luxurious material that every fashion lover should have in his or her closet. A soft cashmere scarf or sweater is incredibly cozy when cold weather comes around, but it can also be quite pricey. Here are a few tips for what to look for when shopping for cashmere to get the best bang for your buck.

  1. Check for two-ply yarn. Truly high quality cashmere sweaters are made of two-ply yarn, a type of yarn that is made of two individual “legs” that prevent the garment from torqueing. Be sure to purchase two-ply instead of the lesser quality one-ply.
  2. Check the stitching. Look closely at the garment to see if the stitching is loose and open or if it is tight and closed. Open stitching could lead to pilling down the line, so be sure to avoid cashmere items unless the stitching is almost impossible to see.
  3. Use your senses. If you’re prepared to invest in a high quality cashmere pieces, you likely have something in mind about what it should look and feel like. Using your own senses is one of the best ways to tell if cashmere is made well, so get up close and rub it with your fingers, try it on and inspect the color clarity to see if the quality is up to snuff.

What to consider when purchasing a cashmere garment [CCMI]
What Do I Need to Consider When Buying Cashmere? [Real Simple]
7 Secrets of Cashmere [Marie Claire]
Expert Tips on How To Buy a Cashmere Sweater [The Vivant]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , ,

Tasty Farm to Table Fare at Jackson 20

December 2, 2014 by

Jackson 20 is an Old Town Alexandria tavern named for President Andrew Jackson. A giant bronze pig presides over the restaurant, and there are plenty of pigs on the menu, too. (Though they were Jackson’s favorite animal, he wasn’t shy about eating them.) Waffles, ice cream, raw oysters, deviled eggs, crab cakes, ribs … you won’t find wizardry here, just hearty American, farm-to-table classics prepared with skill and served with love. Beer, wine, and cocktail menus are huge, and the mimosa list is a hit for Sunday brunch. Don’t miss the “20 for $20” wine bottles.

Reservations are recommended, but you may be able to score an evening or weekend table without one. Check the website for menus, opening times, and special events.

Jackson 20
480 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 842-2790
www.jackson20.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jackson-20-alexandri

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Happy Thanksgiving

November 27, 2014 by

We hope everyone has a wonderful day surrounded by family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Filed Under: Life at The Asher Apartments Tagged With:

The Wharf: Delightful Cuisine in Old Town Alexandria

November 25, 2014 by

In a way, The Wharf is more suited to Maryland’s Eastern Shore than Old Town Alexandria. That’s why regulars love it. Charred beams speak to the building’s Civil War past, but the laid-back Federal-style decor and nautical motif would be at home in Chestertown. Locals have enjoyed seafood and steaks at The Wharf for over 40 years; the menu and decor have been gently updated to keep pace with the times while preserving what makes it special: the food. Regulars say you can’t go wrong with seafood dishes, from she crab soup and shrimp fritters to bacon-wrapped scallops and tender lobster. Nothing is carelessly fried or steamed; textures are light and flavors are delicate.

Lunch maxes out around $15, while dinner entrees top $30. Service is decent and reservations are recommended.

The Wharf
119 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-2836
www.wharfrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-wharf-alexandria

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Paint Your Own Pottery at Paint This! in Alexandria

November 18, 2014 by

An afternoon of creative possibilities awaits at Paint This!, a paint-your-own-pottery studio in Alexandria. Here, budding artists young and young at heart are invited to create their own ceramic masterpiece, choosing from what Paint This! boasts is the most expansive selection of ceramics in the area.

The process is simple: Choose from mugs, vases, plates, piggy banks, cups, frames, figurines, and much more, then settle in for an afternoon of no-pressure painting. After one week, you return to pick up your glazed and fired personalized creation. Better yet, the studio fee is easy on the wallet: just $8 per hour or $12 for an entire day. In addition to ceramics, Paint This! offers DIY mosaics and glass fusion.

Paint This! is open noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays through Mondays and noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. The studio is closed Tuesdays.

Paint This!
1013 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 519-7499
paintthis.com/paintthis/Welcome.html
www.yelp.com/biz/paint-this-alexandria

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

Organize Your Kitchen in 5 Simple Steps

November 11, 2014 by

Is your kitchen overrun with dirty dishes, loose pot lids, boxes of cereal, and unused utensils? Here are five simple tips to achieve an organized kitchen that looks straight out of a magazine.

  1. Make the most of your cabinets. Cabinets are an important part of any kitchen, as they store all of your loose items and keep dry groceries out of sight. Add removable shelving and storage to make your cabinets work for you.
  2. Keep the most-used items within reach. Clear the unnecessary items from your countertops and keep only the items you use most, such as a few bowls and plates, basic cooking tools, and maybe a coffee station.
  3. Divide drawers. Stop overflowing your kitchen drawers and divide them instead. Simply place drawer organizers inside.
  4. Don’t forget about under the sink. Though many of us simply shove cleaning supplies under there, the underside of the sink is actually great storage space. Add a few storage containers or plastic drawers to keep things separated.
  5. Maximize odd-shaped spaces. If you have a skinny cabinet or a cabinet in a corner, don’t write it off. Add a lazy Susan to a corner cabinet to keep things within reach, and store flat objects like cutting boards in those ultra-thin spots.

23 Kitchen Organization & Storage Tips [BHG]
26 Kitchen-Organizing Tips from Real Cooks [Simple Bites]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

November 6, 2014 by

To enter the Sweepstakes, Like our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends December 31, 2014.

For mobile users ONLY, like our Facebook Page, and then click here to enter!

Filed Under: Life at The Asher Apartments Tagged With: ,
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