The Liberty Tavern, located in vibrant Clarendon, offers a variety of tastes and dishes that may not give you the total Rae experience, but definitely make you realize that life is good. Great actually. Why cry over the economy, your car repairs, and the fact that no one takes you seriously because you are in your twenties when there are cocktails with names such as the Pursuit of Happiness or The Hemingway Daiquiri?

We started the night outside, sitting in the little bistro chairs taking in the perfect fall evening on Wilson Blvd.  Being suckers for new experiences, the three of us, Rae, Katie, and Me, decided to each try different items in order to try as many different things without completely breaking our budgets. Rae ordered the LT G&T- a refreshing twist of gin, lime, tonic with a refreshing cucumber essence. Katie started with the Hemingway Daiquiri (mainly because it was called the Hemingway Daiquiri), a delightful twist of rum with ruby red grapefruit juice. I went with The Pursuit of Happiness was pure strawberry decadence with a sharp bite of basil.

Half way through our drinks, we were escorted up a long flight of wooden stairs to a corner booth table big enough for a party of eight. The three of us squeezed in together in the back of the bench, tossing our purses on the empty chairs. Our waiter, Tony with crazy curly hair and a chunky, colorful beaded choker, took a seat next to Rae, half poking fun. Ordering 2 more Pursuits of Happiness and glass of the Powers Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington 2006, we devoured the menu, debating, planning, coordinating our meals to reach optimum tasting opportunity. By the time our drinks arrived, we were ready and hungry. Rae ordered the Amish Chicken, tender chicken piled high on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, rapini, and sweet onion gravy. Katie sticking with the Octoberfest feel of the month, decided on the “Pittsburghese.” Tender, flavorful house made Bratwurst and Frankfurters served with spätzle and sauerkraut. I ordered the Vermont Pizza. The combination of prosciutto, tart apple, and fontina cheese perfectly balanced the flavors of salty, sweet, and savory. The crust was thin, was deliciously smoky from the wood burning oven. We got what little was leftover boxed…and contemplated dessert.

As you know, there was the life-completing Bruleed Chocolate Pot de Créme Smores, topped with a toasty marshmallow goo, under which was a thick, dark, warm chocolate custard with a little grainy bits of graham cracker that slowly melted in your mouth. The Black Forest Cake was a little stack of dark chocolate cake, kirsch cherries, and sweet cream covered top to bottom with chocolate shavings. Next to it was a little scoop of cherry ice cream, perfect for cutting into the sweetness and cleansing the palate. And the last part of the dessert trifecta, the Jenkins Orchard Pear Cobbler. Unlike the other two desserts that were decadent and sweet, the cobbler had spicy kick of clove and cinnamon that warmed you up inside. Paired with spiced rum vanilla bean ice cream, this cobbler is why autumn was invented.

While the food may be incredibly inspiring, the best part of The Liberty Tavern was that they expected you to enjoy your meal. Unlike so many restaurants that rush you to your table, through your meal, and out the door, this wait staff was a relaxing change of pace.  During our meal, we all realized that we had only been checked on once or twice. Looking around the room waiters were there, observing, waiting for a questioning look or small signal to get their attention, but other than that, they let you dine in peace and enjoy your company.

Maybe you can have your cake and eat it, too.

The Amish Chicken

The Pittsburghese

The Vermont Pizza

My particular experience is based on the LPQ in Old Town Alexandria, right on the corner of King and North Washington. After finding parking, mastering the cobblestone streets with stilettos, and maneuvering between cars, strollers, and crazy drivers , a tiny little pâtisserie is exactly what the 21^st century individual needs….simplicity.  Old world wooden tables stretch across the room with chairs lined up neatly alongside. This is what LPQ calls their “communal table” a place where friends and strangers alike have a chance to break bread together and reconnect on a human level. In this day and age, getting lost in your own technological bubble can happen far too easily. We forget to unplug, exchange greetings with people on the street, smile back at the baby waving with their cubby little hands, or simply have a tête à tête with our friend. Communal tables may seem awkward at first, especially those whose main contact to the world is through a text message. Be adventurous! Take a seat next a new face, have a little conversation. You’ll find it surprisingly refreshing…

Keeping with the simplistic environment, LPQ cuisine uses fresh, mostly organic ingredients to create dishes that could only be decently described with pastoral poetry.  Such as an open faced tartines topped with smoky salmon and salty capers, a golden omelet bursting with gruyere,  and fresh spongy bread with a crust the cracks into a thousand tiny little pieces when you bite into it…. Is your mouth watering yet?

Try Le Pain Quotidien for a journey of flavor, rustic simplicity, and an opportunity to reconnect with your humanity.

This genius idea was concocted over a happy-hour turned dinner during one of DC’s most exciting culinary events- Restaurant Week. A week where amazing restaurants open their doors with sample menus, slashed prices, and immaculate service all in the hopes of getting you hooked on their atmosphere and cuisine.

So, as it happens, our first restaurant, the very setting of our inspiration, is Yaku. Part of the Latin Concepts restaurants, Yaku is “Chifa” or in other words, Chinese and Peruvian Fusion food. Its atmosphere offers a zen-like ambience with simple warm colors and plenty of room to enjoy your meal without overhearing your neighbors conversation. Big windows add to the environment, filling the lounge with natural light and an epiphany-like sensation.

Happy hour started off with cheers to life, consisting of an Amor Prohibido cocktail and a Red Wine Sangria. The Sangria was overly sweet and quickly watered down with large amount of ice in the glass, but it was not a total loss. However, you must try the Amor Prohibido Cocktail. Spicy fused with sweetness, this cocktail is called Forbidden love for a reason, you will start cheating on your other standby drinks. Good bye dear cosmopolitan.

Following the Restaurant Week menu, we embarked on a four course journey of flavor, texture, and color. The wonton soup is delicious and a perfect way to begin your meal as it is delicate with big flavor, and yet not too filling. Katie ordered the Lomo Saltado for her main course. Big chunks of potato and tender beef in a sweet savory sweet sauce filled her with euphoric memories of her mother’s homecooking. I excitedly ordered the Whole Grilled Snapper (now be advised, it is whole, so if you can’t look at a fish tank while eating sushi, order something else). The Snapper tender with crispy skin smothered in a sweet crushed red pepper sauce with hints of lemon. Sided with broccoli and a delicious pepper fried rice, this meal was satisfying and could probably feed two.

Dessert sparked a bit of an internal conflict. Katie ordered the Banana Rolls and I, the Apple Wonton. The Banana Rolls were crispy bites that exploded with the soft sweetness of ripe banana and coconut, and just when you think it can’t get better than this, you eat an Apple Wonton. Little pockets of apple goodness physically transport you to Autumn, you can smell the cider and see the colored leaves falling at your feet. But then, you eat another Banana Roll…. Sufficed to say, there is no winner. Order both. And if you are by yourself, don’t worry about what other people will say, you’ll be that insanely amazing person at the corner table with two desserts.

Yaku's amazing Banana Rolls and Apple Wontons!