Check Out These Veterans Vittles and Venues

November 11, 2020

November. The time we most associate with being thankful. First it’s Veteran’s Day, a time to gratefully remember those who have served in the military. Originally called Armistice Day, it coincides with Remembrance Day which is celebrated along with other countries marking the cessation of hostilities at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, thus ending World War I. And of course, the Thanksgiving holiday itself closes out the month. Oh how I love to cook a “Friends-Thanksgiving”!!! That really should be a holiday the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Friends-Thanksgiving. You know, so many out there have a better time with their girlfriends than they do their family. Ha!

In this blog I offer some thankfully simple and delicious ways to feed your girlfriends, whether you're cooking in or venturing out.

Let's Eat... In!

Navy Baked Potatoes

This easy and delicious side dish was served to Navy personnel aboard the USS New York during WWII. I think it’s ideal to serve to your besties as well!

Ingredients for 8 | Multiply by degree of hunger, divide by number of girlfriends!

Prep time:

1 hour, 25 minutes

Bake time:

35 minutes

Ready in:

2 hours

Ingredients

6 large potatoes, peeled and quartered lengthwise into wedges

1 cup butter, divided, or more as needed

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Fill a large bowl with water. Place wedged potatoes into the bowl and refrigerate for an hour or longer.

Step 2

When ready to make the potatoes, preheat oven to 450ºF. Grease a baking sheet

Step 3
Melt 1/2 cup butter in a microwave-safe bowl or in a saucepan on the stovetop. Pour into a shallow dish.

Step 4

In another shallow dish, mix flour with salt and pepper.

Step 5

Coat potato wedges in the flour mixture and then dip into butter. (If the butter becomes too thick in the process because of the flour, melt more butter and add to the shallow dish.)

Step 6

Arrange coated potato wedges on the baking sheet.

Step 7

Bake until golden brown and tender, about 35 minutes.

Step 8

Serve hot.

Let’s Eat…out!

If you and your girls would rather venture out when visiting D.C., I’ve got just the places baby.

Kinship | A great name for a restaurant featured in My Girlfriendships, don’t you think? It’s a great name and a must-not-miss option in downtown. I recommend their signature dish, Kinship roast chicken with lemon-garlic panade. Add the pommes rissolées, and frisée salad, and you have a perfect fall dinner.

Still have room? I recommend sharing Maine lobster french toast with persimmon, English cucumber, and sesame mousse.

Socci, Arlington | I think hotel restaurants are often overlooked, which is why I want you to keep an eye out for Socci, an Italian restaurant with a spectacular menu. You’ll find it just across the Potomac in the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.

You absolutely have to check out the beverage menu. Confession: at a girlfriend gathering a few years ago, we couldn’t decide what to order. So, a couple of us tried several of them. Browsing the menu now, I would have a difficult time choosing between Pine-Apple of My Eye and Lady Luck.