Here’s a rundown of where I went while in the nation’s capitol.

• Ben’s Chili Bowl: The half smoke with chili and onions was very good. The french fries sans chili, however, were totally bland.
• The Brickskeller: A nice place to have a beer if you’re prepared to be told that the beer you want may not be in stock.
• Nationals Park: The less said about the game I saw, the better. I did have the Rough Rider Rib, a jumbo beef short rib brined for 12 hours then slow-smoked for 12 hours more, from Teddy’s BBQ – it was delicious though very fatty.
• Zaytinya: I probably shouldn’t have eaten the rib at Nationals Park because I was not hungry when I got here for dinner. The strained yogurt with zatar was a good starter but what I really liked were the baby octopus salad that was the special of the night. The crispy veal sweetbreads could have used some more seasoning but it was still nice.
• RFD: A couple of beers at this downtown spot before hitting the road home.

Here’s a list of places I visited in the City of Brotherly Love.

• Varga Bar: The last time down in Philly, I came here for a few beers that wouldn’t be gettable in NYC. This time, I was there to try the food and, as luck would have it, they were a Restaurant Week participant. Even better that they allowed the substitution of beer for the dessert course! I had the duck confit chicken wings to start – the meat was almost falling off the bone. The Kobe burger was a disappointment – not nearly enough char and it being cooked to medium-rare led to melting apart.
• Independence Hall: Some sight seeing to work off the calories from the wings, burger, and beer.
• Nodding Head: I had originally intended to go the new bar in Ludwig’s place but it didn’t open until 5pm so I went to ol’ reliable – Nodding Head.
• Tinto: The primary reason for this trip with regards to food, this tapas place did not disappoint.

Here’s all the different places I went to while in the Windy City.

• Epic Burger: Looking for a lunch option after checking in to my hotel, I wandered south a bit on State Street to this organic burger joint. The flavor was okay but the sogginess of the patty was a huge turn-off. What might have been a decent char once turned into a weird looking surface, not unlike that of a portabello mushroom cap.
• Sears Tower Skydeck: Well worth the $14.95 to see Chicago from high up – especially on a sunny day like the day I went.
• avec: If you ever go, be sure to order the chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates with smoked bacon – four to an order but if you dine by yourself, they’ll serve a half-order. Absolutely delicious. The crispy pork and trotter salad they had on special that night was just as tasty.
• The Map Room: Great beer selection but remember to bring cash (or an ATM card) as they no longer take credit cards. The night I went was a good one since they were serving three soups on the house.
• Clark Street Ale House: It’s a classic pub where all the bartenders dress sorta classy. There’s a garden out back but I got there too late to be able to sit out there.
• Hot Doug’s: It’s all about the foie gras and Sauternes duck sausage with truffle aioli, foie gras mousse and sel gris. That and the duck fat fries but they only have that on Fridays and Saturdays; I went on a Wednesday.
• Giordano’s: This local stuffed pizza chain makes a popular pie but it’s just not for me.
• Wrigley Field: One of the last two truly classic old baseball stadiums remaining, its age is clearly evident but so is its charm.
• Hopleaf Bar: When I got to this bar a little before 10pm on a Wednesday night, it was absolutely slammed – barely any room to move. After a seat opened up for me at the bar, I was able to truly appreciate their excellent beer selection and the atmosphere.
• Corner Bakery Cafe: A cafe chain that’s somewhat similar to Panera. An okay option for a quick, decent breakfast.
• Frontera Grill: I didn’t have time (or the cash) for the Top Chef Masters menu so I went with some enchiladas doused in mole coloradito. That and a margarita was a great way to end this trip.

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Here’s a list of places I went to during this whirlwind weekend.

Boston

• Super Fusion Cuisine: Good sushi for what we paid.
• Coffee House: Needing a quick bite in the morning, I stopped in here to get a char siu bao – it was mediocre.
• Mike’s Pastry: After a long walk in the rain to the North End, a chocolate chip cannoli was the reward.
• Mr. Bartley’s: The burger was ok but I still don’t like burgers that are shaped into hockey pucks before being cooked.
• Toscanini’s: Their burnt caramel ice cream is awesome.

Western Massachusetts/Albany

• The Dirty Truth: Great selection of beers and their chicken and waffles dish hit the spot.
• Mahar’s: An interesting place in that the bar almost seems like it’s only there for ordering a beer and not for hanging around. It is, however, a place conducive to groups in the way it’s set up.
• Metro 20 Diner: Solid diner fare.

Cooperstown

• Belgium Come To Cooperstown: The event was ok but the real fun happened later that night at the campsite.
• Cooperstown Diner: Like some fellow campers – “better like your food with a pound of butter.”