2024 August Newsletter P2
Candalada
FOOD REVIEWS
I have been asked to provide a full review of the places that I visited on my birthday weekend. The places are listed in the order I experienced them from 8/23/24 - 8/28/24. The main celebration event “Relax and Revive” took place 8/24/24. Details about the Relax and Revive are at the end of the newsletter.
DIRTY HABIT : THE monaco HOTEL
The private entrance to Dirty Habit
I am a fan of the Kimpton Hotels and I have always wanted to visit the Monaco. This was a pleasant surprise since I did not plan this experience.
Ambience
The entrance is a cobblestone pathway and can lead to injury if you do not have on sneakers or have an arm to hold to on to. Be careful ladies. The entrance lighting has a purple glow that screams promising evening as you approach the doors. There is outdoor and indoor seating. I sat inside. It is very cold. Meat freezer cold! The lighting in the dining room was dim which I personally enjoyed. I am sensitive to light and dim settings allow me to feel more relaxed.
Food
I had the Adobo Cauliflower: salsa de sol | escabeche | benne brittle . The brittle was a unique twist I do not think I could duplicate at home. Very seasoned very good.
Adobo Cauliflower
Special Things
The lobby had an art exhibit with paintings of Black women on sale for $10,000. I enjoyed seeing the hairstyles and the larger than life canvases.
The bathrooms were exceptionally designed and located on the 3rd floor
Monaco Hotel Lobby
The Lion Sculpture (always there) , Featured Art
Bathroom on the 3rd floor
Puttery
Ambience
Step entry with lots of steps. At least there is no cobblestone. Hassle free check-in for reservations or walk-in. They offer three courses and I tried the illusion course. The atmosphere is fun a lively. People are laughing drinking and speaking loudly. Large groups of friends, girls night out and couples. Everyone was at Puttery. The hallways are decorated with art and the ceilings are lined with plants.
Puttery hallway
Illusion course enterance
Food
I did not dine at Puttery, however, they offer a full menu to be explored.
Special Things
They have tables with chairs on the exterior and a long purple velvet booth seating on the other. The velvet booth was so cozy and comfy I didn’t want to leave. For the sole purpose of sitting in that corner nook I would revisit Puttery.
Puttery Seating
PLaNTA QUEEN
I fell in love with Planta at its first DMV location in Bethesda, Maryland. I dined there with Issa for my 39th. Planta Queen is a quicker commute by 20 minutes and the second newest Planta location in the area.
Ambience
Floor to ceiling windows ample seating and the bar is centrally located.
Food
I had the truffle fried rice with mushroom bacon, peas, egg and limited edition smore’s pie. The rice was packed with flavor. Another patron was dancing at his table while eating which is why I ordered it. Universally a slight shimmy is a sign of enjoyment. I ate my food immediately. Not one snap taken.
The pie was a chocolate overload. Although, I liked it. It was too rich to eat in one sitting, even drinking unsweetened tea to offset it wasn’t enough. I suggest sharing with another chocolate lover.
Special Things
Each Planta has its own theme. This reminds me of the design approach for W hotels. It garners excitement and discovery for each location. This Planta has an Asian inspired menu. Bethesda Planta carries an Italian menu.
Candalada’s House
Ambience
Clean, new, bright natural sunlight
Food
Vegan Mac, String Beans, Baked Chicken, Vegan Spaghetti, Vegan Baked Sweet Potatoes
A spread created by family. Mac & cheese by Malik. Baked chicken by Aunty Roxxy. Vegan mac & cheese, vegan string beans, vegan sweet potatoes, vegan spaghetti by Candalada.
Some of the food was cold. The set up I selected looked beautiful, however, my dishes became ice cold quickly. Some guest heated their food up in the microwave others opted to eat their food cold and that hurt my hosting heart.
I did not taste the mac & cheese and chicken and was told it tasted good. The string beans were saltier than I would like, and the vegan mac didn’t have enough salt. People were probably mixing the string beans and mac together. Salting the noodles is a very important and I believe I skipped that step in error for the vegan macaroni. Hopefully one day I will be able to redeem myself.
The dish that stole the show was the vegan spaghetti. Everyone had a taste and there were several requests for the recipe. I have been making it for a few years and there a two ways I have made it. I will start with way I made it 8/24/24.Unfortunately I do not measure anything. My goal is to start measuring and create a measured recipe by December. Then I will be able to make it the same way consistently and share it with Issa.
Here is what I have for now. Note: If you are not vegan you can use your choice of ground meat.
Candalada’s 8/24/24 Vegan Spaghetti: Ingredients are everything to me. I have provided the brand of the most important ingredients.
Ingredients
Yellows Onion (from Bj’s)
Red, Yellow, Orange Peppers
Mc Cormick Garlic and Onion + Black Pepper, Sea Salt Seasoning Blend
Mc Cormick Perfect Pinch Italian
Trader Joe’s Garlic Powder
Himalayan Sea salt
Cayenne Pepper
Beyond Meat
Lucini Golden Tomato Sauce (Mom’s Grocery Store)
Muir Glen Garden Vegetable Sauce (Mom’s Grocery Store)
Barilla Penne Pasta
Extra Light Virgin Olive Oil
Prepare noodles:
Step 1: Bring water to a boil.
Step 2: Add salt and olive oil.
Step 3: Don’t boil beyond noodles 9-11 min. Drain.
Prepare Sauce:
Step 1: Slice and dice onions and peppers
Step 2: Heat olive oil on low to medium heat, add peppers, sprinkle regular black pepper to the peppers
Step 3: Add beyond meat, break into small pieces and keep the heat low. Cooking too high makes the dish chewy.
Step 4: Add dry seasonings, generous Italian seasoning, generous McCormick garlic blend, Trader Joe’s garlic powder, Himalayan salt, cayenne pepper. Cover and let simmer until brown in color 10-15
Step 5: Add equal parts of red and yellow sauce depending on how many packs you are cooking. For example, one pack of 12 oz Beyond uses one jar of sauce. If cooking two packs, you can use an entire bottle of red sauce and yellow sauce. Simmer on low heat 10 min.
Step 6: Let sit until serving. The longer the sauce can marry the better it will taste do not exceed 3 hours of sitting. After 3 hours refrigerate.
Candalada’s Not So Classic Vegan Spaghetti: Follow all the same steps. Add Grace’s Mild Jerk Seasoning to the beyond meat before adding sauce. Use all golden tomato sauce.
Bagels Wegmans, Donuts Freddy's Donuts, Banana Bread Trader Joe's
THE CONTINENT DC
I was seated at the bottom right table.
Ambience
The Continent is spacious once entering on the left there is a well lit bar and a neon sign on the wall with the logo. Went on a Saturday there was a live DJ. Vaulted ceilings and big comfortable chairs. Because I sat so close to the music it was really loud and we could not hear each other well. If conversation is important consider sitting further way from the Dj.
Food
Items ordered, chicken salad, oxtail, wings, red snapper. The salad, oxtail and wings were reported as good. The snapper came out with a head although it was supposed to be headless. I was told it needed some more seasoning and the mashed potatoes were delicious.
I had the baked beans and plantain fritters. The beans were kind of tangy and the meal reminded me of their take on poluri. I liked the fritters more than the beans.
Service
The server was drunk. She took a long time to come back and check on our table. We could see her laughing and dancing at the bar. I provided vegan cupcakes and she brought them out in the big plastic container with the sparklers. I was mortified. At the end of the night she asked my friend if that was all he was going to tip. We complained and we were offered a free drink. I would return and just make sure not to sit in her section. The mishaps were directly related to server.
Special Things
Had trouble finding the garage because I didn’t see the sign. The sign says to drive up to the door to activate garage opening. It appeared closed as I driving by and I wasted about 20 minutes looking for parking.
planta cocina
Ambience
It was really mellow. The color scheme was a light sand color. I could see the kitchen prep area from my table. In the future I prefer to sit more centered. I loved the plants along the back wall and the duality of fancy and casual.
Food
My favorite item was the QUESO FUNDIDO. The warm cheese and the various fruit and veggies to dip was refreshing. Issa favorite was the spicy tuna hand roll sushi. My least favorite were the croquetas. We were so stuffed I could not even eat my entree (taco bowl until the next day.)
SPICY TUNA HAND ROLL
ahi watermelon, avocado, toasted coconut
QUESO FUNDIDO
cashew mozzarella, salsa macha, crudite, tortilla chips
BANG BANG BROCCOLI
sweet chili, peanut sauce
AL PASTOR TACO BOWL
cilantro lime rice, grilled pineapple, potato chorizo, avocado, pico de gallo, chipotle crema
CROQUETAS
mushroom bacon, cashew mozzarella, cilantro, garlic aioli
Special Things
When I turned 38, I took Issa to a fine dining experience at Liora in Baltimore. I wanted him to know that he is special, and I made sure to spend the actual day with him. This has kind of become a tradition. I celebrate adult only the activities the weekend before and we have a personal dinner where he can share all the thoughts in his explorative mind on my big day.
This year I noticed how much he has grown and it really made me misty eyed. He surprised me by converting my room into a club, with music, lights and custom graphic projected on the wall. This year he created a playlist for the drive to Planta. He had a cool card that he made for dinner with our picture on the front. He ordered his own food, sushi! The first time I ordered him sushi he was 8, he stared at it and said, “I want french fries” now he is a connoisseur. Finishing my food tour with Issa was a full circle moment.
Top Left: 2021 Liora Top Right:2022 (Planta Bethesda) Bottom Left: 2023 (AKA Alexandria) Bottom Right: 2024 (Planta Cocina)
2021,2022,2023,2024
RELAX and Revive
In a way you can say I am predictable because every year since 21 I have made my way to the spa, from the Salamander, Euphoria to Landsdowne Resort. The Salamander was nice expensive and far, Euphoria was in the city with poor parking, good massages lacking in esthetics, Landsdowne was far, good accomodation for large groups yet the pool of choice was was broken.
I dreamed of an experience that was visually pleasing and aromatic, with food we did not have to travel to and an emphasis on mindfulness. This year I was willing to forgo the aquatics and create my own experience.
My first call was to One With Ebony. I built the day around her schedule and ideas. Her skillset is expansive and her soothing voice always helps me think clearly as I try to work through details and decisions.
She helped me select an essential oil fragrance for each level. She educated me on my personal essential oil needs what would be best for a large group. I elected to purchase orange for the entrance, spearmint for main level, lemongrass and lavender for massage rooms.
After some research, I found Kellie and reached out to learn more about her specialities and determined she was a great fit for the event.
THE BIG DAY:
I opened the experience with a continental breakfast at 10 A.M. Ebony held a sound bath for an hour. This was my first time doing a sound bath. The colors I saw the most were yellow and red. I hoped to see green. I plan to try again in the future in a darker setting.
One With Ebony giving guided meditation
Candalada being still for more than 10 min miracle
Afterwards, the ladies did mindful and stress coloring while called up individually for mini thai and or swedish massage sessions from 12PM -2PM.
At 2PM the sound bath area was converted to a brunch area. We ate, laughed and danced. Took photos and selfies and concluded the day at 4PM. Relax and Revive summarizes quickly, however, it took 10 months to prepare for since I purchased the house and revealed it at the celebration. This is high on the list of the most creative things I’ve ever done.
Knowing myself and my inability to relax while hosting. I scheduled a full hour message for myself the morning of my birthday, 4 days after the celebration. I had my massage at Kellie’s suite location verses the mobile in home experience. Her space was so cute!! I fell asleep a few times. I highly recommend her.
Since the loss of my mother my birthday is bigger than me. While it is a moment to be reflective and evaluate if I am living in my purpose. It is a great opportunity to celebrate the women and people that uplift me throughout the year. The Hair Therapy tribe, my family and friends we are a renewable energy source that pour into one another. I love this about us. Love you and thank you.