BOOK YOUR OWN PRIVATE YURT

Fiola, and Fiola Mare, both owned and run by the famous Fabio Trabocchi, have set up yurts for reservation in their outdoor space. The yurts are well insulated and have heating installed, so no matter how cold you get, you will not feel the chill! I dined in one of the yurts at Fiola, and both service and food were exquisite. Waiters enter through a small zipped-up door, but you are very cozy and private for the most part. Food options include everything from rich, wintery squash soup, decadent risotto, and gorgeous foraged mushrooms. Extras like puff pastry breadsticks, palate cleansers, and coffee cake to go for breakfast the next day make the dining experience all the more special.

HAVE DRINKS IN AN IGLOO

Halfsmoke is a casual dining venue in Shaw, with classic American bar fare like tater tots, mac n cheese bites, and of course sausages (including a veggie option!). This winter, they took over a nearby lot and set up a winter wonderland, complete with igloos outfitted with heaters and speakers, which will connect to your phone so that you can play your favorite tunes. The vibe is perfect for outdoor dining in Washington, DC. Choose from a bevy of wintery cocktails, including hot toddies and spiked hot chocolate, and spend the evening listening to music and catching up with friends.

DINE IN A CHALET

Everything about H Street’s sweet dining venue Stable is perfect for winter. The cozy private chalets are one of the most popular outdoor dining options in Washington, DC. Complete with pillows and blankets, the food menu is full of winter delights like heady cheese fondue and an assortment of beverages to warm you up, including fragrant mulled wine. I had the most wonderful evening there stuffing myself with melted cheese and earthy wines.

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MALAYSIA: Makan

Despite opening in 2020 Makan is thriving and for good reason. Chef James Wozniuk is wildly talented, and his Malaysian fare adds an exciting dining option in D.C. Highlights on the menu include paneer satay, where cubes of paneer and grilled and served with a creamy, nutty peanut sauce; dry mushroom curry cooked with fragrant lemongrass and warm nutmeg; eggplant that comes swimming in a tomato and lime leaf infused gravy. Brunch is also available and the spicy sambal eggs, where whole boiled eggs are soaked in an onion and sambal sauce, is hearty and heady and everything you want for your first meal of the day.

ITALY: Modena

There is nothing quite as comforting as a bowl of pasta, and at Modena, the Italian fare is especially soothing. From delicate gnocchi to pillowy ravioli to crusty pizza pies there is no end to the number of comfort dishes on the menu. I am a big fan of the arancini, small crunchy spheres of fried risotto, and chef’s gnocchi which is arguably the best in town. Enjoy it all with copious amounts of Italian wine.

MEXICO: Muchas Gracias

Muchas Gracias DC is newcomer has become quite a hit in just a short amount of time. I am obsessed with the charred sweet potatoes, which come with a fermented garlic salsa negra, as well as the acorn squash and burrata salad, adorned with pepitas and drizzled in a bright orange and sherry dressing. Toasted mushroom and baby cactus tacos are rich and filling, and the garlic rice has exactly the right amount of garlic. Of course, an order of guacamole is essential to your meal. There isn’t anything you won’t like on this menu so order something today!

GEORGIA: Tabla

Our culinary game is so extraordinary in D.C. we even have a couple of Georgian restaurants in D.C. Georgian food is quite diverse, and hosts a variety of soups and stews, cheese, fresh salads and breads. The most famous Georgian dish is of course khachapuri, where round or oval shaped bread is smothered in cheese and butter. At Tabla, you can sample a host of different kinds of khachapuri, including the classic with cheese, the renowned cheese and egg version, and creative spinach and artichoke dip filled one. Order several and share; variety is the spice of life!

SWISS: Stable

When we think of swiss cuisine, we automatically think of fondue. At Stable, the cheese fondue is certainly the star of the show. A pot of melted cheese, served with bread and your choice of apples or potatoes for dipping, is a real exercise in decadence. Right now, Stable is offering fondue kits to go so you can enjoy the fondue at home. Other treats on the menu include chewy and luscious spaetzle, raclette, and rosti.

AFGHAN: Lapis

The flavors of the food at Lapis are so warm and aromatic you will be reminiscing about what you ate for days. There is nothing on this menu that you shouldn’t enjoy. Afghan dumplings drizzled with yogurt and stuffed with leeks are soft and delicate; carrots cooked with dried plums have just the right amount of sweetness; kidney beans simmered in a bright tomato sauce are spicy and earthy; roasted eggplant is tender and perfect. Sample it all with caramelized onion rice or hunks of fresh bread.

SALVADORAN: El Tamarindo

Pupusas are one of my end all, be all favorite dishes of all time. Thick corn cakes made from masa stuffed with melted cheese is basically a dream come true. At El Tamarindo you can have yours with cheese and spinach, pinto beans, jalapeno and cheese, and a host of other fillings. El Tamarindo even offers pupusas with vegan cheese! Order a dozen with a side of fried plantains and a cerveza for a complete Salvadoran experience.

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Switzerland will always hold a special place in my heart because my husband and I met and went on our first date in the lovely Swiss city of Geneva. I was so excited to learn that there is a Swiss restaurant in Washington, DC: Stable. And after visiting the venue, I am even more excited. The atmosphere is as warm and cozy as a Swiss café, and the food is the best of Swiss comfort fare. Calling all Swiss-ophiles, cheese lovers and aficionados of wine and good food: we have found the perfect spot for your next dinner date.

The Beginning

Your meal at Stable will open with all things cheese. I highly recommend including the tete de moine in your appetizer selection. Tete de moine is my absolute favorite cheese in the world. It’s a cow’s milk cheese that comes from the French-speaking area of Bern in Switzerland. The cheese is typically cut with a girolle, which shaves the cheese to produce delicate petals of the cheese. At Stable, buttery rosettes of tete de moine are served with housemade pear bread, where hunks of sweet pear are enrobed in doughy bread. The sweetness of the pear is the perfect compliment to the uber-creamy cheese.

What to Order

Other great appetizers at Stable include crunchy gruyere puff pastry sticks, luscious cheese fondue served with hunks of white bread for dipping or the ramp spaetzle, where bouncy ramp infused egg dumplings are smothered in a velvety cheese sauce and adorned with a crispy onion for texture and a hint of sweetness.

About the Entrees

Entrees are as hearty as the appetizers so be sure to come to this Swiss dining experience hungry! The housemade spaghettini is irresistible, and is served with tableside grated belper knolle cheese. The noodles are cooked a la dente and swirled into a peppery brown butter sauce before being crowned with shards of creamy cheese and a smattering of chopped parsley. It is pure decadence.

Others may enjoy the rosti, where potatoes are grated and cooked to a crisp in a skillet; at Stable the potatoes are layered with heirloom tomatoes and capped with shredded Gruyere cheese. Some of the dishes change seasonally; right now there is a white asparagus dish (the best kind of asparagus according to many Europeans!) that comes blanketed in a silky hollandaise sauce.

Happy Endings 

Every good meal ends with dessert, especially every good Swiss meal. At Stable, you can indulge in sinfully perfect whipped chocolate mousse, crème brulee or an apple tarte tatin with bourbon ice cream. Frankly, you should just get all three. No one in Switzerland diets and these sweet dishes are too good to pass up!

Stable: The Verdict

Everything at Stable should be enjoyed with copious amount of wine; then you will really feel like you are in Europe! This is an awesome place for a date night. Not just for me and my husband (where we will certainly take a trip down memory lane every time we dine here!) but for anyone who enjoys a tasty meal in an intimate spot. If you’re looking for a Swiss restaurant in Washington, DC, Stable should be on your list.

Stable, 1324 H St NE, Washington, DC, Website

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