Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2008 - (Page 78)

like a simo ahmadi equinox restaurant Born: Morocco Where i live: Adams Morgan LoCaL tenpenh signature cocktail: Bloody Sour Most popular drink: Lemon Thyme Martini What i love about dC: The city’s culture. A lot of people don’t realize there is so much more to DC than Capitol Hill. Favorite haunts: Central, PX, Lima. I enjoy asking bartenders to make me a certain drink to see how it differs from mine. Carée oslislo Born: Annapolis Where i live: Chevy Chase signature cocktail: Emperor’s Geisha, the signature cocktail made for my wedding Most popular drink: Asian Mohito What i love about dC: I love its energy, the culture and people, and of course, all the fabulous restaurants Favorite haunts: Ceiba, Indique Heights and other eateries in the Cleveland Park neighborhood Jim hewes the round robin Bar at the Willard InterContinental Hotel. Born: Rochester, NY Where i live: Ballston (Arlington, VA) signature cocktail: The Southern-style Mint Julep, introduced to Washington by Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky Most popular drink: The Vodka Martini, classic, contemporary and utterly civilized. What i love about dC: The people, the place and the historic legacy, where there’s such a fascinating confluence of wealth, power and position from all over the world. Favorite haunts: The National Portrait Gallery, the gallery at the House of Representatives, watching the sun or moon rising over the Mall and the Capitol from the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington, the back-bar at the Old Ebbitt Grill. “The restaurant industry in DC is thriving and allows me to be creative while having fun.” passions: I fell in love with the restaurant business when I started working at Equinox. I enjoy creating new drinks using fresh and seasonal ingredients and have learned a lot from Chef Todd Gray’s style and techniques. I try to mirror his approach with my cocktails and like to encourage people to pair their food with cocktails, not just wine. What brought you to dC originally and what keeps you here now: I moved here almost seven years ago from Morocco because my childhood friends lived here – it was my first time in the states. I’ve made a lot of friends since then and truly enjoy city life. The restaurant industry in DC is thriving and allows me to be creative while having fun. only in dC: Being two blocks from the White House, we have seen many political celebrities over the years. The Bush twins thoroughly enjoyed themselves at dinner one night. You never know who might end up across from you at the bar. passions: I love meeting new people and enjoying great dining experiences. What brought you to dC originally and what keeps you here now: I’m from the area and went to University of Maryland, College Park, but I always liked DC and wanted to live in the city. only in dC: I had first started working at TenPenh and Michael Jordan sauntered in and strolled up to the bar. We talked basketball and he was most polite. I served him an orange juice - then he went off to dine in the restaurant. passions: The Willard Hotel, politics, offbeat history, old books, military memorabilia and anything old with a story. What brought you to dC originally and what keeps you here now: I came here in a 1970 Mercury Marquis Colony Park station wagon with $50 in my pocket. A college frat brother advised me in 1976, “Go to Washington DC, it’s happening, it’s where the smart young people are, it’s the heartbeat of the nation.” I have never forgotten that advice. only in dC: Once when the Round Robin Bar was buzzing with Hollywood celebrities, singers, directors and producers, I noticed an elder statesman and presidential confidant sitting in the corner. Unassuming and unnoticed, he seemed to truly enjoy his Vodka Martini and new-found anonymity. 78 Restaurants & Nightlife

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2008

Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2008 Welcome Contents Take Me Out to the Ballgame Vistor 411 Springtime Blooms with the National Cherry Blossom Festival Calendar of Events Transportation Getting Here Regularly Scheduled Tours Neighborhoods See & Do Smithsonian New at the Smithsonian Attractions Sports & Recreation Performing Arts Restaurants & Nightlife Restaurants Official Dining Guide Like a Local Nightlife DC Shopping: District by District Shopping, Health & Beauty Shopping Health & Beauty Accommodations DC Accommodations B&Bs Exploring International DC Fun in the Sun: Dive in to a Hotel Pool Maryland Accommodations Virginia Accommodations

Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2008

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