I prefer restaurants with local flavor

My wife Rachelle made me blog this. I’m not going to turn this blog into a foodie one, though I do subscribe via Bloglines to DCFoodies.com (loved his write up on Joe’s Noodle House), Tyler Cowen’s Ethnic Dining Guide, and Bethesda Rookie (who often talks about food).

Rachelle delighted in my excitement this week over a couple of dining finds with local flavor, and actually on occasions than not, we eat at franchised places all over like most people. While in Annapolis to attend her art show reception, we meandered over downtown to Chick & Ruths Delly for some great sandwiches. No, it doesn’t really compare to the real-deal piled-high delis of New York City, but it was very fun dining and local flavor galore. Then we’d usually swing by the Annapolis Ice Cream Company to visit with the penguins. Both on Main Street, downtown Annapolis.

And today, we (finally) made the pilgrimage to the place to eat in Washington DC: Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street. I had the Ben’s Original Chili Half-Smoke, while the rest of my family entertained my pick begrudgingly. Hey, they said I could pick where we’d have lunch today, and I picked it! Not to grease up my arteries too badly, I skipped on the tempting cheese fries and thick milk shakes. Yes, I gawked at the photos on the wall of Chris Rock, Bill Cosby, Bono, Denzel, Danny Glover, with accompanying elbows to Rachelle for each one.