Gluten Freebird

The big winner this week would definitely be the Grilled Wild Ramps with Hazelnut Romesco at Penn Quarter’s Proof. I love ramps in any preparation, but this took my love from a fleeting tryst to full-blown stalking. As dinner progressed, I inched the plate closer to my side of the table, and it wasn’t long before I was shoveling ramps onto my plate to claim as my own. The grilling gave the ramps a nice caramelized onion effect that was rounded by the garlicky hazelnuts. Delicious.

Tuesday at Equinox with dad, dinner was impressive across the board, but I fixate on Caramelized Cauliflower. My dad does not love vegetables. In fact, three of my favorite vegetables - Brussels sprouts, beets, and cauliflower - make him squirm. But if anything could make him bite, it is the super-duo of almonds and capers; my dad snacks on almonds around the clock and angers chefs around the globe by requesting a dish of capers with everything he eats (filet mignon, cheese from a remote monastery, a delicate sea urchin soufflé). So the idea of almonds and capers together could make even my dad try the Caramelized Cauliflower and then try some more and finally finish off the serving.

We stopped for lunch at B’z BBQ Company at the Paeonian Grocery and Gourmet outside Leesburg. The small bbq pit, which used to be Mighty Midget Kitchen, was only serving Pulled Pork, which I ordered with a slathering of the award-winning Spicy Peach Habanero and a scoop of cole slaw. For gluten-lovers, Marc had his on a roll. Sweet, spicy and so tender, this was good bbq.

Mozambique at Max’s Best Ice Cream cut the heat after a walk up to the Cathedral Flower Mart. Nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon make it a frozen pumpkin pie.

Tackle Box just opened, but I tried it twice for lunch this week. Most of what I tried (grilled asparagus, sweet potato fries) was overcooked, but the Wood-Grilled Rainbow Trout was delicious. I opted for the basil-walnut pesto, which had crunch, garlic and the perfect complement to the sweetness of the trout and tastes like summer.