Society Fair (Alexandria, VA)

Society Fair is the latest restaurant in Cathal Armstrong's stranglehold on Alexandria's culinary scene. And it does not disappoint. A blend of high-end grocery/butchery/bakery, wine-inspired bar, and demo kitchen, Society Fair has a little bit of something for everyone.

My first trip was a Saturday evening at the Demo Kitchen, hosted by Trey Massey. Our evening was fabulous, beginning with house-cured gravlax salad with blood orange, followed by duck two ways (breast and confit), and rounding out the meal with a golden syrup glazed citrus cake. Between the gourmet food and insightful cooking tips from Massey, my first trip to Society Fair did not disappoint.

My second trip was a Saturday evening in the wine bar area of the restaurant, where we focused on cocktails, charcuterie, and (for me) an amazing sandwich. Todd Thrasher has created a menu of "wine-inspired" cocktails which -- for the most part -- incorporate a unique wine as a part of the cocktail mix. I began the evening with an "I want to Eat an Onion Tart" cocktail, a delicious and savory drink to pair with our charcuterie. While not for everyone, the lardo was outrageously good. It was the conclusion of my meal -- the Walter sandwich (smoked turkey, gruyere, bacon, mayo, sweet and sour onions) and the Aviator cocktail (off-menu twist on a gin martini) -- that stole the evening.

My third trip was to the market, where I picked up duck fat, lard, flat iron steak, duck confit, and green sausage. Everything has been first-rate -- especially the green sausage (think kale, collards, and pork), which they apparently have year-round (and will add other varieties of greens depending upon the season!). Needless to say, I will be back.

Service: A +
Food (Demo Kitchen): A+
Food (Wine Bar): A/A-
Market: A
Atmosphere: A

Bunk Sandwiches (Portland, OR)

Someone I work with told me about this place, Bunk Sandwiches, being featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. I looked into it, and decided to check it out. I believe that any place that seasons and makes its own pork belly deserves a shot.

We ordered the pork belly bahn mi. While I fancy myself a connoisseur of bahn mi, I've never had it with pork belly. And I don't know why, because it was AWESOME!!! The only downside is that I split the sandwich (instead of ordering my own).

We also had the cauliflower and chickpea curry soup. Much like the sandwich, the soup was delicious, but it was the sandwich that would bring me back. Again, and again, and again.