New Whole Foods Coupons

Whole Foods just posted new coupons on their website. There is a coupon for $1.00 off Bear Naked Products (their banana nut granola is delicious.) There is a Muir Glen coupon in there and they sell great organic tomato sauces, paste, and canned tomatoes. There is a $2 off coupon for Spectrum Olive Oil (though I think the price on Whole Foods 365 Olive Oils is a better deal.)

Please download coupons here.

Super Double Coupons at Harris Teeter

Tomorrow, September 21, is the last day of Harris Teeter's Super Double Coupon sale. Harris Teeter will double any manufacturer's coupon that is up to $1.98 face value (20 coupons max.) It works like this:

Bottle of shampoo $4
Coupon -$1.50
Coupon Doubled -$1.50
____________________
total cost: $1

This is a great time to stock up shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletries. Those coupons tend to be $1 or more and supermarkets don't usually double coupons unless they are $0.99 or less.

You can get coupons from the Sunday newspaper or you can use the coupon websites that can be found on this post. Harris Teeter has these sales every few months so this opportunity will come about again. My favorite times to shop at Harris Teeter is when they do these Super Double Coupon days and their Triple Coupon days.

Happy savings!

DC Food Blogger Happy Hour at Carmines - October 6

RSVP Here

Olga from Mango & Tomato and I checked this place out a few weeks ago and it is just like the Carmine's in New York City. It is big, it serves big platters, and its PACKED with people. We got there at 6:30 on a Friday night and was told that it would be a 45 minute wait for a table for two. This is at a restaurant that boasts to be a 700 seat restaurant.

It was just our luck that we ended up at the bar. Customers can order from the main menu or they can order from the bar menu that includes hoagies for $10. The happy hour food special sof the day was an appetizer of fried zucchini or meatball sliders for $4 each. Olga and I ordered both to try. We also ordered an eggplant Parmesan hoagie with a salad to share. The fried zucchini were cut like shoestrings, battered, fried, and topped with a lot of Parmesan cheese. They were salty fried goodness but in the end, packed a lot of oil that you felt later. The meatball sliders were big, fat meatballs (probably the size of a baseball) that was good. If Olga and I just ate the appetizers, we would have left the restaurant full and it would have been an $8 meal but I had to try the eggplant Parmesan. Though the eggplant Parmesan sandwich was dry and disappointing, the salad that accompanied it did not. It was fresh, tasty, filled with a variety of vegetables like green olives, peppercinis, big tomatoes slices, and dressed with a tangy, red wine vinaigrette. It was piled high on the plate and Olga and I devoured it. We were so stuffed from the meal that the bread basket was left behind barely touched.

Would I go back? Yes but I would keep in mind that if I was not sitting at the bar, I would probably leave with a very large doggie bag. Between Olga and I, and our non-alcoholic beverages, we barely spent $15 per person on a very satisfying meal with tax and tip. The service started off rough but was better towards the end. You have to be assertive in a place like this where the noise level is high and there is a lot going on around you. Cute fact about Carmine's is that they employ local policeman and fireman as security for the restaurant. The security guy came to chat with us and he is a local DC policeman who does this when he is off duty. He is from New York City and used to eat at Carmine's so for him, it is nice to work somewhere that reminds him of home.

Hummus Showdown at Bravo!Bravo!

I love my friends. They come up with the craziest ideas and this one is crazy and sounds like a lot of fun. Here is the email I got from my friend Ragini:

Hi all!

Start the weekend off right with an epic hummus showdown at Bravo Bravo (on Connecticut between K and L) tomorrow at 6:30 pm. Steve recently challenged Bob (the best bartender at Bravo! Bravo!, who also happens to make delicious hummus) to a hummus challenge. Upon hearing of the challenge I had to immediately join. Additional entries are welcome, but beware the stiff competition. Come join us as we decide who's hummus is truly the best! If you're not into the whole hummus showdown thing, come any way for some cheap drinks, fun company, and probably free peanuts.

Ragini

PS: Let us know if you're interested in being an official judge!
PPS: If you need some inspiration for your hummus making or tasting check out this hilarious video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/GoRemy#p/u/13/nIybz6axr1Q

Please note that this is an informal showdown so there isn't going to be someone with a microphone or anything making announcements. But if you are into cooking and you think you make a pretty mean hummus, it might be fun to stop by and see if your hummus stands up to the rest of the contestants. If you plan to participate in the hummus contest, please bring some pita bread with you for the judges (and others who will be doing some taste testing.) No prizes have been announced at this time but wouldn't the real prize be the glory of winning?

Here is the address:

Bravo! Bravo!
1001 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington DC

Unfortunately, I already have some plans so I won't be able to make it but I can't wait to hear about it!