'Top Chef': A trip to Spike's Good Stuff Eatery in D.C.
This past weekend, I checked out Spike Mendelsohn's new Good Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill (if you're familiar with the area, it's in the narrow building where Pulp on the Hill used to be). The Top Chef contestant offers a variety of burgers, salads, sides (fries, onion rings) and some tasty-looking milkshakes (I didn't try one; the burger I ordered was big enough).
The line was out the door (plenty of Bravo-watching 20-somethings and their boyfriends), and a guy outside who I assume was Spike's dad (who, with his wife, are owners of the eatery, which they hope to turn into a chain; Spike is executive chef) talked about the menu like a proud father would. His comments went something like this: "If you're looking for something good, the Colletti's Smokehouse is good. So is the Spike's 5 Napkin. ... Well, everything is good! And beer! We have the Moon ... Blue Moon, and Red Stripe!"
Once inside, I spent about 10 minutes waiting to order and staring at Spike bagging burgers for his line cooks. In fact, many of the customers were silent -- like me, they were staring at Spike. He was wearing a signature (ugly) red-and-black hat, and at one point he addressed the crowd: "How's everyone doing? You're all gonna get fed!" He was pretty charming in person.
My boyfriend and I tried the Good Stuff Melt (a burger topped with cheddar, muenster, caramelized onions, mushrooms) and Spike's Village Fries (seasoned with rosemary, thyme and pepper). The burger (like Five Guys, two patties) was pretty tasty. The best I've ever had? No. But it was pretty good. I actually wanted to substitute a turkey patty for the beef one, but the woman at the register didn't know how to do that. Maybe next time, when it's not so hectic.


Josie Smith-Malave, who was a contestant on season 2 of Bravo's Top Chef, was attacked over Labor Day weekend in Long Island,
All right, funniest quote I've heard in two days comes from Brian Malarkey a mere five minutes into tonight's episode of Top Chef. 