Oct 22, 201211:58 AMTable Talk
First Tastes: Terasol and Berry Yogurt
Even before Terasol hired a new chef and expanded its kitchen and menu offerings, I was a big fan of the ultra-charming French bistro and artisans’ shop on Connecticut Avenue. But when I read in the Washington Post last week that owners Alan Moin and Sabrina Ousmaal had signed on Hector Guerra, who previously worked at the Caucus Room, the original Galileo, and under Yannick Cam at the long-ago Le Pavillon, I had to check it out.
Sticking with what has worked, the accessible menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches and entrees has not changed dramatically—although Guerra has added paninis, a few more main courses and specials. And now with a new deep fryer, he can serve up homemade chips and fries.
At my dinner Saturday night—from the asparagus soup to the beet salad, steak frites and bouillabaisse—the food had a downtown-sophistication, and was as lovely to look at as the pottery and other artisan items sold in the front of the restaurant. The place was always a gem; now it just has a little more sparkle.
5010 Connecticut Ave., NW, 202-237-5555, www.terasolartisans.com
So it turns out that sushi and frozen yogurt really are a good combination.
Last week, Berry Yogurt, the Bethesda shop that opened last year (see my blog, August 11, 2011) added a sushi bar to its roomy space, staffed by Yin Maung, a Burmese-born sushi chef who worked in Japan for 10 years, and most recently at Tono Sushi in Woodley Park.
The selection is pretty standard, but the sushi is spot-on and the prices are terrific. I especially liked the Bethesda Roll, a California roll topped with slices of salmon and avocado (eight pieces for $7.99).
As for the juxtaposition of the two offerings, I discovered that frozen yogurt makes for an incredibly refreshing finish for sushi (no lingering fish breath!), and as owner Judy Lu says, both are healthful foods.
In fact, Lu said that since she’s been open, she’s been eating “too many burgers” and other heavy foods for lunch in Woodmont Triangle, and wanted a lighter alternative. Now she’s got it, right in her own shop.
7920 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, 301-654-5316
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