Cooking with Chocolate Enrobed Bacon

Oh well hello again, December! I have been off doing lots of blog worthy things without even a second to blog. But rest assured, I have an entire week off of work coming up which will lead to several blog posts recapping these exciting happenings.

One of the main reasons I haven't had a spare second to blog is that I have been busy supporting two of my best friends who recently studied for and took the GMATs. (Read: I met them for dinner once while they were studying and made fun of the scoring system and challenging math related questions on the test. I think I was genuinely supportive when I logged onto BundlesofCookies.com and ordered up two Chanukkah cookie decorating kits to be shipped to their doorsteps the day they took the test as a little congratulations present. Some may argue that this was just because I wanted to show off my cookie decorating skills and don't have the time to bake and clean up from such a kitchen adventure but we won't dwell on that.)

So after the test ended (and those horrible Monday/Wednesday classes were done ruining our social lives), we decided to celebrate at Co Co Sala.


And when I say "decided," I mean that I called four restaurants in the DC metro area we had been wanting to try (including Birch and Barley) and none of them had reservations available for a party of five on a Tuesday night. Is Washington not aware that Tuesday is really not a big "go out for an expensive meal" evening? Or that our country is currently in the midst of a recession? Guess not.

Alas, our friends at Open Table told me that Co Co Sala could seat us at a normal time (as opposed to the 9PM table that Birch and Barley offered) so we booked it.

Let me first say that I am not a person who usually spends much time in swanky restaurant establishments. I feel my "blogging niche" has more to do with affordable destinations the District has to offer (as opposed to those financially out of reach to the majority of my friends who are employed by non-profit organizations). This was recently pointed out to me by my grandmother (hi Gram!) and I decided I am going to own it and perhaps make a point to blog about meals under $20 on a regular basis.

But, back to Co Co Sala. This meal was far from under $20. But we were celebrating the end of the GMATs (and the arrival of the cookie kits)...then I spotted the chocolate bacon mac and cheese on the menu and budget consciousnesses quickly faded from my mind.

A moment to discuss the chocolate bacon mac and cheese. If you go to Co Co Sala, you must order this pot of treif (or unkosher) goodness. It is composed of mac and cheese (with a crunchy topping of bread crumbs and pasta that is not overcooked) which is finished off with a piece of bacon enrobed in chocolate. Yes. This exists.

I would eat it everyday if it wouldn't kill me.

Okay back to the meal. The meal was delicious, second only to the most delicious cocktail that Beth K. ordered. The "Alisar" is a refreshing drink of Grey Goose Le Citron, diced cucumbers, and fresh lime juice... I have no idea why it was so fantastically yummy, but it was and I give Beth extra points for resisting the temptation of the chocolaty drinks (which were fine but so not as AMAZING as the Alisar) and picking out such a winner.


The desserts were an adventure, too! We opted for the "childhood favorites" chocolate "tour" which is a three course dessert experience. We decided to share it. I was not wowed by the desserts (perhaps because my expectations were so high or perhaps because I seem to prefer an overpriced cupcake as opposed to fancy plated desserts). They were beautifully plated, though, and I did appreciate the creative approaches to all three unique courses and the lovely presentation.


So there you have it: a meal worthy of any future MBA student and her enthusiastic and chocolate loving friends.

PS--After my dinner at Co Co Sala, I heard from some fancy pro-choice youth engagement professionals that CCS has a VERY affordable and equally as delicious LUNCH SPECIAL (something like $20.00 for a three course pre fixe meal).