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Alexandria, Virginia - Part 3
Snowbound and Hungry in Alexandria Virginia.
Written by: Janet Pope
Stuck in a blizzard, in the middle of a Alexandria, Janet sees the culinary and historic delights of the town.
Yes, Virginia there is more snow! We awoke to yet another few inches of snowfall. If we felt snow bound in Virginia yesterday., today things only looked worse.
At the buffet breakfast we saw the same weary faces from yesterday. The airports were shut down now for two days, and these captive guests were starting to look a little shell-shocked. Yesterday people came down somewhat dressed with vague hopes and expectations; today the guests stumbled in wearing comfy jogging suits, slippers, and a dazed resolution of being snow bound. On the positive side, people were trying to talk and make friends, because probably conversation with their traveling companion had now been used up to it's limit. By lunchtime Donald once again got that frightening stir-crazy look in his eye and announced once more that we would venture out. After a half hour of cleaning off the car we aimed for a major highway.
We safely arrived at the Union Street Public House for lunch, and Don once again looked like a happy camper. It was thrilling to step inside and see the hubbub of activity as people laughed and ate together. Fraser Hay, the restaurant manager, greeted us. Half of the building is over 200 years old; the extension built in the mid 80s is designed with architectural antiques. The restaurant has a bar that’s usually bustling with over 100 people on any given Friday or Saturday night. The main restaurant area can seat 250 and today despite the weather was quite busy.
Don and I began our meal with soup. I sampled the chicken vegetable, and though it was served with crackers it was so chunky there was no need for any. Don had the cream of crab and both were delicious. We tried a daily special which was the prime rib sandwich served with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. For some reason we ate again like it was our last meal, and God knows Donald would not let that happen.
After lunch, we explored the only store open, a bookstore. As we drove back to our hotel I could see what a beautiful town Alexandria is. The shops along the streets are quaint and varied. The architecture of the homes are mainly Georgian or Federal. The town has an old world ambiance and charm.
Yesterday all the churches were closed, today we checked out the closest three malls, and they too were closed. It felt like the end of civilization, as we know it.
In any case, we headed back to the hotel to watch TV. Things might start to seem a little repetitive here, but at 6 p.m. we ventured out for food. Are you noticing a trend? TV, read, eat, TV, read, eat. By now we know the snow worn path from our hotel to King Street, the main street of action in Alexandria. We ate at a restaurant called Geranio. The head chef and owner for the last five years is Troy Claton. The atmosphere was similar to the romantic hideaways that we discovered in Rome, Italy. The floors were tiled and the walls were bricked. The fireplace let off a heat and a glow to the room. Every table had a fresh rose, and a candle. And in the background were strains of love songs playing. When we entered we were the only ones in the restaurant and Donald likened the mood to "Lady and the Tramp." I saw the similarity, but I was not about to share my spaghetti.
I began dinner with the creamy lobster bisque served in a generous sized bowl. Don sampled the roasted Porto Bello and arugula salad, which he claimed was outstanding. For our main course he tried the grilled swordfish steak and another empty dish proved his point. I had the egg fettuccine with smoked chicken and spinach. Though delicious it was on the heavy side and I could barely eat half. That did not stop me from ordering dessert. The warm chocolate cookie with hazel nut ice cream seemed to slide down effortlessly. Don tried the crème brule. Our dinner was outstanding, the atmosphere and service were wonderful, and the menu was very continental. This restaurant becomes so busy that the menu actually has two prices for each selection: a before and after 7 p.m. price. By 7:15 the place was filled. When in old Alexandria, plan a meal here. We sat by the window and thoroughly enjoyed watching the walkers go by.
We rushed back to our hotel to see more TV. The good news is after being snowbound in Virginia for two days, there finally seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. On the way back to the hotel we rode on some streets that were plowed down to the surface. This is the first time we have actually seen road. Things are looking up.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
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