Matchbox - Rockville Edition!!

I am so completely psyched that Matchbox (of Chinatown and Capitol Hill fame) has opened a new location in Rockville. It's right in Congressional Plaza as a stand-alone building which is conveniently located not far from my work or home! Lookie there.

Being Friday, we headed there for a long lunch to check out the new digs. I am so impressed with the looks of it both outside and in. Sure, it matches the rest of the shopping center from the outside, but that particular shopping center is quite nice-looking anyway. When we walked up, the first thing we noticed was a large outdoor area that is currently under construction. Large heat lamps hang above the whole area which includes a large stone firepit encircled by a standing bar ledge, and a separate outdoor bar. Can't wait for that to open!!

The inside has an open floor-plan except for a separate cozy bar area off to the right. When you walk in the first thing you see is the pizza oven. There is seating in front of the oven in case you want to watch the pros in action. There are metal stairs that lead to the second floor, which is a row of booths and tables that overlook the rest of the restaurant. The ceilings are exposed and the front and back walls have old recycled wood slats nailed to them, creating a log cabin-industrial-chic look. Yes, I just made that up, let's go with it. One unfortunate thing we noted on the second floor, where we sat, is the heat. In fact, we overheard a fellow diner say "man, it's a sauna up here!" as he walked past. It's probably a combination of the open floor plan and the midday sun beating in through the windows with inadequate shading. It wasn't the end of the world and probably wouldn't be too hot at night.

Food! I was keeping my expectations low for the food and service departments, since they just opened this week. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the service was fast and friendly, if not friendlier than the Chinatown Matchbox. The food was also just as good as any I'd had in Chinatown. I didn't order the pizzas, but my fellow diners seemed to enjoy every last bite of the ones they ordered (sopressata and wild mushroom, veggie, and Q special). They looked nice and crispy-charred and fresh from the oven. I ordered the Chicken Muffeletta with a side salad instead of chips. The sandwich contained chicken, serrano ham, provolone, spinach, and olive tapenade on focaccia bread. I was nervous that the tapenede would be overpowering to the rest of the components, but it wasn't at all. The whole thing was a bit greasy, but that's my only complaint. The side salad was fresh and delicious. No one left hungry, that's for sure.

I can't wait to go back for happy hour or dinner to see what the nightlife is like there. There were a decent amount of people there for lunch so it looks like their reputation has preceded them. Viva la Matchbox!

Matchbox Rockville
1699 Congressional Pike (@ Congressional Plaza)
Rockville, MD 20852
301.816.0369

Roasted Cauliflower with Dates and Almonds

Here's a simple and delicious side I made the other night to use up some cauliflower. The dates compliment the sweetness of the roasted cauliflower, while the nuts balance the dish out with some salt and crunch.

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Spiced Couscous with Chicken; Harissa

The start of the Coexist sticker??

I found this recipe in my Food Network mag; it's a quick and healthy weeknight dinner. Cinnamon and ginger give this a Middle Eastern flavor, while the almonds add a nice crunch. Homemade harissa gives it a delicious kick, and fat free Greek yogurt adds a nice creaminess. This is the first time I've made harissa (a North African hot chile sauce) and I now plan on having it on hand to add a pepper-flavored spice to anything I make!

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Udon Noodle Soup with Mushrooms and Kale

I created this soup the other night to use up some shiitake mushrooms in the fridge. I happened to have udon noodles and decided to have a go at some Japanese-style soup. It came out SO GOOD. When I first tasted the broth, I was sure I had recreated Ramen, with which I had an unhealthy obsession during my teenage years. I would make Ramen every single day after school. Seriously. After eating more, I decided it didn't taste as much like Ramen as I thought but it was still amazing. And really easy! And fast!

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Flatbread Pizza

Some nights I'm so lazy that I won't even lift a finger to roll out a frozen pizza dough. On those nights, flatbreads or pitas make an excellent crust for a quick and easy dinner made out of whatever you have in the fridge.

This one might sound crazy, but it was quite tasty. I first spread some pesto (frozen from this summer's crop) on the bottom of the flatbread. This was then topped with leftover chopped chicken, pecan pieces, feta cheese, and... roasted brussels sprouts! The sprouts had been roasted the day before in a simple mix of olive oil, chipotle chile powder, salt, and pepper. Roasting the leftovers on the flatbread perked them right back up. The flatbread pizza was topped with some freshly ground black pepper and red pepper flakes, then baked in our toaster oven at 450° for about 10 minutes or until toppings were hot and bread was toasty. After removing from the toaster oven I topped it with some dried cranberries before serving.

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As you might be able to tell, I'm a sucker for thick, hearty chowders. Unfortunately, I don't let myself order them very often due to the serious caloric investment. I found a recipe from Eating Well, which is a great website, but be careful because I am pretty doubtful of the healthfulness of some of their recipes.

This recipe for broccoli cheese chowder has NO heavy cream in it and only 1 cup of cheese! The thickness is created instead by potatoes, a bit of flour, and sour cream. The result is a thick, flavorful, veggie-filled, creamy chowder that is not far off from the chowder you get at a restaurant! In fact, I usually let people eat a bit before I tell them that it's healthy and they can't tell (unless they're lying to me)!

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New York Cheesecake with Mixed Berry Topping

My mother-in-law is known for her perfect cheesecake, so when she gave me a springform pan with a little recipe tucked inside, I couldn't wait to try it. Cheesecake isn't something you make every day, so I waited until Don's birthday when my family was visiting to test it out for the first time. The more people the better; nothing good can come of having an entire cheesecake sit in front of just two people.

MIL warned me about the pitfalls of this recipe; namely, if you take the cake out of the oven too fast it will fall and crack in the center. It's a risk I was willing to take to create this light and fluffy dream! The trick for me was to leave it in the oven to cool completely overnight. It only fell slightly in the middle but with no cracks so it still looked gorgeous. I created my own berry topping recipe by combining my favorite parts of a few others. Read on for the cheesecake and topping recipes!

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