[VIDEO] Bozzuto’s Signature 25th Anniversary Cupcake Recipe

My colleagues at Bozzuto give you the recipe and tips to make the Bozzuto 25th Anniversary Cupcake. You can participate in the 25 for 25 sweepstakes on the Bozzuto Facebook page where every month we have a different theme . Read more on the Bozzuto Blog. Find the full recipe on Sally’s blog at http://bit.ly/15SZOZ8. 

Restaurants Open in the National Cancer Institute Building in Rockville

This news is sure to delight foodies living in the Rockville- Gaithersburg area. The newly opened campus of the National Cancer Institute ( Developed by JGB Companies)has several restaurants that have opened, giving the area even more variety. These new eating places are on Medical Center Dr. close to the intersection of Key West Ave. ( Route 28) and Medical Center - Omega Dr. and add to the choice of places to eat near the Shady Grove hospital.

1. Subway
2. Freshii
3. West Wing Cafe & Bakery
4. Oishii Blue Fin

Other places with a good choice of eating places are FallsGrove, Travilah Square, Traville Village and the Rio.

Montgomery County residents also should  forward to the opening of the Downtown Crown where these new restaurants and retail stores are expected to open -

Asia Nine, Chop't, Coastal Flats, Crown Beer And Wine, Harris Teeter, La Fitness, La Madeleine, La Tagliatella, Lime Fresh, Paladar Latin Kitchen And Rum Bar, Roti Mediterranean Grill, Yogiberry. Bozzuto (The company I work for) is also in Downtown Crown building an apartment community called Cadence at Crown.

5 Things to Expect at Today's Happy Hour at Indique Heights

Source: Uploaded by user via Shashi on Pinterest

If you see the photo above nicely done by K Vinod (Chef and co-owner of Indique Heights)  thats your 5 things.

But being serious here are 5 things you can get out of this Happy Hour :

1. Meeting a lot of people that you may know online and can finally met in person
2. Great food and drinks at Happy Hour rates at Indique Heights
3. Get to meet Allyson >apin Author of the book "Social Change Anytime Everywhere"
4. Make new friends
5. Wish me luck as I start my new job as Vice President of Digital Marketing at The Bozzuto Group on Monday

If you have not RSVPed yet, here is the link https://www.facebook.com/events/report/?eid=548787625152124

or check your Facbook under >>events>>invites

Not the Oscars - The Guacamole Awards at Whole Foods in Kenlands, Gaithersburg

It was an unplanned visit today (February 24th 2013) to  Kentlands Whole Foods in Gaithersburg. My kids and I love Whole Foods for the exotic foods that we may find and the samples that we could snag while my wife does the serious shopping there. Today was a treat, There was a Guacomole contest here and you got to taste the different recipes and vote for the best Guacomole.

A live Mariachi band and a fun pair of fake boxing ladies dancing to the band were all part of the festivities today 

I remembered the words of Monica Bhide one of the panelists at a recent Social Media Week Panel hosted by the Pappas Group that I moderated. She said businesses should not be selling products but an experience and Whole Foods just did that today. We went in to buy bread and came back with at least a dozen more things and still were thrilled by the experience. Did you have any fun grocery store experiences?

Old Ebbit Grill : A Good Meal and a lot of History and Scandal : Right across From the White House

When I agreed to see a few good friends for lunch a few days ago, their only request was that they could go quickly across the road to the White House for a meeting. So we agreed on the Old Ebbit Grill.
It was a very cold day and I arrived early and the restaurant lunch hour rush was just starting. I got a very friendly greeting at the door and they seated me immediately despite the rest of the group not having arrived yet(I loved that). Service was great and cheerful and water kept coming while I waited and was never intrusive.

As I waited for my friends, I kept thinking how close this restaurant was to the White House and almost seemed like I would see President Obama walk across and have lunch or maybe Ben Bernanke. while I waited.

Wikipedia provided a good page on the history of the Old Ebbit Grill and Wow! from the Iran Contra Scandal to the movie "In the Line of Fire" this restaurant has seen a lot of celebrities. At the same time even though I was a first timer I did not feel any lesser welcome which is a mark of a good restaurant- making a first timer feel as good as a regular customer. Old Ebbit Grill's Menu selections I thought was nice. I had a tough time choosing between the Seafood Jambalaya and the "Veggie" Lentil Burger pictured below. Of course if Michelle Obama were to visit the restaurant, Robert McGowan Chef of the Old Ebbit Grill has the Winter vegetable Platter on the Special Menu.

While this restaurant feeds a lot of people everyday, they excel at service and food and I loved the lunch here for the company for the food and the service. Definitely visit the Old Ebbit Grill 675 15th St NW  Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347-4800.

As if on cue as I left the restaurant the traffic stopped and the Presidential Motorcade left the White House.

See you at : Building a Positive Hospitality Brand Online panel : #smwhospitality #smwwdc Feb 19th

Happy , excited and {insert ;) adjectives here)... to be moderating this panel on Feb 19th for Social Media Week. It's the panelists that will make this interesting Katy Adams, Laura Wilson, Lisa Byrne, Luigi Diotaiuti, Monica Bhide Of course I may have some information on all these panelists to share that even Google does not know about. Coming ?Join our panel of experts for a lively conversation on Tuesday, February 19 from 6-8 pm.

Panelists:
Lisa Byrne, Social Strategist for Pappas Group, Founder of DCeventjunkie & DC Wine Week
Tara Lewis, Regional Director of Marketing for Yelp
Laura Wilson, Social Media Manager for Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Katy Adams, Marketing Manager for Clyde’s Restaurant Group
Monica Bhide, Food, Culture and Lifestyle Writer
Luigi Diotaiuti, Chef/Owner of Al Tiramisu

Moderated by: Shashi Bellamkonda, Director of Social Media for Web.com

Venue:
The Hamilton
600 14th Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20005

Follow the conversation online at #smwHospitality.

Hors d’oeuvres and your first drink compliments of Pappas Group!

Hosted by: Lisa Byrne, Pappas Group & Shashi Bellamkonda, Web.com
Sponsored by: Pappas Group & The Hamilton

Tropical Isle – Burbon Street in New Orleans

 

My good friend Liana Evans now lives in New Orleans and told me about the multi-location Tropical Isle on Burbon St. in New Orleans. We visited two locations, one at 421 Burbon St. and the second  at the corner of Burbon and Orleans St. Just like in their name Tropical Isle restaurants have the tropical themed décor made  up of colorful lighting and a fun atmosphere.

 

The signature drink here is a Hand grenade and after you pull the “pin” out you can practice your throw and toss it into this basket.

 

Great music and the artists very involved with the audience  and finding what they enjoy and playing it. In New Orleans you feel  a nice sense of welcome and Tropical Isle does it a step further. Many of the customers looked like local with a mix of tourists and most certainly a place that many had sought out rather than just chancing upon the place by surprise. As for me I was fighting a Shark Attack.

 

if you are in New Orleans add Tropical Isle to your list of places to be and tell them the ‘Swami” sent you lol .