Frank Bruni, food critic (for now??) at the New York Times and former George W. Bush 2000 campaign reporter, is very upset with the Obamas’ choice of fancy restaurant for their date in New York City over the weekend, where they saw a lite romantic comedy about the horrific aftermath of slavery. Bruni writes, “Well, of course the Obamas went to Blue Hill,” for the five or six humans on Earth, ever, who might understand what he means. Apparently this is what he WOULD do, because he’s too cool & safe or whatever? No one knows. MORE »

La Loma is the perfect place to go if you want Mexican food in a festive atmosphere and you don’t really care what you’re eating, as long as it’s smothered in orange cheese. It’s also a fantastic place to go if you want to eavesdrop on some first hand DC gossip — after all, this is Capitol Hill. MORE »

If you need ideas of where to go for the DC Winter Restaurant Week, here’s a good one: Acadiana.

Acadiana’s food has a Creole and Cajun flair, with a seafood-heavy menu and a modern take on comfort food. For example, the biscuits came with salted butter drowned in a sweet Thai chili sauce — it was weird, but it worked, and fit right into the Cajun-fusion spirit of the restaurant. MORE »

If UK-based noodle chain Wagamama had an American baby, it would be DC Noodles. The restaurant, which opened in the beginning of February, promises Wagamama-like values: simple, fast and fresh Asian fusion cuisine, centered around the beloved noodle. MORE »

Bethesda/Chevy Chase’s restaurant week begins today, HOORAY! Bethesda pretty much sucks, but they are trying. MORE »

Oh hey looky here, Barack Obama (not pictured) went to Bobby Van’s last week! Anybody see anything weird about this picture? MORE »

Wow, this guy is a jerk. Here, in this exclusive CNN report on some old public-teevee food show in Chicago, we see that Barack Obama was being a fancy show-off even way back when he was a lowly state senator a few months ago. This restaurant-review episode never aired because Smooth Barry just shamed these poor slobs, who no longer had the will to talk, or even live. [CNN via Wonkette tipster "Bill Slider"]

With its elderly crazy people and crappy cafeterias, everything about the U.S. Senate says “rest home.” But America’s ancient legislators may soon get some better food, at least. Various old senators wandering around one night last week agreed by “voice vote” to privatize all the “food” service, ending what Sen. Diane Feinstein calls “noticeably subpar” cuisine that sends most staffers running to the privately operated House cafeterias at lunchtime. [Washington Post]

* Reports of a naked man in Senate office building turn out to be boring old run-in with Spandex-clad, law abiding citizen. [WP]
* Breaking: National Police Week has cops acting like douchebags [District Chatter]
* Robert Byrd is the source of massive greenhouse emissions on Capitol Hill [Express]
* We already knew we didn’t give a shit about touring the National Cathedral, we didn’t expect to have to take a position on its garage. [Examiner]
* New DC food blog pretty much likes everything. [DC Fare]

The Express’ Michael Grass took an “ironic” trip to DC institution Hooters, and what he found there shocked and horrified him. MORE »

Tom Cruise-enabling Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder announced he was buying the burger chain Johnny Rockets last month, but massive rats at the Georgetown location have apparently revolted against the purchase. MORE »