18 June 2008

hotdog!

when i went to d.c. a couple years ago to take care of my nieces and nephews, my brother took me out one day to ben's chili bowl for a wonderful lunch. a chili half-smoke--a half-pork, half-beef smoked sausage topped with mustard, onions, and chili; an order of chili-cheese fries to share; and a chocolate shake. it was divine. i loved it so much that anytime i hear someone talk about visiting d.c., i tell them all about ben's and what to order. so far, i haven't heard a single negative review.

so when i went to visit again a few weeks ago, i requested ben's. and S happily took me there for lunch the same day we made our visit to the library of congress. talk about a perfect day: a morning full of rare manuscripts and early editions and then a lunch that consisted of this:












and my portion of this:


and then of course there was sharing it with the best possible company. my visits to d.c. to see S started when i was 15 and my brother J and i took advantage of cheap airfare (thanks to gulf war I; and technically it was my parents who took advantage of it, since they bought the tickets) to spend a week there. i didn't visit again until '98, but i've been there almost every year since (including two years living down the highway in charlottesville) and i always look forward to my visits. S and i look like siblings. and more importantly, visiting him always reminds me of how close i am with my siblings, even if they do live far away.














if you ever find yourself heading to d.c., let me know. and i'll point you to the best chilidog you'll ever eat. and i might be able to give you a few other tips, too.

8 comments:

  1. I guess when we ever get there again, I'll have to request a trip there too! But I have to say, the fries look amazing, but the dog...? I'll have to take your word that it tastes better than it looks! We ate at the cafeteria, which is very impressive if you are a 8 or 9 year old boy. All the choices!

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  2. Next trip we will have to hit ben's up! Looks good for a treat, not everyday though...can we say heartburn!

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  3. trust me, casey. the chili half-smoke is *amazing*. and i totally understand the 9-year-old perspective on cafeterias. :)

    definitely not everyday, zeeny. that would be a problem.

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  4. They have vegetarian chili there too, which is awesome on some freshly fried potatoes.

    I lived in DC for 4 months and never visted Ben's until I went with mysister two years later. She has lived in DC for the past three years and knows all the hot spots.

    Ben's is so yummy!!!

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  5. Ooooh. Yum. That makes my mouth water... And, make me think this Sunday roast will be very bland...

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  6. Okay, I need a new post. Why? Because I look at your blog in the a.m. before breakfast and after a workout and the chili dog makes me sick! Now, if I look in the afternoon it's ok!! Love ya

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  7. there you go, jen. though the new post might make you homesick...

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  8. Ben's Chili Cheese Fries are what I usually get when I go there. I hear the turkey burger is great though. That area has some of the best ethiopian food in the region though. Good stuff.

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