Kelly the Culinarian: Food find: Taco bar at the National Press Club

Friday, September 28, 2007

Food find: Taco bar at the National Press Club

The National Press Club was established 100 years ago as a place that newspaper people could go to discus the issues of the day. Long known as Mecca for journalists, this prestigious clubs has welcomed every president Theodore Roosevelt along with kings, queens, diplomats and dignitaries. Now headquartered at 529 14th Street NW in Washington, DC, it is sacred ground for journalists throughout the world and home to such themed establishments as the First Amendment Lounge, The Fourth Estate Restaurant and the Reliable Source Bar and Grill.

It is also home to the taco dinner on Fridays. I don't know how long this has been going on or how it started, but this is a tradition among DC reporters. Every Friday, the bar offers cheap Coronas starting at 4 p.m. and a taco bar promptly at 5:30 p.m. By 5:45 p.m., it's a happening place.

I got my membership card today and my first event at the Club just happened to be taco night. I was actually start struck by the establishment. So many influential, history-making figures had been to the Club through the years that I couldn't believe my first exposure to the place was for a taco dinner.

After the tacos came out at 5:30, I was beyond starving. As one of my professors told me "They may not be the best taco, but they are in fact the free-ist." That's pretty much how I would summarize my taco experience. For free tacos, they were quite delicious. You had a choice of hard-shelled tacos or tortilla chips topped with meat or beans along with Mexican or regular cheese, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, salsa, home-made guacamole, onions and jalapeno. Next Friday I will take a strategy tip from the veterans: pile up toppings on one plate and chips on the other for a taco salad approach.

While the tacos served at the Reliable Source were delicious, sitting at the upstairs lounge in the National Press Club was really the main attraction. I can't believe I get to go to the Club every day for breakfast, which is included with our membership! I feel like I'm living a dream out here.

3 comments:

backStreetGluttons said...

We have our Press Club here in KL too near the Lake Gardens but its more of a boozing place for oldies ! Quite near the Selangor Club with even more boozers ( lawyers from the courts planning nex round of offence ). dont think got any kind of history tho since distortions rule

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Well, who needs a kitchen when you can dine at the club?! Lucky you -- it sounds like great fun.

Cynthia said...

Yayyy, you have your membership card.

The photo in your profile make you look younger.