Ever since meeting Scott 3 years ago, I have spent every birthday evening at a different and highly recommended DC restaurant. My first birthday together was spent at Zaytinya, last year we celebrated at Rose’s Luxury, and this year was the highly anticipated and long awaited Proof in Penn Quarter, DC. It seems the boy really ups the ante every year, and I left another birthday dinner on Cloud 9.

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Having been more than impressed with their sister restaurants, (Estadio, Doi Moi, and 2 birds 1 stone) the bar was set high for Proof. The excitement mounted exponentially when they were recently nominated for the Rammys as  Best Wine Program  and Best Upscale Casual Restaurant. We couldn’t agree more.

As I was just beginning a descent into what is now a sinus infection, I was not overly ambitious with the cocktail menu and decided to celebrate with a glass of bubbly. Scott on the other hand was the adventurer and sampled the Broadway Boogie Down. I did have a sip, and had I been feeling 100% I would have definitely ordered my own.

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One of the things Scott and I are trying to improve is our knowledge of cheese and charcuterie. We defer to our server every time, and thankfully we were again steered well in our selection. You can never go wrong with Gouda in my mind, but it was the creamy Leonora (soft, Spanish goat’s milk) that I’d order again in a heartbeat.

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Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, and we decided to split all of our items (as we usually do). We sampled the Salad of Quinoa (wheat berries, vegetables, Garbanzo beans, chopped egg, parmesan, and sherry vinaigrette)  from the first course section of the menu, which was probably my favorite plate that night. It was light, fresh, and packed with flavor. We also tried (and loved!) the Sautéed Potato Gnocchi with Pumpkin & Wild Mushrooms ( complete with brussel sprouts, butternut squash, sage, butter and parmesan).  I didn’t realize how much I love gnocchi, but throw some mushrooms in there and I’m one happy lady.

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For our “second course” dish, it was a GO BIG or stay home scenario. We indulged in the Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Potato Leek Purée (w/ sautéed baby spinach, bacon lardons, crispy potatoes, and red wine sauce) which is still at the forefront of my dreams a week later. It was cooked to perfection, and the puree was incredible.  I rarely order steak, but compromised for my birthday and don’t regret it for a second. We ordered a side of the brussel sprouts and crispy fingerling potatoes with aioli (because Scott judges a restaurant by their fries…) and both were a win.

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We rarely skip out of dessert, but with Scott’s homemade birthday cake at home, I couldn’t fit another morsel after indulging in the savory of the menu selection.

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Overall, Proof had a warm atmosphere with cozy interior leather booths and soft lighting, yet their bar was modern and their menu was vibrant and diverse.  With all of the new restaurants, we rarely get back to our favorite spots. But you can bet we’ll make it back to Proof – and soon.

 Cheers!

-Al

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