Mitsitam Café

ellen_fremedon and I went to the National Museum of the American Indian to see the "Identity by Design" exhibit, which is absolutely gorgeous and very interesting from a textile fan's point of view.

We ate at the Mitsitam Café inside the museum. The Mitsitam has five diffrent cuisine stations -- Northern Woodlands, South America, Northwest Coast, Mesoamerica, and Plains. We were interested in food that was unlike anything we could get elsewhere, so Mesoamerica (tamales without cheese) and Plains (buffalo burgers and buffalo steak) were ruled out.

I went to the Northern Woodlands and got a full spread. The soup was Peanut and Turtle, Venison Terrine for appetizer, the entre was Roasted Maple Turkey with cranberry relish, with two side dishes -- Wild Rice & Watercress salad and Roasted Vegetable Bulbs -- with Maple Agua Fresca to drink and Pinenut-Rosemary tart for dessert.ellen_fremedon had Three Sisters Soup (white bean, corn, and squash), Green Papaya and Sea Bass Ceviche, Mexican Hot Chocolate to drink and Indian Pudding for dessert.

Obviously we shared our food and spent much of the meal making happy foodie-noises at each other.( Really happy foodie noises -- complete with review of our meal )

Ellen decided that Mitsitam Café is *the* place that she will take visitors, and I agree. The food is excellent if you're willing to try the odder items, and instead of paying for the ambiance of a fancy restaurant, all your money goes into really tasty food. The menu apparently changes daily, and after 3pm some of the offerings are closed down for the day, so get there early for lunch, not late.

If you're visiting from out of town, the NMAI is at 4th and Independence, at the eastern end of the Washington Mall next to Air & Space. The closest Metro is L'Enfant Plaza -- you walk a few blocks north and east to get to it. The Mitsitam Café is inside, on the groud floor towards the back.