co co sala 9th & f streets, dc

i've been known to sit in front of my tv eating chocolate chips out of the bag while sipping a glass of cabernet...for dinner.


laugh all you want but for those who haven't tried it, well i recommend it - with caution. you see, when you eat a chocolate chip, then have a sip of your wine (assuming it's one that goes well with the chocolate), well all bets are off, my friend. the wine tastes better with the chocolate and the chocolate tastes better with the wine and so on and so forth. each brings out the flavor of the other.


one can plow through the entire bag of chocolate chips and the bottle of wine. you have to be careful with such an enterprise. no one likes a big fat drunk.

now that you know i love chocolate and wine together, you can understand my excitement over a new spot in dc that specializes in chocolates and wine. co co sala is uber-chic. music from underworld (or some other such group) fills the rooms, the red, the black, dark colors, glass, everything is very modular. mini fireplaces seem to pop up magically throughout the restaurant, and they're at eye-level. random, but cool. perfect on this rainy, chilly evening in the early fall.



i have to say i missed the food. due to the lack of blinking parking on this street and all streets around, and a full-on lack of parking garages, and no valet (at 8 pm - though the valet showed up around 9 - what gives?!), the girls had ordered and gobbled up the appetizers they ordered by the time i finally arrived (in a stressed out frenzy but still looking fabulous due to the illegal, right-up-front park job i finally decided to make since it was raining and i was late). what i can tell you is this: they shared shrimp mac & cheese, swordfish sliders and aztec cheese course - a mini enchilada with some accoutrements. they raved about the yummy little plates - all about $7 each. sorry i missed them - right up my alley.



we sat at the back bar - oh my, though they don't look it, these must be the most comfortable bar stools ever. they are square, brown soft leather and so cushy. we had a spectacular view of the open kitchen back here so i could see the efforts of the chefs as they work. shiny burger buns brushed with butter before being whisked off to their tables by well-endowed, red wrap-dressed ladies. (yes, i marveled at how good these ladies looked in their wrap dresses - boobies everywhere.) the final details being perched upon each plate. (not the boobies, you gutter brains - back to the food - the final details of the food were perched upon the plates!)


a portion of the bar is glass, showcasing the chocolates and bon bons you can purchase and take with you in their shiny little boxes with gold letters. the crowd is sophisticated, smart young professionals in designer suits - not the boring capitol hill staffer suits. like the chocolates, the crowd is complex and refined. a gentleman kindly sent us a round of "shots". these shots were a varied and heavenly composition of chocolate mousses (meese? mice?). a tiny spoon for each of us to taste. holy hazelnuts these were enchanting for this chocoholic. color me in love.


make sure you visit the restrooms before over-imbibing or if you're directionally challenged like me. the windows and mirrors are deceiving and you might find yourself pushing on doors that aren't doors at all. i can't even explain what happened - you have to experience it for yourself. this was like being on the starship enterprise and i disappeared for a minute. well, whatever. looking like a buffoon momentarily is a small price you pay for being in such a trendy restaurant.

by the way, this place was a cool bargain, as well; i got out with a $25 tab. this is unheard of, but believe me, i'm not making this up.


i know i haven't offered too much information in the way of the food here but if you want to check out a trendy spot, different from most places i've found lately, try co co sala.