From South Lake Tahoe to the Old Ebbitt Grill

No, Grant and Teddy Rosevelt were not there... but Olivier and Aaron were.

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) Known as a watering hole, gathering place, and deal-making emporium since 1856, the Old Ebbitt Grill is a long time recognized and revered Washington, DC hotspot. A block from the White House, it is the District's first known Saloon.

In it's 4th or 5th known incarnation now, it has moved a bit, the Ebbit thas had a virtual Who's Who in American history eat and imbibe there. If only walls could talk! Spirits, there's lots of them around, real, like the swallowing kind, and imagined, the ghosts of national leaders past. McKinley was here, often. So was Ulysees, the President who's buried in Grant's tomb. He's even got his own bar among the few that are here. Seems the General could take a drink every now and then.

Andrew Johnson was here to, though we doubt much while he was being impeached. Grover Cleveland cleaned a plate or two, but the next to our most favorite who graced the Ebbitt was Teddy Roosevelt (golly, could we use him again now.)

Our most favorite to ever dine at the Ebbitt are pictured here, that would be my wife's son Olivier and my grandson, Aaron. These are two new Ebbitt luminaries in the making, at least they are to us. Save a few more spaces on Mt. Rushmore, we've got two more in training.

Aaron was of course charming. At 19 months, he's got a smile that's so captivating he'll never need salesman training. Born with it, he's got all of the right stuff. Olivier's got his own version of it too, a consummate gentleman, straight A student, and here just before we dropped him off at the National Leadership Summit, of which he was invited to attend due to his academic and leadership achievement in school. (see more about it below)

I could go on and on about Olivier, and Aaron, and my son Chuck, and his wife Vanessa, and my wife Maxene, but you get the point I'm sure. We're proud, grateful parents, have every right to be, and revere every minute of it.

The Ebbitt is one remarkable place (more on it here.) And the food is wonderful too. Maxene had Trout Parmesan, a parmesan crusted rainbow trout, flash fried and topped with hollandaise sauce. I had their Eggs Chesapeake, think eggs benedict with fresh lump crabcakes between the eggs and english muffin with a bit of old bay seasoning in the sauce. Both are well known Ebbitt favorites, and deservedly so. (Old Ebbitt menus here)

Oliver, being 14, had a cheeseburger. Aaron, being anything he wants, had whatever we had that looked good to him. Remember, he's in excellence training, and that very much includes a seasoned palate too (thank goodness he's light years past Zweibeck, and so far there's nary a Twinkie in sight.)

Both before and after lunch Maxene wandered about taking pictures. One of them here is of the famous Old Ebbitt Oyster Bar, and Grant's bar is here too, it's the one with the nude behind on the wall. All about are paintings, antique beer steins, a priceless collection of antiques and memorabilia, some of which are animal heads courtesy of Teddy Roosevelt (the old trust buster), and wooden bears said to have come from Alexander Hamilton from his private bar.

This was not the first time that I had been to the Ebbitt. At one point I lived in Washington some 30 years ago. It was the first time though for Aaron and Olivier, which was a lot of fun.

The next time you're in the Capitol, do visit here. It's really busy on weekdays, especially around lunch, there's is still much Washington moving and shaking going on. The weekends are less so, but busy nonetheless. There's much history here, and good fun and good food to be had for all.