Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
Roasted Beet Filets at Blackwall Hitch
Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
Cauliflower Margherita Pizza at Blackwall Hitch
As Blackwall Hitch closes in on nearly a decade this summer as a staple along Alexandria's waterfront, the stylish seafood-centric eatery has unveiled some delicious healthy options on its menu sure to appeal to the most discerning palates.
"The one place where we really are just going above and beyond is for our vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian friends," said Daniel Hlusak, culinary director of Titan Hospitality, a restaurant group that includes Blackwall Hitch.
Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
Grilled Avocado Tacos at Blackwall Hitch
During a recent visit to the restaurant, our party tried the portobello mushroom ragout and carrot hummus (minus the tahini, ground sesame seeds which can trigger an allergic reaction for some people).
"It's nice and bright and fresh," said Hlusak. We agree.
Next up is avocado tacos with salsa roja and housemade slaw. Another dish features thoughtfully plated roasted beet filets with a broccolini puree and an apple vinaigrette. A cauliflower margherita pizza has a pistachio pesto on it that can also be made without cheese. A roasted broccoli risotto was made with Hlusak's sister, a healthy eater, in mind.
"Risotto will never be a 'diet' food, because it has rice in it, but it has very little fat, very little cholesterol, and is relatively low in calories," he said. "It has a great bright pop to it." And it's made without butter and cheese.
Hlusak noted that "one of the things we thought about when we were putting together this menu is, a lot of times, vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diners, they get a collection of side dishes and ramekins that just look like the end of the world. It's inconsiderate."
The healthy options first became a staple at Gambrills, Md.-based Titan Hospitality's Smashing Grapes kitchen and wine bar and The Blackwell Barn & Lodge, all in Maryland.
"We were just talking one day and said 'We're dropping the ball here," Hlusak said. "We have all of these people coming in sitting in this lovely place and we're not offering this option we're offering at all of the others," he said.
"Because we always want to go above and beyond for our guests whenever we can, we said 'Hey, let's take up this challenge and let's make something nice, healthy and gluten-free.' And if I'm honest, we all have that one friend, they want to go out and have a good time but they don't eat gluten."
"We owe it to our guests who have health concerns, we owe that to them so we decided to go and do it," he said.
Hlusak took the helm at Blackwall Hitch about a year ago after previously working as the corporate sous chef for Mindful Restaurants Group, which had nine restaurants in Washington, D.C. at the time.
Living in Dupont Circle, Hlusak enjoys his reverse commute into Alexandria. "And the view's not too terrible," he said, looking out to a sparkling Potomac River.
"In the summer when the fire pits are going, the umbrellas are up, it's quite a sight, quite a sight."
