When your stomach is grumbling, there’s no time to mess with math. Sure, you’ll have the cheese on that. You’d love some extra sauce. And before you know it, you’ve unwittingly created a fattening monstrosity.

That’s precisely the problem Daniel Zadoff and Matt Silverman hope to solve with their newly launched website, Nutritionix.com. It features nutrition calculators for the menus of several restaurants, so you can customize online rather than in line. As you add or subtract ingredients from your meal with a click of the mouse, you can watch a label — like the kind you’d find on the back of products at the grocery store — reflect the effects of your choices when it comes to calories, fat, sodium and protein.

Even though it’s gotten easier to track down nutrition info from chains in recent years, deciphering spreadsheets of numbers and applying them to your specific choices is still tricky on the fly. “Let’s say I get a sandwich without the mayo. I have no idea how many calories I’ve saved,” says Zadoff. Was it worth the deprivation? Was there another ingredient that he should have skipped instead?

Silverman figured out how to answer these kinds of questions back in 2004, when he created Chipotlefan.com. The basic calculator, which was not affiliated with the burrito chain in any way, proved instantly popular with regular customers like him. Thousands continue to visit every day, and they’ve been clamoring for access to similar information for additional restaurants.

So when Silverman and his buddy Zadoff graduated from George Washington University in 2008, they set out to make a more advanced version of the concept. Nutritionix.com currently has 12 restaurant calculators, ranging from national chains such as Subway and, of course, Chipotle, to local spots, includingSweetgreen. (Some pay for the privilege, but most of the restaurants on the site are ones that have released enough of their data to build the calculator.)

On it, you can fiddle with portions to figure out the bottom line when you order double meat or just eat half the fries. Then you can save the info, in case you’re keeping a food log or want to remember what to pick next time. If you’re so inclined, you can even share your choices with friends via Facebook and Twitter.

Nutritionix plans to offer a more robust version of the site in a few weeks that will add original content from a host of bloggers discussing nutrition, exercise and science.

The plan is to become a one-stop shop for anyone deciding where to dine and what to order based on their dietary needs. Zadoff said he hopes the site will eventually be able to offer information from just about every restaurant out there. “People want to know what they’re eating,” he says. “Why not be ahead of the curve?

LOCAL DINING — An Act of Merzi
For restaurants, having this info available in such a digestible form isn’t necessarily a good thing. But Qaiser Kazmi, who owns Merzi (415 7th St. NW;Merzi.com), has jumped at the chance to get on the site. He promotes his Indian-inspired cuisine as healthy, but people are often skeptical of his claims — probably because it’s so “flavorful and bloody delicious,” he suspects.

Saying “it’s filling but not overstuffing” isn’t as convincing as running the numbers: A rice bowl loaded with toppings can easily come in at less than 500 calories. Transparency is key to Kazmi, who also plans to post calories on his menu boards in the coming weeks. “This is something I want to sell,” he says. It’s time to find out whether being good for you is good for business.

Jennifer Doren

The American dream is creating big business for one Foodie in Penn Quarter. He moved out of England and ditched his job to cook up Fast Indian food that won’t hurt your waistline.

By Marissa Bialecki, 1:00 pm May 20th, 2011

‘Food’
courtesy of ‘MichaelTRuhl’

It’s easy to be intimidated by the prospect of cooking Indian food. Will it turn out right? Will my kitchen smell like curry for days? Am I better off ordering from a restaurant in town that actually knows what they’re doing? But take my word for it: making Indian food, really good Indian food, doesn’t have to be that hard. Save your pennies on having someone else make you chicken tikka masala; you can do this.

After the jump you’ll find Kaz Kazmi’s recipe for pakoras, a traditional Indian fried vegetable fritter. They’re flavorful and spicy and taste so good that before you know it the entire batch you made will be gone.

‘Too Many Hands’
courtesy of ‘MichaelTRuhl’

Kaz Kazmi’s Merzi Pakora Recipe

Ingredients:
1 Cup Gram Flour (or chickpea flour or garbanzo flour)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp Paprika
2 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp cilantro
1/4 cup warm water
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
Assorted vegetables like onions, cauliflower, boiled potatoes, etc.

Instructions:
1. Chop all vegetables into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
2. Mix all dry ingredients together and then add in the warm water and lemon juice until the mixture turns into a smooth paste.
3. Roll the vegetables in the paste so they have a light coating. Pour the oil into a skillet so that it covers the bottom of the pan and heat thoroughly. Pan-fry the vegetables for 4 to 5 minutes until the batter turns a golden color. Serve with the cold chutney below.

Merzi Pakora Chutney
Ingredients:
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp chopped green Thai chilies
1/4 tsp red chili powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp sugar
Salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Instructions:
1. Mix all ingredients into the 1/2 cup of plain yogurt. Stir and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

‘Fryer’
courtesy of ‘MichaelTRuhl’

By Marissa Bialecki, 11:00 am May 20th, 2011

There’s a phrase that comes to mind after talking to Qaiser (Kaz) Kazmi: “go big or go home.” The father of three and entrepreneur gave up the corporate life working in IT and set his sights on creating an Indian-inspired concept back in 2005. Today, he’s working on perfecting the first Merzi restaurant in Penn Quarter/Chinatown and looking to expand across the city, and eventually across the country.

Merzi, which means “choice” in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, came about after Kaz found himself becoming less and less connected with his career and more and more invested in his passion for food. But for someone who wasn’t classically trained as a chef, there were a few bumps in the road. “In 2002, we were having some people over, and I said to my wife: ‘If these kabobs I make are delicious, then I’m ready for a restaurant,’” said Kaz, laughing a bit. As the story goes and as we’ve all experienced before in the kitchen, Kaz’s attempt to look for a sign from God or the stove ended in what he referred to as “terrible kabobs.”

But a few years of research and taste testing later, Kaz created a concept to bring Indian food to a level that is comfortable and  not intimidating for Americans.

“I wanted to make it not scary and I wanted to give people options. It’s simple for people to order and to understand,” says Kaz. At Merzi, the naan or rice serves as a base for meat and/or vegetable toppings, plus sauces. To the purists shouting, “But this isn’t traditional Indian food!” Kaz says the concept wasn’t meant to be. It’s not your mother’s chicken makhani; rather, the food is “Indian-inspired” meets health-conscious.

Yes, there is the ubiquitous Chipotle-concept comparison. But naan and chicken tikka masala doth not maketh a burrito. At times Kaz admits that it can be frustrating to have his food and style compared to the big chain, but the comparison is one that makes it very easy for the average customer to understand how Merzi works.

Kaz started the Merzi concept by building a menu and researching his ideas for two years from 2005 to 2007. In 2008, a friend of his let him serve lunch out of a gas station in Baltimore. When the lines for his food stretched out to more than 100 people, he knew he was onto something.

Now that Merzi has been open a little more than six months, I asked Kaz what the future holds. “I want to grow this into something massive,” he says. “I want to get people to try different foods and educate them about the food. I didn’t quit my job to do just one store. I want this to be the next big thing.”

There’s something inspiring about Kaz’s story–to be able to turn an idea and a passion into a successful idea. As we talked about what led him to this point and where he wants Merzi to go, he told me that it was about breaking the rules and not allowing people to drag him down when he had the initial idea. “You always have to have craziness in you,” he says.

Check back at 1 pm for Kaz’s recipe for pakoras, the Indian vegetable fritter that you’ll be popping in your mouth like candy.

Situated among the many pricey restaurants of Penn Quarter hides Merzi, a “fast-food” Indian restaurant. Neither of us are typically fans of “fast-food” so we’re using that term very lightly. Unlike most restaurants of its kind, Merzi offers healthy, Indian cuisine for low prices, but high quality. If you are looking for a truly authentic Indian meal, Merzi probably is not the place for you, but it definitely satisfies the need for spice, flavor, and speed.

The restaurant is decorated with dark wooden panels and colorful menus on its walls. There are also two tables in the center where customers can look over menus to avoid making quick decisions in the order line. Even with menus in hand, we had no idea how to order (once again) and took Merzi’s workers’ recommendations.

There are a number of choices to make while creating a dish at Merzi. They ask that you choose a base, a meat (or vegetables), a sauce, and additional vegetable mix-ins. We chose a chaat base, a combination of onions, chickpeas, and potatoes, as well as a rice base, with roasted vegetables, chickpeas, potatoes, lamb, medium spicy warm sauce, and chutney.  We decorated the dish with a topping similar to pico de gallo, pickled onions, delicious shrimp, and finished it off with a mild chutney and yogurt sauce. Our rice dish consisted of nicely cooked lamb, roasted peppers and onions, chickpeas, and a medium warm sauce known as Tikka Masala.

While the two dishes shared many ingredients, their flavors were very different. The lamb dish was warm, spicy, and a lot heartier than the lighter, fruitier, chaat dish. The chaat dish’s fruitiness came from its sweet and tangy chutney made of “pulped tamarind and dates.” Lastly, their portions were the perfect size for us! They serve their dishes in lidded containers that you can take to-go if you don’t finish your meal. Genius! Merzi also offers smoothie-like beverages. We opted for their Mango Fantango, which tastes just as good as it sounds.

So for those who live or work in Penn Quarter or are just wandering around the area for the day, Merzi is a perfect go-to spot for reliable, affordable, and healthy food!

BILL:
Chaat Based Dish  - $8.78
Rice Based Dish – $8.78
Mango Fantango – $2.49

TOTAL: $ 20.05  (2 people)
$10 per person

TIPS FOR MERZI:

• It is often packed during lunchtime – look at the menu beforehand so you don’t feel overwhelmed upon arrival.
• Be creative – try different bases, meats, and toppings. This is a perfect place to experiment with flavors because of their unbeatable prices!
• If you are in the area, try this place out. The portions are large, but if you find yourself filling up, it’s easy to take home the leftovers.
• If you crave a heavier meal, go for the rice base with a protein like lamb or chicken. For those who seek a healthier meal, try the chaat base with the vegetables or shrimp.
• DEAL: Merzi offers Naan for only $1.99. *Naan is a leavened, oven-baked Indian flatbread, perfect for scooping littles bites of yumminess.*
• DEAL: This restaurant. We were shocked our dinner was under $10 a person considering how much (wonderful) food we got for such a low price!

I wish we were closer to the District!  These deals are amazing, and a terrific way to taste some of those restaurants you’ve had your eye on, but never had the expendable income to try!  All you have to do to grab your $1 lunch is:

:: Check out the list of awesome participating restaurants and select the one(s) you want to try.  (You can find the list under “Instant Deals” in Washington DC.)
:: Purchase your $1 voucher either on the web or via the Living Social iPhone or Android app.
:: Receive your voucher via text message and show it to the restaurant for your $1 lunch.

Some of the participating restaurants are (for “chain” restaurants, be sure to check with location is participating!):

1. 1791 Deli
2. 19th
3. Agora
4. Amsterdam Falafelshop
5. Aroma
6. Astor Mediterranean
7. Ba Bay
8. Beacon Bar & Grill
9. Bier Baron
10. Bistro Bistro
11. Black Salt
12. Brown Bag – 14th
13. Brown Bag – 18th
14. Brown Bag – eye st
15. Bullfeathers
16. Cacao
17. Cafe Citron
18. Cafe Luna
19. Cafe Soleil
20. California Tortilla
21. Camille’s Cafe
22. Campus Fresh
23. Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill
24. Chix
25. Cone E Island
26. Crepe Amour
27. Crepeaway
28. Dangerously Delicious Pies
29. Desperados Burgers & Bar
30. Dirty Martini
31. Dolcezza
32. Don Lobo’s
33. El Tamarindo
34. Equinox Restaurant
35. Fiesta
36. Fo Bo Gro
37. Freshii
38. Funxion
39. Fusion
40. Georgetown Wing Co.
41. Good Stuff Eatery
42. Hawk and Dove
43. Hello Cupcake
44. Heritage India
45. Hot Potato
46. Hudson Restaurant and Lounge
47. Il Canale
48. Indian Experience
49. Indique
50. Indique Heights
51. Inspire BBQ
52. James Hoban’s
53. Jumbo Pizza
54. Kababji Grill
55. La Ruche
56. Las Canteras
57. Levante
58. Lindy’s Red Lion
59. M St Bar & Grill
60. Madhatter
61. Malaysia Kopitiam
62. Marrakesh Palace
63. McFaddens
64. MERZI
65. Mighty Pint
66. Mr. Smith’s Georgetown
67. Naan and Beyond
68. Nage
69. New Dynasty
70. O St Mansion
71. Old Dominion Brewhouse
72. Osman & Joe’s Steak and Egg
73. Panas
74. Paper Moon
75. Peacock Cafe
76. Penn Quarter Sports Tavern
77. Pines of Florence
78. Pita Pit
79. Pound the Hill
80. Qualia Coffee
81. Recessions
82. Rhino Bar & Pumphouse
83. Ristorante Piccolo
84. Sequoia
85. Shawarma Spot
86. Sign of the Whale
87. Soho
88. Spice Express – 19th St
89. Spice Express – Dupont
90. Spice Express – Penn Ave
91. Starfish
92. Sticky Rice
93. Stoney’s
94. Sushi Go Round
95. Sweetgreen-Capitol Hill
96. Sweetgreen-P Street
97. Taj of India
98. Taylor’s Gourmet – H Street
99. Taylor’s Gourmet – K Street
100. Tesoro
101. Thai Chili
102. The Bottom Line
103. The Cajun Experience
104. The Front Page
105. The Front Page
106. The Guards
107. Tuscana West
108. via 19
109. We the Pizza
110. Wisey’s
111. Wonji Juice and Vegan Smoothie Bar
112. ZPizza

With all the group-buying websites out there now, we’re starting to think that we may never pay full price for a meal again.  Unless, of course, we forget the deal certificate.  Don’t laugh – it’s happened to us more than once and it stings every time.

Well you’re (we’re) in luck.  The deal sites are going out of their way to come up with innovative ways to enhance and streamline your experience.  You can redeem some sites’ discounts via iPhone or Android-capable smart phone.  Others remind you when you’ve got a coupon that’s about to expire.

At LivingSocial, they’ve found a way to make it easier for you to take advantage of their specials in the first place: Instant Deals.  These real-time coupons offer deep discounts to nearby establishments, and they can be purchased and redeemed immediately, unlike traditional deals that can only be accessed and used after the sales period has ended.

Sounds like a brilliant way to save some cash at lunchtime, doesn’t it?  Well that’s what the folks at LivingSocial think, too.  They’re test-marketing the concept here in DC (their hometown) prior to taking it to other top markets.  And to give you a taste of just how well it works, they’re launching a massive promotional campaign today.

From 11 AM to 2 PM, more than 100 vendors will offer lunch deals for just ONE DOLLAR EACH.  Log in to LivingSocial via your mobile phone, and they’ll hook you up with a list of participating restaurants within a half-mile of your current location.  You could eat more than 5 meals for the price of a certain sandwich chain’s daily foot-long special…assuming you can hit them all in that three-hour window.

Deals vary from restaurant to restaurant, with most coming down in the $10 to $20 range, with a few standouts giving away as much as $25.  And they only cost you $1 each.  Just remember to tip your server (where appropriate) on the full check, not the amount after discounts and coupons.

The full list of participating restaurants after the jump.
1.      1791 Deli
2.      19th
3.      Agora
4.      Amsterdam Falafelshop
5.      Aroma
6.      Astor Mediterranean
7.      Ba Bay
8.      Beacon Bar & Grill
9.      Bier Baron
10.     Bistro Bistro
11.     Black Salt
12.     Brown Bag – 14th
13.     Brown Bag – 18th
14.     Brown Bag – eye st
15.     Bullfeathers
16.     Cacao
17.     Cafe Citron
18.     Cafe Luna
19.     Cafe Soleil
20.     California Tortilla
21.     Camille’s Cafe
22.     Campus Fresh
23.     Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill
24.     Chix
25.     Cone E Island
26.     Crepe Amour
27.     Crepeaway
28.     Dangerously Delicious Pies
29.     Desperados Burgers & Bar
30.     Dirty Martini
31.     Dolcezza
32.     Don Lobo’s
33.     El Tamarindo
34.     Equinox Restaurant
35.     Fiesta
36.     Fo Bo Gro
37.     Freshii
38.     Funxion
39.     Fusion
40.     Georgetown Wing Co.
41.     Good Stuff Eatery
42.     Hawk and Dove
43.     Hello Cupcake
44.     Heritage India
45.     Hot Potato
46.     Hudson Restaurant and Lounge
47.     Il Canale
48.     Indian Experience
49.     Indique
50.     Indique Heights
51.     Inspire BBQ
52.     James Hoban’s
53.     Jumbo Pizza
54.     Kababji Grill
55.     La Ruche
56.     Las Canteras
57.     Levante
58.     Lindy’s Red Lion
59.     M St Bar & Grill
60.     Madhatter
61.     Malaysia Kopitiam
62.     Marrakesh Palace
63.     McFaddens
64.     MERZI
65.     Mighty Pint
66.     Mr. Smith’s Georgetown
67.     Naan and Beyond
68.     Nage
69.     New Dynasty
70.     O St Mansion
71.     Old Dominion Brewhouse
72.     Osman & Joe’s Steak and Egg
73.     Panas
74.     Paper Moon
75.     Peacock Cafe
76.     Penn Quarter Sports Tavern
77.     Pines of Florence
78.     Pita Pit
79.     Pound the Hill
80.     Qualia Coffee
81.     Recessions
82.     Rhino Bar & Pumphouse
83.     Ristorante Piccolo
84.     Sequoia
85.     Shawarma Spot
86.     Sign of the Whale
87.     Soho
88.     Spice Express – 19th St
89.     Spice Express – Dupont
90.     Spice Express – Penn Ave
91.     Starfish
92.     Sticky Rice
93.     Stoney’s
94.     Sushi Go Round
95.     Sweetgreen-Capitol Hill
96.     Sweetgreen-P Street
97.     Taj of India
98.     Taylor Gourmet – H Street
99.     Taylor Gourmet – K Street
100.    Tesoro
101.    Thai Chili
102.    The Bottom Line
103.    The Cajun Experience
104.    The Front Page
105.    The Front Page
106.    The Guards
107.    Tuscana West
108.    via 19
109.    We the Pizza
110.    Wisey’s
111.    Wonji Juice and Vegan Smoothie Bar
112.    ZPizza

With all these $1 deals floating around tomorrow, it’s a pretty safe bet that many participants will be swamped between 11 AM and 2 PM.  You may want to have a couple of choices ready so you can make the final call based on what you see when you get there.

If you don’t have an iPhone or an Android-enabled phone, fear not.  These deals are also accessible via LivingSocial’s mobile site, so all you need is a data connection to take advantage of the great savings.  Just point your browser toward Dollar Lunch Day and you’ll be ready to go when the deals go live at 11 AM.

See you in line!

To promote their Instant Deals, neighborhood company Living Social is giving $1 lunches tomorrow at places around D.C.  The places run from fast food to some of the city’s nicest restaurants.  In order to get the deal, you have to buy it on Living Socialand use it within a certain amount of time.  They have Instant Deals every day, though they usually aren’t one dollar.

You can get the deal at Living Social’s Instant Deal website, on your iPhone, or on your Android device.

Washingtonian Magazine has a list of places that are participating in the deal.  Here are the ones in Penn Quarter:

• California Tortilla
• Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe
• Merzi
• Taylor’s Gourmet (is close)
• Z Pizza

You may want to check out the full list and travel somewhere you wouldn’t normally go though.  Happy Friday!

Jessica Zachar · Publicist/Manager · Linda Roth Associates, Inc.

Reagan National Airport · Hangar 11, Room 204 · Washington, DC 20001

Ph: 703.417.2701 · Fax: 703.417.2707

www.lindarothpr.com · @lindarothpr · Facebook

Qaiser (Kaz) Kazmi

CEO, Merzi

Qaiser (Kaz) Kazmi is CEO of Merzi, a fast-casual Indian-inspired concept opening its first location in Washington, DC.

Born in England, Kaz witnessed the nation’s taste buds evolve from “Fish & Chips” to “Chicken Tikka Masala” and the proliferation of Indian restaurants in between the pubs on seemingly every corner!  Kaz worked for multiple food operators while studying for his degree in London, but left the food industry upon moving to the United States in 1997.

Kaz studied business technology and spent close to 10 years with CIENA Corporation in Maryland, a global company leading in optical network technology.

It was here that he learned the discipline required for business operations that he translated into his true passion: food.

Kaz has enjoyed cooking from an early age and it was the desire to share food, culture, and their ability to connect people that finally led to his dramatic career change.  The inspiration for Merzi marries Indian flavors and the English influence of his youth, resulting in an Indian food revolution for Washington, DC.

Kaz worked with renowned culinary chefs, exchanging ideas and creating an eclectic mix of flavorful entrées.  He refined the flavors at a test location in Maryland where customers offered their feedback and allowed his team to perfect the product.  The results were, as the Brits say, BRILLIANT!  Kaz found the new home for the very exciting project – Penn Quarter in Washington, DC.