Foodgeek Episode One

For those of you that don't have your eyes glued to channel 25 in Arlington (Arlington Video Network), here is a link to the Youtube version of the first episode of my show. It is the food segment of AVN's magazine show, "Here/now".

In this episode, I visited Arax , an Armenian Coffeehouse in Westover, and Fabian's, the Mexican & South American stand in the Ballston Common Mall's food court.

Join me as I eat my way across Arlington:

Watch here.

Taste of Arlington

Tomorrow (Sunday, May 17) is the day to taste your way through Arlington's restaurants at The Taste of Arlington in front of Ballston Common Mall on Wilson Blvd!

From their webpage:

"Join us as we celebrate 21 years of this festive happening and help us support Community Residences Inc. and their mission of providing quality services that enable individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live as independently as possible in the comfort and safety of their own homes and communities. "

Some of this year's restaurants include Hank's Oyster Bar, Sangam, Tallulah, Willow, Ted's Montana Grill, Pinzimini, Wasabi, Best Buns, Lebanese Taverna, Jaleo, and Hard Times Cafe.

You buy a book of 12 taste tickets, and each is good for one "taste" (small portion). There are several participating restaurants that I have not tried before, so I am excited. I'll try and leave you some "tastes." :)

Free Iced Coffee TODAY!!!

That's right kids - Today, May 15 between 10 AM and 10 PM you can get a free iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts.

We all like free things. We all need coffee. What more need you know?

Hank's Lookaround Cafe' Has Closed?

According to Dave Hughes of the comprehensive local media blog DCRTV.org, not only has Don Geronimo of the "Don and Mike Show" taken an early retirement, but his co-host, Mike O'Meara, has closed his self-named pub in Northern Virginia as well.

I had never been to O'Meara's, often referred to as "Hank's Lookaround Cafe'" of "The Larry Sanders Show" fame on the show, though I heard the nightlife was more memorable than the food. In fact I've been to Texas more in the past decade (four) more than I've been to nearby Manassas (two).

Don's departure from the show was expected - he'd announced months ago that he'd grown tired of the industry and regulations, though the retirement was thought to begin in another few weeks. O'Meara will continue on with the show, bringing back former producer Beth Ann McBride and keeping the rest of the crew.

Still, I can't wait to find out why O'Meara's restaurant has closed. I'll post more as I find out more.

Baskin-Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night!

From Baskin Robbins' Facebook:

Mark your calendars, 31 Cent Scoop Night is back at Baskin-Robbins for the 2nd year!

For full event details or to set-up a reminder for the event, check out www.baskinrobbins.com/31cent.

Mikuni Sacramento

I found myself recently in Sacramento (that’s the capital of California, kids) for a job interview, and walking around town I noticed more than a few sushi places. Being an absolute sucker for raw-fish-on-rice, I decided to try one. I very nearly entered a posh, high-end looking place, but just then a group of kids walked by and were discussing how it wasn’t good. Were they experts? I don’t know, but it was the only sign I had, so I decided to look farther.

Walking past another place, I noticed a quartet of Japanese-looking twenty-somethings (who were also speaking Japanese) heading inside to eat. Again, I had no idea if they actually knew anything about sushi, but it seemed as good a recommendation as any. So I went in. Funnily, I ended up going again the next day, when the person interviewing me suggested we go there for dinner.

On my first (solo) visit to Mikuni, I sat at one of the four sushi bars on the first floor of the loft-style restaurant, with all kinds of shiny objects and flat-screen TVs adorning the walls to entertain me. The atmosphere was … a bit too much. The overly-trendy aspect is mostly par for the sushi course, but a few notable oddities struck me. First of all, both times I was there, the staff would yell some kind of chant, which may have been in English or may not have been, in response to some periodic clue. A bit annoying, but quickly ignored and maybe if I was clued in I’d think it was fun. Secondly, the chefs all wore jackets covered in corporate sponsor ads, looking like a bunch of NASCAR vehicles, only in black and white. I asked my server, who was lovely, about it and she said it was just their “thing,” and that the sponsors did things like pay for the flatscreen TVs. I have to say: if I wanted to see commercials, I’d stay home and watch TV there.

That the sushi chef who greeted me appeared to be about 17 was odd, but he was nice there didn’t seem to be mass death occurring in his other customers. I forwent the extensive list of fruity $10 cocktails and $5 flavored teas in favor of the complimentary green, which while brewed a bit too hot*, was fine. Miso soup - OK, though a bit heavy on tofu and with no nori - is also complimentary, but you have to ask for it.

For my dinner I ordered the chef’s selection chirashi. The presentation was gorgeous - much more architectural than I usually expect, with the slices of fish layered and grouped like a little castle on a hill of rice, not just strewn about. And, it was delicious. The salmon and tuna (maguro) were excellent - full of flavor and just the right texture. The tako was a sliced a bit too thick, and the snapper was a bit rubbery, but those were my only real complaints. Oh, and the tamago was very very good too. My dinner was under $20 (plus tip) for a good sized plate of good sushi, which I regard as not too expensive.

The next night, we sat at a table and again refrained from the cocktail menu (it was an interview, after all!). We decided to share a chef’s selection sushi mix, a chef’s selection sashimi mix, and, on our server’s recommendation, a Train Wreck roll. The latter is one of the trendy, over-flavored concoctions I usually avoid, but it turned out to be pretty tasty. It was essentially shrimp tempura wrapped in rice and nori topped with unagi and a ‘spicy’ sauce. You could not taste the shrimp, but the unagi did just beat out the sauce to be nice. On the sushi and sashimi side, the shrimp (ameabi) was sweet and delicious, the eel (unagi) very good, and the yellowtail awesome.

There is other Japanese food (tempura, salads, etc.) on the menu, but we didn’t try those. We also opted not to have dessert, the limited options for which were mochi ice cream or some sort of chocolate sundae business that sounded an odd way to follow sushi (or tempura).

All in all, I had two good meals at Mikuni, at not a bad price. The service was pretty good, and unless you’re easily bothered by loud noise (and décor), it’s a comfortable place to be. So, if you happen to be in Sacramento, and craving sushi, it’s a good bet.

Mikuni
1530 J St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-2111

* Generally, green teas are best brewed around 80 degrees C (180 F), too hot and they don’t taste as fresh or clear. Sadly, almost every place you get green tea in the US just uses boiling water (100 C/212 F).

Florida Ave. Grill Brings Home Gold

It's probably not the recognition the gourmet gurus following Roberto Donna's brief Iron chef career are looking for, but fans of the Florida Avenue Grill will be thrilled to know that it won a spot in the Details magazine's Best Breakfasts in America list. The reviewers noted the classic, Southern-inspired fare and de rigeur employee sass as winners in the cross-country round-up. I love the place, so this recognition just validates and makes me happy!

Florida Avenue Grill
1100 Florida Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20009
202-265-1586

Free Chili Day!

The Hard Times Cafe is offering a free bowl of chili all day today. We thought folks might like to know.

Hard Times Cafe
3028 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA
(703) 528-2233

The Lion in the Hotel

A couple of days before Valentine's Day, I took a date to Coeur De Lion in the Henley Park Hotel. It is a pretty little restaurant off to the side of the main bar. Yes, yes, I usually write about ethnic restaurants and dives – but not this time.

It was a cold, rainy night, and we were running early, so we hung out with some guests in the room to the right side of the front desk. That fireplace felt good. Then, off to the restaurant.

The service was very good, with Jamal (our waiter) spending some time with us without overdoing it. He did help us select the food and wine.

I ordered the jumbo shrimp as an appetizer. The chili flavored prawns were sitting on a pile of hummus. The lemon oil gave the dish a nice flavor. The strip steak with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, Vidalia onions, and baby spinach was cooked correctly (medium) and had a flavorful red wine sauce. The steak was actually huge; I only got through half of it.

My date was happy with the grouper with mushroom risotto and a salad. Ok…we did pick the wine to go with her dish. I drank Riesling with steak…I'll never get my food snob license now. ;)

We shared the seasonal fruit (which happened to be mixed berries with mint leaves) and the cheesecake with mango sauce. The berries were sweet and refreshing, and the cheesecake was fluffy, like a mousse.

Appetizers are $8-13, entrees are mostly in the $30's, and desserts are $8. We drank a bottle of Dr. Loosen 2006 Germany Riesling ($9 a glass and $28 a bottle).

With wine, it was about $120 for two. Ok…I'll admit it; I won the dinner at an event a few months ago. So, I cashed in my gift certificate and we had a great dinner in a fancy restaurant. You can't go wrong with that. But, yes I recommend the restaurant even if you are paying for your meal.

Coeur De Lion, in the Henley Park Hotel.

926 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington D.C. 20001
202-638-5200

Tonight is Dr. Demo's closing party!

Tonight will be the final night (party!) for the Arlington institution, Dr. Dremos. There will not be a cover. They had a nice crowd last night (and a $10 cover), but expect tonight to be insane.

Dremos: Thanks for many years of good beer, good times, live music and comedy - and Elvises, many many Elvises. :)

This is from Dr. Dremo's Website:

Dremo's closing end of January 2008

"Thanks to all who have helped make Dr Dremo's a success. From the patrons to the staff. Hope to see you soon." -the Doctor

Della Notte’s Playground . . . Good food, Great Local, Intimate Setting . . .

Della Notte Ristorante nestled in the center of downtown Baltimore is a charming restaurant offering good service, a romantic atmosphere, and delicious Italian cuisine.

Its dim lighting and understated elegance set the perfect tone for a quiet intimate evening in a public place. The lighting is soft and the linen is real, so your date will be impressed with your choice and clearly receive the message that they are someone you want to get to know up close and personal. ;)

Unlike most Italian restaurants offering American favorites (lasagna, spaghetti, garlic bread with cheese) Della Notte boasts more authentic cuisine for your pallet. Dishes such as Merluzzo, pan-seared Atlantic Cod over braised lentils and topped with tomato-caper sauce or Pollo Arrosto, a half roasted chicken, with fresh herbs, lemon zest and white bean ragu. This creates the perfect opportunity to “share” one another’s dishes in a variety of ways encouraging play and intimacy all under the guise of ‘tasting’ new foods. Guys, try feeding her, better yet kiss her after she’s taken a bite, you be able to taste the lingering flavors on her lips. Gals, try feeding him -- use your fingers (as food and manners permit). It’s very sensual for both of you!

Just in case your date’s not the adventurous type or you haven’t been able to escalate things to a playful intimate level (and this would be the perfect opportunity if you have not), the menu includes a few favorites we can all recognize like Fettuccini and Ravioli with a variety of toppings including the usual marina or white sauce with a bit of a twist. They also had some classics as well, NY Strip Steak and MD Crab Cakes capturing the essence of the Chesapeake.

I enjoyed the herb rubbed Salmone Filet, served with braised leeks and fennel and a very rich sauce with butter as a base. It was divine! The salmon was perfectly prepared, light flakey, and melted on your pallet. The sauce was quite rich and enhanced the flavor of the seared herbs on the salmon. I also enjoyed Broccoli di Rabe with sliced garlic and olive oil. This not your typical broccoli florets; it was the leaves of the broccoli and their stalks that were prepared and seasoned. Quite delicious! And no meal would be complete without a sample of the restaurant’s chocolate. I choose Al Cioccolato a deeply chocolate cake, enrobed in chocolate, and filled with - you guessed it - more chocolate! And it a warm molten chocolate . . .mmmm deliciously sexy . . . with all the licking . . . of the silverware . . ., and I digress . . . . Where was I . . .yes Al Ciccolato . . . which also has a bit of warm chocolate drizzled on top and is ornamented with fresh raspberries for color, texture and tartness, enhancing the flavor of the chocolate perfectly! I guess you can tell I am a dessert lover.

Della Notte’s also has an impressive wine list with dessert wines, totties, brandies, and cognacs. If you know wine you’ll certainly be able to make an impression.

You don’t have to have a reservation, but on the weekends, I recommend getting one. Or you can enjoy the wait at their piano bar; an intimate area with music and warm people to chat with while you wait. It is a smoking bar, which can ruin your ‘smell-good’ status after prolonged visitation, but I recommend checking it out anyway!

Minutes from Baltimore’s Inner harbor, on the edge of Little Italy, Fells Point and around the corner from Canton, Della Notte is also a prime locale for after diner dancing or clubbing. The harbor is in walking distance as is ESPN Sports Zone, Baja Beach Club, and The Latin Palace to name a few. Want to check out a concert, Peer Six and Rams Head Live are also close by and on the way.

Della Notte’s also offers a jazz brunch on Sundays and Wine Nite on Mondays as well. I haven’t personally checked it out, but anything with live music and wine as a backdrop is usually is worth it!

Della Notte is a great spot for a romantic intimate evening. It has great ambiance for soft words, sweet gestures, and sexy dining, and it’s in the perfect locale to continue the date with a variety of venues available for your dating pleasure. This dating coach gives its three stars for ambiance/dining experience, workability (you can play here), location (you can move the date to other venues easily).

The only reason it didn’t earn the fourth star is pricing. Della Notte’s is moderate to expensive depending on your wine selection. Diner could easily run you $50+ per person, not including alcohol, that’s appropriately priced for the experience you get. Since money is relative, I don’t give this star unless you can do if for free or under $25 bucks, which makes it available to everyone.

-By Guest Blogger...Coach Ivy of One Life Coaching.

Traveling Chef: Food Studio Restaurant in Atlanta

NOTE: Due to my busy catering schedule during the holiday season, I haven't had a whole lot of time for blogging. Now that it's January, things are slowing down, so I'm going to post some articles that I've wanted to post for a while. The first in this series regards a restaurant I discovered in Atlanta during a recent trip. The restaurant's menu has since changed, but many of the items are similar with some seasonal differences. If you're in the Atlanta area at any point soon, give this place a try! -YB

The restaurant business isn't exactly known for its flexibility in scheduling, so it's not often that I find myself with an entire weekend off. Recently, however, I managed to find myself in Atlanta, attending the wedding of a couple good friends. Whenever I go somewhere, I like to try and see what kind of culinary scene the place has. Since I found myself with lots of time on my hands, I had a few places in and around the Atlanta metro area that I wanted to check out. Previously, I had spent some time in Atlanta's airport, and used a few restrooms, but other than that, I had no clue. I only know that MAW has often complained vociferously about, well, everything. I was certainly not expecting anything all that Earth-shattering. Boy was I wrong.

The first day there, the wife and I went to the Centre of Puppetry Arts, which has a whole wing (soon to be a whole building) dedicated to the Muppets. There's something pretty cool about seeing the actual Swedish Chef chilling with Dr. Teeth and Ernie. During the afternoon, we tooled around Decatur, and realised just how expensive it is to live in the D.C. area, spent some time in Buckhead, and killed a good amount of time during the day, but what I was really looking forward to was the place where we had dinner reservations. Initially, we made reservations at The Watershed Restaurant, as I've always heard good things about it, and it's owned by Emily Saliers, of Indigo Girls fame (yes, I know, what can I say? I'm a straight guy that likes the Indigo Girls). I was ok with going there, but I ultimately wound up canceling my reservations when I found The Food Studio in the King Plow Arts Centre. In the world of culinary jargon, a lot of people are ceasing to call the room in the back of the restaurant a kitchen, and instead call it a food studio, with the implication that they are creating some sort of art back there. Sometimes that's true, and sometimes, well it isn't. Luckily, this was a clear case of the former (which is good, since they named the restaurant in such a manner).

The first thing I noticed about this place was how bloody difficult it was to find. Even with GPS, I drove right past it about three times (why is it that everywhere in Atlanta is only four or five miles away from you, yet it takes at least a good half hour to get there?). Once we finally found the place and got seated, I was really amazed at the décor of the place. This place used to be a plow factory, and unlike other factories or warehouses that are converted to restaurants, they left the original fixtures intact as décor. As a result, the place has an authentic feel, and doesn't look like they designed it to look like a factory. Despite the spacious dining room, everything seemed very intimate, yet very dark. Dark enough that my waiter carried a pocket flashlight to help us read the menus. That was perhaps the only negative I found with this restaurant.

The menu was incredible. Being a chef, I tend to like to sample things, if possible, and the Food Studio's menu had small plate sizes for items. During the course of the dinner we had there, executive chef Mark Alba came by to our table and chatted me up about their restaurant (apparently, he and I share the same way of eating when we go out somewhere, and he
says he always likes meeting other chefs), and gave me a tour of their kitchen operation, which was quite impressive. Our chosen menu included:

Heirloom tomato salad with grilled peaches, prosciutto, red onion, and basil
Seared white shrimp with sunchoke purée, chanterelle mushrooms, and lemon vinegar
Seared lump crab meat with watermelon-cucumber salad and curry aioli
Veal sweetbreads with figs, arugula, and gremolata crème fraîche
Duck confit agnolotti with porcini mushrooms and truffle oil
Fettucini with braised lamb, English peas, and mint

The tomato salad easily ranks as one of the best salads I've ever had. The sweetness of the peaches acted as a nice counterweight to the acidity of the tomatoes, with the prosciutto bringing everything together (I swear, porcine love makes the world go round). The shrimp and the crab cake were done exactly the way I like them: with very little filler, and paired with items that showcase the seafood well. The sweetbreads were very succulent, and I usually don't order offal meats, as they're very rarely cooked well. The pastas were perfectly done. The agnolotti was rich and tasty, and the fettucini was light and tender. Our waiter made a very good
wine recommendation to go with all these dishes, and the lemon-basil bombe (their signature dessert) was the perfect way to wrap up an exceptional dinner.

The Food Studio at King Plow
887 West Marietta Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
404.815.6677
The Rotten Rabbi's Rating:    

Another Year In Eating

I enjoyed Ray's Year In Review post so much that I figured I'd do one of my own. Here are some of my notable meals from 2007:

Bamian probably wins my award for best new discovery this year. The one thing holding me back – I stopped there last week in an attempt to introduce some out of town friends to Afghan cuisine. After 15 minutes without a host (and overhearing a cell phone conversation from a patron calling FROM THE LOBBY to say he had reservations a half hour ago and hadn't been acknowledged), we were forced to walk out of the beloved joint. Still, I'm probably willing to give them another chance – the food is amazing for the price.

Old Hickory Grille is the kind of place that makes you feel like a regular even if you're not – the Cajun-influenced cooking is homey and the booth-style seating is comfortable. I wish their hours were a bit more extended and regular, though. The place I actually BECAME a (semi) regular is Piratz Tavern, despite living in VA and its being in Silver Spring (it helps to have a pirate-obsessed boyfriend). The dining and service are inconsistent at best – it's not unusual to be served a dish cold, wait a long time for food, or experience an order mix-up. Plus, order a Black Strap Betty one night, and it'll taste completely different the next. But I can't get enough of the vibe of the place, have gotten to know and love the servers, and can shrug off any hassle once I have some Grog in me. Try the Squid for a drink if Grog isn't your thing, and be sure to sample the piri piri chicken, the salmagundi stew and the prego no pao steak sandwich.

Despite being a (local) chain, Sweetwater Tavern kind of became a de-facto special occasion spot, mostly due to location, late hours and reliable food. The service is expedient, and I've never had a bad dish there, and many of the offerings, particularly fish dishes, are very good indeed. I could eat my weight in their chicken con queso, and I love anywhere that brews their own beer, even if the beers themselves (Dogfish Head Ale House, I'm talking to you), are not to my taste.

Dishes that I experienced frequent cravings for included shrimp toast and shrimp won ton soup from Huong Que, beef in hot pepper sauce from the always-reliable Hong Kong Palace, pupusas from Samantha's (wish I lived closer), and pizza from the Italian Store.

El Paso Café might just convince me I actually am a fan of Mexican food. It helps that it's Salvadoran influenced, but whether it be lobster enchiladas, steak fajitas, pork taquitos or generous servings of ceviche, I can't say I was ever disappointed with the restaurant, which has a great neighborhood feel.

Jose Andres' Oyamel and Café Atlantico made it into the "worth the splurge" category this year. I still have trouble paying $13 for guacamole, but I never have trouble finishing mine. Oyamel's grasshopper tacos tasted more like spice than like a buggy creature, but it was an experience worth having, and everything else on the menu was great.

DC Coast won the Parental Seal of Approval nod, and it's easy to understand why – the cooking may not be the most inventive in the planet, but the portions are generous, the fish is fresh and the service is friendly. I particularly enjoyed the scallop and ravioli dish I had on a business lunch there.

(Probably too much) of 2007 was spent sampling local happy hours. A favorite was Mio, near McPherson Square – the discounted drinks such as caprihinas and blood orange margaritas were made with finesse, and I had a lot of fun with the $6 small plate menu (get the meatballs!). News Café was classy without being pretentious, and the bartender at Tandoori Nights was exceptionally friendly when pouring $5 martinis. And I'm always a fan of $5 bacon cheeseburger platters at Cheff Geoff's.

Brunch continues to be a favorite meal, even though I don't find the time nearly as often as I did when living in NY. Tallula's a standard choice for me, and great service made up for overcooked eggs on one visit. Sette Bello's $16 brunch with an alcoholic beverage is a good deal, and their breakfast pizza and prosciutto eggs benedict are both delicious. I'm a fan of the $5 Bloody Mary bar at Rhodeside Grille, even if the food's unremarkable. And though I wish Super Grilled Cheese were on the brunch menu at Tunicliff's, I can be more than appeased with some yummy eggs Chesapeake.

2007 wasn't without its disappointments. Il Radicchio has always been a favorite of mine and my family's, but seeing a mouse run across the floor and a wait staff entirely unconcerned, and tasting a favorite chicken pasta dish which seemed nothing like my former favorite menu item brought down its estimation. Still, it's hard to find a better place for a pistachio cream spaghetti sauce. Royal Mile Pub never even got my service, thanks to a hostess with attitude; the same can be said of Georgia Brown's. RFD's menu, never stellar, changed for the worse, and while the food at Mendocino Grille was excellent during Restaurant Week, the limited number of choices without upcharges was frustrating. Etete fell a bit into the "overrated" category for me – I had trouble understanding why people consistently rank it as the top Ethiopian places. Service was slow and the menu seemed somewhat limited. My meal there was certainly pleasant, though - should have gotten a vegetarian platter, from what I hear.

Favorites from 2006 which fell off my radar this year included Zaytina (the wait always seemed daunting), Pizza Paradiso (more from a lack of time spent in Georgetown), and Taqueria Poblano (it seemed to switch from a great Mexican place to a so-so offering). Anyone been to Bombay Club lately? It was one of my best dining experiences in 2006, but never got the chance to make it back for another Manhattan and excellent lamb dish.

In 2008, I'll probably most long for the Cajun bacon cheese fries from Dr. Dremo's, my favorite bar, which will shut its doors at the end of January. To console myself, I'll be making a trip to minibar Jan. 19, and hope to sample the offerings from Rasika, Taberna del Alabardero, Thai Square, Ray's the Steaks and at least one French restaurant, if time and fortune are with me, throughout this year. What are your 2008 dining resolutions?

The Five Paragraph Bitter Food Critic's Year in Review

One of the problems with developing a writing persona named the "Five Paragraph Bitter Food Critic" is maintaining that mantle of bitterness even when surrounded by a sea of competence, class and quality. When I started the 5PBFC, I figured that given my average of 4 meals out a week, I'd have at least one clunker fortnightly, thus providing DCFUD.com plenty of bitter material. However, as I looked over my 2007 notes of the year, I discovered something quite shocking: I had ten bad meals the entire year; and six of them came from two places, Bangkok 54 and Dad's Backyard Burgers. That means the vast majority of my meals were anywhere from "decent" to "incredible." It's hard to complain about such a high batting average.

Now, I must go off on how absolutely disappointing Dad's was. For a store that took nearly 3 years to build, I had hoped for a burger experience that didn't taste like a green onion explosion. My first bite there was sadly the best; repeat visits were lousy and hardly worth mentioning. I'd love to support an independent burger joint, but their burgers tasted more like a kabob-spiced meatloaf - they may want to think about competing with nearby and always-packed Merrifield Kabob than routinely-good Five Guys and sometimes-brilliant Elevation Burger...that is, depending on whether they can stay open. While a banner touts "Now Open," a paper sign on the door says that Dad won't reopen until Virginia Power finishes work on the building, though neighboring businesses are open. Hmmm....more mystery from Dad's. As for Bangkok 54, the former shining star of Northern Virginia's Thai dining scene has declined in terms of food quality and handling; prepare to give birth to a food baby if you eat there and don't stray far from the restrooms, just in case. Their dining room is lovely; it's a shame the back of the house is having issues. They easily have been eclipsed by longtime stalwart Duangrats at Bailey's Crossroads and the newish Mint further up Route 7 towards Seven Corners (review coming soon).

However, I will concede to the goodwill of the Holiday season to concentrate on the positive. My dining year started off on a high note with the DCFUD.com staff at Bobby Van's, followed by a delicious Restaurant Week experience at Taberna del Alabardero. 2 Amys continued to churn out quality pizzas, Ella's did the same, and the chainy-but-good ZPizza offered a delicious pie with high quality ingredients for a decent price. Matchbox's dining room expansion didn't dilute the quality of their food one bit, and the District Chophouse provided a fine meal in a casual, but classy, environment. My well-publicized visit to La Perla offered better tortellini than expected, and Georgetown's Filomena may be considered hit-or-miss, but I had two hits there in 2007, and enjoyed their good Sunday brunch, too. The new Liberty Tavern in Clarendon offered surprisingly good upscale bar food, though those looking for a quiet meal should head elsewhere - that place is louder than the wails of a screaming child at a southern Wal-Mart. Eamonn's proved to be a welcome addition to the Alexandria scene, and I'm anxious to try owner Cathal Armstrong's makeover of The Majestic with Shannon Overmiller's cooking on King Street in 2008. Hank's Oyster Bar in DC stars in the background with Trio in a new car commercial, and a new location in Old Town is promising. Fogo De Chao and Texas De Brazil fed my churrascaria dreams of well-seasoned Argentinean meat, and Macchu Picchu did a fine job representing South American neighbor Peru. Huong Que at the Eden Center served fine Vietnamese fare on multiple visits, and impressed some good friends from Chicago. Spices in Cleveland Park did a good job of clearing my sinuses while on a first date - yeah, thanks for that, by the way. No, that wasn't embarrassing at all - but damn it tasted fine, and nearby Indique's tamarind-enhanced drinks made even the rainiest of days much more delightful.

Bebo Trattoria opened up with much fanfare in Crystal City, though complaints about lousy service stick to the place like stink on a hobo. The Tortoise and the Hare opened up on Crystal City's 23rd Street, taking over the former space of Stars and Stripes. Can't say I'd complain about that a bit - Stars and Stripes had a big TV and good beer but a lousy crab cake, and T&H promises a good American contemporary menu. Urban Thai still served quality food at a reasonable price, and the recent expansion of the Crystal City Sports Pub just gives more folks a chance to dine on their good bar food while following their favorite sports' teams. Summer's at the Courthouse Metro did the same, plus they put with my wails of anguish every weekend as I watched my beloved Ravens go from Super Bowl contender to laughing stock of the NFL in one calendar year. Al's Steaks in Del Ray single-handedly made me gain a pound, and that was before I discovered the glories of Gladys Knight and Ron Winan's Chicken and Waffles at the Largo Town Center. In my neighborhood of Shirlington, a new Cakelove outpost opened up; Busboys and Poets put in a second location with some fine Belgian beers on tap; Bear Rock Cafe' offered good sandwiches and breakfast chow, and the brand-spanking new Saigonique fed me a wonderful ginger noodle dish on Christmas Eve in a beautiful dining room. And damn if Weenie Beanie didn't bring the goods every time I craved a half-smoke.

Heck, even the Pentagon got a decent eatery, the All-American Grill. Thank God for Sport and Health or else I'd be the size of a Beefcake-era Eric Cartman.

In the fine tradition laid down by every critic in every conceivable subject, this time of the year demands a "Best of..." list. I could try to spawn an internal dialog about which meal in the previous 12 months was the best, and categorize restaurants by price or location or cuisine. Instead, I'm choosing to look forward to 2008, to which places I missed in 2007.

* Central - we at DCFUD have been trying to have a writers' outing here for months, yet somehow we went to the otherwise-fine-but-it-ain't-Central Malyasian Kopitiam instead of an affordable offering from Michel Richard? We're going this year, kids. Jay, save your money. You're going. Even if I have to carry you in there kicking and screaming. You made me eat at Kam Fong; I'm making you eat at Central.

* The Majestic - the restaurant formerly known as the Majestic Cafe' was a delightful, charming outpost, and the recent takeover and reimagining by Cathal Armstrong should make this one of the best mid-priced restaurants in Northern Virginia in 2008.

* West End Bistro - the early buzz over Eric Ripert's newest restaurant was that the food was definitely good, but not imaginative. I would have to guess that as the staff becomes more situated and comfortable, this restaurant will bring more international buzz to the DC dining scene.

* Hook - Barton Seaver's ambitious plan to serve only sustainable seafood deserves the respect of all diners with a soul. Plus, the guy can flat-out cook.

* Hooked - I grew up next to the Chesapeake Bay. I love seafood. Sue me. And a seafood restaurant out by Dulles and Ace Photo that doesn't have cheap plastic fishnets on the walls and meals made of a mysterious element known as "krab" has my support.

* Station 9 - U Street keeps getting hipper and hipper, and this place promises an updated look on American standards.

And, hopefully the DC area will honor a few New Year's Resolutions, and this year's theme is to be A Little More Like Baltimore:

1) To have a good Jewish deli like Attman's near the Inner Harbor East developments. Sometimes a nice Catholic boy like me wants a good corned beef on rye.

2) To have a decent BBQ place somewhere between Dixie Bones in Woodbridge and Urban in Rockville to compete with Rocklands. They're the only game in NoVA, and while they're a fine establishment, it'd be nice for something likeAndy Nelson's in Cockeysville.

3) To have a pit beef place anywhere. I don't care where, but pit beef is a Baltimore delicacy that should be brought forth to the Nations' Capital post haste.

4) To have more waterfront dining options. The Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Locust Point, Canton, Essex, Middle River - all loaded with everything from mega-chains to cozy family seafood places, and they all have serene water views. DC has a couple of high-end places in Georgetown and Phillip's at the Waterfront. Advantage - Baltimore.

5) To be like bICYCLE. If you ever find yourself on Light Street, south of the Inner Harbor between Federal Hill and Locust Point, you'll see this charming, delicious bistro. It's been open for nearly 8 years, and it's still as good today as it opened. They strive for good food and consistency, and they hit far more often than they miss.

and, the most important:

6) To create a vibrant neighborhood near the new stadium - granted, this will be a work in progress, but one of the best things about Camden Yards is the proximity to great bars, restaurants and attractions...cos' it ain't da O's, hon. Redeveloping an area best known for the desperately-missed dance club Nation, light industrial brown zones, and a grouping of *ahem* adult establishments is all going to take some time, but for the love of God, city planners, do not dare turn it into a soulless strip of chains and fern bars. D.C.'s trying to do it with Chinatown/Penn Quarter, where fairly soon the only thing Asian in that neighborhood will be the tourists in town to watch the Wizards play Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets. You know darned well Prince George's County will botch it with the National Harbor, as they've failed to put in anything with personality near FedEx Field, and that's been open for almost a decade. But really, D.C., you can do it. Look at U Street. Adams-Morgan. H Street. Cleveland Park. Those are areas where the city is trying to express itself with mostly-independent businesses. Please, don't replicate a Loudoun County strip mall complete with a chain restaurant park on South Capitol Street and lie to yourself, saying "it's progress." It's regression to a mean, and the city deserves better.

Chef Geoff's

I recently was fortunate to attend a Holiday party in a small private room at Chef Geoff's. I have never been to the restaurant before and was able to try a variety of appetizers and desserts. I'm not sure if all of this is on their regular menu, but here were the items that stood out, even if I don't know their actual names:

∙The duck spring rolls were good, especially with the syrupy teriyaki sauce. There was a mushroom version, which I did not get to try.

∙Fried balls of crab meat were sweet, delicious, chewy, and delicate.

∙The large shrimp were fresh and tasty but the sweetened (and cold) butter sauce was a bad match. An acidic or garlicky sauce would have worked better.

∙The chocolate covered cream puffs and the teeny chocolate berry tarts were excellent because the chocolate was rich and of excellent quality. Your tongue gets coated with wonderfully sweet and bitter chocolaty goodness. Yes, i just said "chocolate" four or five times; it was that good.

∙I had a French Kiss. Don't make me blush; it was actually the name of a drink with champagne, peach liquor, and peach nectar. It was tasty.

Where to eat in Arlington when you are nearly broke VIII

Bailey's Pub & Grille in the Ballston Mall serves free food from a portable food station Wednesdays at 6pm. On one occasion, Ernesto was making pasta alfredo, while people specified their fixin's. Another Wednesday, he was serving chicken enchiladas from the kitchen, although usually serves food that he makes in front of you.

Do give Ernesto a $1 or $2 tip, and maybe order a beer at the bar or at your table, but it is still a bargain.

And, yes, I know that night is bargain beer night at Rockbottom and half price burgers at Front Page, with free live entertainment at both venues. Well, get the free food first and then you can switch venues for some free live music.

Bailey's Pub & Grille.
4238 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22203
703-465-1300

The previous artices in the Arlington series can be found here, and the DC "nearly broke" article is here.

Mmmmmmmm, Dawgs!

After an evening wandering the venues of Adams Morgan, I will admit to being partial to a hotdog, eggplant fries, and a drink from Mdawg. And, they have a special that lets you have that combination for about $6.

Ok...you don't have to get eggplant fries, but my friends who are not eggplant eaters (*gasp*) actually liked them. I hear that the sweet potato fries are very good, but they tend to run out often so I can't vouch for them myself. I tried the tater tots and fries, both of which are what you would expect. I prefer the eggplant fries myself. So...hop to the fixin's bar, use some of the sauces, and doctor yourself up an mdawg.

They have some interestingly named options (which aren't part of the $6 special) that you can choose from, including:

The Oy
The BJ
The Chubby
The Lady
The Glove
The French
The Virgin

Anyone else sensing a sexual theme here? ;) You can read the descriptions of those dawgs by clicking here.

It is tasty stuff, and they are open until late. So...after a weekend evening of naming the fish in the tanks of The Reef, Drinking "666's" in Heavan and Hell, or singing karaoke in Roxanne...you might need a Jumbo Slice alternative. :)

Yes, I know...when you are drunk enough, jumbo slice is heaven. The New Yorker in me is skeptical but I do aspire to get that drunk one day! Ok, maybe not! :) Until then...an mdawg or two will do. :)

Italian food from a Street Cart in Ballston

I remember watching an episode of the original Iron Chef a few years back and being impressed by a challenger who operated an Italian food cart out of a Buddhist temple in Japan. Well, we apparently have Italian food carts here as well. I happened to pass through Pupatella's release party this weekend. They had closed, but they still gave me a sample of tiramisu, and it was fabulous.

Pupatella is open Monday through Friday 730am-2:30pm, so if you work in Ballston, give it a try.

Kam Fong RIP

On Christmas day two years ago about a dozen members of a local social group met for dinner at Kam Fong in Chinatown before attending a Matisyahu concert at the 930 Club. Several of us still hang out regularly, and we ate at Kam Fong about 2 weeks ago. We were the last table on the restaurant's last night.

So...Kam Fong, thanks for the memories, and thanks for all the beef chow fun with Chinese vegetable I've eaten over the last couple of years. I'll miss the shock value of telling people to meet me at the restuarant next to CVS that has ducks hanging from their necks in the window.

As for those of us who originally met at that restaurant, and were there for the restaurant's last meal...it was a powerful moment...that we will remember.

Atlanta's Coffee Deficit, Continued: A Ray of Hope

I recently got around to trying JavaVino in the “Poncey-Highlands” neighborhood of town: they have coffee; they have wine; what could be bad? The wine list pretty respectable - $5-7 gets you a good glass, but I didn’t try all the options (which change regularly), so there’s potential greatness. They also do wine tastings on 2nd Sundays, which I plan to attend one of these days.

We are here, however, to discuss the coffee shop aspect of JavaVino. My $2.10 jumbo-sized Americano (4 shots!!) was delicious - smooth, woody and not too bitter with a crema, I notice, so sturdy that it survived pouring over ice. I drank it straight - no sugar, no cream - a rare honor I reserve for really good coffee. JavaVino’s website indicates that their organic, sustainably-grown coffee actually comes from the owner’s family’s own plantation in Nicaragua - a neat detail, I think, especially since the results are so good.

The $7 hummus plate comes with roasted red peppers and a few unremarkable olives, as well as cibatta (a nice departure from the traditional pita). The hummus itself is OK, but could use salt (I see none available) and perhaps more sesame oil in the mix.

The location is a bit off the beaten path, but close enough to get some foot traffic, and parking is pretty ample. Seating is limited and the place, while pretty and pleasant, is a bit cluttered. The music (sort of ‘soft’ top-40 stuff) is a good volume, and large windows provide ample natural light, even if the view is just of parking lots. Free wifi service makes it theoretically work-friendly, but let’s be honest: you’re just watching YouTube.

JavaVino has a patio, but it is small and right out by the smoggy street, so it doesn’t really interest me, especially in the absence of much good people-watching/street antics (other than the Atlanta drivers, who form a genre of tragicomedy all their own). Besides awesome coffee and available wines, JavaVino has two characteristics desperately lacking in other Atlanta coffeeshops I’ve found: they sell real newspapers (as in, not just AJC and USAToday), and are open till midnight. It’s not all night, but a fair time to stop caffeinating in public.

JavaVino
579 N Highland Ave,
Atlanta, Ga, 30307
(404) 577-8673

Dad's Backyard Burgers - A FUD Snipe Hunt

Video gamers of a certain vintage remember the thrill of playing "Duke Nukem 3D" back in the mid-Nineties. Aliens have invaded Los Angeles, and, as Duke, your job is to kill every single pixilated alien and mutant in town. Duke was based not-too-loosely on Bruce Campbell's "Ash" in the Evil Dead movies, and various lines from the movies appeared in the game. The game was respected in that genre for its varied scenery and backgrounds, its goofy sense of humor, and the implementation of strategy and stealth rather than just a quick trigger finger.

Like anything else that becomes successful in Los Angeles, a sequel was planned. 3D Realms, Duke's programmers, announced in 1997 that "Duke Nukem Forever" would come out in the next year. The video game trade magazines fought for exclusive looks at the highly-anticipated game. Fanboys debated the pros and cons of various graphics technologies the game would incorporate. Players salivated over screen shots and game trailers like Atkins' Dieters at a steakhouse.

In the past ten years, Duke Nukem Forever has been delayed more than a smoking Green Line train. Countless technology changes, programmers coming and going, different publishing houses getting involved, and, by 2007, there's still no playable, purchasable Duke Nukem Forever. The official stance is that the game will come out "when it's done;" this, in an industry where other companies like Electronic Arts can turn out new versions of Madden football and Tiger Woods golf every year.

Over in nearby Merrifield, Virginia, there's a restaurant version of "Duke Nukem Forever." Dad's Backyard Burgers, located by Pilin Thai and ZPizza on Gallows Road has been tempting burger lovers for a couple of years with its signs declaring that Dad will be coming soon.

Apparently, we are the collective Telemachus while Dad Odysseus is off fighting the Trojans. Logic would dictate that if folks like Roberto Donna and Jose' Andres can open new restaurants and relocate existing ones in a matter of months, surely a simple burger joint in the `burbs shouldn't take more than a few weeks to open, right?

Who are the Trojans keeping Dad adrift? Or did Dad's visit to Circe result in a cannibalistic, yet unlimited supply of bacon cheeseburgers? The folks on Chowhound found this plan by the Virginia DOT to redo that busy intersection at Gallows and Lee Highway, effectively putting an access road through the middle of the fry vat. Still, just because V-DOT has a plan for those roads, that hasn't stopped other businesses in the affected strip (Carvel, 7-11, Pizza Hut, plus the others previously mentioned) from operating. Perhaps Dad's business name was a little too close for comfort for the folks at Backyard Burgers.

I drive by that intersection about once a month, and every once in a while, there's a little slice of activity at Dad's. The brown paper that had covered the windows was pulled back, exposing a few small tables and home-style wallpaper. The cash registers look brand new, and blueprints rest on the counter, and other than some finishing work, the place looks like it could open in a couple of days. But the Help Wanted sign offers a phone number that has been disconnected, and no forwarding number is provided.

Hopefully the folks behind Dad's Backyard Burgers will see this, plus the threads on Chowhound, and let us know their side of the story.

Lookin' California, Eatin' Minnesota

How strange that an innocent trip to the Twin Cities this past weekend would be bracketed by two of the bigger news stories of the year.

A simple two-day mini-vacation to see some old friends in Minneapolis and get some good food seemed like a grand idea, and the affordable direct flights to Minnesota courtesy of Northwest Airlines would be a fine way to spend as much time away from D.C. as possible. That is, until Northwest and its pilots decided to come to loggerheads over work schedules the very weekend I would depend on them for transportation. As the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport is Northwest's major international hub, local and cable news crews descended on passengers stuck in the expansive facility, trying to capture the mess as flights were cancelled like bad sitcoms on the WB.

Once in Minneapolis, I was whisked away to the Mall of America. Apparently it's illegal to visit the Twin Cities without going to this overgrown tribute to America's love of commerce and indoor theme parks. For those who have never been to the MOA, it's basically both Arundel and Potomac Mills combined after hanging out with Barry Bonds' trainer. The Mall changes stores like Sean Combs changes stage names, so while I missed the awesome hot sauce store that was there on my first visit in 1999, I didn't mind seeing the P.B. Loco Cafe' and its selection of peanut butters, ranging from the sweet Raspberry White Chocolate to the spicy Asian Curry, take its place. Waffles served with maple/peanut butter sauce...smoothies packed with fruit, chocolate and incredibly delicious peanut butter...yeah, that place could be dangerous if they opened up a location in D.C.

One place I had to try was J.D. Hoyt's, a casual steakhouse in Minneapolis' Warehouse District, just a few blocks from downtown. The place is nice, though very unassuming. It reminded me of Baltimore's late McCafferty's in the Mount Washington neighborhood, though this place appears to pay its bills. Pictures of the owners, famous guests and happy people dining on steaks the size of pizzas adorn the walls. J.D. Hoyt's is known for their pork chops, ribs and steaks, and the intoxicating mix of Cajun spices and meats from the kitchen made it tough to choose just one entree'. Service as provided by Roberta (though call her Bobby, remember, this place is unassuming) was smooth, efficient and friendly. And, I was pleasantly surprised when a "small" sampler platter of prime rib, baby back ribs and spiced pork chop arrived. Important to note - this "half" rack was the size of a full rack; the prime rib was baked and then lightly seared to temperature, and the pork chop was nearly a pound of fresh-from-the-farm carnivorous pleasure. The meal was solid - the prime rib was not as good as you'd expect from a true high-end steak house, but definitely right for the price. The pork ribs and chops, however, were just about perfect.

The friendliness of the Minnesotans was shocking. Talk flowed freely between tables and the few folks at the bar didn't remain strangers for long. Most conversation revolved around the groundbreaking for the new Twins baseball stadium, just a couple blocks away from J.D. Hoyt's, which was scheduled for this week. Kevin Garnett, the Minnesota Timberwolves star player, had not yet been traded to the Boston Celtics, but the rumors were flying. The chef came out to talk to each table, Bobbi gave me dining and tourism tips, folks at another table asked me for dining and tourism advice in D.C. During the night, a small group of young men came in to toast their Army buddy, just scant days away from being called to active duty in Iraq. People who had just met moments ago bought drinks for the young man, barely 21 years old, and though it was clear some patrons didn't support the war, they all supported their soldier.

So while I was saddened to find out tragedy struck Minneapolis soon after I left, I wasn't surprised to hear stories of heroic actions by folks caught up in mess of tangled vehicles and bridge, tending to those less fortunate. Of people rushing from the shore to help those who might be trapped under steel and concrete. Of prayer circles and support centers for those who may have lost somebody in the Mississippi River.

I drove across that bridge on Monday.

An Old Flame With a Great Rack

We've all been there. You have a relationship, that ends, for better or worse, and for some reason you still wind up back with your old flame every so often. It's hard to explain - you know it probably isn't right, and that you may end up regretting it later, but yet there you are, doing it anyway. So it went this week with me.

I've lived in the D.C. area since 1999, and I had the fortune to leave the area for about a year and a half to complete culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu. You'd be surprised how much changes around here in that amount of time. It's like a weird acid trip - everything is different, yet so much the same. Many restaurants that used to be some of my favourite places now just irritate me, and many places that I never gave the time of day to before, like an illicit romance, give me those familiar butterflies.

This week, I marked the passage of yet another year of irritating the hell out of people. For such an occasion, I decided it was time to revisit an old flame – 1789 Restaurant, in Georgetown. Now this really was a strange occurrence. On one hand, it was a fairly risky endeavour, as this has always been, bar none, one of my absolute favourite places in town. If things had changed for the worse, I would be crushed. On the other hand, I must admit I was fairly excited for one very good reason: this would be the first time I’ve tasted the food of the new(ish) executive chef there, Nathan Beauchamp.

On one hand, I have been a big fan of the last executive chef, Ris Lacoste. I actually know her professionally, and I’ve admired her work at Kinkead’s, and 15 ria. 15 ria was her first “solo gig” in this area and those people who ate there before she left to go to 1789 in 1995 remember how good that fare was. 15 ria pretty much tanked after she left, and I was very nervous that 1789 might suffer a similar fate, so it was with much trepidation that I approached the restaurant again.

My usual ritual at 1789 is to look over the entire menu, and then order the rack of lamb. Seriously, only once have I ever ordered anything else there (a filet mignon entrée), and while it was superb, you just can’t get lamb like that anywhere else in the D.C. area (that I know of, at least). For the most part, this signature entrée hasn’t changed much over the years, and I suspect that Nathan Beauchamp is aware of how popular it is. However, just as any band that covers another band’s music will attest, you have to put your own twist on it. This new menu would certainly pose a challenge – there were a number of new, seasonal entrées, that while fairly simple in construction, seemed truly appetizing.

After a good ten minutes looking over the menu, I decided to order a first course of a risotto, served with roasted corn, basil, chanterelle mushrooms, and finished off with summer black truffles. My fiancée ordered a chopped salad, which consisted of seasonal vegetables, anchovies, and was topped with a coddled egg. My entrée was, of course, the lamb. The rack was wrapped (and thus encrusted) in pancetta, and served with a goat cheese potato mousseline, escarole, and an olive jus. As much as I loved Ris’s version, I must admit, this was nothing short of phenomenal. It certainly consisted of some bold flavours, but everything worked together, and worked well.

As is her practice, my fiancée made up her mind before she left the house, and ordered pan roasted scallops, which were served with edamame, mahogany clams, sun gold tomatoes, and miso. I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first, but again, Nathan did not disappoint. Everything flowed together, and the clams really added a very nice touch.

As usual, the service was impeccable. Our waiter not only knew it was my birthday, but had arranged for the menus of the day to say so on the bottom in 24 point bold type (not that anyone else in the restaurant had any idea who I was), and brought me a card signed by the staff (as in all of the staff), along with a Valhrona chocolate truffle for dessert. While I’m trying to forget exactly how old I am, I won’t soon forget the meal I had there. Excellent job, Mr. Beauchamp! I look forward to doing this again – just don’t tell Ris.

1789 Restaurant
1226 36th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 965-1789

In addition to the standard fare, 1789 has a coupon on their site which will get you a three course meal for $36 (lamb and filet carry a $10 surcharge).

You ain't gonna believe this schizz

California Tortilla is giving out free Pop Tarts on July 18th. Just a little over two weeks from now, you can stroll into your neighborhood Cal-Tort and get a Pop-Tart.

Gotta give Pop-Tarts credit - they're just as unhealthy now as they were when we were kids. All the rage nowadays is with making organic versions of cereals and cookies with whole grain. Doing the Atkins/South Beach diet? Have a low carb Oreo. Not Pop-Tarts, though. Instead of jumping on the fickle bandwagon of diet food fads, they figured out consumers want actual comfort from their comfort foods. Now they're rolling out Apple Strudel, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Strawberry Milkshake flavors, and there's not a whole grain or alternative sugar to be found.

Those geniuses even figured out how to make a prewrapped, portable and easily-heated treat more convenient - eliminate the need to heat it. Hence, the Go-Tart.

No word yet if Baja Fresh is going to have a free Toaster Strudel promotion, but we'll let you know.

Where to eat in DC When Nearly Broke: Friendship Heights

I've written seven articles about eating on the cheap in Arlington, and was looking for a happy hour with food specials Friday night in Friendship Heights. I tried Schnozbot, and Washingtonian Happy Hour Finder with no luck, and stumbled across one entry at Happy Hour City. So, a friend and I checked out Chadwick's 1/2 price appetizer (except shimp and squid) and $2-2.50 house wine and selected beer and drinks specials.

We had black bean chilli, potato skins, and wings, all at 1/2 price, and a couple of glasses of $2 house wine each. The food was decent, and certainly worth the bargain prices. My friend really liked the potato skins.

So, any suggestions for other Friendship Heights happy hours that feature specials on food?

Chadwick's
5247 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC
(202) 362-8040

When its hot out...cool down by drinking 2 Jamba Juices!

Here is a "Buy One Smoothie Get A Second Smoothie for Free" printable coupon valid until July 4 at participating locations. Here is their store locator.

Live music, white tablecloths, and kebobs

I tend to think of myself as a pretty well-rounded eater (commentary on my waistline aside), but somehow Afghan cooking hadn't yet made it into my repertoire. That changed a few Sundays ago, when I stopped by Bamian Restaurant in Falls Church.

Expecting a casual atmosphere, my guest and I were surprised to open the door of the stark, unassuming-looking restaurant on Leesburg Pike and be greeted by the sight of waiters in tuxedos, white tablecloths and a live musician. We actually headed right back out the door, feeling underdressed and underfunded, but a kind, cajoling host convinced us to give the place a try.

Good thing we took his advice - we were lead to an intimate table that was almost a room in itself; it reminded me of the more private alcoves in places like The Melting Pot, without giving off the kind of forced romantic vibe the chain can create. A friendly waiter gave us a few helpful suggestions, and our food was on its way within moments.

It can be challenging finding the combination of classy atmosphere, affordable prices and delicious cuisine, but I wasn't disappointed with any element at Bamian. Mantu, a dumpling of sorts with spiced meat, yogurt and mint, was a savory way to start the meal. I was impressed with my guest's order of Chef Carrayee, an assertively-flavored chicken dish that tasted vaguely of cilantro. But the night's crowning achievement was the Quabili Palau, which I ordered. Whether it be the perfectly cooked rice, the rich meat sauce on the side, the impossibly tender pieces of lamb, or the heaping, sweet addition of carrots and raisins, it was a wonderful combination of flavors I'd never experienced before. The Afghan nan (very similar to the Indian bread) was also first rate.

Bamian's prices seem almost shockingly reasonable when taking into account the food and setting - for two entrees, two (non-alcoholic) beverages and an appetizer, the bill totaled around $40. I'd almost like to keep the place a secret, but considering I opened my Washingtonian this month and saw it mentioned in the lead of the Cheap Eats article, I doubt it will remain empty for long. For a first taste of Afghan cuisine, I couldn't have hoped for a better initiation.

Bamian Restaurant
5634 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
703/820-7880

Taqueria Nacionale Revisited

I recently followed up on Taqueria Nacionale. The soft tacos were less stiff. I tried two different tacos, the pork tacos, which have onions and peppers, and the chicken tacos, which have onions. I also ordered the rice, which has tomato in it. It really does seem like they are getting their act together, since the food was tasty, and the wait was not as long.

Oh, thanks "Taco Boy" for your comments on my original taco article. Yes, the Mexican cokes are good. I've even located the bottle opener in my office. :)

Taqueria Nacionale
444 N. Capitol Street
Washington, DC 20001

Hej Hej: May 22

Where should you be tomorrow night?

Enjoying a nice Viking beer at D.C.'s best Scandinavian D.J. night, of course.

Check out Hej Hej, DJed by our own DJ Natalya and DCFUD-friend DJ Melissa, who also writes excellent food reviews for the Washington Blade. There will be lots of cool Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic music that we've never heard of but is all very good and very dance-able.

And, even better, there will be drink specials on Reyka vodka. How can you say no?

So come to Cafe Saint Ex, downstairs, on Tuesday, May 22 at 10 pm.

We'll be there. You should be, too.

Grain of Salt

I first went to Marrakesh (the restaurant on New York Ave, not the city), about two years ago, drawn by the spectacle rather than the food. Marrakesh is not so much about dinner as it is about dinner theatre--a beautiful space, belly dancers, waiters who hand you hot towels and pour mint tea from on high in the Moroccan style--and consequently the food was sort of...meh. I mentally checked off that restaurant from my list, figured I'd never go again, and forgot about it.

But. Last night I attended a group dinner there, again drawn by the spectacle and the good company, and found to my delight that the food had improved. The dinner consisted of seven courses, five of which were worth learning how to make at home. The roast chicken with lemon and olives was tender and juicy, with snappy crisp skin and just enough fat to be difficult to eat with one's hands, but still worth the great trouble. The lamb was heavy, but fall-apart tender and flavorful. The pastry was flaky and buttery and sweet, and, wonderfully, included almonds instead of walnuts or pistachios. (I have a nut allergy, so it is possible that all Moroccan pastry is this good, and I just never knew.) The Moroccan wine (sold only by the carafe/bottle) was also better than expected--smooth and fruity and lingering.

The place is still about the spectacle more than the food, so I'm not going to advise you to rush out and try it again as soon as possible. But if you haven't been lately and think it's not so great, eventually, do give it another try. I hope you get the same belly dancer we did. Wow.)

Circa (finally)

Sound the trumpets and break out the confetti, the Dupont eatery for which we’ve been waiting five long, hungry years has finally arrived. When signs for Circa first showed up at the location of the ill-fated Wrap Works I know I couldn’t have been the only one holding my breath; mid-range options in the area have long been limited to waiting in line for Raku or settling for Bistro Du Coin, (french in only the bad aspects of the term). And while the recent arrival of Hanks Oyster Bar two blocks east has alleviated the misery somewhat, it’s still not the type of place hungry tourists and CEO’s alike could stop off after work.

Well, Circa is. Mild-mannered coffee bar and café by day, mild-mannered restaurant and wine bar by night, someone heard my fevered prayers. Dressed in dark wood, the newly redone location at the corner of Connecticut and Q boasts a crazy sound system, comfortable chairs, a nice outdoor patio, and absolutely lovely staff to match. The long communal bar table is perfect for breaking out the laptop to leach off the free wifi while soaking up something from their 1500-strong wine locker.

A recent lunchtime visit brought an excellent grilled shrimp salad to my table, as well as one of the best bacon burgers I’ve had the privilege to absorb. Any earlier and there would have been muffins and coffee; a little later and I might have tried what I swear sound like bangers and mash, Lobster ravioli, and Scottish smoked salmon as part of their late night menu.

With hours from 6 am to 2am, could it be that Kramers is about to lose its stranglehold on Dupont’s late night food scene? I sure as hell hope so.

Gnocchi Night in Rosslyn

When my boyfriend and I met friends of ours for dinner at Piola before catching a show at Rosslyn Spectrum the other night, I had no idea we were hitting the restaurant on its most special evening of the month...gnocchi night!

On the 29th of each month, the Rosslyn-based branch of the European chain offers All You Can Eat Gnocchi for something around $10 a plate.

The question is...how much gnocchi can a person actually eat?

The answer? Probably more than one should. Piola lets you choose from any of its menu's varieties (the night I went, it was tomato basil, four cheese, and ham/eggplant marinara - friends have raved about the pumpkin variety on other evenings), as well as mix and match when it comes time for a refill. It's impossible not to leave the place bursting.

The gnocchi itself is decent, if not a revelation. The pasta is heavy but homey - the marinara-laced varieties definitely benefit from a little Parmesan cheese, while the four cheese is almost overwhelmingly rich, though the gorgonzola adds a much-needed bite. My favorite of the three definitely was the ham and eggplant, which were both delicious accents to the doughy pasta.

I've had Piola's pizza before, and liked it without being blown away; the place boasts tasty salads and fun treats like Bellinis as well. Whether the restaurant is a destination spot, either on the 29th or otherwise, can be debated, but they sure are generous with their gnocchi.

Piola
1550 Wilson blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
P: 703-528.1502

A Wonderful Surprise

While in Chicago for a wedding a few weeks ago, I was really taken by surprise by a truly great meal, right out of nowhere. On Friday night before the wedding, I was out with some other (meaning “not affiliated with the wedding”) Chicago friends and one suggested that we go to this little organic place in Logan Square for dinner. Now, I’m all for organic in theory, but am generally skeptical of Organic Restaurants: in my experience, they tend to be pricey and a bit full of themselves. Lula Café did a brilliant job proving me ever so wrong, and even more than that, did so in a way that didn’t bruise my ego in the slightest!

Our cabbie did not approve of the address, and asked why we didn’t want to eat in a ‘nicer’ part of town. I suppose it was nice enough of him to be concerned, but we didn’t get mugged or anything, so I don’t really know what his problem was. We arrived at the specified address, and went inside to put our name on the list (no reservations). It was gonna be a while (this was about 8PM on Friday night, afterall), so we sat at the bar and the asked the slightly adorable bartender for some $2 PBRs.

An aside: while we waited, a woman with a particularly spectacular plastic surgery addiction was standing nearby, and we couldn’t stop noticing that her facial expression never changed. Her companion bought her a drink - she looked surprised; her companion told a joke - she looked surprised; she took a sip of her drink - surprise! We also noted that her upper torso was similarly … immune to gravity and inertia. It was funny to see, at an organic restaurant, a customer so, well, inorganic.

The silicone princess gave up after about half an hour, so our party moved that much further up the wait list! Finally, we were seated in Lula’s charming little dining room - it has a comfortable farm-housey feel, jazzed up with a modern edge, and is without the pretense of far too many places bearing the Organic label. As it turned out, well-balanced combinations would be the theme of the evening…

While perusing the menu, our server brought out a lovely goat-cheese amuse-bouche from the kitchen, and eventually, we made our decisions. I started with confit of organic beets and my companions with Caesar salads; for main dishes two of us had the “macaroni,” and the other had the chickpea and sweet potato tagine.

The Caesars were good, but the confit was amazing. Little cubes of it came in a little pot, with prettily arranged garnishes of apricot paste, chocolate, rock salt, and crème fraiche on the surrounding plate, a basket of pumpernickel crisps alongside. Our server instructed me to scoop a bit of the confit onto one of the crisps, and add little bits of each garnish. I did, and the results were fantastic. The flavors meshed amazingly, and each bite was a new experiment as I altered the mix of ingredients - tasty and fun!

On to our main dishes: the tagine was brightly colored and smelled divinely of cinnamon and vegetable goodness. It tasted as delicious as it looked, and is a great option for lighter dining - not too heavy, but filling and satisfying and very healthy. Someday I need to get myself a tagine and attempt to do something like this at home, but for now it’s good to know someone else is doing so well with their own.

The tagine was delicious, but the macaroni was outstanding. The first thing you notice about it is the yellowfin tuna: large-but-still-bite-sized chunks (raw, though the menu offers no hint of this) sit atop the bed of penne pasta. It’s fresh, flavorful, and a wonderful surprise to see such a twist on an ingredient almost exclusively seen in Japanese (and Japanese-esque) dishes. Below the fish are more surprises: the penne is bathed (but not swimming in) a sauce of melted emmental, mushrooms, and pickles.

Yeah, pickles. My tagine-eating companion HATES pickles, but tried a bite of this and loved it - you get the sweet-sharp overtones without full-on pickleness. Most amazingly, we didn’t feel like all these strong flavors - Swiss cheese, pickles, and mushrooms - fought each other at all, or overpowered the tuna. They blended wonderfully, and made for a really odd dish that was tasty, satisfying, and just the right bits of filling and satisfying.

After two courses like this, how could we not look at (and order from) the dessert menu? I got the spiced chocolate crème caramel, and my companions each had a batch of the chocolate banana bread pudding. The crème caramel was itself fabulous, and the topping of brandied fruits and candied pumpkin seeds really made it special (we are all familiar with my general feelings about pumpkin). And then there was the bread pudding: wow. It’s not like bread pudding I’ve ever had before, what with its chocolateyness and banana-containing, so maybe we were just blown away by the realization that such a thing was possible, but it might have just been that awesome.

How much did we pay for all this incredible food, you ask? It must have been expensive! This is where my little grad-student-foodie heart really gets happy: the total bill for the three of us, including tax and tip, was about $85. That’s less than $30 each. If there’s a really good special on airfare, it’s conceivable that the price of the meal, including transport, could still be in the range I’d not be shocked to pay for this level of food-happiness.

Lula Café
2537 N. Kedzie Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60647
773.489.9554

Takeout Tacos Near the Halfshell

Johnny's Halfshell opened Taqueria Nacionale next door to their restaurant this week. Breakfast and lunch, and carryout only.

Today, I tried their fish tacos ($2.50), beef tacos ($2.50), and yuca fries $1.50. The tacos -which are soft tacos- were not as soft as I would have liked. They were also small, but they are relatively inexpensive. The fillings were tasty, and seemed to be made from quality ingredients. The beef taco contained small cubes of beef and the fish tacos contained pieces of fried fish, and coleslaw. The yuca fries were tasty, but they oily, and not crispy.

They do make their own horchata, but I haven't tried it yet. I did notice a bag of chufa nuts. :)

Complaints: They need to work on their packaging, and I had to wait 15 minutes for my lunch order. Oh, and they sell the bottled Coke that requires a bottle opener, so if you don't have one at work, you need to walk around with an open bottle.

I'll give them a month or two to work things out since they are brand new, and then I'll try it again. It does seem like a better option than a lot of the Union Station competition.

Taqueria Nacionale
444 N. Capitol Street
Washington, DC 20001

The Five Paragraph Bitter Food Critic vs. Fogo de Chao

Few phrases can evoke the body into unconscious acts, rendering us less human and more automaton, operating on pure emotion. Of these phrases, most invoke love and major life announcements. "Will you marry me?" "I'm pregnant." "All-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse."

I have done my best to avoid hearing two of those phrases and the accompanying emotional response, but "All-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse" spoke to my soul like a classic Spenserian sonnet or a well-edited blooper compilation on YouTube. I took the Five Paragraph Bitter Food Family to Fogo de Chao recently, reveling in the poetry that only fire-grilled meat can write.

After perusing a wine list specializing in South American malbecs, diners are given a disc, one side red and the other green. If you don't want any meat, keep the disk showing red. Flipping that disk to the green side gives the serving gauchos carte blanche to bring out scores of skewers of perfectly-charred meats to your table, and you're free to take as much or as little as you'd like, and at your desired level of doneness. Prime rib, various types of sirloins, bacon-wrapped filets, chicken, pork ribs, lamb chops, each bite perfectly seasoned and prepared. It's like Dr. Atkins' dream restaurant - all meat, all the time, with none of those pesky starches to get in the way.

That disk, with the red and green, reminded me of the Omni from the early `80s TV show Voyagers - the green side was good, red was bad. All that was missing was Jon-Erik Hexum as Phineas Bogg saying "Great job, kid!" The green side meant the meat kept coming, and like a lonely man in the presence of a beautiful woman, I couldn't say no. I started to revert to primal instincts. I couldn't pronounce polysyllabic words. The gauchos brought out pincanha, a salt-seasoned sirloin. I ate that with glee. Bacon-wrapped chicken medallions. I pointed and grunted in approval. Alcatra, another form or sirloin? I am told by my mother than I actually drooled. Linguica, a type of sausage - by that point in the evening, things were becoming cloudy, fuzzy. I must have blacked out. I vaguely remember somebody at the table offering me a bite of cheesecake, and somebody shoving a piece delicious key lime pie in my mouth while I looked at the skewer of beef ribs like Mark Foley at a Congressional Page.

The veritable orgy of meats does not diminish the surprisingly good salad bar, featuring not only the usual lettuce and carrot mixes, but a mix of local and South American vegetables, peppers , chilies and dressings. The salad bar also has more meat, thinly sliced prosciutto and smoked salmon served cold, as though you didn't get enough dead animal already. Once I awoke from my food coma, I found the desserts were efficient and tasty, and the coffee - usually a weak spot in many restaurants - was incredibly delicious. I can't imagine eating there too often; it's easily 70 dollars or more per person for dinner between drinks, the meal, dessert and DC tax, while lunch is about half that. But, somewhere in that Big Diet Book in the Sky, Dr. Atkins is looking down, smiling at Fogo de Chao.

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Fogo De Chao earned 19 out of 20 possible Whammies! One Whammy! for each type of meat served (14 that day), one Whammy! for the coffee, two Whammies! for the salad bar that didn't suck, one Whammy! for the extensive wine list, one Whammy! for the Key Lime Pie, one Whammy! for the incredibly gracious service. One Whammy was not earned for them not allowing me to live there. I promised I'd be clean. Stupid health department.
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The Five Paragraph Bitter Food Critic Falls Off the Wagon

The Five Paragraph Bitter Food Critic has been hitting the gym almost as hard as Presidential candidates are hitting the campaign trail. The past few weeks have been spent eating healthier foods, avoiding sweets, riding my bike to work, and getting to the weight room more often than I went to the buffet. The result? As of April 23rd, I weighed less than 200 pounds for the first time since moving back to Washington in mid-2005. Heart rate's lower, blood pressure's good, and only 10 more pounds to go before I'm back to "normal." I celebrated this wonderful occasion not with more sit-ups and cardio, but by eating an ungodly amount of sumptuous, decadent tortellini at La Perla, a gem nestled between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Rock Creek Parkway near Georgetown.

This was for a good reason - the fine folks of the Washington Post's Datelab series set me up on blind date at La Perla. While I won't spoil the surprise of the details of the date (check www.washingtonpost.com or buy the Sunday papers), I will gladly dish about the restaurant. Pictures of famous guests to the restaurant line the entrance, surrounding a formal document from Pope John Paul II. The dessert case then casts an enticing glare, chock full of pastry, tortes and cheesecakes. This sugar-laden minx rests in front of a wall of wine bottles, surrounded by flowers, Italian artifacts and plaster carvings, while a replication of Botticelli's Birth of Venus stands guard over the dining room.

I had been warned that the portions at La Perla were generous, and that leaving hungry would not be an option. Chef and owner Vittorio Testa did not disappoint - my plate of tortellini alla panna was full of delicious meat-stuffed shells covered in a glorious marscapone cream sauce, and my fellow Datelabber's Piatto Di Mastro Geppetto was a massive cornucopia of shellfish served over linguine. Every mussel, clam, scallop and shrimp at the Waterfront fish markets had been kidnapped and held for ransom on her plate. This dish will taste even better later this year as more fresh sea scallops are shipped down from the New England waters. Still, that tortellini was star of the show; each bite a reminder of why I love Italian cuisine. If I ever become the male Oprah, this dish gets prime billing on my "Favorite Things" list, somewhere between TiVo and world peace.

They brought out a slice of tiramisu with some limoncello liqueur for us to share. Now, the restaurant knew who we were and who we were representing, so it is possible that's why we received special treatment. But while good service can be faked, a genuine spirit of hospitality can't. The server, the maitre'd, bus staff, even Chef Testa himself made sure we were welcome guests, and none of that felt like it was an act to get good press (and I doubt they knew I was a humble food blogger, either).

So, La Perla has earned a future visit from me. This meal was every bit as good as my usual standard for Italian in D.C., Al Tiramisu, and though Al Tiramisu's cozy interior could be considered more romantic, it's a fine line between "intimate" and "cramped." There's something to be said for elbow room. Palena is still my favorite Italian dining experience in the city, but these are not comparable restaurants. Chef Ruta's adventurous dishes at Palena win you over using non-traditional ingredients and inventive presentation whereas Chef Testa's La Perla is more of a classical spot that honors traditional fare and hospitality. The city is lucky to have such quality.

La Perla
2600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
202-333-1767.
Valet service available

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La Perla earned 6 Whammies! out of a potential 7 Whammies!, the only deduction coming from the just-ever-so-slightly too salty sea scallops, which will quickly not be an issue later in the seafood season, and that they wouldn't let me swim in that marscapone cream sauce. Something about health code standards and sanitation. Hmph.
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Croissants, madeleines, and Illy Coffee in Ballston

Upper Crust Gourmet is a new cafe in Ballston. Upper Crust Gourmet is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, and serves Illy Coffee with a small tasty madeleine cookie on the side. The coissants are good as well. I have not been there for lunch, so have not tried most of their sandwiches. I have tried their one breakfast sandwich, the cheddar omellete, which is served on a croissant. It would probably have been better if the cheese had not all oozed out of the sandwich, but the omelette was still enjoyable.

Upper Crust Gourmet has free wireless internet and two terminals where the internet can be accessed for free. They have a bookcase of interesting books that you can read while enjoying your cup of Illy coffee.

Upper Crust Gourmet
1000 N. Randolph Street
Arlington, VA 22201
703 243-7000

Montsouris revisited

Honestly people, with the emotional outpouring caused by my negative review of Montsouris the other month, you'd think I came to your house and ate your dog. I mean, nervous encouragement is all very well when you're trying to make yummy sounds at your five-year-old's mud pies, but is that treatment really necessary for an upscale French bistro? Surely not; and if the phrase '...but they worked so hard' was an acceptable excuse for failure, Rumsfeld might still be employed (tho I might not be).

But just to set the record straight, this weekend saw me return to the scene of the crime. I'd promised I wouldn’t, but circumstances and visiting Midwesterners prevailed. My one stipulation - insist on a seat at the cozy and elegant front instead of the rather pathetic back area when making the reservation.

It began on a low note - On arrival the front-seat promise was haughtily disavowed. Instead of walking out or, say, bursting into tears, we agreed to an awkward table wedged next to the reception desk. Really, anything is better than the back at Montsouris , even the disapproving sniffs of a maitre D.

But the tone was soon improved with witty French banter from our server, and some surprisingly tasty food. The Pate de Campagne was that charming combo of meat and pure grease that only French and Chinese food can get away with. The frites were slim and crunchy, the rib-eye thick and juicy. The Kobe beef, while not reminiscent of all that beer-fed cow can be, was acceptably flavorful. I didn't try The pork special but I hear it was more than alright.

Am I withdrawing my previous scorn? Must I admit that Montsouris should have been given the benefit of the doubt on my first painful visit? Alas no. The proof came four hours later when all three of us who'd eaten steaks became violently ill, a rather delicate situation in a single-bathroom apartment. No meal should have to end with half your party needing to find the locker room in your building's gym because both of your own drains are already occupied.

Too much info? It's tough to tell after a meal like that. Perhaps it is as my critics insist, that the staff at Montsouris carefully lies in wait for my reservation before they break out the scary. But I'm really really not going back; I mean it this time. Really.

Slaters Lane Satiation

Every now and then you have one of those moments - when you realise that a lot has changed and you've missed some really cool developments. So it was when I left the D.C. area not too long ago and moved to San Francisco. Now that I'm back in the area, I'm continually amazed at the development that has occurred during my absence. In one particular case, I'm amazed at what they did with a particular spot in Alexandria. When I left, it was nothing more than a railroad yard and a field not too far from Del Ray. Now, there are all sorts of shops, several restaurants, and of course, condominiums. In particular, I wanted to clue people in to two restaurants, both under the aegis of the Neighbourhood Restaurant Group (the same people that run Vermilion and Tallula Restaurants), that are right across the street from each other on the corner of Slaters lane and Potomac Greens Drive.

The first restaurant is Rustico Restaurant. The vibe of this place is incredible. It's pretty much what would happen if The Brickskeller were to mate with The French Laundry. It's brewery style food, using gourmet ingredients, in extremely clever ways. For example, the first thing that caught my eye when I looked over the menu was a duck confit pizza. This was a pizza with duck confit (confit is a method of cooking that involves slow-cooking something in fat - in this case the duck legs are cooked overnight in duck fat), which makes anything good, duck cracklins (duck skin, diced and slow cooked to render the fat, which makes the skin cubes very crispy), arugula, and brie cheese. It was brilliant, and it was just the beginning. Equally amazing is their phenomenal beer menu. This restaurant has the best selection of Belgian and Belgian-style beers (my personal favourite) outside of the Brickskeller and RFD restaurants. They do incredible beer pairings, and they cook with the beer as well. They even have beer buckets for Belgian beers. Where else can you go where you have both St. Louis Framboise Lambic and Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap? That's right, PBR on tap (at least it was the night I was in)! Most of the seating is first-come first-serve, but they do take reservations.

When you're done eating and drinking at Rustico, head across the street to Buzz Bakery for some desserts and coffee. While this place is known for its cupcakes, they have all sorts of cool stuff there. From various truffles, barks, molded and filled chocolates, and pastries to more formal plated desserts (available after 6:00 PM), nothing I've had there has disappointed me. They even have a small smattering of savoury items (some quiches) if you're interested in more of a brunch fare. I've gone down there many times on Sunday, and just hung out reading the paper, or playing some of the board games they have for general use behind the counter. Personally, I think that this bakery will eventually out-cupcake Warren Brown at that other famous place on U street. This is a great place to go for dessert and coffee, and the laid back atmosphere, coupled with the cool décor and the great food make for an awesome experience. A perfect way to cap off a good meal, or a perfect way to ramp up a lazy Sunday.

Rustico Restaurant
827 Slaters Lane
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 224-5051

Buzz Bakery
901 Slaters Lane
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 600-BUZZ (2899)

Obsessively touring Frederick

I hear that some people read important memos at work. Perhaps they write emails or talk to coworkers. Not for me, these rituals of petty productivity! When I'm at work, I research up dining guides for small towns I hope to visit soon! Obsessively and compulsively!

Last month's excuse for unproductively was the following dining guide, complete with color coded maps and timing instructions. It was meant to represent a complete culinary tour of Frederick MD, but the individual it was created with had the gall to move to Tampa before I really had a chance to sink my teeth in (dining guide to Tampa, coming soon!). Rather than waste my many hours of chowhound research, here it is for open perusal. I created it as if coming from 495, up 270 and then over through Urbana. Yes, Obsessive and compulsive. I know.

+means an especially suggested pick

Bakeries
+ Hot Breads Bakery and Cafe - Tandoori chicken stuffed croissants - 70 Market St, Gaithersburg
+ Carriage House Bakery - Cakes - 9807 Kelly Rd, Mt. Pleasant
+ Classic bakery - Cookies, Pastries, and chocolates - 18503 North Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
+ Ed's Country Bakery - Kinklings, cupcakes - 4309 Cap Stine Rd
Deliciosa Bakery - Pastries - 1507 W Patrick St
+ The Stone Hearth Bakery -Breads, scones, and finger deserts 138 East St
+ Proof Artisan Bakery & Barista - Pastry and sandwiches -12 East Patrick St

Coffee
Beans & Bagels - Coffee and breakfast - 49 E Patrick St
+ Downtime Café - Coffee and vegetarian food - 23 E Patrick St
+ Frederick Coffee Company - Original coffee drinks - 100 East St FSK Kaffe - Coffee and baked goods - 31 W Patrick St
+ The Mudd Puddle Coffee Café - Coffee and paninis - 124 South Carroll Street
The Book Center - 1305 W. 7th Street
+ Market Street Café (shown above) - Coffee, ice cream, and deserts - 14 N. Market St.

Dessert
+ Candy Kitchen - Chocolate - 52 N Market St
+ Classic Cigars and British Goodies - British groceries - 153 N Market Street+ Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream Company - Ice cream soda counter and fudge - 253 East Church Street

Alcohol
+ Tasting room - Wine - 101 North Market Street
Berrywine Plantations/Linganore
Windham Winery
+ Isabella’s Taverna & Tapas Bar - Wine and tapas - 44 N Market Street
Tarara Winery
Brewer’s Alley Restaurant & Brewery - Beer - 124 North Market Street

Casual restaurants
+ Bill Watson's - Fried Chicken - 50 North McCain Drive
+ Lancaster Dutch market - Breakfast, bakery, cheese - 12613 Wisteria Drive Germantown
Frederick Farmers market - 797 E. Patrick Street Kountry Kitchen - Family food - 17 Water St Thurmont
+ Cafe Anglais - English food - 238 N Market St
+ Barbara Fritchie Candystick Restaurant - Diner food and deserts - 1513 West Patrick Street
Griff’s - Seafood - 43 S Market St
+ Wag’s - Burgers - 24 South Market Street
+ May’s Restaurant - Cream of crab soup and crab balls - 5640 Urbana Pike
+ Callahan’s - Crabcakes - 1808 Rosemont Ave
Luke's Pizza Company - Pizza - 6942 Crestwood Blvd., Crestwood Plaza
Mealey’s Restaurant - Family food - 8 Main Street, New Market,
Isabella’s Taverna & Tapas Bar - Wine and tapas - 44 N Market Street
Serenity Tearoom - Formal tea 119 E Patrick St
Roys place: Sandwiches -2 East Diamond, Gaithersburg
Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que - BBQ - 1003 W Patrick St
Market Bagel & Deli - Bagels - 36 Market St

And a couple extras thrown in for free, although they probably wouldn't be part of any consecutively staged meal:

Destination Restaurants
The Province Restaurant
Dutch's Daughter
+ Tasting room
+ Acacia
Tarousos
Zest
Tajitu

Markets:
Asian Super Market
La Chiquita Grocery
Common Market Food Co-op
McCutcheon Apple Products Inc

Jump start your tomorrow...tomorrow

Tomorrow (March 15th) between 10am and noon, Starbucks will be giving away free 12 ounce cups of coffee. Too good to be true? Don't believe me? Click here. :)

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Shut Up and Bring Me Some Pie! - A Rant by the Five Paragraph Bitter Food Critic

This weekend marked the 34th anniversary of my expulsion from my mother's womb. Friday and Saturday night were set aside for my friends; Sunday was reserved for my mom and uncle, neither one of whom can do shots like my buddy Jeff at the Science Club. My family took me to an anonymous suburban chain restaurant. No sooner did we enter when all the servers gathered together, began clapping semi-rhythmically, and sang their restaurants' version of "Happy Birthday" to a large group gathered for a child's birthday. I shuddered in the same way that I shuddered when I watched the movie Saw - I knew it was fake, but I was scared anyway. My uncle, never an example of tact, tells our server at the anonymous suburban chain restaurant that it was my birthday, and asked what treat I'd get. The young lady, barely college-aged, went into some script I'm sure all the servers there had to memorize, asking me "So, how old are you on your big birthday, big guy?"

Lady, I'm 34 frickin' years old. I've been able to drink legally for since you were in kindergarten. My insurance rates don't get any lower, and I've been able to rent a car without a parent's signature for nearly a decade. My next "big birthday" doesn't come for another 21 years when I'll be able to get cheaper coffee at participating McDonald's.

I hate that fake birthday singing in restaurants. I was in kindergarten when the old Farrell's ice cream parlor in Tyson's Corner had a bunch of singing servers, fireworks, a possessed player-piano and circus sound effects go all Britney Spears-crazy for kids' birthdays. I watched a poor little 3 year-old soil her new dress in fright and embarrassment on her birthday. I felt so bad for that little girl, and while I knew nothing of post-traumatic stress syndrome at the time, I knew a girl who'd need therapy when I saw one. Therefore, on my list of Top Three Annoyances in Restaurants, it ranks up there with Nextel phones going off and screaming, sugared-out kids with no parental supervision. For the record, "food poisoning" and "bad food" would be #4 and #5, respectively. I can understand why Chuck E. Cheese does it, and talented singing is part of Mimi's in DuPont's charm. But when I was a server, bartender and ultimately manager, my one consistent question during job interviews was "is this a restaurant that sings for birthdays?" If so, I moved on. A free dessert or a small discount is one thing; making a public spectacle and whittling down my dignity is quite another.

Is it just me? Do people actually go to anonymous suburban chain restaurants specifically for the birthday singing? What are they thinking? "Nothing reasserts my status in the universe than having a motley group comprised of 19 year-old single moms too naive to use birth control, 21-year-old college students worried about midterms, jailbait hostesses wearing slutty dresses that'd make Lil' Kim blush and table bussers who aren't 100% sure of the song or the language, sing a corporate version of 'Happy Birthday' that really doesn't sound like the real song and includes more hand-clapping and some sort of embedded advertisement to me in an anonymous suburban chain restaurant decorated to resemble either a yard sale gone mad or a Gulf Coast beach because I'm too lazy to actually travel to a real yard sale gone mad or a Gulf Coast beach and receiving a complimentary calorie-laden dessert?" It's about the best I can come up with...unless these are the same people who delight in camping out for tickets for the inevitable "American Idol All-Stars" tour because they really felt their phone calls made a difference whether or not that plucky young hillbilly from Kinhump, Tennessee, with the 36D's and the 36 IQ got propelled into the Top 8.

By appealing to her logic - spending time singing that song to me wastes valuable minutes better spent at other higher-maintenance tables and thereby increasing whatever tips the generally-weaker-tipping-Sunday afternoon crowd offers - I was able to ward off her underpaid cult of clappers. And, given the mega-portions of food the anonymous chain restaurant served, there was no need for the complimentary calorie-laden dessert. Truthfully, I think she enjoyed not singing almost as much as I did. I know it was only one restaurant on one day, a small victory, but a victory nonetheless for those of us who like to dine in relative peace and anonymity.

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Normally I assign Whammy! points in this space, but the anonymous suburban chain restaurant is exactly what it is, the food is exactly what can be found at any other anonymous suburban chain restaurant, and the food tasted exactly what you'd expect from an anonymous suburban chain restaurant. No Whammy! was earned; no Whammy! will be given.
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Dining Out for Life

This Thursday, March 8th, is Food and Friend's Dining Out for Life night. Food & Friends provides no-cost home-delivered meals and groceries to local residents living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other illnesses.

Participating restaurants will contribute between 25% and 100% of their sales for the evening to Food and Friends.

This is a fantastic opportunity to eat out at some fantastic restaurants and give back to the local community at the same time. There are about 150 participating restaurants (we can't link to the full list, but you can find it by clicking Participating Restaurants on the site here.)

And you don't have to spend a lot to help out. While some of DC's pricier restaurants are on the list, local inexpensive favorites like Teaism, Thaiphoon, and Hard Times Cafe are participating, too.

If you're looking for a place, consider checking out some of the standard DCFUD favorites:

• Black's Bar and Kitchen
• Corduroy
• Hank's Oyster Bar
• Perry's
• Pizzeria Paradiso
• Sushi Ko
• Tabard Inn
• Teaism
• Tonic Restaurant & Bar

Gooood Doggy

If you go by M'Dawg (Haute Dogs) in Adams Morgan, you might see a shaggy brown dog tied outside. That's my dog, Otter, and he'll be spending a lot of time outside the new gourmet hot dog place in the near future, because I'll sure be spending a lot of time in it.

The much-anticipated eatery is as relaxed and fun as you'd expect the sister restaurant to Amsterdam Falafel to be, with a short but varied menu that includes a garlic sausage, a corn dog, an andouille, a beef dog wrapped in bacon, and the classic DC half-smoke, among others. Most of the menu is in the $4-7 range (with the exception being the Kobe: a $20 kobe beef dog), and you can get them "downtown" style with ketchups and schmancy mustards, or "uptown" with a wide range of unexpected toppings for a buck more. Don't count on getting dinner for $4-7, though, as with most hot dogs, one is not enough.

I highly recommend the "Glove" (the aforementioned beef dog wrapped in bacon) with apricot chutney and fresh tomatoes, and the half-smoke with bacon crumbles, bleu cheese, and onions. Less impressive was the "Brokeback" corndog, which despite its excellent name is just an ordinary corndog. It's fine, but does not live up to its hot dog brethren. I also have to say, I do not understand the mad love people have for the french fries, the same as at Amsterdam Falafel.

At least three more trips are necessary before I can say with confidence that I have tried all the best hot dogs that DC has to offer, so my real dog will get to go on a lot of walks down to M'Dawg in the next few weeks. If you see him, say hi--he's friendly, and don't worry if he seems sad. He's just whining because he wants a half-smoke.

Après Diem: Comfortably Trendy

I’ve been in Atlanta almost seven months now, but my grad student status has severely limited my 'extramural' culinary adventures. So I made a pact with myself at the beginning of this semester that I would work harder at eating good food (as opposed to pizza and burgers, all the time) when I go out. the trick is finding places I can kinda-sorta-maybe-once-in-a-while afford.

Early in my tenure here, I discovered Après Diem, and have been going there pretty frequently (OK, like once or twice a month) for late-evening drinks and snacks. The atmosphere is much trendier than I’d usually tolerate, with its colored ‘mood’ lighting and live-dj-techno/house soundtrack, not to mention the almost universally gorgeous staff.* But somehow, Après Diem manages to remain comfortable and easygoing, and it works for me.

Like I said, I've mostly been there for drinks and/or snacks, midway through an evening's carousing. The drinks are good and, if you stay away from the sugar-tinis, not too expensive; the wine list is small but nicely varied, ditto for beers. The appetizers/snacks menu is nice; I really like the baba ghanouj, the hummus plate, and have been made very happy on more than one “last stop before home” by the brie and baguette. The espresso and coffee are good too, and served late enough that Après Diem also makes a good last-stop spot to wait off those drinks before driving home (this is the thing about Atlanta: you have to drive. Everywhere. All the time. No matter what.).

Anyways, I liked snacking there enough that I decided to try dinner there, and one night after a play a friend and I decided to do so. Sadly, the kitchen closes at midnight, and we got there at 11:58, so it was put off.

Fresh off a stressful week, another friend and I decided to finally eat dinner at Après Diem, at a reasonable dinner hour (around 8, as opposed to around midnight). We were seated by a lovely blond woman of ultimately indeterminate - but I’m pretty sure north English - accent, who was also our server. Her only real gaffe of the evening was immediate: she was quick to offer drinks, even before we had a chance to look at the list, and it wasn’t until she had come back again and taken our order that she brought water. No matter, we had beer!

My companion ordered the roasted portobello sandwich, and I the Asian-style tuna. I should mention that my meal came with an appetizer salad, and his did not, but that this is not made particularly clear on the printed menu. Either way, the salad was actually quite tasty (I’m not sure what the dressing was, but I liked it!), and would have been plenty to share but for my companion's aversion to green vegetables.

The portobello sandwich looked, and was reported to be, really good. Serving sandwiches on focaccia still worries me sometimes - I feel like it’s too easy for the bread to overwhelm its contents - but my companion reports that it was really what made this dish great. The fillings’ mix of flavors, and their strength, clearly balanced well with the thick bread, which also has the advantage of not getting so soggy with all that veggie goodness inside.

I ordered my tuna seared (it always makes me laugh a bit when the menu says “seared tuna” and then they ask you how you want it cooked), and it came out on a very pretty plate with lightly sautéed halved carrots, mini-zucchinis, and grape tomatoes, topped with the ‘Asian-style’ sauce and pickled ginger. The flavor was really good, and the veggies perfect, but the fish itself was a bit tough. Tasty, but just not the best tuna I’ve had, which surprised me - it was listed as "sashimi grade" on the menu.

It's no shock that our two cheques came out rather differently - my companion’s sandwich was $8 and my tuna $20 (plus a couple of beers each), totaling about $50, plus tip. Not bad at all by normal standards, but we're grad students. We'll have to await another special occasion (since lotto jackpots are especially unlikely for statisticians-in-training who can't bring themselves to buy tickets) to return for dinner, but I do plan to do so when the moment arises.

All in all, Après Diem makes a good dinner spot, but its real strength lies as a cool place for drinks and snacks, as the more relaxed portion of an evening out in Midtown.

* Seriously. If the employees,’ uhm, assets are how you’re selling your place, I’m generally gonna be wary. Après Diem manages to pull it off.

Après Diem
931 Monroe Drive (next to the Midtown Art Theater),
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
404.872.3333

National Chili Day at Hard Times Cafe

Purchase anything - even a soda- at Hard Times Cafe today and you get a free bowl of chili. You can even get cheese, beans, and onions in it for no extra charge. I verified this with the Clarendon location.

Thanks for Romel at meetin.org for the catch. :)

Hard Times Cafe (Clarendon)
3028 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201
703 528 2233
http://www.hardtimes.com

Busboys & Poets and Cakelove are opening in Arlington

Ok…who else is excited about this, Busboys & Poets and about Cakelove opening in Shirlington? This will happen in the late spring.

Busboys & Poets is a great place to hangout and I have had good desserts and appetizers there, and Cakelove has good eclairs and ginger scones. Ok…ok…if you let the cupcakes get to room temperature…they are decent - regardless of my past declarations. Yes, really. :) Cakelove has been growing on me recently.

La Casa Blanca cerca de la Casa Blanca

(The White House near the White House)

I’ve eaten at Casa Blanca at Vermont Avenue and K Street several times. The restaurant serves both Mexican and Peruvian cuisines. I have ordered from the Peruvian menu each time, although my friend raved about the enchiladas. I will try the enchiladas or burritos on my next visit. I have also seen diners happily digging into chips and an interesting looking salsa, so that is something else I may order next time around.

I’ve tried the arroz con pollo ($6.25), the chicharron con yucca ($6.95), and the pollo saltado ($7.95). The arroz con pollo consisted of chicken and rice with salad. The chicharron consisted of fried chunks of pork with fried yucca. Pollo saltado included chunks of chicken, red onions and tomatoes, and is served with French fries and rice. Their salads have a tangy vinagrette-like dressing.

This restaurant serves fresh and tasty food at inexpensive prices. It is a good option for either dining in or takeout. The last time I was there, which was Friday around 1pm, the restaurant was packed, so you may want to the place after the lunch rush. They have some sort of happy hour in the evening.

The first picture is of the the chicharron con yuca, while the second is of my friend's enchiladas. When I saw the enchiladas, I almost ordered a second lunch - like a Hobbit. :)

My only complaint is that the empanadas were not good. I think they microwaved them to heat them up, destroying the texture.

A slightly outdated version of Casa Blanca’s menu is available at http://washingtondc.menupages.com.

Casa Blanca
1014 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20005
202 393-4430

Promoting the Restaurant.com promotion yet again...

Apply the code SUPER to receive 60% off at Restaurant.com for gift certificates valid at over 7,000 participating restaurants. They have $25 gift certificates available for $4 after coupon. Some restrictions apply. Offer expires 1/31/2007.

This does not only apply to DC Area restaurants, and I have used them in various cities. Locally, I have used Restaurant.com's certificates for Matsutake and The Front Page, although the former is currently out of stock. I see that they have certificates available for Frontpage ($25 for Ballston, $10 for DC), Meskarem ($10), Ben's Chili Bowl ($10), The Charley Horse Grill ($25), Alero ($25), etc.

Just look at the restrictions very carefully because there may be party size requirements, the certificates may not be valid certain times or days, etc.

-jay

DCFUD Guest Guide: U Street

As "locals", we always try to give help our out-of-town guests move beyond the typical White House/Monuments/Museums experience. And since we like food, somehow we always end up taking them to our favorite restaurants and bars. And given that we find ourselves taking guests to the same place, over and over again, we figured we're present to you our "going out with guests" guides, by neighborhood, starting with our most frequent, the U Street Corridor.

DCFUD's Guide to Where to Take Guests in the U Street Area

Dinner
Creme Cafe (1322 U Street NW / 202-234-1884)
Still some of the most creative and tasty food in the D.C. area. This southern-inspired restaurant is among our currents favorite and never fails to be a hit with out-of-towners. Get the pork and beans.
[DCFUD Review - Washington Post Review]

Dessert
Love Cafe (1501 U Street NW / 202-265-9800)
While opinions of Cakelove cupcakes vary widely, it’s still a D.C. institution and a great place to get dessert and coffee in the U Street area.
[Washington Post Review]

Post-Dinner Drinks
Cafe Saint-Ex (1847 14th Street NW / 202-265-7839)
With good drinks, a nice bar, and a downstairs bar/lounge which frequently hosts great DJs, it's hard to top Saint Ex for a nice place to chill -- or dance the rest of the night away.
[Washington Post Review]

Late Night Munchies
Ben's Chili Bowl (1213 U Street, N.W. / 202-667-0909)
Open Friday and Saturday nights until 4 a.m., Ben's epitomizes U Street. Around since the late 1950s, Ben's serves some of the best chili half-smokes in the world. Be prepared for a long line -- but have no fear, it moves fast. No one should be allowed to leave D.C. without visiting Ben's.
[Washington Post Review]

RW - Taberna del Alabardero

It was no surprise that Taberna Del Alabardero would have a delicious menu for Restaurant Week. The place is synonymous with quality and hospitality on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite the reviews I've read, I still wasn't prepared for the majesty of the place, nearly dwarfing the quality of the food.

It would be wise for all interior decorators and designers to study the Taberna, to show how a restaurant can "make and entrance" like a movie star. The small, crowded bar area was full of people waiting for their tables or content to munch on tapas. That small waiting area quickly gives way to glorious dining chambers, featuring high ceilings, bold red paint and soft lighting. Tables are spaced far enough apart to lend a sense of privacy, and the design allows for plenty of background noise that never intrudes. The walls are decorated with various paintings, a whimsical hat decoration frames the coat check closet; classic prints from the Old World, and lend to the illusion that the next two hours will be spent in the south of Spain, not two blocks from the White House.

My friends at the table remarked at the quality of the duck mixed in with their field greens. Duck can be a tricky bird to serve, as it can go from soft and flaky to overcooked and gamey with little warning, but the light salt taste and gentle texture gave good contrast to the salad. The white bean soup was complemented with pieces of quail and slab bacon, and I was tempted to order another bowl or three. The mushroom sauce topping the salmon drew raves, while the peppered flank and potatoes were seasoned perfectly. My only complaint was that I should have ordered the white and dark chocolate mousse with almond whisky sponge cake - yeah, I gained a pound just writing that. I ordered the flan, and while it was certainly acceptable, the mousse was clearly the star.

After such a fine meal, Chef Santi Zabaleta's tasting menu looks a lot like my upcoming birthday gift from myself to myself...and it's a lot more affordable than an iPhone!

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Taberna Del Alabardero
1776 I Street NW
Washington DC 20006
202-429-2200

Restaurant Week Report: Mendocino Grille

The California cuisine and intimate but unpretentious atmosphere drew my group to Mendocino Grille to kick off Restaurant Week on Monday. Though Restaurant Week isn't always the best time for a place to show off its charms (particularly in the service arena), we still had a fine enough experience for us to gravitate towards the restaurant again...that is, when we all get raises.

Mendocino's menu is already on the small side, so when they limit the Restaurant Week options by tacking on $5 and $7 upcharges to the majority of the appetizers and
entrees (even on some desserts), the selections which allow you to stay in the $30 range become pretty limited. Still, all six of us managed to enjoy our meals while avoiding the upcharges (yeah, we're those customers the management loves this week; at least we ordered alcohol), though not all were wowed with every selection.

I started with the duck confit appetizer. I'm not a huge fan of sweet dishes, so I was pleased that Mendocino's offering stayed squarely in the "savory" category; not necessarily a guarantee when you're having duck. This one sat on a bed of meaty white beans, and the skin was nice and crispy. I was pleased with my entree, thinly-sliced hanger steak on a bed of pureed potatoes and broccoli rabe, accented with a peppercorn sauce. The dish was slightly marred by the omnipresent whole peppercorns, but delicious overall. The biggest surprise for me was dessert - there are few around that suit my tastes, but the goat cheese cheesecake with citrus sorbet had a just-right combination of tartness and creaminess for me. Overall, the portions are measured, if not generous.

Friends raved about the beet salad and striped bass, but were underwhelmed by mushroom consumme and house cavatelli (which should be noted was the only vegetarian choice of entree). No dessert, whether it be banana ice cream or chocolate pot de creme, was consumed without praise.

Mendocino's charms that might go unnoticed during a Restaurant Week excursion include an extensive wine list with many by-the-glass options (I had no qualms with the tart "J" Pinot Gris I chose) and a wonderful cheese selection; it has much in common with its trendy sister restaurant Sonoma on the Hill. Service wasn't impeccable - it was rather slow and two parties' credit cards were wrongly charged - but was polite and gracious throughout the meal. While my budget will likely put me back at Sonoma than have me returning to Mendocino, the food convinced me that the restaurants' purveyors deserve my patronage in either context.

Mendocino Grille
2917 M Street
Washington, DC
20007
202-333-2912

DCFUD Attacks Restaurant Week - Table Bussers Annoyed!

We at DCFUD try to get together every month or two for a small happy hour, discuss new restaurants, recipes, chefs on the move, all the good gossip in town. Last month, we ate at Nirvana, the fine vegetarian Indian restaurant in Northwest, and while the food was delicious and the service impeccable, the lack of meat in the meals dictated that our group Restaurant Week outing had to rectify that. The task of organizing a RW dinner fell into my hands, and as our dear friend and colleague MAW would be heading back to grad school down South on Tuesday, we had to do something Monday night. We passed around a list of participating restaurants, and selected which ones we'd like to try. Our short list included Viridian, Taberna Del Alabardero, The Prime Rib and Bobby Van's Steakhouse. It's hard to find fault with any of those places, and my experience at Bobby Van's last summer certainly made me eager to go back. We selected Bobby Van's for the meal as they were able to accommodate our group, and to our pack of carnivores, there's just something about a good steak.

As was the case previously, the food was straightforward, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Our server Paul was conversational, friendly and, in a skill so many servers seem to lack, understood the light-hearted mood of our group. And, just like last year, Chef Eric was making the rounds, though this time he recommended that we try a serving of scallops with seaweed, radishes, mashed potatoes and a light sauce. No ridiculously exotic ingredients, but presented and prepared wonderfully. While everybody else enjoyed the RW offerings, I chose their standard menu's Porterhouse for Two...by myself. My ability to overeat is almost legendary - ask DCFUD scribe Jason about my one-man attack on Kam Fong last New Year's Day - and the chance to order what Washingtonian Magazine called the finest porterhouse in the city was all I needed to go from gourmet to gourmand. And what an absolutely wonderful cut! Each bite was glorious; the New York Strip side flavorful and the Filet Mignon side tender, the whole seared with the right amount of crust. Remember John Candy's steak-eating scene in The Great Outdoors, when those last bites forced down with anger and spite? Not me - I'll admit the presence of a small tear in my eye when the bone was bussed away. We didn't mean to be the last group in the restaurant, and we apologize to any of Bobby Van's staff who may have missed a bus or Metro.

For those looking for last-minute reservations, Viridian is packed tighter than a Tokyo subway train, and considering their RW special is pretty much everything on their menu, they get bonus points for really getting into the spirit of the event. The Prime Rib has long remained a mystery to us at DCFUD - our startling lack of trust funds, expense accounts or lottery winnings has rendered this fine restaurant untouchable to our meager budgets - and a mystery it shall remain for us as they are only participating in RW for lunch. Bobby Van's is busy during the prime dining hours, but their bar side should accommodate smaller parties and offers the RW menu. Taberna Del Alabardero is likewise busy during the 7pm to 9pm stretch, but the menu looks like it'll be worth the wait. I'll let you know after Friday night!

Let us know where you're going and what you've enjoyed in the comments. We're always appreciative of restaurants that treat RW as a chance to shine rather than a tiresome gimmick to fill some seats.

Full Restaurant Week List Available

As astute reader Audrey points out, despite the fact that they still haven't renewed the domain name, the Washington DC Convention & Tourism Corporation & Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington have posted the full list of restaurant week participants at http://www.washington.org/restaurantwk/.

Restaurant week runs from January 8 through January 14, 2007. Lunches are $20.07 and dinners are $30.07. Keep in mind that not everything on a restaurant's menu is available for the restaurant week price and be sure to ask your wait staff to show you what is. Every year we hear stories of people who end up with very expensive tabs that they thought were included in the tip.

And remember to be nice to your wait staff. For some of these places, the restaurant week tabs are significantly lower than the normal price, and wait staff may see their tips decreases proportionally.

And finally, get reservations early. Like yesterday. You can book by phone with the individual restaurants or through OpenTable.com.

There are 170 restaurants are participating this year. Some options to consider:

• 1789 Restaurant
• Bobby Van's Steakhouse
• Brasserie Les Halles
• Charlie Palmer Steak
• Inde Bleu
• Indigo Landing
• Kinkead's
• Smith & Wollensky
• Taberna del Alabardero
• The Prime Rib
• Vidalia
• Viridian
• Zengo

A Tale of Two Burrito Stands

Lately, I have had a huge decision to make around lunchtime. I work right between two good burrito stands, and that means that a decision has to be made when I'm in the mood for Mexican takeout stand goodness. Both stands are vegetarian and feature both black and pinto beans.

One option is Carlos Guardado’s stand on 17th and K Street, on the Farragut North side of K Street. His burritos have a fresh (quality ingredient) taste to them. To me...they are the perfect comfort food. He has three wraps to choose from (spinach, plain, and tomato), and maybe 8 small bottles of hot sauce. These sauces are not of the fruity hot sauce variety. He did have Uncle Brutha's red and green sauces last week...and I do especially like Uncle Brutha's green. Carlos also sells coffee.

The other option is John Ryder’s stand, Pedro and Vinny’s, at 15th and k (on the other side of K), which is all about variety. He has 8 wraps or so (including onion, whole wheat, garlic, and spinach), and 30 or so hot sauces, many of which are fruity (including Georgia Peach, raspberry habanero, pineapple, grapefruit, Jamaican mango). You can even order hot sauce by number and specify whether you want it fruity. Ordering a #7 fruity once yielded his homemade mango hot sauce, which is kept in a vodka bottle. He also has chips and hot sauces at the front of the stand...where you can sample them. You can order three different sizes here, unlike at Carlos' stand.

You make your own change at Pedro and Vinny’s, and bag your own burrito. There is usually a line at this stand, and while on line, John will ask you what kind of tortilla you want, and whether you want cheese.

You need to check his website when the weather is not good...to ensure that the stand is open. In the winter, John will update his site Fridays, letting you know if he will be in be in town the following week.

I like both stands and tend to order the same things at both...small burrito, mixed beans, spinach wraps, and guacamole. But, it is nice that Pedro and Vinny's has tomato salsa and a verger variety of hot sauces. Plus...I like the fruity hot sauces with their burritos, and the crunch of the onions. So...when I want quality comfort food...I go to Carlos, and when I want variety...I go to Pedro and Vinny’s. :) I usually spend $5 or $6 at either stand.

Keep in mind that both stands may be closed in bad weather, especially in the winter. Although, the weather has been nice lately.

Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Beaten by Montsouris

A bad dinner affects humans differently than a bad movie or a bad day at work. We feel the same outrage that might be inspired by a factory poisoning the air, or the realization that last night's hookup isn't going to call: we took something in, into our very bodies, and trusted it and made it part of ourselves. There's a deep feeling of betrayal and hurt to go along with the disappointment; we needed the comfort and sustenance of a good meal and now we won't have another chance until tomorrow. Perhaps eating is just too basic to the human condition to risk messing up.

Are you listening to me, you people at Montsouris? I wrote a note to all my writers yesterday about how we should try to approach every restaurant positively. You're making me look bad!

Taking over for Johnny's Half Shell in Dupont, Montsouris comes to us from the owners of the very pleasant Montmartre over in Capitol Hill. With two solid restaurants as forbears, how is it things could have gone so wrong? While the few tables at the front of the restaurant look rather nice, most of the clientele is crammed into a bizarre row of cheap, diner-style seats facing the kitchen. It's knee-to-knee and elbow-to-wine glass as diners struggle not to eavesdrop on each other, and there's the collective feeling of confused faux pas. What could be wrong with my hair today? Perhaps I should have worn my pearls? Why oh why have we alone been consigned to this nasty and impersonal galley, when such lovely tables are visible off in the distance?

Now, in the eighties it was considered a mark of distinction have your French server hate you. Their prime purpose was to aggressively lounge near the kitchen, arms crossed and eyes glaring, cursing under their very French breath. But today that form of bizarre sadism lives on only in the very low-confidence, or the very out-of-business. I'm not sure which category Montsouris falls into yet, but I can say this: each sneer, each forgotten wine order, each ignored attempt to flag down fork, water glass, or menu, are small bruises to my soul. It wasn't that big to begin with, and now it's black and blue. Thank you very much.

And now I could spend a page writing about the food, but you know it's going to be bad. Should I even bother? Assume that a good meal would have vindicated everything else, and draw your conclusions from there. The appetizers were by turns boring or inedible, the steaks grainy and cold.

I emerged from Montsouris a beaten woman; practically in tears, and with that odd combination of hunger, nausea, and leaden depression that only the a truly bad dining experience can provide. And so it was that, a few minutes later and with my stomach still churning over the catastrophe across the street, I crept into the bar at Urbana and ordered two appetizers, a glass of wine and a desert. They were lovely.

Montsouris
2002 P St. NW,
Washington, DC
20036
202-833-4180

Restaurant Weak 2007

The fine folks at Washington DC's Convention and Tourism Corporation are usually a good place to go for information about the upcoming Restaurant Week. On their site, they're linking to www.restaurantweekdc.com - which, the fine folks at Network Solutions tells us is either going to be renewed, or deleted, but gives us no further info on RW07.

Remember kids, always check your links, and don't forget to renew your domains! Not every bit of mail from a domain registrar is spam, you know?

It just seems like it.

High steaks (and bad puns)

There are places in DC that require a special occasion, and places that require an ID. There are places that require you to know someone to get in. And then there are the places that require a certain something, a particular je ne sais quoi, places that need…

To be blunt, there are places in DC that absolutely require an expense account. There are certainly more expensive restaurants in the city than Charlie Palmer Steak, but it would be difficult to find one with more people dining on someone else's bill. Lobbyists come to prove that they know how to scratch-a-back. Hill staffers come to blow off steam on dad's credit card. Bosses bring their new employees, retiring employees, and once in a while, a secretary. Is anyone here actually paying for themselves?

I surely wasn't. The occasion was a visit from Uncle Bill. Not my uncle per se, but certainly an uncle, in from Minnesota to sell paper. He already had a drink in hand when we met him at the minimalist bar that fronts the famed view of the capitol. A lady had bought it for him.

A recent Chowhound post described Charlie Palmers as 'Hotel-lobby chic' - the large, white dining room, the loud crowd stuffed into serious suits, and the waiters in slim, wire-rimmed glasses. At any moment you expect to see a potted plant. But while these are the usual at a DC steak house, the menu is more original. The required chops, steaks, and fries are joined by more exciting fare like a Ricotta Ravioli with Peekytoe Crab and Brown Butter Basted Skate Wing. It's a combination that relies heavily on the quality of the ingredients but doesn't mind giving them a hand when necessary; a more grounded version of Corduroy.

One bottle of excellent Pinot Noir later we were feeling appropriately political. I slurped my way through a squash soup, smooth and rich, with chewy apple dumplings. I gave one to amg and wished I hadn't. Brussel sprouts and chestnuts were perfect for a sprout lover like me, a tender baked parmesan gnocchi was a very close second. The truffle basted rib-eye for two arrived as a huge slab of protein, presented for inspection and then whisked away to be broken down into more manageable anatomy. Reports say that it was a bit overwhelmingly meaty, but I was more interested in my New Hampshire ringneck pheasant, stuffed with foie gras and crusted in rosemary cured bacon. It was truly outstanding; simple and salty and tender and I almost cried when I realized I couldn't possibly eat another bite of it.

After such heavy indulgence, it was a relief to find the crème brulee trio to be more like a caramelized mousse. I'd like to think that the lighter desert selection is a commentary on the kitchen's careful forethought, but who knows. In any case, it was a perfect finish to a meal on someone else's dime, and there was nothing left to do but to lean back in the warm glow of conspicuous consumption and port and play 'spot the hooker'.

The New Stoney's - Reviewed by the Five Paragraph Bitter Bar Food Critic

When my friend Wayne called one evening, just before spring, he told me that the beloved dive bar Stoney's would be closing. Its building on L Street was being gutted, forcing the joint to close. Stoney's was famous for good pizzas, massive grilled cheese sandwiches and cheap beer - three of my reasons to live, frankly. We had to go say goodbye to our old friend.

Stoney's stood out in that it was a good ole' fashioned neighborhood bar. It wouldn't cause a fuss in East Baltimore or East Des Moines, the south side of Philly or Boston; would have fit in perfectly in Western Pennsylvania by replacing the Redskins' photos with Steelers and Iron City neon lights. The kind of place with grizzled old late-night diner waitresses who might bring you what you ordered, and cuss you out if they got it wrong. Pictures on the walls of local sports scenes; some remembered, some forgotten, and all with a permanent layer of dust. Regulars straight from Central Casting - old men looking for a cold sip and a hot bite, straight from the job - if they had one. A gruff bartender who didn't care how old you liked your Scotch because they only had one bottle - a gallon-sized plastic drum made from the finest distillery in Kinhump, Iowa. Stoney's was an institution, a bar stuck in time, with a 1950s menu and decor. It wasn't a created by a celebrity chef or HGTV interior designer, just a guy who liked beer and hearty chow. It harkened back to a different era, when D.C. wasn't a place you went out in, but got out from.

We took solace that last beer-soaked night knowing that the owner would be looking for a new location for Stoney's. When that new location turned out to be Logan Circle, we wondered how a new Stoney's would look in yet another rapidly-evolving neighborhood, a place that used to be more hookers than homes. I went there Wednesday night, not really sure what to expect. Would some of the old regulars be sitting on a crooked bar, laughing at the Yuppies shopping at Whole Foods across the street? They'll certainly be griping about the Redskins' losing season, right? Maybe expressing shock that Alfonso Soriano left town, and wondering how much ole' Frank Howard could make if we were playing today.

I walked into a perfectly clean, crowded bar full of freshly-scrubbed young professionals. A bar that now has a larger wine and microbrew selection, a heck of a lot more seating, and no rickety stairs to negotiate when heading to the bathroom. None of the old guys were there at all. Conversation was more policy than prose, and the waitresses were actually attractive. As though my system wasn't shocked enough, Stoney's now takes credit cards! Fortunately, they still have the best grilled cheese sandwich in town, or else I'd have been in Bizarro DC.

It's a great place to go for a cheap meal and good drink. It's definitely respectable. It is what every suburban chain bar and grill strives to be, and somehow misses. Still friendly, still inviting, but different. Changed...much like it's new neighborhood.

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3 Whammies! out of 5. Stoney's gets a Whammy! each for still being a great value, with heavenly grilled cheese sandwiches and good beer, and their choice to take credit cards saved me 2 bucks in ATM fees. That's gotta be worth an additional 2 Whammies! there. Stoney's lost 2 Whammies! by being completely unrecognizable from the old place and for being too close to Whole Foods. Nothing worse than eating fried foods and drinking beer and watching lean, healthy people walk out with organic cheeses, veggies and whole-grain pastas, knowing that you should be eating better. Plus, the way the hungry Whole Foods shoppers were drooling over my fried foods and beer was VERY distracting.
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Stoney's
1433 P Street NW
Washington DC 20005

Minibar (for Mini Me)

Young zaf's earliest toy was a big bowl of water. She'd mix in little squeezy tubes of food coloring, flour, sugar, sand, eyeshadow, and whatever else happened to be lying around. The resulting gloop was called 'cake'. The nearest adult was asked to eat it.

Finally, zaf discovered He-Man dolls, so no lasting harm was done (except to the carpet), but in a universe without Matell, zaf might have gone on to work at Mini Bar.

Hopeful diners must plan their meal one month in advance. The day exactly one month prior to the meal, to be precise, and Minibar's website goes so far as to suggest calling early in the morning if you want your first choice of the 6 PM or 8:30 PM seating. There are only six chairs, and confirming the reservation requires a dizzying back and forth of credit cards on the phone, confirmation by fax, and finally a signed contract. On this particular night I waited downstairs in Café Atlantico with five other apprehensive diners, at least two of whom had been looking forward to this for six months. We talked with that hushed, nervous intimacy among strangers that usually means an imminent bungee jump or something. I calmed my butterflies with a mojito poured over cotton candy. I'm telling you, butterflies. For a meal.

The counter, set upstairs with chairbacks to the rest of the restaurant, was manned by two chefs; one who acted as ringmaster, and one who prepared little things in the background. Our particular chef said he could perform both sides, but not at the same time. Why? I have seen cooking technique whittled down to such minimalism that it looks choreographed, but that's always been just a metaphor. This was like they were doing some kind of crazy ballet that also happened to turn ingredients into tiny, bite-sized dishes. At the end of each act they'd pick up the plates (or wire baskets, or gelatin-glass trays), nod at each other to get the timing just right, and click them down on the glass counter in front of each diner at precisely the same moment.

Each of the 30-odd dishes was constructed, passed out, and whisked away: the famous olive oil bon bons. The pork rinds with Maple syrup. The smoked oyster with apples. Some of them were downright tasty: I could easily eat a whole bowl of the Zucchini in Textures (creamy zucchini seeds - light but savory) or the Linguini made from jellied feta water. Also perfect was the tomato sorbet wrapped in avocado that made up the Guacamole. And the single spoonful of England clam chowder: Squirts of creamy potato foam with a single clam. Other dishes seemed more like modern art - there to make an interesting point instead of to please. The deconstructed glass of wine consisted of a number of herb and spice shreds, embedded in gelatin with alcohol sprayed on top.

And some of the dishes were just fun. I started giggling at course 7 (saffron yoghurt meringue), continued on through the cotton candy fois gras and Lobster Americain (served skewered on a pipette of its own shell-juice) and didn't stop laughing till after course 32, a Halls lollypop.

I highly suggest the wine pairings, dumbed down for us plebeians into either "Lively & Fresh" or "Luscious and Sexy". They say that dishes change about every six months. I'll be back then to feed my inner 3-year old.

D'oh! Free donuts!

If the Springfield of Simpsons' lore really was Springfield, Virginia, I know where Homer would be tomorrow.

According to the DC Examiner, one of the two DC-centric daily commuter papers fighting tooth-and-nail for your free readership, the Fractured Prune donut shop in DuPont Circle will be giving away free samples of their delicious, baked-while-you-wait wares, from 4 - 8 pm on Friday, December 1st.

Never heard of the Fractured Prune? You must be one of them Dewey Beach people. The Prune has been a welcome addition to the Ocean City sugar scene, quickly ranking with Dumser's and the Candy Kitchen as must-stops while at the beach. They take the best ideas from Cold Stone Creamery (the wide array of toppings and fillings) and leave out the worst (knock off the damn singing and make my friggin' waffle cone!). It's a Build-Your-Own-Donut. Those who have tried the Prune's dough-with-the-Os can attest to their warm cakey delights, customizable to your heart's content. The picture with this story is the Sundae, but French Toast is my favorite...or the Reese's Cup...or the Morning Buzz...or...

For some ideas of what kind of donuts you can have, check out this link. I apologize in advance if you gain weight.

Thanks to FUD friends Liz and Duane for the catch!

The Cajun Wars

Bardia's New Orleans Café of Adams Morgan is the best casual Cajun place in the city. Without any peer, without even any near competition. But having said that, the hands down best casual Cajun outside of the city is Bethesda's Louisiana Express Company. Which is better? I dare not speculate. There would probably be some kind of explosion or something.

The preeminent decorations inside this bare-bones eatery are awards. The walls are papered with them. And although a decade or more of Washingtonian readers could easily have been mistaken, this time they struck gold. The savory, spicy smell of jambalaya smacks you in the face as you enter, and ensures you your own seat on the metro when you leave .

I tried the shrimp bisque which arrived steaming and smelling of ripe tomato. AMG dove for a his iced tea at first bite, so I got to polish it off myself with a one of the city's most perfect, buttery biscuits. The french fries, red with chili powder, were hot and good. Poached Eggs Creole came on a bed of fried grits and perfect andouille, and the catfish po' boy was crunchy and moist and huge. The final bill…under $30.

Was it possibly better than Bardia's? Better to not think about it

Out Of The Deep-Fryer & Into The Frying Pan

After another Thanksgiving, I thought I’d ease everyone back into the daily grind with something unusual for this web site: a culinary op-ed of sorts. Recently, the people in charge of New York City have begun a debate on whether or not to ban trans-fatty acids in restaurants. In order to understand the implications of this, it is necessary to know a little bit about what trans-fatty acids are, and why officials would want to ban them.

Normally, fat comes in four types: saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and trans fatty acids. Saturated fat (such as butter, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil) is solid at room temperature, and is generally quite bad for you, in that it has been shown to be correlated with heart disease. Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature (olive, canola, soybean, corn, and vegetable oils), and while still bad for you, are less bad than saturated fats (although the fat content in your diet should come from unsaturated fats as much as possible).

The trouble is that all the flavour and goodness in various recipes comes from saturated fat. Some enterprising companies have discovered that if they add Hydrogen to an unsaturated fat like vegetable oil, it takes on properties that make it behave like a saturated fat (in terms of taste, texture, and body). These hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oils (which are sold as margarine, vegetable “spreads,” oleos, and shortening) are also called trans-fatty acids (or TFA for short).

Recently, authorities have become concerned because of a link between TFA’s and a number of health problems. TFA's have been shown to raise the level of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, while lowering the level of HDL ("good") cholesterol, which leads to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Also, there seems to be a correlation between TFA consumption and obesity levels. The federal government, which is in an excellent position to enforce such a ban nationwide, has been silent on this matter, so some municipalities have started to take matters into their own hands. New York City, as the first major city to consider this, is being watched very carefully. Fast-food restaurant chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's, worried about potential drops in profit margins, have already (supposedly) started investigating alternatives for their fried foods.The proposed ban would only encompass restaurants. People would still be able to purchase margarine, shortening, etc. for home use.

As a professional chef, I am opposed to this sort of regulation for two reasons. First is because it’s badly written legislation that unfairly targets restaurants. Only restaurants would be subject to a ban on ingredients that are otherwise perfectly legal to use. Restaurants generally use a shortening in their deep fryers because it’s cheaper to use, and it doesn’t have to be changed as often as oil (and believe me, changing the oil in a commercial deep-fryer is not trivial). As such, the practical implication of this ban would be to quadruple the cost of anything fried.

The second reason I am opposed to this ban is because I really believe that it is not for a government to regulate what I eat. I am an adult, and I should decide what level of risk I’m comfortable with. I understand that there is a large amount of obesity in our society, but at the end of the day, people are responsible for their own diets, and for their level of activity (or lack thereof). What will happen if this ban comes to pass is that restaurants will most likely revert to using saturated fats such as butter, which is why the American Heart Association does not support the ban as it is currently written.

This sort of regulation first started in the late 1970’s when officials were concerned about Peking duck (which requires that the duck is hung to dry for half a day). It then moved to artisanal sausages and salumerias, and now to TFA’s. As a result, a lot of old-style artisan work is being lost. I admire the New York City government’s intentions, however the practical implications would be to shield people from one danger, while exposing people to another. Where does this end? If they come after Five Guys next, then my friends, the terrorists have truly won.

Got an opinion? Post a comment, or send an e-mail to dcfud.writers@gmail.com. For more information on TFA's and their health implications, check out the American Heart Association's web site.

Where To Eat in Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke VII

For those of you that have eaten your way through the previous six articles in this series, here is the next installment. The prices I mention are after the discounts (and before tax and tip).

I mentioned the Ballston Front Page’s Wednesday burger night in the fourth installment. I recently looked at their website and read about their free Thursday night (4-7pm) taco bar, which is at the bar. They also have $3 import beer bottles that evening, and DJ Smokey at 10pm. The Front Page also has selected half price appetizers Mondays through Fridays between 4-7pm.

I have yet to check the place out…but sushi bargain hunters may want to try the Ballston Mall’s Asahi Kaiten Sushibar for $2 a plate (which consists of 2 pieces) conveyor sushi lunch on Mondays through Fridays. This is a place where the sushi rotates on a conveyor…and you grab what fancies you. They also have six different bento box specials for lunch Mondays through Fridays at $8 each. Happy Hour drink specials are half price beer and cocktails on Mondays through Fridays from 3pm-7pm and Saturday from 4pm-7pm.

Several of us enjoyed the lunch buffet last Sunday at Sangam in Ballston. They had a good selection of Indian food, especially for $8.95 per person.

I will say this...between the Chocolate Show (that DCFUDie ZAF wrote about), Sangam's lunch buffet, and DCFUDie Ray's Thanksgiving spread yesterday...I think I've finally learned to pace myself...when it comes to eating huge meals. I wonder if I could do that at a churrascaria. :)

The Front Page (Ballston)
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia
703 248-9990

Asahi Kaiten Sushibar
671 North Glebe Rd. Unit 1248,
Arlington, VA, 22203 (Ballston Mall)
703 248-0777

Sangam
1211 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22201
703 524-2728 / 2711

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke I

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke II

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke III

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke IV

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke V

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke VI

Waiting for the South to Rise

I have been putting off the review of Acadiana. What started as minor procrastination has now turned into a full blown case of denial. Why can't I remember what I ate? Did I even go? Fact is, while great spots are easy to write up, and really bad ones are even easier, I'm not really sure what to say when the restaurant is neither. It's tough to do a review based off the fact that the calorie consumption within its premises allowed you to live one more day.

As the latest effort from the rapidly expanding Passion Food empire, Acadiana arrived a year ago with the road well-paved. DC Coast and Ten Penh are both reasonably tasty staples, and the lovely Ceiba is still where I take out-of-town relatives lookin' for latin. But for a small town, we do already have Vidalia, B. Smith's, Georgia Brown, Indigo Landing, and even the new Crème …did DC really need another neo-Southern place? Well, definitely- I mean, you really can't have too many versions of this awesome cuisine- but I find this iteration to be forgettable.

The interior is pretty and subdued in grey and wood... with diner-style booths. Which means the general effect is of a very elegant TGI Friday's. The service was almost unnervingly alert. The best taste of the night came at the very beginning - amg fared well with a Mint Julep and I with a tasty Sazerac (a mix of, among other things, fake absinthe and whiskey) which, come to think of it, might have something to do with my poor memory of the rest of the night. Did we order wine then? I think so, but who knows! It must have been the Sazerac.

The trio of soups - turtle, crab, and gumbo, were acceptable with the crab's crunchy corn and hearty flavor winning the bunch. On suggestion, the fried green tomatoes were delicate and delicious, although I'm not sure I'd bother ordering them again. A trio of deviled eggs were fabulous, but only because I bloody adore deviled eggs. A less biased head would probably rate them at on par with very nice wedding Hors d' Oeuvres.

Jeff Tunks has never gotten the hang of main courses, so I usually stock up on appetizers and split an entrée. It was a special; this time there's a memory of an enjoyable whitefish in…sauce. I can't tell you more 'cause I just don’t know. Come on Acadiana, there's potential here but you need to give me something I'm still going to remember three weeks later.

Urbana (bana fo fana)

Someone with Savant Syndrome might be able to tell you on what day of the week the civil war started and then count back from it in prime numbers, but might not be able to tie her own shoes. If you fall into this category, there may be a position open for you at Urbana Restaurant and Wine bar. How else can we explain somewhere so perfectly beautiful, with such incredible wine, such absolutely lovely servers, such tasty appetizers... and such disappointing entrees?

I had been here a number of times before to luxuriate in the bar, a low, warm room filled with velvet pillows and couches. To call its design 'pretty' misses a perfectly good opportunity to use the word 'Voluptuous'. There I munched my way through an scallop ceviche and a roast quail with wild mushrooms on what seemed to be a light pumpkin casserole. I washed it down with a cinnimony qupe syrah and thought that life was pretty damn good.

A week later, when finally sitting down at one of Urbana's wooden dining room tables, both appetizers were still as perfect as calculating pi to the nth decimal place. But the only other success of the evening was an acceptable pork chop with Brussel Sprouts. Both orders of the lobster pasta were overdone and the carpaccio was uninteresting. The duck fat fries promised something outrageous; instead they were just a reminder that horse is really the way to go if you want to advertise an unusual frying agent. Gordon Biersch has better.

The wine was great, but there was a little trepidation in ordering it. Perhaps it was only our night, but the waiters seemed to be having an unusually difficult time in keeping things upright. Every five minutes there was a crash from the kitchen or bar area; the sound of splintering china was practically this meal's soundtrack. At one point, a tray of airborn glassware jumped ship near our table to soak everyone's back.

A plum tart was alright; in fact, the whole meal would have been fine had it not been for the hefty price tag. As it was, we were left with a vague feeling that we'd been the victim of a bait-and-switch... And wet blouses.

Well, they are chocolate doughnuts now!

Ok…I have had chocolate on my mind this week. This is probably because I’ll be in New York City for the Chocolate Show this weekend, as will fellow DCFUDies ZAF and AMG.

So…what did having chocolate on the brain mean this weekend? I dragged a couple of friends into Churreria Madrid in Adams Morgan for churros con chocolate, which consists of a plate of doughnuts and a cup of hot chocolate to dunk them in. These are not long straight churros like Mexican or Argentine churros. The churros are what I remember from visiting Spain, but the hot chocolate is actually thicker there. Churros con chocolate are still a nice treat though.

The restaurant has entrees and tapas…and maybe I’ll try them sometime. For now, I sit on the main floor at the bar tables and dunk away. They do have an upstairs dining room as well.

Churreria Madrid
2505 Champlain Street NW
Washington, DC
202 483-4441

Tasty Memories of DC

As I am in the process of packing up my life to move down to Savannah, Georgia, I have been taking some time out to visit my favorite restaurants and bars in the DC area. I am sad to leave this area for many reasons, and I must admit that one of them is the great international food selections.

PHO 75
I think that my number one most frequented restaurant in Arlington is Pho 75, hands down. I eat there about once a week, more in the colder months. I have already been searching for a pho location in Savannah, and I am not sure I have found one, but I am just dreading leaving this Arlington joint. The aroma of their soup can be smelled from outside the door, and I am always drawn to the same selection, a small plain with vinegared onion. Mmmmm......I can admit that I am looking forward to eating there the next two weeks while we pack up the kitchen. At under $6.00 a meal, who can deny themselves that treat? Plus, it's gluten free!

LA TASCA
What can I say? I ate there mostly before I went gluten free, but they have some delicious 'gf' options too. The jamon serrano y queso manchego, patatas bravas con ali-oli, queso manchego, and champinones al ajillo are just a few of my favorites. The amazing food and multiple sangria selections made for great happy hour and birthday meeting places. I miss LaTasca already! Maybe I will be visiting there this week!

TASTE OF MOROCCO
I had wanted to dine here in Clarendon before we flew to Morocco over the holidays last year, but my boyfriend suggested that we wait and return after having 'real' Moroccan food. So we did. And let me tell you, a Taste of Morocco matches the dining experience we had in Fes almost exactly down to the menus and serving plates. I have dined at Marrakesh in DC, and, although I had a great time there, was a little disappointed in the quality of their food. The Clarendon location has impressed me every time I have been there. The wine served was the exact wine that I had puchased by the bottle in Morocco (for 60 dirhams, roughly six American dollars). The wine served here is $20 a bottle, which is pricy for me, but SO worth the memories. The bastilla is so flaky and moist, unlike the drier version we were served at Marrakesh. I have already found a Moroccan restaurant in Savannah, Casbah, and I am excited to sample their cuisine. You might find me at Taste of Morroco next week! Just talking about the bastilla makes my mouth water and crave some mint tea!

BANANA CAFE AND PIANO BAR
Believe it or not, I do have many favorites in DC, and the Banana Cafe and Piano Bar is always a great place to go in the summer. I LOVE their ceviche, and I have created a recipe of my own (posted earlier this year) that comes pretty close to theirs; atmosphere not included. I am also a HUGE fan of the stuffed yuca. I had never had stuffed yuca before dining here, so I do not have a comparison, but it is one of my favorite meals. Or, was one of them before going gluten free (the yuca is fried). Another perk of this locale? The piano bar!

GHANA CAFE
The Ghana Cafe started out as our number one pick in the DC area. We loved the small location, the friendly service and the huge Club imported beers. We had gone there a few times and when we returned a month or so ago, the friendly service was gone, the beer was very expensive, and they didn't have anything we asked for. My fried plaintains and peanuts seemed to lack love as well.

A few other place of note, Hotel Washington has a great rooftop terrace for watching sunset and catching up with friends. Tapatinis is always a fun hip place to go sample new martinis. Five Guys, I can not forget about Five Guys. We often talk about how profitable we could be opening up a location in Savannah.

There are so many places that I love here; my head is now filled with about 30 more 'favorites'. So perhaps I will make this a series....all I know is that I am really going to miss the big buffet of DC food selections! For now...back to packing....perhaps I'll stop for some pho first....

Citronelle: the Verdict

Someday I hope to find myself lounging in my $2 Million Dupont flat sipping something expensive. I shall turn to my sexy and well-dressed significant other, gesture with an impeccably manicured hand and say, 'Dahling, I rather fancy stopping off at Citronelle this evening'.

But until I can stop spending all my hard earned cash on comic books and Chipotle, I have to get to Citronelle the usual way: By finding a special occasion, booking a month in advance, and then drooling all over my keyboard as I count the days off my calendar. Last week after much anticipation they finally hit zero, and for the first time I finally got to experience this much-talked about bastion of food-happiness.

Right now Citronelle is listed as #12 in the US by the often trustworthy Gourmet Magazine, beating out The Inn at Little Washington as DC's finest contribution to dining. And while I might argue that our finest contribution is, in fact, Joe's Noodle house on Rockville Pike, I can't find fault with the idea that Citronelle is bloody good . (Incidentally, #1 right now belongs to Chicago's Alinea - I hear it's like Minibar, but weirder. Any rich Chicagoans need some arm candy for the weekend?)

Amg and I arrived to a very brief wait and a very large table in that order. But besides needing smoke signals to communicate, the room was warm and happy with an open kitchen, glowing panels, and more gray hair than a Russian Blue. We had just missed the tasting menu by a few minutes, but the lovely waiter let us order an extra course. In hindsight, there's no way we could have eaten an entire tasting menu. After a while it just comes down to a matter of volume.

The food at Citronelle is superb. And the food at Citronelle is witty- that's not a word I'd usually use to describe a meal, but how else do you explain cous cous, dyed with squid ink to look like caviar, served over raw egg and flattened lobster in a tin? Or how about a soft cheese soufflé set in the middle of a smooth, rich mushroom soup? Or a thick, juicy cut of duck done 'Tutti Frutti' (the name says it all). Or a desert made of small items shaped to look like breakfast dishes? If you can think of a better word, let me know.

And even had the food been TGI Friday's, with a staff like this I'd happily eat crappy quesadillas every night just to be back under their care. Waiters came over to discreetly make sure that everything was perfect. Waiters came over just to say hi. Waiters came over to give us a 7th round of perfect bread. Waiters came over to keep me company when amg got left the table for a moment. The Sommelier took our wine inexperience as a personal challenge, and it was only after ten minutes of amusing anecdotes that we suddenly realized that he probably had other tables to deal with.

Anyway, go to Citronelle. It's worth it. Even if it means having to do it on more than 2 hours notice.

My Appetite is Penta-Gone

The Pentagon is a lovely place to visit, but I sure don't want to eat there.

It's like a better-armed Smithsonian. There are some wonderful displays on NATO, various weapons systems, the USO, artifacts from several wars. And, as the building is so massive, there are plenty of dining options - McDonald's, Sbarro's, KFC, some sandwich places, etc... It practically covers the whole range of chow from "fast food" to "microwaved."

At least there's plenty of little coffee shops around. You'll definitely stay awake while going hungry. There's an Au Bon Pain, but not a full-service location, meaning some bagels and coffee. Un très petit Au Bon Pain, s'il vous plait. An Au Bon Pain at 1/8th scale.

If fried meat is your thing, then the Pentagon has your back. Besides having more fast food places than a Midwestern truck stop, the Pentagon features Dominic's of New York. Dom's offers cheesesteaks, burgers, sausages and paninis, but can also leave you (and your G.I. tract) wondering "why did I eat there?" for hours afterwards. At least their breakfast biscuits rock, but I think I read that man can not live on bread alone. Probably from Dr. Atkins or something.

All this does is make the restaurant park at Pentagon Row look that much better. Thaiphoon, Champp's - heck, even the international foods section at World Market - somebody, anybody, help!

Pentagon employees and contractors - what say you? Where do you dine? Slap on the running shoes and make a bee-line to the Blue Line to a Breadline? Some secret little kiosk tucked away in a hidden corridor? Brown bag? How do you do it?

Restaurants, discounts, and restrictions...oh my!

Apply the code 44355 to receive 60% off at Restaurant.com for gift certificates valid at over 7,000 participating restaurants. They have $25 gift certificates available for $4 after coupon. Some restrictions apply. Offer expires 10/31/2006 The proceeds will support Share Our Strength's efforts to end childhood hunger and ongoing recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast.

This does not only apply to DC Area restaurants, and I have used them in various cities. Locally, I have used Restaurant.com's certificates for Matsutake and The Front Page. Just look at the restrictions very carefully because there may be party size requirements, the certificates may not be valid certain times or days, etc.

Dukem: Delicious, With Delays

I love Ethiopian food, and often have found some of the best of it at Dukem. The place does a particularly nice job with combination platters - usually for around $11, you can try out anywhere between three and seven dishes to see whether you like them.

My friends and I picked up 2 combo platters and another dish Friday evening. I can say that I enjoyed every dish I sampled. As a rule, you can't go wrong with tibs - beef or lamb marinated in various sauces. We tried the goden tibs, short ribs in a light marinade. While not the most convenient of dishes to eat sans utensils, the steak-like little bites were delicious, slightly crispy and flavorful. We also tried a combo platter with lamb wot, a spicy stew, as well as minchet and regular tibs. Outstanding, though the wot's later impression wasn't as favorable as the first few bites.

Particularly high praise should go to the vegetarian combos that Dukem offers. I tend to shy away from vegetarian dishes at many places just because I'm not sure they'll be assertive enough for me. Here, the variety of flavors and choices left me more than satisfied. I'd recommend the veggie combo #3 - it's one of the only ways you can sample Dukem's delicious chickpeas in spicy sauce, which I'll take over hummus any day.

All the dishes come with Dukem's injera, which is fluffy with just the right touch of sourness. The honey wine is a bit sweeter than other varieties I've had, and I'd probably order a less cloying beverage on my next visit.

If only our service had matched the efforts from the kitchen. Flagging down a waitress was a constant problem, and there was a particularly long delay for drinks and between drinks and our main course. In addition, a friend's mixed drink was served in a broken glass with mysterious black flecks floating inside. My restaurant standards are usually food-driven rather than service-driven, so it wasn't enough to put me off the place, but a friend was definitely less than impressed. You've got a wonderful product here, Dukem. Sell it like it deserves to be sold.

Dukem
U St and 12 St NW
Washington DC
202-667-8735

Tasting Georgetown on Saturday

The 13th Annual Taste of Georgetown is happening this Saturday, October 14, from 11 AM to 4 PM. The event takes place on Wisconsin Avenue between M and South Streets, and at Grace Episcopal Church.

About 25 restaurants will be on hand, and the cost per taste is $5, or you can get a pack of five tastings for $20. With such national culinary gems as Citronelle and 1789, plus the excellent Red Ginger, Agraria, Leopolds, Fahrenheit and Neyla, the interesting Mie N Yu, and Georgetown stalwarts Old Glory, Clyde's, J. Paul's and Smith Point, any hungry person could drop 40 bucks and still not hit every stand they'd want.

As an added touch, Blues Alley will be providing the jazz and blues...though they'll have to crank it up to compete with the psuedo-techno pumping from the Euro boutiques.

Kinda funny that Georgetown would be the less-crowded alternative, but with Howard Homecoming, U Street and the Waterfront will be packed.

Wonder if Cam'ron's gonna get shot this year...?

Cheeseburger in Paradise - Reviewed by the Five Paragraph Bitter Food Critic

Have you ever been to a restaurant that you can't stand, yet can't wait to try again? Then you know how the 5PBFC feels about Cheeseburger in Paradise, a Jimmy Buffett-inspired tribute to three of Buffett's favorite subjects - eating, drinking and making money.

Cheeseburger in Paradise embodies and embraces pretty much everything I hate about chain restaurants. Cheesy, overenthusiastic servers who have to follow a greeting script? Check. Stupid names for ordinary menu items (in this case, with a Buffett theme)? Check. Day-glow menu with paragraph-sized food descriptions because "French-Fried Potatoes" is too nebulous for mere mortals to understand? Check. Bartenders who think they're Tom Cruise in "Cocktail?" Check. Acoustic singer/songwriters doing covers of Live, Guns and Roses and Nirvana? Check. Ungodly amounts of tacky crap on the walls? Check. A roaming gangbang of servers singing "Happy Birthday" while food waits under heat lamps? Check. A little too kid-friendly? Check. Mediocre food and drinks at inflated prices? Well...

That's the rub. The food is good - surprisingly so, given the sub-$10 mark on most of their chow. They'll prepare their burgers to any desired temperature, from scorched well-done to scared-with-a-flashlight rare - a nice, wonderful touch in the chain restaurant world. They'll also substitute a turkey burger or a vegan patty on any of their burgers for no charge. The appetizers alone are the size of a meal. Check out the Carnivorous Habits Platter (again with the Buffett theme!). The BBQ Jerk ribs were about as good as any ribs I've had. Perfectly seasoned, just the right combo of spice and sauce, and very juicy. The teriyaki wings were fantastic, almost as good as the wares from Bruce Lee Wings in Baltimore's Cross Street Market.

This is not a restaurant for Alcoholics Anonymous members. Their bar book is the size of a F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, and lists dozens of various margaritas, pina coladas and mojitos. The place has more booze than a hip hop video, and the large variety of rums could make a pirate scream for temperance. The drinks are cheap, just a step above "college dive bar" cheap. The Goombay Smash, somewhat similar to the Gorilla Farts from my beloved Monterrey's in Virginia Beach, is $5.50. That seldom buys a draft beer around these parts anymore. I just wish the fruit garnish wasn't looking at me.

CiP is a fine place to take any Parrothead, or perhaps a decent meal after a day in the malls. It's definitely a step-up above the run-of-the-mill suburban chains, and, at the very least, the cheap drinks will make you forget that a dozen servers are singing "Happy Birthday" to some screaming toddler. My biggest complaint is that it tries just a little too much to be cute and pleasing - the overall theme of a beach bar alone would be nice. I just wish it could be a little more Coastal Flats classic than Chuck E. Cheese loud, because the food deserves better.

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CiP gets 5 out of 10 Whammies! The food, drinks and overall value would earn it more Whammies!, and the drinks are strong enough to make me think for a second, that, indeed, I am in Key West, but I simply can't fully endorse any place that calls its employees "Islanders" in the middle of a landlocked suburban strip mall.
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Cheeseburger in Paradise
5 Virginia Locations - Woodbridge, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Virginia Beach and Newport News
2 Maryland Locations - Pasadena and California

And when she was good she was very very good...

Like the photoshopped cover of the brochure for a college that's pushing diversity, Hanks Oyster Bar is a mixed experience. Some of the food is so freakishly great that you ask the server for your menu back and order more. And some of it…well, Hanks could easily be the Next Big Thing…but first they're going to have to buy fresh seafood.

The location is outrageously cute, with sidewalk tables, simple, happy bistro design, and waitresses you just want to smuggle out with you in a doggy bag. The delicious aromas alone should be bottled; they could charge to deliver that smell of savory hot oil into more elegant, but less tasty restaurants. With the help of a glass of fruity white, I highly suggest the following:

Things that were really good:

Raw oysters - I suspect that whatever they are offering that day will be good, but I tried the Malapeque Oysters - I've been in withdrawal since DC coast stopped serving them in favor of York River ones. Fresh, delicious, briny.

Seafood Ceviche with lime, jalapeno - This stuff is lovely! Scallops, squid, shrimp; if it starts with an S, it's in here.

It's not on the online menu, but a spicy oyster shooter went down perfectly.

Things that looked awesome but I didn't try them:

Lobster roll - Oh man, this thing was bloody beautiful looking

Giant prawns - I will never forget the two delicate ladies next to us who picked each monster out of it's shell like they were doing taxidermy.

Things that you might want to wait on

The garlic steamed muscles were easily the most popular thing on the menu, served with crusty bread and happiness. I was halfway through before I got my first bad one, the next came a moment later. After a while I ran out of napkins to spit them into and gave up. A friend mentioned she had the same experience…C'mon Hanks, we're counting on you to do better.

Hank's Oyster Bar
1624 Q STREET

Go Fish

Yes, Eamonn's lives up to the hype. The tiny (20 seats!) little restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, brought to us from the Restaurant Eve folks, was highly anticipated by the area food community. Greasy comfort food with an excellent pedigree that those of us who don't earn tasting menu salaries could actually afford? It seemed almost too good to be true.

And while Eamonn's isn't a perfect entrant into the new restaurant market, it certainly has plenty of charms. The menu is limited - a couple types of fried fish, served regular or large, two sizes of chips, a handful of other items such as battered burgers, a variety of dipping sauces, and their guilty-pleasure desserts, including fried dough, fried Snickers bars, fried Milky Ways...if you're on a diet, there is no reason to step foot into the tiny restaurant.

The atmosphere is casual - even more so than I expected. Your seating options are a handful of tables with benches, and a couple bar stools. This is an in-and-out kind of place, rather than somewhere you linger (though the $5 Guinesses may cause you to extend your stay a little longer, and are the best beverage bet, as lesser bottled beers also run $5).

The portions here are not gigantic by any stretch of the imagination, but do you really need to clog your arteries with large quantities of fried food? The large piece of cod runs about $6.50, which seems a little much for just a piece of fish, but then you actually taste the thing. The meat is delicate and flavorful - the batter is hearty and delcious. Chips are twice fried, and even better when accented with malt vinegar or a bit of one of the sauces.

It is in the sauces that Eamonn's shows a bit of its high-end restaurant roots - would you have thought that curry sauce would make an excellent accompaniment to fish? My friend and I found it incredible, though we still enjoyed the "Fronch" mustard sauce as well (though it was creamier than I usually like my dijon) - you can choose one sauce out of about 6, or pick a couple for 50 cents each.

I'm not a chocolate fan, but I think those out there will be more than willing to sample the fried candybars for themselves. My friend and I shared a $2.50 order of fried dough balls, which were heartier than I expected, and addictive -they're coated in sugar and cinammon, and they made a convert out of me, when I tend to usually skip dessert. Even if you think you've had your fill of the fried by meal's end, don't miss these.

While you'll ultimately walk out of Eamon's paying a little more than you'd expect for a low-key, easily-inhaled meal of fish and chips, the quality of the ingredients will have you reassured that it was money well-spent.

Eamonn's
728 King St.
Alexandria, Va 22314
703/299-8384

Oyamel, No-yamel

I picked the wrong weekend to leave town.

My favorite of Jose' Andres' group of restaurants, Oyamel, has closed in Crystal City. The last night was September 16th. It will reopen in Andale's old space, 401 7th Street NW, sometime in 2007.

Granted, this is old news, and I knew it was coming, but it is still jarring to see the sign in the window explaining the move. My day job is in Crystal City, and I've enjoyed the diversity of restaurants here, from surprisingly good chains like Ted's Montana Grill and Hamburger Hamlet, to interesting family-owned places like Urban Thai, Punjab Kabob, The Portofino and Cafe' Italia. Having two of Chef Andres' finest, Jaleo and Oyamel, on the same block, has been a wonderful bonus. Oyamel's happy hour specials of tacos, especially the chicken and chorizo combo, and fine margaritas made a nice afterwork treat. Jaleo's not bad, but I preferred Oyamel's bolder spicing and flavors.

Many `burbs have lousy food choices, and it's certainly better here in Crystal City than in my former office space in Owings Mills, Maryland. Sam's Club hot dogs vs. Red Robin vs. Hops vs. TGIFridays, maybe a Ruby Tuesday to spice things up - that's just not a winning battle. It made me long for the fictional fare from Chotchkie’s or ShenaniganZ.

It's comforting to know Oyamel will be back and will be a nice alternative downtown to Rosa Mexicano. Plus, Oyamel's space will soon be occupied by a new Roberto Donna project, a casual Italian place dubbed Bebo Trattoria.

This must be how parents rationalize when their child marries - I'm not losing a Jose', but gaining a Roberto.

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke VI

This sixth installment in the series will continue to focus on happy hour and daily food specials. The listed prices are after discount, but before adding tax and tip.

Rhodeside Grill in the Courthouse area features a half a pound of shrimp on Thursdays for $4.95 anywhere in the restaurant from 4-7 pm. Rhodeside Grill features wings or nachos for $4.95 Wednesdays upstairs or at the downstairs bar from 4pm until the kitchen closes.

CarPool in Ballston features half price ($4) burgers from 4pm until closing on Tuesdays, and 25 cent wings (minimum order of 10) Wednesdays from 4pm until closing. They have selected half price appetizers during happy hour (from 4-7pm Monday through Friday) including Buffalo wings, Jalapeno poppers ($3), chips & salsa ($2), taquitos ($3), mozzarella sticks ($2.50), chips and guacamole ($2.50), and chicken quesadilla ($3). Their happy hour beer specials (from 4-7 pm Monday through Friday) include $2.25 Miller Lite and $2.75 Yuengling, Sam Adams, Sam Adams Seasonal, and Killian’s.

Mackey’s Public House in Crystal City is owned by the same group as CarPool. Mackey’s has the same burger night, and happy hour beer and appetizer specials, but does not have a wings night.

The Continental modern pool lounge in Rosslyn has half price appetizers (Monday through Friday 5-8 pm and Saturday and Sunday 6 pm-9 pm). These featured appetizers are basket of fries ($2.50), hot pretzel basket ($3.00), red hummus with tortilla chips ($3.00), two grilled 2 beer-soaked, all-beef hot dogs ($3.50), chicken tenders ($4.00), Caribbean jerk wings or hot wings ($4), and grilled veggie quesadilla ($3.50, plus an additional $2.00 for beef or chicken). These happy hours also feature $2.50 drafts (Miller Lite, Red Hook I.P.A, Yuengling Lager, and Widmer Hefeweizen), and $3.50 rail drinks (not including margaritas or martinis).

Sine' Irish Pub on Pentagon Row has half price burgers all day Mondays, including beef, turkey, or veggie burgers. Tuesdays, Sine' also has $9.95 prime rib all day, and half price appetizers from 4:00-7:00 pm.

Rhodeside Grill
1836 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA
703 243-0145

CarPool
4000 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
703 532-7665

Mackey’s Public House
320 South 23rd Street
Arlington, VA 22202
703 412-1113

The Continental modern pool lounge
1911 N. Fort Myer Drive
Arlington, VA 22209
703 465-7675

Sine' Irish Pub
1301 S. Joyce St.
Arlington, VA 22202
703 415-4420

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke I

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke II

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke III

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke IV

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke V

Oooh ooh! A meme on a plate!

We at FUD have been remiss. How is it that the months have gone by without even one Snakes on a Plane parody? Could we perhaps be defying the mindless parroting of memes? Oooor, are we just culturally illiterate?

Well, whatever the motivation, Grapeseed's chef's table in Bethesda shares none of our scruples. And so, this Friday and Saturday, NM has tipped us off that they are presenting, yes,

An evening of a snake-themed set course menu and wine.

To be fair, some of the items would more accurately described as Snake-tribute, like Grilled Baby Octopus ( eight snake like tentacles!), Fresh Tomato, Lemon, and Bucatini (the most snake-like of all pastas), Carbonara. Others are strictly literary: Fresh Churros, Cinnamon Ice Cream (venom served on the side). What other wackiness can Grapeseed come up with? Wait and find out!!!

All that aside, I've heard Grapeseed is supposed to be really tasty, so you might as well ride the bandwagon on up to Bethesda and try it out.

Great Thai Food at Sripraphai in Queens (NYC)

I was recently in New York City, and a group of friends and I ate with at my favorite Thai restaurant, Sripraphai in Queens. They have expanded since I last visited, which is great because the restaurant is very popular. The menu is available here, but may be a bit outdated.

One of Sripraphai’s strengths is that they have a refrigerated case filled with Thai desserts, instead of only having a couple of dessert options. We ate so much on this visit that we did not have room for dessert, but past standouts included custard with pumpkin, banana sticky rice, Thai marzipan, and coconut rice squares.

Another of Sripraphai’s strengths is that the restaurant really will give you spicy food. The soups tend to be hotter than the entrees, so a “Thai Spicy” soup can scald those who don’t enjoy very spicy food.

We had an excellent salad (which is pictured above), fried soft shell crab with mango sauce. The crab was crunchy, and went well with the tangy sauce. We also had the shredded green mango salad with squid, shrimp, and chicken. We generally fight over the (off-menu) garlic and pepper shrimp, so we requested two orders of it. I am not a fan of their pad Thai, but someone wanted it, so it was ordered. The noodle dishes I usually order are the rice noodles with ground beef and onions, or (spicy) rice noodles with beef and basil. The curries are great at Sripraphai, including, the red, green, yellow, and jungle curries. The duck with spicy sauce and eggplant was good, as usual, as was the tom zap soup with Cornish hen. In the past, tom zap was only available on the menu with beef offal –which it still is– but we used to substitute seafood for the beef. The fried red snapper with ginger sauce was excellent, and it is the first time we have ordered it at Sripraphai.

We spent about $20 a person including tip, but we did order an extra dish, and several people were drinking Thai iced teas.

Make sure –unlike us– to leave room for dessert. You may need something sweet after all that spicy food.

Sripraphai is walking distance from the 61st Street stop on the 7 train.

Sripraphai Thai Restaurant
64-13 39th Avenue
Woodside, NY 11377
(718) 899-9599

If It's Tuesday, This Must be Neyla

I was supposed to sign up for a gym membership sometime this week, but opted to go out every night for Restaurant Week instead. (I love writing for DCFud. Anywhere else I would have to defend that choice, but you....you guys really get me! *sniffle*)

The Boy took me to Neyla in Georgetown the other day. Neyla is named for the Mediterranean spirit of prosperity, abundance, and success, but while the regular menu includes dishes like baba ghannoug, stuffed grape leaves, and chicken shawarma, executive chef Faisal Sultani has mysteriously created a restaurant week menu showing almost no sign of Mediterranean inspiration--an olive here, some goat cheese there. I briefly considered ordering off the regular menu, as I am usually helpless in the face of Mediterranean temptation, but that idea fell by the wayside when I saw, I kid you not, watermelon gazpacho on the restaurant week menu. I was not about to pass up the chance to try watermelon gazpacho.

Of course, the problem now is that I have a fever, and the only prescription is more watermelon gazpacho. It was fruity and sweet but not overpowering, with rock shrimp and tiny scoops of pickled canteloupe and honeydew. The Boy, who practically has a black belt in gazpacho, also detected some red wine vinegar, which kept it from being dessert-y. In any case, this dish was the best thing I have had so far during this RW go-round. I wanted to pick up the bowl and drink from it, but figured that sort of thing would go over especially poorly in Georgetown. We also had the sauteed calamari tossed with scallions and shaved garlic served with a lime-tomato fondue, which was tart and spicy and tender.

We usually don't order the same thing in restaurants, but neither of us could pass up the pan-roasted New York strip served with sweet and sour dandelion greens. That meant we didn't taste the swordfish or the egg pappardelle, but I regret nothing. The steaks were beautifully marbled, tender, and juicy, and I thought they involved gorgonzola, but that might have been a beautiful dream, because it does not appear on the otherwise-accurate online menu. The coconut panna cotta was fine but not amazing, although I may have liked it more had I not just had the transcendental amaretto panna cotta at Coeur de Lion the night before. One thing--the server, who was mostly excellent, was a little taken aback when I asked for the panna cotta without the pistachios on top, due to a nut allergy. I understand that chefs don't like omitting ingredients, but when your only real dessert option (nope, berries don't count) includes a topping to which many, many people are allergic, you have to be prepared for the request.

Another nice thing about Neyla--it's very pretty. When I heard that it was a "place to be seen," I naturally assumed that it had the same kind of masculine, ultra-modern steel-and-glass decor found in Zaytinya, IndeBleu, and to some extent Rasika, but despite the huge windows, Neyla is softer and more feminine than other hot spots in DC. The windows look out onto a gorgeous old brick courtyard, and the light glow rather than gleam. The front patio is a great space to people-watch.

I highly recommend this for restaurant week, but I can't vouch for the regular menu yet. More research is clearly needed!

Oh My Damn, Bobby Van's!

Back when the Restaurant Week lineup was announced in July, I scanned the list and saw that Bobby Van's was one of the participants. I quickly made reservations, given their sterling reputation in New York. I used to work with a young lady from Massachusetts who summered in the Hamptons, and she raved about Bobby Van's Bridgehampton location. Now, I'm just a relatively middle class guy from Maryland. I'm guessing that "summered" is rich person code for "sunbathed in an expensive resort and did nothing but revel in luxury." I've never "summered" in my life. I've "weeked" - well, if you consider Ocean City's or Dewey's crowded beaches, all-you-can-eat buffets and sexually-suggestive t-shirt stands luxurious.

In my previous Restaurant Week entry, an anonymous commenter told me I made a mistake in selecting Bobby Van's for dining, saying that they catered only to the VIP crowd. I took the comments seriously - perhaps this anonymous person is a former employee, wrongfully terminated, or a diner who received shoddy service when they dared pay for their meal with a Discover card instead of an AmEx Titanium Card. Or, conversely, since the commenter chose to remain anonymous, perhaps it was a former employee rightfully terminated with an axe to grind, or somebody associated with a competing restaurant, hoping for a good plug. In the end, I chose to keep my reservation, and had four friends join me.

Let me assure you of this - a full 15 hours after dining there last night, I can still taste the perfectly-prepared medium rare Petite Fillet Mignon, accompanied by slightly-smoky mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. The Caesar salad, and the rich chocolate cake and incredible New York cheesecake rounded out the courses, and each bite was fantastic. I had feared that a "Petite" filet would be small 5 or 6-ounce serving, but our steaks were closer to 12 ounces. Even the well-done filets came out thoroughly cooked, and not butterfly-chopped like in other establishments. Our server was professional, friendly, and made a distinct point to make us aware of the Restaurant Week courses on a separate sheet from the regular menu. One of their chefs, Eric, made a friendly tour of the dining room, making sure everybody was enjoying themselves. The table adjacent to ours had a bit more menu diversity than my steak-obsessed crowd. Somebody there had the Crabcakes (the recipe is on their website) and another had the Andouille Sausage and Pulled Chicken Rigatoni, both of whom raved about the quality.

For a high-end steakhouse, the atmosphere was professional, yet relaxed. It's classy, but not stuffy - there's no dress code, and patrons wore suits or jeans in nearly equal numbers. Valet service is a manageable $6. The anonymous commenter's fears couldn't have been more dispelled - if not for a four-course tasting menu at Palena in May, last night was the best meal I've had in D.C. all year. Everything was so tastefully done that I have already planned a September dinner there, where their acclaimed "Porterhouse For Two" sounds less like a luxury and more like a rite of passage. I am so impressed by Bobby Van's strong Restaurant Week showing that I practically walked out singing The Happenings' classic tune "See You In September."

Bobby Van's
809 15th Street, NW
Phone: (202) 589-0060

Komi follow-up

Komi does not list an email on their website. This makes me truly saddened because my plans for the morning included reading Fark, messing with my hair, and writing Komi to thank them in unseemly detail for the best meal I have had in a long time.

Maw has already enunciated the allures of this perfect dinner place, so I won't talk about the food, but allow me to add my 2p. Komi is good. Good in a way that makes you blather to your coworkers the next morning. Good, like your next meal feels vaguely profane and sacrilegious. Good, as in a week later, you turn to your dining partner and say, 'that was a damn fine meal' and he'll know you aren't referring to the pizza you just ate.

The room is small and pretty, and so are the expert staff. They guide you through the short but exquisite wine list, and then bring you dish after dish of the kind of mouthfuls you must close your eyes to fully enjoy. After an hour you start entering an olive-scented haze of alcohol and goodwill. 12 hours later I am still imagining the crunch of sea salt on a stuffed fig.

I can't write a letter to you, Komi, so I can only hope you google your name now and then. Bravo.

RW Reflections: DC Coast

Choosing which establishment to patronize during Restaurant Week is always a challenge - who will offer full (or nearly-full) menu selections? Who will have a reservation free? Who will feature servers that roll their eyes at you when you say you're there for the RW menu?

Take all those challenges and add a pair of semi-picky parents (though really no different than any other set who don't consider special tibs one of the four food groups), and you had my dilemma for RW lunch selection. Figuring seafood would be a safe bet (neither parent likes Indian or non-Chinese Asian; Dad doesn't care for Italian), I settled on DC Coast.

The Tunks restaurants really do a nice job of making you feel special during restaurant week. Though they slightly limit your dessert and appetizer selections, for lunch, we had our pick of the DC Coast entree choices. The service was attentive, and prompt without feeling rushed.

Our selections:
Yellow Tomato Soup: My dad raved. I was expecting something along the lines of Ceiba's yellow tomato gazpacho, but this was warm, and a much richer offering. It was garnished with a sundried tomato mousse; yum!

Scallops appetizer: Two scallops, perfectly cooked, and accented with a spinach/bacon mixture and a pineapple sauce. Sweeter than my usual tastes, but the flavors all blended well.

Cold cucumber soup: Flecks of crabmeat make this one a winner.

Trio of sliders: I'm not partial to BBQ (sue me) but my father ordered this - a selection of chicken, pulled pork and beef brisket mini-sandwiches, and was more than satisfied. We could have done without the accompanying cole slaw.

Roast chicken with pomegranate sauce: This was delectably juicy, and the sauce was a nice touch. Accompanying vegetables were a bit overcooked, but were a colorful selection and candied pecans added a special kind of sweet something to the plate.

Blackened Tilapia: This was the meal's gem - the fish was spectacular, and the paprika hollandaise that topped the asparagus was some of the best I've had.

I'm not a dessert fan, but the selections were good, and not too large to overwhelm at the end of the meal. I'd particularly recommend the lemon/blueberry creme brulee for something unique and delicious.

DC Coast is a safe bet for Restaurant Week: All the elements are in place to make it a treat of an experience for those trying to sample somewhere new at an affordable price.

Flee to 100 King

It's a brave soul indeed who is willing to forge through the throngs of Midwesterners that make up Old Town Alexandria's main population. They bounce ponderously up King street and down to gape at the balloon sellers of the waterfront, their army son-in-laws looming out of the humid haze. Yes, it's a veritable corn- fed amoeba, polyester-clad and sweating, waving maps and strollers and frappuchinos and canvas tote bags at the embarrassed scenery.

Which is why it's so bizarre to come across 100 King . In a sea of restaurants that offer menus in three languages and Ruby Tuesday food, 100 King is shockingly acceptable. And no surprise, they are owned by the same family that bestowed upon us the Lebanese Taverna restaurants. This is a family that knows their hummus.

Decor is Helix Lounge meets Creme: fashionable and industrial, with just enough empty space to remind of a hotel bar. But that's alright, because the food, oh the food. I'd suggest just skipping the mains and ordering your way down the appetizers/ tapas menu. The zucchini cakes are delicious and crunchy, the crab meat perfectly fishy and fresh. I shall be salivating for the polenta soufflé with blue cheese and mushroom sauce for days.

I can't, in good conscience, suggest this restaurant as a destination. But for those who find themselves in the area, flee to this sane, tasty, pretty restaurant like it was the last bastion of culture in a very touristy world.

100 King St
Alexandria, VA

Komi: Well Worth the Wait (and a return trip)

I’ve been meaning to try Komi pretty much since it first opened in 2004. It seemed the obvious thing to do – it was close by, the menu looked interesting, and everybody was raving about it – but the excuses were endless: I don’t have time, I’m too poor, no one will go with me, et cetera.

This week, as I found myself following my birthday by gearing up to leave DC for grad school in Atlanta, I realized that I had the perfect opportunity. Why? Well, because that means I was able to convince my parents to take me to Komi for a combined birthday/departure dinner! And so it was that we found ourselves with 8:45 reservations at Komi this Tuesday night.

We arrived, and the host walked us back from the entrance to the end of the long, hallway-like dining room, to the one round table in the place, set apart from the other tables, at the back corner. Right next to the kitchen, with it open door and large picture window to the inside. My father hates sitting near the kitchen, but before he could complain (which he was beginning to do, despite there plainly being no other tables available), I cut him off, saying that I was happy to get to peek in to this famed kitchen. You can’t see much through that picture window, but you get a hint of what’s going on, and I for one enjoyed the view.

We decided to go all-out, and each ordered the complete dinner and wine pairing – which was clearly one of the best decisions I’ve made all month. We began with a glass of prosecco – lightly carbonated, dry, with some mineral flavors – and a small bowl of house-cured olives. These were bright green, but had a texture and mild taste such that my dad commented that if blindfolded, he might have thought them black olives. They were tasty, either way.

After the olives began our flight of small plates, most of which were simply one bit’s worth for each of us – just a taste, leaving room for all that was to come. First, we had a delicious seared Greek cheese topped with steak tartar. Next came the Buffala – creamy mozzarella topped with anchovies over a cucumber-and-something puree, also quite lovely. After that, the first of the evening’s real knock-outs arrived at our table: three dates, stuffed with mascarpone cheese and a few well-placed grains of salt, rosted to gooey heavenliness. Next was the one thing we disagreed on: little sandwiches of pork shoulder and beets that were reminiscent of Chinese pork buns but also different. My mom and I thought these were divine, my dad was blah on them. Then, two at once: a plate of two deliciously battered soft-shelled crabs, and a set of three crostini topped with a fish roe sauce, both quite tasty.

The last of our appetizers were a perfect summer dish, and a perfect cap to this extended first course: watermelon slices, topped with a bit of strong feta and arucola leaves. Delish! The pacing of these plates was slow – there was a good pause between each dish – and I found it perfect. We savored each small plate, and had time for its flavor to fade from our palettes before the next experience began. I should also note that, more than once, we didn’t even notice the servers clearing our empty plates – they were that quick, smooth, and unobtrusive.

Komi
1509 17th St, NW
202-332-9200

Following the appetizer series (which could itself have made a perfectly excellent light dinner), our wine server came and poured our first glasses of wine, explaining each vintage and why it was paired with our respective pasta dishes. I have no idea what the wines were, but they were all Greek or Italian, and very yummy.

For our pasta, my mom ordered the pappardelle in roasted baby goat ragú, my dad the linguini alla vongole, and I the ravioli. Each was delicious, but I think that my ravioli, filled with ricotta cheese and in a light Bolognese, edged the others a touch to be the best (lucky me!).

After pasta, came the ‘main’ dishes. My parents split the whole roasted bronzini, which came out light, fluffy, very lemony and totally delicious, while I also thoroughly enjoyed my white tuna wrapped in speck. The tuna was cooked to perfection, and its speck ‘skin’ complimented the fish extraordinarily well. Though we all had fish, we opted for red wines as opposed to white. Our server presented us with a pair of relatively light, dry reds, perfectly matched to our meals. My parents liked theirs so well, my dad wrote down the vintage: Paunus Cesanese del Piglio – 2003, Lazzio, Italy. It was really, really good.

But wait! There’s more. After our fish course, and some time for digestion, arrived a plate of three cheeses: a soft goat’s blue, relatively mild but still tasty; a Romano surpassing any I’ve ever had before; and a soft-in-texture-but-not-flavor sheep’s cheese, which had a powerful aroma and beginning, but mellowed beautifully in the back of the mouth. There was more fantastic wine here, too.

Finally came dessert. My mom had a selection of sorbets, the highlight of which was nectarine. My dad had baklava gelato – topped with philo and crumbled pistachios, it was absolutely divine. For reasons of personal pride, I would like to say that my dessert, the home-made donuts with chocolate mousse, was the best, but to be fair, the gelato’s competition was fierce. I have to call this one a tie or, in more sensible terms, an “always go with someone who will order the other so you can have both.”

At the end of these many courses, spanning more than two and a half hours, we all agreed that we were full. Not stuffed: just full. And very, very happy. The house-made orange lollipops that came with the cheque were saved for later (I had mine the next day, and it was quite yummy), and we all agreed that Komi had easily lived up to the hype. This is easily my new favorite place in DC.

It’s not cheap – the dinner was $64 and the wine pairing $40, but for the amount and quality of the food, it’s no at all overpriced.

A (wary) defense of La Tasca

Truth be told, I've always kind of considered La Tasca the poor man's Jaleo. The tapas aren't as high a quality as the Jose Andres restaurant, plus La Tasca has the added "bonus" of sporting a decor that, as my friend Audrey put it, "invites the image of Antonio Banderas swinging in on a chandelier." Plus, it hails from the dreaded "Arlington Chain Restaurant" family (though come on; there's four La Tascas and three Jaleos. Is this really giving them a fair shake?)

I wonder if a poor man's Jaleo with cheesy decor really is a bad thing. Sometimes you really are poor, and feel like taking advantage of La Tasca's within-walking distance location. Plus, there's the occasional roaming Flamenco dancer. I've found La Tasca's tapas hit and miss, but they're cheaper than Jaleo, have larger pitchers of sangria, and are a great place to hold a birthday gathering. On the negative side, our service was pretty inattentive (and I prefer the traditional tapas serving style of bringing dishes out when they're ready, rather than overwhelming the table all at once).

So really, it's your call. Don't walk into La Tasca expecting a culinary epiphany. But don't hang your head in shame as you enter its doors, either. But don't worry. I won't be coming by next week with a (wary) defense of The Cheesecake Factory. Some things are blasphemy.

The tapas we sampled this weekend:

Sangria a La Tasca: So fruity you forget it contains alcohol, their offering may be too sweet for some sangria purists, but it's delicious and the pitchers are generous. And if it's not your thing, they have about 8 other options for you (even, strangely, a Red Bull sangria).

Patatas Bravas: This was fried potatoes with a tomato sauce and a garlic aioli. A little on the soggy side, but satisfying (I must confess a prejudice; I don't like mayonnaise, so I avoided the aioli)

Manchego and Jamon Serrano: Good ham and cheese, but definitely could have used a less generous dousing of olive oil

Monkfish: Subtle without being bland; I was a fan.

Baby Octopus: Just enough chewiness and crunch for my taste - a simple, paprika-based presentation.

Salmon y Queso Fresco: Almost seemed a little too NY-breakfast to be at home in a Spanish restaurant, these rounds of bread with cream cheese and salmon were nonetheless tasty.

Flank steak and potatoes: The sherry-based marinade for the meat was fantastic.

Tomato and goat cheese salad: A refreshing side dish, particularly in light of some of our heavier choices

Shrimp with avocado: The shrimp were good; they skimped a bit on the avocado, but it was a nice combination.

Lamb chops: Meaty offerings, nice and tender.

Marinated pork loin: I found the accompanying peppers overcooked and uninteresting, but the pork was thinly-cut and well-seasoned.

Where To Eat in Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke V

Update:
Oyamel has closed in Crystal City, and will reopen at 401 7th Street, NW in early 2007!

This fifth installment in the series will continue to focus on happy hour and daily food specials. The listed prices are after discount, but before adding tax and tip.

In the first installment of this series, I mentioned Tuesday nights at Ragtime’s Tuesday Night Raw Bar. It turns out that they also have a half price burger ($3.75 + fixings) night on Sundays from 6pm until closing. I stopped by last night and had a half a pound of shrimp ($6), and a drink, after already having eaten dinner. Weekdays from 4-8 pm, they have $1.50 Miller Light drafts, $2.50 rail drinks, and $2 micro brew of the month.

Faccia Luna in Clarendon offers a Monday evening pizza special in the Arlington location. 2 people share 2 small house salads or one appetizer and one twelve inch pizza with up to two toppings for $22.22, including two glasses of house wine or two non-alcoholic drinks. Faccia Luna also has a lunch special Monday through Friday of two slices of pizze with a salad and small soda for $5.75.

Molly Malone’s in Clarendon features half price ($4) burgers Mondays 4-10 pm Tuesdays 4-10pm is features half price ($5) Shepherd’s pie. Wednesdays 4-10pm is half price burgers ($4), and pub quiz night. Thursdays and Fridays 4-10 pm feature half price appetizers ($4-6.50), with Fridays including live music. Sundays feature half price ($4) Buffalo wings.

Cowboy Café features half price ($4) burgers all day on Tuesdays and 25 cent wings, $2.50 Miller High Life, and $3 Yuengling drafts Wednesday all day. Cowboy Café has a different blue plate special daily (all day) for $8.99. Their happy hour is 4-7 pm, and features $2 domestic bottles of beer, and $2.75 rail drinks.

Oyamel in Crystal City has a Taco Night on Tuesdays, during which fish or pork (soft) tacos are $1.50. Also included are a few other $1.50 items, including a Cesar salad with paper (thin) croutons. The webpage states that the tacos are $3.50 for two on taco night, but I was told on the phone that they are $1.50 each. Oyamel has a happy hour Tuesday through Friday 4-7 pm, during which drafts are $3, and rail drinks and margaritas are $4.

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke I

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Nearly Broke II

Where To Eat In Arlington When You Are Near