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To quote the non-Oscar award-winning movie, Elf... "I'm in love! I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!!!" -- (Will Ferrell in tights) So glad to have Peregrine in the neighborhood. Light, airy, free wi-fi and general happiness. Great coffee to boot. I drank a lot of mediocre coffee in the hood while awaiting Peregrine's re-opening. A ranking of Peregrine-alternatives (Peregrine taking over the top spot upon opening, of course) 1. Marvelous Market - friendly service and a nice frothy whip. 2. Dunkin' - who doesn't love the DD, but I feel generally non-plussed about seeing Rachael Ray's enlarged face before noon. Or ever. Also, an extra 1.5 blocks to walk from the Market. 3. Port Java Cafe - too much of a cardboard box feel and they don't allow wi-fi on weekends. What's the point. 4. the coffee at the bakery inside Eastern Market is nothing more than dark brown liquid acting as a means of getting caffeine into the system. I opted for the sweet tea at the bakery or at Market Lunch to awaken the senses. 5. bread and chocolate - I've boycotted it since 2005 so i couldn't tell you. but this list is unnecessary now that salvation has returned. Welcome back, Kotter! We're glad to have you.

All month long, Addie's is featuring half-priced wine at lunch and dinner. That means EVERY DAY in September. (Available for half and full bottles). Go visit Chef Arra, sit on the porch and enjoy.

Cork on Friday night -- a juicy French glass or three from Bin 28 (Domaine la Manarine - Cote du Rhone) with the chicken liver pate w/shallot marmalade - I could devour this morning, noon and night. Mesclun salad was a refreshing complement to a trio of cheeses, moist lamb w/pomegranate, brilliant fries w/homemade sweet & spicy ketchup (love the lemon/parsley/garlic zest) and smooth and creamyt Goat Cheesecake perfectly fit for the three people. Kudos to our server for being new and having a solid understanding of the wine list from experience. Still crowded there, but every seat is a good one and service isn't slowed because of the crowds.

PSA: Let there be Brunch. Westend is now open for Saturday lunch and Sunday Brunch, which includes Lamb, Potato, Artichoke Hash in a baked egg casserole; Stuffed French Toast with roasted apple & mascarpone and a Croque Madame with truffle essences among other a la carte brunch items. 11:30AM to 2:30PM.

I finally sat down for dinner at Central - a much over do experience. Therefore, my first-time companion and I ordered "Central 101" - gougeres, lobster burger, short ribs w/garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and the Kit Kat bar. Not that my comments will vary so much from most, but. - Gougeres hardly compare to my mom's cheese straws - a staple at every event thrown in my family. - off the bone medallions of beef short ribs were tender, PERFECT with smoky seasoning. Curiously, I was not alone in my peculiar notion that one of the flavors in my short ribs reminded of the scent of marijuana. (Maybe that's why the Kit Kat Bar was so eagerly devoured by both of us). - Macaroni and Cheese and Lobster Burger were met with overwhelming raves, but the french fries were left on the plate. Not great (I've had Cork and Marvin's french fries this week, so I am biased as they're two of the cities' best. ) Our service was just right. Friendly, not too intrusive, great timing. My only gripe was the atmosphere. It seemed the coat check was either full or not an option (we were not asked, so our winter coats hung on the backs of our chairs). The dining room and front lounge looked like a ski lodge cafeteria - coats, hats and scarves everywhere, dripping off chairs, stuffed above the wall booths. It made the dining room look cluttered. Took away from my "ooh la la Michel Richard" expectations. I read the comment about the hairplugged William Shatner types and laughed out loud. My date and I noticed the crowd was either massive groups of post-graduate women or "hairplug Shatners." Not that there's anything wrong with that. Very amusing, though. Of course I'll be back to try more of your recommendations. Perhaps in the spring when coats aren't so intrusive.

I dare say that Cork's fries are the best fries in the city. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the fries' lemon zest flavoring (a mix of garlic, parsley and lemon, i'm told.) Just heavenly. The Chicken Liver Bruscetta - with a caramelized shallot side sweetly cut the marrow-ish flavor of the chicken livers. The distinct creamy bacon flavor in the Celeriac salad hit the spot, too. I can't wait to go back and try more.

Malia was, for a brief time, a refreshing person to meet. I went to The Source (upstairs) witha gaggle of girlfriends who admittedly weren't wine experts, but anxious to learn. Mali was not only helpful but patient, unpretentious and let us try a variety of suggested pairings for our meals. She made everyone at the table feel so comfortable. My friends came away discussing wine, how they'd come back to The Source merely for her guidance/camaraderie. The duckling helped, too. She is a gem who will be missed.

As a native, I highly recommend/second the nod for Steinhilber's. Quintessential family restaurant, but in the middle of the Thalia Acres neighborhood, so mapquest ahead of time. OneFish TwoFish is a fantastic recommendation. Norfolk is experiencing a culinary boom - but it's a hike from the Oceanfront (15-20 minutes). Should you decide to head that way, Todd Jurich's Bistro or better yet the Vintage Kitchen are brilliant choices.

1. take a culinary roadtrip/vacation (place based on restaurants) 2. I second the 20 year-old bourbon - a tour of the Maker's distillery to boot is in order. 3. regularly buy SOL produce/products 4. learn to use my knives like a pro 5. Host a mini-Oyster riot for friends. Get shuckin'! 6. Create a signature sauce/marinade for summer grilling 7. Keep a wine journal with labels. 8. Dine for pleasure...not (just) for work. Speaking of dining for pleasure...In 2007, I enjoyed "first time" dining from coast to coast - my Top 7 restaurants: (in no specific order): - Minibar (DC) - Bistro Maison - McMinnville, OR - Robin's - Cambria, CA - Vintage Kitchen - Norfolk, VA - The Source (DC) - House of Nanking - San Francisco, CA - The Edgewater Inn - Seattle, WA I was very lucky to work with some delicious local restaurants, dining frequently at the Occidental, Westend Bistro and BlackSalt among others... 2007 was good to my belly. Perhaps my 9th resolution should involve exercise of some sort. Happy New Year - may it be a delicious year for all of you.

Yes, the roasted duckling dish is one of the largest entrees I've enjoyed in 9 years of Washington (non-chain) dining. I'm a big fan of The Source's sommelier, bar menu and upbeat vibe, although I've noted to friends that it would be a very cold and corporate room if the lighting were brighter. The "filled with tourists" notion is a curious one. Pennsylvania Avenue is now armed with noteworthy dining from The Source to Occidental, but not many people consider that strip their "neighborhood;" It's a destination. Name recognition, location and ease of valet lends The Source to a tourist and regional/suburban crowd. Is that necessarily a bad thing? They will sustain Penn Ave restaurants' success as their novelty fades, especially as so many neighborhood places like Kemble Park, Veritas and Locanda open.

I love Restaurant Eve's fireplace - and Iron Gate Inn is a classic. The new Tasting Room at BlackSalt has a very cozy banquette right next to a stretched out fireplace.

Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert is opening Thursday, November 8 for dinner service.

That's the spirit, Wine Guy. Please note that Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert - a casual American bistro - will officially open for dinner on Thursday, November 1. And, yes, chances are very good to see the man himself in the kitchen. www.WestendBistroDC.com. I'm so intrigued by the Fabio in Falls Church lead...

Phew - I was surprised to read the first few entries when i saw the header tonight. So quick to judge - funny & entertaining, but v unlike most posts on this site. I've been consulting for Vapiano since February (event planning and translating/creating U.S. materials) and Don, if its okay, I'd love to provide an update... 1. Now available-- www.vapiano.com for menus, testimonials and background...in english. They read this very site for tips on how they should design their website. (thank you!) No crazy flash, menus on .pdf. quick to load. You can look it up on YouTube, too. I finally entered the 21st century and used YouTube. I leave myspace to the younger LRAers, though. 2. C'mon now - what happened to "don't knock it til you try it?" - the tuna-based pasta dish has an olive oil base, fresh dill and vegetables and while not an everyday recipe for Americans, tastes mahhhvelous, dahhhling. we did a mega-tasting as you can imagine - personal likes were pizza with proscuitto and figs and pasta with lime butter & mint. Something new, fresh, different. It's your tongue, though, right? 3. When a new concept popular in Europe ventures to the States, its impossible to foresee how it will succeed as our cultures differ on so many levels - your feedback about the food and the chipcard process will help them translate the concept here in the best way. So bring it on! Since the VIP party and opening on Thurs., I've received dozens of encouraging/postiive emails (almost a hundred) from press, residents, neighbors, et al. The late night eating (til midnight) is extremely attractive to the neighborhood thus far. And yes, if it must be compared to another concept, Wagamama is probably closest to the mark. Le Madeleine (its been since '99 for me) doesn't carry the same modern vibe and Mitsitam is more cafeteria-esque than Vapiano (but i agree the irfood is superior to most museum dining). And yes, Vapiano is opening at 18th and M in just a few weeks - Memorial Day at the very latest. If you're curious and live/work in the area, send me your (street) address and I'll send you an invite to the DC vip pre-opening. RSVP is required. carrie@lindarothpr.com My intention here is not to shamelessly promote, but to respond to some of the doubts posted here before it opened. All's fair in love and dining - perhaps that's more catchy than true. Thanks for the time. and p.s. german lesson of the day -- it will suck can best be said "Es saugt" tschus!

bullet bourbon and branch, slight squeeze of fresh lime juice, on the rocks. 63 degrees and sunny = a bourbon afternoon in the backyard. should have made cucumber sandwiches. ha. attended a tasting on friday (not related to F&W festival) and kept coming back to Profile bordeaux vareital by Merryvale (Napa) - i'm hooked. delish.