34 replies to this topic

[weinoo]

I've been writing my blog, Tasty Travails, for a bit over a year now. It's pretty much NYC centric, but since my wife (Significant Eater) and I now live in both NYC and DC (due to new job requirements), DC will become even more a part of Tasty as we move forward.

[weinoo]

Had a just great meal at Zaytinya last week. And, as a jaded New Yorker, just had to write all about it. Consider yourselves lucky, DC!

What Has DC Got That NYC Doesn't?

[leleboo]

Weinoo, have you considered doing any kind of personal favorite side-by-side? i.e., your top mezze place, top tacos, top markets, in each city, with a brief (or not) pros and cons of each?

Given that traffic between DC and NYC is not insignificant, it might get a lot of readership. Plus I'd be interested to see what we do better here in DC, at least in your opinion.

[weinoo]

Hmmm...not a bad idea.

Hard to compare Zaytinya with anything in NYC, since we don't have anything in NYC that's comparable.

It would be like trying to compare Momofuku Noodle Bar with DC's???

[weinoo]

Tasty was in DC for the weekend.

[weinoo]

Restaurants and their air. Is it ever too hot for you in your favorite restaurant? No a/c? Windows flung open to the street pretending they're in Paris?

Well, you're not alone.

[saf]

Restaurants and their air. Is it ever too hot for you in your favorite restaurant?

Far too often, it is too cold for me in restaurants - They do seem to love to set the a/c on arctic.

[weinoo]

Far too often, it is too cold for me in restaurants - They do seem to love to set the a/c on arctic.

Wow, really? Please name 5.

[saf]

Wow, really? Please name 5.

Well, at lunch today, I almost froze to death in Haad Thai. And Queen of Sheba was pretty cold a few weeks ago.

In general, I believe a/c is seriously overused and really, nobody needs to be 65 degrees inside when it is 80+ outside.

[KMango]

Wow, really? Please name 5.

I'm too cold in nearly every restaurant in the summer months. The past two weeks have been an exception, as several places struggle to keep up with the demand of 100+ heat indexes. Once the heat blast is past, however, it'll be back to Chill City for me.

The good news is that, over the years, I have collected an entire closet of lovely pashmina shawls, so I'm 17 kinds of set once I become a little old lady.

Did you want me to count those 17 ways?

(one you lock the target)
(two you bait the line)
(three you slowly spread the net)

This post brought to you by Front 242 and an overly air-conditioned Mischieftain.

[weinoo]

Agreed...it doesn't need to be 65 inside. But how about 78? And when it's 95 outside, close your windows, peeps.

And I do think it's different for the ladies; Significant Eater is often chilly while sweat drips down my brow.

I just hope the a/c can keep up with the planet...Global Warming via TT.

[saf]

I just hope the a/c can keep up with the planet.

I, on the other hand, hope people can learn to live without, or with less, a/c, as I strongly believe it is contributing to global warming.

[weinoo]

Ranting about celebrity chefs, after my experience at Good Stuff Eatery.

[DonRocks]

Ranting about celebrity chefs, after my experience at Good Stuff Eatery.

A couple comments on this amusing rant:

1) Bourdain became a celebrity because of Kitchen Confidential. This book is rough, raw, and not very well written, but in 2000, it was groundbreaking.
2) Perhaps an unintentional emphasis of your point about frying technique: The fries at Bouchon are frozen (or at least they were a couple years ago).

[weinoo]

A couple comments on this amusing rant:

1) Bourdain became a celebrity because of Kitchen Confidential. This book is rough, raw, and not very well written, but in 2000, it was groundbreaking.
2) Perhaps an unintentional emphasis of your point about frying technique: The fries at Bouchon are frozen (or at least they were a couple years ago).

1) I don't think that made him as much of a celebrity to the general populace as his TV show (s). In the food world, though, without a doubt. In either case, it wasn't his cooking. I mean, I was eating at Les Halles before KC, and it was at best a 1 star - with great fries, however.

2) It's pretty well-know that frozen fries are used at Bouchon and probably at other places where the fries are great. Nothing wrong with a great frozen product, but they still have to be fried correctly...fresh oil at the proper temp, no overcrowding, etc. etc.

[weinoo]

What I Did On My Summer Vacation, DC Style

Two weeks in the district didn't even give me the shakes.

[weinoo]

Two visits prompt a blog post... Eataly

[weinoo]

A third visit to Eataly with Significant Eater...click here.

[weinoo]

Michael White's (Marea, Alto, Convivio) newest is called Osteria Morini. And it's pretty good - at first blush anyway.

Tasty Travails visits Osteria Morini

[weinoo]

Still trying for that perfect pizza...or flatbread...at home...
Best. Pizza. Ever?

[weinoo]

Visiting NYC and looking for Japanese food. Try the soba at Sobaya - and the rest of the menu isn't bad either...

Noodles and New Year

[weinoo]

If you're ever in the mood for an amazing porky experience, and you're in Queens, NY, check this joint out...

This Little Piggy...

[weinoo]

It's spring, and ramps are in the air.

Pssst...They're Baaaack

[weinoo]

Attempting paella...

Silly Rabbit

[weinoo]

ABC Kitchen, Fat Radish (and LTO for drinks) make for a good weekend...

Date Weekend

[weinoo]

San Francisco for a week makes for good blogging...

Commonwealth, et. al.

[weinoo]

And then there was a hurricane...

Preparing for a Hurricane After an Earthquake

[weinoo]

Looking for good pizza downtown?

Whose Favorite Pizza is That?

[weinoo]

A month or so ago, I volunteered for the IACP's annual conference, which was in NY this year. A friend and I led a couple of food tours, and I also gave a cocktail class in my apartment.

Here's the first installment.

[weinoo]

A noble experiment at...

Experimental Cocktail Club

[weinoo]

Who doesn't like corn on the cob? What about off the cob? Here it is, with shrimp and grits...

 2012_07_13 Shrimp and grits.jpg   105.29K   4 downloads

[weinoo]

Heading to New York City? Why not check out Brighton Beach - you're closer to Odessa than you think...

Brighton Beach

[weinoo]

Acme Restaurant just celebrated its 1st birthday.  A return dinner was therefore necessary - even if I'd eaten there at least 7 or 8 times during the course of their first year.

 

Happy Birthday, Acme.

[weinoo]

After a long time, we returned to Jaleo downtown, and were all quite impressed...

 

Jaleo at 20 - Happy Birthday!

[weinoo]

If you're thinking of heading to Citi Field to see the Metsies, well...

 

Aramark, Citi Field, The Mets, Danny Meyer and Kiss My Ass...