Jump to content

NolaCaine

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    669

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    22

 Content Type 

Everything posted by NolaCaine

  1. NolaCaine
    quick note to add that it's terrible. went yesterday. How does one cook a tonkatsu broth with no flavor. Sure it looked right and had good mouth feel but no flavor. All of us didn't like it. 4 soup lovers. 10 yr old loved the noodles though. They were not overcooked. Pork was ok. Sea weed salad was as expected. Veggie goyza was mushy. May have been filled with potato.
  2. NolaCaine
    Thus far, I've been to the KPot three times. Once for the very confusing soft-opening, once on "girl-date" with my 10 yr old daughter, and last night with the entire family of four. I went to the location at 7-corners in Virginia; in the same parking lot as Home Depot. FWIW: My first hot pot was in China, in 1999. Such a fantastic and memorable experience done in pantomime. Anyway, hot tips: Get here at 5pm for dinner on Saturday, not later. It got packed. Go hungry. Don't eat too much. Don't accept the ice cream. Start with the bar, it's included. Have fun; make a few dipping sauces. The plates are hiding by your knees. We love this place. My son, 14, who is picky, ate 5 servings of BBQ protein: steak, 2-chicken bulgogi, and two different porks. Husband and I had beef bulgogi and focused more on hot pot. My son also ordered tofu soft and BBQed it in the bulgogi spot. He loved. He also at a lot of Jello. Not sure anything green crossed his lips. HOT Pot: I love that i get to cook my own pot stickers and fish-balls in the both and then get to dip them in sauce. I've had Tom Yum and miso and I like tom yum better. Miso is fine but too bland. Tom Yum is not that spicy but there's a bar full of spice so it's personalize-able. Of the usual stuff we got quail eggs which sort of pop in the mouth. So good. Veggies were very fresh but when you order dumpling like things, only 3 come with an order. I think the meat quality is good and there's a nice variety but find the shrimp hard to deal with. Served shell on, I find grilling them uneven and cooking them in broth makes them difficult to eat. That's my only complaint and I realize it's cultural. In New Orleans we don't eat the shells.
  3. NolaCaine
    Well, Not sure it has improved much since 2021. Went with a group of people and will say that everybody loved it and cleared their plates. My feelings were mixed. It's fanciful with a great view and very expensive like everything on the Wharf. We started with fried cauliflower which had some deconstructed guacamole-type substance under it. Amazing. The pork gyoza, however wasn't that flavorful. For mains, two at the table got scallops and they finished their 3 huge scallops and whatever was under it. (I know, this is a lazy review but I'm just going to be lazy b/c the one above should still stand). Another got the sashimi dinner entree and was very happy. I, however, was surprised by the rolls. "District Spice" is a spicy tuna roll for $16. I've had tastier from Harris Teeter. Seriously, this was bland. All it had was a little heat. Naraya-ya was less bland. I ate about half and my 10 year old ate the other half as I took it home b/c 3 rolls are way too much for one me. For 18$ and for it being their namesake, I'd expect more. The product description says "spicy" but I didn't detect heat. Rainbow Roll at 20 was the best. Isn't that sad though that the fancy california roll was my favorite? Sure, it could be me but I doubt it. My colleague got the Santa Fe and DC Diablo and seemed happy and finished everything. It might be worth a trip for one 20-dollar drink, one 20-dollar roll and some cool pics.
  4. NolaCaine
    Visited the Wharf location for a lobster salad. I know, I can't complain if I got what I ordered, but I will. But first, the lobster was fantastic. Fresh, flaky, salty and I like it like that. However the salad had several issues. First, the medium sized baby spinach leaves had little stems and were difficult to eat. Second, the ranch was fake! Look, if I want ranch, give me all the fat and calories. I think this stuff had a yogurt base. Ick. Finally, dried cranberries. I'll admit I was curious but no; doesn't work for me. I'll go again when I'm in the mood for white bread and mayo. I'm sure that day will come soon. I'm left feeling incomplete somehow.
  5. NolaCaine
    They now sell booze. Wine, beer and cocktails. At the end of the alcohol menu is this phrase: Alcohol is not the answer. It just makes you forget the question. On the bottom of the drinks menu is this phrase: Lots of drinks are better than alcohol. They still make you happy. It contains a wide assortment of tea, soda, juice ect. FOOD: Highly recommend. My 10yr old daughter and I enjoyed the Shanghai Soup Dumplings which were a little doughy but still fantastic. I've never had fresh dumplings before and very much enjoyed pork/cabbage. Misses: Here a spring roll is just a spring roll and this order was small and I wish the cucumber salad had a tad more (or any) sesame oil in it but it didn't. We want to go back and try everything else.
  6. NolaCaine
    I went awhile ago and was disappointed at how much cheese there was on everything. Even on items that didn't have cheese listed as an ingredient had cheese on it. I have a rare disease. My milk-protein-ness is a PIA to me but it's frustrating to be at a fab place that smells great and have to drink the meal (by that I mean drink alcohol instead of eat food).
  7. NolaCaine
    SO GOOD. Had pulled pork, which was amazing but the brisket was dry. Friend who have been many times said that this was the first time they had dry brisket. I also loved the collard greens. It's vinegar forward which makes it a step above. Also very much enjoyed the texas caviar (cumin) and grits (seem more like polenta). Now y'all know I"ve got this thing about coke. Theirs was in a can and no ice. so there's that.
  8. NolaCaine
    I see it's been awhile. Walked up to Poke Papa and I'm a tad disappointed. Base = half sushi rice and zucchini noodles. The rice is fine, thank God but the noodles are thick. I like a thiner zucchini noodle. Both the Lomi Salmon and the Spicy Tuna are bland. How in the heck can you add stuff to stuff and get bland? Personal gripe here but the only pickled items were pickled onions (good) and pickled ginger (not my thing). Where's the radish? Krab salad is mayo based. This one was my fault. I shouldn't like fake crab as much as a do but still. Mayo. Upside; It's all fresh and the veggies are crisp and yummy. I liked the seaweed salad best but it was also the first thing that disappeared...
  9. NolaCaine
    Moosehead lake, from a local dude, about 12 each cooked. Only for sale Th-Sat.
  10. NolaCaine
    Interesting. My office moves to the Wharf next year and I have an expense account! The quote below stopped me in my tracks though, as it reeks of misogyny. Who is to decide? Does the color of my skin matter? The size of my breasts? How does this value assessment apply to men? If I'm wearing a sleeveless top, what size strap is ok? spaghetti, LBD? Let's saying I"m going to a gala nearby. Is it okay to wear something low cut and strapless but if I'm in a sundress it's not ok? Does socio-economic status matter? Yes to gala gowns but no to target knee length dresses with the same bodice or lack of one? We kindly ask guests to refrain from wearing athletic-wear, hoods, beach attire, flip flops, and torn or excessively revealing clothing.
  11. NolaCaine
    The sneaky tips piss me off. I have a list. Top of it, Cafe Colline. It just seems rude when in a cute little French Cafe. Also, why do fast food places slow me down by offering me a tip screen? I'm not tipping at a fast food place. Just raise the prices FFS.
  12. NolaCaine
    Went today. Everything tasted familiar. Chinese Bao was very good but it tasted familiar. My 9 year old proclaimed that Trader Joe's soup dumplings were superior to Hawkers'. I liked the wonton soup but again, that broth must be sold at Good Fortune b/c it too was familiar. And a spring roll is a spring roll, I get that one was my fault.
  13. NolaCaine
    I think they have the legs under them now. Went to the Falls Church location and enjoyed everything. For freshness, Ahi Tuna and Blacked Salmon are good choices. For picky 13 year olds, smash-burger taco. For all around messiness, barria. My husband might have altered this one taking off cheese and putting on quac but I can't be sure.For fried: both the grouper and shrimp were fantastic but the oyster was a dud. The only dud overall. For value: Chicken/Pollo. That one cost the least and had the most stuff on it. I dinned in and doubt I would do take out b/c the hot/warm with the old slaw or guac or salsa served together is part of the magic I think. Was that 7? If yes, that's all we ordered. A note on size. These are pretty small. My husband had four, I had three and my son two (of the same). Son was not too hungry but my husband under-ordered for himself (2 at first) and had to reorder. He reordered during a the lunch rush and it still came out pretty quick.
  14. NolaCaine
    Forgive the quick texting post. Went to Ballston location yesterday. Oysters were perfect. Loved the service and location. Had brunch happy hour wine, very good. But the crab claws, tostada tuna crude and smoked whitefish appetizers were all good but over priced imo. But, I’m from New Orleans and like my seafood cheap and salty.
  15. NolaCaine
    Look at Crane’s dc. Very enjoyable but expensive.
  16. NolaCaine
    Hi y'all! Today I dinned at Crane's for the third time in about as many months. I love this place. It's quiet, undiscovered for lunch, and calming somehow. I don't remember what I order as it seems that the menu has been different each time I've been. I have a dairy allergy and they have a dairy-free menu and a separate gluten-free menu. The DF one is so extensive that I don't mind missing the dairy. Also, two of my three companions also ordered off the menu and so I've tried, probably a dozen or more of them. Some of the sushi/sashimi/roll type items are fresh and really wonderful. My companion had a bento box today and the soup in it was amazing (non-dairy). In all, it's a great place to have a real conversation over lunch. Very much enjoyed. Go before it gets discovered and requires reservations at lunch.
  17. NolaCaine
    Last night I made a salad from my garden; only stuff from it. One lovely romaine lettuce. One plump but short carrot. Four edible flours. A little herb mixture for 3 of us and some rocket arugula for the pepper lovers. EVOO + Balsamic. I served other stuff but only this was worth mentioning. Kids ATE IT UP! In other news, I just made beef/chicken/pork broth and my 6 yr old keeps asking for "tastes". She's going to eat it all if I let her! I'm about to attempt a mushroom barley broth soup. We'll see if i succeed.
  18. NolaCaine
    I'm really local and really unemployed. I'm going to see if I can get a felony conviction real quick.
  19. NolaCaine
    Re toilets in China. I went to Japan and China in '99 and met my first hole in the ground. Good ones are great! So much better than many US bathrooms. Now the communal ones, I wasn't a fan. I vividly remember and old lady and her under 10 grand child watching me do my business. At first I was going to leave but then thought, hell, I might be the only white women they ever see semi-nude...and they watched, unabashedly. So drasisk, you inspired oversharing. 🙂
  20. NolaCaine
    Mirabelle - Jennifer Jacobs" is a white house reporter who put up some pics in the area.
  21. NolaCaine
    Husband can't remember and I haven't gotten the credit card bill yet. Sorry. I was so crab deprived that it wouldn't have mattered but they were very touch-free.
  22. NolaCaine
    Somebody mentioned Big Buns upthread and I made that for lunch today. AMAZING crab cake. Kids loved kid burgers and talked about how great food is when you haven't had it for awhile. All good.
  23. NolaCaine
    Good; not great. Still depressed.
  24. NolaCaine
    YOu are so right. THey are bland. bacon; hocks, andouille. Not enough. Needed more ham. Trying family tricks now. WIsh me luck.
  25. NolaCaine
    I am making Red Beans and Rice. I have three pork products in there so hoping for the best.
×
×
  • Create New...