MC Horoscope

Love these choices here! Gonna try the following

Lots of surprises this weekend! Sure didn't see Syracuse and Villanova in there.

I love the first weekend of the tournament, but I lose interest quickly by the time it gets to Sweet 16 and Elite 8 weekend. Don't know why. This year seems to have a lot of point differentials of 12 or more. Who's left? Virginia, Oklahoma? North Carolina?

I love Middle Tennessee!

George Martin, producer for The Beatles.

"Beatles Record Producer George Martin Dies At 90" by John Kelly on washingtonpost.com

Nevertheless, I'll play along, why not. Here's my team, selected as "the best team you could possibly assemble":

PG Magic Johnson

SG Michael Jordan

SF Larry Bird

PF Bill Russell

C   Wilt Chamberlain

It'd be hard to choose but my 6th man would be either Havliceck, West, or Robertson. I would probably switch Jabbar for Chamberlain. I guess I am skewing to times I am more familiar with. Strong video on Chamberlain v Jabbar!

I would like to know how often it happens that someone votes for a candidate to become president in the national election then votes in their state election for a representative or senator who has gone on record saying he or she will do everything possible to oppose the president you just voted for. I bet it's more often than you'd think!

Just saying that in our system it's possible to compartmentalize national interest and your state's interest to the point of absurdity.

Often times when people say they hate Congress they really mean they like their own Congressman but they hate everybody else's!

We visited for our first time last night and found the tomato sauce to be our favorite between Pizza CS, Comet Ping Pong, and 2Amys. Wife said the basil was not plentiful on the Margherita but very tasty!

The speck that came with the burrata was delicious! A bit peppery. They should make that one of the optional toppings.

We sat at a communal table and did not feel crowded at all. But the place IS small and loud! I can see that you might not want a table for 2 right by the door 'cause it was drafty.

The coloring of the room was attractive. Oranges and browns. Made you feel warm!

Paul Kantner, one of the founders of the Jefferson Airplane.

Saturday Afternoon at 1:06

Do some people not hear the difference between then and than? Do they also not hear the difference and cannot distinguish between men and man? Than I am a men of constant sorrow.

Raided the freezer for tomatoes and eggplant sauce from Lidia Bastianich's blue cookbook for a taste of our garden. It'll go with some hot Italian sausages from Filippo's (the renamed Marchone's in Wheaton).

"Dusting" may be the correct technical term, but if it is then I think they need to change it. At least in my mind it connotes dryness, NOT a possible ice storm. I had no concerns about driving in the evening if we were just going to get a "dusting." That didn't sound ominous. But there's too much emphasis on total inches when what we really needed to know beforehand was whether it would stay dry or turn into ice. And I would not have driven last night knowing I was in for ice.

Still, I was luckier than a lot of people. I moved along the Beltway in PG and Montgomery counties between 8:15 and 10:00 sometimes at 5 mph but sometimes at 30. Almost got run over by an 18-wheeler that was going too fast and changing lanes left and right.

Oh my, the pork belly kimchi and the buccatelli with pancetta were so delicious! Keep it up, Grapeseed!

I always loved the part about the Pluto Gang!

It's been a while since I read it so I might have it a bit mixed up, but basically Trout got mugged, a reporter asked him who did it, he said something like "I don't know. For all I know it could have been a gas from Pluto," the reporter misheard it and printed that the victim said it was "the Pluto gang," and a miserable bunch of punks changed the name of their gang to Pluto Gang to strike fear in the heart of the public.

Personally I think ISIL taking credit for San Bernardino and Istanbul is about like a Pluto Gang taking credit for striking fear in our hearts. I do not believe it at all.

"God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" (1965) is more like my favorite.

---

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (The Hersch)

We had a very nice dinner for 2 this evening!

If you are wondering about portion size or how much to order, our waiter told us that generally for the items from the Craft, History, and Ingredients lists, the first two items are appetizer size, the next 2 are larger and might suffice for an entree, and 1 dessert was also listed. But some of the dishes are a bit in between. I remember him mentioning the sweetbreads with spaetlzle and a really wonderful chantrelle mushroom sauce and the Maine lobster toast listed with Indulgences. Good to split as an appetizer or have as your entree.

We were quite hungry and had plenty of food splitting the sweetbreads, the lamb served 3 ways for the table, a 3 cheese course, and the Valrhona Guanaja Custard cake (with wonderful pecan praline!). My favorites were the sweetbreads, the cheese plate, and Paul Marie cognac! Plenty of wows and mmmms at our table.

Half portion of sweetbreads

Full portion of lamb (served 3 ways  -loin, leg, and sausage) for the table with sweet pepper stew and grits

Full portion of the Valrhona

We'll be going back for more of the great things we missed out on this time!

FishNook had a great grilled octopus on the menu when my wife and I visited. Hope Fishnet has it again in the future!

Havlicek was a pretty good defender away from the basket. One of the most clutch players ever.

This article is a pretty good take on him:

"Throwback Thursday: Remembering John Havlicek" by Phillip Taggart on todaysfastbreak.com

Thanksgiving Day menu at Le Vieux Logis. (Emailed to me by the restaurant. You won't find this on their website, or at least I could not find it.)

Prix Fix Menu

$52.00 PER PERSON

Appetizers

Bouchot mussels, Pamcetta, sage, garlic broth.

Roasted butternut squash soup, white truffle oil, cranberry apple chutney, pumpkinseed oil.

Roasted red and golden beet salad with field green, goat cheese, roasted hazelnut, and orange.

New Zealand venison carpaccio, beet grain mustard aioli, pickled turnip, farm kale.

Escargots de Bourgogne a l' ail et persil burgundy snails with garlic and parsley.

Traditional Caesar, romaine hearts, anchovy, garlic dressing, baguette croutons, Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Main Courses

Free range turkey duo, orange sweet potato, caramelized brussel sprout, porcini, foie gras, brioche stuffing, cranberry jam, light gravy.

Sautéed diver scallop, Jerusalem artichoke, Brussel sprout risotto.

Braised beef short ribs, parsnip potato purée, orange carotte braising jus.

Sautéed Icelandic codfish, beans, celery root purée, brussel sprout with truffle oil.

Desserts

Warm chocolate coulant, caramel sauce, vanilla ice.

Pumpkin, apple tatin with cranberry sauce, cinnamon ice cream

Crème brí»lée, vanilla beans Tahitian, hazelnut cookies.

Pear Vacherin, wine poached pear, candied ginger ice cream.

Isis is the name of an ancient Egyptian goddess. Egypt can't be too happy about these people co-opting that name.

Egyptian Tourist Commission:  "Come see our statues of Isis!"

That's why I am NEVER calling them ISIS.

I don't care for them calling themselves a state at all, but for me the first part of their name should be DIM (Doctrinally Incorrect Muslims) since the Koran does not in any way justify or condone the 9/11/2001 attacks nor this stuff pulled in Paris! Don's Muslim friend above has it right.

DIM NSA (Doctrinally Incorrect Muslim Non-State Actors)

Madness

I will be in New Orleans soon for a conference and staying at the Roosevelt. While my first night includes a business dinner (at Galatoire's), I will have one night to fend for myself. I am looking for recommendations for places within walking distance of the Roosevelt where I can dine solo (preferably bar area). I'm open to all cuisines/price points. Thanks! 

R'Evolution in the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Good for eating at the bar.

Don, I am sure you will go about an interface change more thoughtfully than Digg and Chowhound did. No worries here!

I am on discussion boards that never change and they do look dated, believe me. Not this one.

I've simply stopped going to Chowhound since they changed their interface recently.

(Remember how Digg lost a whole lot of followers when they changed interface? I wonder if that'll happen to Chowhound.)

I am leaning to Izakaya Seki. They take reservations for parties of 5-8 people only, so there's a possibility. I don't know the logistics though. Should I call the restaurant first for dates and times available? Put out a Don Rocks call for 8 participants? And propose a date and time?

I pm'd DR just now.