reedm
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Posts posted by reedm
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21 minutes ago, DonRocks said:
Ah, but Crystal City is ripe for being demolished and rebuilt with modern office space and condos (plus, it's close to lots of tear-down houses, Metro, and the Capitol). All of a sudden, Amazon becomes the non-governmental centroid of Washington, DC.
I fully agree. I meant to say they didn’t opt for an “additional” location near Dulles.
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I'm surprised they didn't opt for a location near Dulles, aka the new technology corridor. Proximity to Dulles is a time and money saver, and the omnipresent data centers make it a logical choice to me, but what do I know.
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1 hour ago, FranklinDubya said:
Reedm : thank you for the super detailed post! One question about the above - how many different menus did they have available? On their website they show the "classics", gastronauts, and good earth menus but this is the first I've heard of the seafood menu. *I'm headed here in two weeks and trying to get a lay of the menu situation since the online ones aren't updated regularly.
My pleasure. Three menus were available the night of our visit. I assume you can always mix and match as you like. Glad to answer additional questions. Cheers!
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My wife was tasked to help close the Williams-Sonoma there. Unfortunately, the timing coincided with the single digit temperatures a week or so ago. She had to pull a car to the front to load up the various store remnants in frigid temps. Lo and behold, a parking enforcement employee saw fit to take action, and was trying to put a boot on my wife's car. Seriously? My wife was not happy, and let the person know the parking situation was the reason stores were closing.
Absolutely terrible.
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My wife surprised me with a trip to the Inn for dinner. Until we left, I wasn't completely sure where we were going. She rightfully decided to find a more affordable place to stay, since $800 a night is extremely expensive. We ended up at 1812 Caledonia Farms B&B, which is another story entirely. At $140/night, it was quite a savings.
Overall, the every dish we ordered was creative, perfectly prepared, and quite delicious. That said, I have have enjoyed food that's equally as good (or better), and the entirety of the service did not rate 3 Michelin stars. We arrived a bit early, and thought we might have a cocktail at the bar. Since I didn't have time to do any research, I didn't realize the bar is essentially a small waiting area. Nonetheless, we were escorted to our table, which was past the main dining room. I think the area overlooked the court yard--a fire pit was visible outside. Unfortunately, we were seated at a very odd corner table. I say "odd" because there was simply no way for one of the diners to sit directly in front of their place settings. My wife and I looked at one another, and quickly asked to be moved to another table. They moved us to the main dining room to a more conventional two-top.
Much more relaxed, we settled in, looking forward to a wonderful experience. We indicated we would like to enjoy cocktails before we started, and quickly found out our primary server was less than engaging. We asked for recommendations, and our server replied simply with "it depends what you like", and nothing more. Again, very unexpected. My wife had read about the truffled popcorn, and we asked if that was available. A bit later, two boxes appeared. It wasn't revolutionary, but it was quite good. I believe the popcorn is normally topped with black truffle shavings, but that wasn't the case with ours. Both of our cocktails were exceptionally well-prepared and delicious. (One was a riff on a gin cocktail, the other a play on a manhattan.)
I chose the "Out of the Blue" seafood menu, while my wife opted for "The Good Earth" vegetarian selection, substituting a couple of vegetarian dishes for selections from the other menus. Each menu is $238. As anyone who has been to the Inn knows, the wine list is massive. My wife opted for a single glass, since she was driving, and I opted for the $175 wine pairing. We asked our server for a wine that might carry through my wife's meal, and she decided on a Grenache, which was around $30 per glass.
The next "misstep" occurred when the sommelier appeared with my first glass (L. Aubrey Fils, 1er Cru, Jouy-les-Reims, Champagne, France (N.V.) She very briefly described the champagne, but I thought it was very perfunctory. Our cocktail glasses were still half full, so I'm not sure why they decided to begin the dinner service.
We both enjoyed a couple of small amuse-bouche, which were quite delicious. Following those, we were presented with a gruyere gougeres and a shot glass of a wonderful cheese soup, enhanced with country ham. Amazing.
When our waiter returned, I mentioned that we were in no hurry, and we would like a more leisurely pace. To his credit, the pace of the meal slowed down.
Overall, each of the paired wines was a great match for my food, and even though my glasses were never topped off, I thought the relative value was reasonable. That said, the sommelier was going through the motions, only appearing briefly to pour the wines, but never asking what I thought, etc. I'm barely a wine novice, but I've had many more enjoyable interactions with sommeliers at other restaurants.
While our server was a bit of a dud, there were plenty of staff members who were funny and engaging. The lack of consistency was a bit puzzling.
Based upon our experience, I've enjoyed more value for the money at other places. Two cocktails, a wine pairing, a glass of wine, and two dinners cost $798 before gratuity. (OBTW, two small containers of the truffled popcorn were $12. Each.
On to a few food pictures:
A Quartet of "Wellfleet Oysters" in Champagne SabayonSpectacular. Very rich and decadent. Paired with the champagne mentioned above.
Chilled Baby Leeks with Black Truffle Remoulade. My wife's favorite dish.
A "Star-Kissed" Tuna and Foie Gras Confit. Exceptionally delicious. Rich, velvety and savory. Paired with Domaine de la Bergerie, Le Grand Beaupreau Savennieres, Loire Valley, France (2-15)
A Turnip Tarte Tatin with Caramelized Onion and Triple Creme Cheese. (Vegetarian). Another highlight. We were informed this was on the menu for the first time. They asked for feedback, and it was all positive. Well balanced textures and flavors, with a perfect warm temperature.
Pan-Seared Maine Diver Scallop Perfumed with Curry and Calvados. Paired with Ebony, Chardonnay, Hive, Willamette Valley, Oregon (2014). This was a delightful dish as well. This is the first time I've seen a scallop served sliced. I'd be interested to know why they chose this method.
A Marriage of Virginia Bison: *Pepper-Crusted Tenderloin and Braised Short Rib with Seared Foie Gras and Black Truffle Reduction. My wife picked this from the gastronaut menu. I was amazed at the tenderness of the bison, because it was literally "melt in your mouth" texturally. For whatever reason, I enjoyed this dish more than my wife did. Simply outstanding.
A Duet of Lobster: Butter Poacched and Cabbage-Wrapped Maine Lobster with Caviar Beurre Blanc. Paired with Domain Blaine-Gagnard, Chassagne-Montrachet, La Boudriotte Premier Cru, Burgundy, France (2016). Another delicious dish. I was very impressed by the relatively plain looking cabbage wrapped lobster. The lobster filling may have been a type of lobster mousse. Delicate and delicious.
A Lilliputian Pomegranate and Maple Dreamsicle. We both received this. In hindsight, I should have received the listed Coconut Sorbet with Passionfruit and Ginger Granite. Very tasty nonetheless.
Apparently a Pear. Paired with Jorge Ordonez, Victoria #2, Moscatel, Malaga, Spain (2015) This dessert's reputation is well-deserved.
Chocolate-Hazlenut Mousse Napoleon. Light, but decadent.
Finally, a mystery. (Sort of). Both of these are water glasses. Initially, we both had clear water glasses, but without explanation, my wife's glass was removed and replaced with this oversized blue glass. I finally asked our waiter, who said it was a signal that my wife was not eating seafood. She had indicated she likes a very limited range of seafood (she ordered the scallops), but she obviously does not have an allergy. The glass was comically large. Can anyone help with a better explanation? (I'm not complaining--it was funny)
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On 1/16/2019 at 1:39 AM, DonRocks said:
Thank you for starting this topic, lperry.
I really think José Andrés might win the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Last year, I thought he'd be considered for the first time (which he was), but wouldn't be considered seriously; this year, he's a very real candidate to win the actual prize, especially in contrast to whom we have in the White House.
Funny that Eater DC didn't ask me this year, as if I somehow know less than in years past (I most assuredly don't). But, that's just Eater trying to eliminate their competition, from what I hear; I couldn't care less. On other notes, Warren Rojas and I have become much closer friends since he left Eater - this should surprise no one.
And, to those who think Puerto Rico is somehow "inferior" to the USA, let's take another look at the 2004 Puerto Rican Basketball Team, and the thrashing they dealt to the "Dream Team."
I don't think Eater is competition for anyone, much less this forum.
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22 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:
Went to Costa Rica almost 18 years ago. Drove around in a 4x4 feeding monkeys everywhere. It was a blast. The kids' passports are expired so we won't be going there (until I get them new passports). Most likely heading to Puerto Rico - I like Old San Juan.
BTW, the food sucked in Costa Rica years ago. I ate a whole lot of pretty bland fried fish.
I should have said good or very good, but not great. We stayed in a rented house that came with a chef, who cooked wonderful meals. In my limited experience, the CR cuisine was a bit bland, but I understand that's typical.
That said, we had a wonderful time, and I'd recommend a trip there to anyone.
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19 hours ago, Ericandblueboy said:
The kids and I are all tired of going to Orlando for Spring break. It's expensive, it's crowded, and we've been there too many times already. So what are some other ideas for Spring break?
Disney cruise is a possibility. New Orleans? San Antonio? Puerto Rico? Some place warm, lots of kids stuff, good food, no more than 5 hrs flying.
We had a blast in Costa Rica. Tourism drives their economy, so they aim to please. There is plenty to do for all ages; zip-lining, hiking, scuba diving, parasailing, horseback riding, etc. Food is great as well.
We flew using Copa. One stop in Panama City. Very easy.
If you're interested, PM me. I have an expat connection who will put an itinerary together for you.
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I prepared Hainanese Chicken Rice last night, using some frozen broth from another Hainanese chicken recipe I'd tried before. My wife and I are both under the weather, and while the chicken and sauce were delicious, the broth proved to be very comforting on its own.
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I recommend you search for a Latino grocery store in your area. You're likely to find them there. As an example, when I lived in Fairfax, Americana Grocery was a great resource.
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2 hours ago, reedm said:
Insider tip: The WS will have plenty of merchandise on clearance, if you're in need or want of such things. (Not just from that store...)
My wording may have been misleading. Nothing's afoot with WS in general. I meant to convey other stores may move merchandise to stores that are closing...
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1 hour ago, RJS said:
It’s not only restaurants -Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma are also leaving-it’s the biggest pain in the butt to pay for parking space in Reston even with the app I go out of my way not to be there now-at least you can park at Balducci‘s for free easily -For those so inclined no one will know if you’re in Balducci’s or not and you can park there for free but then you still have to walk a distance to get to whatever store you want——
Insider tip: The WS will have plenty of merchandise on clearance, if you're in need or want of such things. (Not just from that store...)
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8 hours ago, Ericandblueboy said:
I woke up at 3 a.m. on day 2. Idiotic loud neighbors might’ve caused my issue. Maybe I should’ve worn earplugs after all.
So the day started with me strolling through Chinatown hoping for dim sum or a northern Chinese brunch (like A&J’s) around 10 a.m. Nothing’s open except one cash-only restaurant with a limited menu. Only after I was seated did I find out that they don’t serve you-tiao (fried crullers) until 11 a.m. So I ended up with some wonton soup and spring-rolls, all of which were mediocre at best.
Afterwards I tubed to Westminster, one of many to swarm the Abbey. I listened to the Jeremy Irons voiced audio guide and read Rick Steves’ book. I envision that virtual reality tours will be made in the future of all great sites where I can click and point for a wealth of information, instead of looking for each item being described in a guide amongst a horde of barbarians. Especially annoying are the ones who don’t follow the path who end up creating even more obstacles than centuries old relics.
Big Ben is covered in scaffolding 🙁
Then I frolicked from Westminster Bridge to Trafalgar Square listening to Rick Steves’ narration. I took a drink break before tackling the National Gallery. Just the highlights and Canaletto took me 2 hours. I took another drink break before going back to Chinatown. I actually just wanted dinner at any place with WiFi other than my hotel. My hotel uses its own VPN which doesn’t allow me to use mine, so I can’t watch Barça. My first choice would’ve been Fumo, a nearby Italian joint, but they were already packed at 5:15. So I went back to Chinatown knowing there’s free WiFi in Chinatown - it covers the area and not restaurant specific.
I ended up at Feng Shui Inn, a Cantonese/Sichuan spot. I had some spicy beef and tripe cold app (husband/wife lung slices), a vegetarian casserole, and deep-fried intestines stirred with hot chili peppers. My waitress commented on one person ordering 3 dishes....but I finished everything (decent food).
Then I trotted over to Enbankment for London Walks Xmas lights and pub walk. For only 10 pounds, I was entertained with a tour for 2.5 hrs with 2 pub stops.
It's been a few years, but I understand Barrafina is as excellent as ever, and as busy as ever. I've been to the Frith Street location, but I understand there are locations on Adelaide St and Dean St. Not inexpensive, but well worth it.
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2 hours ago, Tweaked said:
The bottom noodle soup, assuming it is the Mee Kathi with tofu, looks amazing (well it all does, but that soup in particular!)
Yes, that's the Mee Kathi. It was indeed wonderful.
I forgot to mentions the portions are quite substantial, as well.
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As mentioned in a separate post, a number of new restaurants/food outlets recently opened in Tyson's Galleria. My daughter and I were out doing some Christmas shopping, and we decided to check out Sen Khao. I haven't been to Thip Khao, but I frequented Bangkok Golden a few years ago, which is the restaurant that introduced me to Lao cuisine.
The menu is somewhat "compact", and featured two starters, a salad, two sticky rice dishes, and three noodle soups. You have your choice of proteins for the salad dish as well as the soups.
We opted for Curry Puffs ($5) and two of the soups. The curry puffs may have been the best I've ever had. The dough was thin, light, and perfectly cooked, while the filling consisted of nicely seasoned pieces of potato. An order consists of two curry puffs with accompaniments.
I chose the Khao Piak Sen ($14), which is a type of chicken soup featuring rice noodles, pulled chicken, garlic chili oil, herbs and greens, and some crispy rice. While it was slightly spicy, chili paste and raw chiles are available for those who like it hotter. This soup was a winner. Clean favors, nicely seasoned, and freshly prepared. (Note: The menu states the noodles are udon-style, and while I'm not a noodles expert, I think rice noodles were used.)
My daughter opted for Mee Kathi with tofu, which is a coconut curry rice noodle based soup flavored with egg, peanuts, cabbage, and banana blossom. She declared her soup to be outstanding as well.
The service was extremely quick, and the staff was very friendly and helpful as well. If I worked in the Galleria or lived nearby, Sen Khao would be on my short list.
We strolled to check out the other food outlets, and picked up an eggnog ice cream cone ($4) at Ice Cream Jubilee. The eggnog ice cream was fantastic. Creamy, rich, and with a hint of rum. They offer several interesting flavor combinations (Thai Iced Tea, etc.) Looking forward to a return visit there, as well.
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4 hours ago, ElGuapo said:
Closed, but not closed, it seems.
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Not to take anything away from Phil's fundraising, but if you live in the Ashburn area, I highly recommend AhSo. The food and drink menu continues to evolve, and I don't know of another place that others such a diverse menu.
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On 11/12/2018 at 7:03 PM, DonRocks said:
Whoa, I'm pretty sure Phil made our drinks just a couple of weeks ago.
Phil is doing much better, and he was released a few days ago. That said, he has some significant events ahead of him.
AhSo offers Phil's Black Manhattan, and part of the proceeds go towards his recovery fund.
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I stopped by the One Loudoun location for lunch today. Since I was solo, I tried two menu items. I should have taken pictures, but I realized that after I had already eaten most of the food. 😎
The lobster taquitos ($6.50) consisted of flour tortillas filled with a pleasantly rich, nicely seasoned lobster mixture, and then drizzled with a spicy sauce and served with a dollop of guacamole and and vegetable garnish. The taquitos were fried perfectly, and the serving size was larger than I expected. I'd easily order them again.
I ordered the single portion of fish and chips ($9 for single, $13 for double, grilled or fried). The fish used was Hoki, which I've probably eaten before, but never intentionally. It turns out that Hoki, a white fish, is one of the types of fish used in a Filet-O-Fish. I digress. The portion was ample, nicely breaded, and perfectly cooked. The fish was served with a serving of fries, house-made tartar sauce, and a pickle. Again, very satisfying.
While I only tried two menu items, I like the fact that the restaurant offers seafood prepared a number of ways. Ford's Fish Shack, which some see as a competitor, offers a menu that centers around fried fish/seafood. Slapfish offers plenty of fried foods and chowder, but it also offers Poke bowls, salads, and ceviche. Ford's is a full service restaurant/bar, while Slapfish is a fast casual spot.
The staff was extremely welcoming and helpful. I look forward to a return visit.
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Thanks for the great suggestions! My daughter has embraced my appreciation of food, so I'm confident she and her friend will find some wonderful spots.
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My daughter and one of her friends will be in Amsterdam beginning tomorrow for a few days. (Both are 21) If anyone cares to recommend very good/great and inexpensive places, please let me know. Thanks!
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Don, I hope you don't mind me sharing this, but I think this is worthwhile.
Yesterday, I learned Phil Duong, AhSo's lead bartender, had been hospitalized following an incident this weekend. Details are scarce, but I understand he was severely injured while he was at a local restaurant. (Not AhSo).
His injuries necessitated a medevac, and he is currently in an induced coma.
I'm not a close friend or part of the family, but if you've met Phil, he's an extremely likable guy.
If you would like to help with his medical expenses, Jason Maddens set up a Gofundme page .
Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers.
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On 11/2/2018 at 6:47 PM, DonRocks said:
You should really try Chloe if you haven't - Haidar has Lebanese blood in him, and it shows in his hummus.
<--- This was as good as it looks.
I'll have to disagree, Don. It's ten times better than it looks! 🙂
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The Green Zone (curls)
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I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I've recommended it to family and work colleagues. I didn't read it, but did listen to it via Audible. Narrated by the author, I didn't get the sense he was unsympathetic.
He did address the need to address the underlying drug problem plaguing our country, one that hits the extremely poor the hardest.
For my tastes, it's one of the best books I've enjoyed all year.
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Métier, Chef Eric Ziebold's Prix-Fixe, Fine Dining Restaurant in Mount Vernon Square
in Washington DC Restaurants and Dining
Posted
Has anyone been to Métier recently? If all goes according to plan, we will celebrate our anniversary there next Thursday. Thank you.