Free Wilma

Has anyone been here recently? It apparently has the same owners, but unless there are some items not listed on the website menu (even the sample list of specials), this cuisine barely qualifies as "Balkan."

I've been there a number of times and that's pretty much the menu. The burek, bosnia burger and cevapčići are definitely Balkan...and if I remember correctly the primary focus of their old carry out restaurant. I think I recall hearing that there are significant german culinary influences in the region as well....thus explaining the schnitzels. They seem to do pretty steady business considering it's an odd location that literally shares a door with a Gold's Gym.

Rt. 1 is definitely gone. The Karate school has been there for at least 6 months.

i went to a lovely wedding reception at Gadsby's several years ago. It has some very nice outdoor spaces as well. You might also want to consider the Carlyle House or Torpedo Factory as rehearsal dinner sites. You'd have to have the meal catered...but the venues are great and in the right location.

That's great news for those of us in Alexandria!

Rustico has a parking lot just behind the restaurant. It can get loud later in the evening, however.

It looks like the Morrison House Hotel in Alexandria might offer a tea:

http://www.morrisonhouse.com/mrr-dining/mo...ry_time_tea.pdf

I went to a lovey "tea" shower at the Morrison House. Highly recommended.

We got to spend a few days with family in Austin in August. The highlight of the visit was our first trip ever the The Salt Lick. Wow. That was the best brisket I've EVER had. Amazing and worth the wait under the shade trees drinking lemonade. We also had dinner at Chuy's...again. My kids demand a visit every time we're in Austin.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I am remiss in not reporting Sooner (pun intended). Mr. RJ Cooper from the fabulous Vidalia kindly stepped up to the plate for the Chicken Fried Steak Challenge! RJ took the situation personnally in hand and the results were amazing! What a terrific experience for the Oklahomans who were needing a taste of home to celebrate the state's centinnial. RJ prepared a family-style spread with some of the most exquisitely prepared chicken fried steak ever! It was a VERY memorable experience for those who attended. Thanks RJ!

Here's a fun piece the local Fox station did on kids cooking right before Thanksgiving. Kids in the kitchen

My daughter is one of the kids!

The great state of Oklahoma will celebrate its Centennial birthday on Nov. 16. A group of displaced Oklahomans want to mark the day by having a celebratory luncheon at a restaurant that makes a respectable Chicken Fried Steak. Any recommendations, especially those in the District, would be appreciated.

There's an Ernie's Originial Crab House that's south of Old Town on Rt. One. I've never seen anyone going in or out of the place. It's not far from the Krispie Kreme, but on the other side of the highway. I'm amazed it's got a strong enough following to expand.

Vermilion is moving????

lizzie said:

For her 12th birthday (to put this request in context), my daughter wants to go to a restaurant for alaskan king crab. Hopefully someone can suggest someplace other than Red Lobster or Joe's Crab Shack. We have never sought these out in this area. We may end up buying a steamer and cooking them ourselves, if all else fails.

My 12 year old asked the very same thing after watching Deadliest Catch. I recalled for her the days of going to Chesapeake Bay Seafood House and getting all you can eat crab legs when we were in college. She was VERY disappointed to hear they're no longer in business. Sonoma would be a PERFECT alternative....and I'm sure much tastier!

Any suggestions for Easter Brunch in Old Town? We have a group of 10.....7 of which are well behaved, restaurant savy (but not particularly old) kids. But they'll all look real cute in their Easter finery.

I went to a nice bridal brunch at the Old Ebbit about a year ago. While the food isn't spectactular, it's reasonably priced and a great location if out of town folks are coming.

Outside of the District (but not terribly far), I went to a lovely baby shower at the Morrison House in Old Town Alexandria. We all felt extremely pampered. And the dining spaces are beautiful.

Stinking Bishop

But wait....Wilma is a stinking bishop too! However, Laura is a camembert.

I regularly shop at the Sherwood Hall library market in the Mt. Vernon area. It has nice fruit, veggies and flowers; as well as some a few meat and baked goods vendors. But I would LOVE more variety. Cheeses and mushrooms would be a huge hit with me. I find our market welcoming and neighborly...but not exactly inspiring or bountiful.

There was a lovely article in the Gazette this week featuring the Del Merei Grille......

Do they have the gelato bar, like the WF in Austin? I still dream about that gelato.

Lesson worth noting (and I don't think anyone else has mentioned this yet) the drippings from a brined turkey are much saltier than those from a more traditional baked bird. Unfortunately, I didn't realize this until I tasted the gravy made from the drippings. Oops. It wasn't horrible....just a good bit saltier than I'd planned.

Thinking about getting by in the next week. Anyone been yet?

I've been to three in the area:

1) Benihana in the Georgetown area - Don't remember much. Only went once and it was a large group and well... not many of us remember much about that evening :-)

2) Matsutake (Crystal City) - Passable. I've been a couple times and wasn't wowwed and it wasn't horrible (which seems to be typically what I say about most japanese steak houses).

3) Tokyo Japanese Steak House (Old Town-ish Alexandria) - We've been here a number of times but usually just sit in the sushi area and get sushi. We've sat at the hibachi's once or two and it was pretty much like most other japanese steak houses I've been too.

We were actually at the Tokyo Japanese Steak House just last night. And it was fine...and remarkably like all the others of the same ilk I've been to in various towns across the country. The kids LOVE it (and were the ones who chose the restaurant last night). It's easy with a group. Among the middle school crowd, it's a favorite for birthday parties. I really like the location at TJSH. It's right on the Potomac on the far far north end of Old Town. Parking is easily available and whole waterfront area there is quite well done.

Escoffier said:

From todays The List:

Chef Morou's new restaurant, next to the Alexandria Balducci's, at 600 F Street is slated for a fall opening. Look for African and French influences on the menu and desserts from Pastry Chef Leon 

I saw that on "The List" too. It should be noted that the address is 600 Franklin Street...in Alexandria. NOT 600 F Street as "The List" printed.

Not that space in Hybla Valley? Captain White's or something similar? The place on the left as you're going south? If Calabash (as referenced above - divey) is going there, it's found it's niche in Alexandria...no Old Towne sensibilities in that area to abuse.

Yes the Hybla Valley, Captain whoever's space. My expectations are incredibly low.