Free Wilma

Mini-Snickers bar and peanut m&ms. Thank goodness my kids are anti-nut! More for Mama!

I noticed the other day that Target is carrying a line of enamled cast iron dutch ovens. They seemed pretty nice and MUCH more cost efficient (but I can't remember the exact price point). I'd have bought one by they were out of the size I wanted in Red.

South Alexandria - Mt. Vernon....... The 5 mile is 9. The 2 mile radius is ONE! However, number 2 will be opening next week.

If memory serves me right, Roy Rogers bought out Gino's and converted them to Roys - I actually preferred Gino's fried chicken, but such is life.

I had forgotten about Gino's. We were living in Wilmington, DE at the time and I remember being devastated that Gino's was becoming something new. But then I became obsessed with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and, of course, his trusty steed Trigger. I watched all their movies!

I liked Chef Gillian's menu in the Washingtonian feature (co-authored by Todd Kliman) re: Thanksgiving.  Is there a dedicated thread for that article?

I thought it was a nice article in the Washingtontonian. I appreciated the wine suggestions from some folks around here as well.

I remember Roy's from 20+ years ago.  For someone with very specific condiment requirements the fixin's bar was great. 

You can always come down to Mt. Vernon area of Alexandria and still enjoy one of the last remaining Roy's outposts. The fixin's bar hasn't changed at all. In fact, our local elementary school had a fundraiser there last week. A little girl at the fixin's bar managed to get ketchup all over the front and back of my husband's shirt and tie.

Such tawdry, juicy gossip that I hear...

Such a tease!

Rats. A friend wanted to go there for lunch earlier this week and I declined and choose pizza instead. Now I'm sorry. We'll have to give it a try VERY soon. My friend said she and her kids had been there three times in the past week.

What a perfectly wonderful article, Monica! Thanks for sharing it with us Don!

It was requested that I post this again.  Thanks.

What a WONDERFUL story in the Sun. Maybe the Post or some others will pick it up as well.

Thanks hillvalley for the reminder of how to do the Paypal contribution! It was easy-peasy with your instructions.

I grew up in a neighborhood called "North Hills" and it was aptly named. We would run up and down the hills for hours gathering candy. So my mom decided that she'd give out "Witches Blood" (that'd be the basic red Kool-Aid) to all the thirsty kids. Of course she always dressed up as a witch and we had that classic scary soundtrack lp playing out of the bedroom windows. The kids never seemed disappointed that she wasn't giving candy because they were so exhausted from hiking around the 'hood and were in dire need to liqud libation. She passed away 10 years ago, but my dad has upheld the tradition...but without the pointy hat.

My dad still makes sure to have a big box of Lucky Charms whenever my brother and I come home to visit....and we all fight over it! It's great to know at 39, 34 and 34 we can still revert back to our 10 year-old behavior when it comes to something so sacred as Yucky...errrr....Lucky Charms. Now we just have to add OUR kids into the fight for sugar based cereal!

I read recently that Catherine Zeta-Jones is going to be making an English-speaking version of Mostly Martha due out sometime in 2007.

Someone told me yesterday that Rainforest Cafe has left Tysons in the last few weeks. Could it be that this new addition has moved rents up to such an extent that the old restaurants can't succeed? And is this a foreshadowing of how the new places will fare in a couple of years. Of course, Rainforest wasn't ANY sort of culinary destination....but they did a hell of a business with the under-10 crowd.

My daughter has been taking a short, squat Alladin thermos-type product to school with heated leftovers. I got it at Target a couple of weeks ago. She's thrilled to be taking leftover pastas and chinese food instead of eating cafeteria slop. It easily keeps the food warm until her lunch time....especially since she has to eat at 10:30!

Big Night is my favorite!

Mine too...along with Like Water for Chocolate!

This Saturday, September 10th, from 9 AM til noon, Evening Star Cafe in Del Ray will be offering authentic Beignets and hot coffee, bringing a taste of the French Quarter to Virginia. 

Cost is $5 per order with 100% of proceeds going to the American Red Cross and Catholic Relief Services for hurricane relief efforts on the Gulf Coast. 

Come get them while they're hot!

YUM! I just may have to make a trek over to the old 'hood on Saturday morning!

I think that the best place to get groceries in this city is Pea Pod by Giant.  The stuff I get is always fresh, good selection (for staples, anyway) and they carry your shit up to your apartment.

I love that

I'd like to second your Peapod endorsement. It so much easier for me to shop online rather than with two children who talk non-stop...often starting with the phrase "I want". The $5.95 delivery fee is money well-spent when it helps to maintain my summer sanity.

One of my favorite there's-a-fly-in-my-soup episodes occured at a venerable establishment near Dupont Circle, where the my server's response to the very much alive roach in my salad was "I'm so sorry, chef insists on using organic lettuces grown without pesticides."

I got an almost identical response when I found a slug on my plate at a VERY well regarded downtown restaurant. But to their credit, we were amply compensated and have returned time and again.

Breakfast Burrito! Two scrambled eggs, chopped heirloom tomato, cilantro, grated cheddar jack and a touch of salsa. All wrapped up and ready to eat. Soooooo yummy on a Sunday morning!

tune-inn, 3rd and penn., capitol hill - this place is the perfect anti-dote to bars packed with hill staffers who can't seem to talk about anything but politics. 

After a several year hiatus we went back to the Tune in a couple of weeks ago. It's still a dive...but the burgers and beer hit the spot at 2:00 am.

Well, I was thinking it might be something that is normally found in this space, but I guess not.  At least I hope not 

That was my guess as well. Wrong on that count it seems.

My husband and I greatly enjoyed our dinner last night at Tosca. We decided to give the tasting menu and wine parings a try....and I'm REALLY glad we did! Our reservation was at 7:00 and the dining room was fairly quiet and uncrowded. When we left at 9:30, almost every table was filled but it never seemed loud or frenzied. Service was terrific; attentive but unhurried. For me it was an evening of revelations and appreciation. My husband and I enjoy wine, but are by no means aficionados. The wine parings were a real treat and certainly helped to expand my appreciation of the art of matching dishes with particular wines.

"MENU DEL DEGUSTAZIONE" with wine tasting

Carpaccio di tonno delle Hawai con caviale osetra, melanzane, olive e salsa ai capperi

Ahi tuna carpaccio with Osetra caviar, eggplant caviar, olives and caper sauce

Sauvignon Blanc - Livio Felluga 2003

I've been on a tuna kick all summer. Tartar, sashimi and now carpaccio. I'm glad I saved the carpaccio for last....because it was by far the best of the past few months.

'Cannelloni' d'ostriche e portobello al Parmigiano, salsa ai ricci di mare

Wellfleet oysters 'cannelloni' with portobello mushrooms and Parmesan cheese, sea urchin sauce

Riesling - G.D. Vajra "Langhe Bianco" 2003

The Riesling arrived slightly before the oysters. I took a quick sip and "Parmesan cheese" popped into my brain. It was a definite "ah ha!" moment for me. And then presented to me are the oysters with mushrooms and Parmesan cheese. It was my moment of true revelation and appreciation for skill it takes to perfectly pair a wine with a food. Sadly, Wine Director Kathy Morgan was out of the restaurant last night so I couldn't properly express my appreciation of her skill. I wanted to be sure and note it here.

Raviolo 'aperto' all'aragosta del Maine con porri, uova di quaglia e salsa al fegato d'anatra

Free style 'open' raviolo with roasted Maine lobster, leeks, quail egg and foie gras sauce

Sangiovese Rosato- Castello di Ama 2004

I was a bit disappointed that the tasting menu only had one pasta. Oh but what a pasta it was! A huge bowl-sized ravioli with a perfectly cooked lobster claw and the most incredibly rich foie gras sauce. My mouth is watering just with the memory.

Risotto alle spugnole e piselli, con molecche della baia

Risotto of morel mushrooms and green peas, with sautéed local soft shell crab $ 28

Pinot Noir - Alois Lageder "Krafuss" 2001 $17.00

Here was appreciation and revelation #2 for the evening. I'm just not a big green pea fan in general. But combined with morels and risotto? Really, how bad and green pea-ish could it be. I tried the first bite....hmmmm....pretty tasty. I ate a bite of the perfectly sauteed soft shell crab and then another bite of the risotto. All of a sudden, the dish was transformed. The two worked perfectly together. My green pea phobia melted away and I would have liked to lick the bowl clean! Wonderful.

Manzo Kobe in crosta di pane allo spek, ruchetta, purea di aglio novello e mandorle; salsa al tartufo nero

Roasted Kobe Beef with imported smoked prosciutto and bread crust, baby arugola, young garlic-almond puree; black truffle sauce

Sangiovese/Cabernet - San Polo "Mezzopane" 2001

By this point I'm stuffed. Luckily, the Kobe is just the right size and cooked to absolute medium-rare perfect. And the back truffle sauce was pretty darn amazing too.

Sfogliatina di pomodoro con gelato al basilico e ricotta, Sciroppo al basilico

Organic tomato marmelade sweet tart with ricotta-basil gelato and basil syrup

Moscadello di Montalcino - Castello Banfi "Florus" 2003

In the end, I think it was my pre-dinner obsessing with this dessert that convinced my husband that we should try the tasting menu last night. I eat tomatoes two meals a day this time of year. I couldn't wait to try this dessert...and I wasn't disappointed. The marmelade was sweet but the tomato flavors shone through. The tart would have been simply very good on its own. But with the addition of the ricotta-basil gelato, this dessert becomes genuinely excellent. Thanks to all who recommended it!

Since I didn't get to try as many pastas as I'd hoped last night, I think I'll have to head back VERY soon!

We're heading tonight to Tosca. I'm a rookie but my husband has been for lunches previously. Most of the recent comments are from Restaurant Week visits. Was the full menu available or should I expect different offerings this evening? All suggestions are appreicated.

Get one of the private rooms downstairs at Old Ebbit. It's got that "DC" feel, moderate prices, food for the unadventrous and if the kids are loud, they only distrub their loved ones.