Rick Azzarano

We tried this place because of this review and we definitely agree. Had 2 empanadas, a Cuban sandwich and the arepa with beef and cheese.  I did not know this place has been open for 2 years and we only live about five minutes away. We will be back. 

Received an email from Pane e Vino last night.  It is closing this week as it was "unable to reach a new lease agreement."

Tonight: caponata; burrata with preserved tomatoes; tallegio cheese; pasta with cauliflower; sausages with peppers, potatoes,and onions

It looks kind of flimsy?

Not flimsy at all, had mine for about 5 years and it's holding up well. I also have the side firebox. The grill area easily holds 4 pork shoulders

Saw it Sunday at Wegman's in Woodbridge/Dale City too. $11.99/set

It was indeed a great meal and night. Joanne and I enjoyed ourselves immensely. Can't add anything about the food that wasn't already said, but I can say I didn't try the shrimp and grits -- I was too full to eat by then.

Edited to add: Thanks to goodeats for setting this up and to Eric Reid and everyone at the restaurant for putting this on.

Brunswick Stew

Sauteed okra (with garlic & green peppers)

Salad of fennel, endive and parsley

I am in also, +1.

Thanks.

The Springfield and Alexandria locations appear to be run by the same operation.

http://elpasoalexand...tdirectory.com/

and

http://elpasospringf...tdirectory.com/

http://www.elpasomex...s.com/main.html

This website shows 4 El Paso reataurants, one in Alexandria (Cooper Rd); one in Springfield (Commerce St); one in Woodbridge (Golansky Blvd) and one in Fredericksburg. The one in Arlington seems to be separate.

I asked and was told it was connected to the one in Arlington.

There is an El Paso in Dale City/Woodbridge near Potomac Mills. Could this possibly be related too?

Back in 1987 John Petrone opened Papa Patrone's in spingfield...He had the take and bake concept and it was quite delicious. John used incredibly fresh ingredients and would then place the pizza on its baking pan and cover it with a shrink wrap. He gave you a card with baking instructions for the oven or the grill. He also made fresh pasta's and sauces as well. It was one of the best pizzas I have had to date...especially for a take home pie. I think he stayed afloat for about 10 years. Great guy and a good concept at the time. He worked at the Childe Harold for years back in the day...

He has a store now ("Take 'n' Bake") in the Woodbridge area at the Glen Shopping Center on Old Bridge Road.

According to Channel 4 News last night, this was a "preliminary passage" of the legislation. Still needs more legislative action. The anticpated effective date is late summer.

They (not sure if it is chain-wide or just the Bailey's Crossroads store) are also holding a drawing to win a free bag of groceries for those who bring in their own shopping bags.

As of last Sunday, at least, the Fairfax store was holding the same drawing(s).

Happy Birthday, Joe! Enjoy!.

The price is $1,100 PLUS ths cost of the food. Hmmm - I wonder if you can get it to go?

Grilled Cornish hens marinated in olive oil and rosemary

Risotto with brocoli rabe

2004 Chateau de Chasseloir Muscadet Sevre et Maine (awesome, just awesome)

I'm in.

Actually, it was medium RARE. I mis-typed. Thanks for catching the error.

After we dropped off my wife's car to get re-fixed again, we went to Vermilion. One of the changes under Chef Chittum is the addition of a "fixed price" menu of 4 courses, sort of a mini-tasting menu, and able to be paired with appropriate wines.. We were told that the menu would change periodically, in accordance with what is available. The menu last night was:

Crudo^2 (scallop with fennel and blood orange; and shrimp with horseradish, sun-dried tomatoes and basil) (paired with an Austrian white)

Rockfish with a crispy oyster and "celery three ways"(paired wit han unoaked Chardonnay

"mini rack of lamb" (2 chops) with mint taglierini and yogurt (paired with The Stump Jump)

and dessert of a bitter chocolate cheesecake (paired with "Boots" non-vintage sparkling red from Australia).

This is an excellent meal. The scallop part of the crudo was the least successful for us - we're not fans of raw seafood (sorry) but it was done well. The shrimp was really good with the horseradish bite and the tomato sourness. The rockfish was the hit of the night - done simply and supported by a celeriac puree. The lamb was done to a perfect medium well.

This is also an excellent value -- the 4 courses are $50; the wine pairings add $20 for what seemed to be relatively generous pours.

(They also had a shad roe preparation on the appetizer menu, but since we have the 4 course, we didn't get to try it.)

This does sound like fun. I'll use one of my Christmas presents -- Trabocchi's "Cuisine of Le Marche." I've looked through it a couple of times, but never cooked from it.

Where were you thinking in Manassas?

I can definately say there is nothing "nice" in the Woodbridge area, but there are a couple places that have decent food.

For a more casual get together - Okra's

If you would want to go more fancy, there is Foundation (next door to Okra's (and owned but-not-quite-part-of Okra's). Foundation runs wine tasting dinners periodically and also has a "chef's bar"

There's also Carmello's/Little Portugal.

In Woodbridge itself, there's always Almita's Restaurant (Mexican).

I'm game but the pickins around here are slim to none........unless you know something I don't!

I guess it depends also if it is limited to the Woodbridge area. There are some more pickins in Manassas.

I'm experiencing the same problem as Barbara - having to log in each time. From the work computer, so it may only be a "cookie" matter.

We're also in the Woodbridge area.

In discussing potential Christmas gifts with my brother-in-law, he mentioned that he preferred "old vine" wines. Is there any qualitative difference between the "old vine" and "new? vine" wines?

Thanks,

Rick