Eddiebosox

An underrated beer, simply because people don't always know what their getting. Not a true Berliner Weisse (and not just because it would have to be brewed in Berlin), it is a really great take on it. I've had some faux Berliner Weisse's (weissi?) at some homebrew meetings and they are a unique, and tough to pull off style. Since they include the fruit in the fermentation as a subtle counterpart to the acidity of the lactic acid, as opposed to just doing a straight Berliner Weisse , which, as was pointed out, is usually flavored with syrups in Germany (they end up looking like people are drinking cherry soda and mountain dew instead of a beer), it makes a subtle finished product. It's not for everyone, but it's a great summer quaff. Nice and tart, and the acidity makes it pair well with strong cheeses, or as a palate cleanser between courses. It reminds me of their 120 minute. First time i had it i gagged. That's because i was drinking it wrong. Quaffing it like a beer instead if sipping it like a liquor (I've since had a number of vintages of 120 and they age beautifully). Interesting trivia, even in Berlin they don't really make this style anymore. Technically a true Berliner Weisse has to be brewed in Berlin, Germany, and right now there is only one, Berliner Kindl Weisse. but that's like saying a can of Bud is the same as is a true classic BudÄ›jovickí½ Budvar czech style lager. It's not.... A craft brewer is crowdfunding a project to recreate the classic Berlinner Wiesse style by extracting yeast from a bottle from Berliner Weisse from a long defunct brewer Jurassic park style, and brewing it the exact way it should traditionally be brewed. "Born Again In Berlin" by Evan Rail on allaboutbeer.com

I know this is kind of old territory, since Jaleo has been around forever, but I just wanted to pipe in and talk about my recent experience. I go here fairly frequently but recently I brought my mom who hasn't been to DC in ages, and her restaurant choices in Hartford are OK, but not spectacular. I gotta tell you, Jaleo is still my favorite restaurant in DC. Just everything about it is great. I still love Zaytinaya, but the décor is starting to get some wear and tear that takes away from the experience (worn tables that wobble) and the space can be really noisy, which is why I usually go in warmer months on their patio. That is why I am glad Jaleo had a makeover so it looks great again, and with that whimsical/spartan Andres style. The food is simply fantastic. Yes tapas isn't as buzzed about in DC anymore, but I love it and no one does it better. It's the combination of classic Spanish tapas (patatas bravas, flautas, etc.) but also the eccentrically inspired Jose Andres takes (liquid olives, Spanish mini burger). Also, his 5 different gin and tonics are absolutely inspired. I also love reading Andres's menus. The way he writes about his menu choices really inspires you. For instance, read this and try NOT to order a paella: When I was a young boy, I used to help my father cook the best-known dish in Spanish cuisine: paella. He would put me in charge of the open fire where we would cook for our friends and family. This is where I learned the art of controlling the heat, a skill needed by any chef. While heat is important to creating the perfect paella, the real star is the rice. Bomba from Valencia or Calasparra from Murcia are the best to absorb all the amazing flavors and to keep a perfect texture. ¡Buen provecho! - José Andrés I almost forgot why I loved this place so much until I took my mother. The wonderment when she put a liquid olive in her mouth, or the amazement at trying the oysters with lemon, gin and tonic reminded me of when I first tasted it, akin to the 7 year old me watching star wars for the first time. I also kind of like that it's not as "trendy" as say Roses Luxury, or even China Chilcano, as you can almost always find s spot at the bar, order a handful of tapas and just enjoy yourself. I always say to myself, if my wife and I move to New York, wed be excited about the world of food opening up to us, but I would miss Jaleo most of all.

Well, I am getting of work today at 4 PM and getting in line. I am hoping to get the 730 seating for seven people, or even the last seating, around 9ish. We'll see how it goes. I don't have a backup reservation because, like you said, I don't want to cancel a big reservation like that at the last second.

I agree. IN looking this over again and thinking about it some more, the only real "beef" i had with the place was the price, or more specifically, the price to value ratio. TO me though, the cost of a meal and the meal itself are both important parts of a "review". neither exist in a vacuum, so it has to be a part of your overall impression of a place. I Love' Rose's Luxury for many reasons, one of which is the insanely reasonable price points that go with his ingenious food. Would I be on here complaining if Roses luxury was 8 minutes late in delivering me a bottle of wine? Of course not. That's because i'm not paying 700 dollars for a meal at their place.

I had bites of everything she ate, but only bites, so its hard to really give an in depth take. She started with the Blistered Baby Brussels Sprouts with Honey Crisp Apple, Spiced Pecans and Madeira Soaked Raisins. It was lovely, but like all dishes there, small. The Carpaccio of Marinated Matsutake Mushrooms Accented with Local Asian Pears was next and was the one she was most disappointed in. She felt the mushrooms, thinly sliced and laid out like a bed of beef carpaccio, lacked a depth of flavor that she was looking for. The Three Cheese Cannelloni with Sicilian Eggplant and Tomato Sauce was great, and very rich, and then she had a bean dish with a topping of panko bread crumbs that really shined. Rich deep flavor, and the panko bread crumbs contrasted the creaminess of the beans nicely. Her biggest dish was the Cauliflower "Steak" with Yellow Indian Curry, Green Grapes and Candied Walnuts. She liked it but she has never been a big fan of cauliflower, so she wasn't blown away. I liked it, because I love cauliflower, and it was ingeniously prepared, by cutting the clailflwoer down the center into almost a large "steak cut" and then seared like a steak. And the curry sauce was ruich and buttery.

OK, we just got back so here are my impressions. The Inn is, as you can imagine, breathtakingly beautiful. It's like you're walking onto the set of Downton Abbey. Some of the décor bordered on Liberaceesque ostentatious, but it was really stunning. The huge fireplace, with a crackling fire going at all times (day and night) with the dramatic marble statue overlooking the hearth, and paintings. Also, each room had a different motif (A bar room that was light blue with fresco's of monkeys on the wall) It was an English country manor on steroids. It definitely felt very staged, but aren't all restaurants? When we arrived they ushered us into a large drawing room that was the former kitchen. Darkly lit with large deep red Victorian round settee couches in the middle flanked by smaller nooks in each corner. The tapestries in this room and throughout the Inn also help keep the noise level low so everything seems personal and cozy. The stellar service begins here, with people doting on you from start to finish. You also see the beginnings of "the show" where white gloved waiters are rushing in and out of the kitchen with entrees all timed to appear exactly at the same time. We ordered a few cocktails to start. I ordered a Sazerac which was lovely, and she ordered the Diplomat, which was Knob Creek Bourbon, Luli Moscato Chinato, Art in the Age "˜SNAP' Toasted Green Cardamon Syrup and Lemon. She loved it, as it was not too sweet and had a great finish with a slight carbonation that really brought out the cardamom. Were they worth the $20 price tag for each cocktail? Honestly no. Even Barmini doesn't charge 20 dollars for a Sazerac. And 20 dollars for a cocktail whose main ingredient is Knob Creek Bourbon? After that we were escorted into the main dining room and the night began. I chose the "classics menu" as I have never been here before,. My wife is a vegetarian so she chose their vegetarian menu. Before I blather on, I will simply give my final impression upfront. My food was fantastic, her's was good, but not amazing. And we both agreed that , hands down, the restaurant is simply overpriced. Two people, one bottle of wine (at 90 dollars, one of their "cheaper" selections), and 2 cocktails, for a total bill in the $750 range when you add in tip and tax. It was simply not justified, especially when you consider that the portions, while delicious, are quite small, and also because we had a few hiccups: I had to ask for the butter with the bread service, which they forgot and we waited too long for our bottle of wine, leading me to sit while my pheasant dish started to get cold. It wasn't a huge disaster, but if I'm paying these kind of prices, I expect near perfection, and I didn't get it. I am glad I went, and I did have a great time, and got to meet the chef in his gorgeous kitchen, as everyone is invited back there. However, if it wasn't for the generous gift certificate that was given to us as a wedding present, I don't know if we would have been able to justify the price of a used car for a night out at one restaurant (plus the time and cost of driving an hour and a half outside the city, staying at a B&B down the street, etc.). For those interested, here is a more detailed breakdown of the meal Our amuse bouche was an impressive start. not one, but 3 of them. The "smallest baked potato in the world", which was a fingerling potato roasted with bacon and creme fraiche It was fine, but simply a small potato with creme frieche in it. next was a pickled quail egg on a toast point with caviar. Very good. Finally, a horseradish cream topped with caviar and wrapped in a cucumber. I loved it, but that is because Horseradish is one of my favorite, and I maintain under appreciated, flavors. After that we had a shot of "liquid autumn" soup with a small cheese brioche. It was simply amazing. Very rich with cream and butter, but the apples, rutabaga, and butternut squash added a real complexity, and the finish had a distinct taste of the maple syrup. It actually was the standout of the night for my wife. And the recipe is fairly simple, so we'll be making it for Thanksgiving. Then, a Quartet of Rappahannock River "Barcat" Oyster Slurpees 4 Chesapeake barcat oysters, each prepared with a different sake (Asahi Shuzo Dassai 50, Nigori, Junmai Daigingo) and accompanied with a small scoop of tomato sorbet, cucumber sorbet, cocktail sauce sorbet, and wasabi sorbet. It was unlike anything I've ever tasted. The coolness of the sorbets coupled with the umami flavors of the sake and the brininess of the oysters. It was really special. Next I had the Carpaccio of Herb-Crusted Baby Lamb Loin with Caesar Salad Ice Cream. Delicious, but a small dish, and the lamb was sliced so thin it melted in your mouth almost instantly, so I didn't really get the lamb flavor coming through, especially when paired with the strong flavored ice cream. Next was a A Fricassée of Maine Lobster with Potato Gnocchi and seedless grapes and walnuts. Lobster in a butter sauce, so obviously it was decadent. The butter sauce wasn't too overpowering (too many times people bury a lobster in butter unnecessarily in my opinion). The gnocchi was a nice counterpoint as it was seared akin to a potsticker and offered a nice contrasting texture, and the walnuts adding a nutty flavor to counteract the butter bomb. Again, a tiny dish, maybe 4 bites, but elegant. Next I had the Roast Pheasant on Savoy Cabbage Braised in Champagne with Truffle Jus The pheasant was nice, but was actually outshined by the champagne braised cabbage. I was also annoyed at this point as I had to wait a while for our bottle of wine to appear so I sat there looking at it for almost 8 minutes before eating it. Two of the wait staff came by and asked me what was wrong as I wasn't eating it, and I had to tell both of them that I was still waiting on my wine. Like I said before, normally I don't sweat this kind of thing, but for 200 plus a person, this is unacceptable. I will say this though, the wine was at the perfect cellar temperature of about 55 degrees. So many times at restaurants the red wine comes too warm. Finally, I had the Pepper Crusted Tuna Pretending to be a Filet Mignon Capped with Seared Duck Foie Gras on Charred Onions and Burgundy Butter Sauce. This was a home run. Absolutely fabulous. The tuna was perfectly prepared. You could cut though it like butter. And coupled with the seared foie gras, and the rich burgundy sauce. To quote Homer Simpson. Its like there was a party in my mouth and everyone was invited. I adored it, despite the disdainful looks of my vegetarian wife as I described to her the beauty that is a perfectly seared piece of foie gras. After that we had a small palate cleanser of a cardamom and raspberry ice cream "on a stick". Whimsical and very tasty. For desert I went with the cheese cart and got as much stinky cheese as I could bear. They technically say you can have as many of them as you want, but when I saw the person next to me order all of them (I only asked for 4), I noticed he was cutting smaller pieces off. We were then asked if we wanted to tour the kitchen, which the chef offers to everyone. It is simply breathtaking. It's a place I would never want to leave. It was designed after the kitchen in Windsor castle. Its gorgeous. Beautiful tile work, copper hoods, fresh flowers, and large window overlooking a garden. They also had tables by a fireplace that you can reserve, if you want to spend an extra $500 (no thanks). The chef greets everyone and talks with you as well. We were the 8 PM dining service so he had more time to spend. We talked about how he had to drive to the DC farmers market at midnight to get the produce for that days service when he first started. HE was very gracious, and even signed an apron I bought from their gift shop. They also gift wrap your menu for you and have it for you when you leave, which is a nice touch (I was also personalized as it was my birthday) as well as the little basket of cookies and treats in the shape of the inn. As I said before, I am glad I went, and the food was spectacular, but I think the price point is simply too high. Its not like I didn't love my meal, I just didn't feel like it was worth the exorbitant cost.

Exactly! Its food porn shopping, until you look at the prices. We've enjoyed the restaurants within for the food, which was very good (and not cheap), and more for the ambiance and people watching, but I will never pay that much for dried pasta, or any other italian foodstuff, when I can just get on the 7 train to queens and get it at the source for 1/5th the price. Batali to me has always been about packaging.

We got a very generous gift certificate for our wedding we are eager to use (enough to cover two full dinners and a bit extra). Talked with my wife and we decided we have a few nice bottles we've been sitting on that we will bring and just pay the corkage fee. If we're going to eat their food, we're not going to skimp on wine, which is a part of the whole experience, but we also don't want to pay $200 plus for a bottle. And DonRocks was right, a $85 corkage fee for two bottles is not that bad when you consider the setting, and the alternatives. For those interested, this is the list from the website. To be fair, they really do have a lot of reasonable price points, but when you compare them to what those wines should be retail, it makes you shake your head.

The District Fishwife. It's fantastic. It really is. But it comes at a price. A price, to be honest, I'm willing to pay. There are virtually no good fishmongers in this city. Yeah you can get good stuff at a few places, but you have to know you're stuff, and its a lot of luck. Her stuff is always great, and fresh.

Good points...

Good question. Litteri is a great spot for sandwiches at about a third the price of red apron 20 yards away. I wouldn't really trust their wine selection, which is big, but has been sitting there god knows how long with not a lot of turnover. They have great olive oils, pastas, cheeses, and the rest. The rest of the market is a really a hidden gem. Yo can get dirt cheap produce (i'd stay way from leafy greens for sanitary reasons). Also, the restaurant supply store has good finds. I fear with the upcoming condos and the anjelika, these places will not be there for long.

This our go to Indian place since we live close by. It is very good, and very affordable. The only problem is occasional inconsistency. Their "authentic" Chicken Vindaloo is very hot (they even sell t-shirts daring you to eat it). I've had it when it was really spicy, where its a slow building heat that by the end of the meal your mouth is numb, and you've got sweat dripping down your forehead. Just the way I like it. Other times, it is so hot as to be completely inedible from the first bite. pepper spray on a plate. Their H street bread basket of all their different Naans is worth it, if you can take all those carbs. They also have a decent beer list, great outdoor seating, and their cocktails aren't bad. While I wish they could be more reliable from night to night, it is still a good place for a curry.

So my wife and I are heading to the Inn this weekend. Very much looking forward to it, especially since it's still on Sietsema's top list in 2014. Looking for any tips on what to eat. I plan on sticking to their "classics" selection since I've never been before. One thing I was warned about however, was their wine list. A good friend who is very knowledgeable (has his own cellar and is also an importer) was shocked when I sent him the list asking for advice. Not that lack of quality, but at the absolutely, exorbitant prices. He said they were priced at 3 times plus the retail price (A Virginia wine for $100? No thanks..) He saw a Bleasedale Shiraz around $100 that you can get at Schneider's liquor store on the hill for less than $30. That being said I plan on buying a lower end cuvee to start and for dinner just paying the corkage fee for a nice red of my own for dinner. The $35 corkage fee is OK, but jacking it up to $50 for the second bottle is insulting. either you think your list stands on its own, or you don't. Not a good omen to start, so the food really better blow us away"¦

SO I was wondering of anyone could shed light on this. My birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I wanted to get a group together and head to Rose's. Unfortunately, their roof garden is closed for the season. From what I gather, they only have a 6 top as their biggest table. We were hoping for a group of eight. How flexible are they, assuming I get in line early enough and claim the 6 top, of accommodating a few more? I've "Crashed" that table before when I ran into 6 friends as they were being seated and my wife and I were at the bar, but I haven't talked to the server about adding a few, we just kind of did it at the time and they seemed OK with it.

I haven't had a chance to really eat the food but I can comment on the drinks. Since this was just my first time, it could be an off night, and I'm going to be going back but so far I was mildly disappointed, especially considering the owner. I first ordered a Moscow mule which was excellent, but served in a tumbler not copper mug (which is fine since i read an article about everyone stealing them). i did have an issue with the Hemingway daiquiri. it also came in a tumbler glass and was full of crushed ice. i wouldn't mind except that it was advertised as a Hemingway daiquiri, so i was expecting it in a coupe with no ice. Also, the service was spotty. They forgot my drink order and didn't even offer to comp it. They also seriously need to install some sort of drapes in strategic places as the noise level is off the charts.