johnl

Quote

I also want to add that Mr. Williams is cited as the author of one of my favorite quotes: "If you don't think too good, don't think too much." 

While researching this quote, I came upon another aphorism from Mr. Williams. It's particularly relevant to this sub-thread: "They invented the All-Star game for Willie Mays."

On 4/1/2016 at 5:50 PM, DonRocks said:

Ted Williams is the only person who can claim - along with Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb - to be the greatest hitter who ever lived.

Here are some statistics which are so mind-boggling that they simply do not compute:

* Williams had a lifetime batting average of .344 - the highest of any player with more than 302 home runs.

* Williams had 521 home runs.

* Williams missed 3 seasons in the prime of his career due to WWII. The three years before, he batted .344, .406 and .356; the three years after, he batted .342, .343, and .369.

* Missing those 3 seasons cost him at least 100 home runs - he would have hit 625 for his career.

* Even more remarkable than the above? His *career* on-base percentage was .482. That is not a misprint.

* Perhaps even *more* remarkable? Not once did he ever have 200 hits in a season. See for yourselves. How can that be? I guess it's because he walked so much (he had 20-12 vision). There are *three people* on that list of *525-different 200-hit seasons* named Williams, none of which is Ted.

* If Williams had played 20 years earlier, I might be able to comprehend these numbers, but he was a *generation* after the big-numbers hitters of the 1920s.

* His batting average, his home runs, and his walks - in my mind - make him a perfectly legitimate choice for the moniker: Greatest Hitter of All-Time.

Dear friend, Don. 

I admire your championing of the "Splendid Splinter." Your analysis of Mr. Williams's accomplishments at the plate (ahem) are good. Those data drove in a run, for me. I looked at a guy who was a youngster when Mr. Williams's career (1939-60) was in the inevitable decline that comes with age. Mr. Williams saw the arrival of young stars, including African Americans, in The Bigs. One of them was Willie Mays

• Lifetime batting average  of .302
• Career hits totaled 3,283
• Career home runs were 660 (20% of his hits)
• Runs batted in were  1,903 (i.e., ~58% of the time when there were ducks on the pond)
• On-Base Percentage was .384
• Slugging percentage was .557
• Career Onbase + Slugging was = 9.41

Mr. Mays lost two seasons (1952-53) while serving in the US Army. So, Let’s just add 100/year to his hits and 25/year to his homers  (conservatively because he had 40-50 dingers when he rejoined the Giants in 54 and 55) for when he was playing for the army, giving him 710 for his career. 

Now, your focus (as I understand) was batting. I get it. Let me just toss into the discussion that base-running and fielding (among other factors) are pretty important, too. 

So, If I get to create a team and I get the first pick, I'll take Mays (unless Trout continues on his current trajectory!). 

Giggles--JohnL

New stop on the Hookville restaurant tour: Brasserie Saison. It's another venture associated with Will Richey, this time in collaboration with Hunter Smith of Champion Brewing (so, there's an emphasis on beer).

Cape May

I was late finding this thread before the long-term RM and I dashed away for a long weekend at Cape May with some friends who are happy table mates. It appears that this thread has become quiet, so I'll throw a couple of spring-2016 pieces of kindling on the coals and see if it springs back to life. Overview first and then individual entries so that things can be tidy. 

We stayed at Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast, which is hosted by Doug and Anna Marie. As the date stamp indicates, this was the early season, but the property was active. Part of this was, no doubt, because of the annual Exit Zero jazz festival that coincided with our visit (we didn't attend anything, but it appeared to be impressive). Our innkeepers were very much in evidence, helpful, knowledgable, affable, and pleasant. Our accommodations (with own bath) were good and we didn't hear anyone complain. 

Breakfast was buffet+family style. They accommodated dietary restrictions readily. The breakfasts were abundant with multiple options and good, if not sensational. 

For dinners (in calendar order), we went to (a) Merion Inn, (b) Louisa's, (c) Washington Inn, and (d) Peter Shields Inn. I'll drop a quick entry about each as I get a chance, but here's the executive summary: Their menus are varied and inventive and, though there was some variation, the execution on the dishes I ate produced layers of clearly-separated-but-complementary flavors. We routinely had good to very pleasant service. Each of them is worth a second and perhaps third meal.

NB: Thanks to our innkeepers, we paid attention to establishments' rules regarding (a) cash only payments and (b) bringing one's own wine (or other alcohol). Check ahead.  Doug and Anna Marie provided a cheatsheet for many establishments in Cape May.

Never seen the rooms. Oh, my.

3 hours ago, LauraB said:

We spent this past weekend in Charlottesville and we ate well!  

Lunch on Friday was at Bodo's Bagels.  We went to the location on Preston Avenue.  Obviously, bagels are the life-blood of Bodo's. However, I want to point out that you can get something other than a bagel at Bodo's and it is good! I had a caesar salad and a cup of tomato soup with raviolini. Both were great! The lettuce in the salad was really fresh. MrB had a chopped liver sandwich on an onion bagel and he loved it.  I'm sure we'll be back to Bodo's on a subsequent visit.

Dinner Friday evening was at The Alley Light.  Given all of the hype around this restaurant, it was a set-up for disappointment. Good news! It did not disappoint and came through on every level. The hype is real!  We had early reservations on Friday evening and were grateful to be seated at one of only 6 normal-height tables. The rest of the seating is at the bar, at high-tops in the bar area, or at sofas with a low-table in the lounge area. You can order from the printed menu and/or from the specials menu on the giant blackboard on the wall. We chose 3 of our dishes from the blackboard and all were excellent. MrB loved the duck foie gras and even I, who isn't normally a fan, found it really delicious. The rack of lamb (3 small lamb chops) was perfectly cooked and very good. The star of this show to me was the Halibut Ceviche. This was so light, refreshing and flavorful! It was so good, I was tempted to place a second order. Finally, we ordered the carrots off the regular menu and they were very well cooked and the yogurt was a nice accompaniment. (Not nearly as good as the carrot dish we had at Rose's Luxury awhile back, but tasty anyway.)  The only off-note of the evening was the dessert -- I ordered the 'raspberry tart' and it was very disappointing. It was a pistachio cream set atop a round shortbread cookie, surrounded by fresh raspberries. (So, actually not a tart.) The shortbread was so dense that it would have taken a jackhammer to break it apart. The pistachio cream didn't have much flavor at all. I sent the dish back and asked that it be taken off our bill -- something that's extremely rare for me to do. The service was just right, with a perfect tempo.  We'd return any day and will definitely do so on our next trip to Charlottesville.

Breakfast Saturday morning was at the Oakhurst Cafe. We stayed at the Oakhurst Inn (I don't recommend, more on that elsewhere).  The Cafe associated with the hotel is very nice -- I just wish they opened earlier than 8:00 am. The ambiance and the food were very good and the service, which started out a little bumpy, improved immensely once the more experienced staff showed up. They have a lovely outdoor patio area, but it was a little too chilly for us to opt for that.  I'd happily dine here for breakfast/brunch (the only meal they serve) anytime.  Open from 8:00 am-2:00 pm daily.

Lunch on Saturday was at Bizou on the Mall.  The weather was gorgeous, so we were able to sit on the patio. We had very few expectations going in and so we were pleasantly surprised that it was really good! I had the lobster and shrimp salad which was fantastic -- the lobster/shrimp had been marinated in spices such as saffron, cumin, coriander that rendered them a lovely orange/yellow color and the salad was just delicious. MrB had their pulled pork bbq sandwich which he loved. Service was good. We wouldn't hesitate to return. I will offer this caveat: the interior of the restaurant is very dark and was quite smoky when we first arrived. We were grateful we could sit on the patio.

Dinner on Saturday was at Oakhart Social.  It was a beautiful, warm evening and we would have loved to sit on the patio, but it was full. No matter. We were seated inside and since the giant doors were open, it almost felt like we were outside. To be truthful, we didn't have great expectations going in, but we left feeling really pleased.  The menu is very limited. We ordered 3 small plates and one pizza. The wood-fired oysters were fantastic. The oyster mushrooms were smoked, apparently, but I didn't care for them, while MrB really liked them. The chicken wangz were my suggestion and they were great -- whoever heard of elegant, asian chicken wings? Well, here you go. Loved them. Finally, the pizza we ordered was the chile lime roast shrimp. I think the pizza itself was cooked perfectly. I found that I didn't care for the bechamel sauce. That didn't stop me from eating it, though! We ordered a bottle of wine, Domaine Seguinot-Bordet Petit Chablis, France, 2014 for $39, that was lovely. I'm still thinking about that wine. We arrived fairly early in the evening and for the most part our service was very attentive. However, as it got later and the crowd grew, it waned. Still, we have no complaints about the service. We'd be happy to go back to Oakhart Social.

Breakfast on Sunday was at MarieBette.  Following a tip from our realtor, we had breakfast at MarieBette's on Sunday. The cafe is on Rose Hill Drive, just off Preston Ave.  What a delightful experience. The minute you walk in it smells and looks like a French patisserie, with a cafe attached. The dining room is delightful and was sun-filled at 8:00 am. The brunch menu is quite varied and it was hard to choose between the many options. MrB decided on The Atlantic (baked eggs with smoked salmon, dill, and pickled onions) and I chose The North Garden (baked eggs with mushrooms, pearl onions and tarragon). Both were very good, although his was better. We also had a side of the JM Stock sausages which were quite tasty.  The coffee and tea are excellent and the ambiance is lovely. We'd return anytime, and will the next time we're in C'ville. On our way out, we couldn't resist the offerings in the bakery display cases and left with a croissant, an apple galette and a petite kouign amann, all of which we devoured in the car on the way home -- every one of them delicious!

We had a late lunch on the way back to DC at the BBQ Exchange in Gordonsville.  It was a gorgeous day and we were lucky enough to be able to sit on the porch.  We both had the pork platter which consisted of pulled pork and 2 sides.  The pulled pork was fine, although I felt it needed help from the Hot bbq sauce that was one of 6 sauces on the table.  I found my two sides, potato salad and spicy coleslaw, to be disappointing.  The spicy coleslaw was spicy alright, but it didn't seem fresh at all and I stopped eating it after a couple of bites.  The potato salad was very pedestrian. MrB had the baked beans which he liked, but frankly they looked to me like they'd come from a can.  Overall, I found this place disappointing.  We went a bit out of our way to come here and I don't think I'd do that again.  

 

 

Well, you certainly hit some good places on your quick tour. Yay!

And your analyses sound quite right. 

I'm especially glad you found MarieBette, as the proprietors send their toddler daughters to my daughter's toddler classroom. I rarely see the proprietors and we don't get any special treatment there, but we feel a closeness to them—and (though it may not arrive quickly) we like their food.

Much good to be said about Bizou. 

Welcome to Hookville.

Bizou Sunday brunch!

I've been three times now. One time I even had two entrees. That's a large enough sample to permit me to say, "I'm pleased."

Perhaps we should have a local meeting there?

Specifically the Rio Hill Kroger is known for its wine selection, due to an uncommonly devoted manager at that store. We have a boatload of Kroger locations around and not all are up to that quality.

Little bit of Cville trivia.  I know the Rio Hill Kroger wine manager at one point (and maybe still is) was named Gregg and was previously the manager of Crush, the shuttered Belmont wine shop that now houses Tavola.  And so it goes in a small town.

Gentle friends,

Great info. Thanks! I shall brave the road issues and visit that NoVA like part of our ville.

I took your advice and got to Lampo at around 11:05am on Saturday. Man, I knew it was a small place, but had no idea it was this small--there might be 5-6 tables and a bar. But we got a table no sweat, though the restaurant was full at 11:30.

Well that's been my experience, too, and I'm glad it worked for you.

I don't recall all the items you mentioned, but I do 'member having a Margherita and finding it really good. Mayhaps my taster was off that time?

Given your confirmation about the size of (i.e., number of seats in) the place, I especially recommend "jackie robinson's" note:

I would recommend that if you are attempting to go there to just always have a second plan in case it is busy.

Also, tell the barkeep or host that you have heard that  "Mira" (who teaches about special education at James Madison University, graduated from U.Va., and is on her way to doing great things [according to some doofus I heard from on the Intertubes]) is really fabulous. It probably won't get you moved up in the line, but one of the principals is Mira's brother, so you might get a smile and a chance to talk to her brother!

They really are fabulous folx and it's so tiny that they attend to everyone in the space.

For any of the other readers who are thinking of making Lampo a stop on a visit to the area, it's best to note the downside of the restaurant: it is small, no reservations, and no takeout. You can have over an hour wait without too much effort and you're going to have trouble with anything more than four people at a table. I love the restaurant, but I have to schedule the times I visit there more than any other in town.

Yep and yep! And the waiting area is outside.

But, it is worth a wait.

At Zaytinya tonight, during DC's unseasonably warm spell at the end of December 2015 we had nice service from Farouk. One runner dropped the first Baba Ganoush unceremoniously and said something unintelligible but, other than that, the runners, bussers, and Farouk did a nice job.

Oh, and the food (lentil soup, eggplant, roasted cauliflower, medley of 'shrooms with dates and such; dolmades; Bronzino), why yeah... It was pretty dang good. (Exception: I didn't really like spicing on the batatas.)

I have not been there, but would very much like to hear about your experience if you go. I am not a fancy restaurant guy but liked Public Oyster House when my wife and I went there last year.

I'm not sure when the last time I went to a "new" Cville restaurant was.  I really want to try Lampo, but from what I hear it's always super packed.

Yep, Lampo. Worth taking the time to wait in line.

Yo, Seanchai, pcollins, tentimesodds, and the rest of y'all in the Hookville area:

Anyone been to Oakhart Social? It's on West Main where Vu used to have Moto Pho, right next to the Public Oyster House. I'm thinking of hitting it soon, but would appreciate any guidance.

O.K. Corey and I went to the Oakhart Social on Saturday early (about 5:40 pm). We sat indoors and the waitron recognized her from a previous visit, but asked if I was a newbie. I owned up to the status, so he took the opportunity and explained that the strategy is shared plates. O.K.

There was an oyster special, but they were (a) cooked and (b ) dressed with bacon. Off my list. Apparently the chef doesn't compete with the neighboring Public Oyster house. We ordered

• Shaved salad
• A special crispy shrimp
• Lentil toast 
• Avocado crema pizza (bacon withheld)

The first three were really good and the last was good. I wouldn't usually order a prepared salad (too many inclusions), but this one is worth getting again. The shrimp had lots of interesting flavors. The lentil toast came to the table already halved and the ingredients melded quite well.

Although we treated it like dinner, it's good to know that one could stop here for a snack on the way to something else. Also, bonus: They advertise a late-night menu! Yay!

Good first impression, I'd say.

Yo, Seanchai, pcollins, tentimesodds, and the rest of y'all in the Hookville area:

Anyone been to Oakhart Social? It's on West Main where Vu used to have Moto Pho, right next to the Public Oyster House. I'm thinking of hitting it soon, but would appreciate any guidance.

Pat and I ate our way across Portugal and northern Spain for almost three weeks in the summer of 2014. We didn't go many places that required a reservation, only places we could walk into and use my broken Portuguese or Spanish or the servers' better English. We traveled by train, bus, or taxi; we never rented a car.

Portugal: Lisboa, Porto, Braga (stayed here a while, as the people paid my way).

Spain: Vigo, La Coruí±a, Oviedo, Bilbao (lunch), Getaria (extended), Barcelona (extended).

I ate a lot of fresh fish prepared with little more than garlic and oil on grills outside little local places that seated about 20. I'd wash the fish and maybe some fresh veggies down with a half bottle of local Albarií±o or some neighborhood vino (usually costing just a couple of Euros).

Roanoke

For my sister's b'day, we visited her in Roanoke and had a latish lunch at Local Roots on Grandin in that little neighborhood where it dead ends into the school. We had expected to be five, but turned into a three-top. The hostess still seated us in a nice booth across from the bar.

For an app, I ordered a dozen Rappahannock oysters (I ate 10 of them); they were fat and surprisingly sweet; I wondered if they'd been sugared, but I didn't see any crystals (maybe a sugar solution?). My meal was NC Crab Benedict, which was good, though it, too, seemed somehow sweet. I cut into the yolks right away and they were pretty much to the medium level of done-ness; some ran. The crab was lumpy and there was a fair bit of it. Yummy tomato. The muffin was excellent.

My table-mates went for the ham (one was a salad aux bacon; the other the regular Eggs Benedict), so I have no first-hand observations about their meals. Their reports were quite positive.

The wait staff and kitchen readily accommodated my sister's request to have no muffin with the Eggs Benedict and then the follow-along request that the muffin come to the table for Pat to eat with her salad. Two servers brought all three entrees at once. The water glasses never got below half full. Folx smiled and murmured pleasantries.

All in all, it was a pleasant way to pass the afternoon.

From the days of 23 Beverly to now (the rocking DonRocks keeps sending great reports), Staunton seems to have a lot to offer. I've got to get over there, check things.

On the eastern side of Afton Mtn., there's plenty happening. As soon as you get over, drop down into Crozet and go to Three Notch'd Grill. It's not quite Charlottesville, but it's close enough that lots of C'ville folks go out there for special or regular dinners.

Cathy and Hayden Berry cut their teeth at Duners many (> 20) years ago. Cathy did soups, salads, and just about everything else while at Duners, but now she runs the front of the house at Three Notch'd Grill...delightfully. Hayden came up under really good people at Duners and has great intuitive sense for sauces and meats. (He also knows his regulars: One time, knowing I don't do meat, he came out of the kitchen and found me; "John, the sauce on that Grouper has a teeny, tiny bit of pork stock in it, maybe just a tablespoon. Would you like me to substitute another sauce for you?")

They use fresh ingredients. The menu changes on that basis. And, as that menu shows, you can go from burger to right on the edge of gourmet. Family friendly. It's worth a visit.

Splendora's is unique for gelato, but there's a place in my heart for some ice cream on a hot day. There's a few ice cream places in and around Charlottesville and a few creameries outside town which sell product you can find in stores. Three options that come to my mind:

- Moo Thru in Remington. Yes, this isn't in Charlottesville, but it's still one of the better options in the area

- Homestead Creamery. Their location is down in Wirtz, but you can find their ice cream in Kroger if nowhere else. I'm a huge fan of their lemon ice cream served with fresh berries.

- Kirt's. Location on 29N next to a Little Caesars isn't attractive, but they have some great flavors made right in the store. They also supply the ice cream for the Carpe Donut ice cream sandwiches and can be found at Whole Foods.

Splendora: Yes, I get dragged there regularly, often when I've already eaten too much. When I do have something, it's very good. I want more. Triple dip.

I don't know, pollens, about Homestead or Kirt's. I'll have to take lessons. Thanks for the tips.

I will have to admit to having a soft spot in my heart (gullet? stomach?) for Chaps. Although they are now only on the DT Mall (right?), in the 70s-80s there was an incarnation in Shoppers World on 29N within a block of our house. We went there often. The 'cream was good and they did something I remembered from my childhood in Manassas: I could request a sprinkle of malt atop my scoops. Yum.

Oh, yes! Endorsement. Now, I'm not sure about the special flavors, Ulrath.

For me, it's a regular stop.

I wasn't blown away by their cheese plate either. They had some fairly tame options on there (Ricotta? Why?), but their meat options to go with it had a welcome surprise of a salt cured trout available. 

I'll hit the trout next time. My dining partners had the prosciutto or the salchichon as the meat on that board and I notices it disappeared pretty quickly. (We got 3&1, as I recall.)

Yes, they are better with the spreads and dips.

We had a nice Sancere.

Parallel 38 in C'ville this past weekend was a bit uneven. A tomato-based vegetable soup was rather thin and plain. Artichokes seemed like they might have come from a can. Cheese board was uninspiring; perhaps we chose the wrong ones. However, I liked the citrus potatoes, the grilled asparagus, spicy shrimp, and the tuna tartar.

We were a 4-top and sat inside near the back, close to the kitchen.

Went to the new Timbercreek Market yesterday for lunch. Nice selection of meats and Flora's cheese shop inside. Lunch options were fairly limited. A specials board of two sandwiches (and they were out of one of them at 1pm) and then four everyday sandwiches. ...

Thanks for the report. I've not stopped there yet. Would it be accurate to say Timbercreek Market's emphasis is on its retail and not the food service, much like Feast?

It'll be interesting to see how things develop in the "center" as other shops move into it, though I suppose there probably won't be more eateries.

The Harrisonburg, VA, affiliate of NPR ran a story about truffle farming in central Virginia that I thought some folks might find interesting.

For thousands of years Black Perigord truffles have been the purview of European cuisine, specifically of France and Spain. But a perfect storm of enthusiasm, demand, and production could soon make Virginia a source for truffle production.  WMRA's Amy Loeffler has the story.

I can recommend one that only appears on their specials board called the For the Win. You have tortilla options, but if you're not going for corn I'm not sure if we can be friends.

The salsa/hot sauce selection was a bit mild for my tastes, sadly.

When I remember, I take my own salsa to any place. Those at commercial places are almost alwaysl too wimpy, but they have to cater to the public, of course. IF folks use habaneros, they are in low single-digit %s. I like 'em as a major player in my salsas.

By the way, check out "Mad Hatter" as a bottled local salsa available in various places around C'ville.

Pretty new place on The Corner (or just off it, depending on how pure you are): Roots Natural Kitchen. As one can surmise from the name, it's predicated on healthy stuff. Given the location, it's catering to students (and faculty members, such as I). The prices are good. Parking is the usual Corner hassle (though not so bad during these summer months"”and take the trolley!).

I've only been once. The food was O.K. I had a standard dish ("Mad Bowl," which is a bit of inside joke) and my date created a custom bowl. You can design the order, which is probably the way to go. More tests will follow. The concept could work out well, as the paths toward different cuisine-flavors get refined.

Just east of the railroad underpass on University, almost across from the George Rodgers Clark statue.