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MSDCX

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  1. MSDCX
    Дай знать где и когда
  2. MSDCX
    wow, that's one of the most ridiculous rationals I've read on this board, and a lot of ridiculous things have been posted on this board over the years. Was the Laboratorio experience cheapen because Roberto served kick ass roast pork sandwiches from the same space during lunch? That's just silly. How many times are you going to modify your posts? As I had politely mentioned earlier, the concept does not appeal to me personally. Ridiculous or not, that is my opinion. I enjoy a falafel and a fried chicken sandwich just like most people on this forum. Also, just like many of you here, I have traveled extensively and eaten at some highly coveted restaurants (Michelin and not) throughout the world. For a price of $250 a person, most (if not all) high end restaurants in Europe and Asia will be fully committed to their lunch/dinner service only, where an almost identical menu is served. I hope P&P is a massive success (Sietsema's just published WP review seems to suggest it will be) and will be trying it in the near future. The overall inexpensive cafe/expensive restaurant concept is a bit too casual for my liking, however.
  3. MSDCX
    Hmmm.... $250 a head at night vs. a $10 falafel sandwich during the day from the same restaurant. To each his own, I guess.
  4. MSDCX
    Yes, I know. The concept does not appeal to me.
  5. MSDCX
    I am not surprised at all; potential diners like me are approaching this place with trepidation given Chef Silverman's penchant for "southern/comfort" cooking. For $250 a head, I first want to see the menu and hope that it includes the likes of caviar, foie, wagyu, etc... The fact that P&P operates as a morning cafe serving fried chicken sandwiches also cheapens the brand for me personally.
  6. MSDCX
    Dined at the Wilson Blvd. location last Thursday. Everything was relatively tasty, yet nothing was memorable. The hummus was fine, although a bit too smooth for my liking. The bread that came with it was a bit underdone and doughy. The horiatiki salad (garden salad with feta) was very fresh. The roasted cauliflower was tasty, although I prefer the Graffiato version better. The acidity of the dish was nicely counterbalanced by the plump raisins, though. The charred octopus was disappointing without any charring and I did not enjoy the puree underneath it. The cumin marinated chicken souvlaki was well grilled and juicy, although I did not get much cumin in the flavor. My wife enjoyed the cabbage slaw on the bottom (I thought it was just random cabbage but can't argue with a pregnant woman). The lamb meatballs tasted better the next day, tasting very cumin-y when they came out piping hot. The service was fine. I think that after all these years, Zaytinya is still doing this type of "Eastern Mediterranean" food better.
  7. MSDCX
    Mrs. and I had brunch here a few weekends ago. Overall, the place was kind of empty on a Sunday. We started with 2 of their house-made doughnuts (one resembling a chocolate churro and a strawberry-lavender (if I am not mistaken) doughnut), both of which were outstanding. It all went downhill from there. My "shrimp and grits" were downright terrible: the "creamy provolone polenta grits" were anything but creamy, topped with 4 small, previously frozen shrimp, undressed greens and 2 overcooked eggs. Besides the microscopic portion, the dish was shockingly bland. When I asked the manager if the clumpy grits were supposed to look like this, he said "yes, absolutely." My wife's burger was above average with a nice char to it, although the kitchen forgot to add fresh onions per her request. Our server was entirely indifferent to us (his tip reflected that).
  8. MSDCX
    I don't like cookies (I also dislike cupcakes, but that's another story), but the Alfajor sandwich cookie tasted incredible and melted in my mouth. My pregnant wife, for whom these were meant for, looked at me in dismay. I would come here just for cookies alone. Let's hope vehicles leave this place one.
  9. MSDCX
    Probably the best tasting Russian food in the area (the Russia House and RusUz included). Everything tastes fresh and homey for those of us who grew up eating this type of food, and, believe me, that's a good thing. I would suggest making a reservation for their Sat./Sun. brunch ($35) to get the real experience of what the Russian cuisine has to offer. Would personally abstain from eating late dinner there because the top floor turns into a dance club after 9pm, unless you are into this sort of thing. The main gripe is the cost as Russian food, generally inexpensive to make, should not cost an "arm and a leg" simply for being a novelty item.
  10. MSDCX
    You incorrectly concluded that to me "wok hei" is just "charring." It is much more than that, obviously. Hakkasan, for example, has a whole section of its website dedicated to "wok hei" ("Wok Hei, or the 'Breath of the Wok'") so it must be important. I am just trying to find a local place that does it "right".
  11. MSDCX
    Not sure. Here is a description of "wok hei" from Wikipedia, for those interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wok#Wok_hei
  12. MSDCX
    Thanks, Don. As you mentioned, proper "wok hei" is very tricky to get right, and it is often used as a measure of a Chinese chef's skill. The extreme heat and the age of the wok impart a very smoky flavor which works best with beef, in my opinion: small pieces are seared briefly in extremely hot wok with other ingredients which gives them that charred, smoky flavor while still allowing the meat to be cooked to proper temperature. Fried rice is another great example, with the inherent smokiness and a bit of charring on the outside.
  13. MSDCX
    So many Chinese restaurants are missing the "breath of the wok" where dishes come out tasting sauteed without the proper aroma and/or char. Would appreciate some recommendations of Chinese restaurants in DC/VA that utilize proper wok techniques and have the unmistakable "wok hei."
  14. MSDCX
    Mrs. and I would be interested if this is still "in the plans"
  15. MSDCX
    Wife and I ate here last night. I don't understand all the praise this restaurant keeps receiving. You could probably get the same Thai fare in Des Moines or Tampa, neither location well known for its authentic Thai food. The setting and the menu are quirky and even somewhat charming, the service is adequate, but the food average at best. The Num Tok, which is described as "Grilled steak thinly sliced with chili, onion, cucumber tossed with spicy dressing" was an absolute disaster. What came on the plate was boiled, smelly beef that was not grilled tossed in lime and fish sauce dressing with loads of onions. The aforementioned chilis and cucumbers were altogether missing from the plate. The wife, after trying it, refused to eat it. The Kaw Pow Fried Rice was fine as was the Pad Thai (the portions here are very generous but both dishes were very "one note" after a few bites), but the memory of the stinky salad will forever linger in my mind...
  16. MSDCX
    Sorry to be a party pooper, but for someone who grew up eating the food of the Soviet republics, Rus Uz does not cut it in terms of authenticity or taste. Take the aforementioned shashlik (kabob) which came very undercooked, even for Western standards, and did not contain the right mix of spices (relying too heavily on zira). The plov was the greatest offender, however, tasting extremely bland due to improperly made zirvak (the broth that the meat/onions/carrots and spices cook in before the addition of the rice) with mushy rice and did not come with the mandatory roasted garlic cloves and hot pepper on the side. There were some positives, however, like the lamb manti filled inside very delicate dough and infused habanero vodka shots.
  17. MSDCX
    The makers of the St. Germain suggest finishing an opened bottle within 6 months because it is made without any preservatives. Try making margaritas with it instead of triple sec. Perfect for the summer.
  18. MSDCX
    Wifey and I ate lunch here last Saturday. While there food was tasty, there was nothing truly outstanding about it. The buffet contained the typical Indian fare: salad, butter chicken, chicken biryani, tandoori chicken, and a few types of veggies. The real standouts were vada (light fritter with almond sauce) and okra. The food was flavorful, but not spicy (we had to ask for some jalapeí±os on the side, which were also, unfortunately, not spicy). The place is clean and the service was very friendly. Check it out if in the area but I would not drive all the way from D.C. to get here.
  19. MSDCX
    Do you know if they allow outside alcohol? Perhaps some of us could bring a few bottles of bubbly/wine since we'll have at least 10 people and pay a corkage fee?
  20. MSDCX
    Mrs. and I are interested. Lunch or dinner both work.
  21. MSDCX
    Wife and I ate here last night. Quick wait times, good service, very flavorful food, reasonable prices. The banchan was plentiful (I counted between 8-9 different small bowls) and replenished quickly. The "on the house" miso was tasty. Ordered a spicy pepper pancake, grilled fish, and beef ribs. Liked everything, but wished for more heat in the the pancake (I ended up putting kimchi on top of it). Will definitely return.
  22. MSDCX
    Mrs. and I ate here last night. The hostess was friendly but overall, the service was somewhat lackluster. When asked if we could change the utensils after the round of sticky appetizers, our waitress who spoke comprehensive English at first pretended not to understand anything we were saying and stared at us until we took the old utensils back. The food was pretty pedestrian as well. The papaya salad was adequate but looked very muddy and did not possess a hint of spice. The grilled chicken meatballs were chewy, although we both enjoyed the tamarind sauce that came with them. My wife's chicken larb was just okay, again, lacking much flavor or spice. The Kai Yang which was described as herb and cumin spices roasted chicken had an odd aftertaste (not a bad dish but very one note and I could not discern any Thai herbs or cumin) and came with a smoky chicken dressing - tasty at first, but began to taste repetitive after a few bites. Overall, I would not give much credence to the "Isan-style cuisine" tag and would eat elsewhere.
  23. MSDCX
    At here last night. Wife and I both had the omakase and consumed 2 bottles of sake. Everything, including the service, was excellent. Below are the photos:
  24. MSDCX
    The Mrs. and I ate at Casa Luca on Saturday night to celebrate our 1 year in D.C. Made reservations for 6:15. Arrived on time and were promptly seated by the hostess. To start, we each ordered an Il Conte, an aperitif of sage & grapefruit infused gin with Campari, which we both found very refreshing and not overly bitter. We each also had a carafe of wine (not pictured, the Mrs. had the Tempranillo while I had the Sauvignon Blanc). We were subsequently served a piece of baked bread with some sea salt and a few sprigs of rosemary inside. I found it somewhat uninspiring: it did not have much bite to it and was a bit on a dry side. On to the appetizers: The crudo of California abalone with white asparagus confit and trout roe was well presented and very tasty with the peas providing a bit of a snap to the creamy confit. Next, came the salad of smoked farro, artichokes and Maine Lobster. The smokiness of the farro was unusual but we both found this dish successful. The lobster was sweet and cooked well. The next appetizer was a bit of a head scratcher: bruschetta of smoked salmon and mozzarella with shaved asparagus. It was enormous in size to the point where we both agreed that it was out of place on a dinner menu. Perhaps it would be a fine item for brunch, but this could have been a main entree all in itself. Also, a little too subdued in flavor for me. We each had a bite and asked the server to pack it for us "to go" which he graciously obliged. Pastas/Entrees: Pasta Puttanesca with tiger prawns and mussels in tomato sauce (we each ordered this). Very good: rustic and homey are the two adjectives that I would use. The capers and olives, while there, did not provide much brininess, however, and I wanted a bit more heat in the sauce. The very large shrimp was sweet and succulent and we both made sure to suck out all the juices from the head. The pasta was cooked well, although it would have benefited from a bit more el dente bite. Dessert: We finished off with the rhubarb and strawberry tart with white chocolate gelato (not pictured). It was an outstanding conclusion to a very good meal. The flavors or rhubarb and strawberry were very pronounced and while we were both very full, it was a dessert worth savoring until the cast iron skillet it was served in contained only crumbs. Overall, the meal at Casa Luca was a good one. The food was very flavorful (although the chili head in me always desires a bit more spice in things), the service was spot on, and the prices were not outrageous where this cannot be enjoyed on a regular basis. Thank you to all the forum members who made this recommendation. Michael.
  25. MSDCX
    Casa Luca it is. Thank you all for the recommendations. I will post a review about our dining experience. Michael.
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