Monica Bhide

I just got off the phone with the chef. If you have an extra stomach.. bring it!!! He tells me there will be a LOT of food. I am really excited about this. This is the first event, I believe, of its kind here in DC and the regional dishes will surely delight folks. Welcome and looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday

I am not sure what I am brining but we will be there with something savory to share!

Thanks for coordinating Hillvalley. I am looking forward to seeing everyone.

I have never been to this place but I am venturing a guess -- i agree it could be black salt which tends to smell like sulphur.... It tastes good once you get past the smell

Hi folks - I am back from vacation and just checking in here. If I can provide any other information on this event, do let me know. Looking forward to seeing you all !!

DanielK - It is 5:00 - 8:00. We were trying to accomodate the Donna show. I know coaching is important though.. my little one is in baseball this quarter and loves his coach soooooo!!

Indique Heights is opening tonite so we are headed there for dinner. Anyone else going tonite? Stop by and say hello if you will be there!!

You know I have to say the food was excellent the many times I went and tried it before I wrote about it. Subsequently I did get many notes from people saying that the quality had nosedived. I hope all is better now. I have not been there recently so I cannot personally comment on that.

We are making that correction.. I apologize for the error.. it is all inclusive.. Drinks are not included

FINAL PRICE -- $65 per person (includes taxes and tip; does not include drinks) Menu (chef reserves the right to make some minor changes) Monica Bhide/ DR.COM DINNER MAY 7th, 2006 NORTH Chicken Kabab-3 ways (tandoor grilled chicken in three different marinades) Shalgam Goat Curry (goat curry cooked with turnips and turnip greens) Paneer Simla Mirchi (low-fat pressed Indian cheese with bell peppers) Pulao/ Kulcha (rice pilaf and freshly baked onion breads) Garlic-Chili chutney; Onion-Yogurt chutney WEST Patrani Machhi (cilantro marinated fish filet, wrapped in banana leaf & baked) Murgi Dhansak (ceremonial Parsi specialty- chicken, vegetable and lentil stew) DhansakRice (star anise and stone flower flavored rice pilaf) Aloo Hara Pyaaz (red bliss potatoes with scallion greens) Mango chutney; Peanut/Sesame chutney EAST Shorshe Bata Maachh (fish filet simmered in freshly ground mustard) Kosha Mangsho (lamb cooked with cumin, coriander and cardamom) Chorchori Torkari (medley of vegetables with Bengali 5 spice tempering) Steamed Basmati (long grain fluffy rice) Tomato chutney; Date chutney SOUTH Kunjhe Varuval (shrimp sautéed with roasted spices and coconut flakes) Kozhi Ishtoo (British influenced south Indian chicken stew) Payar Thoran (stir fry beans with curry leaf and mustard seeds) Kachil Kalan (yam and chic peas in a seasoned yogurt sauce) Sambar (toor dal ‘pigeon peas’ and eggplant cooked with tamarind & asafetida) Upma (a savory semolina staple of the south) Idiappam (steamed rice and lentil string-hoppers) Okra Pachadi (crisp fried okra in a yogurt dressing) Ginger-Tamarind chutney, Milagapodi; Appalam I am getting hungry just writing this post!

I think it will be around 5:30 but will check with chef and let you know asap.

Thanks Joe.

Thanks Hillvalley! Chef has shared with me an amazing menu of regional Indian specialities. The theme for this dinner will be regional Indian delicacies - including some great vegetarian choices. I am excited and honored to be part of this event and look forward to seeing you all there!

i am determined to attend this year since we missed last year. May is good for us as well.

I can beat that. Six advil, zyrtec and a bowl of rice. UGH. Allergies are killing me.

Jennifer - We should go to Natta Thai sometime.. I love that place. I think we eat there at least once a week.

What a sweet note. My goodness. Thank you Melissa. I appreciate the kind words.

I have always done random tastings at Cafe Atlantico for some article or another - like having a drink at the bar or ordering one dish to write about it. Well, I finally managed to have lunch there yesterday. It was worth the wait and every bite reminded me of why Chef Kats is such a genius. Bravo! The scallops with squid ink and the salmon alone were dynamite. I am so glad I ws able to go and I hope that I can do it again -- this time at minibar which I have not had the pleasure of eating at yet.

I tried this for the first time this week and it was such a fun experience. The chef was in a great mood and chatted with us for a while. I have never met him before. The sandwich, I had the pork shoulder, was just delightful and I am sure I will be back for more. I like the idea of just dropping in cash in a box to pay for the meal. There was no line when we got there, but there was a long one by the time we left. A definte "must return" place

Andrew -- What lovely news!! Congratulations and a big God bless to you and yours!!

Hey you are in my neck of the woods now.. we should go to lunch and explore all these great places.

Congrats on your new job!!

Thanks to the suggestions here, I ended up at Courdroy. It was truly an excellent experience. I hope to visit there again soon. What a gem.

I am in the mood for dosa.. so heading to Amma's tonite

WHAT.. you went without me??? Don Rockwell