pidgey

I want to whole-heartedly endorse Just Cakes in Bethesda for your birthday cake needs. I ordered a marble cake with a strawberry buttercream filling and cream cheese frosting for my birthday. The cake was dense and moist, and the icing was sweet without being overwhelming. The strawberry buttercream filling tasted very natural...you can tell they used real strawberry juice and not just some flavoring. However, the marble cake was mostly vanilla with just a swirl of chocolate throughout, so it wasn't half and half if that's what you're looking for. I had a carrot cake cupcake when I picked up my cake, and I almost regretted not getting that flavor.

They also do birthday parties, and we saw several little girls in there very seriously decorating their own cakes. Looked pretty fun to me!

This reminds me...Gillian Clark will be coming out with a memoir in October, Out of the Frying Pan. I can't think of any other local chefs that have done so, though.

I've been eager to try the soft shells here - does anyone know if they still have them/will still have them this week?

According to this article in the online Express, New Heights still has them (they also mention Hank's Oyster Bar), at least for the next few weeks.

I'll be so sad when soft-shell crab season is over.

Bistro D'oc is a few blocks away on 10th Street. They offer a pre- and post-theatre menu.

Here's a clue: nobody's OpenTable allows singles to book. There are specific slots for different table sizes available online: 2,4,6,8. The software only allows those numbers. Maybe a 5 or a 7, usually never a 1.

I know that I've also made reservations for 3.

Bistro du Coin? Bistro Francais? What more could you want?

For those of us here in DC, those places are fine--more than fine. We are truly lucky. But what about nationwide? Do not our friends in the hinterlands deserve a reasonably priced French meal? All I'm saying is that the somebody out there could make a killing if they opened up a high quality chain. I'm not saying that we need such a chain here in DC, and if one ever moved in, I would probably make a point not to go (my recent trip to Mon Ami Gabi not withstanding). Mon Ami Gabi and Les Halles are already out there...it won't be long until somebody takes the concept a step further.

Not that I'm advocating for Olive Garden-type French...just more accessible French for the general public. Reasonable prices, good selection, which stays true to the cuisine.

Stopped in last night after a visit to the theater. This was our first visit, and we were pretty hungry, so were glad not to have to wait for an indoor table. I was surprised when my husband suggested it, because I said, "You want to eat at a chain French restaurant?".

The service was very good. Our water glasses were never half empty, the waiter knew the wine list, and recommended a reasonably priced bottle for us (well, first he tried recommending a more expensive bottle, but backed off when my husband said we wanted a lower priced bottle). Forgive me, but I don't remember what it was, I only remember that it was a relatively new addition to their wine list, and both the waiter and the manager came over later to inquire how we liked it.

The seafood special was sauteed soft-shell crabs with potatoes and peas, and the server reassured me that the crabs were in fact still alive, and since I have a hard time passing up soft shells, I ordered that. The nightly special was beef wellington, which my husband ordered. Since neither one of us ordered steak frites, we ordered frites to share.

The food overall was pretty good. I would have preferred the frites to be more crispy, although they were hot. The soft shells were good, but very buttery (a sheen of butter coated the plate when I was finished). Hubby enjoyed the the beef wellington. We were also happy that Montgomery County now lets you take unfinished bottles of wine home with you from a restaurant, a new law which the server was happy to point out to us.

I post about our experience also to bring up our dinner conversation about whether Americans are eating more French food these days, or if the idea of French food being stuffy still prevails. Besides La Madeleine, there is really no equivalent to, say, the Olive Garden for French food. One gripe we had in general was that the price at Mon Ami Gabi was a little expensive. If someone were to introduce a chain bistro or even a brasserie concept (where beer would be the focus), I think more folks would be a little more open to French food. Because who doesn't like steak and fries?

Curry Lentil Salad

1 cup lentils

2 tsp curry powder

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp onion powder

3 scallions, chopped

1/4 cup chopped parsley

4 tsp olive oil

4 tsp red wine vinegar

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger, minced

1 tsp orange zest

1 cup cooked green peas

Cook the lentils according to package directions until they are slightly crunchy. Drain the lentils and rinse under cool water; drain well. Transfer to a large bowl.

Combine the curry powder, garlic salt and onion powder. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast the seasonings over medium heat, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle over the lentils. Add the scallions, parsley, oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and orange zest. Toss to combine. Add the peas and refrigerate for at least an hour.

One more time...

What: an opportunity to meet other DR.com folks in your neighborhood.

Who: Anyone in Upper Northwest (including, but not limited to: Van Ness, Cleveland Park, Tenley Town, Chevy Chase, Woodly Park)

Where: Italian Pizza Kitchen, 4483 Connecticut Avenue, NW

When: Proposed dates: Tuesday, June 19, or Wednesday, June 27

Any takers?

I think I can make it either day.

Hi! I will be coming plus 2. I will be bringing a curry lentil salad. See you all there!

The City Lights advantage for us is that the Dupont location delivers out to Upper Northwest. I like the moo shu chicken, and the pork dumplings. I definitely do feel that the quality has gone done hill over the last couple of years, but its way better than most other Chinese delivery places in DC.

I think I have discovered the perfect spring meal:

Chilled Pea Soup

Soft-shell Crabs

Strawberry Tart

Each piece is perfect alone, but so much better in that sequence.

I should have had the strawberry tart last night. I ended up getting the pistachio bread pudding to finish up my meal of a beet salad and soft-shell crab, and it had the consistency of cake. Not terrible, but not perfect. Oh, well. Next time I'll stick to my instincts and get the fruit tart.

(Upon eating my first softshell of the season last night at Corduroy)

Ode to a softshell crab

Oh, softshell, you who sacrificed your

short little life for me

so that you could be deep-fried and crunchy.

Wonderful crab, prepared in a multitude of ways,

making DC worth inhabiting in the summertime.

The most yummy of all the crabs--

yes, even over stuffed crab--

I thank you for being so delicious.

Does anyone know of a bar near the convention center that can hold about 20 people for a Friday afternoon happy hour? It would be right around 5 pm in late June. I've been to the Old Dominion located at the convention center, and the bar area isn't really all that big. I would prefer to avoid RFD. Any thoughts?

The fries are Poste are amazing. Adding truffle oil to anything equals instant goodness.

I have to agree. I also like that they are only $5 during happy hour!

A little late for this, but the St. Sophia's Greek festival is this weekend. That's on Massachusetts Ave. near Wisconsin Ave. Festival hours are from noon to 9 pm through tomorrow (Sunday, the 20th).

I just saw a bilingual documentary from the 70s about Tex Mex music called Chulas Fronteras. There are lots of scenes of people cooking and eating traditional Tex Mex foods, like barbecue and tamales. It made me hungry (and homesick). In one scene, a musician talks about the German immigrants influence on Tex Mex music, and in many ways, the same can be said about its food.

According to the Gallery Place Living blog, the Green Turtle may be opening up as soon as Friday, April 26--http://gpliving.blogspot.com/2007/04/green...-friday-in.html

I recommend the pumpkin empanada.

Pumpkin empanadas are definitely a San Antonio specialty, with apple not too far behind. Growing up, I never knew that meat empanadas existed.

Way to go! You're an inspiration!

The local SA paper actually has a pretty good handle on the dining scene. You can see a list of their top 250 picks here-->click. On this list, I would highly recommend Liberty Bar and Rosario's for downtown, but off the River Walk choices.

There's a place that sells fresh donuts -- like, made before your eyes, can't eat them until they cool a bit fresh -- just to the left of the main entrance, too.

Yeah, I call them "crack donuts". They are these wonderful miniature things that you want to put in your mouth when you get them, and if you do you burn your mouth, but still is worth it to feel the hot fat pop in your mouth. Yum.

Just saw on the newly redesigned NPR website that there is now a section called "NPR Correspondents' Choice". They aren't reviews, just places that NPR reporters like to go to. The cities currently featured are Hanoi, Istanbul, Lhasa, Moscow, Nairobi and Shanghai. Check it out -->click

I can certainly see how mustard in rabbit stew may not be the best thing, but if you have an opportunity (depending on what you order of course), you should ask for mustard. Their mustard is wonderfully creamy and tangy, perfect for my frites (and yes, I always order the mayonnaise for my frites as well). I find I'm having less and less use for ketchup.