MsDiPesto

I just drove by the FC location of Flippin', and the sidewalk sign has been changed to advertise the 2 slices & soda special for $6 instead of the $5 it was for so long.

I'm pretty sure Goya is real ginger.

Goya Ginger Beer ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup 55, Ginger Flavorings, Oil of Ginger, Caramel Color, Capsicum, Citric Acid.

Goya's bite comes primarily from the Capsicum.

Haven't been in a million years, but I used to enjoy their pasta with merguez when I went.

Myself and two colleagues/friends decided to dine together last evening before going our separate ways for the holidays. I mentioned Rock Creek as a possibility, and after strolling around the area near the Bethesda metro, we ended up there. I pointed out that this establishment would not be around after New Years. Another consideration was that we could converse without yelling, which would have been a problem in some of the other places in the area, especially for me since my hearing is starting to punish me for all those years in rock bands in another life.

We were asked if we had reservations, which we did not, but it was not a problem. As we dined, the room filled up, so I feel fortunate to have been seated immediately without a problem.

The dining room was very welcoming on a cold evening, and while my companions expressed some concern for me due to the very warm temperature of the room (they know that I meltdown when the temps go above say, 50), the waiter assured me he would adjust things, and soon enough, the room lost it's initial stuffiness, and we stopped worrying that I would have an uncomfortable experience.

After ordering a glass of wine (petit syrah for me, sorry, can't remember the vintner), all of us decided on the Ahi Tuna special (recommended medium rare, but one of us chose it to be medium. I did not detect much difference in the appearance of her tuna steak).

I chose the Maryland Crab soup for my appetizer, while my friends each had the spinach salad. I received a substantial bowl of soup, with just enough spice to warm my insides without spreading to my outside, and enough finely diced veggies to dissipate any feelings of guilt I may have had for not choosing a salad.

Our entrees consisted of a nice thick tuna steak placed on a bed of Israeli couscous which was strewn with a few stalks of broccolini and a thinly sliced, intensly flavored mushroom (porcini?). The juices from the tuna permeated the couscous with a savory goodness that we all enjoyed. I found the broccolini a bit tough, and probably shouldn't have eaten it, as it reminded me of it's existence for the remainder of the evening. But the dish was so delicious that this was a minor quibble.

The hearty bread was very nice, and I was relieved that it was not the tough tiles crammed with "granola" that some restaurants feature (and that my ex-inlaws always had on their table).

We were satiated, and declined the offer of dessert. It was a lovely meal with grand company, and I was complimented for suggesting it as an option. I'm sorry this was the last chance to enjoy it.

I have the the cheapest ceramic tagine from Surly Table, and it works fine.

We waited for a while but it was just him in the truck and orders were taking about 15 minutes each, so we didn't stick around.

It seems interesting, but the pricing is a bit aggressive at $6.50 for a grilled cheese.

So, by your estimate, 4 orders take an hour to process? I guess there's some overlap so he does get more than 4 orders out in an hour's time.

It's a nice comfort food concept, esp. at this time of year. Some streamlining of the process may be in order.

You know what this means, right? I have no reason to pick up a copy of WCP ever again!

The beignets are going to be problematic, as multiple customers had powdered sugar spots on their work clothes.

This is the accepted manner in which to eat/wear a beignet.

Just back from some out of town surgery, so I thought I'd go to my local WF (Tyson's) for what I think is some of the better (and easily accessible) Hot & Sour soup I can find around me , flavorful with no cornstarch glop. And I get two good bowls for $6.50.

I arrived at the take away section to see that their usual variety of soup is reduced (at least yesterday) to about 4 or 5 different soups, in containers that look much more institutional than the ones they used to have. Same pricing.

Hot & Sour was not in the lineup. Pout.

I did see Brandied Wild Mushroom, and my spirit rose. I heated it up last night, took a taste. Added some dried Thyme and Sea Salt. Better. Had a bowl. Found one piece of mushroom that was just inedible, which went down the disposal. Finished the bowl, but thought....meh.

When I consume the leftovers, I'll put a hit of dark soy sauce in for some umami boost. But really, if this is their new line of soups, I'm pretty disappointed.

On edit: had the rest of it this afternoon, added the dark soy. But the problem that can't be overcome with tinkering is that the mushrooms, while plentiful, are just plain chewy.

I grew up in upstate NY, but it wasn't until I started attending a huge annual party of a friend's in my 20s that I was turned on to the glories of Spiedies by one "Binghamton Bob" who would bring his home-marinated goodness to the party every year. Love 'em. You can buy the marinade at Wegman's, which has many things I grew up with in NY that I otherwise don't see down here.

In Phoenix this evening, Scottsdale to be exact. We went to Cowboy Ciao this evening, and loved it. Carrie was a wonderful waitress, and we enjoyed talking with her. The Absolut straight up very dry with a twist martinis were fantastic, as was the Zero Manipulation blended wine.

We shared the house salad and the crispy mac and cheese. It was funny, we both remarked that the mac and cheese had a kick, and the bloody-mary like salsa was good to cool down each bite. I had the short rib risotto, well, as much as I could finish, and my dining companion (who graciously paid for it all) had the "Bowl of the Day" which happened to be Posole with pork, green chilies, cilantro, all the good stuff.

It was exactly what we needed after a long day.

Made linguini carbonara for the first time, with wonderful results appreciated by my friend and myself. Not something I'll do very often, due to high calorage content, but it was deelish. No, didn't use guanciale. No, didn't use pancetta even. Bacon.

Very forgiving recipe, even with the extra egg I decided to add to my egg-parmigiano reggiano stravecchio mix. I added diced shallots to the hot bacon grease as well as chopped garlic.

Oh good, I see where I'm going to get takeout dinner now!

Finally stopped into the German Gourmet today for the first time. I had a great experience, and bought some Schinkenspeck for a friend to wrap around some figs she had gathered at her family farm in Madison County, VA, some Leberkase because I haven't had it since my last visit to my hometown in NYS years ago, and a teawurst for the same reason. I had a nice chat with another customer about the food we encountered growing up in NYS, she in Buffalo, and I in the Hudson Valley. I'll be back. Soon. For the currywurst and everything else.

I think it's hard to get the ones that are property of the dairies, you'll have to get the ones created as "decor" mentioned above.

Gotta agree with Waitman. For heaven's sake, does every meal has to be a transporting culinary experience? Frankly, at a place like the Birchmere all I want is a cheeseburger to soak up the drinks.

I'll be at Fountains of Wayne on Tuesday 10/5, and promise an exhaustive writeup of the menu items and the wine list.

My feelings exactly, I'm not there for the food, I'm there to see and hear a performer in a place that has a great sound system while enjoying a somewhat higher level of comfort than most other venues the performer might appear in.

Tonight: A Canadian duck breast I scored for 3 bucks at Giant, salted, peppered, seared in a skillet with olive oil, shallots fried in the fat, a roux made with the fat fried shallots leading to a sauce with champagne mustard and some leftover Italian red, with brown rice and Stouffer's spinach souffle (yes, Stouffers, I was also repairing some wall art the cats had contributed.)

When i worked in Lafayette Center, I think I went to this place once or twice. Most of the time, I'd go to Bell's and have a great time with the brothers there. The days when i'd bring a luggage cart to work and haul a case of very drinkable French vino to my car from Bells that I scored for a pittance. My boss even started doing it.

I have a hard time maintaining my attention when I have this show on but last night's fiasco had it's amusing moments.

I had seen a lot of emergency equipment at the intersection near the strip mall that includes Lebanese Butcher yesterday around noon. As it turns out, there was a fire that may result in that entire building being condemned. Link to Falls Church Times coverage and picture here. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

When I drove by that strip today there were two trucks parked near the front entrance of LB, lots of people, probably having a connection with the businesses housed in that building were milling about.

My sympathies to the owners. I hope they are able to get their store up and running again soon.

Cuban sandwiches are not really too hard to make, especially if you have leftover pork loin like was mentioned above. Because I haven't found any authentic Cuban bread, including Firehook's, I make a medianoche, which the same ingredients but use sweet challah like bread. I use Trader Joe's challah knots with great success. To make the sandwich, cut challah in half, add bit of mustard, add layer of thin sliced pork loin,add ham, and swiss cheese, pickle, and George Foreman for five minutes. Add butter on both side to get it really right, as Kibbe suggests.

Ignacio

Attached is a link to an Off the Broiler picture of one.

Nicely done! The challah knots appear to flatten just right.

I can't think of anything more annoying than those stupid "in - out" lists.

I appreciate that I can decline and they don't keep trying to pry it out of me, and it's over. I just like to pick my own charities, and I don't have time to research their cause while I'm trying to get my shopping done.

<snip>The signs advised me that the shrimp were "perviously frozen" <snip>.

That certainly stokes the imagination.

I was glad to find the frozen puff pastry back at the Falls Church TJs, this happening about a month after I asked a clerk if they still had it to which he replied "Aw, we haven't had that in ages !"