synaesthesia

All this talk of pho. Anyone up for Pho 75 in Rockville tonight?

Running some errands I went to Full Key today. Back in the college days there were a lot of Friday nights here with the roasted duck on rice or shrimp and egg on rice. Today it was still quite good. To me a good roast duck has flavor inherent in the meat, not some sauce tossed on top. The flavor with this was there with some to spare for the rice.

I also ordered the salt and pepper fried squid. When it first came out it looked heavy and unappetizing, but the flavors and coating were spot on. Maybe a weensy bit too salty, but overall pretty well balanced with the addition of the pepper. I know its meant to be on the salty side.

My grandma lived with us when I was really young, and she always gave me the strangest food. Oversteamed rice/very dry congee with peanut butter, pasta with sesame powder, milk powder and cocoa, slices of Velveeta straight from the slab and bananas that had been soaked in hot water.

I also have a friend who would microwave pints of Ben & Jerrys and drink them to gain weight. Another group of friends would dip marshmallows into the garlic sauce from Papa Johns.

Lunch today, Restaurant Kolumbia bar, noon.

Brave the cold, and come harass the TV star.

Make sure to ask about larding needles!

Here's the clip, etc. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16079135/ Go Chef Jamie!

My friend and I went halfsies on the turkey dinner sandwich and the fritto misto. To my surprise, I preferred the turkey dinner sandwich. Pickled onions, turkey, avocado, lettuce, pumpernickel stuffing with pine nuts, cranberries, mayo on rye - this stuff is awesome. The pickled onions really made a great acidic foil to the other ingredients. Best on K frites and a few slices of pickle. Mmm..

Fritto misto was disappointing. Some of the items were a little undersalted, and I wasn't a big fan of the batter. Little crab cakes on top were nice though. It was also maybe just a little too much fried food for me - everything just felt a little too heavy.

I think I might whim Restaurant Kolumbia today instead of tomorrow. Not keen on the possible sub-freezing wind chilled walk. I'm shooting for 12:45.

Wagamama will be opening in Boston. http://www.wagamama.com/features_usa.php Worth going to if you need a quick, inexpensive bite to eat, but not destination eating.

Friday. Restaurant Kolumbia bar menu 12:30. New December menu. Yay!

The Bob

Turkey Dinner Sandwich

Lentil Salad

Goat Cheese, Cilantro, Oranges

Wild Mushroom Lasagna

Fontina, Braised Leeks

Fritto Misto

Crispy Calamari, Shrimp, Clam Fritters with Saffron Aioli

[You don't need to live in these areas; just simply be there. This TMB stuff will evolve over the next few days and weeks - we'll see where it goes, if anywhere. I'm not even sure we'll keep the name "Party Central" for this forum - I'll worry about that later when I have more time. Who knows, maybe we'll end up making these TMB threads into yet another forum or sub-forum. Feel free to discuss - this can be whatever you guys want it to be. Just keep in mind that we want to reach out to all members. Cheers, Rocks.]

From what I understand, it's sort of to get to know people who live near you a little better. Make it easier to know some folks that you can call up to go out for dinner in the neighborhood rather than traversing across states lines. Though folks outside the area should be welcome to come if they're interested.

This place is great - owned by Hamid Karzai's brother (I'm not sure if this is as known in DC as it is in Baltimore - big hype). When I went my family ordered one of each appetizer and they were all amazing. Entrees were good, but were typical of the region's menu - kebabs, etc.

Like most I haven't been here in years, so I can't say either. But they had the best pine nut cake roll. It was so amazing that I still remember it quite well from over 15 years ago. Hopefully that's still true.

If we get to 30 Bob would close the big room and we could have DR.com Karaoke night too! <== he said ducking before anyone could throw a shoe and hit him in the head with it!"

If they have karaoke, I am totally there!

Last night a friend and I headed to Dino's. The chicken, basil and tomato soup was amazing - this is coming from someone who was sick and had been eating chicken noodle all week. I wish I could have asked for a Thermos full to take home. Petit Jesu and the finocchiona salumi were fantastic. Plus the good old standby of Palacios Spanish chorizo. Cornichons are better at Dino's too - not as vinegary. Mmm... I ordered the salmon with horseradish crust - the salmon was cooked perfectly. Orechietti ai Funghi - always awesome. My friend had the cranberry bread pudding, which looked good. I had the creme caramel with pineapple and coconut. Yum!

I can't wait to send my sister and bro-in-law.

Dec. 18 is preferrable since I'm going to hit Eamonn's on the 20th.

Even though it's already on the "On a Whim" thread, I'm bumping this up to say that there's going to be another happy hour tonight - newbies who might become regulars, lurkers who might become newbies, and regulars who might become lurkers - all welcome! The restaurant is already on notice to hide the good silver.

Even though I can't make it. Don't forget the free donuts at Fractured Prune.

I really, really don't know how I feel about this article. It doesn't tell me anything didn't know before, and I'd already read about Chef Richard's wedding cake shenanigans but this takes it to a level that I'm very uncomfortable with. Maybe its my squeamishness coupled with the fact that I try to not be "that customer" who gets his food... um... adulterated. But this really makes me wonder.

And respect Chef Andres for at the very least keeping mum.

K

I'm more scared that Andres didn't say anything. He must have done something worse. Hmm... makes you think twice about eating anything not prepared in the open or by oneself.

Sure. Wednesday Dec. 20th 7pm at Eamonn's for fried fish and beer.

Ooohh... this is worth going to VA for. I'm in.

A friend is in town tonight. I've narrowed it to the above. I just tried to call Komi for a reservation, no answer.

Which one would you pick and are walk-ins possible in any of them? Is a last minute res at Komi even possible?

Dun know about Komi, but the others are on Open Table. I personally prefer RK over Vidalia. I think the flavors are really there at RK compared to Vidalia.

Godiva also makes them. I believe I have seen frozen ones at TJs, which solves the perishable issue - though probably not as tasty and pretty.

Comet is totally user-friendly. But it's a joint. It's supposed to be a joint. If you want to go to a restaurant and not a joint, don't go to Comet, you'll have a bad time. If you're a self-important Ward 3 Caucasiana-dwelling yuppie writing to Tom Sietsema, you'll have a bad time.

I dun know... even as a yuppie I might not be happy with this... if it's true - quoted from user review on WaPo

3. One of the owners of the restaurant nearly seated a party ahead of us because they were his friends, and told us that even though we had been waiting first, "it doesn't matter ... I'm the owner." - lisagsch

Unless it was tongue in cheek... and don't get me wrong here. I REALLY WANT to like this place, because I'm a Ward 3er.

The duck was good if not exactly authentic (cucumber on Peking duck? I don't think so...and no peanuts before either).

I'm sure this will get bumped over to the Spices thread, but... the duck itself was quite good. The meat was nice and flavorful, the skin was ok too. Not too gamy. I would be happier to have the duck without all the pancakes, etc.

So to volunteer who, specifically, do we contact? or do we show up at the next meeting?

Woot! Woot! I'm up for some of that.

Me and the little man ordered the spinach and artichoke and an order of breadsticks last night. Mmm... mmm... garlic herb sauce, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, caramelized onions, spinach, artichokes and feta cheese. The balance of the ingredients is perfect, so none is too strong or overwhelming. The breadsticks are basically glorified pizza crust, but with garlic and Romano cheese, pretty darn tasty.

I don't like their pizza prosciutto. The prosciutto ends up cooking from the heat and becoming dried out and much more baked ham-like.