Adam23

Cereal Bowl has closed - per the Cleve Park listserv.

Have to second Mon Vieil Ami -- that's a link -- although it was nearly five years ago that I ate there (and I'm partial to the Ile Saint-Louis anyway). The chef plays with traditional Alsatian cuisine a bit, with a huge focus on (and talent with) vegetables. The decor is a bit modern, the ambiance welcoming, and the service knowledgable and engaging.

Ooh, wish the plane I'm about to board were heading to Paris instead of back to DC ...

I'll third it. One of my favorites in Paris - probably my second or third favorite in town.

We just got back from Paris a few weeks ago. Had an amazing meal at Le Regalade St Honore. Superb in every way and still vividly remember everything I ate. At 32 euros for the 3 course meal, it is a ridiculously good deal. Currently my top pick in town.

Were you there for the Ryder Cup?

Actually, no. Went for a cheese festival.

Got back from a stop in Cardiff and was rather impressed with the food we had there.

One evening we dined at Mint and Mustardan Indian restaurant near Cardiff's hospital. Supposedly it is one of the UK's top Indian restaurants. The meal was fabulous. For sake of a DC comparison, it was Rasika-level (or possibly better). We had a tasting menu and got to try a number of items. Particularly enjoyable was their sea bass preparation served on curried potatoes with mangos and a curry sauce. It was absolutely delicious.

We also dined one night at Woods Brasserie in the Cardiff Bay complex. The food was welsh with french influences. Of note was the mussels appetizer in a rich paprika broth. The mussels were absolutely tender, sweet and delicious. No grit. The broth was rich and delicious with a strong paprika flavor. Among the best mussels and broth i've ever had and far better than any mussels in DC.

Overall, great trip to Cardiff. If you are ever nearby or want a random side-trip if visting London, I would recommend a visit.

A reliable source says Il Mulino will be departing DC's dining scene at year-end. It will supposedly be replaced by another italian restaurant of some sort (I don't have details on the replacement).

Greek Deli's line was too long today so the lunch crew decided to give Tandoori Time a try. Hit up the $7.99 lunch buffet and walked away impressed. Today they had a chicken curry, vege curry, paneer makhani, lentils and a few other options. They also had bone-in tandoori chicken which was juicy and flavorful. Noting the brisk business, the buffet was being constantly replenished. I found the flavors to be a little toned down compared to some Indian restaurants in the area (i.e., Masala Art) but overall the naan was hot, the food seemed high quality and was tasty.

Also, they allow you to fill a Styrofoam container full of buffet items instead of sitting down, an option i'll probably choose in the future. And they have a lot of vegetarian options.

If you are in the area, I would recommend checking it out.

The Palm, no? Or is that just an inaccurate cliche?

No that is right. The food is mediocre at best but it is a politician/lobbyist circus in there every day. I'll also throw in Central - it gets a good "power" crowd during lunch. Close proximity to the Carlyle Group probably doesn't hurt.

Been meaning to try Panas for a while now since it is so close to my office. Dined there last evening with my wife and had a really really enjoyable quick meal. My understanding is that the empanadas are Argentinean style so they are smaller than those at say, Julias (which is the only other empanadas place i've ever been to in DC). The restaurant is a nice space with a "hip" decor. It looks like Panas has about 15 empanadas choices. They had a number of vegetarian empanadas, steak, chicken and also tuna and shrimp ones. We both ended up ordering their meal deal which gives you a drink, three empanadas and a scoop of plantain chips. I ordered three: chicken pesto, brie and "fiesta cheese". All three were excellent, and in both of our opinions, miles better than Julias. I particularly liked the fiesta cheese one which had a lot of mozzarella filling and some very good caramelized onions in it. Overall, the fillings were all very good, savory and seemed very high quality. Their dipping sauces were also quite good. I particularly enjoyed the chimi sauce which was basically a tomato salsa type sauce with a hint of cilantro. If you like empanadas, I highly recommend checking the place out.

Despite the fact that you can get some great deals at Costco, and even get wine if you go to the ones in Virginia, I let my membership lapse earlier this year. I realized I basically went there 2-3 times a year and loaded up on a core set of things only. I hate the lines and the $50 or whatever the annual fee is now is probably more than I was saving on the good deals I might have gotten. Plus, for a two person household, it kind of doesn't make sense, given the huge size of the packages offered there. Am I the only one?

We are a two person household and are exec members and have the Costco Amex card. We typically go there 3 times a month, mostly to buy fruit, but sometimes other products. We manage to spend a ton and I think save a ton. For example, contact lenses, if you wear them, are dirt cheap and easily pay for the membership fee just by buying them for a year for one person. Very happy i'm a member.

And for that, it was some of the worst pad thai I've had in this area.

Actually i'll say it is the worst. Eaten at Big Bowl way too many times (at least never on my dime) and easily the worst excuse for Thai/Asian food around. I found the gigner shrimp to be particularly aweful - very strong artifical flavor that hits you. Their lettuce reps are tolerable though.

Going to Cardiff for a few days. Any recommendations?

What was Angelo talking about? Did he say he received a Michelin star or what? All I can find about him is a sandwich shop. From what I can tell, he worked in various restaurants under celeb chefs - Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Jean Georges), Alain Ducasse (Spoon Food & Wine) and Stephen Starr (Buddakan) - comes across as a Top Douche.

He is being promoted as having received one but I can't find any evidence either. And he fails to mention it on his profile on the Lucky Rice culinary council (and looks terribly out of place as compared to the other members) (http://www.luckyrice.com/council).

Though he just flew in from Monaco right before the show, so he could be having some jet lag.

I completely agree. Palena would be my #1 choice. Komi is another great high end restaurant, but it is indeed more expensive.

Agree as well. Some of the best food in DC and easily the best value in DC high-end dining in town.

With the exception of Vidalia, what's a good after-work hangout in Dupont? I'm thinking quiet, possibly with sort of a lounge area, that's not too pricey but with decent food? Table service is optional. Would Bistrot du Coin work?

The new Madhatter isn't quiet but it is clean (for now) and the food was surprisingly good.

We also do Darlington House a lot and their food is good.

Even the canned "lite" fruit has a fair amount of added sugar, making it a better bet to buy fresh fruit but fairly often or to just cut bad parts off aging fruit and eat the rest.

Drain the juice, then it is as nutritious as fresh. Simple as that if sugar is an issue for you.

I eat canned fruit fairly often, particularly peaches. Primarily because I mix it up with cottage cheese for breakfast and it is cheap, convenient and I don't really like fuzzy peach skin. The pineapple is pretty good and convenient too.

This isn't technically fast food as commonly understood, but I've been horrified to see the same ad twice today on the Food Network. Del Monte is advertising canned peaches by pointing out that fresh fruit may go bad and have to be thrown out, which is wasteful. My mouth is still agape. The nerve?

I saw the ad a few times and said to myself "good point". Didn't really both me and actually a good reminder considering how much fruit I often throw out that has gone bad.

So has anyone had much look in finding Finger Lakes wines in the DC/MD/VA area? Particularly in quantity.... like 3 cases worth? I need 3 cases of finger lakes riesling by the 3rd weekend of May - I've got a very nice person from Total Wine trying to get me 3 cases of Wagner.... but even he was saying I should look for some back-up options... total wine also carries Hazlitt and Bully Hill, but I'm not going anywhere near those. I'd love to find a place that carries Standing Stone.

Couple options what I can think of...

1. Wegmans - They can get you anything. Nice thing about being a Rochester based chain. Probably your easiest option

2. Direct Ship as others have mentioned.

3. You could have Northside Wines in Ithaca ship you wine depending where you live (http://www.northsidewine.com/)

The lobster pot pie I had last night at Bourbon Steak was ridiculously good. Though for $65 it should be.

Kostas, Kostas, Kostas, what have you done? Switching your delicious, moist, yummy white bread for a dry whole wheat impostor. I hope this isn't permanent, for if it is, I will be greatly saddened.

The new proposed salt law in NY is rather hilarious.

------------------

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A10129&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Votes=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y

A10129 Text:

S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K

________________________________________________________________________

10129

I N A S S E M B L Y

March 5, 2010

___________

Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, MARKEY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.

PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health

AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the

use of salt in the preparation of food by restaurants

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-

BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section

2 399-bbb to read as follows:

3 S 399-BBB. PROHIBITION ON SALT; RESTAURANTS. 1. NO OWNER OR OPERATOR

4 OF A RESTAURANT IN THIS STATE SHALL USE SALT IN ANY FORM IN THE PREPARA-

5 TION OF ANY FOOD FOR CONSUMPTION BY CUSTOMERS OF SUCH RESTAURANT,

6 INCLUDING FOOD PREPARED TO BE CONSUMED ON THE PREMISES OF SUCH RESTAU-

7 RANT OR OFF OF SUCH PREMISES.

8 2. WHENEVER THERE SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION AN APPLICATION

9 MAY BE MADE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF THE

10 STATE OF NEW YORK TO A COURT OR JUSTICE HAVING JURISDICTION BY A SPECIAL

11 PROCEEDING TO ISSUE AN INJUNCTION, AND UPON NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT OF

12 NOT LESS THAN FIVE DAYS, TO ENJOIN AND RESTRAIN THE CONTINUANCE OF SUCH

13 VIOLATIONS; AND IF IT SHALL APPEAR TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE COURT OR

14 JUSTICE THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS, IN FACT, VIOLATED THIS SECTION, AN

15 INJUNCTION MAY BE ISSUED BY THE COURT OR JUSTICE, ENJOINING AND

16 RESTRAINING ANY FURTHER VIOLATIONS, WITHOUT REQUIRING PROOF THAT ANY

17 PERSON HAS, IN FACT, BEEN INJURED OR DAMAGED THEREBY. IN ANY SUCH

18 PROCEEDING, THE COURT MAY MAKE ALLOWANCES TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS

19 PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH SIX OF SUBDIVISION (A) OF SECTION EIGHTY-THREE

20 HUNDRED THREE OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, AND DIRECT RESTITU-

21 TION. WHENEVER THE COURT SHALL DETERMINE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS

22 SECTION HAS OCCURRED, THE COURT MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY OF NOT MORE

23 THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION. EACH USE OF SALT IN

24 VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE VIOLATION. IN

25 CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH PROPOSED APPLICATION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS

26 AUTHORIZED TO TAKE PROOF AND MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE RELEVANT FACTS

27 AND TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND

28 RULES.

29 S 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall

30 have become a law.

EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD16210-01-0

I hit the grocery store yesterday and no lines at all! That said I still need to pick up a case of beer and then we will order enough pizza to last the weekend.

I went to Giant at 7 this morning and Whole Foods at 8. Couldn't bear to think how busy they would be this afternoon and evening. Though failed to realize you can't buy beer before 9 in DC. Ugh. This weekend is going to be tons of cooking for us. Stout braised short ribs, making fresh pasta and a nice veal ragu of sorts, some chocolate souffles, and the wife wants to make a challah. Should be a lot of fun stuck inside, assuming our power doesn't go out.

Does anyone know where I can buy Beefalo in DC or surrounds?

Seasonal? Tomatoes at this time of year. I know of restaurants where you cannot buy a fresh tomato at this time of year but this supposedly green place is serving tomatoes!

"Of course, customers don't have a say over what's in season, so certain ingredients cycle in and out, but expect salad staples year-round. "Cherry tomatoes, people can't live without them," David Silverglide adds." (http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2010/01/mixt-greens-resturant.php)

[Oh ok.]

"The point for the Mixt Greens team is not “screaming in (the customer’s) face” about eco-consiousness, but simply walking the talk and allowing customers to make choices that not only taste good, but support the overall commitment to sustainability." (http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/12/mixt-greens-san-francisco-eco-gourmet-restaurant-is-a-marriage-of-gourmet-and-green/)

[Confused.]

Mixt Greens, a San Francisco-based salad chain opened today on 19th St above M in the old High Noon space. I've been watching this space for some time wondering if anything would ever open there - but it did, today, finally. Speaking with a manager, it sounds like Mixt Greens has a rather aggressive expansion plan in DC, something like 5 locations by the end of the year.

When I entered the store and was handed a menu I said wow. Burrata, american kobe beef, and seared ahi tuna - every play out of the restaurateur playbook. Throw in the signage that "your eco-gourmet® meal supports: LOCAL FARMS, ORGANIC PRODUCE, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, GREEN BUILDING, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND HEALTHY EATING", I knew I was about to enter a restaurant contrived by pure marketing genius. I was like a pimple-faced 18 year old visiting Scores for the first time. If only they would haven taken it to the next level and gave me humanely raised chicken and the lettuce from a rooftop garden, I would have exploded.

Sarcasm aside, this place oozes eco-chic. Take Sweetgreen's earth-friendly image, kick it up a few notches, and charge a hefty premium for the pleasure of dining at Mixt. (It worked, they offered me a salad for a 10% premium over Chopt and Sweetgreen). The facility itself is nice - a clean, modern look. And the staff is friendly and articulate.

So what about the food? The salads themselves are decent. Whenever I visit a salad place for the first time, I order a cobb salad. In my mind, it is fairly simple to make a good one and much easier to make a bad one. Does it have crispy bacon? Is the avocado fresh or hard? Is the lettuce crisp? Based on my experience today, Mixt makes a decent cobb salad- better than Chopt but not nearly as good as Sweetgreen. On the cobb salad Mixt uses butter lettuce, an option not available at its competitors. However the problem is that they just pull the head of lettuce apart into large pieces, making it difficult to eat without a knife. The mix-ins are good. The tomatoes were room temperature and flavorful, the cucumbers were seeded, the bleu cheese was tasty and the bacon was very crisp and cut into large pieces - almost like lardons. The avocado was 80% ripe, not perfect but definitely not the granite i've been served at other restaurants on occasion. The chicken was served slightly chilled and was tender, but instead of having cut-up chicken pieces like its competitors, Mixt uses slices that they place on top of the salad, once again requiring the use of a knife. Overall, the ingredients were good, but the dressing on my salad, a vinaigrette, was terrible and bland, rendering a pretty good salad merely adequate.

One thing I did enjoy was the bread served with the salad. It was a slice of tasty and fresh wheat bread. Very good.

Cobb salad aside, my co-workers were impressed with the variety of toppings. Jicama, macadamia nuts, soba noodles, papaya, etc. They have an endless assortment of options that other places don't have. And my co-workers commented that the toppings tasted fresh, but did get weighted down by seriously bland dressings that resulted in bland salads. Everyone was open to trying it again, but no one was running back.

One nice addition is that Mixt offers sandwiches that look very good. They have a turkey sandwich, meatloaf sandwich, buratta sandwich, etc. They all looked delicious and were being made on freshly sliced foccacia bread (which I saw them slice from huge loafs - and that bread looked really good). I'll have to try them and report back.

Overall, a welcome addition but salad-wise not in the same league as some of its competitors, particularly considering it was about a buck more.

And yes, I plan to compost my eco-gourmet® corn-biopolymer biodegradable container.

I found this article in the Times fascinating. Maybe Bloomberg is just trying to protect himself at the expense of the public.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/dining/23bloom.html?_r=4&8dpc