Mrs. B

I don't know about the seasonality of pig but you might ask Brian from Truckpatch (Satrudays at Mt. Pleasant & 14th & U and Sundays in Baltimore). He has always been our go to porcine connection.

I did a little comparison shopping for something we have been consuming at an alarming clip this weekend. Stores: -Giant/Peapod -Harris Teeter -Progresso Mercado (Mt. Pleasant St) Store Brand - $3.49 -$3.69 - NA Land O'Lakes - $4.69 - $4.89 - $3.49 How can the mainline stores get away with this crap? What do you pay for yours? Do you think there's a significant quality difference between store brand butter and Land O'Lakes (let's not swerve into high end butters just yet)?

They were available at the Harris Teeter in Adams Morgan yesterday.

The stores on Mt. Pleasant St. generally have hearts of palm at a much lower price than the big stores.

I just stumbled across this cold soup compendium yesterday. I made the Turkish Cacik with cucmbers, Fage yougurt, garlic, dill and mint. Unfortunately the 1 clove of garlic I used was freakishly strong. I have purchased more cucumbers today and hope to salvage the "fragrant" but otherwise tasty concotion. Notable soups at the link now on my soup-to-do list include apple cucumber, nectarine and avocado poblano.

Old Ebbitt's has always been a reliable standby for family get togethers. I first visted their 2nd location in 1980. I will always have a soft spot for that location. In the newest spot I will comment that I abhor the atrium, love the side bars and will almost always order the cannelloni di casa because it never varies into yuck and ususally tastes fine and because it was my Mother's favorite dish. The Chinatown location has always been unsatisfying for a number of reasons. The setting is lovely but a bit over the top for my tastes, the flow of people/mass of people/noisy people always makes me swear that I will never return. Service has not been up to the level of the other locations and the food has been unsatisfying - overdone, underdone etc.

I am amused by the fact that this tempting food purveyor is located below a gym.

I believe in Pensacola a few months ago I could pick them up for about $5-6/lb at Joe Patti's and I think they were charging $11/lb at BS, that seems resonable to me, if I were in the mood for that particular flavor I would have jumped on them. The XXL reg wild caught shrimp were about 16/lb and that's what I purchased to totally be stepped on by the mole negro that I intend to pair them with tonight. The shrimp at Balducci's were in the same price range but I could not tell the difference b/t the L & XL and they were farmed (please don't ever buy these ) and looked flabby.

Stopped in to pick up some shrimp today for dinner and found that they have the highly prized (by some) Ruby Reds in stock. Also I coveted the whole Dorade and scallops with roe. Everything was sparkley fresh looking.

You are right, I do disagree with you. Waitman and I are most assuredly home cooks and a common phrase in our house is "What would Thomas do?" We follow recipes to the letter 1st time around, learn awesome new techniques that we fold into our repertoire and then next time around on the recipe we can riff. TK's books are incredible learning tools. But you shouldn't worry about posting. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, even if it is misguided .

If you can't make it to Johnny's here are directions to do it yourself (great accent) this guy is clearly an amateur since he's using dots not tablets and since he doesn't have an absinthe fountain

Okay this is pretty funny. I am on hold with Harris Teeter to see if they have the tablets and the hold song isThis! Really no kidding! Sorry no tablets. But you probably already knew that. ETA: No tablets at Balducci's either - hold music there click. Hope this doesn't hit close to home.

Thanks for the suggestions Zora, I meant to edit my post earlier but was caught up with other stuff. It is mole negro paste. You think this would best be suited to an enchilada with chicken type prep? I was considering whipping some into some base or another to create a dip for a shrimp (peel yourself type) appetizer. I think it might be a little overpowering but my tastebuds are a bit fried from the aforementioned spoon dipping.

We found ourselves in Riverdale this weekend and scored two delicious pints of fresh mole from a small market painted in the colors of the Mexican flag. I need inspiration for use besides spooning it straight into my mouth (which I've been doing all morning ). I don't particularly care for turkey but am open to all other preps.

tmi!

ETA: You meant to drain pasta peas & carrots before adding the cheese, soup and milk, right ?

I also like to put cherry tomatoes on top (over the topping of grated cheese but under the crumbs) but that really tweaks the kids. And over everything I pour melted garlic butter.

Good call on Chapultepec and Cruise Room in Denver. They are great places, which makes me scratch my head even more about the DC choices. Not that I don't love them but honestly great seems to be a very elastic description in that article. Those Denver places are total apples to the DC oranges. Perhaps this review should be interpreted more as a cool places to visit list rather than best bar.

Et tu Cheerio? This is an even suckier example because the packaging has been changed to make it appear larger on the shelf, the weight has gone down and the price has increased.

AM Teeter. Fava beans $1.99 (I think)/lb with VIC card. Also get coupon in lobby for $5.00 off any purchase of $25.00 or more. Oh and they have a blood pressure machine near the pharmacy. I'm not ready for statins yet . Hanging boston ferns for 9.99 are also pretty nice but I think they might be a bit root bound.

The new AM Harris Teeter had a dry ice cooler in the downstairs lobby FWIW.

Unfortunately I believe they have opted out this year

I have always enjoyed my meals here. The ambiance is quite relaxing. I think the food execution is not quite to the level of La Chaumiere in Georgetown but the setting and food style, particularly in the spring and summer, are quite charming. re Cabs: I wonder, if at least for the balance of May during the meter amnesty period, whether it might be useful to get in the cab and offer up zone fare with no dickering?

Gin Joint Cute picture of Rabih. Nice piece.

they are now stuck in the back of my head. This ANC person needs another hobby. Maybe he should move to my neighborhood and film the drug dealers?