dcfoodie

But with a glass of Muscadet ($9), I turned an expensive appetizer into a satisfying snack. A basket of bread features little Heather Chittum-biscuits, alongside focaccia and slices of baguette which are curiously baked by another staff member.

The Muscadet is a good choice! I always mean to write down the vineyard so I can find it at my local store. Do you recall what it is?

We stopped by Saagar the other night...here are my thoughts.

The menu as DonRocks said is very big and we ordered a variety of dishes, but all of the food was very good. I've been to Minerva a bunch of times and the food is almost identical in presentation and taste, but if I had to pick one over the other, I'd say that Saagar's was better (at least on this one trip).

There seemed to be one person that was taking all the orders, and he wasn't writing anything down which resulted in our order and just about everyone else's getting screwed up. I wanted to hand him one of my son's crayons and the pad of paper he was drawing on the help him out.

I liked that they have a kids menu, although the "mini" dosa that we ordered for our son was larger than my forearm and there was no way in hell he was ever going to finish it. I had the malai kofta which I liked but I found the sauce to be more of a Korma sauce than a typical tomato based curry that you normally see in this dish -- still very good though. The dosa's come with the same soup accompaniment that the dosa's at Minerva, except it's a little spicier.

I'll probably give them some time to settle in before heading back. Hopefully the service is better next time, because we really liked everything we had to eat.

In case any of you want a couple free tickets to this, we're having a contest/giveaway on DCFoodies.com for two tickets to your choice of session. All you have to do is answer a question, although you'd be surprised how many people get it wrong...

Savor Beer Festival Ticket Giveaway

I've been a number of times in the last few weeks, mostly on the weekends, and the pizzas are identical each time. I haven't been ordering the pizzas well done, but the crust comes out fine and the bottom has a decent amount of char on it. I find that I need to fold the crust because it's still considerably floppy, but that's pretty standard IMO.

SBC Cafe in Herndon has a chicken pot pie that's is one of the best that I've had in a while...Nice flakey crust, thick creamy but not overly salted filling, plus it's HUGE! It's on the specials menu most of the time this time of year, but not on the menu permanently.

I'm looking for food-loving writer's who'd like to contribute to DCFoodies.com. I think the only way to grow D.C. Foodies and start generating more ad revenue for it's monthly charities is to have other people writing. I also want to extend the web site's coverage to other areas outside of DC if possible: Baltimore, Annapolis, Philly, Richmond, etc. The writing doesn't just have to be about restaurants reviews either, you can write about cooking, working at a restaurant, whatever, as long as it has to do with food or wine. I wish I could offer fame and/or fortune for contributing to DCFoodies.com, but all I can offer is the satisfaction that you're doing something for the common good of the D.C. Metro area.

If you'd like to get involved, send me a PM or email me at jason@dcfoodies.com, and I'll give you the full details.

Thanks.

Edited to add:

Professional writing experience is NOT required...hell, it's not like I did any professional writing before I started the web site.

Yeah, I think we'll try AF next. We're in western Fairfax, so it's closer. I picked Amy's for Sunday lunch because I really wanted some donuts. They look really good on the web page.

I've heard AF is really family friendly. Well, I thought the staff at Amy's did a great job of making a family with three young children comfortable. They moved some tables around us to give a little extra space and gladly cleaned up the water I spilled trying to keep my acrobatic daughter from falling out her chair. My kids usually behave fairly well in restaurants, but I'm usually a little nervous going into a crowed urban restaurant because I assume they'd rather not have young kids there. I feel like my kids need to be near perfect. Well, they didn't make me feel that way at all.

I think of all the restaurants in DC, 2 Amys is the LAST place you need to worry about misbehaved children. Generally, my boy is very well behaved, but sometimes when we're there, he completely melts down, but due to the noise of the restaurant, no one ever hears him.

I've had two pizzas since the regime change and mine have had no change.

The Margherita I had two Saturdays ago was crispier, exactly the way I like it...personally I don't like the crust as much when the it's soft and floppy...but all one has to do to guarantee that is to ask their server to tell the kitchen to cook it a little longer than usual.

Desserts should be mentioned. Wow. Just wow. Honey madelines with homemade apple butter hit the spot. Prices were $8 per dessert.

I wonder if those are the madelines that Circle Bistro used to have...were there any Nutella pastry puffs on the menu? They had them at Taste of the Nation and I'm really hoping they'll have them on the menu. I'm really looking forward to trying this place!

A professional graphic artist would have included the big "Mario Puzo" too

+ =

I'm glad someone recognized the font

What's the appropriate attire for this thing?

I'm bringing two lady-friends with me... who'll crucify me if I don't advise them properly.

Hmm, I don't know if there's a dress code. I'm wearing what I wore to work today since I don't have time to change (Dress slacks and dress shirt) but I'll probably throw on a sport coat as well. Last I heard, my wife is wearing a nice dress with heels but that's probably changed three or four times since then.

Is anyone going that will not be acting as booth babe for Mr. Parrott? I'd love someone to roam with.

Amy and I will be there...

You should bring the kids in...just put them in 1 of those strappy kid carriers that hangs off your chest (or if they are big enough just let them walk)

Walk right up to the waitress and declare, "We want to sit upstairs and we will not take no for an answer."

That would be fun.

Heck, I might try it with my 2 kids (and they can be really annoying)

She can't say, "no". Its Cleveland park and the customer is always right.

meh.

I wonder how different the upstairs actually is. Like is it any different from the downstairs? Sorry I haven't been by in a little while so I don't know if the construction is done yet. Personally, I like sitting at the bar, even with my son in tow. -- stroller, car seat, backpack, whatever.

I was at the 2 Amys bar a couple weeks ago talking to a pretty reliable source that said there were no plans to make the upstairs adults only. I guess it's possible that they're out of the loop, but that's unlikely.

If they are making the upstairs space adults only, then I'll be a bit disappointed, especially if the bar downstairs will be decommissioned. I understand completely though. When it's crowded, I always feel bad for the people seated in the back by the bar with all the people waiting by the bar standing over them.

I've picked and eaten a berry from the tree at the corner of the parking lot. You know, the one with the threatening armed guard hectoring passersby? And call me an old-timer, but I longingly remember the halcyon days before they sealed off the pedestrian walkway to the side of the restaurant.

Sigh.

There's a triple-secret shortcut through the fence that I can show you from the parking lot to the restaurant.

Although it probably seems like it's Firefly and Corduroy and constant rotation, Rockweilers gather for happy hours in many venues, and they aren't always on Fridays. In the last few weeks some of the more well attended ones have been at Restaurant Kolumbia, Rays the Classics and Bebo, for instance. But yeah, Firefly and Corduroy seem to be favorite watering holes. And for good reason - they are both very welcoming and have terrific wine lists and great bar food. If anyone has other suggestions, please please post and let others know.

Amalah and I are about to head to Circle Bistro if anyone wants to join.

I might be up for a cocktail or three tonight.

I'll see your 3 and raise you to 5.

Where is the event?

hmm, Perhaps I should have included that little tidbit of info...It's at the National Press Club at 429 14th St. NW, WASHINGTON, DC.

Well, what was the consensus?

Here's the Wiktionary definition, with not-so-helpful notes on pronunciation.

I'm leaning towards JEER-oh.

I stopped by Reston Kabob today and picked up a gyro and quite honestly had to be the best thing I've eaten in a long time. Maybe I don't know a good gyro when I eat one, but this went way beyond the usual dried out pita stuffed with mystery meat that you get at most places. The meat was very well seasoned, juicy and tender. When I walked back into the office, the aroma instantly turned everyone's head. We then went on to have the usual discussion as to what the proper pronounciation of "gyro" is. Honestly, I had to reference answers.com which I believe has it wrong.

Amy and I are heading to 2 Amys shortly if anyone wants to join us...

I was being serious. I had no idea that they weren't designed to do that. Luckily both of our are long past the car seat age.

Do you have high chairs of any type?

No they don't - At least not that I know of, but I always carry one of these around with me and it works great.

Edited to add: Hmm, I like DanielK's seat better.

To those of you who post about food-related matters on other websites we ask that you honor this request on your sites and blogs as well. Thank you!

The smoked sturgeon wasn't there yesterday that I can remember. The anchovies might be the best I've ever tasted.

The small bites menu consisted of the following as far as I can remember last night:

Caponata Crostini

Smoked Scallop and Anchovy? Crostini

Smoked Sturgeon

Anchovies

Grilled Fennel

Octopus Salad

....

Argh! My mind is drawing a blank. There was a lot more than that and I'm usually better at recalling menus -- perhaps I need more coffee. There was definitely no rabbit or pork rillette, much to my chagrin.

Also on the specials was a fried zucchini crochette that was to die for. Special dessert was the vanilla panna cotta. And, I don't know if anyone else has tried the Burrata di Buffala, but it's by far the creamiest mozzarella I've ever had. They simply top it with olive oil and sea salt and I eat it straight up.

I'll second (or maybe third or fourth) the reheating comments. You can't reheat the fresh mozzarella. Once it cools after you melt it, you're out of luck.