squidsdc

Wednesday at work:

Coworker: Hey Terri--you would know....my parents are coming downtown to the Kennedy Center and asked me to look for a place to have dinner?

Squids: I know just the place!

Coworker, to his Dad: Dad, you've got to go to this new place--you'll love it.

CWD: Great--what else you got?

CW: No, Dad, you don't understand. This is where you need to go.

CWD: But what about these coupons I've got...Madhatter? Is that any good?

CW: NOOOOOOO. You are going to go to Notti Bianche! The menu looks great, and it is reasonably priced.

The follow-up conversation, the parents LOVED it! Now just because they asked about Madhatter doesn't necessarily describe their tastes, just that they like to use coupons and give their son a hard time. But as I understand it, they can be difficult to please. They enjoyed it immensely, and I will get details to support of what they ordered, etc. and will post them as soon as said co-worker gets the scoop...

Naan and Beyond is also on L Street at 16th--if they have it at the Shops, you should try the Chicken Tikka. MMMMHHHHH tastay!

I was surprised that the guy who wanted a pub in Silver Spring wasn't told to check out the Quarryhouse. 

...or down the road to the RMP (Royal Mile Pub)

A co-worker and I ran up to Eli's last Wednesday for a quick take-out. Their carry-out menus aren't printed yet, but we were able to order from the main menu. Service, yes it was an issue, especially at 2 in the afternoon when it shouldn't have been an issue. Co-worker got the NYer and enjoyed it, I was eating out for dinner that night so only got the shoestring fries. (Which, BTW, were quite good, even after a walk of a few blocks--)

Not sure I'll be back, unless they stop serving the "attitude" as a complementary side-dish

Hopefully all the restaurants in Wheaton will be able to stick it out long enough to see the redevelopment bring them more business...yesterday's Gazette front page article sounds like many are having a hard time bringing business in. (Including Marchone's--I hadn't realized they just celebrated their 50 yr anniversary!)

Last night's power outage kept us from eating at Christina's with my parents. Ouch, you could see the pain on the owner's face as he watched us driving away since he told us they had no power. We ventured to the old standby, Ferdinand's, where everyone else seemed to have congregated as well since their homes were out of power. They had let a few servers go home when the storm hit, as they were "dead"--little did they know that an hour or so later they would have a full bar and house. They handled the situation quite well; they were hustling and there was a common joviality amongst the guests. Mr. Squids and I both are not "fans" in that we generally have OK meals and so so service, but it is the "go to" restaurant for both our families. However, my soft shell crabs were surprisingly quite good last night, and his Roast Chicken was moist and delicious. We both enjoyed our meals more than we have in many years, and the service was also probably the best we've had as well!

The bar was packed last night with Rockweilers, that's why you couldn't find a seat.  CrescentFresh and spouse, Jared Slipp and spouse.  New cheeses from Artisanal.  I'll let the cheese guru CrescentFresh give the blow by blow on the cheese.  Definitely an upgrade from the prior cheese regime.

...so much for the toast "to Rocks" as an identifier!

i'll just have to ape everyone else, my favourite gift was my dark blue kitchenaid 5 qt. mixer. while i got the mixer for my birthday a year ago, i recently got married and put all my wildest kitchen dreams on the registration. . .got all the le crueset, but none of the knives. so, looks like i'll have to treat myself to the wusthof set i've been eyeing.

In many cultures it is bad luck to give knives as a wedding present, and I know the tradition, superstition, or whatever you want to call it has kept me from gifting them!

Tuesdays at Bohemian Caverns

I've been to this at least one Tuesday of my life.  It's a nice surprise if you can get there without sweating too much.

The new metro "circulator" crosstown bus may be of some help in getting one to a closer metro, as the Cavern is on the Green Line---and it's only $1.

Omaha strip steaks (xmas gift) and fresh corn that was soooo super sweet! Joe, you need to go to the stand on Georgia Ave just after RT. 28 and you will not be disappointed

If you ever venture out to farms in MD for pick your own fruits and veggies, I like Homestead Farms for strawberries, blackberries, tart cherries, currants, apples, and peaches and Butler's Orchard for blueberries, blackberries, apples, etc. Butler's doesn't have peaches. Larriland Farm also has peaches (and other fruits and veggies) but I've only been there for blueberries.

Doesn't Butlers do strawberries anymore? We used to go every summer to pick crates and crates of strawberries--we'd o.d. on the stuff (one for me, one for the box... ) We had frozen berries all year long! I personally think I ate too many, since I get a bit itchy when I eat them these days

A belated thanks to the Chef and to Derek for taking such good care of me Tuesday Don't forget for those who work downtown, Firefly is a great spot for lunch, too. I started with an heirloom tomato salad, while co-worker had the field greens with roasted pear-sherry vinaigrette, parsley and walnuts. Next was the Tuna tataki for my co-worker, and the PEI mussels with whole grain mustard and cream for me. I'm still tasting those mussels-I've never had them in a cream sauce before, and I've sworn off eating for the rest of the week since I had to sop up as much sauce as I could with the bread...

I could have rolled out of there after that, but my coworker insisted on dessert. She had the mango sorbet, and I the espresso pound cake. (She twisted my arm, and maybe it was the wine, although, I barely remember what I ordered--I think it was the Cava) Needless to say there wasn't much conversation during the meal, as we both oohed and mmmmhhhd and swore we had to get out to lunch more often.

DanActive--same thing I have evey morning...original flavor's the best. Kinda reminds me of a Lassi

(boring, I know--but sometimes I'll have two if my blood sugar is real low!)

My Dad likes to go every year for his Bday, but it has to be on a Thursday 'cuz that's the only day they serve goat. (at least in Bethesda) From what I understand, the rest of the menu is pretty much run of the mill. Has anyone else tried the goat?

While the question was answered why most of us don't see the images Nadya was posting, why are some able to see them? (I've not been one of the ones who could see them, and thought it had something to do with my computer)

I'm swamped with end of quarter crap, and the office has already closed! I will be there---as soon as I can get out and am soooo looking forward to it!

Since I've not been to the FF HH yet, if I can get out early tomorrow I may just hop over there. Anywhere else would have to be close to my office downtown, so I probably won't be seeing any DR.com-ers. So have a safe and happy July 4th!

I'm not sure if I understand correctly, but if you are open to doing the basket on your own, I would compromise the gourmet and scarfy yum-yum by choosing a theme, where the kids could participate in the makings, instead of a bunch of treats with nothing to tie them together. For instance, make-your-own pizza kits, with naan or pitas, a few different sauces, pepperoni, and a red & white checked tablecloth, etc. Sparkling fruit juice is nice for the kids, and a bottle of wine for the parents. Or the fixin's to make a fun breakfast with pancake mix, blueberries, cookie cutters to pour the batter in to make shapes, etc. Then some nice coffee for the parents, and gourmet (or not) chocolate for chocolate milk for the kids. You can get fun accessories to complement the food at places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls or even better, HomeGoods. You may even find an odd shaped waffle maker or something else that will inspire you. Or pop into a Bill-Sonoma to see what they've put together on a display for more ideas...

The theme of course all depends on the age of the kids, and the reason behind the gift. How about movie night? A couple of tapes or DVD's, or a gift card to Blockbuster, along with a few types of popcorn (gourmet or not) some other movie-type candy snacks (you can get different candies at the bulk candy sections of the grocery store) and one of those stovetop or microwave popcorn poppers. Again, a trip to Homegoods and what you find may just inspire you.

Just today a co-worker told me he went to Georgia Brown's this weekend and enjoyed it greatly...I recall reading recently that there has been a chef change, but haven't heard that anyone has gone there until today.

According to this link the market is at 3219 O St. NW. Is that where it was last year?

Berries are here

I have black raspberries, blueberries and a ton of strawberries awaiting me in my fridge. Hopefully the strawberries will make into a puree to freeze for the winter.

The other exciting find, which I didn't splurge on, were baby artichokes. They looked gorgeous, nice and tight. The same stand had purple cauliflower, as well as regular cauliflower. It's roasting time.

Which market had the baby artichokes? Those are so hard to find in the local stores in my area--we had to go shopping at Wegmans in Fairfax yesterday to get some! (and a few other things as well, of course)

I did get to SS market Sat morn, albeit late. Firefly was out of the ash covered chevre cheese I tasted and then yearned for, so I bought the blue for the time being. Not a substitue, just when comparing the two, the blue fades in the background. By itself, all I can say is HMMMMMMMMM.

I also bought baby new potatoes, fresh beets, mozzerella, basil and some cookies that were out of this world! They were an aside at the stand that was selling their breads, and I bought them to appease my hubby who patiently waited while I strolled about. But ...I will go back just to seek these out. Snicker Doodles, that taste like the ones my mom used to bake, and Molasses cookies like I've never had before. Who goes to a farmer's market and expects to get cookies?!

Has anyone been to the new Silver Spring Fresh Farm Market yet?

The lunch grill is getting extremely popular.  Hillvalley and I got there roughly at 11:50 and the line was already out the door of the Laboratorio.  By the time we made the turn, the end of the line was near the front door and the staff was in the process of reorienting the line so that it went towards the patio, instead of through the middle of the restaurant.  When we went out to the patio to eat our pork shoulder sandwiches (mine with red and green sauce and provolone) the line was out the back door and people were still arriving.  When we left, Squids was at  the back of the line.  I hope there was some food left by the time she got to the counter.

Morel of the story: from now on get there before they open .

Edited to add:  Despite the long line, Chef Donna was there doing his thing and the quality of the lunch has not declined.

Yes, even tho' the line was long, we probably only spent 20 minutes (which flew by) waiting. By the time we got our food, the line was quite short as they had cut it off. That would be the worst...standing there in line, smelling the wonderful aromas...garlic...chargrill...bread...and then having to leave because they ran out of food! (I've been there when they've run out of cannoli before, but fortunately

today I got two--one for me, and one for my coworker (it was his bday today)

Oh BTW, I've been there on grey, rainy days when no one was in line and spoke with the Chef, and he showed me the whole pork, pre-sliced. Indeed the garlic is embedded (love that word!) all throughout--as well it should be

Wow, good call, Squids!

Went to Couscous Cafe today for lunch, and was very glad I did. Went with the lamb brochette, which turned out to be two big lamb kebabs (Where I thought brochette was a ground meat product, but no matter), which were tender, juicy, and flavourful, served on a bed of golden, perfectly cooked rice. I also had two shining examples of baklava, something I've had a historical near-addiction to.

The man at the counter (Possibly Aziz...I should have asked) was very nice, and gave me mint iced tea while I was waiting for my food. When was the last time anybody has ever done that?? A very nice gesture, and much appreciated in the hot afternoon, and what's more, it was repeated on the way out!

This is definitely going to be a regular lunch spot for me from now on.

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Glad to hear you liked it Let me know when you'll be by and I'll meet you there!

I've been here a few times, and can't get enough of the lamb brochette. Others in my office have sampled other items from the menu and have been pleased as well. The brewed tea with fresh mint is quite refreshing (especially as we get into the HHH's of DC summer )

Even tho' it's just around the corner from my office, I hadn't tried it until Tom mentioned it in a weekly dish in March. I keep meaning to sample the breakfast items, but as of yet have not had the opporunity. Since then, this is a newfound gem, with reasonable prices. (And it's only one block east from "the grill" so a good place to stop by when the grill is not fired up, and one block west as an alternate to Kostas' Greek Deli)

click

And the co-owner Aziz is a pleasure--he's often behind the register, and on a day like yesterday, was working as a server taking orders from a large party that took up over half the restaurant! I usuallly get take-out, but a coworker and I decided to dine there for a change, and since he had been tied up with the large party, he handed me a tea "to-go" since he hadn't had time to check to see if I needed a refill at our table. I hadn't needed one, and don't even expect "table" service in this type of place. (small downtown cafe w/ tables to bring your food over and "eat-in") I highly recommend this place and would love to see it stick around.

you beat me to it!

So despite asking and getting a less-than-welcoming response I should take my kids there anyway?    I am puzzled...aren't parents that do things like that generally called clueless by folks on food boards?

Heather, I think you've been around here and eg enough for me to ascertain that you are a very conscientous individual. I don't believe you could ever be one of the "clueless parents" no matter what you did. And that is one of the reasons why you made the decision to not try CK; I believe that you would NOT want to be viewed as one of the clueless ones by having a difficult situation in a restaurant. Sometimes too much information is a bad thing as we all make decisions based on the information we receive from others...you may decide to never try CK because of your own reasons, but I do feel it is important, when presented with information that may support a different decision, that one should "see for themselves." Unfortunately, this discussion has singled out and "targeted" you, so to speak, because it brings forth a sore point that both sides want to defend. But I also feel this has become more about defending one's position rather than the actual situation it is.

edited for misspelling!