Lydia R

As is Pesce. I suspect I opened up a can of worms with my Listrani's post; no need to list a compendium of who's serving Moorenko's, as I think they're doing a lot of wholesale to restaurants.

CNN's recent story about selling ice cream in the winter noted that Moorenko's wholesale restaurant and grocery business accounts for half of their off-season business. It's a treat to see a good local story on CNN, video on CNN's Website and a great reminder that Moorenko's is still there and "churning it out" even in the winter.

Anyone have a good source for buying Facing Heaven Chili Peppers? Mail order or some place some what close to the district...

that's right someone got a sichuan cookbook for Christmas

There are many Fuchsia Dunlop fans on Chowhound. Here's the most recent string that yields both a UK mail order source and a "grow your own" option. Grayelf is one of the major Chowhound posters in Vancouver, BC with well-chosen Asian cuisine recommendations.

Good luck and please share with the group.

Avocado, hummus, Smoothies with pulverized fruit, Fro Yo and "fortified" Eggnog.

If kitchen prep is a challenge: hark back to simpler times

Just walked in with my 2 kids and encountered about ten servers clustered at the host stand. They initially looked like they would seat us, but after a whispered conversation they told me 1/2 an hour wait.

Heather, thank you for posting this. It helped minimize my dismay at their host area performance yesterday afternoon and make it to a table. Really, a smile and eye contact instead of bored-face and elbow on the host stand as a chin rest would have been nice. The staff member twirling menus as though he was on a sidewalk with a "condo-closeout" arrow sign was not entertaining [could his energy been used to help turn tables?]. Yes, a manager was in the middle of this milieu and seemingly oblivious.

The table service and food were better than the initial contact would have boded.

All the Matchbox locations are closed today [Christmas Eve] and tomorrow. I hope the Rockville team settles in because it was a great space for a glass of wine, a late lunch and updating my gift acquisition strategy.

Looks like there's an immediate opening for a Wine Director:

VOLT in Frederick, MD is seeking a Wine Director. Looking for a team-oriented individual who aspires to excellence. Polished, refined, motivated and forward thinking are qualities which will define this person. Advanced Certification preferred but not required.

Closing on New Year's Eve and keeping their name (via GoG):

Rock Creek opened in March 2005; its sister restaurant, Rock Creek at Mazza Gallerie, closed in October 2009. The Bethesda location will host its last dinner on New Year's Eve. The $50, reservation-only farewell will hold true to the restaurant's concept of "mindful" (read: healthful) cuisine. Rock Creek's original chef and mastermind behind the good-for-you concept, Fred Przyborowski, will return to cook on the last night.

I'm sorry to see them close although I went to the Mazza location more often.

Any update on Seasons 52?

Gaithersburg's Kentlands Square is now the home of James and Evie Rodgers' new Wine and Lager store cum wine bar: Pinky and Pepé's Grape Escape. Most startling is the variety of wines available. Pinky takes pride in ordering directly from small producers and from the “special order” desk at MoCo liquor central. Sure, there's still generally available crowd pleasing wines – but I appreciate her effort.

Local wines are well represented: Horton Vineyard [got a bottle for easier reading], Black Ankle, Loew Vineyards and Linganore Wines are all at the beginning of the wine wall.

Every Friday, the eight bottle Enomatic changes its offerings (usually 4 white/4 red). Also on Fridays, there's a wine tasting from 5p to 8p with live music.

A photo of Pinky and the Enomatic from Sonya Burke's "Town Courier" article

There are several food options to accompay in-store sipping:

• In-house, they offer a variety of plates: Meat (salami & crackers - $10), Cheese (variety & crackers - $12), Olives & Crackers $8, Nuts ($?) and a large Combo of everything ($?). [sorry, don't remember some prices]
  
• HaKuBa Sushi will deliver to the Grape Escape ($20 minimum food order). Carry-in food from the nearby Coalfire is also welcome.
  

The store is dog-friendly with free, non-alcoholic doggie beverage [water bowl] service.

Pinky and Pepé's Grape Escape is located between the Giant Food Store and K-Mart:

MSG (P) Mark Morgan - 'cuz I'm not sure which is more remarkable: pastry or 6 Ranger deployments in 10 years.

I was surprised to see co-owner Nisha Sidhu and executive chef Santosh Tiptur’s names in the closing credits of the new movie “Today’s Special” [opening today]. I was at a screening earlier in the week for this film adaptation of a one-man play and stayed to see the music credits. Their restaurant’s name was compressed to “Cocosala`” and it took a minute blink back to this restaurant. They are credited as "consultants" to the film.

Movie-wise, I agree with Roger Ebert and found the movie enjoyable with flashes of food porn and a well-traveled plot.

Now I just need to make my first visit to Co Co Sala and see what they're serving as Today's Special.

According to today's email, they're closed this Thursday & Friday:

[quote name='The General Store email' date='09 NOV 2010'

]-----Original Message-----

From: thegnrlstore

To: thegnrlstore

Sent: Tue, Nov 9, 2010 3:44 pm

Subject: Closed Thursday and Friday

Howdy Folks,

This Sunday's Dinner will be Veal Manicotti with Crimini/Parmesan Cream Sauce.

We have a special event coming up Thursday and Friday so please note we will be closed those two days.

See you soon,

Chef & Robin

The General Store

6 Post Office Road

Silver Spring, MD 20910

301/562-8787

www.grabarootngrowl.com

www.myspace.com/thebluebuilding

www.facebook.com/thebluebuilding

www.twitter.com/6PostOffice

wtop reported today that the new Wegmans carries over 100 different kinds of cola. I guess that means a road trip is in order.

It's been four years, five months since the original Press Release announcing the new Wegmans in Landover's Woodmoore Towne Center.

The store opened yesterday with the kind assistance of the Prince George's and City of Glenarden Police. The traffic was similar to a major Post Office collecting April 15th Tax Returns on the street curbs [back in the day].

How do I know? I was there in the afternoon hoping that Redskins fans would be at home during the away game. No, there aren't enough Redskins fans to limit the traffic. Fox 5's interview with Jack Johnson, the Prince George's County Executive, included his statement that this Wegmans opening was bigger than the Redskins winning the Super Bowl.

My experience: Exited the 495 inner loop at 17A and got in the left lane. Turned left at the traffic light after passing over the Beltway [with serious police assistance]. Followed the traffic into the development and gasped in horror realizing there's also a new COSTCO with a contiguous parking lot. Sighed a litle because the COSTCO's gas station is open [$2.639/Regular & $2.889/Premium], but the actual COSTCO doesn't open until Tuesday the 26th.

The store was overrun, but the staff was uniformly pleasant and helpful. Special shout out to the senior staffer distributing the complimentary Meat Cooking Guide. I will keep it in my kitchen forever too.

Oh well, another chapter in the Gifford's saga. Interestingly, this article by Michael S. Rosenwald made the front page of today's Washington Post.

A formal allegation of the substitution - along with a photo of Hood ice cream tubs in a Gifford's store - is included in a breach of contract lawsuit Lieberman's ownership group filed this summer against Luke Cooper, the 34-year-old Baltimore investor who last winter took control of all four Gifford's shops from Rockville to downtown Washington. In recent days, all of the Gifford's stores have closed, marking what many fear is the end of the storied chain.

Even competitors are stunned. "Gifford's is the name you could never really compete with around here," said Susan Soorenko, owner of Moorenko's Ice Cream Cafe in Silver Spring. "It's what everybody around here grew up with. It's amazing to see what's happening now."

Did the Maryland-model inspire this Congressional bill?

Proposed Law Would Limit Interstate Wine Shipping

<snip>

Yet as welcome as these lifelines are, they may be threatened by a bill introduced earlier this year before the House of Representatives, the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2010, or H.R. 5034, which has the potential to severely restrict direct interstate shipping of wine by retailers. Direct sales from wineries could be threatened, too, although the current language of the bill appears to focus more directly on retailers.

Proponents, including beer and wine wholesalers, say that that is not the intention of the bill, which would make it far more difficult for wineries and retailers to challenge state laws in the federal courts. Instead, they say, it would merely reaffirm the authority of the states to regulate alcohol sales, and diminish the authority of federal courts, which they say have been confusing and inconsistent. They also suggest that they are trying to prevent minors from illegally obtaining alcohol.

Opponents, however, including wine and beer producers, retail shops and importers, assert that states already have ample regulatory authority. They say the bill is meant to protect beer and wine wholesalers, who have been cut out of the loop by the rise of direct sales. Wholesalers have set their well-financed lobby to work for the bill and have liberally doled out campaign contributions to supporters.

The October edition of Fast Company magazine focuses on design. The article, Making Over McDonald's, by Ben Paynter details McDonald's new tactics:

Inside the $2.4 billion plan to change the way you think about the most iconic restaurant on the planet.

<snip>

Next year, McDonald's will launch its first total makeover campaign since the Carter administration, allocating $2.4 billion to redo at least 400 domestic outposts, refurbish 1,600 restaurants abroad, and build another 1,000.

<snip>

Over the past two years, Weil has tested modern renovations throughout the United States, in such varied locales as Manhattan, Los Angeles, and Kearney, Missouri. In July, the company reported a 6% to 7% sales jump at U.S. stores that had been redesigned.

Last month I detoured to Beacon and spent a quiet 9/11 morning at Dia:Beacon and the Beacon Yankee Clipper Diner. The diner filled with post-memorial participants including dress-uniformed firefighters and the obviously close-knit residents.

This weekend, the Post's Travel Section had a write-up of Beacon including its artsy-renaissance following a difficult couple of decades. Impulsive Traveler author Kristen Hinman's deets here.

Next time, I'll definitely checkout Pete Seeger's weeknight cruises on the good sloop Woody Guthrie.

Loui See Ling was the owner of the Shanghai Restaurant on Fidler Lane in Silver Spring [where Cubanos is now] and seen in this family photo provided to the Washington Post.

Mr Ling's obituary noted that the elders in his Canton hometown pooled their money and sent him to start a business in America. He died on September 15th at the age of 102.

The obituary, written by T. Rees Shapiro, also chronicles the market-driven evolution of the restaurant's cuisine over its 50 years in business.

Really?

Weren't both Fenty and Gray at the ribbon cutting?

Video from TimeOut NY

I hadn't seen the video above before my first visit. Had to go back last night for the Greenpointer.

Also got a slice of the "Fire Up the Delboy!" Their Delboy [Fior di Latte, Italian Tomatoes, Sopressata Picante and Parmigiano Reggiano] with a drizzle of Mike's Spicy Honey. The honey looks like chili oil in the drizzle bottle and hits first with the sweet before the burn sets in. A dessert ice cream can also be topped with this honey.

I'm sure, somewhere in the web, there is notification that Sally's Apizza is "on vacation" starting on Sept 6th and returning on the 28th. Also, because it was my first visit, I didn't see the subtle signs of closure (e.g., chained parking lot, little sign in the window, etc.). So, the consolation prize was a visit down the block to Frank Pepe's place. I was focused on Sally's because I'd eaten at the Yonkers Pepe earlier this trip.

In New Haven, had the famed White Clam pizza. I know it's on many pizza fans "bucket list" and I enjoyed the briny clams, garlic and cracked black pepper. Will have to try for Sally's again on another trip.

Pepe's Yonkers location is larger inside that the "original" and has the same green ceiling and white "picket fence" booths labeled with house numbers I had the Mozz, Sausage and roasted red peppers. Very crispy crust and good flavor. Easy parking and no drama. I was happy to see that a suburban clientele was fine with the char...

[Happy this is my 500th post]

Don't see any mention of Paulie Gee's on the board. This place was opened in March by Paul Gianonne, a backyard oven enthusist [early work pictured here] who when full bore. It's about two blocks from Brooklyn's Greenpoint G-line Subway station -> pick the corner with the Duane Reed and walk away from the intersection on Greenpoint Avenue. Dinner only, Tuesday through Sunday.

From the Slice.SeriousEats.com site:

The owner, pictured above, works the dining room and is interested in coming to DC to try Two Amys. I told him to definitely try Pizzeria Orso too.

Video from TimeOut NY

They've recently received their liquor license and business has picked up, but was fairly calm at 6p. The owner said that it picks up later because the neighborhood "needs to drink" and probably eat great pizza.

It's chewy, blistered and very tasty. I had the Sweet Regina from the specials menu: Fior di Latte, Italian Tomatoes, Pecorino Romano, Olive Oil, Fresh Basil and Fennel Sausage.

I think there are some posts somewhere about which other places he hit in town ... let us know if those episodes show up.

Guy visited G-Spot on his swing through the area. The air dates for their episode changed to next week. From Chef & Robin's recent email:

One last reminder that our episode of "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" will be airing this coming Monday, September 13th, at 10:00 pm. The title of our episode is "Timeless", and there will be repeat showings on September 14th at 1:00 am, and September 24th at 9:00 pm.

In case that guy working your table next week looks a little familiar...

But Wabeck could also help Meshelle and Cathal Armstrong launch their own wine label, if the owners decide to move forward with that plan. They’ve been flirting with the notion of working with a Virginia winery to produce a house label for Restaurant Eve.

Really, I thought it might have been mentioned here.

Today's WSJ had a not particularly news worthy article by Miriam Gottfried about the influences of the locavore lifestyle on food styling for book/magazine photo layouts:

Whether for editorial or advertising purposes, the point of making natural food look appealing is to get people to buy the product, go out to eat or make a recipe. Brian Wansink, director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University, says the effectiveness of the natural trend lies in its ability to invite the viewer in. "It might enable us more to put ourselves in the picture," he says.

There are some interesting "then and now" photos from Lou Manna in the slideshow.

Tim Carman seems to be impressed too.

Holy bubbles and char:

Sorry, no Washington City Paper photo credit for this salsiccia pizza.

Tim Carman's review

A more favorable review from [not Brian Patterson] the Gazette:

Coal-fired pizza, a food trend that is enjoying a small resurgence, has arrived in Gaithersburg to a warm welcome.

<snip>

Who could ask for anything more?