Lydia R

I've felt the same way about Rodman's, but they don't seem to stock Pommery mustard anymore. Is there an alternate local source? Best price I've found on-line is at WorldsFood.

Third location in Old Town Alexandria? From today's Top Shelf blog:

For some reason, during a difficult commute in this morning [Freezing Fog?], my mind turned to HECOB. Although they're still under construction, they have a twitter account with photos of their new digs. Currently, this may be the best place for updates: www.twitter.com/HWoodEastCafe

Just got an update from Chef & Robin: Takeout Taxi delivery to Wheaton, Kensington & Silver Spring. [Link for abbreviated menu below logo on order sheet, delivery fees apply] http://takeouttaximd...THEGENERALSTORE [Too bad the photos on the order page are generic and not their food.] They'll be closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Yes, order at the counter, pick a table and your name/number is called when your order is ready. There are large windows and several kid-friendly arcade game machines.I went to the Kentlands location once this summer, after the posts above, and haven't found a great reason to return. OK pie with generous toppings and large subs. Website: http://giuseppispizza.net/frames/frames.html

Thanks to maypo's Chowhound post, the future MoCo site has been found in Gaithersburg's Kentlands area . Not sure how long the build-out from a previous beer/wine store [#26 in the map below] will take. This location will also be proximal to a Cold Stone Creamery.

Kimberly Munley, CIV tough stuff.

Kojo hosted Monica and Surfy Rahman [co-owner: the Indiques & Bombay Bistro] this afternoon. A great hour of radio.

The SF Michelin Guide was released yesterday complete with links to Open Table. Warm memories of a past birthday dinner at Cyrus. http://www.michelinguide.com/us/sf_stars_2010.html#

Thanks for the head's up Waitman. This morning, a Federal Holiday morning, I was heading into the office for "extra innings" and decided to try Ben's. The parking's free today and U Street was empty. Opening the door, I was hit by the jukebox's wall of Marley sound. Everyone was keeping the beat. Great vibe. OK food - on par with the dining facility here, but they're way cooler [even cooler than my past fav off-beat place - Scholl's Cafeteria].

Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden in Dogme 95 - so no Parisian café for you. Natural light OK and Edith Piaf only if she is actually there singing. I've had similar poor experiences [both food/drink and vibe] at Mayorga. From time to time, the tall tables by the windows were OK, but too random to be dependable. The location is much less accessible without the huge lot out back although I recently parked in the garage at the end of their alley for a peaceful, broiled Rockfish lunch at Crisfield's. Pretty much the core of downtown Silver Spring between Wayne Avenue and Colesville Road from 2nd Avenue to Cedar Street is covered by free WiFi. So, Panera [in the way, way back] across from RTC is a good place. To a lesser extent, I'd look to the Boca Raton downtown places like Lebanese Taverna, Moby Dick, Baja Fresh or the Wine/Sandwich bar behind it. When I'm in downtown SS, it's usually a luncheon escape from the office so, WiFi-wise, YMMV. FAQ: http://www.silverspr...fi.com/faq.html ETA: It's too bad Max's in Wheaton doesn't have WiFi

Attached is a scan of the Sichuan Pavilion's carryout menu. Interestingly, several of the unique dishes we enjoyed at a recent group meal are available on their weekday authentic chinese style lunch specials menu. They have an open and airy dining room with small window booths. Definitely worth many more visits. SichuanPavilionMenuSept2009.PDF

Yes, Seth Grimes [@TakomaSeth] also followed up with an article in the September 2009 edition of Voice [not online yet]. It's a painful read:

Some restaurant locations seem adept at plowing under the earnest efforts of well-meaning and talented tenants. One location is on the traffic circle intersection of Kentlands Boulevard & Main Street. Come and gone: Mirch Masala indian restaurant and Itoyanagi sushi and noodle. My usual +1 noticed Batik's recent addition to Kliman's "list" and suggested a whim. I'm game, but winced at the thought of seeing another cute puppy churned in that location. While only time will tell, doom may not be Batik's destiny. Its owners have been operating restaurants in DC for 20+ years. They started in 1988 with the Union Station food court Panda's Rice Bowl. Ten years later they added the full-service East Street Café to the station's mezzanine. Almost as importantly, Batik's owners also own the Kentlands building. They'd bought it as income property and felt, after a couple of churns, they'd do best by operating their own restaurant at the site. In his 7/28 chog, Todd Kliman's proffered this advice on ordering: Bernice August offered a good review in the 8/5 edition of the Gazette. Saturday evening we shared: Firecracker Shrimp: Four good sized shrimp with cilatro wrapped in a dumpling skin and fried. The fried cilantro makes it. Squash It! dumpling: Very smooth mix of sweet potato, squash, carrots and ginger - will order again Fried Lumpia: a bit soggy [in retrospect from sitting on wet romaine lettuce - not oily soggy] and accompanied by a sauce chock-full of minced garlic. This wasn't by favorite and it may be because I had visions of Corduroy's Ron Jeremy rolls dancing in my head. I'll order a Shanghai Roll next time All-American dumpling: It had a interesting filling of peppers and BBQ pork and was served with a sauce that had a mustard kick. Good once, but will explore more of the menu before reordering this dumpling. Chicken Pad Thai: Very light, fresh and tasty. We ordered it spicy and instead of being loaded with red chili flake, it had sliced long green peppers. Not entirely authentic, but was a very satisfying rendition. Accompanied by two iced teas [liquor license pending] the total was $40 pre-tip with about half the Pad Thai and a few of the All American Rolls making it into doggie bags. Overall, the small plates and light fare are great for summer dining and we also heard New Order on their playlist. I want to see how their "beautification" of the upstairs turns out because it'll seat an additional 40 diners and may be a good place for hosting smallish events. Batik_Menu_Aug2009.pdf Batik at Kentlands corner of Main St. and Kentlands Blvd (behind Whole Foods) 200 Main St., Gaithersburg, MD 301-869-8661 Monday - Friday: 11 am - 3 pm & 5 pm - 9 pm Saturday: 11:30 am - 9 pm Sunday: closed

Congratulations! After opening the distribution page, scroll to the bottom and several board favorites are among the locations: http://www.flavormags.com/distribution

I'll be in Vancouver later this month with side trips to Whistler, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain and Seattle. My Vancuver list includes Vij, Kirin (Dim Sum), Fuel, Bishop, Goyza King and Joe Fortes. I saw the Sushi article in the WaPo travel section and have a few places in mind. I've never been on their SkyTrain public tranist and a new line opens August 17th. The possiblity of easy transit opens up Richmond and several other dining options. Any favorites or additions to this list or suggestions for the CA side trips?

I'm generally familiar with the area, but hadn't gotten to Taste of Saigon more than a few times over the years. Midweek I was in the vicinity, but too early for lunch. Definitely will try to make it back during meal service. Here are some rainy day navigational photos of the street frontage, rear entrance and a view facing towards Rt 355 [pedestrians from the Rockville Metro Station should turn at the CVS and walk in behind the firestation]:

On a rainy day midweek I too happened to find myself in Rockville, but at 1030. So I clicked a few pics of Sichuan Pavilion and made is slowly north to the Shady Grove area just as China Jade opened. I had the lunch special Cumin Chicken and Hot & Sour Soup which was filling enough to provide leftovers for lunch yesterday. Very happy the HKP menu is in easier striking distance than Seven Corners. A photo of their storefront: A scan of the traditional menu: ChinaJadeMenu_Aug2009.pdf

[/url]The most trusted man in America. "And that's the way it is"

Today's Gazette newspaper has a review by Brian Patterson that is prompting me to make sure Max's is back on my lunch list. Brian Lewis' photograph is captioned: (Clockwise from bottom left) Middle Eastern salad plate; hot pastrami sandwich, hot corned beef sandwich, matzo ball soup, falafel and sauces. Center is schawarma, which is often served in pocket of pita bread.

Looks like they're trying to add some buzz: More information from the Nat's press release:

Here are a couple of snippets from the Hellburger thread: Yeah, he kept in the reference to the quick turning of the tables. Do we have a Rockwellian Sunday supper?

Too hot in the kitchen Sunday?

Looks like Oceanaire's Chapter 11 filing spared our two closest outposts [Downtown & Baltimore] and ten other cities. Not so fortunate: Cincinnati, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Seattle. http://www.bizjourna.../06/daily7.html

Today Red Porch had UFO, Dogfish 60 Minute, Woodchuck Amber Draft Cider and Blue Moon on draft. Maybe the Levy group is stepping away from the craft beers or just ran through more beer than expected during the Red Sox home stand. The Red Porch is missing between 10-15 bar chairs. Perhaps if they're found, the FOH will chill-out on trying to turn the high tables so quickly [esp during the Wimbledon Men's Final]. At least Scott Olsen is off the DL and pitching well. Nyjer Morgan is an energetic addition to the team.