Lydia R

byov?  

The downside of cable TV is the commercials for regional food/stores that don't exist locally. Sometimes, like Hardee's, the reality falls short of the expectation.

Every now and then, I wonder what Sonic Drive-In is like. I blame the commercials.

Imagine my brakepads' surprise when I saw the Sonic signs on the road heading out to the Delaware beaches this weekend. It's at the intersection where you make the left turn to continue on Rt 404 where it joins Rt 13 (business 404). There's already a big McDonalds at the corner. What a tease. The signs are up, but the main building's still underconstruction!

Who's been to Sonic and is it worth watching out for next time I head beachward?

The General Assembly made progess this session. Here's an update on an upthread issue relating to small wineries in Friday's Washington Business Journal:

Maryland governor to sign wine legislation

Washington Business Journal - 2:08 PM EDT Fridayby Julekha Dash Contributing Writer

Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich will sign a bill that allows small wineries to sell their wines directly to retail stores and restaurants in the state.

The emergency legislation was drafted in response to the state comptroller's administrative ruling in February that declared wineries must stop delivering directly to restaurants and retailers as of June 1.

Henry P. Fawell, a spokesman for the Republican governor, said Friday Ehrlich will sign the legislation.

The governor believes it is "the appropriate solution to preserving the wine industry in Maryland," Fawell sats.

Senate Bill 812 pitted the state's wineries against wholesalers until last week, when a compromise was reached and the bill was amended. The change allowed wineries that produce up to 27,500 gallons of wine -- rather than 40,000 gallons -- to distribute directly to restaurants without going through a wholesaler.

The comptroller's administrative ruling followed a lawsuit against the state, alleging that Maryland's sales laws, which allow in-state wineries to sell directly to retailers and restaurants while preventing out-of-state wineries from doing so, violates the U.S. Constitution.

All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

Thought this might be a good topic to update.

This week's Wall Street Journal wine column is on food and wine pairings while on vacation - specifically cruising. Y'all might enjoy seeing how the columnists' assistant researches restaurants...

TASTINGS

By DOROTHY J. GAITER AND JOHN BRECHER

Hidden Treasures in Ports of Call

How to Include Fine Wines On Your Cruise Itinerary; Defining a 'Dumb Period'

April 14, 2006

<snip>

Setting an Agenda

Having a great wine experience during a brief stop on a cruise might require some homework. This is how our assistant, Melanie Grayce West, narrowed the possibilities for us before our trip.

eGullet.com is a great site for first-hand foodie information, restaurant reviews and discussion. The site is organized by message boards where registered members can write in to share and read information. I found a message board called "The Caribbean, USVI and West Indies," where people posted detailed results of their eating adventures. eGullet was also the most navigable and straightforward of the sites I visited.

Next, I visited my second-favorite foodie site, Chowhound.com, and searched in the "International" message board to find recommendations. This site provides a vast amount of information over a long period of time, but the way it's categorized makes it a bit difficult to find what you're looking for. To search through the posts quickly, use the screen search find function (control "F") and enter your keyword. This will lead you faster to the entries you want, but it will still take patience and time to get the right information.

Finally, the Web site cruisecritic.com has a message board called "Cruise Foodies." The opinions on this message board were not as detailed as those on eGullet or Chowhound, but I did notice long lists of what to expect with cruise food and a few recipe swaps. So if you have a meal onboard and want the recipe later, or you want a sense of what you might be eating on your cruise (one recent post: "I love gourmet food -- will I hate cruising?") then this is a great site to browse.

The key to searching this way is to keep a list of restaurants that are consistently mentioned. If I noticed that a restaurant had positive reviews on message boards going back several years, I knew it was probably a safe bet. Those restaurants made it to the short list. After I developed that short list, I Googled the restaurant's name to see if I could find a main Web site, pictures, other published reviews, or a more detailed menu. Based on the results of a broad Google search, I then developed a final list.

Copyright © 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Today's Road Trip in the Washington Post Sunday Source:

MoCo's Chinatown

I've been convinced to go to Addie's this weekend.

Anyone been recently? Are the upthread comments still current or has Addie's gotten back on track?

From today's eNewsletter: CK is taking RESERVATIONS for Easter Brunch (no dinner being served that day) see seating times below. Also, they'll be closed on Mother's Day. Michael Landrum take note - a "reservations on superspecial days policy" may help conserve fighting strength.

Has anyone had the Asparagus, Goat Cheese & Lamb Chop on the spring menu?

Is it only on the dinner menu?

Hey folks,

March madness has come and gone and tourists are filling the Tidal Basin.  We all know that means its time for Chef's Spring Menu.

She's got a meatloaf that even Moses would love.  Crayfish cakes, fried squid, chicken a la king, a wild new savory tart.  Asparagus, goat cheese, and lamb chops are just some of the great food featured this season.

Come in and get a load of this new menu and our new fascinating selection of beer and wine and you'll wish they'd add that hour back to the clock to give you more time to enjoy Spring time at Colorado Kitchen.

Easter is just a few days away so make your reservations NOW.  We'll be taking reservations for Easter Sunday only.  Seatings will be limited so please plan ahead and be sure and call us to cancel should your plans change.  You'll be able to join us with your party of no more than 6 at 11, 11:30, 1, 1:30, 3 and finally at 3:30.  We won't be serving dinner that night.  Also we will not be open for Mother's Day this year.

See you soon,

Chef & Robin

Colorado Kitchen

5515 Colorado Ave. NW at 14th and Kennedy Streets

Wed-Sat 5pm - 10pm, Sun 5pm - 9pm

Fri lunch 11:30 - 2:30, Sat & Sun brunch 11 - 2:30

202/545-8280

www.coloradokitchen.biz

We had to remind the waiter that we still had dishes coming.   Next time, we will need to hang onto our order sheet so we can check things off as they arrive.

Did any of Sunday's diners see the manager, Jerry? If not, he may have been our missing key player. Jerry probably expedites the orders in / food out of the kitchen when the tempo rises...

James_Glucksman_Translation_040206.pdf

We were extremely forgotten.  Two and a half hours into our dinner, we still had not received all of our food, and it was time to go. 

But, the company was delightful!

Mr. Yao was alone in the banquet room (after more than an hour got a few water runs from the busman - we never saw Jerry). The banquet room has six-ten tops. Our two tables were seated followed by three more full tables and a half-filled table. The first non-DR 10-top, seated about a 6:45, left without receiving any food and the two other ten-tops were only getting a few dishes by the time we departed. They didn't know how much time we'd invested before getting served and may have been miffed. We were without tea or our first dish for an hour after placing our order. I didn't see the traffic level in the main room, but there was a huge (multiple chafing dish) carryout order on one of the side tables when we arrived, so the kitchen was smokin'.

Great group at both of our tables - really the saving grace of the evening. Oh, and the spareribs. We also didn't have JamesG/PandaH to liaison for us. I hadn't realized, until last night, how distracting it is to wonder whether the balance of your order was lost or if the other (more aggressive) table got them by mistake.

These service issues are in stark contrast to attentive treatment we received on a ghost-town Thursday 3/16 lunch. I hope they'll get fully staffed and able to handle the demand generated from early press and word-of-mouth.

I'll throw out a tentative date for New Fortune - 22 April at noon. If Sunday the 23rd is better for the critical mass we can do that instead, but my +1 would like to attend and he works on Sundays.

It looks like we're proposing:

HEOTB - Saturday 15 April (in Wheaton)

Lucky Three - Saturday 22 April (in Reston)

Jesse Wong's Hong Kong - TBD? (Columbia Waterfront)

New Fortune - TBD??? (North Rockville/Gaithersburg)

Ray's The Steaks will be open Saturday, April 1. 

I respected your privacy Michael and kept walking... good luck with your new format. No, I don't feel duped - it got me to your place for the first time (and Guajillo was the first time today too).

she is pretty short on cultural prejudices about what is edible. 

PollyG's daughter has been an eager participant in some of my most memorable Chowmeals; including last year's Thai Smackdown series. DanielK's (pictured in his avatar) are regulars at the current Dim Sum Sunday series.

P.S. Don't bet against the pup, DanielK will clean up...

I still miss the original Le Gaulois on Pennsylvania Avenue. There was a time in the mid-70s when it was my favorite restaurant in the whole world. I ate at its reincarnation in Alexandria in the early to mid 90s and boy it wasn't the same.

An amenity of my building was that its front door was a straight shot across Pennsylvania Ave from Mr. Henry's Washington Circle. No, their food isn't the most vivid thing I remember about the place.

Sadly, in today's Washington Post is the obit for Henry Yaffe, the owner of the Mr. Henry's saloons. The obit noted that the "chain" stretched at one time through the Washington area.

Bring back the Gold Rush Sandwhich!

Sometimes a summer drive up to Frederick (where Roy's never died) during the "dark Hardee's days" hit the spot -- warm weather demands Strawberry Shortcakes (and a holster of fries).

A 2003 Washington Business Journal article gives a good history of the father and sons behind this resurgence of the Roy Rogers brand.

Luckily none were close my high school ... we had Hamburger Hamlet.

About a month ago, WSJ had an article also about restaurants sourcing protein that made me think of Michael Landrum. It began:

Restaurants

Why Some Chefs Are Having a Cow

Enough with heirloom veggies. Now restaurateurs are breeding their own meat

By KATY MCLAUGHLIN

February 25, 2006; Page P1

For chefs, getting their hands on the best meat and poultry is one of the biggest challenges, one that pits them against the seasons and competing restaurants. But David Burke, who is opening a steakhouse in Chicago next month, has figured out a way to control his fate: He's breeding his own livestock.

Copyright © 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Looking forward to the "no steak left behind" dinner tonight.

Edited to: correct for pre-RTS dinner giddiness

There is also is a a chart listing the top 50 sushi restaurnts in the US, which includes a handful from the DC area.

Yup, the WSJ is a great paper and it reaches far beyond the assumed boundries of their "Wall Street" beat. In addition to Food/Wine coverage, there are several columns written by my personal hero, Walter Mossberg, a DC-based technology writer (never met, but he's saved me money and my tech-sanity).

So much for lost productivity due to the NCAA games...

Edited after winners list was posted: This will be my first time at Ray's!

the texture is indeed pretty close to liver, but combined with some good smoky bacon it can be delicious. 

My +1 got major points for trusting that we could find the restaurant given the rural darkness and missing street signs (no GPS). He was rewarded with rockfish that was perfectly broiled. We drove back the next morning, just to make sure we could find it again and to see the surrounding countryside.

Thanks to Joe H, Crackers & JohnB for recommending the restaurant last October -- I hadn't forgotten. Please note the Suicide Bridge is still on winter hours (only open Thursday - Sunday).

ETA: links and better narrative structure.

Pastafarian???  I LOVE it!    

== as ==

Ol’Blue Eyes is to Pastafarians

It's just a neat neighborhood place - hopefully it'll outlast many of the chains moving into downtown Silver Spring.

Please note that I only suggested the place - the party organizers made the split checks request.

Pity that none of the places on the lake at Rio/Washingtonian have food worth the calories. 

We get a strong margarita, chips & guac at Rio Grande and let the kids watch the ducks.

I first found Vicino's this summer after being disappointed by a closed-for-lunch Jackie's (below).

Until last week I was unaware of their Jazz Cellar and its use as a party/meeting room. They have an almost full-basement decorated as the circa 1955 rumpus room of the neatest jazz-loving Italian-American dad in your neighborhood. It's complete with jazz posters, strung holiday lights and Pastafarian shrines to Ol' Blue Eyes. Compared to the plastic-kitsch of Jackie's, this is genuine kitsch-y kitsch.

Last week we had a babyshower in the Jazz Cellar. We didn't get charged for the room and were made to feel welcome (how do you say amuse bouche in Italian?). The easy-going (efficient and unfazed by about 15 separate checks) staff kept the evening rolling. The desserts were a big hit - never made it to cannoli before.

I'd suggested the place because we needed something close to work and affordable for the attendees (a mix of professional and clerical/support staff). I was the only one who'd eaten there before, but it’s safe to say they made a gang of new, repeat customers...

Funny, don’t hear much about Jackie’s lately.

<snip>Yesterday I dropped by around 1:30 for a late Friday lunch and was met by just a "Closed" sign hanging from the door (the place was dark and deserted). Thought maybe I was just too late for lunch service, so I had my second "consolation prize" lunch in the old-school italian place across the street (previously blanked on the closed Monday thing). <snip>

I can't make it for Saturday, is it too early to start discussion of the next adventure?

All this talk about the latin dim sum at cafe atlantico today, made me want to check it out.

Anyone else think this sounds good?  www.cafeatlantico.com

Best,

ed

I just wish they'd add more vegetable options to the repetoire. Fake carrots don't count.

My +1 and I arrived early, tried to hold a large table and saw some carts roll-by before the others arrived (and the really big table in the far corner w/lazy susan emptied). Before folks arrived we saw: broccoli rabe, salt-crusted prawns, abalone shu mai, and spear-sliced peppers stuffed with shrimp and tempura fried -- but they NEVER rolled our way again!! Next time I'll try to sit closer to the kitchen entrance and (although the place was still hopping) maybe eat before 1p.

Both the savory and sweet dishes were wonderful and may have taken first place (from New Fortune) in my "best of" dim sum list. We also had the slippery rice crepe with either shrimp or pork (one dish of each), sticky rice steamed in leaf wrap, chive dumplings and really good sharkfin dumplings.

Janet, the owner, came over and very nicely explained some of the unique dishes. Another plus, the staff gave us several western-style utensils (including knives) to split the dumplings and sticky yummies into shareable sizes.

According to Chef & Robin's eLetter (below) CK will be closed for brunch this Saturday March 11th, but open for dinner.

Also note DR's comment (far below) from the Corduroy thread about a recent attempt at Sunday dinner.

From the CK eLetter the POT LUCK, Scallop Beignets and Cobb Salad sound really yum!! As of today, their "new" web URL is still under construction (good luck -- looking forward to seeing it).

Hey Folks,

Well, we're hurtling toward spring and stuff is popping out of the ground, swimming in the sea and hatching on farms.  Chef's getting ready for spring time and bringing to the menu all of that wonderful food that comes with the change of seasons.

How about a classic Cobb Salad, Scallop Beignets, and a new twist on Meatloaf.  Chef continues to honor the food of New Orleans with her take on TurDucKen.  She's stuffing the savory mix of meat into a flaky pastry. 

And you won't want to miss the new menu item that has had Chef wringing her hands and wracking her brain; and has had Robin shopping the kitchen stores for the right vessel.  Come in for a little POT LUCK.  In limited supply every night is Chef's culinary tight rope walk.  Maybe its Scallop Stuffed Quail, or Grilled Lamb Chops w/ Wild Mushrooms.  The Pot Luck is like being at the "Chef's Table" without having to sit in the kitchen...WOW.

Two things to put on your calendar:  Robin & Chef are also hoping you join us for dinner on March 9th.  We're participating in Dining Our for Life--the program run by Food & Friends.  Heck,  check their website  www.foodandfriends.org   You'll find a list of all the participating restuarants.  If you don't Dine for Life with us, eat at one of the other participating places.  Thanks in advance for your support of this important organization.  Also, Saturday, March 11th we will be closed for brunch.  Join us for dinner at 5:00.

See Ya Soon,

Chef & Robin

Colorado Kitchen

5515 Colorado Ave. NW at 14th and Kennedy Streets

Wed-Sat 5pm - 10pm, Sun 5pm - 9pm

Fri lunch 11:30 - 2:30, Sat & Sun brunch 11 - 2:30

202/545-8280

www.coloradokitchen.biz

Good thing you didn't try and have dinner at Colorado Kitchen last night - they didn't even open because they had run out of food altogether. 

Bumping with a reminder... we're going to meet up at Hollywood East On The Boulevard next Sunday (5 March) at 1pm. For those who haven't been there, driving directions are available on their website.

Hopefully we'll be able to coordinate calendars the April return visit to Gaithersburg's New Fortune.