shogun

Could someone please remind me of at least one of the many good reasons I thought I had for leaving DC?

Right?

Harris Teeter and Shoppers always had it.

Isn't beer better when it conditions longer? I'd advise rescheduling for on or about Feb 16.

well, vienna sausages in a can.

This one time I was at the 7-11 by Foggy Bottom Metro, and there was a guy standing outside with a bag and a soda. He produced a can of Vienna sausages, popped it open, and proceeded to drink the liquid from the can. That accomplished, he ate the sausages.

A little dilution is important, though.

What are you referring to and, WHAT BROUGHT THIS ON?????

Ah, just fixing to make some coconut rice pudding, and coconut rum. Whole coconuts are a pain to work with. The punchline here is I've had the blasted things for at least two weeks, as I was originally planning to make the rum for my sister when she was home from school. I don't know if they go bad or not, or lose flavor, so it's possible they're no better than bagged coconut from the store.

Whoever first thought that coconuts were a good idea should be beaten unto death with a watermelon. Same for the becursed Muses of Rice Pudding and infused rum.

The labelled bottles are Lees Harvest Ale, but the versions that are aged in casks of various spirits (port, calvados, whiskey). Not certain which ones. The clear bottle with the yella liquid is, I hope, meant to stand in for a lump of coal in someone's stocking. If I'm not mistaken, it's Crazy Ed's Cave Creek Chili Beer.

If the chili beer is meant for you, shogun, and you have not had it: may God have mercy on your soul.

Good eyes! The Lees are Port and Lagavulin-aged, and the clear bottle is the chili beer. It IS for me, and I only bought one bottle. Also pictured: Two Ommegang glasses.

A sampling from one of my all-time favourite stores, ThinkGeek.com

• Collapsible Chopsticks
  
• A chef's quad timer, terribly useful sounding and cheap as a pair of collapsible chopsticks.
  
• Perhaps coolest of all, a spork made of titanium
  

Point: I hate Route 9.

Counterpoint: I love 'Half Time', conveniently located on Route 9 smack in the middle of the dismal hell of strip-malls between I-84 and the CIA.

I rather suspected that Hagan Daaz 'Mayan Chocolate' ice cream would be great on top of apple pie, due to its various qualities. I was right. And also I was wrong. Did the Mayans do vanilla?

Also I wanted to take the opportunity to say goodbye to everyone. I

am leaving Pizzeria/Birreria Paradiso and moving to Philadelphia at

the end of this month. I want to thank everyone here in DC for being

so good to me and making Birreria Paradiso a success. My replacement

will be Greg Jasgur one of our long time bartenders. He is a real fan

of all those hoppy westcoast beers so for everyone who was getting

tired of my obsession with Belgian beers he will be a welcome change.

Again thank you!

Noooo!!

Steak au Poivre

Potatoes Lyonnaise

Zucchini persillade

And to complete the theme: Malbec.

ETA: The same combined forces of Puritanical laws and forgetfulness also meant that the role of Cognac in tonight's presentation of Steak au Poivre was ably played by bourbon.

Good luck shot of Elijah Craig 12 year.

Ha! Nice...I used to go after Jaleo or Oyamel sometimes, too. Unless there are 40 tourists in line, it's pretty tempting.

........bargain-hunting vultures.

Sold out for hours. Honestly, did Rachel Ray bust one out to make Yum-O Tex-Mex Fajita Stew Surprise or something?

Here is the Va. mailer with all sorts of Le Creuset advertised at range of prices.

TM also carries all sorts of kitchen gadgets, small appliances and gourmet items.

Hey, thanks! Guess it's worth a trip over there.

I've been seeing commercials the last few days for this 'Tuesday Morning' sale company advertising a 'Big Nov 7 sale on famous-name French cast iron cookware' with the only information given is their website at Tuesday Morning.com. I was about to say that their homepage is broken, but it turns out it's just not triggering my Flash plugin properly on this computer. Anyway, anybody have any experience with this store? Specifically, is the alleged Le Creuset stuff at big enough discount to justify driving 20 minutes to Fairfield (not that it would be a wasted trip...it's near Super Duper Weenie, which I always need an excuse to visit)?

Unexpected Combinations That Work: Agavero agave liquere vs. Ikea Princesstorte.

Tonight's pre-Nosferatu dinner will be:

Tonight: Chicken Pot Pie followed by pumpkin carving.

Lately: Paulaner Oktoberfest and Red Hook's "Black Hook" porter

Previously: Laguintas IPA

"lightly killed."

, and then sealed in a succulent Swiss quintuple smooth treble cream milk chocolate envelope and lovingly frosted with glucose?

Niiyokay.

I'll just have a pizza, I think.

Coming up, we learn the answer to that age-old question "Can leftover boudin noir be successfully reheated?". But first Chip with the weather!

ETA: Sure can!

Acorn Update