AlexC

I can't vouch for the authenticity or deliciousness of this recipe, but it's a start... click Also, the City Paper's excellent Half-Smoke piece from a few year's back concludes with this little nugget: "To see whether Manger’s half-smoke is unique, I overnight a box of them in dry ice to sausage expert and cookbook author Bruce Aidells, also known as the “King of Sausagedom,” in California. (True to his nickname, Aidells is actually in the midst of eating sausage when I first reach him by telephone.) After a close examination, he notes that the spicy half-smoke seems to be a close cousin of both the Texas hot link or smoky link (pork butt, garlic, cumin, red-pepper flakes), a popular item in the Lone Star State’s barbecue joints, and the Louisiana chaurice (pork butt, beef chuck, garlic, chili powder, cayenne), which is one of the spiciest sausages in that region’s cuisine." Good Luck!

Got here at 5:05 and was lucky #14.

I'm quite sure this isn't the quick-and-dirty metrics answer that you're looking for, but I haven't had any trouble installing the google analytics tracking code on a few different websites, simply by following the Google Analytics install instructions. That being said, this guy seems to be hawking an Invision-ready tool for Google Analytics: http://community.invisionpower.com/files/file/5142-enhanced-google-analytics/. Also, if you become more interested in making metrics-based decisions on website design, content, etc, I highly recommend Avinash Kaushik's "Web Analytics 2.0". I know web years are like dog years and this book was published in 2009, but it's well-written, digestible, clear and, to my eyes, still highly relevant and useful. Alex

It took me a little while to warm up to the new Sushi Taro, and it took them a little while to figure out how to meet the demands of the neighborhood without sacrificing the creative vision of the chef, but my last few visits have simply left me glowing. The $12.95 bento box lunch -- largely unchanged since the makeover -- continues to be one of the best lunch deals in the city. Tempura (four pieces of shrimp and veggie) and a small veggie plate are followed by tempura (four pieces shrimp and veggie), sashimi (six pieces chef's choice) and your choice of sushi, fried oyster, salmon teriyaki and a few other options. A great lunch with warm service in a beautiful, civilized environment... for less than $20, all told. Also, if you're lucky enough to walk in when the ramen lunch special is on, forget the bento box and slurp away. It's delicious. Their new(ish) happy hour is also an incredible deal. From 5:30-7, Monday through Friday, all of their regular sushi, draft beer and sake by the carafe or small bottle is half-price. Arguably the best sushi in the city for Whole Foods prices. I think I've been twice in the last three weeks. If you go, get there early or go early in the week. The dinner service is warm, and has of course been extensively discussed upthread, but let me add that the Sashimi Omakase (seated, not at the bar) is a wonderful treat and a good value. Last night I shared one for $75, and it included at least six or seven pieces of sea urchin, a beautiful selection of thinly-sliced scallop, two or three different types of mackerel (some sliced into sashimi, some chopped and seasoned into something like a rough-cut tartar), a rich buri yellowtail, a few pieces of japanese red snapper, four seared pieces of wagyu with scallion, a few lobes of monkfish liver and, I'm sure, other little treats that I've forgotten. With two miso soups and a shared seaweed salad, it was nearly enough for two, but we got an extra roll anyway. Hard to say no. In a city where you (er, I) can very easily spend $40+ a person on so-so sushi, not spending a little extra at a place like Sushi Taro is just silly. Alex

That stuff is fantastic -- had some last night. The entire lineup of sours, especially the oak-aged ones, were fascinating and delicious. Chances are good I'll head right back tonight. I've never seen a beer lineup like that before. Alex

Agreed. I went last week and I'm heading back today. The Kingston (jerked chicken, fruit salsa, vinegary slaw) was outstanding, one of the best sandwiches I've ever had from a DC sandwich shop. The Beirut was a bit less successful, because the chewiness of the steak (cubed and wonderfully pink) made the sandwich a little tough to get through. Sundevitch serve $9 sandwiches that are big enough to split. The quality of the raw ingredients (great bread, great meat, great veggies) and the quality of the components (great slaw, great brined veggies, great jerked chicken) stand out. Give them a whirl.

Their facebook/twitter feeds seem to be generated in-house. I think it's great that they have someone on the ground connecting with people online instead of some PR firm spitting out canned BS, but I do seem some ESL problems every now and then.

Yes, they have $1 Oyster Happy Hour at the new CP Location.

I ducked in with my sister for a late lunch today... Our total bill was $28, and she took home a few pieces of smoked chicken, three of those cigar-shaped dumplings and a fair bit of porky noodles. Good food and fantastic value.

I am completely, totally infatuated with this place. The Shake Shack-ish burger is cooked pink in the middle. The onion rings are great. They print new menus every day. The pork ribs are excellent. The pulled pork sandwich is good. The price is right. The only downside is that it's packed to the gills from open 'til close, every day. Still, it's try to make it happen. If you can't get a seat, well, you'll just have to wander over to Bar Pilar. Alex

Anyone going to this? http://www.fansoflambdc.com/ I just got a ticket for $34 via http://sowhatsthedeal.com/ -- seems like a very fair price for an AYCE/AYCD event at the Ritz. Alex

We used to have The Fractured Prune on P at 21stish. I think it opened in 2006 and closed in 2007. Not to say that a donut shop wouldn't make it, but there's at least one that didn't.

Sign me up. Weeknight, advanced notice preferred.

My physical reaction is pointing my browser to menupages.com. McSweeney's nails this horrible unnavigable restaurant website phenomenon: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2011/1/10lacher.html On a related note, gotta love that Medium Rare website. Alex

Eola has pig brains on the menu almost every day.

To respond to a few of the questions on this thread... - The meat is frozen solid - They offer boxes for sale on the website, but also had individual items for sale at the "Meat Up" and were at the Gray Market thing at Kushi a few weeks ago, so they may be at farmer's markets as well. Alex

I split my share of the draft with a friend, so we tried to pick in such a way that things divided evenly. He's got a family to feed, I don't, so that was another factor. Round-by-Round 1: 2-pack of rib steaks, 1.7 lbs. These were two big awesome steaks, not labeled as ribeyes but based on their relative size that's what they were. 2: 2-pack of rib steaks, 1.3 lbs. Frankly, these were also big and awesome-looking, and this is where the value was on a per-pound basis. 3: Pack of Tip Steaks, 2+ lbs: I dunno what my friend is gonna do with these, it'll be dinner for four. 4: Short Ribs: These were 2+ lbs of short ribs, they looked really good, and my jury-rigged homemade sous vide kit (sorry don) makes cooking these really easy. 5: Short Ribs: See above. 5: Rump Roast, 3lbs: Another family meal, but they prepared a simple top round roast for us to snack on during the draft, and it was so delicious that this may have been a late-round steal. 6: Oxtail. My korean girlfriend insisted I get the oxtail. Good thing I did. It was very small, but looked great. 7: Flat Iron Steak: About .6 lbs. Looked great, especially for the last pick. After everyone picked, they filled us up from the 14ish lbs we drafted up to 21 lbs by distributing 1 lb packets of ground meat. Total cost was $9.80 per pound, and I ended up paying $93 for my half, which was one of the packs of steaks, both of the short ribs, the oxtail, and four packs of ground. Not the best deal, but the quality of the meat is so high, the experience was fun, and my friend who I split the draft with did (I think) a little better value-wise. Anyway, like I said, next time I'll do the box, but the meat draft was lots of fun. Alex

I participated in a "Meat Draft" last Saturday. Over the course of two+ hours, 12 people picked over the vacuum-sealed parts of an entire cow and selected their portions one-by-one, in the familiar snack draft style. Picking tenth, I missed out on the porterhouses and both briskets, but I have no complaints. Beer and snacks were provided. The meat is very high quality -- locally raised and dry-aged three weeks. Though I'd probably opt for a box instead of going through the rather lengthy draft again, I'll definitely head back to this supplier. The people that run this show are very fun, very nice, and very passionate about their products. http://www.whitehousemeats.com/

We stopped by American Tap Room -- crappy domestic beers, room felt somewhere between Bennigan's and Clyde's, we had a beer a left. Plus, it was packed, so maybe I am not the best judge of bar quality. Then we went to Mussel Bar -- much cooler space and more interesting crowd, way better beers, we stayed there for a few hours. My only complaint was some of the beer prices were laughable... $15 for a small bottle of Gouden Carolus? $14 for a Gulden Draak? Seemed steep to me. Perhaps I'm just spoiled by Churchkey.

Five or six of us are meeting for drinks in Bethesda tonight. I'd love to go somewhere more casual than Blacks, more interesting than the Clyde's in Friendship and less horrible than, uh, Caddy's. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

It's been, oh, two years since I was at a CalTort, but my go-to was always requesting a turkey chili burrito -- rice, jalapenos, queso, turkey chili, maybe onions and peppers too. It's not on the menu, but they'll make it for you. KeithA is right -- the turkey chili is good.

It's been, oh, two years since I was at a CalTort, but my go-to was always requesting a turkey chili burrito -- rice, jalapenos, queso, turkey chili, maybe onions and peppers too. It's not on the menu, but they'll make it for you. KeithA is right -- the turkey chili is good.

Has anyone eaten well in Rome recently? One of my best friends is heading there in May and I'm doing some restaurant research for him. Thanks!

I was there, oh, two weeks ago. They sell a few packaged items but offer a larger array of prepared foods that you can enjoy in the store or take home. They use top-quality ingredients, make great sandwiches and provide warm, if quirky, service. When I find myself in the Palisades, say, on the way out of MacArthur Liquors, it's on the short list of places I stop for a bite to eat.

If memory serves, the best restaurant up near the resorts in Little Cottonwood is called the Shallow Shaft, and they serve classic American fare with a lot of game in the rotation, and the prices were in the $30+ entree range. This is par for the course in Park City as well, where the name-brand restaurants charge truly exorbitant prices. That being said, last winter I had I an excellent meal at the new Spruce at the Canyons. Expensive as hell, but man, it was good. The restaurant at the Alta Peruvian lodge was mediocre (again, been a few years since I ate there). On the whole, I'd eat dinner at Snowbird before Alta, and I believe that hotel dining is largely what you're looking at. Also, on the mountain at Alta itself (best skiing in the whole wide world, IMHO), you can have a wonderful lunch at Collins grill. French bistro insprired fare, great soups, it's worth making a res and going. Alex