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Pappy

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  1. Pappy
    Very good meal at Komi last evening. Notable starters included perfectly fried softshell crab, and perfectly fried cheese stuffed zucchini blossom. These were two of the best renditions I've encountered. Carpaccio with marinated celery and red grapes (great), ricotta with sardines, focaccia with taramasalata (which I thought could have been stronger with roe), and watermelon with sheeps milk cheese were all very good. Pastas included tagliatelle with sea urchin sauce (outstanding), squid-ink pappardelle with crab and chili (excellent), fettuccini with goat ragu, and a gnocchi with ???. Mains were a whole branzino baked in a salt crust. Cooked nicely moist, but under-flavored. Seemed to need some/more herbs in the cavity and perhaps a shot of olive oil at the end. And slow roasted pork shank (btw, I do not believe this shank came from a suckling pig as stated on the menu). It was good, but overly salty and one-dimensional. That was followed by one of the best cheese plates I've had in DC, and a few desserts that I did not taste. Finally, Komi serves a very good espresso. Wine pairings were frequent and ample, but sadly, not of great quality. The setting is stark, to say the least, considering the cost and the caliber of food coming out of the kitchen. It was also frightfully warm by the end of the evening. Curiously, it is a 3+ hour meal, so turning tables must be impossible, not the mention there were several empty tables on a Friday night. How long can a restaurant continue with those figures? I'd like to see Chef Monies (?) in a setting more in keeping with his talent. I'd also like to see two levels of wine pairings, so that I have the choice of upgrading to perhaps fewer, but better wines (which I guess I could do ordering bottles, but that limits me to only two wines). And finally, I'd like to have the choice of cutting out the main dish, which not even a yeoman eater really needs (in fact, charge me the same and just leave it off). Service, while young and rather inexperienced, were eager, accomodating and very pleasant.
  2. Pappy
    "I am a chef that enjoys seasonal, flavor-driven food. Simple, delicious ingredients are the star of the dish," the chef said in a release. Gee, never heard that before. Hope it works. That location needs something worthy that sticks around long enough for me to remember its name.
  3. Pappy
    Thanks DLB. However, I'm confused. I assume each dish is ordered by an individual diner, and is served on a silver platter? Or are dishes truly served family style and meant to be shared? Is the serving dish left on the table? Also, did you mean to say that main courses like duck and fish are approximately $20 each? I can't imagine they could ever pay off that stove charging only $20. Any additional information would be appreciated.
  4. Pappy
    I had an errand to complete that required a visit to a store in Tysons Corner Mall called Resoration Hardware. I am the type that hates malls. All malls. I have been dreading this errand for weeks. Anyway, I walk out of the store (waste of time btw), and I see Morimoto's place is right there, so I stop in for a quick early lunch. Uggh. Wish I knew how to put one of those frowny face thingies in here. It was awful. Just awful. The Vegetable Spring Roll ($6.75) was absolutely un-edible. Soft, slimy, overcooked goo surrounded by a tough, cheap, thick, frozen, cardboardy wrapper. It came with Three Dipping Sauces, one of which was chinese mustard out of a jar, another one was chinese garlic-chili paste out of a jar. Spicy Tuna Roll ($7.25) was little better. The 16 year old kid that I watched make it only had to consult the instruction manual once. It came out looking like neon-bright, orange, nuclear ooze surrounded by old, salty rice. The Eel and Avocado Roll ($7.25) was actually nicely warm and surprisingly okay, judging from a "I know this isn't a great sushi restaurant in the first place" perspective. When I left at 12:30(?) there couldn't have been more than 4 tables taken. I don't know Morimoto, and I admit this was a very limited sampling, but I'm really surprised he allows his name to be associated with this place. Coastal Flats (no idea what this is), on the other hand, had people lined up out the door.
  5. Pappy
    My wife and I are hosting another frequent poster and his SO on Friday night at Komi. Can anyone with recent experience point out the "must haves" and any potential "avoids." Thanks.
  6. Pappy
    I've been a Ray's hold out for many reasons, but primarily because they won't take reservations and I simply refuse to wait in line, for anything, for even a moment. But when someone who has been to Luger's 40 times (and I assume, Keith, many other great steakshouses) says they've got nothing on Ray's, I'm tempted to drive over to Arlington on a rainy Monday night at 9PM and see if there's an open table.
  7. Pappy
    I know these chefs are pros, and as such could probably turn out a pretty good dish using a can of sterno. But how would you like to have your stove installed four days before your much anticipated re-opening! I think I'll wait a few weeks before trying Blue Duck, and give McBride a chance to figure out how the control knobs work.
  8. Pappy
    Loved the title of this thread. I work next door and, yes, Picasso has closed. While sharing the same owner as Matisse (I believe his name is Fritz), Picasso never seemed to get it's footing in Potomac the way Matisse has developed a steady following in Northwest. I am sure there is demand for quality dining in this area, but Picasso just didn't deliver on either the food or the setting demanded by today's suburban diner. It did virtually no lunch business and was mostly empty at dinner through the week while paying a hefty rent. I understand the new tenant is an experienced restauranteur who promises to shake things up with wine tastings, pairings, specials, parties, etc. In the same strip center, we have lost Potomac Deli. It's a loss in that it was a convenient source for quality deli products and services, especially belly lox, knishes, pastrami, rye bread, etc. I guess their catering operation was doing very well, but the restaurant itself was a drain. In the interest of self-preservation, they moved the catering operation out to a warehouse in Gaithersburg and dropped the retail outlet. It will be replaced by what else? Another bank. Potomac Pizza remains, but for now is impossibly over-crowded. With all of the kids out of school, and few other options, the place is packed morning, noon and night. Their kitchen is miniscule, so getting a sandwich can literally take an hour at peak times. Frankly, I like their pizza. It has a nice blistered, chewy crust when ordered "well-done." River Falls Market (previously River Falls Seafood) across the street continues to impress me. They finished a much need renovation last year, doubling the size of the place. They now carry premium meats (prime beef, good veal, and name brand pork) and free-range poultry along with their absolutely pristine seafood and perhaps the best pre-formed, uncooked crabcakes in the city. Many of their prepared foods are excellent, especially the taboulleh (was I even close on that spelling?), seafood soups, and trucked in sourdough bread. Great help behind the counter too. The owner is happy to fill special orders, for skate for example, which is hard to find. Be forewarned, they run out of much of the seafood everyday by 4PM and everything is very expensive (I believe the crabcakes are $9.99 EACH).
  9. Pappy
    Finally...a food reporter who is actually going out and shaking the trees himself instead of just piggy-backing off the boards. But tell me, how do you "cold call" a restaurant?
  10. Pappy
    My single visit to Amina Thai was underwhelming at best. Not to mention they don't sell beer, which eliminates it from my potential Thai establishments to be patronized.
  11. Pappy
    I think Il Pinito is very, very good. The setting isn't much, plastic table clothes and overhead lighting. The service is good if none of the waiters called in sick that day. And it's very kid friendly. It's a Pines of Rome knockoff, but one of the better ones in the area. The pastas do tend to be a bit overcooked, and the tomato sauce is not much more than canned tomatoes, crushed by hand, and simmered briefly with some olive oil and garlic, but that's kind of the beauty of it. We especially like the white pizza with lots of fontina cheese and heady with garlic. The regular pizza is not good. Order the marinated peppers and anchovies to go with it. The white beans are good, the fried mushrooms are good, and the calamari is fine. Skip the salads with bottled dressing. We like the spaghetti and marinara with sweet sausage, the eggplant parmesean, the chicken saltibuco (sp?), the linguini with marinara and mussels or clams, and the lasagne. But the real stars are the specials printed on the board out front. The grilled rockfish is the best I've ever had, anywhere. It perfectly grilled, moist and tender inside, crispy skin on the outside, with a hint of olive oil and garlic. Absolutely delicious and usually more than I can eat. Just as good is the roasted veal (NOT the grilled veal chop). They must roast an entire veal prime rib roast for 6-8 hours, very, very low, basting it constantly with olive oil, wine, broth and drippings. They serve you a huge melt in your mouth portion along with a side of pasta and sauce. (They do the exact same thing with lamb, but rarely.) The roast chicken is good, and the Lobster Fra Diablo is outstanding. The bread is store bought. The Chianti is cheap, albiet room temperature. And the cannolli is fine, albiet a little too cold. Espresso is passable at best.
  12. Pappy
    By the time Duke's got to that new, above ground location, it had already lost a lot of it's vibe. The liver steak was never as good, the rye bread was sliced too thin, and the waiters weren't as condescending. Btw, I believe Morton's is now a public company, with very respectable margins (especially on the Cali Cabs!).
  13. Pappy
    Late lunch today by myself. My new car dealer is across the street. I guess I know when I'll be scheduling my oil changes. Cuke Salad was perfect... bright, cool, crisp, savory, spicy but not overpowering. Smoked chicken was great... meaty, warm, moist, and just the right amount of smoke. Scallion pancake was hot and tastey. But the Dan Dan noodles (with thin noodles) didn't work for me. Hadn't I read here that this was a great rendition? Not this time. Overcooked noodles, inseparably clumped together, lying on a bland, beige, muddy sauce that tasted on nothing, and a sprinking of peanuts on top. Maybe I just don't get it.
  14. Pappy
    I had an extravagant dinner and delicious (and very, very expensive) dinner at their Las Vegas location. Easily one of the best meals of it's kind outside of Italy. A really indulgent and celebratory atmosphere. I would be very happy to see them open in DC
  15. Pappy
    When I drove by last night about 7:20PM they were clearly open for business, with about 4 people inside and about 4 people outside enjoying their cold long-necks. Dietle's lives (at least another day.) That said, I have heard for months that the man who owns the Addies property did not renew their lease (or maybe that's bs and Jeff just didn't want to renew). Just speculating here, but the two combined parcels together would be ripe for development, especially with the 4 building, 24 story complex going in up the street, directly across from White Flint.
  16. Pappy
    Arrowine, and owner Doug Rosen in particular, is an absolute treasure. I completely liken him to Kermit Lynch, and trust him implicitly. This is not a wine shop for popular-label hunters, Parker-point counters, Napa die-hards, or Aussie fruit-bomb lovers. Instead, Doug seeks out authentic representations of terroir wines from Burgandy, southwest France, and Spain. Most of his recommendations he has sourced himself during his many travels abroad. I have often seen wines first in his store, and then on impressive restaurant wine lists, making me wonder how many wine managers in town are piggy-backing on his finds through their common importers. Not to mention it's a pleasure to shop there. I've never been able to garner any sympathetic help at Bassin's, despite dropping some pretty hefty sums in there. And although I'm a big fan of Pepe's at Calvert-Woodley, but as many of you know it's a tough environment to browse. Arrowine solves all those problems with a friendly, knowledgable staff and very well-stocked floor. To me, the cheese counter, cured meats and H&H bagels are just a great bonus. And condsidering how popular these items have become, I would look for Doug to expand his food offerings,
  17. Pappy
    Slumming it at Dietle's hasn't been an attraction for very many people since the '40s and '50s. My home is a block away and I drive by it every day. The cars in back are for Addies, not Dietle's. While I sympathize with the plight of the independent restaurant owner, in this case, the place was a filthy hole that should have closed decades ago. I'm all in favor of nostalgia, but Dietle's offered very little to very few. If "cold" beer was a competitive edge, perhaps things would be different. Tastee Diner in Bethesda has survived hundreds of restaurants catering to suburban tastes and still has a line to get in during most hours of the day. Successful people in million dollar homes raising their families don't need those who don't know any better blaming them for the demise of an outdated package store.
  18. Pappy
    Am I missing something? Why have there been no responses to this post? Seems like quite an oversight first, and pretty poorly handled second. Have the replies all been deleted and I missed it? Or has CB joined the ranks of sacrosanct restaurants that are never to be criticized on this board?
  19. Pappy
    I'm still not getting the "SF" part?
  20. Pappy
    "...and the fact that it is NOT actually south of the Audi/Porsche dealership." It would have been helpful if they had instead, or also, told you that they moved that dealership about a year ago. (Now I suppose one of those 15 smiley face thingies should go here, but I don't know how to do that.)
  21. Pappy
    A trip to my favorite fish monger, River Falls Seafood in Potomac, found rockfish from North Carolina at, I think, $19.99/lb. Counterman said they will not offer local rockfish.
  22. Pappy
    I've read a number of articles now, and am still wondering how safe it is to eat our native rockfish. Yesterday's Post article suggested that three-quarters of all the striped bass in the bay are affected with lesions. The watermen seem to be claiming that a) the disease has existed for decades, and it has not been found to produce any ill-effects in humans who consume the cooked meat. I'll happily take certain calculated risks for a favorite dish, as is demonstrated everytime one eats a raw oyster or raw clam. Is this rockfish scare significantly more to be concerned about? Are all of you happily eating rockfish?
  23. Pappy
    Personally, having had the same dilemma myself not long ago, and having been to all your choices (except Eve), my decision would be easy: Maestro -- Tasting menu and wine pairing. Followed by a guest room upstairs at the Ritz.
  24. Pappy
    My other fear, and clearly I am no expert here, is that the American willingness to adopt technology in "producing" or "making" their wines may prevent them from ever letting the grapes/terroir in the wine simply express themselves. While I'm sure it is somewhat true in Europe, and perhaps even increasingly so, not a week goes by that I don't read another article about the major roll that science plays in California wine making.
  25. Pappy
    With all due respect to Mrs. Child, and my humble opinion, you can no more make a Caesar Salad without anchovies than you can make a Martini without gin.
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