Camille-Beau

Update from David: There were EIGHT people from Maestro out at the farm on Monday! With a team this size, one group was able to work with David to finish the door installations on greenhouse #2 while another completely framed greenhouse #3. This was a huge step forward in getting another house built and ready for the winter. Nick, many many thanks to you and your staff for the help!!! Feel free to add any photos that were taken.

Saturday, 12/10 - Windy and freezing! We got to the farm Saturday to see that Greenhouse #2 was not only damaged on one end from the Thanksgiving windstorm now the other end is also ripped to shreds is now this: When the plastic ripped off, several of the metal strips were torn right off the screws holding them in place. One frame plank actually split in half from the pressure of the wind tearing the plastic! Today's goal was to remove the damaged plastic from one end (saving as much of it as possible for splicing onto the other end so that only one 150' sheet had to be replaced), repair any damage to the frame and add doors to each end of the house. Cleared the snow away to access the frame so that the metal strips and plank could be repaired. Removed the plastic from one end of the house: Sunday, 12/11:[/b] Nicer, calmer day Sunday - up into the 40's! I never thought that number would seem warm. With less wind, we pulled and spliced the salvaged plastic over one end: New plastic was rolled out for the other end: and pulled over: We completed replacing the plastic for the entire greenhouse, but there are no photos since it was dark by the time all of the brackets to hold the plastic down were in place. No need for a photo anyway because the house now looks like it did back on November 23rd. <SIGH> But at least we're now moving in the right direction! So, now that Greenhouse #2 is done (except for the completion of the door on either end) that leaves the framing for Greenhouse #3 up to the Maestro crew who worked at the farm on Monday. Nick, feel free to update us on your day. Many many thanks for going back out to the farm!

Ah, very true. There is a reason that one server referred to this as the 'Fear Factor' dish -- an apt description indeed.

Yes, it made an appearance (new menu!) and it was AWESOME! Love the BN at Eve -- have had boudin noir in various places and many tend to be heavy and slightly gamey. Eve's is lighter in texture and perfectly spiced. The total dish is Boudin Noir topped with a fried quail egg and smoked ham-hock & truffle sauce. Really excellent. It was one of the courses at the James Beard House truffle dinner (more on that in the Eve thread tomorrow -- promise!)

So what 'good part' was missing? From the looks of my dish, seems that EVERYTHING from that duck was present and accounted for (and eaten! )

For now we'll just say that this dinner was awesome!!! (no suprise there though) This was an incredible event and well worth the trip to NY -- for the truffle soup alone! More details (and some photos) will follow...

We hear, we hear.... that Maestro Sous Chef Nick and members of his kitchen team are heading out to the farm (again!) on Monday to help David. You guys rock!

Guy Savoy was our best dining experience -- even better than Taillevent. It was also the most expensive dinner we've had anywhere -- (French Laundry included.) You know the credit card is in for a beating when the signature soup is 78 euros! It is fabulous though - artichoke soup with truffles served with warm mushroom brioche spread with truffle butter for you by the waiter. And the wine list is so large it travels with it's own table!

Tea/sweets: Ladurée (the one at 16 rue Royale 8e) for amazing macaroons, praline millefeuilles and afternoon tea. There is one on the Champs-Elysées which is also nice, but try to visit this original location, established in 1862 Lunch/Dinner: L’ANGLE DU FAUBOURG [Closed Jan, 2012] 195, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré Paris 8 Tel: 01 40 74 20 20 Fax: 01 40 74 20 21 1 Michelin star Same owner as Taillevent. It's a lovely, modern restaurant located right by the cozy Taillevent wine store (Les Caves Taillevent, 199, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré). If you are on the rue du Faubourg during Les Caves business hours, stop by for a tasting. Usually they are offering the same gougeres as at Taillevent, freshly made throughout the day. L'Angle du Fabourg and Les Caves were within walking distance of our hotel just off the Champs-Elysées - the Hotel Lancaster (7, rue de Berri, Champs-Elysées 75008) which also has a wonderful 1-star restaurant La Table du Lancaster with chef Michel Troisgros running the kitchen. Food & atmosphere have an asian flair. Beautiful courtyard. La Table du Lancaster tél : 01 40 76 40 76 fax : 01 40 76 40 00 e-mail : reservations@hotel-lancaster.fr One evening we skipped dinner reservations altogether and ended up at the bar at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée (25 Avenue Montaigne) for champagne and appetizers of fois gras on toast & a plate of finger sandwiches. I would definitely do that again. Have an excellent trip!

Ok, so this doesn't really have anything to do with the farm, but this is the sunrise in DC around 6:45am on Saturday (11/26): As for the wind damage, here are a couple of before & after shots: Last Week................This week Plants got moved around the farm so everything is somewhat under control with the exception of the plastic for Greenhouse Two -- too much wind to do that on Saturday. Perhaps tomorrow... -Camille

First the GOOD NEWS: Saturday 11/19 -- another gorgeous Saturday - the view while driving up the lane: David and John covered Greenhouse Two house on Friday night, finishing up around 9pm The house that looked like this on the 12th: now looks like this: The plants were in the house the entire week without the roof so they were covered to ward off the frost. Things looking great in Greenhouse One: the lemon tree is blooming!: (Lemons take about 18 months to mature from pollenation to harvest) Today's task: make this: into these: for Greenhouse Three. Ah, Power Tools!: Ciao for now: Sunday 11/20 -- another amazing day... now that the leaves have fallen, the river behind the farm is more visible: Removal of impacted earth/sand/clay/rocks: Layout the foundation: and hammer into place: for as long as it takes: And back to DC we go... And now for the BAD NEWS: David spent Thanksgiving day working at the old farm. You know those low temps and high winds we had here in DC? Well, drop the temp about 10 more degrees and increase the wind ferocity and that would be the Eastern Shore. The plastic on Greenhouse One was damaged by the high winds which brought in a lot of frigid air. Some of the more delicate plants in the house were lost (the basil, squash, etc.) So David is in the process of moving the surviving plants around for better protection. -Camille

And for those of you flying solo this Thursday who don't have something far better planned for the day, Beau and I have room for a few at our table so you're welcome to join us. Note that we will be watching and cheering for the Dallas Cowboys so you've been duly warned (particularly you Eagles fans) Oh yes, and we also have two sweet and gentle Dobermans. This now concludes the full disclosure portion of this post. PM if interested -Camille

"Camille" and I dined in the tasting room a couple of weeks ago during the white truffle period. Among other excellent dishes, we had what can only be called (and should be called) "BFRE," as in the Best [insert your own, favorite "F" word here] Risotto Ever!!!! It was creamy and rich, earthy (because of a dome of white truffle shavings on top of it), and tangy (due to the perfect amount of Parmesan cheese that had been mixed into it) ... The rice, too, was cooked to just the right moment of doneness. Not a second too long or too short -- sheer perfection. What an experience! Thanks Chef for an overall marvelous meal and this special treat. Beau

Yes, it's that time of the week -- the day before the next trip out to the farm. Beau and I will be there both Saturday and Sunday (off next weekend for Thanksgiving ) So... well you all know the drill -- let me know if you're interested, etc. etc., and we'll see you there. David wasn't able to get the plastic over the house this week due to high winds, but perhaps today or tomorrow (nice to see you at Eve last night GoldenTicket) See you on the Eastern Shore!

So ustreetguydc, how was La Ferme?

You'll likely be the youngest person in the room...

PROOF!: Phrase least likely ever to be uttered again by LoganCircle: "The sledgehammer is over by the anvil" Beau working on the frame: LoganCircle and GoldenTicket rolling out the floor (Uh LC, did we mention the black widow spiders hiding out in that??): Roof or no roof, David started moving the planted gutters (remember those??!) into the house: Lemon tree.... very pretty: And a familiar site to end the day: GoldenTicket and LoganCircle, you guys rock! Thanks again for spending the day at the farm -Camille and Beau

Baltimore Sun - November 5, 2005 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/letters/bal-ed.le.05nnov05,1,5013194.story (Link requires registration with the Sun)

Happy Friday all..... Just finalizing the list for the farm this weekend. Looks like me-Beau, GoldenTicket and perhaps LoganCircle will be at the Trappe location tomorrow. If y'all care to join us, please PM and I'll send the relevant info. Saturday's forecast: Sunny and 61! Thanks!!

Currently the 9-course tasting menu highlights white truffles so something to look forward to next week.

Excellent dinner in the bistro last night with the Porcupines Just couldn't pass up the incredible olive oil poached tuna for starters (Beau had the yummy rabbit rillettes - smoother texture this time), followed by an excellent medium-rare seared duck breast (no sous vide here!!), with tiny cubes of fois gras and some of the best boudin noir you'll find -- not too dense and very nicely spiced -- hiding in the sauce. Agree with Porcupine on the wine -- great CA Syrah! (Thanks again Todd )

For anyone interested in celebrity sightings, this from People magazine: "Sometimes girls just want to have fun. Nicole Kidman recently celebrated the birthdays of three of her gal pals at Bangkok Joe's restaurant in Washington, D.C., where the Aussie actress sipped on Shiraz, munched on sesame-crusted ahi tuna and put in special requests for flourless chocolate cake and flambéed bananas. Kidman looked "gorgeous" in a knit top with a skirt and boots and was "happy and laughing and chatting with friends and sharing food," a restaurant observer tells us. The party of 11 hung out for about 2-1/2 hours until the restaurant closed at 10:30 p.m. The actress has been making the rounds in D.C., where she's filming a role as a psychiatrist investigating a strange epidemic in the sci-fi thriller The Visiting. Her "good friend" Keith Urban shared some meals with Kidman – including at the historic Georgetown eatery 1789 – before the country singer headed out on tour. "

No, but one initial is B

Hint: security motorcade out in front -- SS inside (and I don't mean the Schutzstaffel )

So.... Sunday, Nov. 6th at the farm -- fun with power tools: Today's goal -- anchor the rest of the 50 struts for the 2nd greenhouse: David and Pete (John later on) carefully moved each strut into place: while we connected the struts together: Oh yeah -- found a couple of arrowheads David's tentative plan is to complete 3 greenhouses by the end of November at the new farm, then spend December tearing down the rest of the structures at the old farm. 'Til next weekend... -Camille