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Thanks Don! That's helpful.

I don't think The Source is any more expensive than Restaurant Eve Bistro. I saw Scott Drewno at Taste of the Nation the other evening, and asked him what would be the one dish he'd order right now. He answered without any hesitation: suckling pig.

But I'm glad I started with the Tandoori Arctic Char ($15), with pickled Japanese cucumbers and cardamom raita. A near-ringer for wild Alaskan salmon, if it weren't for Johnny Monis' life-changing Katsikaki, I'd say this is the best Indian-influenced dish I've had in memory. It went beautifully with a glass of 2005 Trimbach Gewurztraminer ($10 for a generous little carafe).

If there was a weak link last night, it was the "Tiny Dumplings" ($14), firm little dumplings stuffed with pork belly, served with black vinegar, chili oil, ginger, and cilantro leaves. This was a perfectly decent course, but ultimately was more useful than memorable - useful for transitioning from the Gewurztraminer into a Valpolicella ($10), the wine which was to accompany my next dish.

Drewno's Crispy Suckling Pig ($16) is an appetizer served with plum puree, sweet bean, and pickled cipollini onions, very much in the style of a confit, with thick, seared skin acting as a tortoise shell. It was a fairly small dish, with only three cubes of pork, and I can't say it was any better than the magnificent Arctic Char. However, both of these dishes should be on your agenda the next time you visit The Source.

I was tempted by the 15 Layer Carrot Cake ($10), accompanied by candied walnuts and an excellent little crescent of Rum Raisin ice cream. Washed down with a Calvados, it was just what the doctor ordered to cap off this fine meal composed entirely of small plates.

Cheers,

Rocks.

Don, were all of the above appetizers? What is the general price range on their entrees?

Friday - We tried Vermilion for the first time. Appetizers of fried oysters with coleslaw, a really great chicken soup with gnocchi and a butter lettuce salad with a pickled egg. Maybe I should have stopped there. I was pretty disappointed in my choice of entree - the lamb shank. There were no points for presentation at all - it was served with some fettucine - a complete MOUND - with the lambshank plonked on top and completey heating up the pasta beneath and causing it to clump together. I ate a good bit of the pasta and still barely made a dent, the waitress even asked if I wanted to take it home. That would be a no. The whole dish had no nuance to it, the lamb was ok and the pasta was totally forgettable with the 3 or 4 slices of shitake mushroom (they were listed on the menu as part of the dish) drowned in the heap of pasta.

Saturday - My first time at Sei. Definitely pricey as has been well documented. I really enjoyed my Japanese mojito, sweet and sour with a hint of lychee.. The pear sangria was good as well but I preferred the mojito. Also had a sip of the boyfriend's liquid wasabi and it was actually really good, with a bit of heat that hit you at the back of the throat. We ate at the bar and had the fish and chips roll, wings, pork buns and kobe sliders. My faves were the wings and the pork buns (although they can't hold a candle to Momofuku pork buns). Wings had just the right amount of sweet and slight ccrust/crunch - very messy but they give you a wet nap. The fish and chips roll was tasteless to me, despite the addition of the provided wasabi tartar sauce. The tomato jam on the Kobe sliders just about killed them for me - way too sweet.

This doesn't sound like you Dean... From today's chat on Washingtonian.

http://www.washingtonian.com/chats/restaurants/11662.html

Penn Quarter, DC:

How do you feel about cell phone policies for restaurants? My friend was chastised by the owner of Dino for sending a quick text (not talking on the phone) while I was using the restroom at the end of the meal.

I agree that if you are at a nice restaurant, you shouldn't be talking loudly, whether on a phone or to your fellow guests, but texting under the table? Come on! Todd, what do you think?

Todd Kliman:

Hell, I texted a 2,000 word review -- much of it from under the table.

I don't see the problem, here. Not with texting. It's silent. It doesn't disturb anyone.

What I do see a problem with, is people talking on their cell phones in restaurants. Rude and arrogant. Step outside and make or take the call.

Those people should be shown the door.

(I also think people who can't sit and eat and talk, who must conduct business and pass papers at the table -- they should be shown the door, too.)

In general, I don't want to overhear anybody's cell phone conversation, ever. Unless it's someone talking about where and how they're going to dispose of the body. For that, I'll make an exception.

Also Casey was totally hypocritical in her lashing out - she claims credit for lots of things, the fish dish, says she had to do most of the food because Carla spent so much time with the crab.. but then ends it by saying that it was all Carla's food.

P.S. I can't get the link to work. I copied the above from CH.

What's CH? and re: her rant, jeez, overly defensive much??

ETA: OH, it just clicked - Chowhound...

I looked it up because I couldn't remember - it was Season 3 and it just says runner up for both Dale and Casey - also Casey won fan favorite, which I don't remember at all. I think Carla is a lock for fan favorite.

That's what I thought. Stefan should've kicked Hosea's ass at that point. And then Hosea had the gall to say he grabbed them first.

and then it seemed he took ALL the caviar too! and I swear he didn't use any, although I seem to remember Stefan did, so maybe he negotiated a can away from Hosea (just realized I've been spelling his name wrong all along).

Did Stefan set aside some foie gras which Hosea subsequently took away?

From what I saw, it looked like when Stefan and Marcel were in the walk in, Stefan took 2 of the foie gras packs and set it on his tray (or shelf of the walk in, hard to tell) - then Josea swooped in and grabbed all 3.

I really wish Carla hadn't taken Casey's suggestion of sou vide-ing the beef!

Did anyone else feel like Casey (sp?) was out of place amongst the 3 helpers? I mean I remember her, but didn't really remember she was a finalist - whereas I definitely knew Marcel and Richard were strong contenders. Could just be that her season - I don't even remember which at this point - was one of the earlier ones.

Also Stefan got moved a few notches down on the jerk ranking for me tonight - he was really sweet in comforting Carla when she was crying. Also I think Josea was a dick in hogging ingredients.. did he even use any of that caviar??

Everybody still bored with this season? Not even a "Yay, Carla!"? She's definitely grown on me this season and it was good to see her win the challenge last night. Even though it meant that Jeff didn't get a chance to come back - I feel like he might be a better chef than Josea, who I've found kind of meh.

I thought he wasn't going to cook anymore.

GOG Blog

(Don, move this as you see fit.)

The Red Velvet space SUCKS. I don't really quite know what else to say. It's reminds me of going to a Chinese restaurant and the small narrow entryway and the takeout counter without the remainder of the restaurant mixed with a High's convenience store. I mean I know it shouldn't take a ton of space, but there really isn't anywhere to sit. I don't know if the idea is to then go to Tangysweet, but this just seemed lame compared to Hello Cupcake (the only other cupcakery I've been to).

But the cupcake we had was pretty good - peanut butter frosting with chocolate cake. I love peanut butter and the frosting was only a smidge ETA: "too" sweet, unlike many others I've encountered, and the cake was nice and moist. I thought it was better than Hello's PB chocolate cupcake.

Besides, it sounds like you've never been to Georgetown Cupcake - talk about no room! Although it is more attractive looking inside and there is one small table with about 3 chairs.

Last night's challenge was great and I was really glad to see Leah finally go - she just doesn't have the skill that the rest of the chefs have and she was always so damn "meh" about everything.

BUT can I just say that what they always say about judging based on the challenge alone and not taking past performance into account is BS! Come on, overcooked fish?? That should have gotten almost anyone eliminated - and the rest of the dish wasn't even perfect - it seemed no one really liked the 2 types of spinach idea.

However, Leah got eliminated, so I'm ok with it.

Citronelle cuts its hours - click.

Food of the South

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9011300749.html

I thought that too Pat - great minds.

Did anyone read the Kilman chat this past Tuesday? One posting in particular screams Bebo Trattoria.

Had a lovely and delicious birthday lunch with my boyfriend here yesterday. The 3 course for $25 lunch deal is more than a good value. We had the Filipino style spring rolls, red snapper bisque, pork chop and crispy fluke. For dessert we had the pistachio bread pudding and the flourless chocolate cake - they were kind enough to put a candle on my cake and write happy birthday in chocolate as well. We had the run of the restaurant at 2pm and Dan was helpful and gracious. The new space looks great, very sleek and understated with interesting touches.

The food was wonderful and the portions very generous for lunch - we will definitely be back some time.

How much octopus was included?

I'd say about 5 or 6 fairly thick rounds - it was great!

Last night we had the Chestnut Soup and the Mixed Grill. The soup was excellent, with creme fraiche, trumpet mushrooms and octopus (!), the chestnuts lent and almost meaty quality to the soup. The mixed grill consisted of a generous rabbit sausage link, one shrimp and a grilled wedge of excellent tuna with the most perfect grill marks I've ever seen. and oh yea, we also had the goat cheese cheesecake with stewed apples, raisins, figs and prunes. Yum.

Does anyone know if PS7's is still doing Happy Hour on Saturdays?

They should still be doing HH on Saturdays - I hope so!! I think we last went on 11/15.

Sounds great!! Thanks for the report Mark! My one friend who will be at brunch with us is a notoriously picky eater, so I'll have to give some more thought to the subject... incidentally we'll be at Proof tonight with more out of town friends - looking forward to it!

From the Going Out Gurus' Post chat:

Union Station: What's the buzz on Hummingbird to Mars, the new speakeasy I keep hearing about? Some have told me it's tricky to get a reservation.

Fritz: Well, after yesterday's food section piece, it's going to be a lot harder, as I understand that Hummingbird to Mars is no more. Shame, because I really, really enjoyed the cocktails there, and Owen, Justin and Derek would certainly be in my list of the top bartenders in D.C.

Started at 1 and going on now:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...pid=discussions