Jeff Heineman

If anyone is out and about and comes across a server, who is at least partly on point, and you get the feeling that they might be ready for a change...please tell them Grapeseed in Bethesda could use a good person. Or if you know someone in your neighborhood. Even if they seem disgruntled where they are (but not overly disgruntled, I don't need anyone's head case) (a little gruntled is good), that's fine

They can email us at info@grapeseedbistro.com

Jeff

This sounds like the best menu so far. Very, very tempting. Any chance the Tile can be substituted with another fish on the menu? Like many women my age, I'm hesitant to eat it.

We have both Icelandic Cod and Norwegian Salmon around, ready to to sub for women of the right age.

But without an enormous amount of funding for US Customs, is there a solution?

I would think that part of the solution requires a bit of common sense for both restaurateurs/retailers and consumers.

For we sellers if our trusted vendor of something like whole red snapper is quoting us $12.95 a pound and another vendor offers us $9.95 for fillets, what do you think is happening? Wholesale markets are pretty consistent across vendors and they know what each other are charging. Sure there are people who can make special purchases here and there, but by and large, a wholesale piece of fish should be priced in a pretty tight range across the board. If a price being quoted to you is crazy cheap, you can pretty easily figure out the yield for the species and figure out if the fillets can even be produced for the price. Here's your sign.

For the consumer, if the restaurant down the street sells Fresh American Red Snapper for $18.95 for a 10-ounce chunk with two vegetables, salad and tea, versus a restaurant that you trust, selling it for 27 bucks for just the entree, this should be a clue that something is up.

I feel pretty sure that the restaurateurs and chefs who post on this site are, for the most part, the up front ones (just judging by the names you can see below their posts), and I am pretty sure many get a little peeved when the unscrupulous guys down the street offer frozen fish as fresh, and wet scallops as dry, that make their prices seem high, when they are priced properly for what they are selling.

definitely the fish

We will be dealin for the last time in 2012. The Merry Christmas edition will feature Breakfast for dinner stuff, which has nothing to do with the holidays but, it's the theme. As usual if you mention DR.com when you make the reservation it will be $30 instead of $55. Paired wines will be 1/2 price , too.

Amuse Bouche (lobster scrambled eggs, yum)

Buckwheat Crepes, Smoked Salmon, Caviar

Oat Crusted Golden Tile, Spiced Fruit Mostarda

Buttermilk Biscuit, Duck Confit Hash, Quail Egg

Cereal Ice Cream, Milk Cookies

I am not an expert, but I am sure one exists here. I don't know who, but it seems using the terms "wit" and "wit out" must be offensive, to someone. Kind of like using Ebonics on a soul food menu.

Before anyone goes crazy, this is more of a question than a statement.

Here's your good deal for the week:

A (S)Mashing Good Tasting Menu

An Amuse Bouche of something Smashed

Herb Crusted Norwegian Cod, Cauliflower-Horseradish Mash

Crispy Smashed Yucca, Florida Red Shrimp, Chorizo Oil

Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin, Robuchon Potatoes, Crisp Shallots

Caramelized Smashed Banana Tart, Peanut Butter, Nilla Wafer

As usual it'll be $30 upon mentioning your DR.com affiliation. Our wine pairings will be 1/2 price as well. Please do mention your DonRockwellness when reserving, it helps us to order properly.

BTW- thanks for all the kind words of late. It makes me happy top do this stuff and have it be appreciated. It is always fun to do, it wouldn't be so fun to prep up and have no one buy it.

Also, Groupon doesn't get 50% anymore (unless you are a complete rube) Google being in the Daily Deals marketplace has really made the deals much better for merchants. I guess because google doesn't really need my little bit of money, but they love the exposure/impressions. They still take too much, but traffic is always nice.

You're right. Pitiful is wrong, not the right choice of words. Compared to other DC restaurants, it's actually pretty good. However, the selection is disappointing to me. I wanted to see attached (but I'm not aware anywhere in DC has this, and maybe the market won't bear it).

my gout just flared up from looking at this photo

Jeff

Any specials this weekend. The stars have aligned for me.

yep, usual $30 deal. You can have it alone at the bar, I would recommend making a reservation since we order for these menus based mostly upon resos, I wouldn't want to run out, it happens, ask Don.

here's the menu:

Amuse

Sword Paillard Picatta, Orzo, Grapefruit

Pork Schnitzel, Bacon, Marinated Tomato, Maple Beurre Blanc

Beef Milanese, Mushroom Duxelles, Foie Gras Sauce

Pineapple scalopini, ginger –rum sauce, key lime ice cream

Wine pairings are 1/2 price too. Please make resos. 301.986.9592

OK, fine. to be eligible for any DR.com specials during the month of December you must be wearing a truly obnoxious Christmas sweater. You all should be able to spot yourselves readily.

After a break for last weeks Flying Dog Dinner (Thanks for the kind words Choirgirl) our DonRockwell Discount on the tasting menu can continue this weekend. As before it's $30 (please mention DR.com when reserving) for everyone on this site. Paired wines 1/2 price as well.

'Tis the season for cold weather foods so:

Good, satisfying, yum

301.986.9592 for resos

There are one or two restaurants around here that I think might be some sort of tax shelter or money laundering effort .

Do name names, please. On some weeks I'd be happy to launder a little of someone's money

For those of you who plan to be sick of most of your family by Friday, we still have openings for you to bring out the ones you like.

In keeping with my tradition of always having a DR.com special...mention that you are a DR.com member and the $59 price is all inclusive for you. So, bring the folks that you like from Thanksgiving, come out and have a good meal with good beer, then go back to the folks that you'd rather avoid, and eat leftovers on Saturday.

we are still doing the deal this week So this menu is $30 for you if you mention DR.com.

Friday and Saturday

Amuse Bouche

Squid, chorizo, peppers, zucchini, basil oil, smoked paprika

Grilled Shrimp, Cauliflower Polenta, Roasted Tomatoes

Pompano, Caramel, Black Pepper, Carrot, Jasmine Rice

Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream, Fudge Cookies, Graham Cracker Sauce

I am excited about these dishes. lots of flavor

Wendy?

FWIW I worked at Wendy's when I was 16, I once found a wig in a locker. Wendy is NOT a true red head. In case that skews your opinion.

On the Friday Night after Thanksgiving we will be hosting a special Dinner with Our food and Flying Dog's Beer.

It will start with Hors D'oeuvres at 6:30 and dinner will start around 7.

I will go talk about the foods and why I paired what with what, and Kathleen Naughton from the Brewery will talk about the Beers.

The Cost is $59. Please call 301-986-9592 for reservations.

menu:

It will be fun, that's how beer works

Yes we will be dealin again this week, I will post the menu tomorrow.

For Tonight, Veteran's day...all vets and any military folks get a FREE BEER with dinner. I know a lot of Military types and they like beer

Thanks for all the kind words. I am glad to be able to offer an actual benefit the the DR.com community and it has been fun meeting the members who come in.

We will do the $30 deal again this week and then take a break ( we are doing a Blockbuster wine dinner in the wine room next Friday pouring Dagueneau Silex, Ferraton Le Meal, multiple vintages of Opus and others. PM me if you are interested) And no deal thanksgiving weekend. So if you are a prudent shopper now is the time.

Friday and Saturday nights: usually $55 mention DR.com and get it for $30. There will be wine pairings, you get them for half price as well

Ellicott City Has been open a little while, they do not have a liquor license yet, but they happily allow BYO

Mostly Gochujang, I love that stuff. Our best horse dancing food runner is out of town for a wedding, so we ran this on the wrong week, unfortunately. (that is the honest truth , by the way)

we are running the special again this week. normally $55 mention dr.com and it will be $30. (If anyone wants to mention dr.com and still pay $55, I will put 25 bucks toward paying our overpriced web designer for a new website) Friday and Saturday only.

wine 1/2 price too.

Reservations are 301.986.9592 - You must mention the DonRockwell special to get the $30 price, and also the 1/2-price wine!

And yet I still can't believe that any buisness-savy restaurant would have a website that can't be accessed by an iPhone or iPad. How many customers are you losing becasue you want a silly flash animation on your splash page?

We are in the process of updating the site. These things don't reprogram ( or whatever it's called) themselves last time I checked. Sorry.

Grapeseed opens at 5 as per usual. Special Post Sandy menu in place, and 1/2 price wines by the bottle.

Grapeseed will be closed tonight. Please come by Tuesday to make my drive in worthwhile.