Genevieve

Good interview with Dale Roberts, owner of Java Shack: http://www.examiner.com/article/interview-with-java-shack-owner-dale-roberts

Had a very good dinner at Bibiana, and we'll be going back, though there was a service hiccup with the entrees. There are many other things on that menu I want to try. I asked what non-alcoholic cocktails they had, and the waiter said the bartender could make just about anything if I told him what I liked: fruity, more sweet or less sweet, herbaceous, etc. I said any fruit but grapefruit, less sweet, and herbaceous (thinking that meant maybe mint or basil, I should've asked). He brought me something that was cherry, elderflower, and something else I forget, and it was too bitter for me but my husband liked it. I wasn't sure whether to say anything (I don't generally send back a drink or say something negative when I get one specially made if I think it's mediocre, but this was the first one I've gotten that I wasn't sure I could drink - clearly it was drinkable b/c my husband enjoyed it, but I couldn't). But the waiter asked how I liked it and I said I found it rather bitter, though the overall flavor was good. He said the cherry was cherry bitters, and they could make it without that, and my husband kept the original one so that worked out. Without the bitters, I liked it a lot. And I always am very happy when a restaurant will make mocktails. I will have to order the Funghi (Roasted Mushroom Salad, Fried Bread, Fontina, Porcini) every single time. It had matsutake, hen-of-the-woods, beech, and other mushrooms, and incredible depth of flavor. There was some puree which may have been the porcini mushrooms, and crisp rich fried crostini. As a mushroom-lover, this was heaven. My husband had the Burrata appetizer, which unlike the online menu (tomatoes and basil) came with shavings of apples and sunchokes, walnuts and something else I can't recall that tasted of fall. Tremendous, oozy, creamy burrata. The house bread was very good (the crusty loaf; the foccacia was a little odder, perhaps it was wheat, something tasted unusual but it wasn't my favorite) for sopping up the extra. I didn't get to taste anything but the cheese as there wasn't a ton of it and my husband wanted the vegetables/fruit. Then we had quite a long wait between that course and the entree. We didn't say anything to the waiter -- the apps were filling so we weren't impatient from hunger, and we were out for an occasion and not headed anywhere after -- but it really was unusually long. We sat at 7 p.m. and had the apps at maybe 7:15 or 7:20, and the entree didn't come till nearly 8. It would've been good if they'd refilled our bread basket during that time, and would have asked after a while but didn't want to fill up on the bread. The waiter didn't check in with us during the wait or say why it was taking so long, though when someone else delivered our entrees, that person apologized for the delay. Entrees: I had a half portion of the Nero de Seppia (Black Spaghetti, Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab, 'Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino'). Quite tasty, but the crab was not as delicious as I would've liked. I had asked and it was definitely fresh, not canned, and there was plenty of it, but it was a little overwhelmed by the spicy flavors and it just may be more delicately flavored this time of year. The spaghetti was nice and firm and rich with squid ink - the dish tasted of the sea, which I liked. But next time I will try something else, and I was sorry I hadn't ordered the ricotta canneloni, or just two more apps since I wanted the artichokes. The half portion was excellent, just the right amount, neither skimpy nor overflowing. My husband had Merluzzo (cod), which is not on their online menu (needs updating since summer), which came with batons of salsify and salsify puree, and other things I don't recall. I tried the salsify, which was delicious - neither of us have had it before - described to us as a mild turnip-like root vegetable. Very flavorful and tender from roasting, with a great sauce. Husband said the fish was also very good. For dessert, my husband had Crespelle (Crepes Rolled with Chocolate Cream Inside a Crisp Chocolate Tuile, with I think chocolate gelato). Looked wonderful and he said it was. I had to get a non-chocolate, non-alcohol dessert and the options were small, I went with a Bonet (traditional Italian dessert I've never had) of roasted hubbard squash, with coffee sauce, hazelnuts, little crispy meringue-like cookies, and I asked for it without the bitter chocolate (which would've been a candied piece on top) and with vanilla-pepper gelato instead of the stout gelato. Hard to judge the dish therefore since it was different from how they'd usually send it out, and I think the chocolate would've complemented the squash bonet, which was interesting on its own but much better when eaten with the meringues or hazelnuts or gelato for a touch of sweetness to balance it (since the bonet was more savory). Still, I ate all of it, so clearly it was good. I would go back for the Funghi alone - one of my favorite things I've eaten lately - but the burrata and the merluzzo were both so tasty, and my entree and dessert were good though not excellent, that we will definitely be returning.

Headed here tomorrow (for the first time). I'm guessing it wouldn't be a great idea to order the black spaghetti with crab meat during crab's off-season? Normally I wouldn't order crab this late in the year, but so many people said this dish was wonderful that I would like to try it. Probably I should save it for a spring/summer visit. If not, I'll probably get one of the ricotta pastas, along with "Roasted Mushroom Salad, Fried Bread, Fontina, Matsutake" antipasto, yum. Or just make a meal of starters, with the mushrooms, the Carciofi all Giudia that I've never had and really ought to (since I'm Jewish married to an Italian, I should try the best known Italian-Jewish dish), and maybe roasted figs and arancini.

It's not a mixology kind of bar, but they've made me nonalcoholic cocktails when I've asked, and now they've added some to the menu. Makes me happy. So few places do that. http://www.fireworkspizza.com/Arlington/Web/Menus/Cocktails.pdf See the "Mocktails" listed: Blackberry Iced Tea (blackberry syrup, cherry juice, cran juice, iced tea) Cherry Lime Rickey (fresh squeezed lime juice, bing cherry juice, simple syrup, soda) Dandy Shandy (housemade lemonade, white cranberry juice, ginger beer) Strawberry Crush (fresh muddled strawberries, mint, lime juice, simple syrup, ginger beer). they also have Maine Root ginger beer, which is a nicely spicy drink.

He has a demonstrated sensitivity to MSG, not just an aversion. It is not a dangerous allergy requiring an epipen (so I shouldn't have used the word 'allergy') but I assumed this thread could respond to food sensitivies beyond the most severe ones that lead to anaphylactic shock. He has a definite physiological reaction which is quite uncomfortable and disturbing. He doesn't eat processed food with added MSG either, after having had reactions (I've never known him to eat dry aged steak so I can't speak to that) - it has nothing to do with an aversion to a type of restaurant. I was specifically asking about Chinese restaurants because we like dim sum and he hasn't been able to join us for dim sum since he developed this sensitivity, and I called every dim sum place I could find and they all said they can make other dishes without MSG, but not the dim sum.

Jason, thanks to you, we ate very very well in Toronto. I'm indebted! We started at Lai Wah Heen and had some of the best dim sum I've had. A menu full of creative dumplings, things I haven't seen before, as well as top-notch har gow and shu mai and steamed pork buns. The turnip cake came as a rough pyramid of little cubes instead of the thick rectangles we're used to, and that just meant more surface area to be crisped - terrific. A crab dumpling was designed like a crab, with legs drawn in sauce and black sesame seed eyes. Good service, too, very friendly and helpful. Other places we ate at your recommendation were Canteen (looks like a little sandwich joint, had great creative casual food) and White Squirrel Snack Shop (terrific! loved my brown rice/great mushrooms/tofu/kimchee/steamed greens). Hoped to get to Banh Mi Boys but that didn't work out. We also enjoyed Daisho very much, though a little pricey for the amount of food you get (not that we weren't happy not to be stuffed, and everything was delectable and different from what I've had in DC - I recommend the dessert that was like a baked or fried snack pie with warm peaches inside). Had a very nice though not out-of-the-ordinary lunch at By the Way Cafe in the Annex when we were over there (the daily soup special was unusual, carrot/ginger/coconut, and that was just lovely).

Has anyone eaten there since the new chef has been cooking?

That explains why I haven't seen them on menus so much this summer. Thanks for the explanation, Dean.

Trying again now that I have the right thread - who's had good softshells at a restaurant in NoVa (pref. Arlington) or DC recently? I'm looking for preparations other than deep-fried, so I can taste the crab. I'm told that Dino has had very good ones that they grill.

Thanks, Don!

There used to be a Soft Shell Crab thread, but I can't find it (looked in the Everything Else list - saw Jonah Crab, Alaskan King Crab, etc., but not soft shell). Am I just missing it? I have let the summer go almost entirely by without having soft shells. They're one of my favorite parts of summer. I strongly prefer them to be not deep-fried, as I'd rather taste crab than batter. Any recent recommendations in DC or Arlington? I had marvelous ones at BlackSalt last year, but haven't been back with the new chef. Thank you!

Thank you so much, Jason! I really appreciate it. Adding these to my list. Also thinking we may want to go to Daisho (for dinner after a Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre).

Getting excited for our Toronto trip! We're going to be a little more mobile than I'd thought, so we can look at places to eat outside the harbourfront area, though we'll have a meal or two there from Jason's recommendations, so glad to have those. We should be able to walk a little more than I thought (though probably not more than three or four blocks at a time) and/or take buses/streetcars as well as cabs. And since Toronto is the main highlight of our trip, we could definitely take cabs a bit further and splurge a bit more. So if you have any great places that are a bit further from where we're staying but are worth the cab ride or couple blocks' walk from the bus/streetcar, I'd love to have their names. I do need to make sure the restaurants have something for one in our party who is not eating pork or seafood and is sometimes adventurous but sometimes not. Edulis will depend on what they have on the daily menu, since it's a short one, but if it works for the whole party I would love to go there; Bero sounds amazing but we should go somewhere with more than 3 choices per course, especially when it's a 4-course prix fixe. Most places look like they have plenty of other options, though - pleased to see that Banh Mi boys has steamed bao with braised beef cheek or fried chicken as well as pork. So is North 44 still highly recommended? The post above has me very intrigued, but it's from 2006.

It was a beautiful area! Definitely enjoyed the trip.

Wardensville We ended up at Kac-Ka-Pon in Wardensville, WV, which was recommended in a thread someone else posted about WV in Help Needed (I cross-posted this response there). http://www.kackaponrestaurant.com/ We stopped there and were quite happy with our meal: two of us had pulled pork sandwiches and sweet potato waffle fries, one had a special of haddock over rice and a veggie side, and the kids had hot dogs and hamburgers (though I tried to sell them on the fried chicken). All was tasty, and good sauce on the pulled pork. Pie for dessert: coconut meringue for me, which I was very happy with (I don't see that often), apple for another (served hot with ice cream), and the menu also had blueberry, lemon meringue, chocolate, and a mixed berry pie. Very friendly and chatty (but not overly so) waitress.

Thanks for the recommendation for Kac-Ka-Pon in Wardensville, WV! http://www.kackaponrestaurant.com/ We stopped there and were quite happy with our meal: two of us had pulled pork sandwiches and sweet potato waffle fries, one had a special of haddock over rice and a veggie side, and the kids had hot dogs and hamburgers (though I tried to sell them on the fried chicken). All was tasty, and good sauce on the pulled pork. Pie for dessert: coconut meringue for me, which I was very happy with (I don't see that often), apple for another (served hot with ice cream), and the menu also had blueberry, lemon meringue, chocolate, and a mixed berry pie. Very friendly and chatty (but not overly so) waitress. On the trip home, we stopped at The Rail Stop in The Plains, VA, where we've been for brunch a few years ago. It was a little fancier than I'd remembered (we'd called for a reservation and made sure that we'd be OK in T-shirts and shorts, but I felt underdressed) and a little more expensive than I'd thought, but since we'd cooked all weekend and eaten cheaply on the trip down, people didn't mind. Everyone was very pleased with their dinners: crab cakes in chive beurre blanc, rockfish with the same sauce, mussels in curry sauce, housemade ravioli with ricotta. The waitress was very nice and accommodating with the kids (offered to do pasta for one of them with the red sauce from another dish, though he ended up with the chicken and mashed potatoes), and they all liked their meals too (rockfish, crab cakes, steak, chicken, pasta).

I love the Bitter Pig and very much like the Turkey Meatball. Their red beans and rice dinner is tasty, though I found the crawfish etouffee disappointing (lacking in flavor and rather watery/soupy). I like the gumbo and don't mind the tomatoes - it has a nice rich flavor. My favorite thing there right now is the guava pastelito, which I think is only available Wednesdays when they have Cuban sandwiches. Really wish they'd carry these every day - they're fantastic!

Oh, that is a shame! Went there a couple months ago and enjoyed my usual ginger salad (they are always accommodating about adding shrimp or tofu to it). Shared it and the Kauswe Thoke, based on the recommendation above - it's not something I would've thought to order, and it was really good and very unusual in flavor.

We went to the Miss Shirley's in Annapolis (doesn't show up on the Multiple Locations list - probably a third location that was added later) on a colleague's suggestion. Had a fantastic brunch there. We shared crab balls (mini crabcakes) and sweet potato hash with andouille -- both were delicious. The crab balls were far better than the crabcake I'd had the night before at the dive near the water that supposedly had the best crabcakes in town (it was the 4th of July, maybe the chef was on vacation), and the hash was large, perfectly cooked cubes of sweet potato, slightly spicy sausage, and other ingredients that made the whole dish sing. For the main, I had coconut creme French toast. Just, wow. Huge, absolutely redolent of coconut, with coconut cream cheese inside the bread as well as coconut on top, and some caramelized or roasted (I forget) bananas with it. Best French toast I've had. This was all way too much food (even with the app and side being shared), but it was so good I ate as much of it as I could. Have forgotten what the rest of the group ate. My colleague had eaten peach mango pancakes (a special) when she went, and said it was incredible and not to miss it if they had it, but it wasn't the special when we went. (edit to remove my edit where I got confused about whether Inner Harbor meant B'more or Annapolis -- Multiple Locations says Baltimore and Inner Harbor, I thought the latter meant B'more and then rethought that maybe it was Annapolis, but looks like it does mean B'more. Geography: not my strong point.)

We're planning to stop at KaKaPoon - looking forward to good country food and homemade pie! Will definitely try to convince driver to stop at farm stands and get peaches and other good things.

Moorefield Thanks! I noted the place in Linden, but as long as someone was posting about WV anyway, figured I'd piggyback on that thread to see more recommendations from people who might not read Intrepid Traveler. Will most definitely look for peaches at farm stands, thanks so much for the tip!!

Thanks very much for the recommendations!!

We're also heading to WV, but with kid, for a weekend in the Seneca Rocks area. I'm told on the Intrepid Traveler boards that the best place in Moorefield WV isn't really worth eating at, so we'll plan to eat in. But for the trip there and back, between NoVa and the Moorefield WV area, any recommendations for casual places to stop and eat? The Ashby Inn isn't what we're looking for this trip - someplace we can go very casually-dressed is what we need. If BBQ, there needs to be a non-pork option as well. Thanks! Edit: One Block West and Element both look casual (and great - I really want to try One Block West), but are both closed Sundays and may not work for us on Friday since they recommend reservations and who knows about traffic. Would love something even more casual than these for the trip there (something where reservations aren't needed), and a Sunday option for the trip back.

Moorefield Thanks! We will plan not to eat out when we're there. Will check out Apple House for the trip.

Grant County - map - Moorefield and Petersburg area We're going to be in this part of WV soon - any restaurant recommendations there? any recommendations on the way there from NoVa? Thank you!