Halloween

Oh. My. Gosh. I'm going to pass out. The beef, the wine, the hospitality. I could go on and on. Thanks to everyone for a lovely evening.

Is this what passes for respected, objective food criticism?

Aside from reading as if the article were hastily generated through a Mad-Lib program, Mr. Sietsema bullies a casual Italian chain restaurant that does not advertise seasonality for serving benign asparagus year round? Hollywood handsome chefs and other established starred sweethearts can serve unseasonal produce and proteins unchallenged, however pedestrian eateries designed for the broad and many hungry get a undeserved tisk-tisk, much like the silly “easy on the carbs, please” reproach Red Rocks Pizzeria received. There are also seasons in France and the United States and pretty much every other country above and below the tropics (I looked it up). Il Fornaio boasts “authenticity”...but so does the popularly revered Olive Garden. Neither herald seasonality. The critic should have objected to the Tagliata Chianina item which surely is not Chianina cattle (USDA “choice” at the Vegas outlet).

Approachable establishments are not designed to “attract patrons looking for discernment on a plate” and should not be held to the other half's elite standards.

Who is that masked man known as Poivrot Farci?

I prefer 8, but can do either one. Thanks!

Nice detective work!

Don, maybe you and Todd can HUG IT OUT at your date night?!

I am hoping this is a reference to The Office!!

I don't read the "chog" anymore because I don't like the words chog or chogger, and he uses them in every chat. This is my own petty pet peeve, but those words just grate on my ears.

I just heard from someone who left early because the film was so boring. She said a number of people in the theater were snoring.

Huh. That's too bad. The trailer sold me on the movie, but this is beginning to sound like a dvd rental. Maybe someone from the site (legant?) needs to go on a fact-finding mission.

Many thanks to Dean, Kay, and Tom for taking such good care of my mother on her birthday. She and I stopped by for apps at the bar (yes, I got my mother to sit at the bar), and we had a wonderful time. It was her first visit to Dino, but she had heard about the pork shank (which was not on the menu that night) from my brother. At some point, she said to me, "Where is Dean? I have a few questions to ask him." Hilarious.

I am having insatiable cravings for Ting, the best citrus soda around. It is a product from Jamaica, all natural, real grapefruit. Anyone know where I might be able to find it around the DC? Vodka Ting's are the official cocktail of Jamaica for good reason. It has to be around somewhere, Pepsi distributes it. Thanks.

I think you can find it a Tropicana (several DC locations) and Taste of Jamaica.

still in.

I'm in. My friend Cyndee and I are walking a half marathon in March (SO needed the motivation), so this challenge comes at the perfect time. I need all the motivation I can get!

No news here? I buy my wine from Ace Beverage (thank you Joe Riley), but Grape Legs is (was) around the corner, and I always felt compelled to support them. What happened?

(Yes, I am pulling a crescentfresh!)

I like Earth, Wind, and Fire (in particular, Love's Holiday); D'Angelo; the Rolling Stones; and, Bruce (especially The Rising). Yep.

Am I invited?

The kabocha squash tart (pie) that we had tonight kicked ass! And, I won't even mention the totally awesome special appetizer - I hope it makes the new menu.

It totally kicked ass. Like it saw thanksgiving and said, "I see your thanksgiving and raise you a kabocha tart," and the tart won. I won't call it a pie, given all the right angles involved, but damn that was a good pastry-based dessert. And, Scooter rocked the wine service. He gave us a tour of Sonoma County, and then transported us to Oregon. What a fun night!

/bump/

Does anyone know what's going on at Grape Legs? It's been closed each time I've been in the neighborhood. Did Franco move on to another ad-venture?

I've had the same experiences, Lydia. I wonder what's up. I call, I stop by, and nothing.

Darn it! I'll be out of town for work.

I'm still looking for a kick off time for this event. Since I work in DC I'll be coming straight from work. Is anyone going to be there prior to 6?

I'll be arriving between 6:30 and 7.

I'll be at Proof at 5:30 or so.

Anybody going to the Springsteen show tonight at the Verizon Center? I'll be whimming before the show, probably at Corduroy or Proof.

"Post drunk and edit early."

It's a good rule of thumb, but you have to remember to do the second part!

Very funny, Rocks!

Ulysses and I have contributed to this sacred community by sharing quotes from The Office, Season 3, Episode: Product Recall, where Jim imitates Dwight. It is, by far, one of the funniest moments of the four-season series. You've got to watch it! Although I have been drunk the better part of this week, I was not drunk at 5:11 this morning when I posted the dialogue from the second part of the scene. I'll have to work on that!

And, to keep things relevant, I enjoyed the lickety-split lunch this summer, and look forward to experiencing the tasting room this fall.

Fact, Don is awesome.

Question, which bear eats beets while watching battlestar galactica?

Bears do not . . . What is going on? What are you doing?

You know what . . . imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I thank you.

Identity theft is not a joke, Jim! Millions of families suffer every year!

Yes. I am obsessed (with The Office), and i'm looking forward to trying the tasting room at eve.

I'm on my third trip to Anguilla, and let's just say I will have a few pounds to lose when I return to DC. I am traveling with friends who love to eat and drink, so we rarely cook, and we drink frequently. Here are a few places I recommend:

Tasty's - everything on the menu, especially the seafood salad, whole anguillan snapper, and the coconut tart

E's Oven - coconut-crusted grouper

Straw Hat - everything on the menu, say hello to Armel

Deon's Overlook - head here for an amazing breakfast and inspiring view of Sandy Ground ( he also runs the kitchen at Ku and has a place in the vineyard)

Picante - seafood enchilada, fish tacos, great drinks, amazing hospitality

un amore - pizza, nice crust, say hello to Armel, who will take good care of you

Ku - on the beach, herb-marinated chicken wings, ginger-coconut coladas, live music (The Happy Hits) some nights.

Trattoria Tramonto - on the beach, classy, everything's good, may close at the end of this season, celebrity sightings

Ferryboat Inn - very casual, wednesday is wing night

Pumphouse - food is alright, especially the burgers, but the live music (the Musical Brothers on Thursday nights) will keep you and everyone else on the island there for hours.

Smokey's - on the beach, nice fish, chicken, and bbq

Koal Keel - dinner by candlelight, tour of the wine cellar, historic

(Will add more info when I return.)

Im there!

Welcome, and congrats on your first post!

How's Anguilla, Monique?

It's great, Rocks!

Rum, with punch.