bettyjoan

Jason and I stopped by yesterday to watch some football and check out the beer list.  It's a decent list, but it's never a good sign when the first beer you ask for is kicked (and I was frustrated reading the "Next Up" portion of the menu, which lists the beers that are upcoming - apparently they switch more like Tuesday/Wednesday, and not whenever a variety is sold out).  They do have some interesting beers in the bottle, which is at least something to play around with if the drafts are readily available elsewhere in DC (which is what we found to be largely true).

We didn't have a ton of food, just corn/crab hushpuppies (actually quite good) and lamb neck gravy with ricotta (tasty, but they never give you enough crostini/bread to sop it all up, and by the time we got more, it was cold).  It seems like they are going for an upscale sports bar kind of vibe, but I found the prices for the food VERY high (and not a particularly good value for what you got, judging on nearby orders).

Service was very spotty at the beginning (the bartenders were paying more attention to each other than to customers), but I think we were there during a shift change - once they had some more staff show up, they were more attentive and friendly.

As someone mentioned above, I think this is a great option before a Caps game (and it will certainly be a big draw for tourists staying at the nearby hotels), but I'm not sure I would make a special trip.

Texas chili con carne - I am competing in a chili cook-off at work on Tuesday, which will be a test run for the big event on Sunday.  It smells great, but it seems to be coming out a bit spicier than I intended.  Oh, well - it'll cure what ails ya!

Quinoa and black bean salad with a lemon-basil dressing - I ate mine meatless, and husband had his with some chicken.

Right!  I forgot that JJ's has expanded like crazy and that the 5 Points location is not their only one anymore.  I have a tendency to remember Athens for what it was when I was in college, not what it is now - though, the two aren't THAT far apart.

Athens has a nice little food scene - depending on what you are in the mood for, there really should be something to fit the bill.  Between my recs and Flagpole (and perhaps asking around at the first place or two you visit), you should be in good shape.  Please do report back, and all the best to your loved one who had surgery.  She is lucky to have you.

And *I* ... <snort, fume> ... went to Clemson.

But I dated a girl from Athens, so it's okay.

Hey, before this year, I had nothing but love for Clemson - I loved watching them beat up on South Carolina.  I am definitely looking forward to next season's rematch, on our turf.

I think Clemson belongs in the SEC.  We should trade Kentucky or Vanderbilt to the ACC in exchange for your Tigers. 

I went to college in Athens - it is a lovely place.  Where are you staying, and what will your car situation be?  While the city isn't terribly huge, it can be tough to navigate on foot.

For coffee, if you can, definitely go to Jittery Joe's in Five Points (at the intersection of South Milledge Avenue, South Lumpkin Street, and Milledge Circle).

I feel like most restaurants in Athens would offer food to-go (though maybe not delivery - if you can pick up the food yourself, the options are probably much wider).  However, my favorites are the Blind Pig Tavern (divey, but great burgers and beer), DePalma's (Italian), Mama's Boy (breakfast), and the Last Resort Grill.  Hugh Acheson's places, Five & Ten and The National, are both very nice as well (more upscale).

The Flagpole is the local "City Paper" equivalent, and they have a good city guide: http://guide.flagpole.com/

Let me know if you have any other questions.  I am jealous!

Meatless Monday - "Blush" macaroni and cheese with tomatoes and spinach (the sauce was somewhat like vodka sauce, and it had a pinky hue due to tomato paste).  I think cavatappi is my absolute favorite shape of pasta.

Will be in Nashville January 13-16, staying out in West End (near Vanderbilt).  Any suggestions for food and beer?  Probably won't be with a particularly adventurous bunch, but a bar with a solid draft list always makes me happy.

Thank you so much for the suggestions.  We are doing our next event at our apartment club room (they agreed to waive the rental fee), since we wanted to  bring in our own food and drink.  However, depending on where we stand with our fundraising after that, I will definitely keep Radius in mind.  Public Bar was also suggested by a DR member.

My sister wants to know if she can substitute peanut butter for the Nutella filling. I might have to try that...

I think you could substitute any kind of nut butter for the Nutella - they are essentially the same consistency, and you're basically just putting a little dollop in the middle of all the cookie dough.  Depending on the PB you used, you may want less sea salt at the end to preserve the salty/sweet balance - but, that precise balance is very personal.  I say go for it!

Joe H, sorry, you're right about the opening time on Fri and Sat. I just checked their website, and it now says dinner at 5:00 pm on Fri and Sat. It used to be 5:30. (Website says 5:30 for Mon to Thurs.)

(Bettyjoan, also good to know about the opening time for other days. Or possibly even earlier on Fri or Sat?)

Seems like maybe they found themselves opening earlier than 5:30 on Fri/Sat (because of crowd-management and ticket staggering and whatnot), so they just changed the official time on the website.  Either way, getting there at or before opening is probably a good idea, especially if you have a particular seat you want to snag.

Joe H, the restaurant opens at 5:30 pm, not 5 pm.

I think you'll need to get there earlier than opening, maybe 5:15 pm will work for Fri, and I would go even earlier if on Sat (my thinking is many people are at work on Fri so can't get there as early as they can on Sat).

I was there for dinner on Mon, Dec 23 (holiday week so more people out of town? Or family in town? Also Tom Sietsema review had come out that past week). We arrived about 5:25 pm and were able to sit at the chef's counter. There were a few people ahead of us but the line had grown quickly by 5:30. If I recall correctly, the place looked full by 6 pm.

I've eaten as a solo diner at the chef's counter a few times and had a great time.

The restaurant is supposed to open at 5:30.  However, I can tell you that when we went two Saturdays ago, it was packed already at 5:45 - and when we were discussing it with the bartender, he indicated that they opened the doors early that night (at 5:00 instead).  Apparently, the crowd waiting was already large enough that they worried about overloading the kitchen smack at 5:30, so they adjusted to better stagger things.

Not sure if that was a one-time thing or a game-time decision that the management makes each evening, but it's something to keep in mind.

These Nutella-stuffed brown butter chocolate chip cookies with sea salt. Ohmygod! http://thebitesizedbaker.com/2012/09/18/nutella-stuffed-browned-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies-with-sea-salt/

Ohmygod indeed.  I just made these, and holy moly are they tasty.  They are labor intensive, but definitely worth it.

Baked potatoes with shredded BBQ chicken, sharp cheddar, chives, and a bit of sour cream. Yum.

Jason and I enjoyed some food and drink at the bar last night - we love Jeff and wanted to see him and check out the bar area.  It is a really gorgeous space - you can feel the history, but it's not run-down or old in the cheesy, antique sense.  The team did a wonderful job with the renovations.  The only downside is that the bar room/area is very narrow, so when the seats are full and people are waiting, it is quite cramped.  When the weather warms up, the patio will solve that problem - and I think their outdoor seating will be a tremendous draw.

Cocktails were, as expected, lovely - Jason had an off-the-menu creation, but I had the Hearts Alive, with gin, grapefruit, cointreau, cappelletti, and chocolate bitters.  It was beautifully balanced, and the chocolate bitters at the back end were just the perfect touch.  The beer selection is quite varied, and I enjoyed both the brut rose and the dry Italian white (sorry, can't remember the specifics) that I had by the glass.

We started with the salami fritters, which were delicious (Jason compared them to a high-end Hot Pocket, which is pretty apt even though it sounds awful), and the three dips - I liked the kohlrabi tzatziki the best, and Jason preferred the feta.  Then we tried the gemelli with rabbit, mustard, and olives, and the cannelloni with chicken and fennel sausage.  The gemelli was outstanding - perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, full of great flavor and texture.  The cannelloni was quite good, but it paled in comparison to the gemelli.

As the menu changes, I will be excited to go back and try more dishes.  I think the menu is the perfect size - plenty to choose from, but not so big that you worry about execution.  Congratulations to the whole team!

Thank you to Don and everyone else who has graciously donated - I really appreciate your support!  This community continues to amaze me.

We still need chili-makers for our 1/12 event - we have 3-4 entries right now, and I was hoping for more like 8-12.  Let me know if you want to compete!  Also, if anyone knows of any "food folk" who would be interested in judging, please send them my way - we will definitely have an audience vote, but I thought it would also be fun to have a "professional" weigh in.

I think it's going to be a really fun event, and it is for a cause that is very near and dear to my heart (and hubby's heart as well).  Let me know if you need more info!

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season!

Betty

I won't go into Christmas Eve dinner with the in-laws.  But our Christmas Day meal with friends was delicious and soul-satisfying.  There was a Latin theme, and the hosts cooked empanadas, Panamanian carimanolas (my absolute favorite dish of the night), black beans, Spanish rice, and slow-roasted pork.  Absolutely delicious.  The wine flowed very freely, which made for a very rowdy game of Cards Against Humanity after dinner. 

Made some of these yesterday - http://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/pretzel-cowboy-cookies/13763/

I liked them, but I thought they leaned too much toward the salty side of the spectrum and needed maybe a little more chocolate?  Strangely enough, husband thought they were too sweet.  To each his own. 

A follow up on the pretzel cowboy cookies - they hardened (like they were going stale) SO fast, I have no idea why (they were in airtight containers), and it really ruined them.  I have some of the dough in the freezer, as the recipe suggested, but I guess I will have to be prepared to serve them right out of the oven.  Boo.

Made some of these yesterday - http://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/pretzel-cowboy-cookies/13763/

I liked them, but I thought they leaned too much toward the salty side of the spectrum and needed maybe a little more chocolate?  Strangely enough, husband thought they were too sweet.  To each his own. 

Jason and I went to Rose's last night - after a run through Capitol Hill yesterday, we were motivated to head back to the area to check out this very buzzy restaurant.  Bottom line - Rose's exceeded expectations, which were already pretty darn high based on feedback here and elsewhere.  I can't remember the last time I had a meal that had so few flaws and that was so much fun.

I knew it was going to be crowded, so we got in a cab around 5:30.  By the time we got to the restaurant (definitely before 6), the tables were all full and the upstairs bar only had one seat available.  We always prefer to sit at the bar, so I took the open seat and we were prepared to have cocktails until another one opened up.  After about 15-20 minutes, one of the bartenders coordinated the adding of one more seat and the "scooching" of a solo diner, so Jason could sit down and we could start to order food.  How wonderful that they noticed an easy fix and made it happen quickly and happily.  We even wound up chatting all night with the woman who graciously moved.

We ordered about half of the small plates on the menu.  First, we ordered the Vietnamese pate and the popcorn soup.  We had a little snafu with the pate, as it came out with a layer of peanuts on top (NOT noted on the menu), to which I am allergic.  No problem - a peanut-less version came out in seconds.  It was delicious - like the best banh mi sandwich you ever had (it came with pickled veg, fresh herbs, and grilled crusty bread).  The popcorn soup was my least favorite dish of the night, which is not to say that it is bad (it's not).  Rather, it was very rich (Jason commented that it was more like a mousse than a soup) and a tad too sweet.  I'm glad I tried it, but I probably wouldn't order it again.  Jason liked it a lot more than I did.  Bread service came out with our first plates, and oh my gosh was it amazing.  Fluffy potato bread, served with perfectly soft, smooth butter (which had chives and tiny crispy potato skin bits) - it disappeared very quickly.

Next we had the grilled romaine and the cacio e pepe.  For me, they were the best dishes of the night - just flawless.  The romaine had a subtle spice and was so savory and satisfying, I forgot I was eating lettuce.  I don't even have words to describe the cacio e pepe.  Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned - such a simple pleasure, but remarkably well-executed.

For our last round of "dinner," we had the fried chicken and a soft-shell crawfish with grits and hot sauce beurre blanc.  The fried chicken was fabulous - crispy, hot, sweet, moist, flavorful, and perfect with the Crystal hot sauce they brought with it.  I thought it was a generous portion as well.  The crawfish itself wasn't super flavorful, but the grits were spectacular and the sauce was delicious and made up for any issues with the protein.

For dessert, we tried the olive oil cake with vanilla ice cream and sea salt.  It was the ideal amount of sweetness for me - nothing cloying, and a great end to the meal.  I also got some French press coffee that tasted as good as it smelled.

Service at the bar was phenomenal.  Despite the fact that the space was VERY full (in addition to the butts in seats, there was a substantial layer of people standing around waiting and ordering drinks), the bartenders were tuned in to the needs of all of their guests.  I let the staff select my wines based on a couple of preference notes, and the choices were great.  We never felt pressured, rushed, or anything other than completely warm and welcome.

In total, we were there for nearly three hours, and we ordered 3 glasses of wine, 2 cocktails, 2 beers, 6 small plates, 1 dessert, 1 coffee, and 1 parting shot of Jameson.  The tab was $141 before tip.  I'd happily pay more for the experience we had (though of course I hope I won't have to), and I cannot wait to go back.

Jason was craving Mexican food last weekend, so we decided to try El Centro's brunch.  Just before noon, we snagged two seats easily at the bar toward the back of the ground floor.  The bartendress was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and fun - well done!  We decided to go with the unlimited brunch, which allows you access to everything on the regular brunch menu, just in smaller quantities (but you can order multiples, because, duh, it's unlimited).  It is $35, and it also includes unlimited bloody Marys, mimosas, micheladas, or agua fresca cocktails.  I really like these unlimited brunches, not because I am going to eat my body weight in enchiladas, but because it allows me to try a lot of things on the menu so I know what I like (or don't like) if/when I return.

Highlights, in addition to the service, were the guacamole, the shrimp enchiladas, a chorizo/potato torta sandwich, the chicken tinga tacos, and the enfrijoladas (scrambled eggs with a bean sauce and chorizo).  Just okay were the flautas, the Mexican Benedict, the lengua tacos (just needed a bit more salt to move them to the highlights list), and the desserts (churros and plantains).  I also really enjoyed the hibiscus agua fresca, and Jason liked the michelada a lot.

I have heard great things about the rooftop, but the interior space was nothing to write home about.  I will say, it was fun to sit at the bar and have a view into the kitchen - the cooks were busting out some serious brunch, and they didn't even look like they were breaking a sweat.  Everything came out hot and fast, so they obviously have it down to a science.  Based on our experience, we would definitely go back.

A member of DR recommended Dupont Circle Chiropractic (based on raves from his colleagues), so I decided to bite the bullet and make an appointment.  I started seeing a chiropractor in Atlanta about two years ago, but since she was also a very close friend of mine, I was somewhat concerned that I wouldn't feel as comfortable with any doctor here in DC.

The office is very convenient to the Dupont Circle Metro station, and though it is a small space, it is clean and comfortable.  Ariana, the office assistant, is friendly and helpful, and she knew me by name after only a couple of visits.   When I have had to cancel or change appointments, they have been extremely flexible and understanding.

Dr. Feier is definitely a character - he has a dry/sarcastic sense of humor (which I like, but may not be for everyone), and he is very direct when he speaks (no coddling, not a lot of small talk).  He is very knowledgeable, and I did not have any issues understanding the information and feedback he provided regarding my situation and his recommended course of treatment.  I have never felt pressured to do anything I wasn't comfortable with.  It's important to note that the exam area is open, so there are often multiple patients doing various things simultaneously.  In some cases, Dr. Feier even engages one patient to review aspects of another patient's case (with permission, of course), which helps everyone learn.  I think that's the key - Dr. Feier wants his patients to learn about what causes their issues and why he's addressing them in a particular way.  In addition to talking to his patients, Dr. Feier uses technology (videos/presentations on iPad and audio tracks on iPod) to impart more knowledge about chiropractic philosophies and methods.

I have been seeing Dr. Feier for a little over a month now, and he and I have both noticed a lot of progress being made.  My treatment involves both adjustments and traction, and I have not had any issues with either.

Bottom line, I would definitely recommend Dupont Circle Chiropractic.

Betty Joan Thurber Rhoades

Join us for a Chili Cook-Off and Tailgate to Benefit Team In Training!

Date: Sunday, January 12, 2014

Time: 1 PM to 8 PM

Location: Flats 130 Club Room, 130 M Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Admission: $15 in advance, $20 at the door ($10 if you are making chili)

Help us tailgate to fight cancer!  We will have the NFL playoffs on the TVs, and there will be beer (keg generously donated by Capitol City Brewing Company), snacks, fun, and of course, CHILI!

Admission includes all you can eat/drink and 1 raffle ticket.

In addition to prizes, there will be a 50/50 raffle - 50% of the cash goes to Team In Training, and the other 50% goes to the winner!  The more tickets you buy, the bigger the pot AND the greater your chances of winning!  Tickets will be $2 for one, $5 for 5, or $20 for your whole armspan!

If you are interested in competing in the chili cook-off or making an in-kind donation (restaurant owners - gift cards would be great for the raffle, or you could certainly donate snacks - we can credit you as a sponsor), or if you have other questions, please PM me and I will be happy to help!

If you would like to purchase advance tickets, go to the website below and pay via a donation to my website (tax deductible, of course).  Make sure in the notes you include your name(s) and that you are paying for your chili cook-off ticket.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/rnrusa14/bettyrh

THANK YOU!!!  I really hope to see some DR folks there.

Betty 

Tuesday night -

Lamb and orzo stuffed peppers with marinara and goat cheese

Spinach salad with radishes and roasted beets

Last night -

Assorted leftovers

Cauliflower and brussels sprout gratin

Pan seared pork chops (great minds think alike, dcandohio)

Mustard/shallot pan sauce

Roasted parsnips and carrots

Spinach salad with radishes and roasted beets