bettyjoan

The H Street bar crawl (actually, they called it a "progressive beer dinner") was a lot of fun, but I probably got more out of the food than the beer. It was hosted by Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada - mostly local distributers/reps, but the co-founder of Sierra Nevada was the crawl leader, and he had some good stories to tell and interesting info to share. We went to five different locations (Rock & Roll Hotel, H Street Country Club, Cusbah, Big Board, and Smith Commons), and with the exception of RnRH, each restaurant prepared three small bites/courses - the first was created to pair with the Sam Adams beer, the second was created to pair with the Sierra Nevada beer, and the third was created to pair equally well with both beers. Jason and I tapped out early and skipped Smith Commons, but we were absolutely STUFFED and rather tipsy, so the offerings were generous in my opinion. I really enjoyed a perfectly cooked chicken thigh with braised veggies at H Street CC, a lamb curry dish at Cusbah, and the spicy slider at Big Board. As for the beers, it started pretty traditional at RnRH, but then the breweries offered small batch and limited edition beers that we had never tried before. I wish I could remember some of them!

Thanks, DanielK - my computer wouldn't load the .net site for some reason, so I've been using the DC Beer site to find events. We are doing the H Street bar crawl on Monday and the BrewHaHa at Old Ebbitt on Saturday. Anyone else?

DC Beer Week is back starting on Sunday night, and there appear to be a ton of events. Does anyone have any recommendations from prior beer week experience? Is anyone going to any of the shindigs? www.dcbeer.com/dcbw2013 The Hop Chef event sounds interesting, but Breaking Bad is going to win out on Sunday evening in our house. The Old Ebbitt BrewHaHa also looks like it could be fun (or it could be a ridiculous madhouse). Interested in reading peoples' plans!

Agree. And definitely agree about the Bed Bath & Beyond coupons - I hoard those things to help defray the (small) cost of the cartridge refills. My husband drinks TONS of carbonated water, so the SodaStream probably paid for itself the first week we had it. Plus, it means we don't have to lug big pallets of Pellegrino from the store (and it eliminates the associated waste, since we're not cycling through dozens of bottles).

I am drinking this right now at Churchkey, on draft. I don't get "big" malt at all, which is a good thing in my book. It definitely doesn't taste as high-grav as it is. I think it's really well balanced and not a total hop bomb. I'm enjoying it immensely.

Farfalle with meat sauce (the sauce was another slow cooker creation, and it was GOOD - I love coming home and only having to boil noodles to get dinner ready) Fresh peaches for dessert

Sweet and sour chicken, made in the Crock Pot - surprisingly tasty for a make-ahead-type meal (especially one whose recipe came from Cooking Light) White rice Ben & Jerry's Late Night Snack ice cream - not as good as Americone Dream, but it'll do in a pinch

In Denver for one night next week, for work. Actually, I will be in the Lakewood area. Anything I should look out for while in town?

Moliterno al tartufo cheese, from Cheesetique Cheese ravioli with a quick suce of roasted tomatoes/shallots, olive oil, balsamic, and basil Romaine, tomato, and cuke salad (again) Love it when summer veggies are good!

Corn risotto (this one turned out meh - for some reason, just couldn't coax the right texture out of the rice - boo) Romaine, tomato, and cucumber salad with maple vinaigrette

Jason and I are thinking about heading to Philly this weekend to catch a game (probably the Saturday 4:05). We'll likely stay at the Holiday Inn by the stadium, and I imagine that we'll be able to eat and drink well enough at the ballpark, based on some comments above, that we won't need to go anywhere afterward for dinner. Yea/nay? Does anyone have a great brunch recommendation for Sunday AM? Location doesn't matter, as we'll be packed up and ready to come home, so we'll just park wherever we can. --- [The following posts have been split into separate threads: Criniti's (monavano)]

Jason and I had happy hour and dinner at Casa Luca on Friday night, and we enjoyed ourselves. The sparking wine by the glass is a touch too sweet for me, but for $5 at happy hour, it was a nice way to ease into the weekend. Cocktails are great - we ordered both on and off menu, and both were successful (I particularly enjoyed the Cornicello, with tequila, chili-infused Aperol, St. Germain, and lime). We started with some breads, manchego, and a prosciutto and corn starter. Everything was tasty, but the cheese bread disappointed a bit (dry, and not much cheese flavor) - the flatbread was the star of the carbs. After our happy hour companions departed, we ordered some pasta - bucatini for husband and gnocchi for me. Both were delicious, and the pastas perfectly cooked. The duck ragu on the gnocchi was super flavorful, and very filling - I felt like the portion sizes were more than enough for a dinner portion, since the food is so hearty. We weren't too full for a dessert, so we opted for the hazelnut coffee cake. Yum - great texture, and the caramel gelato that came with it was some of the best I have ever had. Service at the bar was excellent, even though it was hoppin' (the restaurant itself, surprisingly, didn't really start filling up till closer to 8 PM). We drank quite a bit, 4-5 rounds for each of us, so the tab was bigger than I was anticipating - but I feel that the prices are reasonable for what you get and you can certainly have a less expensive meal if you're not big lushes like we are. If I had to choose, I'd probably stick with the bar at Fiola for my happy hour, but I'm so pleased to have a more moderately priced Italian option. Bravo and congrats to Chef and his crew!

Gnocchi with yellow squash, basil, and goat cheese

Risotto is my favorite thing to make for company, since it seems difficult but I actually find it quite simple. I made a batch of corn and pea risotto with seared scallops while vacationing in Sonoma last week, and it was a hit. Good ingredients are key, and also the drinking wine while stirring. My only regret is that I didn't have the right supplies for next-day arancini.

Greek-seasoned steak pitas Frozen peas Vacation was nice, but I am always happy to come back to the kitchen.

SVT, I am jealous! I wanted to go to the brewery, but it was about a 45 minute drive from where we were staying, and we didn't want to chance drinking too much and not having a good way back. As I mentioned, we were able to get Pliny the Elder in Sonoma, but I would have loved trying some of their other less-available varieties. Maybe next time. We were running the Napa to Sonoma half marathon, so I don't think we were anywhere near the Redwood Grove, but I'm not certain - we started at Cuvaison in Napa and wound our way back to the finish in Sonoma Plaza. My slowest half ever, but gosh darnit if the weather wasn't GORGEOUS (especially after the 100+ degree nastiness we left in DC).

Spent two nights in SF on the front and back ends of our wine country trip. The first night, we went to Bar Tartine (in the Mission) for dinner. It is a really cute space, and the food - which has a bit of an Eastern European tilt - was quite good. Smoked potatoes with ramp mayo and roasted chicken with creamed corn and huitlachoche were highlights. No liquor, just wine and beer (and some "cocktails" crafted from both). Service was pretty atrocious, unfortunately - the server just didn't read us well at all, so we spent a lot of time waiting and looking for her. Hopefully it was just a bad night for her. Luckily, we finished the evening with Bi-Rite ice cream - which is enough to make me forget about anything bad! The last night, we ate at my brother-in-law's "underground" or "supper club" type restaurant, Lazy Bear. I know I am biased because I am family, but if you have any way to go, you should go. It was such a fun and delicious dining experience. If you're interested in the menu, it's posted here: http://www.lazybearsf.com/blog/ - my favorites were the soup, the fish, and the play on the ambrosia dessert.

Also just returned from wine country (we stayed about a mile off the Sonoma plaza). We rented a house and mostly cooked in, since we were there for a race and didn't want any weird tummy issues. However, if you are a beer lover in Sonoma, I definitely recommend Hopmonk Tavern, right off Broadway. They have a great draft selection, including the elusive Pliny the Elder (though, do note, they get limited kegs once a week from the brewery, so when it's gone it's gone - we were able to get it Thursday and Friday, but not Sunday). Food is mostly standard bar fare, but they have a very good grilled cheese.

Blech, that is a restaurant wasteland, unfortunately, so a cab to somewhere will probably be required. My faves - Holeman & Finch and Cakes & Ale - are probably a bit too far. I would recommend heading over to the Westside area and trying either Miller Union, The Optimist, or Bocado. Let me know if you need anything else, and definitely let me know how it turns out!

When you say "in the city," where do you mean? Atlanta is not as small and compact as DC, so there are lots of little neighborhoods with unique food offerings. If you tell me where you are staying and how far you're willing to travel for yumminess, I can definitely give you some recommendations.

I am so excited that this idea has really taken off - especially since HOORAY, I am being taken off my previous migraine medication and switched to something that does NOT impact my enjoyment of carbonated beverages! I can't wait to start participating in these discussions again. The taste buds aren't quite back to normal (it may still take some time to completely clear the Topamax from my system), but I'm hoping they will be up and running for our trip to California this week. Mmmm, Pliny...

There were also a number of spontaneous rallies/protests after the Zimmerman verdict came in. U Street, Adams Morgan, and Columbia Heights were the primary gathering and marching points, according to news reports.

For our one "fancy" meal of the weekend, Jason and I brought my parents to Fiola. Even though Casa Luca was garnering all of the attention (our server said that on Friday night, CL did more covers than Fiola), I could not have been more thrilled with our choice - dinner was absolutely spectacular in every aspect. And it was a momentous occasion indeed, as it marked the first time I have visited Fiola and actually stepped past the bar. I know people complain that Fiola is loud, but I just love the energy in there - it is vibrant, celebratory, and FUN. Cocktails were lovely (even though we missed Jeff, who was over at the new spot), as always. Artur was our server, and in addition to being absolutely adorable, he was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive while still maintaining a wonderful warmth and sense of humor. It was some of the best service I have ever received - precise and professional, but not pretentious. It reminded me of how I felt at the French Laundry - pampered, but also somehow like I was at my own home. Bravo. Food was fantastic. We thought about the tasting menu (note: the whole table does not have to partake, AND they will switch things out if you have dietary issues - so nice to see some flexibility there), but decided to go a la carte. We did two apps for the table, and then each of us got a half order of pasta and a meat/main course. The ahi tuna carpaccio and burrata apps were wonderful, as always - so beautifully presented and full of flavor. I thoroughly enjoyed the spaghetti with sea urchin, but the goat cheese ravioli was delicious as well - like summer in a bowl, with squash and basil. Mom loved her lobster ravioli. For mains, the absolute star of the show was that veal chop - I mean, the presentation, the flavors, the sheer AMOUNT of food, it was all just astounding. The guinea hen was also a very noteworthy dish - very tender and moist. Dad had sturgeon, which I don't think I've ever had before, and it was perfectly cooked. My pork special, with loin and stuffed trotters, was also delicious. We only ordered bomboloni for dessert (yum, as always), but they also brought out a chocolate something or other (sorry for the lame description, but I couldn't even get a bite, with the other vultures at the table) and the zuppa inglese, which was really nice and light for a hot evening. Limoncello and cappuccino were perfect finishing touches. The pacing was awesome - from start to finish, it was 3 hours, which was perfect for us since we wanted to really savor and enjoy both the food and the company. Fiola is spendy, there is no doubt. But for the dining experience we got, our whole party felt like it was worth every penny. Again, thanks to Artur for taking great care of us (and for assuring us that his feelings would not be hurt if we still preferred the bar).

Brought my parents to brunch yesterday - my mom and dad inhaled the chopped liver, and mom emphatically proclaimed that it reminded her of her grandmother's version (which is the highest of high praise). She also had nothing but compliments for the matzo ball soup. I, of course, continue to order and thoroughly enjoy the Benedictberg - it is just too good for me to even think about ordering anything else. The challah french toast was a good choice for dessert - it is a HUGE portion, but split between 4 people it was just the right amount of sweetness to end the meal. One of these days, I need to get to dinner at DGS, but I enjoy brunch so much it is hard to deviate!

I love the Roosevelt Island suggestion as well - when I was living in temporary housing in Rosslyn, I loved strolling over there. I looked up Martin's Tavern, and it seems like just the kind of thing that would work well in this situation. Do you think 6 people would have a hard time getting a table for a late lunch without a reservation? Depending on when our guests arrive (sadly for this "Type A" girl, they are less than decisive about when they will be leaving and their ETA and whatnot), we could cab over to Georgetown, get lunch, and then walk it all off by hiking over to the Island. Then we can Metro back from Rosslyn.