bettyjoan

I'll be heading up to Baltimore for a conference during the last week of July, and I'll be staying at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. I will not have access to a car. I'll be there for four dinners--does anyone have suggestions for not-to-miss restaurants within safe walking distance? All price points and food genres will be considered, though I'd like to keep the ol' government per diem (which, I believe, is between $50 and $60 per day) in mind. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

I've heard good buzz about JCT, though its newness may result in some inconsistencies. Seems like a decent choice for good food in a more casual atmosphere, but have you thought about Watershed? It's only a short drive to Decatur, and Scott Peacock is doing amazing things with southern-themed food in a chic but relaxed environment. People argue about whether Bone's or Chops is Atlanta's premiere steakhouse, but I think it's probably a toss-up. I haven't eaten at either lately, but way back when, I enjoyed my meals at both places. They are both "power steakhouses," so you can be sure you'll get top quality food at top-dollar prices. Make sure you call ahead and confirm whether jackets/ties are required (I can't remember off the top of my head). I don't think steakhouses are Atlanta's forte--so if you decide to stray from that path, let me know and I can try to recommend something else. Enjoy your trip!

Sunday night was rigatoni with fresh goat cheese, spinach, and sauteed mushrooms. Very hearty and satisfying. Monday the low-fat diet started, so dinner was grilled halibut with pineapple lime salsa. Aside from the jalapenos not providing enough heat (I think I'm going to start cooking with habaneros or something else with more fire), it was a really colorful dish with clean flavors.

For probably the first time since my move, I am really sad that I'm not in DC. Sounds like another home run for the Ray's family--bravo, and keep up the great work!

The past couple of days have brought steak fajitas, DELICIOUS turkey burgers (with gruyere, mustard, green onions, and breadcrumbs mixed into the ground meat--so very moist and juicy), and a curried pea frittata with tomato chutney. I've been relying heavily lately on my "Good Food Fast" cookbook (associated with "Martha Stewart Living" magazine), but I think I'm ready to bust into some more advanced dishes now that I'm acclimated to my kitchen and getting settled into a routine.

There are a lot of places to get "meat and three" plates in Atlanta, but I just went to one of the most beloved--Eats. It's on Ponce de Leon, and it's a pretty busted lookin' place. BUT, there's a reason it just celebrated its 15-year anniversary. A "meat and two" plate with jerk chicken, mac 'n cheese, black beans, and cornbread costs less than $7, but it's enough food to keep you going all day long. The HALF chicken was literally falling off the bone, and it had a great kick--it definitely didn't taste of any commercial, mass-produced jerk seasoning. The mac 'n cheese was a solid rendition, and very cheesy. The beans were wonderful, with a creamy texture and a chili-enhanced flavor. I don't really like cornbread (I know, blasphemy), so I can't comment on that--and I don't think I would have been able to stuff it in anyway. Eats also has a pasta bar, where you can customize your noodles, sauces, and toppings. I think it will be a long while before I try that, though. I still have to get through the meatloaf, collards, green beans... Very diverse crowd--old and young, black and white, yuppies and emo hipsters. Cool place all around!

Last night was fish tacos--sauteed tilapia, red cabbage slaw (with sour cream, lime juice, scallions, and jalapeno), and fresh cilantro. The soft tortillas contrasted with the crunchy slaw, and the warm fish contrasted with the cold veggies. Yum! A very refreshing and light summer din-din.

Okay, my first restaurant report from Atlanta--TWO urban licks, which is part of the Concentrics Restaurant Group (they own about 8 places in the Metro area), and which happens to be right across the street from my loft. The ambiance is kind of over the top--very industrial, and trying VERY hard to be hip. For appetizers, Jason and I shared the oxtail empanadas with roasted garlic aioli ($10) and the sweet and spicy calamari with basil and cilantro ($10). The empanadas had a very healthy helping of queso on top, which, when combined with the aioli, greatly overpowered the dish. However, when I scraped off the excess toppings and got a bite of just oxtail and pastry, the flavors really sang--the meat was insanely tender from braising and incredibly well-seasoned. The calamari was fried perfectly--not chewy, not greasy, just crispy and tender--and the chili glaze delivered the as-promised one-two punch of sweet and spicy. I could have used a little more cilantro to cool things down, but overall, I thought it was a delicious version of the ubiquitous squid starter. Before our main courses, we decided to order some vino. In terms of wine, TWO urban licks has special relationships with certain wineries that allow it to buy in large quantities and then store the wine in temperature-controlled stainless steel barrels. While it all sounded nifty, I wasn't thrilled with any of the by-the-glass selections, and we were there to celebrate. So, a bottle it was. Entree-wise, Jason opted for the bronzed scallops with gouda grits and smoked tomato broth ($20). He said they were quite possibly the best scallops he's ever had--very high praise! I'm not sure I agree that they were superlative, but they were nicely cooked (bordering on underdone, which is how I like them) and subtly seasoned. The accompanying grits and broth were very tasty as well and did a good job of complimenting and highlighting the bivalves. I opted for the braised pork with baked cheddar macaroni and pork jus ($19). Let me just get this out of the way: that macaroni and cheese may have been the best I've ever had. Ever. Served in a mini cast-iron pot, the cheddar cheese on top was perfectly browned and just a tad crunchy, and the macaroni underneath was rich, creamy, tangy deliciousness. The waiter said that the secret was bechamel sauce. Drooooooool. The pork was a HUGE portion, and it was definitely well-braised (it fell off the bone), but it was waaaaaay too heavy on the fennel, which surprised me all the more because the menu didn't mention it as a component of the dish. For dessert, we ordered port, coffee, and the chocolate mousse rice crispy treat with chocolate malt ice cream ($7). Basically, it was like Atlanta's take on the Michel Richard "Kit Kat Bar." I sometimes found Richard's version to be a little heavy (i.e., not enough air in the mousse), but this version was virtually error-proof. The mousse was light in both flavor and texture, and the "rice crispy treat" bottom was delicately crunchy. I didn't get a lot of malt flavor from the ice cream, but Jason really liked it. At the end of the meal, in addition to our bill (which came out to $187, without tip, but which would have been a LOT cheaper if we hadn't splurged on an expensive wine), we were presented with a $25 gift certificate to each of two other Concentric restaurants, Trois and STATS. I thought it was a nice gesture, and VERY smart--in this economy, even popular restaurants need to make extra efforts to encourage diners to eat out. Service was very good, and the experience as a whole went much more smoothly than I was expecting (since it's such a "see and be seen" place, I anticipated more waiting and certainly more aloofness). In sum, though the kitchen could use a lighter hand with certain seasonings, and though the atmosphere is more clubhound than chowhound, I am thrilled to have TWO urban licks right in my backyard.

Moved into the new place last Saturday, but not before grilling up some AMAZING ribeye steaks (Australian free-range grass-fed, no less) that I got at the Fresh Market for $5.99 a pound. $5.99 a pound!!! Delicious, especially when paired with an heirloom tomato salad and homemade cilantro salad dressing. Still acclimating to the new kitchen (and to my new stainless steel cookware), but last night I threw together some salmon (marinated in a pureed mixture of green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice wine, chili-garlic sauce, and sesame oil) with sauteed bok choy and shiitake mushrooms. Delicious!

Since moving to Atlanta, I've been reeeeeally enjoying my dad's grill (it's not charcoal, but it's nicer than I've ever had)--citrus-marinated halibut with vegetable kebabs turned out wonderfully, and last night's arugula salad with grilled peaches, prosciutto, goat cheese, and balsamic reduction was a lovely, light summer treat. Back to apartment living this weekend...but not before a few more grilled dinners!

I was sorry to see Dale go, though it was the right call, as he was "executive chef" (hey, if Tre gets the boot for that, so does Dale). I think he's been getting a craptastic editing job, just like Hung did last year--honestly, if the producers spent as much time worrying about creating INTERESTING challenges as they do creating villains, "Top Chef" would be a much better show. Then again, even in Bravo-land, realty TV is reality TV, and there have to be good guys and bad guys. Hell, just make Bourdain the head judge and it will be a much better show. He was awesome! Honest, funny, and HAWT.

I've been wanting to try Komi for a solid two years--every time I walk to Sushi Taro, I stare longingly into the windows. Thanks to my sister's boyfriend, I was able to experience Komi before moving to Atlanta. And thank goodness, because it was absolutely amazing and exceeded my very high expectations. My sister wanted to get the "Dinner," but the rest of us wanted to go all out and get the full tasting menu. We won. Mezzethakia included radishes with tarragon yogurt; a HUGE live diver scallop, prepared two ways (one included hearts of palm and some horseradish, but the other was even more decadent, with velvety slices in a dill-mustard sauce--divine); goat cheese-stuffed roasted dates; Caesar salad in its own crouton; a beef tartare cone with parmesan foam; mini lamb "gyros" (with homemade sausage, caramelized onions, cucumber, and crispy pita); and a trio plate that included a foie gras "burger" with shallot confit, a goat cheese "smore," and a red pepper jelly. With the exception of the beef tartare, which was simply okay, all of the small plates were just astounding in their deliciousness and creativity. We got three different pastas: my favorite was the spaghetti with uni, crab, and habanero. Fantastic. The fava bean caramella with char-grilled octopus was also wonderful, and the third pasta's details escape me, though I do remember that it was served with mushrooms and a great pea pesto sauce. For the main courses, we were presented with the spit-roasted baby goat with pita and the trio of slow-roasted suckling pig (complete with shoulder, loin, and blood sausage). The goat was astoundingly tender and sweet--a delightful introduction to the meat, which none of us remembered trying previously. It was served with a variety of "sauces," including a cilantro/sea salt mixture, an eggplant puree, and a habanero hot sauce. The pig was very tasty (except for the blood sausage--I tried it, but I'm just not a fan, as I had a very bad experience with that particular food item in Spain), but the goat definitely stole the show. Out of this world. The cheese course was feta gelato with sour cherries. For me, this was the only miss of the evening--but in the interest of full disclosure, I don't think I could eat a spoonful of ACTUAL feta either. Before dessert, we were given a small beverage consisting of mango, yogurt, and cayenne pepper. Delicious, and so refreshing. Dessert included Greek donuts (with some sort of chocolate mousse, though I don't recall the exact accompaniments), strawberry shortcake, and a chocolate-pistachio cake. All of the sweets were incredibly well done, but I think the winner was the shortcake, due to its lightness (I was pretty full by that point) and the seasonality and freshness of the fruit. The donuts were a very close second. Our server (Sean?) was really awesome, and the atmosphere was respectful without being stodgy. With tax, tip, and two beers (Bell's Oberon, yummmm), the total came to $160. I would pay it again and again. Bravo! DC is lucky to have Komi, and I can't wait for my next visit to come back.

I used WGG from 2006 until just a few weeks ago (I'm moving, so I cancelled the service)--I was usually really pleased with the produce. They try to buy local whenever they can, and the quality is generally top-notch. I once tried to price out the same amount of produce from Whole Foods, and if I remember correctly, the WGG prices were extremely reasonable in comparison. Not to mention, delivery = good! Especially when a) you don't have a car, or you have a car, but gas prices are driving you into bankruptcy.

This past Friday night, my family celebrated three law school graduations (my sister's, and both of our boyfriends'). I am so glad we chose to mark the occasion at Proof! What an amazing night of food and fun. Appetizers included the always-impressive charcuterie board, the sauteed sweetbreads with dates and bacon (so popular that a second order was placed), the meatballs, the Wagyu sashimi (my dad's first experience with that type of preparation), the asparagus soup (delicious), and the gnocchi with asparagus, ramps, peas, and mushrooms (as good as it's ever been--pillowy yet rich, and the perfect expression of spring). Everything was wonderful, though the sweetbreads seemed to be the table favorite. The entree winner was the sablefish, which I recommended after falling in love with the dish on my last visit. It was just as wonderful as I remembered. The halibut (with sunchokes, among other things) was a close second--the folks in the kitchen really know how to cook fish. Black sesame-crusted salmon was very tasty, and the pea shoot spaetzle that accompanied it was a lovely touch. The pork loin and a beet salad also went over well, though the fish dishes definitely outshadowed them. The goat's cheesecake and sticky toffee pudding cake were terrific as usual. I read upthread that there was a rhubarb dessert, so I inquired about its availability--sadly, no rhubarb, but chef put together a refreshing strawberry shortcake instead. I couldn't possibly remember all of the wines and beers we drank (we had 6 very different palattes, so we stuck with by-the-glass), but I do recall that our server was wonderful about listening to our likes and dislikes and then making spot-on recommendations. He was excellent and read our table perfectly--kudos! The atmosphere was perfect for our celebration--Proof is such an upbeat, energetic place, and that fit our celebratory mood to a tee. Thanks to Mark for stopping by the table--my family really enjoyed meeting you, and it was great to see you again! I will miss dining at Proof once I move to Atlanta (at the end of this week, eek), but it will be at the top of my list on every return visit to DC. P.S. My sister and her boyfriend dined at Citronelle last week, and they said their experience at Proof (it was their first visit), in terms of ambiance and food and service, blew the venerable Georgetown establishment out of the water. I know the two restaurants are vastly different, but I think it's a great compliment to Mark and his incredible team. Well done!

Thanks for the response--you could really taste all of that work in the fries, so I'm not surprised to hear you call the process "backbreaking"! I never tasted the chopped bacon, but the strips were great and I'm glad to read that customer comments make a difference in your business. Best of luck!

Jealous! I studied in Spain for 4 months in college, and it is one of my favorite places on Earth (Madrid especially). Sadly for you, the dollar is not as strong now as when I lived in Madrid, but you should still be able to eat very well. I suppose it's touristy, but I really enjoyed my meal at Casa Botin. It is the oldest restaurant in the world, Hemingway wrote about it, Goya allegedly worked there, and they have great cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig). Cooked in these crazy old wood-burning ovens! A very cool experience, in my opinion. Expensive. The best tapas I had while in Spain were the ones at small, family-owned places unmentioned in any guidebook. Of course I can't remember names, but they're not generally going to be in the center of the city. If your Spanish is passable, ask a local for a recommendation. I had really good grilled meats and pizzas at La Farfalla (Anton Martin Metro stop). Look for the butterfly above the door. I don't have any recommendations for Barcelona--by the time I got there, I was broke! Sevilla is awesome, and my favorite memory is of the young people gathering in the plazas to drink and dance. A Spanish block party, of sorts--get in on it if you can! Hope that helps--take me with you!!!

1) The manager didn't see that we'd been waiting for a while--I went up to the counter after 20 minutes and inquired about our food, and then one of the cooks yelled for the manager to come over and comp our meal (which I'm glad he didn't do). They responded to my complaint, but it certainly wasn't as proactive as your comment suggests. And, in my original post, my problem wasn't that they didn't anticipate the problem or read my mind--my issue stemmed from the dose of attitude we were given with the manager's response. 2) I definitely agree that a personal visit and some free brownies are both nice gestures. As I already mentioned, I didn't want anything for free. I was simply expecting a sincere comment, such as an apology for the mistake or a "we hope you come back and see us" sort of thing. Instead, we got an annoyed "So, what's the deal here?" (which seemed strange because he had JUST spoken to his staff and had been apprised of the problem) and a "These are on me" as he threw two brownies on the table. It was like he couldn't get away fast enough. I get that he was trying to do right--the delivery just missed the mark with me, that's all, and it affected my experience enough for me to mention it. If my post came off as too whiny or critical, that wasn't my intention--I really did love the food, and I would recommend Burger Joint to others.

Last night, boyfriend and I tried out Burger Joint--it's in a FANTASTIC location, facing Veterans Park (which means lots of great outdoor seating). We got there at about ten to six, and we were the only customers in line (but not for long). I ordered the bacon cheeseburger, medium rare, with pepper jack cheese and fries. Boyfriend got the Cuban burger with onion rings. We both got sodas, as I couldn't convince him to split a shake with me. Boo! Everyone behind the counter was very upbeat and friendly. We ordered at 5:57 and were given #2148. As the minutes ticked by, we heard numbers 2149, 50, 51, 52, etc. At 6:17, when I heard #2153 being called, I approached the counter and inquired as to the status of our order. Apparently, our ticket had been lost--I worked in "the biz" for many years, and that kind of stuff happens quite frequently, so when the grill cook apologized very sincerely and said he'd have our food to us as quickly as possible, I returned to my seat and awaited the deliciousness. No worries! Well, not long after I sat back down, the manager came over to our table. I was expecting a reiteration of the apology and nothing more. Instead, he said, "So, what's the deal here?" and asked us what we had ordered (the grill cook had already started working on our order, so the question seemed strange to me). The manager walked away while I was in the middle of a sentence, came back with our food, and slammed two brownies on the table, indicating that they were on him. No one approached our table again for the remainder of our time there. The food was EXCELLENT--our burgers were perfectly cooked, and I really enjoyed the amount of char taste that was present. The bacon was whole (not chopped, as referred to earlier in this thread) and quite flavorful, and the bun was substantial enough to handle the meat and toppings without being overly dense. The lettuce, tomato, and onion all tasted fresh, and I really enjoyed the "mojo" sauce. Boyfriend loved his burger as well, and his first comment was, "Wow, I can really taste the quality of the ingredients." The onion rings were good but not great (a little greasy for my taste, but definitely hot and fresh), but the fries were outstanding--the double-frying makes it so that they can be thicker cut AND crispy, and the soaking of the potatoes really enhances the taste. All around, I found that the quality and quantity of the food were very much in line with the prices. So why did I leave with a bad taste in my mouth (so to speak)? I just couldn't shake the annoyance that came with the manager's handling of the situation. I didn't want anything to be comped (after all, we ate a lot of food, and it was gooooooood), I didn't want brownies, and I certainly didn't want my rear end to be kissed all evening--I just wanted a sincere apology for the mix-up and some indication that my repeat business would be appreciated. To be honest, it probably would have been better if the manager hadn't approached our table at all. Again, the food was wonderful--but customer service is an important aspect of the dining experience, especially as the price point increases. I hope that Burger Joint works hard to keep the quality of its staff in line with the quality of its product.

Going tonight! VERY much looking forward to it, as burger + fries + chocolate shake = happy Betty. Will report back tomorrow!

Do we have any Rockwellians currently living in Atlanta? My move is less than 2 weeks away, and I'd love to meet any potential dinner companions as I prepare to eat my way through the city! :-)

Went there for a quick lunch on Sunday, NOT knowing that ownership had changed and quality issues had arisen--the brat was alright, and the toppings were fresh, but the fries (which used to be awesome) were straight from the freezer and very Ore-Ida-esque. Too bad indeed!

Last night was girls' night out, which started at The Source for apps and drinks. Kobe sliders were tasty and juicy, but I was miffed that we didn't have a choice as to temperature (mine was definitely medium to medium well, and I prefer rare to medium rare). Tuna tartare was served in crispy sesame cones, which--while tasty--fell apart with the first bite. Fries with bearnaise and homemade ketchup were FAB, but the highlight for me was the plate of pork belly dumplings. Not greasy, perfectly spiced, and with a wonderfully sweet piggy flavor--yum. Biggest complaint? Prices are OUTRAGEOUS. And the service wasn't great either (our waitress alternated between overbearing and hover-y and clueless and absent). For dessert and more cocktails, we headed to the bar at Central--the drinks were great, the service was lovely, and the Kit Kat bar was just what the doctor ordered. Three of us had two rounds each and split one dessert, and the total was less than 1/3 of the bill at Puck's place. Yeesh!

Last night was buffalo ribeye (brough to temp in a low oven, then seared over high heat), roasted asparagus (with salt, pepper, and olive oil), and sliced fresh tomatoes. It felt great to get some good protein and veggies after a weekend of carbo-loading for the Avon Walk!

I guess my eyes deceived me, then. I could have sworn that when we froze the frames of the chefs at the WF registers, the totals were falling right around $50. If the $10 was truly supposed to feed 4 people, it makes me REALLY wonder what they stock in that pantry.

From what I saw, it was $10 per plate. The crew at my house was confused about how the chefs were loading so much in their baskets on so small a budget, but then we rewinded the DVR and saw that they were actually trying to get their register totals to $50 or under--so $10 each for four kid plates and one for the judges to share. The producers/editors should have been WAY more clear on that point--it was still a tough challenge, but I felt that the contestants had MUCH less to whine about once I realized how the money actually worked. That said, watching the chefs work with the kids was about the cutest thing I've ever seen--and Chef Colicchio was one of the most precious of all.