bettyjoan

Last night may have been the most complicated dinner I've ever attempted (I'm usually a fan of quick, easy, one-pot kinds of recipes). It was black bean chili with crispy pork and poblano salsa, from this month's Bon Apetit magazine. Perhaps someone with faster knife skills and more counter space would have been more efficient, but I started working at 4 PM and didn't sit down to eat till 8 PM (and that didn't account for the overnight soaking of the beans). The chili was really tasty, with great oniony garlicky cumin-y kick, though it never achieved the thicker consistency that I associate with chili (it was more like black bean soup). Next time I'll cut the amount of water and maybe substitute a good stout for part of it. The pork was good and tender, but it almost seemed unnecessary--the beans were filling and flavorful enough on their own. I had never worked with dried beans before, and I've gotta say, I'll never go back to canned. The highlight of the meal was the poblano salsa--though I was cursing my broiler and wishing for a gas range while I was trying to roast the peppers. After roasting, de-seeding, and chopping, I added diced white onions, salsa verde (canned), toasted cumin seeds, and fresh chopped cilantro. Yummy! I topped the chili with that, some sour cream, and a little pepper jack cheese.

Alright, so apparently I'm the only one who writes in this topic! During my jaunt to Athens, Georgia, last week, I decided to treat myself to one nice solo dinner. Being a college town, the Classic City isn't exactly chock-full of haute cuisine options. However, 5 & 10 garnered the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Restaurant of the Year" title in 2007. What better reason to give it a taste? I had a hard time deciding how to proceed food-wise. Nearly all of the entrees looked delicious, but I wanted to try as many varied things as possible. So, in the end, I had three appetizers and a dessert. First, I chose the cauliflower soup with butter poached Maine lobster and chive cream ($9). It was creamier and a little thinner than the version I recently had at Proof (which I loved), but the flavor was really good. The lobster didn't really add or subtract from the dish, which causes me to conclude that chefs should just leave their cauliflower soups alone and stop adding seafood (Proof's version had cornmeal-crusted fried oysters, and I thought they were superfluous as well). Next, I ordered a half dozen oysters on the half-shell. As an oyster-lover, I pay great attention to the care that is taken in selecting and presenting raw bar items. In this case, the oysters (which were Kumamotos - small, but briny and somewhat sweet, and absolutely fantastic) were served with a homemade cocktail sauce and a mignonette, and it was a wonderful middle course (especially when paired with an insanely reasonably priced $6 glass of cava). Earlier in the evening, the bartender had raved about the ahi tuna tartare with cornichons, shallots, lemon, parsley, ponzu, citrus salad, and haricots vert ($14). It sounded fabulous, so I decided to end my appetizer tour with the dish, and the presentation was certainly gorgeous (and the quality of the fish was top-notch). However, it seemed to me that the chef was rather heavy-handed with the ponzu, as the sauce often overpowered the flavor of the tuna (especially near the bottom of the mold, where the fish was sitting in a puddle of the liquid). I've had a lot of tuna tartare, and this one was certainly good, but it wasn't mind-blowing by any stretch of the imagination. For dessert, I noticed a bourbon pecan pie on the specials menu, and I had to go for it. I make a mean bourbon pecan pie myself, and I wanted to see how 5 & 10 would stack up against my baking prowess (intense sarcasm intended). Shockingly enough, I really and truly thought that my pecan pie was the superior dessert, as 5 & 10's version was rather uninspiring. The Coca-Cola ice cream that came with the pie, however, was one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. Amazing. And I don't even like ice cream all that much. Three appetizers, a dessert, two glasses of wine, a beer, tax, and tip added up to $82. The service was very good, and the atmosphere was energetic and casual (except for the primped up sorority girls who got busted for having fake IDs...ah, college). But I walked out of the restaurant with a furrowed brow. Was that REALLY the best restaurant in Atlanta? I applaud the AJC's food editors for realizing that there exist great culinary possibilities outside of the perimeter (or OTP, as we ATLiens would say - haha). However, it is hard for me to believe that there isn't a single restaurant in the metro Atlanta area that can beat 5 & 10 in terms of a total dining experience. To say that the best restaurant in Atlanta resides in Athens (which is a good hour and a half outside the city) is, in my mind, to severely denigrate the many great dining options that one can find right downtown.

Tonight was lamb burgers (mixed with fresh mint, paprika, and cinnamon) with spinach, red onion, and feta salad (just tossed with a little bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and then piled on top of the meat). I got the recipe from this month's Bon Apetit magazine--very yummy! Served with steamed broccoli and plain ol' water, since we're trying to watch our girlish figures over here!

When I visit Long Island (I was born there, and my 86-year-old grandmother and a few other assorted family members still live there), I never expect to have any notable culinary experiences. Sure, I look forward to a decent bagel, a slice of NY pizza, and a black and white cookie, but other than that, I usually just try to grit my teeth and reward myself with something tasty when I return to DC. This past weekend, however, after a particularly challenging day with my grandmother, my parents and I stumbled into what turned out to be a gem of a restaurant. It's called Almarco, and it's located on Wall Street in the village of Huntington. Upon entering, we were told it would be a 10-15 minute wait for a table (it's a small place). No worries--we sat at the bar, and the hostess/bartender provided tastes of all of their red wines so that I could make a decision. She also made my parents two REALLY good martinis, and she was incredibly friendly and helpful. When we were seated, a basket of hot, fresh focaccia bread appeared--I didn't taste the dipping oil (which looked like it was spiked with fresh rosemary), but the bread was very good. We ordered two appetizers: the bruschetta trio and the stuffed mushrooms. The latter were pretty standard (but tasty), but the former was really lovely. One piece had a more traditional tomato topping, though it also had diced cucumbers and a nice citrus kick (very refreshing). The second piece had roasted red and yellow peppers, with a hint of balsamic. My favorite was the white bean and garlic topping, which was hearty yet very light-tasting. In terms of entrees, my dad had walnut-crusted tilapia with wilted garlic spinach and creamy rice--the fish was perfectly cooked and had great flavor, and the sides were well done. Mom went for her favorite, the veal scallopini, which must have been delicious because she ate every last bite (I'm not a huge veal fan, so I didn't try any). Even though I was originally going to try something lighter, the server raved about the gnocchi (with basil pesto), so my arm was twisted. It. Was. AMAZING. Seriously. Not only was the pesto light and flavorful, the gnocchi was the softest, fluffiest, most melt-in-your-mouth version I've ever had. Worth every calorie. With two martinis, three glasses of cabernet, a double espresso, and all of the aforementioned food, the pre-tip total came out to about $120. The service was great, and we left Almarco oodles happier than we ever thought we would (and certainly much more relaxed than when we entered). Long Island may not be a great food destination, but it's nice to know that I can have a delicious Italian meal when I go back to my hometown.

Since I know there are many Rockwellians who are also local food bloggers, I thought I'd alert you to an event I'm planning: http://troublewithtoast.wordpress.com/2008...-food-bloggers/ Basically, we (myself and another blogger) want to host a potluck for DC food bloggers. We haven't set a date yet--rather, we're just trying to gauge interest--so PLEASE let me know if this is something you want to get it on. I think it could be really fun! Let me know if you have questions!

I've been to Let's Dish--it's actually pretty decent. It's really nice for the nights when I'm just too pooped to cook (but don't want to spend the money to go out or pull a major calorie splurge by ordering pizza or chinese or something). There have been a couple of entrees that I didn't much care for, but most of the meals are tasty, relatively healthy, and easy to prepare. As for freezer space, most of the entrees can be flattened out and stacked in a storage-friendly manner. I've done both the 8- and 12-meal packages, and I've never had trouble fitting everything into my teensy apartment freezer.

I think the article highlights some great places, but you'd think that in a feature that discusses "late-night spots," the writer might include...oh, I dunno...HOURS of the establishments?!?! Sheesh.

Alright, kids, I know I previously asked for general sentiments about the Atlanta-area dining scene, but now I have a specific trip planned and would like some thoughts--if you've got 'em. After Presidents' Day, I'll be spending three days (and two nights) in Atlanta for job-hunting purposes. I'll be staying with my folks in Lawrenceville, so dinners will likely consist of Chick-fil-a (drool...) or goodies from the surprisingly fresh and tasty local sushi joint. My question is--what about lunch? Two of my interview days will be spent in Decatur (1700 Clairmont Road, to be exact), and the other will be in the Peachtree Center area (right near the MARTA station). Are there any spots close-by that shouldn't be missed? After three days of smiling and tooting my own horn, I'm fortunate enough to be going to Athens for the weekend to visit my alma mater and many friends I made there. Other than 5 and 10 (where I've dined once before and will be going if I can convince someone to accompany me), are there any new and noteworthy spots in the Classic City? When I was a poor college student there, I ate at The Grill and The Grit, and date nights/parental visits usually called for trips to East/West Bistro or DePalma's. Any recent experiences would be much appreciated--thanks!

Last night featured leftovers of a really good pasta "casserole" that I whipped up on Friday night--whole wheat rotini (cooked al dente); sauteed shallots, spinach, and artichoke hearts; pesto sauce; and ricotta and parmesan cheese; all mixed together and poured into a baking dish, then topped with thinly sliced mozzarella cheese and baked until melted and slightly browned. The flavors definitely improved after a few days of refrigeration, and the dish is very hearty and tasty, but it lacked a spiciness that I really like in pasta dishes. Next time, maybe I'll throw in some peppers (or at least some red pepper flakes) with the sauteed vegetables.

I definitely agree with the previous poster--while the wine selections at Proof are undeniably fab, the food is also a great draw. Last Friday night, highlights were the meatballs (tender and tangy), the sablefish (PERFECTLY seasoned and cooked, with some great baby bok choy and mushrooms), and, of course, the oft-revered gnocchi (the person who ordered this is not even a fan of mushrooms, but he pretty much licked his plate clean). The pork dish was also a hit with our table, though it was a little overpoweringly "hammy" for my personal taste. Proof keeps giving me reasons to come back--which I will do, without hesitation!

I found a 2 lb. bag of shrimp that I had forgotten about, so on Saturday night I used half of it to make shrimp linguini in a spicy tomato-chili sauce. It was actually an Emeril Lagasse recipe, and it really didn't need any modifications. Between the dry rub for the shrimp (which contained a hefty portion of cayenne) and the diced jalapenos in the sauce, it had some excellent heat. Yum! The remaining pound of shrimp went into another pasta dish--this time with fusilli and arugula (and, of course, some olive oil, shallots, garlic, and white wine), and the recipe coming from the lovely Giada. Much lighter, in both flavor and caloric content, than the previous concoction--but still very tasty. Boyfriend found the arugula to be overpoweringly bitter, but he was pacified with some grated parmesan cheese. Tonight will be pork chops with chipotle butter (found on Serious Eats, I think), probably with a salad and baked potatoes.

Wow, how is it possible that I've lived in DC for 3 years and yet NEVER set foot in Corduroy until last night? Based on last night's spectacular meal, I am kicking myself for not eating there sooner and more frequently. I will definitely look forward to seeing the new digs--the current space is pretty bland. However, that is where my complaints end. The service was wonderful, and it was obvious that our waiter respects Chef Power and enjoys working for/with him. Our server even said that Restaurant Week had been great, which elicited a surprised reaction from my dining companion (she's been to far too many restaurants whose staffs openly despise the promotion, I suppose). For starters, I opted for the oysters on the half shell (a $3 upcharge). The apple-shallot mignonette sauce added just the right amount of acidity and flavor, and it still let the great briny taste of the oysters (which happened to be of the Island Creek variety) shine through. My gal pal had the parsnip soup, which had some chervil oil and a wonderful creamy texture. I believe she used the crusty bread to sop up every last morsel! The main courses were truly outstanding, and probably our favorite part of the meal. I had the boneless lamb, cooked rare, with garlic creamed spinach. I am not usually a lamb fan, but the server highly recommended it, and I wasn't disappointed at all. The meat was tender and flavorful and prepared absolutely perfectly. The creamed spinach was probably the best I've ever had--in most versions, all you can taste is the cream and/or the cheese, but Chef Power's rendition had a wonderful spinach flavor and a lovely garlic punch. When I commented to the server about how tasty it was, he said, "The chef really knows how to use seasonings and make different flavors come through." To say the least! My friend ordered the beef cheeks "osso bucco" style, and oh my gosh, it was delicious. To say that it was tender and flavorful would be the grossest of understatements. The meat was served atop a bed of white beans (can't remember what variety) and with a small pile of thin string beans. Needless to say, the bread was once again required to soak up all of the wonderful sauces from our quickly-emptied plates. My girlfriend wanted to skip dessert, but I convinced her to order one anyway so that I could sample two. We opted for the hazelnut bars and the chocolate tart with caramelized bananas. The former was obviously a riff on Michel Richard's "kit kat" bar, and my friend really enjoyed it--though, to be honest, I liked the version I had at Central better (Corduroy's version seemed much more dense). The latter was a tart of white chocolate that actually reminded me of a custard; it was served with chocolate ice cream and the bananas, and it was really really good. Once again, plates cleaned. I can't believe that, after splitting the check down the middle (I had a glass of sauvignon blanc and my friend had a pilsner) and adding a large tip, my tab was still only $50. Corduroy is an incredible Restaurant Week value, and I can't wait to sample more of Chef Power's creations once he settles into his new location. Bravo!

I actually went to 2 Amy's for the first time (I don't have a car, so the location is tricky) at the beginning of January. Everything was tasty--my margherita extra pizza was the table favorite--but the experience just didn't live up to the fanaticism surrounding the place. Our server was excellent, and the wine and beer selections were really nice, but the pizzas (of which we ordered four) fell somewhat short of expectations. The crust was alright--certainly not raw or significantly underdone, but definitely not as firm and crisp as I usually prefer. The toppings were obviously of high quality, but their proportions seemed to be off--too much cheese on some, too little on others. As it was my first visit, I'll definitely go back and try again--however, it's interesting to read the recent comments now that I've actually experienced the food for myself.

I went to Vidalia on Saturday night for Restaurant Week. One of my favorite restaurants in the city, I have extremely high expectations of Chef Cooper and his staff. Here's the report: VERY unfortunately (for me and for everyone else in the restaurant, I'd imagine), included in our party (but not invited by me) was a personification of what every server, bartender, and chef HATES about Restaurant Week--someone who simply doesn't know how to behave in an upscale dining environment. He was adorned in jeans and white sneakers, he was incredibly loud and crass, and he pretty much embarassed me the entire evening. While this individual's behavior was certainly NOT Vidalia's fault, I wanted to take advantage of this forum to apologize, so as to not have my personal reputation tarnished. After all, I would like to return! On to the food...half the table got the mushroom soup appetizer (which was deemed to be successful but not spectacular), but I opted for the veal tongue and my boyfriend got the bison carpaccio/tartare. The former was out of this world--incredibly tender and flavorful, it almost reminded me of a really good pupusa (due to the flatbread on which it was served and the cabbage "slaw"). The bison was also a winner, though I didn't get much of it because it was wolfed down too fast! For entrees, I went for the rabbit saddle and boyfriend got the cassoulet. I've had rabbit before at Vidalia, and this version just didn't wow me--it was tasty, and the carrot-ginger puree was a wonderful touch, but the meat was cooked more than I would have preferred (my sister got the same thing and asked for it to be cooked rare, and the server indicated that it couldn't be done that way) and the spaetzle didn't really contribute anything to the dish. The cassoulet was great--we couldn't decide which part of the pork was our favorite (I think mine was the shoulder, but the sausage was also nice). The beans were hailed table-wide as the best part of the dish--yummy! For dessert, we returned to our favorites--the pecan tart for me (fabulous, as always) and the peanut-butter crunch for my man. I can't believe no one opted for the lemon chess pie--but folks seemed satisfied with their choices, so who am I to judge? :-) Service was good, if a bit frazzled (hey, it was Saturday night of Restaurant Week, that's to be expected). Wine recommendations, from both the server and the bartender, were spot-on and reasonably priced. As I left, I was even invited back for one of the wine tastings (in a way that didn't feel like I was being sold something)--what a wonderful strategy to get people back in the door! I will certainly return to Vidalia as many times as possible before I leave DC--without any objectionable company, of course.

Can't report on the chopped liver, but I am a HUGE Loeb's fan--I've enjoyed all of my lunches there, whether they included pastrami, roast beef, BLTs, potato pancakes, onion rings, matzo ball soup, or a combination thereof. As a native New Yorker, it may not be the best deli I've ever been to, but it reminds me of the delis of my youth and it's the best I've found in DC. If the downtown lunch club wants to congregate there, I'm game anytime! The post-Loeb's nap is hard to fight off, it's true...

Had a lovely weekend in Philly, despite some grey weather toward the end of the trip. Our Saturday night dinner at Bistro 7 was quite nice--man, that BYOB concept is killer! I certainly enjoyed polishing off a bottle of Grgich Hills chardonnay all by myself--without having to pay the usually ridiculous restaurant markup. The favorites of the meal were the duck mousse (more like a pate, and SOOOO delicious) on the charcuterie plate, the gnocchi appetizer (done very classically, and just about the only version I've had recently that compares to Proof's), and the glazed duck legs with lentils. The venison was good, though cooked too much for my liking, and the scallops were perfectly respectable. The pear tart was the only major letdown--it was served with a creme fraiche that had black pepper in it (I also thought I tasted thyme, but the chef said it was just pepper). It was WAY too savory for such a sweet dessert, so the flavors were all mixed up and, frankly, not tasty at all. Sunday brunch was at Creperie Beau Monde--yum!!! The French onion soup was warm and comforting, and it had the perfect amount of cheese on top. The savory mushroom crepe was very good, but it was the Nutella and banana dessert crepe that really won the day. Delicious! The atmosphere was neat, too--it almost felt like we were in a little creperie in Paris. While not as mindblowing as my previous Philadelphia dining outing (at Morimoto), the weekend was very enjoyable and reminded me how many new and different culinary experiences lie within a short drive of DC.

After two gut-busting restaurant dinners in a row, last night was my triumphant return to the kitchen. I made a really hearty vegetable stew with onions, potatoes (both white and sweet), eggplant, zucchini, red bell pepper, fire roasted tomatoes, chicken stock, and some garlic and bay leaves. It was actually based on a "30 Minute Meals" show I watched the other day, and it was very tasty and filling. Score one for Rachael Ray! I served it with big slices of crusty wheat bread, rubbed with a little garlic and with some melted/browned pecorino cheese on top. It was nice to feel full without feeling like we ingested our body weight in fat (actually, the only fat in the dish was the extra-virgin olive oil that covered the bottom of the pot--well, that and the cheese on the bread). The stew could have been thicker, but I imagine that both the texture and the taste of my leftovers today will be better than the original product--soups always get thicker and more intensely flavored as it sits. Yum!

By nature, I am very Type-A (which is polite-speak for "anal retentive"). So, when I made a reservation at Proof to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, I started planning. "I'm definitely gonna have the sablefish," I thought. "And the meatballs to start! And some cheese! And Jason will probably have venison or hanger steak! Hooray!" All of my planning was for naught, however, as we were derailed from the moment we opened our menus. And that was a VERY good thing! I started with a lovely, refreshing glass of prosecco, and Jason had a gimlet. Since he doesn't like mushrooms (I know, it's really hard to make our relationship work), my preferred starter--the delicious gnocchi--was out. But, no matter--as soon as Jason saw the charcuterie selections, it was all over. We were having MEAT, dammit, and that was final! The board was HUGE, and it was really tasty and well-put together. We had so much fun deciding which meat was our favorite! I, for one, really enjoyed the jamon serrano and the homemade pate, but Jason liked the speck best of all. While we waited for the onset of the "meat sweats," we ordered another round of wine (by telling our server to surprise us). Jason ended up with a lovely tempranillo, and I had an Austrian white that was dry and delicious. Even though we both had main dishes that we wanted to try, we admitted that the charcuterie board had defeated us and that we'd never make it through two entrees (especially if they were beef- or pork-related). So, we decided to split the cauliflower soup with crispy oysters from the "firsts" menu and the seared scallops from the "seconds" menu. While the scallops were perfectly cooked and very well-complimented by the accompanying turnip puree, it was the soup that really wowed us. The flavor was simple but intense, and the texture was terrific. Jason really loved the cornmeal batter on the oysters, but I could have done without it as it was almost too heavy and crunchy for the soup. While we pondered dessert (what, you thought I was going to leave without something sweet? Yeah, right...), we each had a glass of the albarino, which remains one of my favorite wines on Proof's by-the-glass list. Jason decided to try the sticky toffee pudding cake, and I went for the goat's cheesecake. Despite the fact that we were stuffed, both plates were empty in a matter of minutes--the former was delectably sweet without being cloying, and the latter was just frickin' amazing. Texture? Awesome (incredibly smooth, but with the great crunch of the crust "crumbles" on top). Flavor? Awesome (loved the tang from the passion fruit). While Jason sipped his 30-year tawny, we talked about how wonderful our server, Anna, had been. I asked her where she had worked before Proof, and she said Komi--so I guess she's the one you've all been raving about! I can see why--she was phenomenal. Knowledgable, approachable, funny, great with pacing--she really knew how to read our table. I could go on and on about the little details that make Proof fantastic, but hopefully you all already know how great it is. If you haven't been, GO! I'll be packing in as many return trips as possible between now and when I leave DC in May. Bravo to the entire Proof crew!

Whoops--big typo there! Working out 5 times a WEEK is going to be hard enough as it is!

Going to Philly next weekend for some female bonding. As much as I would LOVE to return to Morimoto, my gal pals want to stick to the less expensive BYO options--so, I made reservations at Bistro 7. Good choice? Any thoughts from the gallery? I'd be interested to hear what you all think. Thanks!

* Omakase at Morimoto in Philly (the cilantro martini and the sushi board were particularly memorable) * Pork jowls with shad roe at Vidalia * Black cod with uni, zucchini, green papaya, and ginger basil broth at Cyrus in Healdsburg, CA * "Sweetbreads, cabbage-kaffir, water chestnuts" at WD-50 in NYC * Drunken noodles with seabass at Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas * Pumpkin soup with chestnuts at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas * Perfect pillowy gnocchi at Proof * Wagyu, of course! * Mussel chowder and spaetzle at Central * Minibar--the whole experience was just magical! * Palak chaat at Rasika * Tuna sliders at PS 7's * Pupusas and shrimp quesadilla at El Riconcito in Columbia Heights * Braised lamb, couscous, and eggplant salad with the Moroccan Ambassador (at the Meridian International Center) Wow, I am one lucky girl--here's hoping that 2008 finds me as well-fed as 2007! Happy New Year, everyone...

2007 has been such a great year...but here's what I want to do/try in 2008! 1. Have dinner at Komi 2. Take a knife skills class 3. Work out at least 5 times a day and run in the GW Parkway Classic 10-Miler in April 4. Read some non-food-related books 5. Raise over $3,000 for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer (last year I raised about $2,200) 6. Drink more water and tea (instead of diet soda) 7. Visit NYC one more time before I move 8. Experiment with making my own sushi I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year!

I'm home sicky today (bleh), but I would be up for Loeb's--or wherever else y'all decide--anytime after this week.

Wow--what a great first event that was for me! Thanks to all of the organizers, the staff at Vidalia, and Chefs Cooper and Ziebold for making the evening go so smoothly. The seared meat was just out of this world, and I really thought I would prefer the carpaccio. When I got home, it was hard for me to determine which treat was making me drunker and happier--the amazing wines, or the gorgeous and decadent cuts of beef! I'll give the edge to the latter... We are so fortunate to have such a friendly and gracious culinary community here in DC--I'll be so sad to leave it when I move in the spring. But at least I'll have wonderful memories of last night's food and friendship--thanks again for letting me be a part of it!

Speaking of Vidalia's extensive (and lovely) wine list, is anyone interested in joining me for some pre-beef libations? I leave work at 5 PM, and I'm only a short walk from the restaurant--and I'd hate to spend all of that spare time at a Starbucks, reading by myself (though I do have one of Jeffrey Steingarten's fine books to entertain me, should it come to that)! PM me and let me know...I'm so looking forward to this evening!