bettyjoan

Well said, LauraB. 

This is very timely, since I got an unexpected free week of Plated last week, and then a friend gifted me a week of Blue Apron this week.  After spending a whole weekend prepping and cooking from scratch for our housewarming/Superbowl party, it was really nice not to have to go immediately back to the store and start recipe planning again.  I don't think I'd do this every week, but given the quality of the ingredients and the fact that there is little to no waste, it's a great option for busier times and/or before or after travel when the fridge is emptier.

Last night was the first meal from Blue Apron, which was a pan-roasted salmon over ramen noodles and broth.  The salmon was really high quality and tasted delicious, and the noodles and broth were surprisingly tasty, especially given the relatively short cooking time.  So far, I think I'd give Blue Apron the edge in terms of creativity and variety of recipes, but the services really are virtually identical except for cost (Plated is a bit more expensive).

You can skip weeks whenever, and you can also vary your meal selections if you don't like what they automatically set up for you (which they do based on your stated ingredient preferences).  No need for guilt and shame - it's real food, you're really cooking it, and if it works for you, go for it!

Hosted a Superbowl/Housewarming combo party and made some really good snacks.  The key to success was finding recipes I could put together the day before and then just heat up/finish during the actual shindig.  In the slow cookers, I did soy-sesame wings (flavor was great, but the meat fell off the bone - normally good, but not so for finger food) and jalapeno-corn dip (delicious with Fritos).  I also made mini crab cakes with sriracha mayo, fried ricotta and sage pork meatballs with homemade marinara sauce (I was skeptical, since they were fried the day before and then stored in the freezer, but they were awesome), and fried chicken sliders with honey, mustard, and pickles (everyone's favorite of the day).  Of course, I also had salsa and guac and chips and whatnot, and I outsourced dessert by simply buying football-themed cupcakes at the store.  Thankfully, by making things that could be pulled out and heated as needed, I ended up having pretty much the perfect amount of food.

I also did some pre-made cocktails/punches - rum punch was a big hit (with a cool peach-thyme ice ring), as was tequila grapefruit splash and my beloved Sophia Loren Shim (aperol, bourbon, lemon juice, and rhubarb bitters).  It was nice to be able to enjoy the party and not be slinging drinks all day!

Tex-Mex hash brown casserole, served with sliced avocado and lime.

After a day of party-prepping, and in advance of some unhealthier eating during said party, I made "zoodles" (zucchini noodles) with homemade spicy tomato sauce and turkey meatballs.  HIt the spot!

What are the crowds like? I have a show at the Atlas tonight at 7:30. If I try to walk in at 6 tonight, will I be able to get a table? Or should I do something like Granville's where I can make a reservation?

I can't imagine you'd have any trouble at 6, but to be honest, we don't usually go on weekends, so I don't have any real evidence to back that up.  I don't know if they even take reservations - maybe give them a buzz and see what they say?

The only time we ever had to wait (for a table OR a seat at the bar) was brunch, way back when the weather was nicer and folks wanted to sit outside.

7 months later and even living in a different neighborhood, we still love to go to Impala for dinner and drinks.  A word of advice - if you go Tuesday through Saturday, sit at the bar where Anselmo is working.  He is awesome - friendly, funny, attentive - everything a great bartender should be.  They have recently changed their chips and salsa - the new chips are amazing (though probably worse for you), and the salsa is more pico de gallo style, which makes me happy and hubby sad (he prefers a smokier salsa).  I always order a Paloma, which for me highlights the tequila and is more balanced than a margarita.  This past Wednesday, I tried the fish tacos for the first time, and they were so very delicious - they come with a spicy habanero slaw, and the fish is really perfectly cooked.  The enchiladas and beans and rice continue to be top-notch as well.  Still definitely worth the trip!

Last night:

Sriracha lime chicken chopped salad with avocado, grilled pineapple, and a lime vinaigrette

Night before:

Seared NY strip with thyme-roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts sauteed with tarragon and shallots

Got an unexpected and free (long story) delivery from Plated, so the last two nights' dinners have been on them -

Last night - roasted spaghetti squash with kale, cheese sauce, and pine nuts

Sunday night - beef pho

I've used Plated before, though not with any regularity (the service is pricey, and I actually like grocery shopping) - I generally find the meals to be tasty, but the portions (especially of the squash dish) seemed small.  Thanks to a gift from a friend, I am trying Blue Apron next week to compare.  Nice to have options when things get hectic.

Recently returned from a week in Vegas (combo business + pleasure).  Not too many notable meals, as we were playing most things by ear AND my conference provided a fair amount of food.  But, I did have a solo dinner at Giada (in the Cromwell hotel), and it was lovely.  I had the burrata with balsamic salt (so smooth and creamy), the margherita pizzete (nothing mind-blowing, but very tasty and fresh ingredients), and bucatini with calabrian chile pomodoro and fresh ricotta (perfectly cooked and really delicious, with the perfect amount of spice).  Wines by the glass were very nice (and the bartender was good with suggestions), and the cappucino I had with dessert was wonderful.  Dessert itself was the low point - I got a lemon meringue dessert with lemon curd and raspberries, which I guess I thought would be closer to pie than to meringue cookies.  Unfortunately, the meringue was very hard, so it was difficult to eat.  Tasty enough though.  The space is gorgeous, and they were super busy - if you're hoping for more than a solo bar spot, make reservations.

I had a nice lunch at Mesa Grill as well - BBQ duck app with blue corn tortilla was really satisfying.  Totally dead for an early lunch on a Thursday.

The Sterling Brunch at Bally's was over the top, but so much fun.  The best items I tried were the lobster bisque, salmon with pearl couscous, and bananas foster french toast.  Of course, the endless champagne and the signature BLT Steak popovers didn't hurt. 

I don't care if anyone calls it "dining" or a "restaurant" - it's just fun and delicious!    It's a wonder I don't stop by every day - we are right around the corner, and I love the simple joy of a hot pretzel.  Hubby and I actually had their breakfast sliders today, which were quite yummy and well seasoned.  They are 2 for $5, and the only downside is that they are small (I should have figured from the name "sliders").  Next time, I will eat two!

Last night -

Stovetop pumpkin macaroni and cheese

Green salad with dijon vinaigrette

The *oyster chowder currently on the menu is badass.  It's some good warming-the-insides food, featuring smoked trout.  There are also rye croutons, which are mixed in, so I didn't see them but got the crunch every now and then.  This is good stuff.

There are a couple of other oyster items which I didn't try, but the chowder is great.

*Kennebec oysters

Second this.  We had it a few weeks ago, and I practically licked the bowl.  I normally prefer my oysters raw and un-fussed with, but the chowder does a phenomenal job of highlighting them.

Last night:

Butternut squash ravioli with sauteed shrimp and peas, in a quick lemon-butter-garlic sauce.

Last night:

Broccoli, tomato, chickpea, and mozzerella casserole - a very veggie-heavy baked pasta with a binder of egg, cottage cheese, and parmesan.  Surprisingly good!

My wife and I scored two seats at the kitchen counter last night at the very un-New Year's eve time of 5:45. I actually pick the time on purpose because I wanted to eat and go home early and avoid any insanity of the night. All the usual superlatives apply, great food, great staff, super friendly service, everyone looking like they were loving being there.

We got to choose 3 small plates to share between the two of us and one large plate. When I lamented to our server that I didn't see the popcorn soup on the menu which I've only read about the never tried, she said don't worry there's going to be a few extra treats coming out and I promise you won't leave hungry. She was of course correct, and we ended up taking half of the brisket home in a doggy bag.

We ordered the pork, habanero and lychee, the quail, and a pasta with breadcrumbs and truffle dish is our three small plates, and we put the brisket for a large plate. The extras included chicken fried oysters, scallops, some sort of like crunchy thing topped with roe, consommé with, I think, "chicken thigh fat "noodles. Strangely, one of the highlights was the sorbet of green apple and celery. I could've eaten a gallon of that stuff! We also got a choice of two desserts and we pick the banana split. When we ordered some coffee for after dinner, our waitress brought us a couple of macaroons is a little bonus

The final bonus was they sent us home with two little doggie bags with the Red Cross sticker on it that said New Year's Eve hangover kit on it. Inside the bags were potato chips, water, Alka-Seltzer and an energy drink.

PS - I forgot to mention that we started the night with two glasses of sparkling rosé champagne

Say hi next time. 

We were not planning anything special for NYE, having just moved, but I was perusing Twitter yesterday and saw that they had a cancellation at 5:45 for two of their Garden Bar seats.  I managed to snag them, and we really enjoyed the meal (just like we have enjoyed all of our previous meals at Rose's).  We got the same amuses/bites/treats that Bart mentioned, and they were delicious - I liked the popcorn soup better this time than I did when I had it initially (when it was on the menu a while back).  For our ordered items, we chose the burnt romaine (which I just LOVE), the quail (delicious), and the amatriciana pasta (amazing - super hearty and spicy).  We opted for the brisket (despite hearing from the bartender at Beauchert's that the eggplant parm was superb), and it was so tender and flavorful and there was SO MUCH OF IT (we got a doggie bag as well).  The collards were a bit too sweet for our taste, but the black-eyed peas that came with it were the best I have ever had.  For dessert, we had to get the kiwi-coconut (the banana split had peanuts), but it was really good - it somehow managed to be rich and refreshing all at the same time.

The only bummer of the evening were the obnoxious folks who sat next to us.  They completely dominated the bartender's time and attention (and the bartender handled it way more gracefully than I ever could have).  When we would occasionally engage the staff in conversation, the man would find a way to abruptly insert himself without deigning to look at or talk to us.  Usually sitting at the bar is awesome because you meet lots of interesting people - but I guess they can't all be winners.

Bart, I hope you didn't throw away the Rose's cards that were in the hangover kit - they're gift cards!  I believe they each have a value of $20.15.

This event sounds incredible - I hope everyone enjoys!  We will be out of town (bummer), but I will keep my eyes peeled for the announcement of a spring date.  Yum!

Joe H, thank you so much for sharing!  I have only spent a total of 5 years in DC (2005-2008, then early 2013 through present day), but even in that short time it has changed drastically.  When we were here the first time, we lived at 16th and V NW, and it was just starting to hit its stride (in other words, you could still find a reasonably priced apartment, and there weren't high-rise buildings everywhere).  When we moved back in 2013, we got more space for the money in NE (in NoMa, a short walk from the western edge of H Street NE), which we never would have considered previously.  We fell in love with the eastern part of the city, and we just bought a house near Stadium-Armory in SE.  As we walk down the street, my husband muses that in 5 years, this neighborhood will look completely different.  Just wild.  We can't wait to see what the next years bring to DC.

The Washington Post ran an article a couple of weeks back about all of the grocery delivery services we have at our disposal in the DC area.  I tried a new one yesterday, Klink - you can order wine, beer, spirits, ice, and mixers, and it will be delivered right to your door.  The delivery fee is $3.97 for a $20 minimum order, which is very reasonable in comparison to some other courier services I've tried.  Also, in contrast to some of the grocery services, Klink does not mark up their prices - the prices seemed to be in line with area stores (of course you can get things cheaper sometimes, but sometimes you don't have time to comparison shop).

The wine selection isn't great, but I was surprised by some of the beers I was able to order.  Considering that I was in the middle of a move and had to make sure I had munitions for a visit from the in-laws (and seeing that it was pouring rain yesterday), I was extremely grateful to the very friendly and courteous delivery guy.  I also got a follow up call from one of the higher-ups at Klink, thanking me for the order and letting me know that he appreciated my business.  Nice touch.

You can order online or via app, which is nice.  I feel like this service would be amazing if you needed reinforcements during a party or you were just running short on time and wanted someone else to do the heavy lifting.

Last night I drank to my wonderfully talented brother-in-law, who earned a 3.5-star review from Michael Bauer. 

Hubby and I are heading to Vegas in January and could use some recommendations.  Short story: I'm going for a conference, but hubby has never been AND is turning 40 in January, so he's coming with me...but what he doesn't know is that a bunch of our friends are going to be there as well.  Hooray for surprises!

We have a beer-centric pub crawl scheduled for Saturday during the day, so I'd love to get suggestions for a good, casual dinner place where we could show up without a reservation (we are staying at the Flamingo, and some friends are staying at the Palazzo).  Also, I'd like to do a nicer dinner for everyone on Sunday night - Jason's favorite type of food is Mexican, so is there a more upscale place where we could get good food AND good cocktails?  Our group should be about 7 people.

Finally, does anyone have a favorite brunch/breakfast place?

Thanks for any suggestions!  Trying to keep the celebratory vibe going for the whole weekend. 

I have been using MIB - Maids in Black - for a while now, and I have been pleased with the service.  What drew me to them was the flat-fee pricing and the ability to book appointments online, but the actual cleaning has been quite good as well.

My husband and I have spent many years collecting a LOT of different beer/pint glasses, but we are moving soon and won't have room for them all (or the china cabinet that holds them).  If anyone would like any of the glasses, I am happy to give them to a fellow beer lover!  Feel free to respond or PM if you are looking for a particular brewery for your collection, or if you'd like to come peruse the selection. 

The glasses are free, but if you are interested in a china cabinet, let me know and we can figure out a price.  It is a substantial piece!

Nice!  This is a really great promo - thanks for sharing!  I don't know how likely it is for the Olympics to come to DC, but any opportunity to highlight our home as something other than "that" Washington (you know the one) would be welcomed by this resident.

We loved our first trip to Copycat Co. - we got there a bit after 5 on Sunday, and it was pretty empty, but it filled up quickly and they had a nice steady crowd for the whole time we were there.  Bartenders were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and they did not steer us wrong - I had three different cocktails, and they were all superb (I think my favorite of the night was the Harold Smash, with tequila and all-spice - it had that taste of fall without being cloying or sweet).  We ordered all of the skewers and both the beef bao and the triple delight potstickers; I did NOT like the skeweres because they were cooked beyond recognition, but the dumplings were fantastic.  I would gladly return for dumplings and drinks anytime.  I feel like this will be a great industry bar - late hours, good drinks, awesome service, and cheap munchies.  A welcome addition to the neighborhood!

Currently simmering away - Thurber family famous red clam chowder.  I usually satisfy my craving for it over Thanksgiving, but my dad wasn't feeling up to making it (and, truth be told, we did not need it - way too much food already).

Since it's a dreary weekend, I think I am also going to make some beef barley and Italian wedding soup for freezing.