crazeegirl

I live a minute away from Viridian and until Saturday did not try after being disappointed at Merkado and Logan Tavern. I know Viridian has no affiliation with the Merkado/Logan Tavern, but whether it was the fear of another disappointment in Logan Circle or my uneagerness to spend my time and money at a place other than my usual haunts given my lack of time outside the office...I did not give Viridian a try until this weekend. I was pleasantly suprised and would definitely go back especially for the appetizers or happy hour. Each of appetizers screamed summer...especially the beets. I love the airy-ness of the restaurant--so serene. The two tapenades (olives and arugula pesto) that came with our bread were superb. However, I was ambivalent about the mains and desserts. Dinner for 3 included: beets roasted, with pipe dreams farms goat cheese, oranges, walnut coulis (WOW!!! WOW!!!) sea scallops with watermelon and avocado duck confit/pate tomato salad with roasted pork belly(?) (more reminiscent of a large piece of bacon but too hard/chewy for me to swallow) MAIN red trout sunburst farms with gazpacho, squash blossom, crab, olives leg of lamb poached with olive oil SIDES chile marinated cucumbers DESSERTS warm chocolate cake peach tart We had 2 bottles of the sauvignon blanc (called THC or TLC?) which went well with the summery meal. The damage after all this was a little over $260 after tip.

Your experience mirrors mine. For the past 3 months, I have been going to Ceiba once a week for lunch and have tried most of the items on their menu (i think they changed couple items recently) and have been happy with each meal. My favorite right now is their softshell crab salad, cubano sandwich and their chilled soup. Lunch can be done under $20...which I think for a sit down lunch at a nice environment, it is not too bad. FYI...the churros are addictive.

I always enjoy dinner at the bars at Tosca (metro center) and Zaytinya (chinatown). The prix fixe menu at Tosca is especially a steal!

After my disappointing experience at Palena's cafe 6 or more months ago...I decided to give Palena another try, wanting to love it like so many fans of Palena. I ordered the hamburger with fries and my dinner mate ordered the beet salad and potato gnocchi with fava beans. We both thought that the gnocchi was top notch and it tasted more luscious each bite. However, my burger... it was good, but I don't know if it was the service, i didn't enjoy it as much as I wish I had. I requested my hamburger to be cooked "medium." When I cut my burger in half, it was clearly well-done...no pink whatsoever. When our waiter came to see how we were doing, I mentioned that I had asked for medium, but the patty was well-done. Our server's explanation just blew my mind. According to him, the chef is French and he (the server) is european and that's medium under French cooking standards. Hmmm.... Not wanting to spoil my evening, I just chomped away my $10 burger. What bothered me was I know what a medium cooked meat is supposed to look like and to get such an excuse/explanation felt somewhat condescending. The bottle of gigondas, which is also offered by the glass, is a great deal...I think it was in the high $40s. The meal was around $125 before tip. Would I go back? Probably in 6 months to see if I change my mind.

Sunday early evening at the terrace encapsulated a perfect early summer evening... drops of sweat from the stroll along the river intermittent breeze... straw hats.... sancerre... sorrel vichyssoise... lobster burgers... and giggles. life can't get better than this. monday doesn't feel too bad, knowing, in 6 days, my sunday at the terrace will be back.

Thanks for the recommendations! Heritage India delivers to Metro Center...although the minimum is $25 and takes forever to deliver!!

I have been and will be working past midnight pretty much all the time and have to get dinner delivered to Metro Center. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

ou can call ahead and make reservations. I recommend the steamed giant oysters with scallions. If you have a larger party, order the dish from the regular menu (I think there are 6 oysters), the price is cheaper if you want more than 2!

My favorite meal in Paris was at La Regalade (49 avenue Jean-Moulin, 75014 Paris (00 33 1 45 45 68 58) Closed Saturday lunch, Sunday, Monday). As you take your seat you are welcomed with a homemade terrine with cornichons...to die for...if I knew that they would later take it away when the appetizers were served, I would not have eaten it at a leisurely pace. The raw oysters were served with homemade sausage links, a new combination for me, but I SO SO SO hope that every restaurant that serves raw oysters would follow. We split a full order of pan seared foie gras, followed by a veal chop for two. Dinner concluded with to-die-for orange souffle and camembert. Dinner for two with 2 bottles of wine was around $130. Of the places we tried that I would recommend are: Le Meurice, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Pinxo, Cafe Flore, Ze Kitchen Gallerie, Pierre Herme, Laduree, Le Pied de Cochon, Angelina's, and L'entregeu. If you are interested in any of them, PM me, l can email you pictures of our meals.

Dinner at La Pergola was fabulous! I strongly recommend it to anyone planning a visit to Rome. Each dish was intricately executed, refined combination of different flavors and textures, without being too overwhelming. The service was impeccable--I would say similar to Per Se but not like Le Bec Fin. Chef Heinz Beck stopped by each table and answered questions, etc. We took a break between our cheese and dessert courses and strolled along the balcony of the hotel...a must do if you are visiting the restaurant...the view is amazing!! (I would post pictures but am having attachment issues) Carpaccio of scampi on lime gelee with papaya, caviar, and tequila ice crush Tagliolini with broccoli and clams Fillet of sea bass filled with king prawns and asparagus with crispy lemon bread on green tea sorbet Pigeon Breast on warm oranges with mulled wine sauce Variation of duck liver on grape consomme--the best foie gras in my life!! Braised beek cheeks Selection of cheese from the trolley Grand dessert Other places we tried were: Dal Bolognese, Duo Ladroni, Agustarello a Testaccio (do visit for a local experience and stewed oxtails--one in coffee/cinammon and red wine and other in white wine and rosemary), Pizzarium (when visiting the Sistine Chapel) and Girarosotto (good tuscan steaks and open on Sunday).

I thought that the general practice is to calculate tips using the $ amount after tax and that has been my standard method. However, some friends of mine have argued that the tip should be calculated with the $ amount before tax. What is the norm?

Just back from a wonderful weekend in the Big Apple. My family of six (parents & siblings) went on an impromptu weekend trip without any reservations. Our motto was "cheap but good." NYC did not disappoint us. Friday Dinner: Joe's Shanghai. Both the pork and crab/pork soup dumplings are just divine. I just love the ceremonial nature of devouring each dumpling...carefully biting a piece of the casing, delicately sipping the broth and waiting for more as you ingest the last bite. Friday Dessert: Choux Factory. It's a eclair store run by Japanese owners. They have about 10-15 flavored creams that are stuffed into pastry shells. I couldn't tell whether it was a franchise. Saturday Breakfast: Ham & Salami sandwiches from a Hungarian Deli in Upper East, a block away from our apartment. My mom's choice of breakfast. It was good but her idea of breakfast but definitely not in sync with mine, especially after too much Macallan the night before. Saturday Lunch: Baluchi's for Indian. The food shouts "safe" Indian. Not enough OMMPH but the crab meat curry was memorable. Their lunch is 50% off their Dinner menu--same menu, same portions. The damage was $90 for six of us. We ordered 3 appetizers, 4 curries, naan, tandoori chix and lassis. Saturday Dinner: We walked into Babbo with no reservations...as usual. We were lucky and got seats at the bar area after less than 30 minutes of waiting. I have yet to try a place where they have mastered the art of ravioli as Batali. We tried the beef cheek ravioli and their daily special sweet bread ravioli. Both were fantastic. Their lamb tongue salad with arugula and poached egg is not for the faint hearted, but I love the 'lambiness'(?) of the dish. Sunday Brunch: Dim sum at Cafe Evergreen on 70th and 1st Ave. Extremely clean, good service = higher prices than Chinatown.

My experience past weekend at Matyson was not as good as yours. The service was fabulous. The food was good but I would not return because (1) there are much better restaurants at similar prices in Philly and (2) there are restaurants in DC, such as Corduroy, that prepares better scallops and lamb. For apps we had: asparagus salad, clams & ham, chick pea salad and a duck confit salad. For mains: lamb loin, scallops and something else that I can't remember at this moment. I didn't get a chance to try out their desserts since I was adamant on getting the warm chocolate cake at Rouge, under my old apartment. I strongly recommend Dimitri's on 3rd & Catherine. It is my top 5 restaurant. At 6pm, there was a 1 1/2 hour wait!!! You can order EVERYTHING on the menu and still be way under $300. For party of 4, I think our bill was $100 (we eat ALOT). Dinner included: greek with greens, baba & hummus, scampi with garlic, grilled octopus, fried smelt, grilled lamb, grilled whole striped bass, fried calamari, 2 egg custards and 2 greek coffee. I would go even if it was $200/person. It's that good!! BTW, they only take cash...which is not uncommon in Philly. GO GET COFFEE from LA COLOMBE!! I brought back with me 5lbs of coffee (nizza blend). I have yet to taste coffee like La Colombe's in DC.

Dinner at Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Opting for "no wait" I made reservations via email before leaving for Paris for dinner at 6:30pm. Given the fact that lunch at L'Entregeu ended after 2pm, we had very little time to digest, but the walk from Champs Elysees to the Quartier Latin helped us digest...ready for more!! Menu DecovertE L'Amuse-Bouche [Cremeux de foie gras comme un capuccino] La Coquille Saint-Jacques [crue, marinee aux graines de pavot grilles] Le Pied de Cochon [truffe sur une tartine gratinee au parmesan] Le Champignons [dans une royale, au coulis de persil et croustilles d'ail] Le Rouget [sur une vierge aux agrumes et a la coriande fraiche] Le Chataigne [en fin boullon au fumet de celeri et lard fume] L'Agneau de lait [des Pyrennees en cotellettes a la fleur de thym] Les Langoustines [en papillotes croustillantes au basilic] La Tequila [givree aux fruits exotiques] Le Chocolat [sensation avec un sorbet ivoire sur un cremeux Araguani] [don, looks like the site is not allowing me to post more than 2 images!! help]

First meal in Paris at Entregeu on Rue Languier...Simple cuisine at extremely reasonable prices. Only an introduction to a week of culinary adventures!!

Thanks JoeH! I am on the waiting list for La Pergola...crossing my fingers. What suprises me, (as it did when planning my trip to Paris...I owe everyone a report...sorry ), is that the restaurants are very responsive to emails and follow-up questions via email. Although calling is probably the way to go, emails are so convenient...I don't have to set my alarm clock to make the call! Dean and JoeH, from your experience, do I have to make reservations for smaller trattorias or restaurants?

I will be visiting Rome for 4 days in March and staying at the Exedra Boscolo Hotel. It will not only be a short visit, but my first visit to Rome. I am trying to cram in must-see places (so MANY!!! ) and must-eat restaurants. I would very much appreciate recommendations of places that are in the $50-100pp range and one in the $300-400pp range. Thank you in advance!!

Our waitress called it a sea mushroom and the maitre(sse) d' called it "mi do do" in Korean. 2 coworkers with Korean parents didn't recognize it and neither did one of the parents. According to my Korean dictionary it is called...Warty sea squirt or Styela clava...real appetizing eh? It has to be very fresh to enjoy the real flavor. Many times mi do doks served at restaurants are frozen which does disservice to the "squirt" effect. Ask for Naengmyun sari, which is the buckwheat noodle used in naeng meun (chilled noodle soup) with the Bulgo gi or Galbi. Once you allow the noodles to soak into the broth that drips from the meat, it will a feast...as with any carb, it soaks liquid (meat drippings... ) rapidly so be haste! Let the noodles heat up and ASAP enjoy the feast!

sniff...Email reply: Thank you for the interest shows for le Comptoir,unfortunately the restaurant will be closed for the last week of december and in late January for renovations. Best regards Philippe. another one from L'Atelier Maitre Albert Restaurant avec Guy Savoy Bonjour, I m so sorry but the restaurant is closed between the friday december 23th and the tuesday january 3th 2006. Sincerely yours. Jacquet Laurent The interesting thing is that they actually reply to emails!! I've been able to snag some reservations but many places seem to be closed. sniff. [edited to remove triple spacing]

Merci merci for all the thoughtful suggestions. 22 more days before I am in Paris!

Would I need reservations? Where is it? So far I have reservations at Brassierie Flo for the 24th and at Atelier Joel de Roboucon for the 26th. Part of me tells me make more reservations, part of me tells me just go with the flow and let destiny take its course. I am staying by by the Champs Elysees so recommendations of bistros, bakeries (good croissants), gourmet stores around that area would be very very much appreciated.

Last minute changes...due to scheduling conflicts, such as work (yippeee!!), I have changed my trip to December 22-30. As much as I am filled with excitement (oui! oui! first time in Paris), I have NO reservations. Are restaurants/bistros open during Christmas? I have been told I should make reservations at bistros. Is it too late?

I am going to set my alarm clock to 4:00 am tomorrow and start calling like a mad professor! Thanks guys and gals for the info!

Does anyone know what time Corduroy's last sitting is? Has there been any "hints" as to what will be served?