Al Dente

A link to a review of a couple of pizza joints in New Haven. With pictures!

Frank Pepe's and Sally's

Huh?  Is this how you make a silk purse out of a sow's ear?  What was in the stuffing?  Did it come out like a pork rind?

It was described as a "stuffed pig's ear" on the menu, but it was really more like a pile of chopped up bits of ear that was somehow formed into a ball the size of a golf ball. Then the ball was battered (or maybe breaded? sort of both) and fried. The meat's texture was tender and gelatinous and it was quite rich.

Oddly, I have super-human hearing today.

When I die and go to heaven (presumably, I mean after all I've never served anyone Miracle Whip), the cloud that I sit on and play my harp should be made of Chef Ruta's gnocchi.

I ordered 3 courses off the regular menu last night. Try the bean salad, apparently it's new-- green and yellow string beans with a generous amount of shaved summer truffle, a coddled egg on the side, and a deep fried stuffed pig's ear! I stuck with the pig headed theme and had the gnocchi next. Guanciale really makes this sublime. Then I went off on a tangent and had a perfectly cooked hunk of halibut with favas. Oh my.

Maybe the Pearly Gates are made of Palena's halibut.

What time?  I'm going to meet up with some friends there as soon as the door opens, but we will probably head over to check out Dinos after six.

Not sure yet. Work could hold me up for a while. I have a feeling we'll either get there earlyish (5?) or latish (8?). If the former, I'll look out for you. Who knows, I might check out Dino's myself.

I don't know if I would exactly call us "influential".

Our main influence probably lies in the fact that Sietsema and Kliman read this board.

It would be interesting to look into the web server log and count the number of unique IP's people are using to visit the site over the course of say a week or a month. That would probably give a better picture of direct "influence".

Perhaps the guy with the big pecs could give us some insight into exactly how fear-worthy we are.

Heading to Palena tonight with a co-worker who doesn't get out much. I took him to 2Amys a while back (which he was crazy about) and then we had a cocktail at Palena where his mouth watered over the menu despite us being stuffed with pizzas, prosciutto, and various other Pastan treats.

I may have to spring for a multi-course meal.

For some strange reason, that case of St. Pauli Girl for my 16th birthday sticks in my mind.

Far out! That was one of my gifts on my 16th. From my mother no less!

Do we have a Solo Vegetarian Bug Lover in our midst?

Dropped by last night to check it out, but they were closed for a press party

Went to Ardeo instead and had a decent meal.

Some co-workers are planning to have a big dinner at this place and I'm trying to decide on whether or not the food might make up for the company I'd be with.

Mem Sahib

Apparently, the menu is prix fixe and they wash your hands for eating sans flatware.

Has anyone been?

This calls for some rationalizations.

Buy the Le Creuset. Hell, buy the biggest one you can find. Then tell yourself about all the cheap cuts of meat you'll be braising in delicious meals for yourself. Goodbye Porterhouse, hello pot roast!

It'll pay for itself, right? No? Okay, consider how well it holds heat-- your electricity or gas bills will plummet. Oh yeah, you can also get rid of that gym membership because you can use it as weights! Thinking of buying an expensive home security system? Forget it, you can devise a booby trap with this pot over your front door to disable any home invaders. Do your children need football or batting helmets? Not anymore! As a bonus, if they use it as a helmet, it will give them strong neck and shoulder muscles necessary for intensly studying textbooks, getting superlative grades, and racking up the scholarship dough!

All in all, a brand spankin new Le Creuset will save you thousands of dollars over the coming years.

My wife and I scored big time on the wedding registry. All kinds of All-Clad, Le Creuset, Wustof, a Kitchaid mixer, coffee/espresso/cappuccino maker, various serving dishes, flatware, dishes, martini glasses, champagne flutes, wine glasses, ramekins, and steak knives.

Now I just need a proper kitchen to use it all in.

You can ask for them at the counter of the merchant next to Canale's in Eastern Market. It's the place with all the raviolis in the display case.

(come to think of it, it might be part of Canale's.)

And of course you can click HERE for a picture of Messr. Dente.

Sadly, I am rapidly approaching similar proportions.

I've updated my avatar so that it shows a picture of mdt so everyone will now know what he looks like.

In the event you're trying to identify Jacques...

Mr Gastreaux

I fully realize I'm leaving myself wide open to similar posts...

I went out west of Charlottesville a few days ago and we hit a few wineries-- King Family, Afton Mountain, and one of the best, in my opinion, Veritas:

Veritas Tasting Room

Veritas Wine List

Veritas Wines

Yeah, aren't you on your honeymoon or something? 

Me and the missus might be up for stopping off at Firefly. Though I am in jeans and a t-shirt-- a swanky designer t-shirt however.

Yeah, crazy talk.  Parking near 2 Amy's sucks ventworm nut.

It's my birthday, so wherever we go needs to have good cocktails.

21 at last, eh?

Happy Birthday!

What about something totally different, like 2 Amy's?

Whoa, hold on there. You're talking crazy. You're suggesting somewhere other than Firefly or Corduroy?

I'm in.

I'm kind of thinking about doing Minibar for my birthday in mid October...anybody want to come?  Not sure how far in advance they need reservations, so I figured I'd throw it out there now.

I think you can only reserve 30 days out. I tried recently and was told I'd have to call back on a specific date a month beforehand. I set a reminder in Outlook to call on that date in the a.m. and WHAM, already booked.

Good luck!

After reading this story, I'm thinking that a drive-by of the Ugly Mug for some take-out mini-burgers might be a tasty alternative.  With a little notice, they will pack them up to go!

Aramark should be boycotted. They are to food what Kenny G is to Jazz.

I would enjoy that obscurity

Try the obscure duck! Kliman does indeed speak of the restaurant to which I allude. I'd go more into it, but I'm shnockered after a rehearsal dinner and beat.

He's right-- stay away from the stir fries and delve deeply into the curries. Also, step up to the four-burner stove and chat with the man as he makes your meal. This jaunt into the hood is well worth it. Some dishes blow what I've ever had before in the DC area out of the water. Too many Thai places just throw some chicken, ginger, galanga, and lime leaves into a wok and say, badabing, this is Thai. F them.

Thai X-ing is Thai!

Anyone have ideas for 4 jars of blueberry sauce?

Homemade vanilla ice cream. But only if made in an ice cream maker that was brought over on the Mayflower.

When I lived in Shirlington many moons ago, I enjoyed their carryout as well. There was a typo on the takeout menu at the time for their thin cigar shaped egg rolls-- "crippy rolls". I always got them, just because I enjoyed saying "crippy" instead of "crispy".