sacrilicious

I like the idea of blind tasting but it was unnecessarily long and drawn out, repeatedly showing a disembodied hand deciding between the two buttons, Nigella waffling about whether to hit yes or no, etc. At least The Voice has a song that the audience can listen to and enjoy or not during the judge's deliberations. Here there didn't seem to be much to say about one bite of food. Plus the repeated cycle of sob/inspiring story - swallow bite - meet the cheftestant - rejection started to feel tedious after a while. I made it through about 45 minutes before getting bored. I haven't deleted it from the DVR yet, but maybe I'll just wait until they start the actual cooking competition.

Thanks to sandynva and yfunk3 for summarizing my thoughts better than I could. Responses to the effect that the offendees are too hypersensitive and just need to lighten up, since the Fojol truck [offends a bunch of different ethnic groups, doesn't think it's racist, is so over the top that it *can't* be racist, etc.], in particular, were bothering me yesterday, but I couldn't articulate my objections in part due to time constraints and in part due to the "sick of fighting it" phenomenon. (I've been hearing the "chill out" excuse or some variation thereof for my whole life.) Maybe the Fojol truck food is good (and I would love to find some good Indian street food), but as a person of Indian descent who does find their "theme" unnecessarily offensive, I'll just spend my money elsewhere.

I'm sorry to hear this. I never went to the wine shop part, but the kitchen was one of my favorite places for lunch. I was just there Friday and didn't see any indication of a place in trouble. Perhaps they decided to pull the plug before it got to that point though.

I can't vouch for it personally, but one of these days I want to try to MGM Roast Beef - it's near the Arboretum and Home Depot. Unfortunately I'm never in the neighborhood during their open hours, but it kind of seems like one of those those no-frills deli/sandwich shops that are common in the Northeast but for the most part absent in DC. (I don't eat meat anymore, but they have a veggie burger, so I can just go and inhale the roast beef aroma...) I think it may have only counter seating though, definitely not a sit down for a group kind of place.

$19 for lunch is more than I can typically spend on my government drone salary, but I would happily return for the pre fixe bar lunch at Elisir. The spinach / ricotta cannelone was full of creamy goodness, but nicely complemented by the mushroom ragu, which added some body and kept it from being too rich. Well it was still a bit too rich for me to finish, but that was only because I was saving room for the mini almond cake with a melon ball size scoop of mascarpone gelato. My lunch companions had the salmon with mustard sauce and the saffron fettucine, and both really liked their dishes as well. I guess if I had to find a flaw, it was that the cake was a touch too dry and crumbly, but I've never had zuccotto before, so maybe that's what it's supposed to be like. Since there was a nutella-like sauce on the plate, it wasn't a fatal flaw. Also, a big thank you for having three (!) items on the menu that are suitable for vegetarians, as they say in the UK. Not often that we have more than one choice on a menu, especially a fixed menu. (PS - If there's beef broth or something in the cannelone, don't tell me, I don't wanna know. )

DItto, hate to pile on, but I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. I got takeout a couple of times when I was really craving Indian food (before Masala Art opened) and it was meh to awful. The place always seemed dark and unwelcoming and there was rarely more than one table occupied. However, I will say the staff was very nice.

This morning I saw a sign that Cava Mezze Grill is coming to Wisconsin Avenue near Van Ness, the former Jandara space (which was followed by a succession of other Asian restaurants, but none of the names have stuck with me). The building had been basically razed so I was wondering what was going on. Good news for the neighborhood, IMO. Any estimate of when it will be open?

I love the black and white shake too! Never found it too sweet, but I'm usually getting it with fries and a (veggie) burger, which I'm guessing provides way more than the RDA for sodium, so maybe that's why. To me a black and white is just about the hint of chocolate, so it's perfect. Heresy, I know, but I actually like the prefab crinkle cut fries too. I've had too many inconsistent orders of fries from the other vendors like Boardwalk -- they can be great, or they can be limp, greasy, and cold. At least the fries I've gotten at Shake Shack have been consistently hot and crispy. I don't go to SS every time I'm at the park, what with the line, the calories, and the price - but I think it's a great addition. PS for vegetarians - Boardwalk Fries offers a decent handmade type veggie burger - black beans and rice based. A little mushy but very passable and spiced up with chili powder, so it's not bland at all.

I went for lunch earlier this week and liked everything I tried. The place was almost empty and service was pleasant. The complementary sparkling water was a nice touch. Here's what we had: Broccolini (spicy pepper relish, feta, walnuts) - really good with a strong lemon or other acidic bite. Warm Brussel Sprouts (pancetta, maple, egg) - I didn't try this because of the pancetta dressing, but it got good reviews from the table. Striped Bass (potato, smoked eggplant, pine nut relish) - also didn't taste this dish, my friends thought the fish was overdone. Chestnut Agnolotti (butternut squash, brussel leaves, brown butter) - a nice mix of sweet, but not too sweet filling, and creamy brown butter sauce. Brussel leaves didn't add much flavor, IMO. The dish probably would have been too rich if I were eating it by myself, but shared it was fine. Forager Pizza (mushrooms, braised kale, ricotta salata) - I'm not such a fan of chewy, bready neopolitan style crust, but somehow the toppings and the crust worked together really well on this one. However, this could be influenced by the fact that the small plates are, well, quite small, and I was still pretty hungry when the pizza came out. Cannolis (nutella, orange) - If I were not in public I would have licked the filling off the plate. 'Nuff said. At $6, this was the one dish that I thought was a good value. I fully appreciate that they are using good ingredients and the flavor combinations were interesting. But I'm also in the camp of unlikely to be back regularly. I paid $26 for lunch, water only, and I was still hungry. (And I consider myself to have a fairly small appetite; I can make 2-3 meals out of normal restaurant servings.) I believe the server said they recommend about 3 small plates per person. At this price point that puts it into the "special occasion" category for me.

Well that in itself is a positive change from the places that preceded it in that location. Thanks for the report, and looking forward to trying it soon. I have only peeked through the window while walking by, and it's a little hard to tell from the facebook photos: are there any seats at a bar, or is it all dinner seating?

As a vegetarian, I had fairly low expectations for Medium Rare but a meat-eating friend really wanted to check it out. In the end, I liked it more than I expected to. The bread was very good, and the salad reasonably good. At first I wasn't too thrilled with the fries, which weren't that hot. But they were crispy and, despite being slightly cool, not greasy at all, so I ate the entire 2 servings. The portobello mushroom alternative isn't going to win any awards, but it wasn't horrible either. I'm pretty sick of restaurants slapping a thick slab of bland fungus on the plate and calling it a vegetarian entree. I liked that it was sliced thinly so I didn't have to saw away at it, and that they attempted to infuse some flavor into it with some kind of balsamic marinade, and a roasted red pepper sauce. The desserts (apple pie and sundae) were so good though. I loved the fact that menu consisted entirely of simple, classic desserts. I was especially happy to unexpectedly find chocolate crunchies in the ice cream! Loved it. Sadly, my sundae was big enough for 3 and I had already eaten a lot by that time, so I could barely make a dent. I wonder if I could go at an off time and just order the sundae. The atmosphere is really nice too. We got there around 6:30 pm on Saturday and there was no wait. I like the way they've opened up and brightened the interior. (When it was Yanni's I always preferred to eat outside, even with the Metrobus fumes.) We had very pleasant service from the hostesses and all the servers. The first serving came out maybe a bit too quickly after the salad, but the second serving came out just at the right moment. The only thing that gave me pause was that my meal was the same prix fixe $19.50. Now I don't know the economics of steak served at large volumes, so maybe the cost of prepping only a few vegetarian entrees works out the same. But given that portobellos are at Safeway this week for $2.50 ... just saying I was a little surprised. While there's no reason to for me to go back, I would be fine tagging along again if carnivore friends all wanted to go. Which, for such a meat-centric place, is a pretty good endorsement from me.

I'm bummed that the Shake Shack etc. won't be open yet, looking forward to some Belgian frites! With all the new food trucks in the last year, seems like there's an opportunity for some better pre-game snacks than in the past. Setting up a designated area outside the stadium for a couple of carts on a rotating basis would be awesome (but would also cut into the concession profits, so maybe it's a total nonstarter). I used to stop off for a pre-game empanada at the On the Fly cart. I'm hoping the rain holds off, but then again sitting in damp "40 degrees almost about to rain" weather for 3 hours isn't much better. But anyway, go Nats!

Living Social deal ($30 for $60) for Grapeseed in Bethesda today. I've never tried the place but have heard good things. (And I have family coming this weekend so can already see a use for it....) It can also be put toward their upcoming Saturday wine classes.

Has anyone given/sold a Groupon or Living Social coupon to another person? It has my name on it but I doubt the restaurants care who's using it, right? I have one that's expiring soon, but I won't be able to use it and thought I would offer it up on the neighborhood listserve. I just don't want the user to run into any issues.

I've only been there for brunch in recent years, including a few weeks ago. It's fine, nothing spectacular or memorable, but the basics are done well, and the service is pleasant. I haven't been there for dinner in years (since Jenna Bush used to hang out there yes I did see her there once) so I can't comment on the dinner menu. I think of it as a decent neighborhood option, but I wouldn't travel across town for it.

I tried the Tenleytown Pete's location tonight and really enjoyed it. We had the "Edge of the Woods" (sauteed spinach, caramelized onions, ricotta, and fried eggplant). I thought the crust was the right balance of charred and chewy, and appropriately salted. The toppings were pretty well-seasoned too. Something in there had a little bit of pepper, but it was fleeting - I would have liked a little more of that, if anything the pizza needed just a little more bite. The eggplant slices were maybe a bit too large, in some cases, larger than the pizza slices. Thankfully the eggplant was super thin, because it was only a little oily (in a good way) but it could have easily become a total oil sponge. I suspect it might not reheat that well though. They claimed at the counter that a whole pizza could take up to 45 minutes, which led some people to order slices instead from the sort of dessicated looking display. I'm glad we ordered a whole pie instead, and it took only about 20 minutes. I've never tried the CH location, and I've never had pizza in New Haven. So I have no idea what "New Haven" style pizza is, and maybe Pete's sucks by that standard, but I wouldn't know. It reminded me of NYC pizza, so I was happy. (Except more expensive. One pizza, one large side salad, and two draft beers came to $47. One pizza would feed me for several days though, so maybe it's not that bad.) The space is nice too - airy and high-ceilinged, but not so loud that we couldn't converse. Very friendly service. For a very brief period there was a wait for tables, but by 9 or 9:30 there were plenty of seats again. Based on the number of tables and chairs stacked up outside it looks like they will have plenty of outdoor seating at some point. This is a really welcome addition to the Tenleytown restaurant "scene" (such as it is ).

I was running late as usual so it was a tomato/mozzarella/roasted red pepper sandwich from Corner Bakery and some fruit and nuts from ABP before I had to jump on the bus. It worked out fine, and I have no complaints... except the outcome of the game. Last year I brought my own food for most of the games, and what I ate just depended on where I was leaving from. So, for example, I'd pick up sandwiches or wraps, cold salads, or vegetarian sushi from Whole Foods, Fresh Med, or a downtown salad bar / deli. I'm pretty skilled at eating off my lap (even with chopsticks), but if I'm coming from work, usually with folders and whatnot in my bag, it has to be something that can be securely wrapped and won't leak or soak my stuff. But last year I rarely left for the game right from my office, so I hadn't thought about the same kinds of options for the Union Station area. I wasn't worried about the timing from BR to the park, but with the route it takes to get out of Union Station, getting from the station to BR can take a while. Especially at rush hour, and when the Circulator driver is running her own catering biz out of the bus, and stopping to fulfill orders from her friends on the sidewalk. If I hadn't already bought my sandwich I was half-tempted to try her stuff.

Thanks for the ideas. Drat. But that's pretty much what I thought. Stadium food is not looking so bad, actually. The Barracks Row stopover is intriguing though. ... I just don't think I can make it work, time wise, allowing for extra time to navigate the larger crowd. I really want to be there for the first pitch.

Heading out to watch Strasburg and the Nats tonight after work. Don't want to deal with stadium food tonight; just not in the mood for any of the vegetarian options offered (such as they are). Traveling well in the bottom of a bag and ease of consuming the meal in a ballpark seat (maybe an hour or two after purchase) are primary considerations. I'm near Union Station. I know I could walk over to Penn Quarter easily, but I prefer to take the Circulator and avoid the green line madness. I can live with an ABP / Corner Bakery sandwich, but I don't want to overlook something better.

There is a new sign at the Glover Park location that says, "Heritage Asia Thai Bistro," as well as a Thai menu on their website. (The Indian restaurant is still there, as far as I can tell.) I was just driving by so didn't stop to check it out but was planning to walk by this weekend out of curiosity. Does anyone know what this is about, and has anyone tried the new menu?

I saw an article that this market has been having some trouble attracting customers so far this year. I have no affiliation with them, but I love this little market - it's small and easily navigable, but there are a variety of stands - greens, fruits, veggies, herbs, gelato, Copper Pot pasta/jam, and Karen's fabulous baked goods, among others. I'm just one person shopping for a fairly small amount of food, so my paltry sum each week may not mean much, but this is a worthwhile venture that I really want to succeed. If you can make it to the neighborhood on a Saturday morning please stop by and check it out.

Grilled cheese sandwich/panini at Dupont Deli - yes I know it's just American cheese, bread, and a lot of butter, but not bad. Not bad at all. $8 including a bag of chips. Also my late inning stop at Giffords resulted in a "single scoop" piled about 5 inches high. I guess they were under orders to empty out the tubs. Not complaining, just sayin' that all in all, a pretty good evening at the ballpark. Now if only the Nats had rallied, then it would have been perfection....

Baking projects over the last few days - Carrot Cake Cupcakes (from Joy of Baking) - Not overly moist, so not what I think of as a very traditional carrot cake. But I like this recipe for cupcakes in particular, because it's moist enough and holds its shape well; my other go-to carrot cake recipe from Smitten Kitchen is great as a layer cake but a bit too oily to be eaten by hand. White Russian Cupcakes - A friend had posted online the recipe for this Cake Mix doctor-like concoction involving yellow cake mix, vanilla pudding, Kahlua, vodka, cream, etc. This was not my idea, but another friend who really likes sweet liqueurs was dying to try it. She loved them so I gave her half the batch. Personally I'm not a fan of Kahlua or yellow cake mix (and especially not the two together, as I now know)... so I think my half is going down the disposal eventually. Banana Bread "Cockaigne" (from Joy of Cooking) with added chocolate chips and walnuts - This recipe involves creaming butter and sugar and beating the ingredients together; I've always used melted butter and just folded everything together for quick breads - getting out the mixer defeats the purpose of "quick." It had good flavor, and came out very attractively shaped with a nice domed top, which I had sprinkled with more chocolate chips and toasted walnuts. So, very pretty. But not surprisingly the texture was like a creamed-butter cake. I think I prefer the denser crumb that comes from the melted butter, even though my quick breads then invariably look like neatly stackable bricks. (Upon further reflection-and allowing the banana bread to rest for a couple more days-I have revised my opinion and think it's actually pretty quite tasty, even if it is, technically, banana cake.)

The Whole Foods itself also has seating, and it may be that the tables can be pushed together. I've never seen very many people there, so finding room for 6-8 should not be a problem. The atmosphere is not as coffee-shoppy as Starbucks, of course. The Marvelous Market space is weird. You would think a sandwich shop/bakery should be ideal for some indoor seating, but this one is not like the MM in Georgetown; they don't have a very good set up at all.

A co-worker and I enjoyed a fairly simple but tasty lunch here yesterday. I had the Vegetarian Sandwich (portobello, zucchini, roasted red pepper, avocado, herb aioli and fresh mozz), which was a surprisingly good rendition of what is usually a throwaway sandwich at most places. I was pleased to find that the fillings were well-balanced - no huge chewy portobello patty overpowering everything else. The herb flavor in the aioli wasn't that pronounced; actually any spread was almost unnecessary since the melted mozzarella and avocado provided a nice smooth mouthfeel that contrasted perfectly with the texture of the vegetables (and um, fungi). My co-worker had the Steak Sandwich with havarti. The only complaint she had was that it contained undisclosed aioli - but then she has an aversion to mayo. She still thought it was excellent and finished the dish. The breads, both the dinner roll and the sandwich roll, were warm, crusty and very well-seasoned. Both sandwiches were accompanied by a generous serving of addictive crispy fries. With ketchup, which was fine, although next time I'll ask for a cup of mayo.