oliveDC

The new(ish) team in the kitchen seems to be really maintaining the standard set by the predecessors. I've really enjoyed my last few meals there. And I agree with the brunch comments from food.fiend. They won me over with a plate of french toast and bacon ($7) — together, not ordered separate. That's my brunch go-to and to see them paired that way made me smile.

(Self promo ahead...) I joined some friends last week for a primary watching party at the JW Marriott and they've decided to keep it going: read the details here. The Cuban pork sliders were really good.

Ditto. When debating between Rasika and elsewhere, Gina was always the tie breaker. If anyone finds out where she goes, please fill us in!

Ask, and ye shall receive.

Thanks, Don. Maybe I'll take Metrocurean to an all caps format.

Anyone catch Fabio on Martha Stewart this morning? Very charming.

(edited to add: I meant Fabio was charming, not Martha.)

I second the bar at 701. For $15, you get a choice of entrees and a glass of wine. When I served nearly two weeks and couldn't bear Au Bon Pain every day, I went to 701, Rasika, Teaism and Andale (now Oyamel). It's easy to get in and out in an hour, especially if you sit at the bar.

Be sure to pick up the November issue of Food&Wine!

Since this thread got bumped, I should update my last comment (from 2 years ago!) about service ... I've been staying for dinner with greater regularity and not only does the service seem much better, the place also seems as crowded as ever. It's one of regular go-tos.

I tried the Saraceno pizza for the first time recently (I have a hard time straying from the soppressata) and it was terrific - lamb sausage with spicy harissa and smoked mozzarella.

I adored the guava flan when I had it recently. It's not a traditional flan - it's more cakey, less custardy. Delicious.

Wonder if/when an official apology/announcement will be made to clarify the situation?

I agree with Ed. It definitely doesn't fall into the category of places that open claiming to be restaurants but end up primarily bars. And the mushrooms really are great (the truffle oil doesn't hurt). I'm also a fan of the "pork and beans" -- a big ol' pork shank with several different kinds of beans.

that still doesnt make Corduroy informal restaurant. you wont see any of the servers at Corduroy wearing jeans and tshirts and serving people.

I wonder if those people were on crack when they nominate Corduroy in this class ?

They posted the criteria for each category on the RAMW web site. For Informal it says:

"Informal Dining Restaurant of the Year

The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of dining excellence. The nominee must have been in

business a minimum of two years by December 1, 2006. The average per person check is $49 or under for an appetizer,

entrée and dessert."

I think that if you've won in the last five years, you can't be nominated. Both Maestro and Citronelle fall into that category.

Last I heard was mid-April.

I ate at Meta's once, which I think I remember liking. (It was a while ago.) Cafeteria style Southern food. Very popular with the post-church crown on weekends.

Meta's

102 West Third Street

336.750.0811

You read stories about vagrants being holed up and living in the National Cathedral for three years before being found.

Clearly, we've finally figured out what is causing the creeky noises coming from the Studio Theater attic.

You've blown my cover. I was really enjoying all the free shows too...

As Viridian is the closest restaurant to my front door, this is fantastic news.

I just love the owner's final quote in the story:

“It’s sort of at the point where I don’t really care,” he said. “If we don’t serve it, we don’t serve it. I hope people opposed to it are leading ethical and moral lives. And they better not be wearing leather shoes.”

Agreed on the drinks, the burgers and the fries. I really loved the fries, crisp and truffly. And the fresh ginger juice/ale that goes into some of the cocktails is fantastic - nice and spicy.

In the midst of a cold, I also really enjoyed the simple garlic soup with a dark, flavorful broth.

Hot Doug's gets in hot water for hot dog: story here.

Will foie gras speakeasies be far behind?

RR was just discussing with an "expert" what kind of underwear to wear to prevent celulite. Oh my ...

Maybe this deserves its own "Campaign to Eliminate" thread, but here's an excerpt from a trend story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

'Gastroporn' invades the lexicon

Now that EVOO — Food Network icon Rachael Ray's catchword for extra-virgin olive oil — has made it into the Oxford American College Dictionary, could this term that's begun popping up everywhere be far behind? "It's one of the ironies of modern life that cooking shows and books are so hugely popular when much of the time we eat on the move or settle down in front of the TV with a microwaved frozen dinner," says trend-spotter Salzman. "The preparing, cooking, tasting and eating of food have become voyeuristic pleasures separated from physical reality."

Does that make people who work with/write about food gastropornographers?

A few other places that don't seem to come up:

imho, two of the better Thai places in the District:

Thai Tanic

Kanlaya

for that matter, Thai places in the district don't seem to come up all that much on this board even though there are a fair number of them (e.g. Haad Thai, Thai Chili, ThaiPhoon, that place near Tortilla Coast, etc). Vietnamese also.. though I'm at a loss to come up with a single example in the District proper.

I like Thai Tanic. And I was glad to see it packed the last time I went on a Saturday. We end up at Rice before Thai Tanic usually, mainly because it's a few blocks closer, and I was afriad Thai Tanic would suffer from other people doing the same. Doesn't seem my fears were warranted. And the green beans with chicken dish was nice and spicy.

Desert island. The island is probably deserted, not a desert.

Now if it were a dessert island, I'd like to visit some day.

Anyone else see the commercial with the president of Taco Bell declaring the e.coli outbreak over and reassuring us that they are working with health officials and produce suppliers to make sure it never happens again? Very weird commercial. Chalupas for everyone!