amyblues

As if I'm not turkeyed out already, a big bowl of my dad's homemade turkey soup with dill, carrots, celery, onions and egg noodles. I brought 3 quarts back with me and am already done with 1.

I'll third this opnion. Southside's burger is big, juicy, and charry on the outside, and always cooked to spec for me (medium rare), though I'll add that I sub their mashed sweet potatoes for the fries. The fries are crisp, salty and plentiful, but I dream about those sweet potatoes.

I had the chance to return to Dino Saturday evening for a friend's birthday. 9 of us upstairs at the long table in the lovely back area. I felt badly for our wonderful server, Justin, as three of the 9 decided to be half an hour late, and the rest of our party held off on orders till they arrived. Order wise, maybe it makes sense to keep things together, but I can't stand lateness for dinner reservations. My highlights of the evening were the sliced steak served rare as requested and Montalcino wine, which showed me that I can actually enjoy red wine. The chocolate bread pudding with espresso cream was lovely...not nearly as heavy as most bread puddings can be and I liked the light espresso flavor as opposed to the usual liquor-based sauce. Tastes from friends: the roast chicken (how do you keep the meat so moist, the skin so crispy, and the wings so addictive? Thank god my friend doesn't like dark meat...I have a leg and thigh at home in the fridge for dinner tonight), butternut squash pasta (simple, sweet/salty, comforting, with just enough bite from the chives to cut the slick of butter and cheese) and the nutella and mascarpone panini (simply heaven). This is becoming my go-to place for nice dinners and casual nights, and I'm grateful for it being so close by. ETA: Cost for the 9 of us was approximately $400 including tax and tip due to a lack of drinkers in the party. Even the birthday boy abstained...what's up with that?

I left a message on the Dino answering machine in the hopes for reservations for a party of 6 this Friday night to celebrate my upcoming and my boyfriend's belated birthdays. I'm keeping my fingers crossed (since it's late notice) that they can take us...that nutella and mascarpone panini sounds unbelievably wonderful. If they can't take us, we may just ditch the rest of the party and stop by early by ourselves. *ETA: Just received a call back from Mike at Dino to confirm our reservation. Looking forward to it! Amy

Hi Mel, I don't know where you're located but Brooklyn Bagel Bakery on Wilson Boulevard has some pretty good bagels. Their bagel sandwiches with egg, cheese and ham are excellent. They're on par with the ones I get at home in NJ, and that's good enough for me. Also, Calvert Woodley in Van Ness gets H&H on a regular basis, and I believe Comet Liquors on Columbia Rd in Adams Morgan does too. Not the same as fresh H&H but not bad either. Amy

All Wrapped Up in Woodley Park is closing its doors at the end of this month. Right across from the metro and a gormet cheese shop would be a way better option than a potential Subway or bridal shop, which are rumored potential tenants!

There is, as it's right next to my office. I've been once and wasn't that impressed. A coworker of mine who eats there semi-regularly has been known to bring his own soda since they don't seem to refrigerate theirs. Requests for ice go unmet so he resorted to bringing his own.

And their spicy fried chicken is pretty good too!

A few years ago, I got dragged to the Macaroni Grill in Ballston mall by friends before seeing a movie there. Ordered some chicken and portobello mushrooms dish. While waiting for food, we hear a crash from the kitchen. A few moments later, everyone's food comes out except for mine. Waitress says they started mine late but it will be out shortly. 5-10 minutes or so later, my dish comes out. I cut into it only to find the chicken half-raw. Flag the waitress, send it back for further cooking. 10 minutes later, the dish reappears. At this point, I've been eating off my boyfriend's plate and the bread basket so I'm not famished, which is a good thing since one bite revealed a dish so salty it was inedible. Having filled up on other items, I didn't feel like flagging the waitress again since we had a movie to catch. Waitress comes back to clear the table, noticed I didn't eat any of the dish and asked what was wrong with it. I explain, and her response is "Well, you can't always get a good meal, can you?" The check comes, and my meal is on it. She felt I should pay for it, I felt differently. As did the manager, which was nice.

That sounds wonderful. I found some great figs at Grandmart on near 7 corners a few weeks ago and perhaps it's time for a trip back. Thanks! Amy

Oh Zora, I am so jealous! I haven't been able to find figs as often this summer as I have the last few years and I'm going through withdrawal symptoms. Those green figs sound like Kadota figs, which I was able to find last year at Fresh Fields. When ripe, they practically leaked honey. That roasted fennel and fig slaw sounds wonderful! Would you mind posting a recipe? Thanks! Amy

Two slices of mushroom pizza from the Vace on Connecticut Avenue. The women who work the counter there can be mean and they don't always heat the slices up all the way, but they're still my favorite place for pizza. Amy

This is my first post so here goes...I will miss figs. I haven't been able to find them as easily this summer and I hoard the ones I can get. There is nothing like a fresh, ripe, sweet, luscious fig in the heat of summer. Amy