goldenticket

Like thistle, I'm partial to serving bowls, and have picked up several that I love at the Annual Ceramics Sale held by The Art League in Alexandria. That sale just happens to be taking place this weekend, starting tomorrow (Dec. 5) at noon. You can find pieces of all sorts (not just bowls) in all shapes, sizes, and colors, at a variety of prices. While you're in the area, a visit to La Cuisine might provide some inspiration for kitchen gadgets and goodies. They have some nice olive oils, interesting dried beans, and all sorts of utensils/tools. After a particularly painful and gruesome incident with my Microplane (those edges are pretty damn sharp), I've switched to one of their "Elite" series products. It has no exposed edges and a cover that also works as a measuring cup/catch. I'm also a fan of Artisan Confections, but wanted to mention that Fleurir Chocolates has a small storefront in Old Town at 724 Jefferson St. For coffee, M.E. Swing roasts and sells coffee at their Del Ray location on Monroe Ave. I know you've mentioned elsewhere your 'Penzey's problem' , but a small selection of basics would make nice stocking stuffers. Maybe focusing on a theme (bbq, baking, Asian, Indian, etc.)

Thanks for providing a smile. "Peking Duck" was one of my grandma's favorite spots. We enjoyed many a lunch there, with her dish of choice being the Cashew Chicken. I always liked the Kung Pao chicken, not at all greasy and with a little kick.

The Harris Teeter in Old Town Alexandria opened about a month ago. It is (for Old Town) a very large store, with a good selection throughout. It has the usual counters: seafood, butcher, sushi, hot/cold food bars, plus a pizza oven/counter. It is also open 24 hours. Underground parking with access off of N. Pitt St; the main street-level entrance is on N. Saint Asaph. Trader Joe's doesn't seem to be affected by this new addition to the neighborhood, but I can only imagine the Giant a few blocks down is hurting because of it.

The latest update on the Facebook page says they're now aiming for a February 2015 opening.

In lieu of more traditional Turkey Day activities, we made a first visit to Montreal. Unfortunately there is no escaping Black Friday, as Vendredi Fou has made its way across the border. No turkey on the menu, but there was no shortage of good food. Balsam Inn - newly opened in Downtown, next door to Dominion Square Tavern. Open late, great bar, cozy ambiance. Small plates menu with dishes meant to be shared. We particulary enjoyed the beef tartare and pan grilled squid. A fish soup was also tasty and featured generous chunks of trout in a hearty tomato base. The mushroom flatbread was a disppointment, especially since it was cooked in the woodfired oven. Le Vin Papillon - in Little Burgundy, no reservation, veggie-focused, sister restaurant to Joe Beef and Liverpool House. Probably my favorite meal/spot of the trip. Dishes we tried include beet falafel, seven layer dip (this version has no sour cream, jalapenos, or guac), rotisserie cauliflower with chicken skin, and a duck egg with little grilled ham and cheese 'soldiers' for dipping. Lots of interesting wines by the glass - more detail about that in the "Best New Restaurants in Canada" article in the Air Canada inflight magazine. We arrived around 5:45 and were seated by 6:30. Majestique - in the Plateau, near the intersection of Blvd. Saint-Laurent and rue Rachel. No reservations, but we were lucky to walk in at 8:00 and be seated immediately. Fantastic oysters, tartare de cheval ( ), bourgots (sea snails). Kitschy decor, reminiscent of a 70's paneled basement rec room. Very good service and a bar that looked like a fun place to be. A few steps up the road is Big in Japan Bar, a speakeasy of sorts, worth a visit for a drink or two. We went on the early side and had no problem finding seats at the serpentine bar. Cocktails are pretty reasonably priced ($12 or less). There wasn't a lot of interaction with the staff, as the bartender is located at the bar which is somewhat separate from the large main room, and drinks are delivered by wait staff. They have a very limited food menu available. The barely marked entrance is next to.... Patati Patata, a tiny little diner/friterie, right on the corner of Saint-Laurent and Rachel. The only place we had poutine, and mainly because La Banquise was closed for renovations. We were glad we wound up there though. We also tried a fish sandwich and a slider - for the quality you can't beat the price around $2 each. Plenty of people were in and out in a matter of minutes for carryout poutine. The breakfast menu looked good and included some breakfast poutine options. Au Kouign Amman, on Ave. du Mont Royal E. A very small storefront with a few tables in addition to the bakery counter. The Kouign Amman, fresh from the oven, was more than worth the $1.95 price. The croissants looked amazing, as did everything else in the case, but we had to show some restraint. Bakers were working away in the back, rolling croissants as we waited to order. Beauty's Luncheonette is a local institution. They serve up a hearty breakfast menu, with all the usual suspects, in a fast and efficient manner. The wait wasn't too long and the line was orderly despite the lack of a list. Fluffy pancakes, lotsa lox on the Beauty's Special. Maybe nothing that you wouldn't find at another diner, but it was a fun experience. Portugalia - Portuguese grilled chicken in the Plateau, for carry out or dining in. Very good and very popular, as the menu notes to call an hour in advance. Caffe San Simeon - a few blocks south of Marché Jean-Talon. They say it's the best espresso and cappucino in Little Italy. They may be right... We enjoyed a nice lunch at Olive & Gourmando. It's busy, there is a wait, but it is worth it, in my opinion. I enjoyed the "Pomme de Luxe" panini - apple, Joe Beef Ham, and cheddar. It hit the spot on a very cold day. We had the obligatory smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz's. I think I prefer Stachowski's We had some fantastic cheese from La Fromagerie Hamel and an indescribably good mushroom soup from a vendor at the Marché Jean-Talon (I need to look up the name). Places we didn't get to that were recommended include Maison Publique, Lawrence, and Taza Flores. ETA: L'Express - we didn't eat a full meal here, just a late dessert at the bar, but it is somewhere I would definitely return to on a future visit. The vibe is "très Franí§ais", as is the menu.

I'm not sure what "this time" or "they" you're referring to - I only hope that this prime location is once again home to a successful business. From what I've been told (by people who would know), the new location is not going to be Italian. I'll leave it to the owners to announce more details when they're ready to do so.

Exciting news on King Street! The folks from A la Lucia (namely Michael Nayeri) have announced that they will be opening a new restaurant in the space at 1106 King Street. The news was announced on the A la Lucia Facebook page, as well as in a recent e-newsletter. It will not be a second A la Lucia location. They're hoping for an opening in early 2015.

Red Brick Town and Eater both have a bit of coverage. "New American" and hoping to open by the end of the year... The reference to permits in the post above shouldn't have said "special use" - the ones I found were just for construction.

I can't offer much more than the fact that a banner for "Mason Social" is up on the side of the building at the corner of Madison and N. Henry. The building has had a fresh coat of paint and special use permits are in place with the city for various construction-related activities. The permits were filed by the owner of the property. That's the extent of what I've found in my internet searching. Here's hoping it's something tasty and a nice addition to an area which could use some livening up.

Hunter's Head remains one of my favorite spots for a bit of comfort food in cozy surroundings. We stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner on Saturday after some apple picking in the area. All the seats at the bar were occupied, but as a result we were able to enjoy the lovely day on the covered patio. Chicken pot pie and Guinness beef stew went down nicely, as they always do. Lots of white meat, fresh veggies, and a hint of tarragon in the pot pie. The stew was full of fork tender beef from Ayrshire Farm, with the Guinness flavor very present - a great accompaniment to the mashed potatoes. If you don't need the full dinner menu, 4:30 or so may be the perfect time to arrive; tables started to fill right around 5:00.

Sugar Shack Donuts is another soon-to-be addition to the area near the Braddock Road Metro. Sugar Shack made USA Today's list of Top 10 best doughnut shops earlier this year. Things are definitely picking up in the Northwest quadrant of Old Town, with more to come. And they're hiring, according to the signs in the windows. The latest news, and links to previous stories from Red Brick Town can be found here.

Signage is up in the windows of the future Alexandria Lost Dog location, located in the Belle Pre Apartments (corner of N. Henry and Madison Streets). "Coming Soon"....

Interesting article, but you might want to try this link* instead: Dominican food network Nice to see a sense of community that endures in spite of team rivalries. (*the other one goes to a broken link on a Butthole Surfers forum...)

Bangkok Golden is in Seven Corners. All (or most) of the answers to your questions can be found in the Bangkok Golden thread. It has a typical Thai menu, as well as one that is dedicated to Laotian/Northern Thai dishes, and a 'secret' menu that Fishinnards was kind enough to translate, though I think the restaurant now has an English version available. --- Cambodian Cuisine (kitkatpaddywak)

Just wondering where the Annapolis information in the title came from, pretty sure it's incorrect. As far as I know this is a one-off from the owner of Bittersweet, in Alexandria. Was there some confusion with The Blackwall Hitch, which is coming to the space which had been the food court pavilion, just to the west of the Chart House? That will be the second location of an Annapolis-based business. Waterfront Market seems to be doing good business with their outside seating. I agree, something closer to the original Bittersweet would have been my preference.

Happy to report an opening instead of a closing: Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato just opened a week ago. They're located in a little pink house on the 100 block of South Payne, with a cozy enclosed patio in the rear. The owners are an Argentinian couple and their son - very nice people. They offer a variety of interesting flavors, including a few soy-based options and some fruit sorbets. The PBJ was very good - a (real) banana base with chunks of peanut butter. We also enjoyed a three-berry flavor, which was loaded with fruit. Several flavors feature alcohol, including the sambayon - Marsala/Port blend. This is the perfect spot to head for a dessert after a meal at La Fromagerie, IMHO

There's a newish bubble tea shop in Alexandria, Bubble Dip. I haven't been in, but they offer a variety of drinks, cupcakes, cookies, and other goodies. Looks like they opened in early May, and are located on the same block as Trattoria da Franco (300 block of S. Washington).

Hopefully Kimpton (or whomever the landlord is) will find something interesting to replace it. (Already noted in Shopping and Cooking:)

Well, there seems to be a rash of closings in Old Town this week. Apparently Ireland's Own (formerly Pat Troy's Ireland's Own) has closed, per local blog Red Brick Town. Former employees had bought it from Pat Troy a few years ago. Based on my quick search, it doesn't appear that a specific thread was ever created.

Washington Post reporting on 'urban foraging' gone wrong. (Warning: link content includes numerous bad puns )

Notting Hill is Closed. I've heard rumors about a potential new owner/manager and concept, but nothing I would feel is appropriate to share. Whatever happens, I hope the next go-round is something that works. It's such a great space, it's a shame for it to sit empty.

La Tienda ships (Spanish) cheeses, along with a variety of other products. They do a great job packing perishables for shipment (in coolers with dry ice), Orders usually arrive the following day.

One of the highlights of our trip was the Taste of Testaccio tour we did with Eating Italy, a food tour company. We learned a lot about a less touristy neighborhood, met many of the long-time shopkeepers and market vendors, AND ate a lot along the way. Tours in Trastevere are also offered, along with some new cooking class options. Well worth the cost of the tour, in my opinion, and they have a very helpful blog, too. Beppe e I Suoi Formaggi is in the Jewish Ghetto area and has a fantastic selection of cheeses, some made by the owner. We didn't eat in the small dining area, but did have a very enjoyable 'ore conviviale'. For 6 euros, you can select a wine (by the glass) from several choices, which is then paired with a selection of cheeses. All this happens at the counter in the shop area. Several locals appeared to be making an evening of it, and why not? Some local places near Campo dei Fiori (where we stayed) that are less touristy than spots on the square, and good for a reasonably priced meal, include: Ai Balestrari - good pizza and pasta. Da Sergio - typical Roman, homey menu, with many locals. The grilled meats looked excellent and I enjoyed a pasta dish. L'Angolo Divino - I didn't make it here, despite the fact that it was literally downstairs. It's a wine bar with a small menu of interesting dishes, cheeses, and cured meats. Elizabeth Minchilli recommends it on her Eat Rome app. Speaking of that app, I found it worth the few dollars it cost to purchase it. The data resides on your phone, so no internet connection is necessary, and you can search by neighborhood, type of restaurant, opening hours, etc.

I was saddened to read in the latest FreshFarm Markets newsletter that Paige Hogge passed away last week. I enjoyed getting to know both Paige and Jimmy a bit when I worked at the stand next to Buster's at the Courthouse market. Jimmy taught me the best way to cook up the rockfish bellies that they sold. They were good, hardworking people and are, and will continue to be, missed.

Would you have access to a grill at your brother's so you could just do some simple grilled chicken and/or salmon to top the salads? Pick up both tonight and marinate them (or even get something that is already in a marinade to save time). I was looking at this tandoori salmon recipe earlier today and thought it looked good. It's supposed to be pretty warm tomorrow; a nice big salad with some grilled protein sounds great! For dessert, strawberries macerated with a bit of sugar and balsamic vinegar would be a simple topping for some ice cream, biscuits, or angel food cake, or just good on their own. (I can't help you with salmon cakes - childhood trauma during Lent has kept them off my list for many years )