goldenticket

Home made lentil soup - with a Middle Eastern flavor - swiss chard and lemon juice along with the usual cumin and garlic. Salad with some leftover rotisserie chicken breast. Who needs Restaurant Week when you've got leftovers!

That's what I understand...

Local rumor has it that their new location will be in the current Cafe Marianna spot - north old town, near the Metrostage theater.

From yesterday's Sunday Source: FAREWELL TO STONEY'S -- Friday, 11 a.m.-close. The 37-year-old Washington institution celebrates its final day of operation with an all day-all night fiesta. Stoney's Bar & Grill, 1307 L St. NW. Free. 202-347-9163. Note the start time is earlier than that listed on Daily Candy...

Which should be just in time for the next Brat Nite - first Thursday (Feb. 2). My description of the one that took place last week is here.

Restaurant Week got off to a very pleasant start for me with lunch at Rasika today. To echo other posters, I have to say - What a beautiful space! Gorgeous colors, textures, lighting, etc. After a last-minute cancellation by my planned lunch partner <grrrr>, I was able to round up a co-worker to join me. I started with the Tawa Fish (I think it was mahi-mahi) which was nicely grilled, or should I say griddled . Simple preparation as stated above, but cooked perfectly with light but spicy seasoning, and a very generous portion. My companion ordered Sev Puri, which she said was like Indian nachos (4 of them to be exact) and was also enjoyed. As others above have done, I selected the Lamb Dahiwala. It was very good, and very generous - should have been 2 servings worth...<urp> but I just couldn't stop....(doh!) The chunks of lamb were tender and the sauce was a yogurt/curry combination that had a hint of spice. Fortunately there was plenty left dipping the lovely naan. +1 ordered the Tandoori Salmon which was a lighter option (size-wise) and also got good reviews from her. Pefectly cooked with not too much seasoning and little mixed salad on the side. We both ordered the fresh watermelon juice, with a (mostly imperceptible) touch of black pepper. Very refreshing and reminiscent of breakfasts while on vacation in Mexico. We both ended with Apple Jalebi (beignet) with cardamom ice cream - it was very nice and just as described by Porcupine above. Service was very good and efficient, a slight delay in being seated but nothing outrageous and it just gave us time to look over the menu and decide what we were having before we sat down. All in all, a very good meal and a VERY good deal, in my opinion. I'm looking forward to going back for a non-RW meal sometime soon, with wine pairings by Sebastian! [now, if I can just stay awake until it's time to go home... ]

Mr. Gt and I decided to stop in for dinner at the bar on Saturday evening after some VERY favorable reports about this so-called "Irish Stew" from other Rockwellians, combined with appealing glimpses at their dishes over the past few weeks. He's been salivating at the thought of tasting this stew for some time now. I think we finally got the timing right (8:30pm), as there were plenty of seats available at the bar, which hasn't been the case recently when we've stopped by a bit later. I had the Cider Car to warm me up - yum! - house made apple cider, which Todd said had just finished fermenting a week or so ago and has been waiting for a cold night - which it was on Saturday. It was warm and tangy and the Calvados made quick work of any chill that remained. For starters, I ordered the house made veal garlic sausage with black trumpets and butternut squash. I loved it - the texture was firm but smooth and the garlic flavor was strong but balanced by the meat itself. The gorgeous orange squash was beautifully presented in inch-long cubes, not tough or chewy. He ordered the diver scallop special - it looked lovely - the scallop was huge and perfectly seared. I don't remember the exact presentation but I believe there were beets and a hard goat cheese involved. No taste was offered, so I think that means it was too good to share For mains, he, of course, ordered the Irish Stew, and loved it. Chef described it (for our benefit and those of curious neighboring diners) as his interpretation of what was traditional Irish peasant food. His version includes braised lamb shank, lamb kidney, and rack of lamb, accompanied by potatoes and carrots, with the only liquid/sauce/gravy being the jus from the braising. Mr. Gt was VERY happy with it. I did get a generous share - one of the racks - which was delicious, as the lamb at Eve always is. I opted for the French peasant food special - cassoulet. Wow - it was even better than I could have imagined! My last cassoulet was at one of the French places in Old Town and was much more of a thick casserole. Eve's version was sublime - filled with sausage, goose confit, and chunks of lardon. Maybe this is where the missing lardon from the bacon egg and cheese salad mentioned by other posters wound up - and I'm glad it did! The beans were just the right texture, almost creamy, and topped with just the perfect light touch of crust (was it bread crumbs? or the cassoulet's natural crust... this is a point of debate in preparation of cassoulets. I'm not sure, but I think it was bread crumbs and it was good) Dessert was the chocolate brioche with the triple chocolate dipping sauceand the seasonal (apple) fritters, both quite good. We also enjoyed the wines suggested by our very nice bartender and Todd, particularly (in my case) the "Zind" from Alsace with the appetizer and the Rectorie Grenache with the chocolate brioche. All in all, a very pleasant evening, made even more pleasant by the company of another DR'er who we discovered sitting next to us (you know who you are !)

You got it Shogun! How about we can plan for 7:30? That will give me time to pick up the folks I'm transporting and get to Temptasian without rushing anyone. Sound OK to those who are (so far) planning to come?

Bratwurst topped with sauerkraut and mustard, German potato salad on the side, washed down with Sprecher's Root Beer. Nice accompaniment of polkas played on the accordion. Dessert will be caramel heathbar frozen custard. It's Brat Nite at the Dairy Godmother (nee Del Ray Dreamery) in case you hadn't guessed. I love that place - it felt like we were at a neighborhood picnic, only indoors

Looking good for the 26th - what time works for everyone 7? 7:30? earlier? So far I have: Banco jmchen StephenB cucas87 (welcome - glad you can join us!) and me (and maybe the +1) I've still got space to pick up 1 from King St or Braddock Road if that helps. I'll bump this up again after Restaurant Week since we're a ways from the date. Looking forward to trying some more good things at Temptasian.

Here is Rasika's (and you owe me! My head is still spinning from having to go through their site to get this ) Alright, I gave up on trying to copy the dinner menu - it is different/longer with more choices than the lunch offering. Anyway, here's lunch - both are posted on their website under "Events" Lunch Appetizers Spicy Reshmi Kebab Seekh Kebab Tawa Fish Sev Puri Entrees Chicken Makhani Lamb Dahiwala Tandoori Salmon Palak Makki/Kashmiri Vegetable Curry all served w/bread and rice Desserts Home made sorbet/ice cream Gulub jamun with saffron cream Apple Jalebi (beignet) with cardamom ice cream I'm having lunch there on Monday so I'll report back...

I threw Temptasian out as a possibility back in December and got no response. I'll throw it out again for a mid-late January outing, given that it looks like lots of folks have next week booked with Restaurant Week meals How about the 24th or 26th? I'd be happy to transport a person or two from/to King St or Braddock Road Metro (yellow/blue lines). ETA - jmchen - you can have first dibs on the ride if you can make it. that leaves room for at least one more

Greg at Southside 815 - he's a real sweetheart! (along with most of the other guys behind the bar there) (WAY) Back in the day.... Norm at Garrett's - he moved from there to Angles(?) the bar upstairs from Little Fountain, no idea if he's still there, but wherever he is now, he was very good (ah, those days of 'yewt' ).

YOU might consider it non-dining, but I bet the baby would beg to differ.... [sorry, couldn't resist. I'll go back to my corner and be quiet now. ]

A few thoughts from our Christmas trip to NYC.... Enjoyed the bagels at Ess-a-Bagel (almost) every day for breakfast/brunch - 3rd Ave. btwn 50th and 51st. Great selection of smoked fish and great people-watching as well. Korean lunch at Han Bat on W. 35th btwn 5th and 6th - half a block from Macy's at Herald Square. Bustling and cozy (and open 24 hrs). I'm not very familiar with Korean cuisine, but I ordered (and really liked) the Gobdol Bibimbab. A great medley of ingredients - vegetables (mung bean sprouts, zucchini, cabbage, etc.) with marinated beef over rice. Topped with a raw egg that cooked right up in the really really HOT pot that it was served in. +1 ordered the Sukuh Chi Gae - a spicy seafood soup of sorts, loaded with crab, octopus, cod, monkfish, clams, and a big prawn. Kind of the Korean version of the Lobster Bouillabaise I had at... Pigalle - 8th Ave at 48th St. - homey French bistro fare. Menu reminded me a bit of Le Refuge in Alexandria, though the setting was more Brasserie than Cafe. This is part of a chain that includes French Roast and Marseille. Very reasonable prices for being a block from Times Square. The +1 ordered lamb sirloin and said it was some of the best he'd had in a long time. Service from the kitchen was a bit forgetful - had to ask for the rouille to go with my Bouillabaise and the dessert we ordered ws supposed to include pistachios, which were nowhere to be found until I asked about them. Easy and pleasant dining - not haute cuisine by any stretch, but an enjoyable meal. In Soho, we tried Peasant and sat at the bar. Cooking with fire.... in wood/charcoal stoves. We started with some very nice roasted sardines - a little on the big (thus, bony) side but with great clean flavor of the fish and the oil, lemon, and garlic they were cooked with (perfect for dabbing up with the crusty bread). We also shared the bocconcini - mozzarella balls wrapped in pancetta and cooked in the oven to perfect gooey consistency. For mains I ordered the lamb with polenta. Very nicely cooked to medium rare, though maybe a bit closer to rare, causing the meat to cool much too quickly for my taste. The polenta was firm and cheesy, but another victim of the cold meat, as it also congealed/cooled a bit too much/too fast. +1 ordered stuffed quail - 2 little guys filled with a fig and chestnut stuffing. I thought the bite or two that I had were quite good - the meat tasty and the stuffing a nice combination of flavors, accompanied by perfectly roasted chard and a mystery vegetable . We had gone there on someone else's recommendation - they said the cooking reminded them of Restaurant Eve.... I don't think I'd go that far, but it is a place where it is obvious that the flavors of the food are the focus and the simplicity of the cooking style emphasizes this. About drinks at bars - I just have to say: I LOVE the free nibbles that seemed to appear at every bar we went to - why don't they do that here in DC?? Among others, we went to: Old King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel - alleged birthplace of the Bloody Mary nee Red Snapper and home of the fantastic Maxfield Parrish mural of Old King Cole - nibbles of mixed nuts (no peanuts ), wasabi peas, and pretzel twists. Very swank and dark, worth the trip just for the painting. The Living Room at W Times Square- far too much attitude from the (unattentive) bartendress for my taste. She mixed a good Key Lime Martini, but was so easily distracted by conversations with other staff that it took a good 5 minutes for her to concoct it. Nice setting but doesn't deserve a detour. Pretzel goldfish were disappointing (especially since the looked like almonds from a distance ) Peasant served up some very nice black olives and breadsticks at the bar, though their list of wines by the glass was on the short side (maybe 4 reds?).

I've just finished reading "Toast" by Nigel Slater. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read; a memoir told through foods and their associated memories/experiences. Each (or almost every) section title is named for a food. Some of it is funny, some heartbreaking. I most appreciated how it details his discovery of food and cooking from a young age up to young adulthood, and the solace, as well as new worlds, that he eventually found in the kitchen. It also gave me a new appreciation for marshmallows - I won't give anything away, but let's just say that piece moved me to tears. Also, a handy glossary is included for us Yanks who aren't familiar with all the English foods/brands that he describes. (although I have my own personal 'English dictionary' in my +1 and it was kind of fun seeing his reaction to my questions about what certain things were....'Oooh, they're lovely', etc. )

It sure is and I enjoyed it (very much) for a late lunch today - it really hit the spot. What a wonderful combination of flavors - the sharpish cheese and the tangy vinaigrette were nicely balanced by the warm yolk oozing from a perfectly poached egg. Accompanied by a very nice pinot gris (the A to Z), it made for just the right pre-party (ugh, work event) meal. Was also planning on the lickety-split lunch, but as JG mentions it's on hiatus (until February I was told). I did get to try it a few weeks ago and will concur that those mussels ARE absolutely worth the trip! I saw 3 bowls of them being consumed at the other end of the bar, which was buzzing! 3 more words: White Truffle Risotto....

DC Council Passes Smoking Ban I'd love to hear what folks think about this. Personally, I think it's a good thing. But, I do accept and recognize that when I go out to certain types of establishments smoking is to be expected. That being said, it's always a pleasant experience to go to places that opt to be smoke-free - such as Restaurant Eve (I can't imagine what the bar there would be like if people were firing up big stogies after dinner...) Let's hear what all of you think - diners and industry types alike!

I had the pleasure of enjoying a very good meal at Willow last night. Based on previous posts, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I'm happy to report that food and service were on the mark. Started with a glass of La Bete, La Fete “Cuvee Lambray”, Oregon, 2003 - mainly because I like the name, but taste wasn't bad either. Five of us dined in the chef's tasting room (only because of a friend's acquaintance with someone on the management staff) - ordering from the menu. The room was very nice, cozy, but spacious for a party of our size. The warm seckel pear and drunken goat cheese tart was my choice for a starter. The tart was as described - thinly sliced pear topping creamy goat cheese in a flaky pastry. Endive leaves sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts surrounded a salad of julienned endive and red onions dressed with a sherry vinaigrette. I also tasted the butternut squash and pumpkin soup and it was delicious - creamy and full of smoky, roasted flavor - proof of the server's earlier comment that Chef usually does a pretty good job with the soups. The scallion and Gala apple soup sounded interesting too... Others ordered clams casino and smoked salmon - no complaints were heard and clean plates were all that were left from the first course. I, like others above, ordered the dayboat scallops (I had 5 in my order, wonder if Meaghan ate at the bar or if others complained about the scallop-to-dollar ratio too...) and thought the entire dish was wonderful. The scallops were huge and perfectly cooked - crispy and a beautiful golden-brown, top and bottom, but inside, mm - perfection! The sauce was light, and the mushroom and bacon accompaniment complemented nicely). Others in the party ordered the lemon roasted chicken (2 VERY generous pieces), ribeye, bacon-crusted salmon, and (I believe) flounder. Finished with the cookie and ice cream plate - bittersweet chocolate and peppermint ice creams accompanied by 4 mini cookies - peanut butter sandwich, a fantastic shortbread, less interesting chocolate sandwich, and a meringue strawberry cream sandwich. With dinner - Vin de Pays des Herault, “Les Heretiques”, Iche, France 2003 - another one that caught my eye because of the name - but in addition to an interesting background story, it was also a decent drinkable red. Service was attentive, professional, and efficient. There was a slight lag between first and mains, but not enough to be a problem. The bread was the only curiosity - as mentioned, small rolls, constantly refreshed, but I would have expected more variety or something more interesting from the founder of Firehook! I thought the space was very tasteful and elegant. I could see going back to the bar for a glass of wine as well as enjoying another meal(s) there.

I was about to make this very comment when I saw the topic, but seeing as I've been beaten to it, I'll give it a hearty second. One of my +1's favorites when the need for something "good for you" strikes. Can't beat a bowl of that stew, paired with a Guiness, at a table close to the roaring fire (which is usually lit from logs stacked so high they defy gravity). (Now the musical entertainment on the other hand...usually leaves something to be desired - but it is exactly what you'd expect)

Hot Shoppes - Wow - that brings back some memories! The Crystal City Underground location was the first stop after the first 'unaccompanied' flight my sister and I made up here to visit the grandparents (on Braniff no less - how's that for another blast from the past). How exciting to be picked up at the airport and then go for hamburgers in a restaurant that was UNDERGROUND! And I have fond memories (from other visits) of the blintzes smothered in gooey, gummy strawberries, from the Sunday breakfast/brunch buffet at the Bailey's Crossroads spot (where the Best Buy now stands ) I've come a long way too, but those are good memories (even if I wouldn't touch the food now). Boss Cat's - where Raaga is - they had THE best sweet potato fries with a black bean dip...

What's Cathal doing tonight? Why, this! (along with a few of our DR friends , who I hope will report back to us on their meal!) A well-deserved honor, I'd say Congratulations, Chef!

Stopped in for a little sustenance last night and tried, on the recommendation of the oh-so-nice waiter , the beef bone soup with wolfberries and radish. He said it was one of his favorites and a very special soup. Maybe so, but it was 'not to my liking' - very strange flavor ( the +1 mentioned dishwater, but it wasn't quite that bad) and milky yellowish color. The wolfberries, on the other hand, were beautiful - an orangey-red, currant/raisin-like bite of sweetness in what I found to be an otherwise bland dish. Love those cilantro/ground fish rolls though! We also tried the fish filet with special sauce - not bad, your basic white fish in a spicy sauce with scallions and chili peppers. I think we'll go with the roasted fish next time. I'm pretty sure that was the dish we'd seen a few visits ago but weren't able to adequately describe to get it ordered for ourselves last night

So where do I send the check? We used your recipe and both turkey and gravy were a hit! We wound up with moist, tender turkey and lots of flavorful gravy. Thanks for the tip!

I have received a definitive answer straight from the horse's mouth.... The new official name is "The Dairy Godmother". This from Liz yesterday while purchasing (very) last-minute Thanksgiving dessert. I think it was a toss-up as to whether the pumpkin custard or the apple cider sorbet was the favorite - both were delish, as were the ginger snaps! Brat nite again on Thursday, Dec. 1.