goldenticket

Table Talk in Alexandria - 1976 or so (also soon to be a victim of development)

How about Tom Sarris' Orleans House in Rosslyn, opened in 1964. (My grandmother's restaurant of choice for her 90th birthday dinner....I'd rather go to Ray's!) Might want to get in there soon, for old time's sake, it might not around too much longer according to this article Battle to buy Orleans House

I can't speak from personal experience, nor do I have any idea about the quality....BUT I do recall seeing on Rachael's Ray's $40 a day show that the Hotel Washington Sky Terrace does cherries jubilee and/or bananas foster (or flambe, as it says on the foodtv website). You can't beat the view, even if the food isn't great (most of it isn't) but dessert might be OK. Here's the link to that episode: DC on $40 a day You might want to call ahead - I just looked at the Sky Terrace dessert menu and there's no mention of flambe anything.

You can see a photo of the beet salad at bourrez visage here: http://www.bourrezvisage.com/arch/000637.php

Thanks - I'll keep an eye out for it (and keep my cell phone turned off ) Unfortunately the squid ink risotto wasn't on the menu - BUT - they did have a lovely green pea risotto served over a carrot sauce and topped with the most wonderful seared scallops, not overcooked, just perfect. The risotto may have had just a wee bit too much bite, but was tasty nonetheless. My friends also enjoyed seafood - one ordered the cod fillet which was served with a mango guacamole and sweet red onions, the other tried the monkfish special which came with some underwhelming gnocchi (of course not everywhere can have gnocchi like Eve's...) and an eggplant mousse that was sort of an odd foam/sauce. It was a rather unappealing color - sort of brownish purple (eggplant, makes sense) - but tasted good - an eggplant/balsamic blend. We started with a shared beet salad, nicely divided into 2 servings for us - tasty herbed goat cheese 'footballs' and golden beets. The saumon tartare was nicely seasoned with capers and dill. My one complaint was that the wine we ordered (a white Cote du Rhones) wasn't put on ice (the first bottle) and when I asked if the second one could be chilled it was whisked away and it took quite a while for it to reappear when we asked for refills. The berry tart (again, shared) for dessert was lovely - beautiful raspberries and blackberries on top of a frangipane (I believe) filling. An enjoyable first visit - I will be back.

I'm heading to Montmartre for dinner. Not sure if there are any special Bastille Day events planned, but I'll report back tomorrow. It's my first visit there, although I've heard lots of great things about it from friends. Anyone have any recommendations of dishes not to be missed?

No, it was on the other corner (southwest corner). He very well could have been headed across the street to the RNC or on to another free food event. It doesn't look like he misses too many meals...

I think Speaker Hastert gets around - I saw him (and a Secret Service entourage) leaving Southside 815 in Alexandria on a weeknight around 10:15. I wouldn't call Southside a power restaurant, but they do serve hearty portions Saw him again a few weeks later departing the association/think tank building across the street from Tortilla Coast on the Hill. Not sure where he was headed, but it was prime reception/happy hour time.

Like you, it was a knife - my 8" Henckels chef's knife that I still use every day. It was a gift, a few (or more) years ago, from some good friends that don't live in the area anymore. Writing this, I was just reminded of the lovely birthday dinner we had together when they gave me the gift (cue the sappy music - sorry!)

We must have been there at the same time - it was around 8:00 for me, also a corner table (kind of wedged in next to a table of 6 student types), I think you may have been across the room from us (white gal w/guyfriend). Scallops were great - I accidently checked spicy scallop roll instead of spicy tuna, but was glad I made the mistake!

My recipe for a perfect summer Saturday evening: 2 seats at the bar at Eve 1 Tomato Water Bloody Mary 1 seasonal cocktail (muddled fresh mango and lime w/rum) Share the following: 1 olive oil poached tuna appetizer garnished w/ Sweet 100s - the sweetest little cherry tomatoes I've ever tasted (add a glass of Rose) 1 leg of lamb over braised, pulled lamb shoulder, polenta and rapini - perfectly done, perfectly seasoned and a perfectly sized portion! and 1 sour cherry fritter w/dipping sauce - mmmmm I could go into the recipe for a perfect Monday in May evening.... 9 course w/wine pairing in the tasting room but that's a much longer story, with equally (or even more) satisfying results - including an early trial run of the yin and tonic, housemade gnocchi, OOO, etc. etc. etc. .....

I finally made it there on Friday (what time were you there Kanishka?) after reading all of your raves - it WAS packed, but the wait for a table wasn't too long, maybe 10 - 15 minutes. What a great value- the sushi was excellent for a buck a piece, the seaweed salad was really tasty and the service was very good, especially considering the crowd and the small space they have to work in. The one (and only) disappointment was that they don't have the house-made soy sauce anymore. Does anyone know when/why they stopped making their own? I was hoping it maybe was just a Friday crowd thing, but that didn't appear to be the case when I asked the waitress about it. Can't wait to try the kamameshi - if I can bear to pass up the sushi... Followed this up with a delicious stop at the bar at Restaurant Eve on Sat. nite. All in all I'd say it was a pretty good weekend as far as food goes!