goldenticket

Really nice work, as always, Poivrot Farci!

It's hard to find parking at Me Jana unless you use a nearby garage, plus service can be a bit slow if you are pressed for time.

Too late for Rieux, but there is free parking in the Courthouse Plaza garage after 5:00 pm on weekdays. Just a block from Me Jana (and Ray's the Steaks).

I really liked Shawafel when I tried them on opening day (posted elsewhere). $13 for the combo, which includes a huge sandwich and really good fries. Not cheap, but a relative value at the stadium.

El Verano was my go-to last year; carnitas or veggie. Tacos aren't huge, but the order of three was plenty for me. The Elote corn on the cob is good, too.

They're not on your list, but Box Frites (with the bacon aioli), while a pricey indulgence, are pretty darn good.

Bruce, maybe you could bring some kibbee nayeh?

I'm not saying that kibbee nayee won't be there. I'll need to prepare the trimmings and bring the bread.....the sooner we lock down a date to work with, the sooner I can pull all the pieces together. I'll decide on kibbee nayee versus kibbee cooked on game day, based on weather.

Are we restricted from bringing imbibements? If not, I have a right-fine arak that will need some attention and love....

We will likely be KN, Lady KN and +2 but we'll correct headcount over the next month.

The date is May 5 (see thread header). Kibbee in either form sounds great!

Beer and wine are permitted at the picnic area; other adult beverages may have made discreet appearances in the past, but usually not in their original packaging (think thermos...).

Weezy - great to hear about the knife sharpening! I'll have a couple for you.

Lperry - yes please, on the herbs

The only place seemingly not offering an Opening Day special...or something new or decent...was Nationals Park. Big caveat that I didn't do a full walkaround with the way Stras was pitching and Harper knocking 'em out. But a half-park walk seemed to indicate same old, same old on the food side. Sheesh--why can't they bring some decent grub into the park? Answer: not enough people care I guess.

But what a great game! Everyone did what they were supposed to do today (Stras, Harper, Desmond, Span, even Ramos) except Espinosa (again). But this is a food board and not a sports board so I'll stop here and just lament that Max's was of course closed still for Passover. Anyone else there who discovered anything worth mentioning? 2nd biggest crowd ever in the park at 108% of capacity and nearly 46K.

Nats are 1 and 0. Chance for wire-to-wire maintained.

I'm a bit more charitable. Desmond got his hit and also great to see Span and Ramos get hits given their situations (new and back from injury). Concession stands did seem to move better--agree there. Got crappy food more efficiently.

Did you see Shawafel took over one of the stands on the lower level next to Hard Times and Boardwalk Fries? I've enjoyed Shawafel in a pinch on H Street and the menu at the park includes both the shawafel and fried cauliflower sandwich, which are both solid. YMMV at the park though...

I did see that! We were on the 3B side so the few trips from the seats I made caught it with a long line. Didn't try it though. Any good?

Also, I didn't get up to the upper deck behind/next to Red Porch. Anything new up there?

Shawafel was really good - and seemed to be much more popular than the flatbread vendor that was there last season. The combo (your choice of sandwich - falafel, chicken, beef, or all three) with their delicious fries was maybe not worth the $13, but as good as/better than most other things I've eaten at the stadium. The sandwich was huge and definitely enough to split between two people.

The Red Porch was a total cluster...the 15-20 minutes for an outside table grew to 30 minutes, then "at least 45 minutes, the kitchen is backed up, blahblahblah". If they're going to say they have a one-hour time limit, they need to enforce it and not let people camp after having ordered fries and the occasional beer.

From what I saw, the offerings are the same near the Red Loft/Scoreboard Pavilion.

I got a message from La Fromagerie informing me the sign on the door says "Closed for vacation and renovation."

As we all know, that often also means "and hopefully a change in ownership if we can sell the business," but I don't know about this specific case.

It said that ^ last Thursday evening. On Sunday it just said "Closed". I think the DC Bluegrass Union page that I linked to is pretty reliable, as they say they got the information directly from Nancy Herman:

Tiffany Tavern Closes!

I have been informed by Nancy Herman of Tiffany's, that due to health issues, she has decided to

close down after more than 30 years of great music in Old Town Alexandria, VA...

Having played there myself in years past, I know the music, comaraderie and fun shall be missed!.. Bill Foster

I do hope that a bluegrass-loving individual will take it over and keep things going.

ETA: Tiffany Tavern posted the following on their Facebook page yesterday evening:

Tiffany Tavern is now closed. After 33 years

in business, we have decided to retire. We'd like to thank all the great

musicians, patrons, and staff we've had the privilege of knowing over

the years.

We are going to be selling the Tiffany Tavern

business and/or leasing the building to another business. If you're an

experienced operator and are interested in Tiffany Tavern or 1116 King

Street as a business opportunity, please contact us at

mgmt@tiffanytavern.com.

Thanks again for all the memories!

Paducah

Should you find yourself in Paducah...

I recommend a stop at Kirchoff's Bakery for lunch in the deli and some sweets to go from the bakery. The soups and sandwiches are very good and made to order on fresh bread. The Elvis cookie (peanut butter, banana, bacon) was as tasty as it sounds.  The business dates back five generations - check out the website for the back-story on how it reopened in the late 90's after a 40 year break.

In the same neighborhood is the only other family-owned location of Doe's Eat Place (the original is in Greenville, MS).  I may have to check it out on my next trip (yes, there will be another), along with a definite stop for lunch at House of Grace. House of Grace appears to be a sort of reincarnation of the Ninth Street House, run by the son of Curtis Grace (who was chef/owner of the Ninth Street House).  I have fond memories of long-ago 'fancy' lunches at Ninth Street House, and their 'famous' chicken salad and iced tea.

And, IMHO, a visit to the National Quilt Museum would be time, and $11, very well spent.

Very sad news...it appears that Tiffany Tavern has closed.

Definitely a loss to Old Town and the DC area. Not many other places in the area where you can hear live bluegrass regularly.

...I strongly prefer low brine (so you can taste the oyster; not sea water), and the Kusshi is both low brine and "buttery," as Old Ebbitt's menu describes them. They're as deep as they are wide. Kumamoto and Kusshi - small Pacifics are like Red Burgundy; large Atlantics are like California Pinot Noir: there is an ocean of difference between the two. As for Virginia oysters? They're like cooking wine, and are best when they're fried so you can't taste them. Let this be the first thing ever written to claim that "terroir" applies to oysters every bit as much as it does to wine, and if you're producing from a bad parcel of earth, J.C. himself couldn't do a thing about it: oysters aren't "made"; they're grown.

There's definitely merit to the concept, though I don't think it's the first thing written on the topic. The March/April issue of Departures magazine includes an article about Charleston Chef Mike Lata and his new restaurant, The Ordinary. He takes the concept a step further and refers to "merroir".

The article is behind a subscriber firewall, so the link may not work, but here's an excerpt:

“The secret to an oyster is to serve it quickly,” he says, prying one open for himself. “That way there’s no time for it to lose its sense of place. A great Charleston oyster should taste like Charleston.”

Lata calls this “merroir,” and it’s the buzzword behind his new seafood restaurant, The Ordinary, which opened in December in a 1920s-era bank building on Charleston’s King Street. Like terroir in wine, “merroir” is a fancy way of saying that he wants to highlight the places where his seafood comes from—especially this place, the Lowcountry. Lata believes that some of the best-tasting wild oysters in the world come from this mud.

I'm also a fan of the Kusshi and Kumamoto; you're lucky to find them these days. They disappear quickly when they are available at Clyde's or Hank's.

Remember when they used to have oyster happy hour at Georgetown Seafood Grill and you could get them for something like fifty cents?! Those were the days

This topic might get a little more traffic in the Events and Gatherings thread where picnic posts are usually located...

Lexington, Berea

Suggestions from the locals - with the caveat that I haven't been to any of these places:

Table 310 on Short Street

Holly Hill Inn in Midway (a prix fixe place, with exceptional food) - seconded by another friend.

Azur

Sahara for Mediterranean
Portofino downtown

Dudley's

Jonathan's in Gratz Park "a great place"

The same people that run Holly Hill Inn run a casual restaurant called Wallace Station, on Old Frankfort Pike. It's supposed to be a good place to grab a lunch on your way back from touring the Woodford Reserve Distillery or just sightseeing in horse country. The same couple also do the Picnic on the Porch lunch at Woodford Reserve Distillery, available April through October.

Branching off from the Stuttgart, AR thread...

I've never been in Stuttgart, Arkansas although I've been in both Stuttgart, Germany and Little Rock many times each. http://www.cajunswharf.com/ is the link to a restaurant on the river in Little Rock that I like and believe is excellent if you're travelling on business and want a good meal in a nice environment with some personality. No, it's not Fisher's bbq (worth a trip) nor McClard's in Hot Springs (40 miles?), certainly not Restaurant August but it would be worth the round trip drive. I also do not want to sound arrogant but with 30+ years of heavy travel-and all due respect to Days Inn and Best Western-I would commute to Stuttgart from Little Rock and stay in the Peabody http://www.peabodylittlerock.com/ Cajun's Wharf is less than a mile away.

For a serious alternative in Little Rock I'd also give consideration to Doe's Eat Place which has a great deal of character and a national reputation: http://www.doeseatpl...et/history.html It's just a few blocks from Cajun's Wharf. If I could only choose one it may be Doe's. Or, I'd drive in from Suttgart on successive nights and try both. If you choose Doe's you'll probably love it. Then, some time some way you'll have to try the original in Greenville which is a Great American restaurant.

The Fried Catfish Poor Boy at the Flying Fish in Little Rock is absolutely amongst my favorite sandwiches.

http://flyingfishinthe.net/LittleRock.php

I've already mentioned Flying Fish in a Memphis post, but I also enjoyed my meal at the Little Rock location. This time the Mas Shrimp Salad ("Snappy Snappy") hit the spot for a relatively healthy lunch. A generous portion of grilled shrimp, mixed greens (a treat after weeks of iceberg salads...), other veggies, and tortilla strips, topped with a tangy dressing and two hush puppies.

Dugan's Pub is a lively spot with a menu that should have something to suit everyone; burgers, Irish favorites, salads, sandwiches, etc. The RLT(BLT with Irish rashers) with a fried egg was good, but I think the BLT with peppered bacon might have been better. Owned by a local who makes a lot of items from scratch.

Andina Cafe is a cute little coffee shop with a nice selection of breakfast and lunch items. My egg and cheese wrap and cafe au lait hit the spot on a rainy morning. Judging from the animated conversation going on between a few regulars, it would be a nice spot to spend a few hours.

Dizzy's Gypsy Bistro is pretty much as it sounds - a funky local restaurant with a menu that is kind of all over the place. I found the Electra's Baked Chicken Casserole rather bland. White rice topped with white meat chicken, mushrooms, and white alfredo sauce - sounded like comfort food on a cold, dreary night, but missed the mark. Dining companions were all very happy with their choices (Tallulah's Arkansas Saffron Creole, Bacon Encrusted Walleye, a couple of pasta dishes), and we all enjoyed the shared "Award Winning" cheese dip starter and our bites of dessert (butter cake and the big brownie). The decor is eclectic, the service was good, even with several large tables (including ours). I'd go back, but probably avoid the richer sounding items on the menu.

Like Flying Fish, Bosco's is another regional chain with 3 other locations (Memphis, Nashville, and Franklin, TN). A decent beer selection, a pizza oven, along with steaks, salads, and able to handle large groups with ease.

The Ottenheimer Market Hall has a wide array of food choices that can be enjoyed in a bright, open setting. Sweet Soul serves up grilled or fried catfish, chicken, and pork chops, along with the usual sides (greens, black eyed peas, etc) and specials like Chicken Spaghetti and Beef Tips over rice; all come with a little splash of sass Other choices in the Hall include Middle Eastern, sushi, Thai, vegetarian, Italian. Boulevard Bread adjoins the Market Hall and their seating is open to Hall customers. They have some very nice pastries and a selection of salads and sandwiches. I thoroughly enjoyed the strawberry cream cake (an extra-moist pound cake with lots of berries throughout, topped with a gooey icing) along with my latte. Very friendly service as well.

All of the above are in the River Market District.

The Cafe at Heifer Village (located on the headquarters campus of Heifer International - worth a visit) serves sandwiches, pizza, soups, salads, and pasta in an airy corner of the "Village". Half of a Ms. T's Favorite - grilled pimento cheese with bacon and tomato - and a cup of chili made for a filling lunch.

We did not make it Doe's Eat Place (this time). We were deterred by the limited menu (steak, steak, or salmon), late meals due to our schedule, and the prospect of family style dining with a group of sick/recovering folks. I do hope to go back and check it out sometime soon, along with a lot more of Little Rock - it seems like an interesting city with a lot going on!

Further west, Brown's Catfish in Russellville, is a HUGE buffet of not just catfish (very nicely fried), but a whole mess of other stuff. Not the kind of place I seek out, but a nice option instead of the chains that are the other option for a big group.

Indian Spiced Roast Salmon (Cold Country King Salmon)

Winter (Butternut) Squash Curry

What a pleasure to actually cook and eat a meal at home for a change!

Lexington

Keeneland has several dining rooms/options, at different price points.  Certainly, one must give the burgoo a try, even if it might not be the best rendition of it out there  (I'll be at the Spring Meeting, too.).

Joe Bologna's is a casual favorite from high school trips to Lexington, many moons ago.  It was still good on visits in recent years and the breadsticks are a must. Definitely not fine dining, but just good food in a building with an interesting history.

I'll check with some locals and see what suggestions they might have.

Had some nice meals in the Memphis area recently, the best one being at The Little Tea Shop. I was there in July, but must have forgotten to post about it then. It's a great local spot that only serves lunch (as has been noted above), with changing daily menu specials. The corn sticks aren't to be missed, and go well with the Little Tea Plate; Tuesday's combo was lentils and spinach and two veggies. I stayed veg and got the greens and blackeyed peas (yes, lots of beans and greens). My dining companion was very happy with the fried chicken and cobbler. Definitely worth a visit for some Southern hospitality and good home cooking.

Two meals with large groups were handled well at both The Majestic Grille and The Rendezvous. The Majestic is housed in the location of an old movie theater and old films are broadcast on the high back wall. Their version of a Waldorf Salad, to which I added grilled salmon was fresh and satisfying. The table shared some of the 'signature' flatbreads which were all quite good. Dishes that others enjoyed included the grilled pork tenderloin and the shrimp and scallop linguini. Thumbs up for friendly efficient service at 9:00 on a Tuesday night for a group of 12.

The Rendezvous seated us (again, a large group) quickly and fed us fast, too. Dry rub ribs were good, if not the best I've ever had. I really liked the mustard-based slaw and the server brought us out the sausage and cheese appetizer because we "needed" to try it. A fun spot to check out, if you're in the area.

Another place I tried in July was Flying Fish, a regional chain that serves a variety of grilled/fried/broiled seafood. Reasonably priced and with a menu that should have something to please just about anyone (as long as you're not looking for fine dining).

Not in Memphis, but still in Shelby County, I discovered Talk of the Town in Millington. It's small Filipino restaurant serving traditional fare, including adobo, pancit, and lumpia. The setting is very basic, but the service was friendly and the food was simple, good, and cheap.

For porcupine's ravioli: The Majestic?

Don's pound cake - Lebanese Taverna Market?

Add Wildwood Kitchen to the list of options. I haven't been there, but noticed it on our way to Strathmore Hall last night.

If you're in a hurry, there are several chain options close by: Le Pain Quotidien, Chop't, Chipotle...

Some promising (?) news posted earlier this week on the Bombay Curry Company Facebook page:

Picked up the Building Permit from the City and finalizing with the contractors. Wow, the figures just keep going up.
Perhaps should sell 'Gift certificates' to raise funds
Happy New Year Everyone.

Fingers crossed that things move quickly now - I'm missing my local curry fix!!

I'm a bit slow in posting this, but I have to give Proof much credit for an exceptionally enjoyable New Year's Eve. We don't usually join the crowds for NYE, but had stopped in for a bite at the bar the day before. After checking out the special menu and learning a few seats were still available for a late dinner, we decided to make a reservation.

I've never been disappointed at Proof and this meal was no exception. I'll have to add to this when I'm home with the menu, but I do recall the squash soup with maitake mushrooms and the lamb were excellent. The food (and wine) was topped only by the service. Every single member of the staff we encountered was friendly, efficient, and committed to making sure it was a great experience. This shouldn't be a surprise, but it is the exception more than the rule in a lot of places. It was really nice to experience this on one of those so-called "amateur nights" - on the contrary, Adam Bernbach said it was like their Super Bowl We never felt hurried; Joe Quinn took his time describing the wine pairings - obviously seeing that we were interested in what he had to say. It's really nice to see a team that's still at the top of their game, regardless of the occasion.

Question: Does Grape + Bean have seating? Apparently so, but I thought not.

I recall seating. Perhaps no indoor seating, but definitely patio seating. Which I guess is why the Greek Deli is in the R/D section, under your definition.

Back to G+B (again)...

As Porcupine stated above, the Old Town location does have seating - indoor and outdoor. They also offer classes and tastings on a regular basis with some very interesting winemakers and distributors. It's a great place to stop in for a bite during the day, or in the evening (if you can find a seat).

The Rosemont location currently has only outdoor tables, but the plan is that it will eventually be set up in a layout very similar to the Old Town store. This includes food and table service. I'm sure the usual culprits (ABC and the City of Alexandria) are behind the extended schedule in getting that part of the operation up and running. They usually have a small tasting going on in the early evening on Fridays and Saturdays. Rosemont has an interesting beer selection, carries Trickling Springs Creamery milk and ice cream (lots of flavors), Pequea Valley Farm yogurt, a variety of cheeses and other interesting gourmet products. Both also have a nice selection of teas.

KMango - was the coffee you ordered already brewed or a made-to-order cup? Just curious.

Full disclosure, friends work there, etc. etc.

I am. Along with duck galantine (winter truffle & confit gizzards), head cheese, garlic sausage with pistachios, pork rillettes, chicken liver mousse, potted foie gras, wild-game pâté, gravlax, my fresh ham, rindswurst and likely boudin blanc for NYE.

That rindswurst got a nice little nod from Sietsema in today's mini review of Range. I'm guessing the merguez-stuffed lamb breast he mentions might also be one of your creations (and it sounds REALLY good).

Red Curry is now closed. The curse of 100 King Street continues, although three years isn't a bad run in that space.

Another is Chef Frank Morales. Pretty talented crew

Great - thanks for the additional info! As a very close neighbor, I've been hoping for something good to fill this very lovely space. And, for the last several months, watching and waiting as the Notting Hill sign went up and renovations took place. I guess for locals it is 'front page news'. Le Gaulois was there for a long time and the space has one of the nicest (and only) outdoor, non-sidewalk dining areas in Old Town.

Where was this thread before you posted to it? 10 pages back? One post in August hardly makes it front page news.

And honestly, I wouldn't have responded to the original post because I don't understand it. It's a bit cryptic for those of us not in know. I clicked on the "about" link and saw a picture of three people, none of whom I recognized. One man's "famillar face" is another man's "huh?"

This thread didn't exist before yesterday. The post I quoted was in the Le Gaulois thread, which is what was formerly in the space where Notting Hill is opening. Since the opening appears to be imminent, I thought it was time to start a new Notting Hill thread.

One of the people pictured in the photo is Mark Slater, Citronelle's long-time sommelier, more recently with Ray's The Steaks. Sorry to be 'cryptic' - not intentional.

ETA: Zora beat me to this, with much more deatil - thanks Zora!

We walked by this place last night - a new sign has appeared: Notting Hill Restaurant and Bar. Nice renovations going on inside from what I can see. Any info on what this will be?

Not much info on the web page: http://nottinghillrestaurant.com/

Still no specific information about an opening date, but there is a lot more detail on the menu pages.

And a familiar face if you click on the "about" section! Looks like this could be quite an exciting addition to the Old Town dining scene.