Kibbee Nayee

I had a nice father-daughter day at the Lebanese festival yesterday. Very nice.

What I enjoy about these kinds of cultural events, and why I recommend them, is that the food is from the hands of mothers and grandmothers, and not from restaurants. The distinction may be minor, but it shone through at the Lebanese festival. The hummus was beyond silky-smooth-delicious, like nothing you'll find at most restaurants and certainly not at supermarkets. Everything tasted as if it was out of your Lebanese grandmother's kitchen, that is, if you have a Lebanese grandmother. Even the mu'jadarra, a rice and lentils dish, was spectacular.

We are blessed by these cultural events in the DC area.

I'm curious about the backstory. Driving past it numerous times -- my dentist has an office right behind it -- it looks presentable if a bit tired on the outside. I'm sure the owner(s) decided it needed a re-do and refresh. As some of the episodes I have seen foretell, the owners will get a chewing out, and will cry or break down on camera, and someone will come clean about mismanagement, and the chef might be fired, and so on. Of course, what will be fun for us locals will be to visit it immediately after its relaunch.

I'm not really a fan of the show, nor have I eaten at FoxFire Grill, but step right up for a volunteer opportunity to rebuild a restaurant.

https://thezebra.org/2019/09/09/restaurant-impossible-is-coming-to-alexandria-va/

13 minutes ago, DaveO said:

Trout who got a huge payout to stay is having a great season.  It's a crap shoot.

And there you go! The kind of player (and person) who avoids Boras is Mike Trout. Or Derek Jeter. Or Cal Ripken Jr.

Think of the 30-something or 40-something trophy wife who marries the 70-something billionaire. Is that a marriage built on love? Or is that a marriage built on money?

Greed is the ugly underbelly of baseball, and Boras is its salivating cheerleader.

19 minutes ago, DaveO said:

I don't blame Boras either.  I worked as a "tenant broker" for a couple of decades.  It's really the same thing.  As an agent you work the market to get the best deal possible for your client.   If it works for a long term deal the player's financial life is set (if he is reasonable and not a stupid spendthrift).  If it doesn't work for the player, well he has to keep playing.   A player might keep playing to support his team, the fans, and his owner but suffer so badly he ruins his contract opportunities.  A current example is Isiah Thomas in basketball although $2.3 million/year is mighty good.  But he sacrificed probably $10-15 million/year or more for long term.

When viewing what occurs it is ugly.  No doubt.  It hurts the local rooting public.  It also defines "market" in an imperfect world economic system where all you need is for one participant to "break" .   Its certainly not fan friendly.

I hope Rendon stays.  I think to do so the Lerner's will have to "pony up".  If they do I'll probably pay $1-3 more for a beer at the stadium next year.  But I don't blame Boras.

I blame Boras for the single reason that he manipulates the market, the players, and the owners for sole purpose of making the most money. His goal in life is to be the biggest, baddest, most vulgar greed-monger in the game, and he has achieved it. It's not about the team, the fans, the game, or the individual player, it's always about money. He has no other value. He is all about greed (and dishonesty, which he can get away with in the current rules.)

Well, that's one minority view of Boras and his antics.

The Nats have had more Boras clients than any other team, and their post-season success to date is...?

Alex Rodriguez publicly opting out of his contract during the last game of a World Series, shifting the limelight to Boras and A-Rod....classic Boras.

With the single exception of Strasburg, Boras takes his clients out on the market, and waits out the market until he zeroes in on one dumb owner. That tactic didn't quite work out well for Dallas Keuchel this past year. Or how about Mike Moustakas, who turned down a one year deal for $17.4 million, and because of Boras, was backed into a one year deal for $6.5 million? He also squeezed the Brewers for $214 million for Prince Fielder, who hasn't played since 2016 but is owed $24 million a year through the end of 2020. There are many more examples, like Jacoby Ellsbury, or the final 3 years of Jayson Werth's contract -- yes, the stupid owner had to approve these deals, but there was breathless Boras hyping mythical notebooks of stats and lying about all the other offers he was getting for those clients. Yes, he does that, and teams are not allowed to call around and check, because that would constitute collusion!

When it comes to anything other than money, Scott Boras is bad for baseball.

Bronson Bierhall opened on September 6 in Ballston, in the old A-Town Bar & Grill space. I'm a fan of German food and beer, but I'll take a wait-and-see attitude on this place. The owner, Mike Cordero, is also behind the thoroughly mediocre Barley Mac in Rosslyn, as well as the unremarkable Don Tito's and GOAT Sports Bar. If Bronson Bierhall is at the same level of quality, I'll take my time getting there....

On 9/1/2019 at 8:12 PM, DaveO said:

I hope the Lerner's reverse their thinking and spring big time for a contract for Anthony Rendon.  He is on a hot streak and knocking the starch out of the ball.

Right now he leads the majors in batting average and RBI' s and is near the top for total bases, doubles, runs, OB% and slugging %.  He has won a couple of games with walk off hits.  Rendon's agent is the agent for Bryce Harper so he knows the Lerner's tendencies.

Come on Lerner's.  Sooner or later you are getting a big fat local TV payoff from the Orioles.  Now is the time to share it with Anthony Rendon.

Scott Boras is an evil slime-bag, and he will take Rendon out onto the free agent market. With Scott Boras as an agent, the player is committed 100% to money-money-money, not the team, the fans, the game, or anything close to noble.

I think Rendon ranks with Matt Chapman and Nolan Arenado as the best third-basemen in the game right now. His reputation is not likely to be pristine after climbing into the pig sty with Boras this winter.

As I read through this somewhat dated thread, I would like to add Al Raouche in Merrifield to the list of excellent Middle Eastern restaurants. The daily specials, like stuffed grape leaves and squash (Koosa) on Tuesdays and stuffed cabbage (Malfouf) on Saturdays are worth the detour.

13 hours ago, DonRocks said:

That's right, and it brings up an issue: Elephant Jumps is "different" than any other Thai restaurant I've been to, certainly in the DMV. Why it's different, I'm not sure: Is it "region," or is it "style?" I'm blindingly ignorant about regional Thai cuisine, and would appreciate any input about any differences - this could be an entire forum by itself.

When I put together the Middle Eastern food primer for this community, one of my goals was to tease out a similar treatment of Asian cuisine. I am totally ignorant of the regional nuances across Asia, and whenever I'm in Falls Church or Annandale, I'm forced to wing it and hope for the best. I have a few favorite go-to dishes, but I know I'm missing a veritable feast of dishes that I'm simply unaware of.

Two years since the last review...? Last night, 3 old friends got together at Jackson 20. We usually meet there for a drink when we get together, and then head off to another place to have a meal. But the menu caught our eye, and the sidewalk seating was very pleasant on a fair weather night, so we stayed.

I had the double burger, which hit the spot, and was cooked to a perfect medium-to-medium-rare. I chose "Crazy Watermelon" as a side, which is two wedges of watermelon topped with peanuts and crumbled feta. The burger was good, and the watermelon was very good. (Side note -- I have always enjoyed watermelon with a sprinkle of salt, much to the dismay of my children and others. This "Crazy Watermelon" concept was alright by me.)

One friend had the country-fried steak, and cleaned his plate. Another friend had the hand-cut tagliatelle, and only finished half of it.

The menu changes with the season. This meal was substantially better than our previous visit a few months ago, and given the sidewalk seating and the relatively sparse food options within walking distance, Jackson 20 has checked most of the boxes for us.

On 9/2/2019 at 6:28 PM, DonRocks said:

Hmm, no Thai in their right mind would serve sushi, and no Japanese (right or wrong mind) would serve *that* sushi, so ... is this a Korean-owned restaurant in Springfield?

Nobody's going to guess the inferior "Cuban sandwich" in the second picture (if it wasn't from a "known" sandwich shop, I wouldn't be harping on this).

I could give you all about twenty more from the past couple of weeks (last night, for example, I had Mansaf, which is considered the national dish of Jordan - no picture needed, I don't think - this (Palestinian-owned) restaurant has moved to a new location, which was formerly an outlet of a vegan mini-chain). I wish I could say the food was good, but no dice.

Would your Cuban have come from SUNdeVICH?

1 hour ago, genericeric said:

I used to meet a business contact for lunch at Yamazato nearby.  I don't think we ever ordered Edamame (if they have it), but is the sort of pan-asian that would have the mix.  Sushi wasn't bad if you could accept what it was, which was a little 'fussy'.

Bingo, we have a winner! Yamazato it is.

18 hours ago, DonRocks said:

 ... is this a Korean-owned restaurant in Springfield?

Nobody's going to guess the inferior "Cuban sandwich" in the second picture (if it wasn't from a "known" sandwich shop, I wouldn't be harping on this).

Don is getting close. A bit farther north, in the amorphous suburbia of Lincolnia.

Not Kumo or Nua Haus....

Not PassionFish.

22 minutes ago, genericeric said:

I believe Bambu on MacArthur Blvd has all three, the circular sushi plate is throwing me off as I remember always getting a square plate - though I'm not sure I've ever had a sushi order that large here.

This place is very sushi-forward but the kitchen is a bit pan-Asian. It is not in the District, so look to the 'burbs.

I knew that would be a difficult clue, so here is the rest of the meal. It was extremely good.

While this last one winds its way through Disney World, I'll start one closer to home. Where did I dine?

You might be surprised, but right behind the Cannon House office building is Tortilla Coast, which is very popular among the House staff. The queso is quite good and they sell a ton of it.

45 minutes ago, Ruth Tam said:

I'm looking for delicious-by-Texas-standards queso in the Washington region. Chile con queso, not queso fundido. 

The only queso I've had in D.C. was from Chipotle, and it was so disappointing, I angry Tweeted at the company, which is not a habit of mine.

The Tex Mex places I can think of: Lauriol Plaza, Guapo's, Republic Cantina, Texas Jacks, Cactus Cantina. Does anyone have experience with the queso at these places, or others? Thanks!

My standard is Tippy's Tacos, but please don't judge me.

Try Jaleo, Oyamel, San Antionio Bar and Grill, and Rosa Mexicano.

If you don't attend this event, then you're missing out on one of the finest Lebanese food fests in the DC area. The KN family will be present.

Dupont regional cuisine? I wonder what is Dupont Fish and Chips, or Pasta Dupont?

And who finished second in the vote for DC's best happy hour?

15 hours ago, deangold said:

We were driving thru Tennessee and had to stop for gas. We chose the highway exit that was marked as being the home of the Jan & Dean Birthplace plaque or the world's Biggest Ball of String or some such wonder.  

We pulled into the gas station and not wanting to make a meal of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and ice cream, we asked if there were good restaurants around and were told yes... The beaming woman told us all the good restaurant's were close by... KFC, McDs, Burger King and Cracker Barrel.  We pulled out of the station, shaking our heads, and had to proceed away from the highway to find a place to turn around. When we did, we ran smack into Adele's. It was an old ramshakle farmhouse and the walls were filled with old fashion stove top toasters.  Also a tabe of old local gentlemen telling stories.  The menu was classic short order and I remember we had a wonderful meal. Sausages, eggs, toast of course, biscuits etc.  It probably took a year off our life expectancy.  ANd it cost about $10.

I am sure that women at the gas station would have loved to have a Cheese Cake Factory in her little town.  We never found Jan and Dean's ball of string though.  

I agree with Don, this is a classic post.

It's not about Cheesecake Factory versus fine dining, it's about corporate indifference and mediocre quality versus good food served with care and conviction. A meal at Cheesecake Factory and a meal at Corduroy or Bub and Pop's or District Commons might not be too far apart in price, but the quality of the meal is so much better. And so it is with Adele's.

7 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

There is, but it's usually pro-forma accounting.

I just don't get it. Millions if not billions of dollars a year spent on eating pure indifference -- Cheesecake Factory, Applebee's, Olive Garden, Chili's, TGI Friday's, and on and on and on....

I just can't fathom how so many menu items can be executed in a professional kitchen. Most of them have to be pre-made and heated a la minute.

Then comes the "Why?" Why do restaurants like Cheesecake Factory (and GARG) want to peddle us a Cajun Pasta? They don't serve that kind of crap in Louisiana. Why mix Italian, Asian, Continental, and supposedly American on one menu, and expect any kind of real "from scratch" out of the kitchen?

I personally wouldn't set foot in the place, but then, they make a lot of money from people who eat instead of dine. I couldn't figure out Rainforest Cafe either, but my kids loved it.