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schulju

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  1. schulju
    I enjoyed growing up on that fine edge between far out suburbia and "farm country", across the road from a farm that grew both silver queen and feed corn. It was my job to walk over to the farm stand and pick up a dozen ears on Saturday morning (I don't think it ever cost more than 75 cents a dozen), shuck them there at the farm (to feed the cows and to keep the mess out of my Mother's kitchen) and to walk the fresh corn back home. I still think that's what corn is supposed to taste like, and I still prefer to buy corn off the back of a truck by the side of the road than from a grocery store. As to cooking, I was always taught to cover the ears with cold water, bring to a boil for a minute or two, then turn off the heat and cover the pot to let the corn finish cooking. Mom usually added a few tablespoons of milk and a spoon or two of sugar to the pot. Along the way I picked up the very weird habit of taking a sharp knife down the center of the rows on the cob. Not taking the corn off the cob, just slicing down the center of each row to split the corn. It is "supposed" to make the corn come off the cob easier. Not sure it actually does anything, but I still do it every time.
  2. schulju
    I will confess I have neither Joe's patience for stirring (or tolerance for wine on a school night), or Anna's skill in the kitchen. I like the idea of risotto, but too many "half raw, half overcooked" experiences have convinced me to leave the entire rice thing to the professionals. That said, I am a fan of using orzo to create a "mock" risotto-like dish using the same procedure Dean describes above, (without the dragon slaying). Not quite a pilaf, no where near the nirvana that is real risotto, but still my husband's favorite side dish.
  3. schulju
    I've seen this...Montbisou Framboise...listed in a few recipes lately, but am not familiar with it. Is this just a raspberry liquor? Can I swap Chambord?
  4. schulju
    Fredericksburg Yes, it's fast food next door to the Wawa at Central Park, right off of 95 (in the old Red Hot & Blue space I believe). But dang, I have to say that Shane's Rib Shack surpassed our every expectation. After hours in July 6th traffic up from Tidewater, we stopped at Central Park for gas and to switch drivers. We were starving and needed something fairly quick so we could get back on the road to more traffic! We were a bit dubious when we walked into Shane's, but decided to give it a try. I ordered a platter which included half a rack of ribs, two sides and Texas Toast for $14. Hubby had a "sampler" which included some ribs, some pulled pork and a couple of chicken tenders plus the sides and toast for $12. Yes it's expensive for fast food. But the quality and quantity seemed very in line with the price. We had stopped off at Pierce's on our way down a few days earlier. The pork at Shane's was better! The ribs were every bit as good as the one's I've had at Famous Dave's. The mac and cheese side was good and served piping hot. Coleslaw and the toast were both meh. We decided this would be our new go-to stopping point on future trips to Tidewater. Definitely more than just your average fast food.
  5. schulju
    Another great meal for the family at Mokomandy this past Saturday evening. I loved the Cosmo-esque craft cocktail made with pineapple syrup and cranberry bitters. Many thanks to our server Erin who stepped behind the bar (where you can find her on Wednesday nights) to make me the perfectly pale pink cocktail. The rest of the clan stuck to the beer menu. I can't keep up with the choices they make, but they do particularly enjoy the large format bottles that are available. Many new dishes have debuted on the menu since our last trip out to Great Falls Plaza. There was not a single dish that disappointed, but there were a few stand-outs. We ordered a round of small plates followed by a round of medium sized plates. Our selections in order of preference were: Round 1: Small Plates - Most notably, the dumplings were a huge hit. The foie gras dumplings slightly edged out the tuna dumplings from the Surf & Turf dumpling selection. The deviled eggs were next on our list of favorites followed by a split decision between the carpaccio and the potroast sliders. Round 2: Medium Plates - The Korean scallops were the big winners on this round. Don't tell Thad, but that dish really belongs on the "large" sized list since it's a more generous serving of scallops than you will see on the entrees of most restaurants in town. I caved and ordered the same dish I had last time, I couldn't help myself, I'm a sucker for shrimp and grits and this version was smokey and rich, taking the second spot in our table ranking. I really enjoyed the Korean noodle dish served with mushrooms and other stuff that I cannot recall, but it sat behind the seafood on this day as far as the group was concerned. Finally, the wild boar bowl which we loved so much on our last visit fell to the bottom of the ranking this time around. It still boasts a perfectly cooked egg which oozes all over the contents when pricked with a fork, but the flavors were a bit less rounded this time, just not as clean and elegant as the other choices we made. We shared a trio of deserts. The white chocolate cheesecake and beignets were delicious. The creme brulee was okay, I thought the custard could have been a bit thicker. Overall, I can't offer enough high praise to this hardworking team that turn out really innovative and high quality dishes from a modest suburban strip mall location. The vibe is definitely casual, but this is serious food.
  6. schulju
    Pshaw! Just ask Bond, James Bond!
  7. schulju
    Hey peeps, if your office is close to a Cava Mezze Grill, it's a great option for a catered lunch!* We are a small office of less than 25 folks and we hold a monthly lunch for all employees. Our office manager worked with the Tyson's location to set up the ordering. Each person received an email directly from Cava with a link to order what they wanted (everyone had a $15 limit..enough for just about any entree and a side of chips/dip). All the food came individually packaged with everyone's name on it. We have a lot of vegetarian/vegan folks as well as carnivores so we need to chose options that can accommodate both. Cava worked out great. Many of my co-workers had never been, and everyone really loved their lunch and requested that we use Cava again soon for our monthly get-together. Although I love the full service restaurant in Rockville, I had never been to a Grill location before. I ordered the braised lamb bowl with lots of great dips and toppings. Outstanding! Plus, OMG it was huge. I couldn't eat more than half...looking forward to having the rest for dinner tonight. *In full disclosure, I do not know if they delivered or if someone from the office went to pick-up.
  8. schulju
    Welcome melanie1!
  9. schulju
    First visit to Range this past Saturday night. I was not permitted to see the bill (thank you, Jh), and since I thought I was paying, really didn't pay attention to the menu prices (also, I didn't have my reading glasses and it was DARK in there! ) The Not So Great: We started off a bit concerned with our experience at the bar...one beer drinker and three vodka drinkers. No Grey Goose, no Kettle One, just Tito's (hey, I use Tito's in cocktails, but in a martini, ick), Finlandia (yep, the airplane vodka) and one other none of us had ever heard of. A vodka-based craft cocktail from the menu was unbalanced and frankly, undrinkable. We were shown to a nice table, aisles on both sides, didn't feel crowded in...but oh, was that table small! It would have been a two-top in any other restaurant. Although I didn't feel crowded by other diners, it was so loud in the restaurant, I could barely hear each other across the table. I felt like I was shouting all evening. The room was reminiscent of a Vegas hotel restaurant. Lots of glass, lots of moving lights (thanks to the light display in the atrium of the mall), just not the most comfortable space. The Great: The wine list had a number of really nice bottles including Far Niente and a very nice Paul Hobbs. I wish they would put the wine list on the web site, it's quite large and I would have appreciated being able to peruse it before arriving. We ordered a number of dishes between the four of us: A half-dozen oysters were fresh, and seemed to be enjoyed. I didn't partake, so can't really comment. The tasting of all cheeses came with a very nice bread that was happily (if not terribly quickly) refilled. I thought the portion was generous given other cheese boards in town. The potted foie gras was very good although I thought the brioche served along side needed a bit more toasting, it's a minor quibble and a personal preference. The leg of lamb was excellent. Perfectly medium rare. A nice portion for one, perhaps small if you're intending to share. The hanger steak was also well received. Sides are not an after thought at Range, the mashed potatoes were fabulous; asparagus, beets and rotisserie potatoes were all well executed. All in all I was quite pleased with the food and while the prices are a bit steep for the 'burbs, I don't think they're out of line with typical DC pricing for food of this quality at a restaurant with this sort of star power. We had no service issues at all; we were greeted immediately upon being seated, water and wine glasses never sat empty, and dirty plates were promptly removed. If we don't rush back to Range it will be because of the venue.
  10. schulju
    Saturday brunch marked my first visit to LD with a party of 6, several of who are "professional brunchers" (with web sites devoted to the subject). Found the space to be airy and light filled. Though it's a pretty packed space, we didn't find it to be terribly loud, at least not at the table where we were sitting. We waited at the bar for a few minutes before we were seated and were told that full menu service is available there. When we left, there was a line out the door, but the bar still had plenty of seats. Reservations are pretty much mandatory if you want a table without a long wait. As mentioned above, the bread basket is wonderful. They don't currently sell bread to take out, but I'm told that is on the horizon. The basket of breakfast pastries comes with six assorted sweet breads for $10. Sounds expensive, but the quality was amazing. A variety of normal brunch fare was ordered...eggs Benedict, poached eggs basque, croque-madame, egg white omelet and quiche Lorraine. The quiche was mile-high and declared delicious. Everyone else at the table had dish envy when it was served. The rest of the orders were generally described as "good" and "fine" Brunch entrees are generally served with either a small salad or potatoes. Consistent with the comments above, it appears quality of ingredients and execution is high, but there's nothing unusual or surprising here. Predictably solid isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially at brunch. The other stand-out of our brunch was our server who's name I failed to get. He did a great job of keeping everyone's glasses full. Attentive, but not annoying, we never had to flag him down for more coffee, juice or water. He also suggested we order bottled sparkling wine and juice rather than individual mimosas to reduce our bill. At the end of the day, we all got out for tax and tip at around $45 per person.
  11. schulju
    Dale Reitzer is an old friend and a fabulous chef. He honed his craft under Jimmy Sneed of The Frog and The Redneck fame, no one was prouder than Jimmy when Dale was named Best New Chef by Food and Wine magazine a number of years ago. Jimmy and Dale are directly responsible for the foodie I've become as they formed my palate when I was a young professional first venturing into the fine dining scene. (Hint: if you ever see cobia on a Reitzer menu, order it! You'll thank me later.)
  12. schulju
    On a recent trip to NYC a local friend took me to one of those countless NYC restaurants you've never heard of and will never see in any guide book anywhere. From the street you can barely discern the doorway, let alone imagine that behind it lies a jewel box of a restaurant that serves surprisingly imaginative food, has a friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff, and will make you wish you lived here so you could hang out at the bar after work with the other locals who obviously visit this kitchen more often than the ones in their tiny NYC flats. The Ember Room touts itself as "progressive Thai", not sure what that really means, but there is definitely a soul food meets Asian fusion thing going on here. I was expecting the combo to be clumsy or weird somehow, but at ER it really isn't. It just works. Highlights included the mac'n cheese (with Thai spices) and a pan seared chicken set aflame table side in lemongrass-infused vodka. Pricing is typical NYC...cocktails are $12-$14, entrees around $25. I was pleased with the value to quality ratio. Web site: http://www.emberroom.com/
  13. schulju
    First visit to Eola last night. They are tasting menu only with three choices for each of four courses plus several amuse. At $75 I thought the tasting menu was a pretty good deal given the quality and originality of what was provided. As this was a business dinner, I didn't take photos. Our menu was fairly close to the web site version with the pork being replaced by a very nice duck breast which three of the four of us ordered. Service was excellent and pacing was spot on. If there's a weakness here it was in the wine pairings. At $45 for half a glass of sparkling wine and four very small pours, I think ordering a bottle or two from the wine list might be a better way to go. None of the wines were necessarily bad on their own, but they didn't seem to enhance the food in any way, and in one instance, probably detracted. Note for anyone unfamiliar with the space, the restaurant has a fairly decent set of steps up to the front door and the restrooms are on the second floor. A little painful for someone nursing a sprained knee (yes, I was that gal you saw falling down the escalator at Union Station last week...thanks for clapping ), but probably not accessible for anyone with a significant disability. I made a reservation for my next visit on my way out the door!
  14. schulju
    Many thanks to the team at RWE for accommodating our crazy group: called at 6:30 for an 8:30 reservation for 6; called at 7 to push back to 9pm. Ultimately, 8 of us showed up and the team graciously reset the Chef's table. Escorted 7 Indian colleagues who all fell just as much in love with this restaurant as I am. On this night, the dishes were varied and each plate practically licked clean. More importantly, the venu and service delivered what is not just the best Indian restaurant experience in town, but one of the best restaurant experiences period. Our West coast CEO insists he will only eat out with me on future visits to DC. Thanks for making me look good gang!
  15. schulju
    Did I hear Chris say "Duck Throwdown"?? I'm in! I'm a fan of PGI and have yet to find anywhere better. But PGI is such a mob scene, I would love to find an alternative.
  16. schulju
    Don, I hope you'll allow me to use this space to bring attention to this fund raising effort... Deb Fiscella is not a member of the DR community (yet). However, she reminds me of many of our members. She's fun, passionate, and puts the needs of others before her own. Deb is celebrating her 50th birthday by attempting to raise fifty thousand dollars for the fight against pediatric cancer through support of the Four Diamonds Fund. The mission of the Fund is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through providing superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research. Please read more about Deb's campaign here: www.50kforthekids.org If you are one of our industry members interested in partnering with 50kforthekids on an event or even to donate a gift certificate for a silent auction, please PM me or reach out to Deb at 50kforthekids@gmail.com Thank you!
  17. schulju
    Darkstar has me intrigued since I also hold Laduree as the highest achievement in macaron nirvana. Must find an excuse to mosey down to Barracks Row sometime soon.
  18. schulju
    Congratulations!
  19. schulju
    They own more than 700 restaurants and 135 of them are versions of La Tagliatella...so how is that "independent"?
  20. schulju
    It doesn't appear that anyone has chimed in yet on the SUGO brunch experience. I had brunch with a girlfriend this past Sunday. The restaurant was basically empty when we arrived at 11, but full when we left around 12:30. Let me start by saying that we ate an enormous amount of food...enormous, to the point that I'm embarrassed to let you all in on just how much we ate. Let me also say that at $30 for all you can eat and drink (mimosas only), if you are capable of putting away the amount of food we did..this is a damn good deal. The mimosas come in traditional orange, or pink grapefruit. I don't know why it's never dawned on me to mix sparkling wine and grapefruit juice before, but I'm hooked...and while they're not strong, they are generously sized. (I still managed to down three of them.) The dishes are all small plates. We ordered, in no particular order: (since the menu is online, I won't bother describing the dishes) Sugo Frittata, Hangover Potatoes, Applewood Bacon, Brioche Benedict, Grilled Cheese, Hash and Eggs, Chicken and Waffle, Poached Egg Carbonara and the Nutella Waffle. The poached egg carbonara was so rich and creamy, it probably would have been enough for a normal appetite. The grilled cheese was perfectly browned on the outside and gooey on the inside. The nutella waffle (and the waffle that came with the chicken) were both really, really great. And as it was quite sweet, certainly the last dish you want to order. The rest of the dishes were all good to really good, except for the bacon. I generally like my bacon crispy, but the bacon yesterday was overcooked even for my tastes. Any applwood flavor was lost. I don't know if the team at SUGO plan to make the bottomless deal permanent or not. I know the special has run the last two weekends. Get down there before they change their minds...this is seriously good food at a seriously good value. The only problem with a bottomless brunch at 11 am is the inability to be productive the rest of the day...
  21. schulju
    Very much enjoyed my first visit to Rasika West End Saturday night. The restaurant is beautiful and every member of the team gracious, kind and extremely skilled. While the restaurant was full, I honestly didn't find it to be too loud to hear my companions, even with the birthday party seated with us in the library. The palak chaat was everything I anticipated and more. I could easily take that to a deserted island with me and be just fine. The lamb chops were incredibly tender and perfectly cooked (medium rare). I left ordering to my hosts, so I'll probably miss something but I know we also enjoyed the honey ginger scallops, mango shrimp, andhra bhindi and chicken tikka masala. Each dish beautifully composed and the flavors so bright and clean. Our evening was topped off by a tour of the kitchen, the opportunity to thank Chef personally for an amazing meal, and a mental note to find a reason to book the chef's table as soon as possible. Special thanks to Simon for pairing the Storybook Zin and congratulations on your engagement!
  22. schulju
    June 9th or 16th? (I would love to actually make a picnic eventually...I seem to always be travelling when the time comes.)
  23. schulju
    First visit to Quench last night and found it to be a real delight...looking forward to an already planned brunch date there next month. We sat at the bar where the afore-mentioned Gillian took excellent care of us and enjoyed speaking with her and Michael about their vision for the restaurant and their future plans. The focus here is on quality local ingredients and everything that can be made from scratch, is. The menu is updated frequently and the version posted on the web site is not exactly what you'll see in the restaurant. Cocktails: These are truly "hand crafted" cocktails with thoughtful house-made ingredients. My favorite of the evening was the French 76 with a kumquat puree. My companion had the Fall's Calling which tasted like Autumn in a glass. Food: We ordered a number of small plates to share. Each of these is currently featured on the online menu, so I won't detail the ingredients here. Ahi Tuna Tartar - the tuna was beautifully fresh. My friend enjoyed this immensely. Unfortunately, medical issues prevent me from indulging in anything raw, so I can't comment on the taste. Braised Pork Belly - this was my favorite dish. The pork had a great flavor and melted in my mouth; it was not the least bit "chewy" (reference to a recent pork belly discussion on another thread). The slaw provided a nice bite of acid. Goat Cheese Souffle Dip - I had no idea what to expect form this dish and was pleasantly surprised by it. The dip had a surprisingly light texture and was very tasty without too much of the bite that some folks don't appreciate from goat cheese. The dish is served with a generous portion of apple slices and addictive crostini. DC Wings - This is the only dish I wasn't completely happy with. The portion was generous and the wings themselves were juicy and meaty. But I prefer a dryer, crunchier wing. These are pan-sauteed in the sauce so they come out pretty wet. The sauce was okay, but the flavor was sort of one-note. Quench would be a great addition to any neighborhood..but in MoCo, it's a destination not to be missed.
  24. schulju
    Definitely in!
  25. schulju
    I find myself craving dim sum and a peek at my calendar shows I'm in town on March 4th. Can I entice anyone in the RPLC (or other DR folks) to join me for dim sum that day? I'm open as to location/time.
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