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For geographic context, I grew up just outside of Rochester NY. The former Red Barn building still stands, I think. Last I looked anyhow. Something else is it there now though. It was/is on Ridge Rd, just west of Dewey Avenue? This is the only Red Barn I am aware of. (My husband remembers Red Barn too. He grew up in Bucks County PA. Says it was in Morrisville.) This is where I learned to have a backbone. We didn't eat out a lot. And I was a shy kid (Those of you who know me IRL may laugh now.) I was about 5 I think? Maybe 4. I got fried chicken. It had feathers still on it! FEATHERS! This was traumatic. I said to Mom, "This chicken has feathers!" Mom said, "Well, take it back and tell them that." So I did. They laughed at me, and this really upset me. Then they took away my chicken and brought me new chicken. So that was ok. It was diagonally across from a Carrol's.

Francis, who used to be the chef there, was a nice guy. He taught me how to make chicken livers with port and shallots ("Grilled bread" on the menu there.) He also gave me GREAT advice on restaurants the first time I went to Paris. I have forgotten the name of waiter there who was always so good to me. I wonder where he is now.

Or Petworth. We like you all, and Petworth is a NICE place.

Wow. A number of years back, this place was one of the few reasons I would venture to VA. No, not because there weren't any pubs closer to home, but because for several years, it was the only place around that John Longbottom would play when he was in town. I miss John. He was fun.

A friend complains every time we go to KBC that the menu is so large that 4 of them will not fit on a 4-top.

I am not Jewish. I am a bit more than half German. So I grew up on potato pancakes, not latkes. Same thing, but we used flour rather than matzo meal. Oh, and they are always served with applesauce, sour cream, and sausage. (breakfast sausage). And my grandfather always sprinkled them lightly with sugar. So I do that too. We always grated on the screen grater, but now I use the food processor. Also, I have never bothered to peel the potatoes. More crunch than cake, and lots of onion. A very good friend of mine is Czech. He makes potato pancakes, and I can't spell what he calls them. His are FULL of garlic and marjoram. They are good, but not the same. And there is no applesauce involved.

When I worked in that neighborhood, I would have their sandwiches for lunch regularly. That's one of the things I really miss about that job. (Well, that and the paycheck.) (And the fun work.)

I read about this and was sad. At the same time, I have not been there since I was an undergrad, and that is now long ago (although not far away, because I went to GW). We did love this place then.

I went for coffee the other day after dropping one of the cats off at the vet (poor baby had to have dental work done. I felt very guilty.) The cats go to Union Vet, so this meant that I was right across the street from Ebeneezer's Coffee. So, I got a nice latte there. Again, not quite as hot as I like, but it had a very nice flavor. I would get it again, although I would order it extra hot.

I find this very funny. I dislike Starbucks, because I think the beans taste burnt. I love Harrar. Although that's not what I came here to post about. I came here to post about Culture Coffee, on Kennedy Street. Finally got up that way to try it out on Friday morning. Remember, I drink lattes and enjoy dark roasts, so I had a latte. It was quite good, although next time I think I will get an extra shot of coffee in the cup. And the space was very cool and the people were very friendly. It's worth a stop.

Rodman's? Harris Teeter?

We have, but only for drinks. The bartender was nice, the beer was good, my friend's drink was fine. The screaming infant behind us was really annoying and drove us out fairly quickly.

Indeed. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do this, but as we have people in town all week for Thanksgiving, we have booked those days solid already.

We took one at Culinaerie a year or two ago, taught by a woman named Susan Holt. It was good. http://www.culinaerie.com/ and it looks like they still offer it.

Meridian Pint has wi-fi, and you need the password.

They are very close to the Taqueria Distrito Federal on Kennedy Street, and not far from Andrene's.

My husband roasts the turkey every year. A few years ago, he found a recipe that involved making a compound butter that included bacon. Everyone now demands that recipe every year. Here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roast-Heritage-Turkey-with-Bacon-Herb-and-Cider-Gravy-350421

Still does - that's why the coffee at the Coupe doesn't appeal to me.

When I manage people, this is a good description of how I think about it. It is also how I think of it when I have to get corrective feedback. Somehow I find it hard to think that way as a customer. I know what I want, but then you think about the fact that a business, especially a small business offers what the proprietor wishes to offer and perhaps another business might offer what you want... A while back, elsenet, I was discussing wanting something specific and wishing someplace close to me carried it. Another poster berated me, saying the store offered what it offered and I should accept that or go elsewhere. The comparison was made - should Meridian Pint (my local beer bar) offer Pabst/Miller/Coors/Bud because it is popular and people might want it? Personally, I thought of it more as - Giant doesn't have the cheese I want. If I tell them, they might add it so that I go there for all my grocery needs, rather than switching to Harris Teeter, or Fresh Fields. Trying to walk the line between - all coffee shops should offer this/this is a specialty item that only some coffee shops have.

I will, and I will. Thank you for the thoughts. I really WANT to like Qualia, so we will see what happens. (OK, I will if I get up the guts. It's HARD to tell someone bad things about a place that they have poured so much work into. Especially when you are afraid that they will say, "But I want it that way. What you want is bad.") I forgot to talk about the visit to Flying Fish. Another one that had nice-tasting coffee that was not very warm, let alone hot. Also less friendly than I would like. And the owner is a friend of a very good friend, and she has raved about his coffee, so I had high hopes. I do begin to wonder if I like my coffee too hot. All the Ethiopian coffee places (Columbia Heights, Sidamo, Harrar, Azi's, and the place that used to be in Brookland that I liked but it is closed now and I don't remember its name) make it the right level of hot for me, but so many of the others (Qualia, Flying Fish, La Caprice, Room 11, Chinatown Coffee, and Peregrin) seem to serve it cooler. Maybe it really is just me.

So, with the closure of Columbia Heights Coffee, I've been looking for other places to get my Saturday morning latte fix. Rules include: Must not be too far off the route from my house to the Columbia Heights farm market. (That is, between the Georgia Ave metrorail station and the Columbia Heights plaza by the Giant.) Must make nice latte, 12 oz or larger. 2% milk preferred, hot coffee/milk required. Must be generally welcoming. Am not interested in getting coffee at the Coupe. So, I went to Qualia again. And the coffee tasted fine, but it was not even warm really. (and I like my coffee HOT) And the staff was less than friendly. It's too bad - I've met Joel and really liked him, and I really like his dedication to the neighborhood. I would like to buy his product, but it isn't quite what I want, and I really dislike interacting with his staff. So, then I went to Room 11 this weekend. And the coffee was ok, but not great, and quite a bit more expensive than other places. And when I asked for 2% milk, I was told my choices were skim or whole. Asking for the milk to be a mix of skim and whole got the desired result but also a side of attitude. I've had the coffee at La Caprice DC. It's fine, not great, not bad. This may end up being where we end up. We still have to try Coffy Cafe too. I wish that Harrar or Sidamo was convenient. Either of those would win every time.

I like the Maple Lawn turkeys, available at the MOM for about $2 a pound.

Today I am very sad about coffee. My favorite coffee shop has closed. No more Columbia Heights Coffee. When we moved to the house, it was 1990. We were coming from Mt Pleasant. Petworth was nice in terms of the folks who lived around us, but pretty barren when it came to retail and restaurant options. And Columbia Heights was no better. Lovely neighbors, no retail and restaurant that we really wanted. Then Columbia Heights Coffee opened. You could walk there from my house, easily. And all the neighbors did - old and new. Good coffee that I could walk to. That I could walk to on the way to all the new stuff, like the new Giant, and the new farm market. And a place that I could sit with my newspaper, have coffee, chat with the neighbors, and listen to classical music. Oh, and with a small cd exchange and book exchange. And they are gone now. I will miss them. And I don't know where I will get my coffee now.

Have you tried Harrar Coffee yet? Georgia and Harvard NW.

I've met the man, many times. He's generally very nice. He's also a man of a certain age and culture who would see nothing wrong about hugging and kissing a young woman without making certain it was ok with her. So, I agree, I hope that both parties come through ok.