Walrus

Although the menu hasn't changed since it opened and, truly, this restaurant has risen to new heights of mediocrity, I can't bear a grudge against it because I really like the tarragon chicken salad sandwich at lunch, the mini sweet corn muffins, and the sparkly lemonade. Plus, it's open for lunch, which instantly took Liberty Tavern and Restaurant 3 out of the running for a recent rendezvous.

Can't believe we forgot to post about our recent meal here -- it was a great experience, from the joy of the champagne trolley to the fabulosity of the charcuterie to the delicious winter squash soup and tilefish I was somehow able to finish off for dinner. I don't know how we managed it, but I'm glad we did! Lovely meal all the way around -- it made us (almost) regret living in Arlington

Man, our timing just SUCKS! We're out of town for 1 week -- just 1 -- and we miss the openings of Inox and Eventide. We'll see you guys the first week of March!

Hooray

Man, of all the luck! We're going to be out of town and not going to be able to make it until March 13! Save some food for us, ok?

Ok, I made the reservation for 17, just so we have enough room if others want to come See you all at 11:30 am on Sunday, Feb. 8, at HEOTB!

No way -- cupcakes that I don't have to drive to get!!! Rock on!!!

Is it more sad that we can't get to Corduroy until March or that I'm already really excited about it? We're bringing my cousin, who's never been, and I just can't wait to share it with her!

We'd love to invite a couple friends if there's still room and nobody here who wants to go would be left out...just let me know!

Update: Walrus +1 Porcupine +1 Perrik Goldenticket? (+1?) TheMatt +1 Rkduggins +1 DeanGold +1 Dinwiddie +1 MC Horoscope +1 for a total of 15 (17?)

There's always room! I'll add you to my list: Walrus +1 Porcupine +1 Perrik Goldenticket (+1?) TheMatt +1 Rkduggins +1 DeanGold +1 Dinwiddie +1 for a total of 14 (15?)

Cool -- I'll make the reservation this weekend. Mmm. Radish cakes.

Sweet! So we have Walrus +1 Porcupine +1 Perrik Goldenticket (+1?) TheMatt +1 Rkduggins +1 DeanGold +1 for a total of 12 (13?) so far -- anyone else?

Would people be ok if we did HEOTB at 11:30?

Anyone feel like dim sum a week from Sunday (2/8)? This cold weather makes me crave hot dumplings...

We haven't been recently, but people we know went to Redwood for their Christmas party -- it was, apparently, a real downer...I hate that this beautiful space isn't being filled with beautiful food (or good service, it seems)!

We're in! Couldn't keep us away

Thanks to Tom Sietsema's chat today, I remembered to check the RAMW site this afternoon -- the list of restaurants participating in RW went up about 20-30 minutes ago. We're participating for the first time in my 8 years here -- thought we'd try Farrah Olivia for dinner one night...

I'll be the first to say that I agree with Capital Icebox about the Majestic -- despite a fabulous opening night tasting party, the food and service have never quite hit it for me. Until yesterday. Celebrating the fact that Tripewriter and I were both home and both able to stir from our sickbeds, we made the trek to Alexandria to find some lunch. Foiled in our quest for Lickety Split by the Washington Post's Inaugural Ball, for which the staff of Eve was catering, Tripewriter next settled his mind on the Majestic. I was reluctant -- after all, Eamonn's was on the way -- right there! -- but agreed that perhaps having fried chicken for two meals in a row after a month of eating little but soup and VitaminWater was, perhaps, not a great idea, and so acquiesced to a meal at the Maj. I started with the celery root soup. It had probably too delicate a flavor for my inordinately dulled taste buds, but the texture was lovely -- light and creamy, and not too rich or coating. Tripewriter had the Caesar salad, which he said was great because he could actually taste the ingredients. Then he had the kielbasa, which he enjoyed tremendously, and I had the burger (figuring that at the least, this would be a flavor that could stand up for itself -- as much as I was tempted by the ravioli, I was 100% sure I wouldn't be able to distinguish its ephemeral and fleeting flavors). This was a GREAT burger. The texture, the juices, the flavor, THE BUN!!! It was grand. My thanks to Chef Red and the rest of the gang at the Maj for making a couple of miserable people and making them momentarily but completely happy.

We clawed our way out of our head cold fog last night long enough to take friends from out of town to Commonwealth. We'd specifically chosen it because my friend was from North Carolina, and I'd promised him the best fried chicken in the world -- and Chef Antonio proved me right The restaurant had been slammed all day because of a street festival that had taken place earlier -- they served hundreds of covers more than they regularly do, and many more than they had been anticipating -- but we didn't feel neglected in any way. Tripewriter and I arrived early, and a final friend joined us late, after having to commute from Virginia, where he had to work that day. My friend from NC and I started with a mug of cheddar/ale soup -- a powerful soup that would warm up even the coldest of people who had been walking around outside all day. Tripewriter had a salad, which looked lovely as it disappeared. Tripewriter, my friend from NC, and I all had the fried chicken. It came with awesome little potatoes and very nice green beans. My descriptive skills are going to be a little poor because -- and it's ok to cry here -- I couldn't taste a thing. I ate half the fried chicken (which had perfect texture -- crispy in the right places, moist throughout) but then was too depressed to continue and took the rest home in the vain hope that I would have taste buds today. Those of the party who could taste, however, were in raptures over the chicken (of course!) and the fish and chips and the butcher's breakfast. All five of us cleaned our plates, with one friend stating that he just wasn't going to mention to his nutritionist what, exactly, he'd been eating this weekend. We had a great time -- our first meal in the little private glass room in the middle. If you can, get our seats -- the booth in the back right corner -- because they look directly onto the kitchen, which was like getting dinner and a show

I guess obviously this doesn't go for everyone, but I've been quite touched by how everyone I see -- even if they disagree with Obama's political philosophies and with the Democratic Party in general -- has been able to recognize and celebrate what his election means in a larger sense for the nation as a whole and for the world.

We have been back to Evening Star several times since the first Farm to Table dinner I posted about earlier, and each time we have left happy, satisfied, and vowing to return more often. I can't tell you the number of people I've recommended their breakfast sandwich to! Not to mention their jalapeno biscuits and BLT salad. Our latest trip, however, was a special one: As some of you know, Tripewriter and I have been sick since December -- December 16, to be precise. We've had to cancel all sorts of special dinner reservations and a party of own own that we've been planning since last summer; we've missed Christmas, New Year's, and our 7th anniversary. When Chef Will Artley at Evening Star found out about how poorly we were feeling, he sent us a message saying, in essence, sorry you're not feeling well -- can I make you some soup? Give me a call. Well, how could we turn down such an offer? Tripewriter called, and Chef Will invited us down to Del Ray that evening. When we were there, he served us some amazing gnocchi (they're new on the menu -- go try them!) and two enormous bowls of Magic Soup. He then comped the entire meal and sent us home with a container holding the rest of the soup. In short, this chef, on hearing that some vaguely regular customers weren't feeling well, took the time during dinner service to make a separate pot of soup for them and to comp the meal and send them home with the leftovers. Just thought I'd share our experience with the Evening Star -- excellent food, friendly service, and a chef with a heart bigger than anyone I know.

Mr. President.

It looks like the Morrison House Hotel in Alexandria might offer a tea: http://www.morrisonhouse.com/mrr-dining/mo...ry_time_tea.pdf

(And Redwood might be worth another try, now that Drew Trautmann is spending time there -- my boss actually is taking us there for our holiday lunch [ the blessings of having a small office!], and we're excited about the possibilities!)