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sphere777

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  1. sphere777
    I'm back in for the 8th. Rob
  2. sphere777
    In contrast, I thoroughly enjoyed my pre-birthday visit to Sichuan Garden. I ordered the broad beans with scallions and garlic, the lotus root salad, and the pork with the double-fried bread. The bean were kind of bland but I liked them because they tempered the pork's heat. The lotus root salad was delicious with a mild vinegary tang and a touch of heat at the end. And the pork was flat-out great. The waitress asked me whether I wanted the dish as it is traditionally cooked "with fat" (pork belly I'm guessing) or with "just pork." I went traditional and was quite happy. The crunch of the bread, the unctuousness of the pork, and the Sichuan heat made a great combination. Thanks to everybody for recommending it. rob
  3. sphere777
    I have been living and working in Crystal City for about three months and would like to briefly share my experiences: Not been Kora - Need to give this place a chance. The pizzas sound intriguing and He-Who-Is-Sietsema said nice things about them. Ruth's Chris/Morton's - I believe a Morton ribeye is $46. Most of 23rd Street - Nothing looks particularly appealing, tho i think the sushi joint is supposed to have a nice happy hour. Cafe Pizzaiolo is covered elsewhere so I won't mention them here. Been there - Restaurant Legal Seafoods - Perhaps my favorite chain. $27 or so for a dinner entree but I have enjoyed everything I ordered there. Ted's Montana Grille - The bison burgers are pretty damn good. I'd put this as a solid challenger to The Burger Joint tho Ray's still rules. Charlie Chiang - The Mongolian BBQ is low-grade but tolerable - it's my emergency "empty cupboard" place. Hot and sour soup is surprisingly good. Hamburger Hamlet (formerly the Hamlet etc.) - Burgers are inferior but non-burger dishes are surprisingly good. Chicken under a brick was decent and the Easter brunch was very nice. King Street Blues - Aggressively mediocre BBQ joint with great service. Been there - Lunch Corner Bakery Cafe - Surprisingly good sandwiches - my favorite chain amongst Cosi, Noodles & Co., Chipotle, Au Bon Pain, Subway, and McDs. Market Basket - Decent sandwiches and a surprisingly decent hot/cold lunch buffet. Perhaps the best CC joint for a quick lunch in the Shops. Submitted for your approval, Rob
  4. sphere777
    Hi there, Got recognized by work with $150 in Visa dollars. What should I do if I want to buy top-notch food and stretch my dollars? Here's some of my initial ideas: Get the $20.10 happy hour deal at the Source Go to Kushi and spend judiciously Buy the $50 bar deal at CityZen Go ape at Radius Pizza What do you think?
  5. sphere777
    Here is the link to the Portuguese Community Center. Raisa is referring to the Sunday lunch buffet, which starts at 1 pm. Rob
  6. sphere777
    Me too.
  7. sphere777
    I have to agree with Mr. Rice. Though I recently moved into Crystal City so I have no prior experience with Jaleo, I was particularly impressed with the food on my last visit. I had the grilled chicken with parsley sauce, the boiled octopus with pimenton, selected vegetables with gooseberries, and the eggplant, onion and pepper salad with sherry dressing. The proteins were perfectly seasoned and the definite standouts--the octopus was perfectly cooked for me (firm but just a tad on the soft side) and the grilled chicken went great with the parsley sauce. The vegetable dishes didn't really speak for themselves, though. In particular, the salad was a tad greasy and the sherry vinaigrette was too mild for me. Finally, the Spanish dark beer was quite nice (Alhambra, I htink). Total: $37 before tip. Rob
  8. sphere777
    Well, I think that the connections between critic and artist are always fraught with peril. In a non-food example, I wrote three issues of a DC music zine before going to graduate school. Also, I was in a band at the time. A well-known DC indie musician/producer helped us master the band's recordings and make them semi-listenable, enough that we put out a CD EP. Not too long after, I got a free copy of his band's latest CD in the mail (not too unusual, I was hooked up with his label). When I listened to it, I thought it was great and said so in my zine. A year or so later, I put the same recording on and found it wanting. My tastes don't change that quickly, so I tend to think that my close association with him changed my viewpoint. So I don't think it's so easy to maintain objectivity when you have a personal relationship with a chef, artist, musician, what have you.
  9. sphere777
    Palena's new website is short on info. Do they take reservations for the dining room (versus the cafe)? Rob
  10. sphere777
    If you want to learn more about Mr. P's, the City Paper did a story on the place. Click here . To answer my own question, the hours are 11 am to 7 pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Rob
  11. sphere777
    It was there last year when I lived in Gaithersburg. I walked in but was not in the mood to eat at the time. Rob
  12. sphere777
    What a rebolting development. Rob
  13. sphere777
    From the latest Tom Sietsema chat: Rob
  14. sphere777
    What a wonderful world you have created and nurtured! Happy Anniversary. Rob
  15. sphere777
    Ditto. I live in Crystal City now so that event is almost a must.
  16. sphere777
    He should turn it into a performance art setpiece called "Where's Chang Now?"
  17. sphere777
    How about Radius Pizza? It's four or so blocks away from the Columbia Heights stop. Chef Todd Wiss is in charge and he combines the down-to-earth with high cuisine in a very nice way. Check out the DR thread for more info. Rob
  18. sphere777
    Do you have a name for that general store? Inquiring minds want to know.... Rob
  19. sphere777
    I enjoyed the 3/12 happy hour at Eventide, but more importantly, I fell in love with their meatless mushroom burger. This patty had the look and heft of its bovine relatives and it even had a meaty taste thanks to the umami-laden mushrooms. A little extra ketchup to boost the umami factor and you had a delicious masterpiece. I am not an expert but this was the best meatless burger I've ever had. One very minor complaint: the burger tends to fall apart under pressure, but in my mind that's what forks are for! Also, I'd like to give kudos to Steve, the bartender, for graciously assisting a novice cocktail drinker with his second cocktail ever (first was a martini at Copeland's of Rockville, btw). He served me a Manhattan with a tad more vermouth on the rocks. I had told him that I preferred brown ales to give him a place to start and sure enough, his drink hovered in the same part of the flavor spectrum but retained its own unique character. Finally, I must thank the entire staff for finding my keys. They were lifesavers! Rob
  20. sphere777
    I am there.
  21. sphere777
    Chef Philip Tang, who is part of the family that runs the A&J chain, got a great review in the Boston Globe: click here
  22. sphere777
    I would like to try 2 Amys but I am restricted to evenings and weekends. Is there any good time to beat the crowds? I hear that they function better when they aren't packed.
  23. sphere777
    A vulture?
  24. sphere777
    Gael Greene provides more grist for the mill.... (Thanks to Y&H): Click here Rob
  25. sphere777
    Indeed. Muchas gracias to Dean and Daniel. When I tasted that BBQ duck, I swooned with joy! Other great dishes included the fried salt-and-pepper fish, the mushroom-and-snowpea-leaves dish, and again that oyster casserole. Rob
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