DCMark

Oh yeah! And don't forget to tip your server.

Sunday night I made whole Red Snapper in the Basque style from Anthony Bourdain's cookbook. I went to both the Safeway and Whole Foods in Georgetown looking for whole Red Snapper with no luck. Since I already had the other ingredients I ended up at the waterfront. Only one of the stalls had a red snapper. Tuesday was aged ribeye with shallot and 'trumpet de mort' sauce with braised leeks.

If you work in the area, Sushi Ko has a great Bento Box for lunch. $14.95 for your choice of beef, chicken or glazed salmon with 3 or 4 peices of Nigri, two types of seaweed salad, shrimp and veggie tempura, white rice and miso soup. Quite filling and quite a deal.

I don't think harshly judging others tastes or experiences is either nice or helpful.

I agree with this idea. Every year I attempt to bring something uniquely "american" (read Zinfandel) to France and it never seems to turn out well. Everyone is polite but I am not sure the point is made. My best luck has been when I serve a dinner here with both a California and French of the same basic type, served blindly of course. Now this man is Australian, so he probably does not need to be convinced that wine is indeed made outside of la belle France.

Mine is a bit different as it does not involve the memory of tasting wine, but a memory realizing what reverence some people put into collecting and tasting wine. I was a very luckly ten-year old in that my presence in the world coincided with my dad getting a job at the UN in Vienna. He was (is) a committed francophile who took every opportunity to take our vacations in France, with the Michelin Red guide as our tour planner. Sufice to say I went to many restaurants (of the trois etoile variety) that I will never again be able to afford. One Christmas found us at the Tour d'Argent in Paris. I remember being unimpressed by their specialty duck. However, at the end of the meal my father asked for a wine cellar tour. He and I took a cramped elevator down to this world-famous cellar. The look on my father's face as he peered over the bottles, many from pre-1900, was sheer joy. Already interested in history, I could see that these bottles represeneted alot more than just grape juice. Although it took years for my palete to catch up with my brain, this was the moment I realized wine was something very special. In case you missed it

The WP wine section has gone from a 'must-read/buy many recommendations' to a total joke. The idea of having different groups of 'critics' rate the wine each time is in and of itself a bad idea. The reader loses all continuity and trust that come from reading the same one or two critics every week. Now when the critics are wine experts like Mark Slater, I can find much to be interested in. But todays column, with ratings by ONLY under-25s, who are all admitted neophytes, reaches a new low for me. WP, what are you thinking?????? Wine for Pre-Schoolers

I was reading Joe H's post in the 'A-ha' thread: I had heard differently, that the vintage for French reds was excellent and that the heat created a more concentrated and vibrant juice. While yields may have been down, quality was excellent. Two vintage charts I dug up seem to agree with this: Vintage Chart 1 Vintage Chart 2 What is the general consensus on 2003? I am especially interested since I was married in France during this incredibly HOT summer and we have been trying to lay down some 2003s for future anniversary dinners.

Today's Chat 'Paranoia will destroy ya'

I would get to CK no later than 10:45. Its way uptown so plan accordingly.

Anyone agree that this thread (on page 3) has jumped?

I also found the statement that they sang "God Bless America" as somehow implying a better class of diner very telling. JoeH smells the same rat. Personally, I only dine with large groups of men who sing La Marseillaise before diner.

Terry: I will be joining my wife's French family in Grenoble for Christmas. Like many of the French they enjoy their wine and food. And like many French, they are unaware (LOL) that any other country makes wine. I would like to bring some nice American examples for us to drink together. My perference is a Zinfandel but NOT a blockbuster fruit bomb. I am thinking about a 2000 Renwood Grandpere or a 2003 Hendry. Both are in the $30 range. Any other suggestions for something readily available that we can drink over the holidays? Thanks Mark PS: I already asked Mark Slater this question. Thanks Mark!

Not to offend anyone, but I did NOT mean a coffee house or similar establishment. I just think workig at a bar or real restaurant is both rude to the others and lets of an air of annoyance. Just my opinion. Its like cell phones...when did everyone's work business have to be done in public spaces? When I have work to do, I spend hours (often past midnight) at my desk. Kudos to those who have the discipline to work at a bar. I just can't

Don't worry, a ban on outdoor smoking, smoking at home, smoking on a public road, etc is not far away.

Research a wine storage unit carefully. You do not want a fridge that is simply converted to a wine unit. First, wine needs to be stored at 55 degrees, not the lower temps of a beer cooler. Second, a wine storage unit keeps a constant temperature, rather than the on/off/on/off of a fridge. Its better to keep your wine at 60 or 50 all year than yo yoing from 50 to 60 to 50 to 60.

I specifically wrote to Jack Evans about Les Halles and BdC. But the 10% number is ridiculously high. They need to realize many cigar smokers patronize these restaurants since they are cigar friendly, however we bring our own. The damage to these places if they cannot allow cigar smoking will be more than 10% since they will lose much more than cigar sales, they will lose customers entirely. I will admit I may choose a restaurant partly because it is cigar friendly. If cigar smoking is banned entirely I would not patronize those places as much.

Understood. But there is nothing that ruins my meal more than being forbidden to enjoy a cigar after my meal. And I never lit up in a non-smoking area or without the expressed permission of those around me. Legislation or common courtesy?

Well I am not moving for the smoking, but its so refreshing to see fine dining restaurants in France that offer cigars with coffee reflexively and not in a special room or cigar-themed restaurant. At Lucas Carton with my father in 1999 (on a trip to visit his WWII battlefields) I politely asked a table of locals if they minded if we lit our cigars after both tables were finished eating. They responded that they would be deeply insulted if we did NOT light up and proceeded to buy us congacs. I guess fleeing nanny laws is pretty useless but I do fell less pressured by European society.

Reason #56 I can't wait to move to Europe..... (7 months +/-)

Why are most men so afraid of having another man touch them? AND WHY DID THIS QUESTION GET PAST THE PRODUCER?

Congrats Don. Wow, I will now start buying that magazine.

I was on a major murder case two years ago. I think we had lunch paid for in the cafeteria.... Also, once deliberations began, we HAD to eat together.

Glad to hear some defense of this great chef. I think some sympathy is in order as his situation is similar to Tom Powers: he has to deal with some widely divergent types of diners in his capacity as hotel chef. Remember, very few hotel chefs have the luxury that Michel Rochard has, which is to serve the restaurant only, a restaurant with a 1+ month waiting list. I hope Christophe can continue to shine there or find his own space where he can really excel.

YMWV, but the chef treated the DC Cru to an wonderful meal there over the summer.