Jacques Gastreaux

In the bar at Eve last night, the "Valentine's Day Menu" was exactly the same as the regular menu, except all appetizers were priced at $25 and all entrees were priced at $40.

Good luck finding a table somewhere else or a bar where the prices of the dinner menu have not bee escalated for VD. It is industry practice and simply reflects the law of supply and demand. There are only x number of seats available and on VD the demand is 2x. I don't blame them and I don't begrudge them. Some chalk it up to the cost of insuring against the risk of alienating the SO on a day when the risk is high.

The prices were higher at the place I dined last night but the menu included upgraded ingredients such as foie gras and caviar.

Whenever I think of lasagne, I think of the line in the movie Big Night, where Tony Shalhoub is talking about a lasagne made with bolognese that is so good "you have to kill yourself after eating it." Great food movie by the way.

Unless Stella's is moving and completely redecorating, they're gone gone gone. Rasmus is currently auctioning off all of their stuff, right down to the old-timey bathroom signs.

That's too bad. Stella's perservered while the entire Eisenhower Avenue corridor built up. It would seem that a lot of potential customers moved into that area over the past several years and no one seems bent on capturing them, unless they all are goint to Ted's Montana Grill.

Speaking of restaurants that never come up, what about Monroe's at the corner of Monroe Ave. and Commonwealth in the Del Rey area. It's been reliable ever since it opened up. Basic Italian menu, good neighborhood spot. Always hard to get a seat on weekends. Lots of families.

bilrus said:

I don't know - I had been at least three or four times since she left and the quality was as good as ever. I think if anything any drop off was more due to this.

The departure of Susan Lindeborg was perhaps the removal of the balast from the ship and the departure of the others the disabling of the bilge pumps? Would that make the the Armstrongs and the others the salvage company?

Sounds like a great tweak. And I appreciate people calling it venerable, but they must have eaten at the Majestic Cafe at better times. Since we lived here it was one of those places that one day was good and the next time subpar at best. I was embarassed one time bringing guests there. My wife and I had it on our list of places that wouldn't survive. It sounds like its going to be a wedge between Eamons and Eves.

Perhaps this is the reason for the drop-off in quality.

I think this would qualify as something good.

Well, l'll be a SOB!

Eta: And whenever you see somenthing in quotes on an Armstrong menu, such as

"a great hamburger"

expect the unexpected.

What does the button next to the "Reply button do? (the button that says +quote and if you press it it turns red and says -quote).

Sounds like someone doesn't care for this board very much.

He probably views places like DR.com as competition (as if he doesn't have enough of that) and it would have surprised me if he had said that, overall, sites such as this add value.

Keep in mind that this is in reference to something Kliman reported nearly a year ago:

and Chef Wabeck's reappearance to come in an interesting pairing & reversal of roles:

And should be tempered with this remark:

Is Wabeck's departure a sign that things are, indeed, moving ahead?

A question that Kliman does not appear to know the answer to.

Just how does Kliman know what an Eastern European bordelo looks like?

You're not a lawyer by any chance, are you?

My father performed over 50 years of government service as a meteorologist. I did learn a thing or two from him, God rest his soul.

I was happy to find boneless short ribs at The Springfield Butcher this weekend, over two pounds for around $16.

Good grief, that's expensive meat. I get boneless shortribs from SFW for aboutg $3-4/lb.

What is your favorite way to prepare for an ice storm?

An "ice storm" and "freezing rain" are two different forms of precipiation. I would much rather have freezing rain than an ice storm. Freezing rain is rain that freezaes on its way down and lands as ice pellets (sort of like sleet). An ice storm is much different. In an ice storm the rain falls and lands as a liquid but the ground and everything the liquid touches is below freezing and thus forms a layer of ice on the ground and particulary tree branches which get heavy and bow against power lines, knocking out power.

That's my guess, but of course we need to put it to the test. My place or yours? (Remember, it's a 550 mile drive, 1100 round trip).

I hope you sprung for the extended warranty.

Is there any relationship between spinalis thicknes and ordering a prime rib. The conventional wisdom seems to be that the better rib roast is ribs 10-12, where the spinalis would be thinner. Would a rib roast from ribs 8-10 be a better choice.

As the name implies, the menu will be foucused on wood-fired cooking (grill, oven, smoker) and aims to be a true neighborhood gathering spot.

all in a 100% smokefree environment.

You might want to take a look at our dining guide. Also, it depends what you mean by western suburbs. If you mean Manasas or Gainsville, you will be spendinig a lot of time on the east bound lanes of I66. If you will be closer in, there are some decent places in Vienna and Tysons. Bazins in Vienna could be a place that will interest you.

The braised pork with olives and tomatoes also is surprising. The saltiness of what appear to be Kalamata olives provides a nice foil for the mild pork. Very tasty.

Speaking of Eve.... What? When? Where? Tell me something good!

I've heard rumors that the Eve people are opening a butcher shop in Del Ray near Cheesetique. Rumors only, mind you.

Maybe the server let it sit too long.

Not much of a chance of that at Eve. There is no "pass" in the traditional sense at Eve. When the stuff gets done, the line cook shows it to the Chef who approves it for immediate transmittal to the customer's table. That kitchen is so small that there is no place to let anything "sit" for any amount of time.

And if Eve did not impress you, you are going to have similar of problems with some of the other places in town. Perhaps you should give the tasting room a try. Different menu and format.

Any recomendations for nearby places to go before or after Central for a couple of cocktails?

Ten Phen (right next door on Pa. Ave), the bar at Oceanaire ( a few blocks away), the bar at Capital Grille (about 4-5 blocks on down Pa. Ave).

ETA: While I have not been, I'll bet that 701 has a bar as does the new Italian place that used to be Signatures. Both a few blocks towards the Capital on Pa. Ave.

Wow, I wonder what the parking situation will be like?

I wonder if he would consider putting it on his specials menu for a while so we could stop by and sample it at our leisure.

Okay. It's getting to the point where I can't even roll over in my sleep without it being picked up in the tabloids.

And the Four-Cheese Mac & Cheese at Ray's The Classics is outstanding. And five dollars!

One Potrero, two Potrero, three Potrero, four,

(Neat, max one cube, definitely not on the) Rocks.

Pffft.

I'm drunk too.

What is a good local source for dried chili peppers? SFW has the usual varietes but I'd like to locate some chipotles and SFW always seems to be out of anchos.