Ericandblueboy

I went to Truong Tien awhile back.  Knew nothing about it except that it was new, having replaced a Bolivian restaurant that replaced a long time Cantonese restaurant.  

I tried the Banh Khoai, which looks like banh xeo.  They did make it very to easy to eat by wrapping it in lettuce and putting it on a taco stand.  It was pretty good.

I also had some banh beo with shrimp that were delicious.  

NUE was recently reviewed by Wapo.  We had both the raw and grilled oysters.  We also had the seafood cha gio (springroll) and the whole fried fish (flounder I think, some kind of flat fish).  Our only complaint is the oysters come in orders of 3 - hard to split btwn 2 people.  The cha gio was fantastic - served with lots of lettuce and herbs (as they should be).  They also have fish in 1.5 lbs or 3 lbs.  1.5 lbs was plenty for 2 people, and they debone it for you.  When they first opened, I didn't fancy their menu but the current menu looks great.  More detail in the Wapo review.  At this point, they're better than Moon Rabbit at Bryant Market.

5 hours ago, DPop said:

the duck breast a bit bland

That's true but the salad in that dish was pretty good so I didn't want to deter anyone from trying it.  We would go back if there's substantial change in the menu.  I think they would work out the kinks.

https://www.dokidokihospitality.com/concepts/moonrabbitdc

Moon Rabbit is currently in the Bryant Street Market.  The menu is smaller but delicious.  We tried all 9 dishes - the mussels are musselly (so don't go for for it unless you like them pungent), the salmon was overcooked, and the carbonara's sauce is a bit weird.  Other dishes were smashing.  When I asked if they have wine, the answer is no but you can bring your own right now with no corkage.  So we brought 3 bottles and then ordered some after dinner cocktails.  I think few people know this place exists right now so it's not very busy yet.    

23 hours ago, dracisk said:

There's one in Bethesda now. A friend says it's great, better than Frank Pepe's, but I don't necessarily trust him. Has anyone been?

It's probably because I don't think Frank Pepe's is particularly good.

After traveling to Urban Hawker (review here) in NYC, I was curious to try out some Singaporean cuisine here.  

So on Friday I made a last minute reservation at Jiwa.  They had plenty of reservations available and the restaurant wasn't crowded at all.  

I got a table in the bar area during happy hour.  The happy hour special is you get a satay for every drink you ordered.  So I got a chicken satay and a shrimp satay - both were perfectly cooked and quite tasty.  Better than most things I paid for.

First up is popiah, described as "fresh spring roll with shitake, vegan mushroom XO sauce."  I believe market studies have shown that non-vegans will avoid ordering anything described as vegan.  In this case, the vegan description probably isn't necessary.  In any case, I like the shroomy flavor but the popiah was served chilled which diminished the flavor of the shrooms.  

Next is Lala Kam Heong - steamed clams, curry leaves, and chili.  That red chili condiment is sweet and spicy, kind of like the sauce of the chili crab I had at Urban Hawker.  Loved this dish.

Lastly I had the laksa.  It's an expensive but tiny bowl of noodles with a thin coconutty broth.  This was not a real laksa.  You can buy better instant laksa at an Asian grocery store.

Quote

THE HAWKER STORY
Curated by KF Seetoh, founder of the World Street Food Congress and Makansutra, Urban Hawker is an authentic Singapore street food center located in the heart of New York City. It is the first of its kind in the United States to feature stalls from the UNESCO hawker centers of Singapore. 17 vendors total, representing essential cuisines like Malay, Peranakan, Chinese, Indian, Southeast Asian, Asian-style Western favorites, and many more shine at Urban Hawker. 

https://www.urbanhawker.com/

I took a trip to NYC mainly to check out Urban Hawker.  They have several vendors serving the most iconic dishes of Singapore.  I was especially intrigued because I haven't been to Singapore.  

The first dish I had was the Laksa with shrimp.  It's about $20 before tax and tip but it's a big bowl.  I loved the broth instantly.  The few shrimps were perfectly cooked.  You have an option between egg and rice noodle but the rice noodle is the traditional noodles.

I then had the Chili Crab.  At $59 for a whole crab, it's a bargain since buying a crab from a grocery store is probably $40-$50.  The sauce is sweet and spicy.  They give you a bib because it will be messy.  At one point I think some sauce landed on my head.  They cracked the claws but nothing else.  I used my teeth but you can use the cracker they provided ($5 deposit).  Not my favorite dish but I will have to try it when I go to Singapore.

You could order Hainan chicken with just rice but I opted for a set meal with some greens and soup.  The chicken is moist and tender but not particularly flavorful.  But I loved the rice cooked in chicken broth and aromatics.  

The Laksa was so good I ordered it again with meatballs.  They taste like lionhead meatballs but breaded and fried to add some texture.  Really really good.  

The last dish is char kwai teow.  There's some shrimp and Chinese sausage in there.  Overall it just wasn't a good version.  I actually like the Makan version better.  There were 2 kinds of noodles used, both flat rice noodle and egg noodle.

There were other places in there worth checking out but I couldn't spend all my meals there.  There's a bar that opens at noon.

I’ve hit Urban Hawker in NYC 3 times already.  The place is legit.  I’ve had the laksa, chili crab and Hainan chicken so far.

I'm going to NYC on Saturday.  Will have several meals in Urban Hawker to try the chili crab, laksa, and Hainan chicken.  Will also go to Semma for southern Indian cuisine.

"Family-Owned Lebanese Restaurant Closes for Good in Vienna" by Angela Woolsey on ffxnow.com

14 hours ago, DonRocks said:

I may just show up at the Washer’s home at 2 AM in a clown outfit.

That guy is probably armed to the teeth.  I didn't finish the article once I determined the Washers have a serious credibility problem.  

Seriously, don't bother with Oyamel.  It's never been a good real Mexican restaurant.  I would highly recommend Rooster and Owl.  I haven't been to Zaytina in 10+ years and have no intention of ever going back.  Officina I used to love but the menu just doesn't appeal to me as much these days.  Check Beuchert's Saloon for interesting pasta dishes.  Try the pigeon at Convivial.

Went back to Mexico City with the kids.  We split our stay between Polanco and Zona Rosa because both neighborhoods have great attractions and restaurants nearby.  

We took a direct flight on United from Dulles to Mexico City, arriving around 8 pm in the evening.  Our first aparthotel is Lamartine 619.  The place has everything except for air conditioning - f*ck me for not noticing this when I booked.  The high temp during the day was in the high 80s, but cools down to the 60s at night.  So everyone just opened the windows to cool off a bit (but it's still warm).

The first full day we hit El Bajio for brunch.  Having been here before, I know the carnitas are great.  Unfortunately the breakfast menu is somewhat limited.  Afterwards I marched the kids thru the botanical garden, the anthropology museum and the zoo.  Dinner was at Lampuga.  The menu is interesting but we stuck to tacos and pastas.  The pastas were not al dente so if you're looking for real Italian cuisine, don't order pasta.    The tacos were good.  Polanco is full of restaurants and other than the world famous Pujol and Quintonil, nothing else really stands out.  So I picked Lampuga simply because the menu looked interesting but then I didn't order the interesting stuff because I was with the kids....

The second full day we Ubered to Xochimilco.  We went to the mercado but the kids were not at all interested.  Nothing piqued their food interest.  So after walking around a bit, we went outside to look for something to eat.  After not seeing any decent options, I dragged them to a place that only made pancita (aka, menudo) and organ meat tacos.  So they got to try liver tacos - didn't go down well.  The pancita wasn't flavored well either.  I think the place is called Mary's Pancita or something like that.  We did a 2 hr ride on the canals for 1,000 pesos (that's what the various reports on Google said the cost should be even tho they wanted to charge 1,200 pesos, so I got them down to 1,000 pesos).  We also went to the castle in Chapultepc.  I didn't make a dinner reservation ahead of time but I figured the kids would enjoy some non-organ meat tacos so we went to Animal.  It's kind of like Rainforest Cafe but with much better food.  The hostesses were wearing safari oufits and the dining room had lots of greenery.  The tacos were really good, the steak was merely good but nothing special.  A fun place for sure .

The third full day we went back to El Bajio for brunch before Ubering to Zona Rosa.  After dropping off our luggage (at ULIV Florencia - very noisy, they gave you earplugs - I do not recommend), we hit the Mural Museum for Diego Riviera, Palacio de Bellas Artes, the House of Tiles and the Museo de Arte Popular.  My oldest daughter fancies drawing so she wanted to see those museums.  For dinner we went to Maximo Bistro.  Really overpriced and over salted for what is essentially fancy bistro food.  For example, 4 baby corn was about $30 U.S.  A quarter Romaine lettuce topped with shaved head cheese billed as a Caesar salad was over $20 U.S.  All the pastas were small portioned, overly salted but at least al dente were over $30 each.  Based on what we had, it's really over-rated.  

The fourth full day we did a tour that lasted over 9 hours, as most tours to Teotihuacan are.  You have to go to the plaza of 3 cultures, then a shop that sells officially licensed reproductions, then you see the Sun and the Moon pyramids, then an expensive but unappetizing lunch buffet (ElJ Jaguar) that's too late in the afternoon that's not included in in the price of the tour, then the Citadel, then the Basilica of the Lady of the Guadelupe.  Dinner was at Botanico - one of Eater's 38 essential joints.  I picked it mostly because of the setting - the garden itself is fantastic.  The food managed to be interesting, good, and good valued.  I really liked their spicy grilled oysters and chocolate clam ceviche.  I also liked the fact they have English speaking servers and reasonably priced wines by the glass.   

The last full day we ran smack into a very large Pride parade.  It made sight-seeing a little more difficult.  For dinner, we went to Meroma, another Eater's 38 essential joints.  The place is English friendly, had decent wines by the glass, and an interesting menu.  The food was good and good valued.  Liked the fact they have lots of veggies on the menu.

And then we came home on a direct flight.

Quote

 

D.C. voters overwhelmingly approved a law Tuesday phasing out the tipped minimum wage by 2027. The multi-year effort by labor groups to end businesses’ reliance on patrons’ tips to compensate workers prevailed, despite major pushback from the local restaurant industry.

The measure’s success also comes four years after the passage of a nearly identical initiative and its subsequent overturn by the D.C. Council.

With 69% of precincts reporting around 10:50 p.m., more than 74% of voters supported Initiative 82, while nearly 26% decided against it, according to the Associated Press.

The vote fundamentally changes the way employers pay their tipped workers.

Currently, employers can pay their tipped workers a subminimum wage of $5.35 per hour, with the expectation that customers will get their workers’ total earnings to the full minimum wage of $16.10. If tips do not, then employers by law have to make up the difference.

But starting next year, when the initiative kicks in, the tipped minimum wage of $5.35 is required to increase by a dollar or two every year until it is equal to the full minimum wage. By 2027, employers can no longer rely on gratuity but have to pay all their workers the full prevailing minimum wage, which is based on inflation.

The initiative does not outlaw tipping. However, many owners will likely consider adding a service charge to reduce the effects of Initiative 82. Unlike tips, that service charge goes directly to employers, who can use the money as they wish. Some tipped workers have pushed back against service charges because they say patrons are less likely to tip on top of an automatic percentage upcharge to the total bill.

***

“Initiative 82 was not supported by tipped employees or restaurant owners and operators,” Julie Sproesser, the Interim Executive Director of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, said in a statement after results were called. (Some bartenders and other service workers who spoke with WAMU/DCist about the measure were in favor of it). “We are disappointed with its passage and the new reality that awaits our vibrant industry during a time of already challenging economic recovery. This measure will disrupt our city’s hundreds of small and independently owned restaurants and limit the earning potential of tipped employees, while also having regional repercussions.”

https://dcist.com/story/22/11/08/initiative-82-approved/

It's a complicated issue.  But it's perfectly okay to characterize people who oppose the minimum wage as exploitative.

I'm fully in favor of a no tipping model where the price is all inclusive.  If that means a minimum wage - that's fine with me.  I hate these layers of fees and optional tipping.

If they're paying a higher wage, then the tipping percent should go down, no?  I'm okay with a higher minimum wage but not another disguised transfer of wealth (actually, who am I kidding, I hate the minimum wage and unions).

If you're going to Monticello (you should) and you really like fried  chicken, then you might want to eat at Michie Tavern.  They serve booze as well.

39 minutes ago, Bart said:

And shame on those workers for trying to get a living wage, amirite?

I don't blame the workers for trying to unionize.  I similarly don't blame the hotel.  Each party can decide what is in its best interest.  Whether unions are good and whether the hotel has the right to avoid unionization are complex legal and economic issues that I'm not qualified to opine upon.  

10 hours ago, Bart said:

This hotel is two for two, for killing unique and successful restaurants.  That should be a huge red flag for anyone thinking of opening a place here.

I assume you included Kith and Kin?  I was never a huge fan of K&K but its closure has to do with Kwame wanting to leave, nothing to do with the hotel based on the various articles I just read.

It's $125pp with tax and tip without beverages, and the food portions are small?  If they're gonna charge that much, they should make sure people leave stuffed and happy.

AYCE on weekday lunch is $29.99.  You order the proteins first - they're pretty big portions so don't go crazy initially.  Then you go to the sauce bar and make your sauce.  And there's a whole bar where you can pick and choose your veggies, balls (fish, squid, etc.), tofu, noodles, dumplings, etc.  The quality is pretty good.  The pork tenderloin is pretty bland so skip that.  The rib eye, the lamb, and tripe were all really good.  You pick one of 6 broths and it's personal sized.  You put that broth on an induction top and you're good to go.

ETA, their mara broth is meant to be mala, but there're no Sichuan peppercorns in it.  So if you're looking for Sichuan hot pot, go to Uncle Liu or some place like that.  

According to a Washingtonian taste test, Bethesda Bagel was rated #1.  Call Your Mother was too sweet.  Those bagels look pretty good. 

When I first moved to NYC in the mid 90s, their Mickey D's didn't even have biscuits.  When I moved to DC in the late 90s, the bagel scene was just sad.  There still aren't any really good bagels around Tysons/McLean (Tysons Bagel Market is decent even though its run by Koreans).  Call Your Mother is at the Mosaic farmers market on Sundays but I refuse to wait in line for overly sweet bagels.    

Taim and Shouk are both great.  I've never had Falafal Inc. but they're super cheap. 

https://www.tonaridc.com/

Tonari is the Japanese-Italian restaurant by the Daikaya group.  I've been wanting to go there for quite some time but it was closed during Covid.  We finally made it last night.  They have substantial outdoor seating as they built a wooden shed on the street.

From the specials, we ordered (i)  GRILLED BROCCOLINI infused with soy, basil, and mushroom served with agrodolce, kezuri bonito flakes, tama arare, chili threads, oregano, (ii) pork & beef MEATBALLS, tomato sauce, bread crumbs, Parmesan, and (iii) BRUSSELS CHIPS.  The brussels chips were $3 and were on the happy hour menu.  These were good but small.  Order more than 1 if you really like crispy brussels sprouts leaves.  The broccolini was tasty.  The meatballs were nothing special.

We also ordered 2 pizzas - (i) MUSHROOM shiitake, brick cheese, Parmesan, dandelion greens, yuzu kosho, mushroom besciamella, maple syrup, ichimi, and (II) GYUNIKO shaved prime rib marinated in soy & mirin, brick cheese, provolone, Cheese Whiz, red onion, ichimi.  These are Detroit style pizzas, with focaccia-like crust and toppings pushed to the edge of the pan.  Both taste pretty traditional - I didn't really taste much sweetness in the mushroom pizza notwithstanding the maple syrup.  I did prefer the prime rib over the mushroom but would order both again.

Finally we ordered 3 pastas - (i) MENTAIKO tagliolini, cod roe, butter, chili flakes, tsuyu, lemon, shiso, shredded nori, (ii) MISO ALLE VONGOLE bigoli, clams, miso, garlic, butter, oregano, lemon, olive oil, and (iii) UNI UNI UNICO tagliatelle, sea urchin beurre noisette, tsuyu, creme fraîche, butter, lemon, aonori, bread crumbs.  The Mentaiko was a bit sweet but I enjoyed the flavor the shredded nori added to an otherwise rather bland dish.  The clam pasta was the best, great texture to the pasta but don't bother eating the chunks of tough clam (could've been surf clam).  The uni pasta didn't taste sea urchiny enough.  Our dish didn't look bright yellow like the picture on the website.  

The service was a bit lackluster.  They forgot our wine, brought out wrong food and served things as they were ready.  We expected the food to come out in the order set forth above but that didn't quite happen.  Service charge is included (stated on the menu).  On the other hand, it wasn't particularly expensive and the food was enough for 4 people.

$150 and 2 hrs for dining is by my definition special occasion.  Maybe not super super special occasion but still not some place I'd go to once a month.  Maybe once a year since the menu doesn't really seem to change.

Went to Roberto's last night because they now feature some interesting apps.

We started with (i) sauteed shad roe served on top of fried polenta cake with lemon, parsley and capers and (ii) seared scallops served with chanterelle mushrooms, porcini mushroom lattice and some creamy potatoes.  I'm not sure I ever had shad roe before but I've eaten plenty of cooked fish roe.  I thought these were pretty good, not particularly fishy.  The scallops were really good though - perfectly seared and sweet tasting.

Those were followed by (iii) pastry cigars filled with wild mushrooms and chicken liver mousse (from the tasting menu but you can order it a la carte), and (iv) jumbo lump crab cake (no filler!).  The mushroom cigar looked more or less like a spring roll.  It was good but I wasn't in love with the dish.  The crab meat in the cake was of the highest quality and the dish was about as good as it gets.

The last dish is (v) the roasted duck breast.  Great flavor, cooked medium rare.  Parts of the duck breast was rather chewy though.  The carrots on the side were really quite good.  The potato pave rather salty.  

Quality ingredients and generally excellent execution with prices to match.