Tweaked

My experience with Sonoma is that usually less is more. And by this I use the rule of thumb that the less complicated the dish, in general, the better it is. Go with the meat platter, go with the cheese platter, their burger is good, order a pizza only use one topping (I like the white pizza with a cured meat of choice topping, usually sopresetta). Their winter ragu was killer the time I had it. I keep it simple and unfussy, couple glasses of wine, and you will have a very enjoyable meal.

yeah, no doubt it will be chain-based retail going into Jenkins Row. Like the Dunkin Donuts Baskin and Robbins that went in the old Foot Locker space on 8th Street...what a waste. I'm also predicting a small bank, perhaps another branch of Chevy Chase. Pretty much the only good things going for Safeway is the in-store liquor department and carrying the Patak's line of India food pastes and pickles. oh the new olive bar isn't bad.

I caught some of the Hungry Detective on FoodTV last night, he was of course in DC and hit up Colorado Kitchen for a cheese and ham napoleon and Hank's Oyster House for crab cakes and lobster roll. Both Gillian and Jamie got some nice camera time. Apparently he also visted Ben's Chili Bowl, Cantina Marina and Julia's Empanadas.

From Nov. 6 Washington Post Business section: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6110500887.html

Well DRers, finally a reason to cross the river and head to the concrete jungle that is Crystal City. My friend and I hit up Bebo last night with full intentions of eating our way through the bar menu...and I'm glad that we did. Four or five of the Piatti Piccoli would make a light dinner for most people, the portion sizes are roughly the same size as what you get when ordering tapas or mezze at Jaleo and Zaytinya. But being the gluttons that we are, we started at the top and worked our way down to the bottom. Prices run from $1.95 to $5.25 per plate...ordering the whole menu runs about $50. It really is a very good deal. Warm Brushetta with Garlic and Olive Oil - Bread nothing more, nothing less. Toasted Bread Topped with Gorgonzola Cheese and Onion Marmalade - An interesting little dish, slathered in melted cheese and the marmalade was good. Not the best dish of the night but solid. Fried Zucchini - Little match sticks of fried zucchini that were surprisingly good. Like shockingly good. I'd order this over the fries (see next) any day. Fried Potato rolled in grated Parmesan cheese - French fries dusted with parmesan cheese, not worth the calories unless you really want some fries. Sweet Onion Frittat topped with spicy Mascarpone Cheese - Bit of a clunker. Mini pancakes topped with a dollop of cheese that tasted of paprika...I'd skip this one. Fried Calamari with garlic saffron sauce - If you are a fan of fried calamari, get this one. Lightly battered, crisp, calamari tender, not a trace of oil. Simple and well done. Grilled Shrimp with Spicy Pizzaiola Sauce - Two grilled shrimp that were perfectly cooked, I liked the breading coating but the spicy Pizzaiola Sauce was a bit lackluster. Order this with the calamari and dunk the shrimp in the saffron sauce instead! Potato Crochette with herb mayonnaise - Another good dish, creamy crochettes, the mayo was perhaps a little salty, but very enjoyable. Deep fried saffron risotto balls - Best dish of the night. Crispy crunch from being fried, slight chewiness from the risotto, creamy center. At $3.00 order multiple batches! Mini Pork Sausage with Green Sauce - Ours sausage arrived undercooked, but was still a tasty sausage. Stewed Eggplant in a Sweet and Sour Tomato Sauce - Second best dish of the night, almost a chunky salsa in apperance, slathered on grilled bread...excellent. Fried Cauliflower Florest with Lemon - Skipped this dish because I hate cauliflower in a projectile sort of way. Prosciutto with Buffalo Mozzarella - I was little underwhelmed, not much flavor going on here. Mortadella with Gherkins and Onion - If you need your cured meat fix order this over the prosciutto. We rounded this off with an order of the cannoli, you get two, but they weren't nearly as good as the cannoli Donna use to serve on Galileo Grill days. The shell was much denser, the ricotta cream not as yummy. And we had an order of the Affogato al Caffe' (Vanilla Ice Cream with Espresso), if you just want a little sweet after dinner go with this, a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso on the side, pour the espresso on the ice cream and watch it melt into a delicious mess. We also downed 8 glasses of wine, the barberas on the wine list were pretty tasty. And now the crazy part: 13 plates, 8 glasses of wine, 2 desserts, and coffee...$110 including tax. It has to be one of the best deals in town!

I ate at the Ohio a couple months ago, a late hungover breakfast, totally divey, paper plates, plastic knives and forks, breakfast cooked on a griddle in front of you. A greasy spoon in all the best ways. The posted wine list included bottles of 40s. I loved every minute of it. The lady in charge, I'm assuming it was Ayele, said her sister owned the building and had put it on the market for sale. Honestly the place needs to be gutted and refurbished, but it really is a great spot for a diner.

The Going Out Gurus have the latest scoop on the space that was formerly Wrap Works, appears to be a coffee shop type place in the likes of Tryst. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgur...circa.html#more "Not unlike Tryst and Open City, the restaurant will be part coffee shop, part restaurant and part bar. Menu decisions are still being worked out, but Carlin tells us to expect "small- to medium-sized plates" with "international flair." The mastermind behind the restaurant's offerings is Munehiro Mori, a chef whose resume includes stints at Asia Nora and Wolfgang Puck's Chinois restaurant in Vegas. The owners hope to offer a wine list with 50 to 75 bottles and a full bar."

Their website has the linger odor of catering to the "see and be seen" crowd. Yawn.

I've made more than one last minute beer run to Chat's...has always struck me as an ordinary neighborhood liquor store. Of course if they are closed, it's an easy hop on to the highway to hit the 7-11 by Pentagon City, they sell beer until midnight.

You are all a bunch of Wankers. I grew up on the stuff and credit it for the height I am today. Lovely on eggs and toast, spread on white bread topped with salt and vinegar crisps, and in a pinch dilute it with beer and use it as motor oil.

Hey now let's not pick on the red heads on the board Honestly, I'm rather fond of drunk pizza...when I'm drunk.

I've seen sausage casings at the Big Meat counter at Eastern market...easy to get to from Arlington. best call over to see if they have any in stock. Union Meat: 202-547-2626

Seriously, I like the dining room at Corduroy, and they have made some modest changes over the years that have improved it. It's one of the few places where I dine where you don't feel like you are piled on top of your neighbor. I find it to be serene, you can concentrate on your tablemates and of course the food. Not bad when you consider the restaurant is next door to the hotel gym

I was wondering the same when I saw that post...my guess is CityZen

Sunday: Roast Lamb Loin Chops, Roasted Redskin Potato Wedges, Roasted Cippolini Onions, Pan Sauted Brussel Sproats (in butter and lamb drippings), Creamy Polenta with Smoked Fontina Cheese. Monday: Left over lamb, potatoes, brussel sproats mixed with salad greens, olives, fontina cheese, and a vinaigrette

Tryst in Adams Morgan?

Go check out the version at Montsouris

The burger at Sonoma is very good, but then I suspect it is similar to the burger at Mendocino

I had no clue who -- or how important -- R.W. Apple was until I read his obit. But I always loved reading his articles in the NY Times food section and also thought afterwards, this guy has the best job ever.

After yesterday's bitch fest over Park Cafe, Fusion Grill and Banana Cafe, my friend and I said fuck it let's go to Sonoma...glad we did, snagged a table outside on a beautiful night, started off with a bowl of the oyster soup, a scattering of plump oysters quivering in a broth of fish stock and cream, a handful of cripsy croutons...moved onto a white pizza with soppreseta. Yum. Finished off with some roasted banana ice cream. F-U to PC, FG & BC

That's what Al's Pizza is for

I think the wrath comes because the space and location cries out for a charming little bistro that serves homey dishes and interesting little wines at a reasonable price and instead Park Cafe serves pricy crappy food that plain sucks

Crap and crappier. Starfish is just plain bad, I've eaten there twice and it sucked starfish balls both times. At least Banana Cafe has a decent sidewalk/patio area. Save your money and go to Montemartre or Sonoma instead.

Since we are bashing on crappy Hill restaurants, has anyone been to Fusion Grill, I believe that is what it is called on 8th Street, SE Use to be a crappy Chinese restaurant, they remodeled, went all modern looking. The name alone should be warning enough...but I'm craving Chinese but can only eat on the Hill tonight. So no Virginia burbs or Rockville Pike snobbery please

For various reasons, my parents are going to be attempting the bbq Thanksgiving turkey this year, they have a rotissery (sp?) attachment for their new gas grill. Two issues of concern: Make sure you have an extra propane tank, in case the first one runs out of juice How are we going to get the bacon to stay on a spinning turkey