Tweaked

My mom makes killer cornish pasties! However, if you want to order, these guys in NYC do a very good job: Myers of Keswick

I'm down pretty much whenever...and I'll even drive out to the burbs again!

I rolled into TemptAsian starving...and rolled out off TemtAsian stuffed. A small store front style restaurant, we took over an entire corner on a wobbly table that threatened to dump the evenings dishes on mine and Shogun's laps. A large lazy susan sat empty save some pots of green tea. The TemptAsian rookies let the veterans order, even attempting to go through the two large books of menus and make any sense on what to order was impossible. Surprising the meal started with a large thud, 2 plates of dense tasteless dumplings and I was thinking was my rare trip out to the burbs a waste. Plate of what looked like cold uncooked bacon...eh? And then the hot chili oil stuck. Three large bowls of wonton soup were passed around, nice airy wontons, but again not really detecting much flavor, POW, can't talk, must have water, chili oil coating my throat...gasping for air. Then what followed was a hit parade of one yummy dish after another. Beef Jerky with hot sauce was perhaps top 3 dishes for me, exceptional. Pork with ferns, had a deep earthy flavor Chinese sloppy joes were addictive Fried fish, they said it was cod, took the term fish nugget to whole new levels. and then the platter of pork belly...I had three chunks...beautiful. The funniest moment of the night was when another customer passed our table heading to the restroom, stopped and looked dumbfounded at our table for at least 30 seconds trying to comprehend the litter of empty plates. and all for $16...just can't be beat!

Sizzle plates are excellent and I use them all the time at home. Sizzle Plates

I seriously think for 95% of my cooking all I use is a good pairing knife, cutting board, bowls for holding chopped stuff, and a 10 inch All-Clad fry pan. Add to the list a couple sizzle plates, tongs, and a spoon and a fork and I'm probably up to 99%.

I'm in for the Happy Hour(s)

Stopped in at La Plaza (on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE between 6th and 7th) on The Hill last night, had a "mexican" food craving going. This is my favorite of the cluster of El Salvadoran/Mexican joints that litter the Hill. we started with the ubiquitous bowl of tortilla chips and salsa. Then I went with the carnitas soft tacos, which were very yummy, slices of tender pork, piled with lettuce and cheese. it of course comes with side of sour cream, guacamole, and beans and rice. Everything was really fresh tasting and and you can't go wrong with the $10 price tag.

for once an interesting article in the Wash Post food section. Virginia Ham Story

The more kitchen gadgets I buy the less I use.

I was there for restaurant week, not my choice, I had a grilled sausage over white beans app that was pretty good, the grilled calamari over greens app is also pretty decent...The rest was pretty mediocre. I'd stick to pasta for an entree.

sometimes the classics are the easiest and most impressive. strawberries that have marinated in balsamic vinegar, served over a slice of pound cake and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Isn't Town Hall where the Bush daughters showed up and suddenly it was the cool hip place to be and then the neighbors got all pissed off at the place.

I take the opposite approach...if they can't handle Komi not worth the time and effort, might as well end things now. It's definitely my restaurant barometer when it comes to dating. Komi has pasta, has meat, has fish, interesting enough to please your "ethnic" side, simple enough to please a "meat and potato" eater, and the unique twists will please both your carnival sides. They are currently closed for renovation so you might want to call and find out when they reopen.

If you live near the Hill, the Yes Gourmet has star anise in the bulk food section in the back. In fact their bulk food section is pretty damn good for such a small grocery store.

I noticed that Montmartre had sheep cheeks on the menu this fall...I must run over and try

Clearance Sale at Schneider's...some crazy cheap prices if you want to experiment. January Clearance Sale! We have marked down wines in every department to make room for all the new ones that are arriving. Hundreds of wines are on sale at 20%-65% OFF! We also have greatly increased the selection on our 25%-40% OFF shelf with old and rare wines. The wines are too numerous to list, you have to come in to see them. Examples of our January Clearance Sale: Santa Duc Gigondas 2002...............Reg:$29.99.........................Sale:$14.99 "The 2002 Gigondas (80% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah, and Cinsault) is surprisingly good. Yves Gras told me that some of his Grenache lots came in at 17%, and he harvested extremely late, trying to achieve as much ripeness as possible. The medium-bodied 2002 Gigondas reveals good depth as well as an attractive attack and a spicy finish revealing plenty of cherry and blueberry fruit. It tips the scales at a whopping 15.6% natural alcohol. It will drink well for 5-6 years." Robert Parker Cuilleras Cotes du Rhone 2002..................Reg:$11.99..................Sale:$4.99 "Olivier Cuilleras appears to be a serious winemaker capable of doing fine work." Robert Parker Classic mature Cotes-du-Rhone selected by Bobby Kacher. What a deal! Warrenmang Estate Shiraz 1999.....................Reg:$59.99.................Sale:$29.99 This is a very rich, full bodied Shiraz with that lovely hint of mint associated with the area of the Pyrenees. It drinks beautifully now. Manciat-Poncet Macon Charnay 2003.................Reg:$14.99................Sale:$9.99 This lovely White Burgundy has always been a favorite at Schneider's. Full bodied and rich for a Chardonnay from Macon, it offers buttery and mineral flavors. Great Macon under $10 is a real rarity. Mas de Guiot Cabernet/Syrah Prestige 2003......Reg:$12.99..................Sale:$7.99 Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by lovely scents of black cherries, currants, tobacco leaf, and licorice. A delicious wine from the area of Costieres de Nimes. Rene Mure Pinot Blanc 2002....................Reg:$13.99........................Sale:$7.99 A delightful Alsatian Pinot Blanc with rich body and lush fruit flavors. Domaine Lalande Chardonnay 2003................Reg:$10.99.....................Sale:$5.99 This wine is a special cuvee produced for (and with the input of) its US importer, Robert Kacher. It is available only in the United States. This barrel fermented Chardonnay has been a big seller over the years. Rich buttery flavors of pear and apple are balanced and integrated. Domaine Gournier Merlot 2003..........................Reg:$9.99...................Sale:$5.99 "Produced from 25-year old vines... this 2003 Merlot reveals a nose of candied dark berries. Its jammy, grapy attack offers copious black fruit flavors that dissipate a bit in the mid-palate yet return with a vengeance in this effort’s sweet, ripe tannin-filled finish. Medium-bodied and silky-textured, this is an excellent value to drink over the next 2-3 years." Pierre Rovani

Montmartre or head up to Sonoma...or go to the Ugly Mug or Finn MaCools for more bar type places.

Yep, Burgaw North Carolina, off Interstate 40, if you are going between the I95 and Wilmington, look for the sign Wells Pork Products (they have a big sign on I40). Can you really beat a store in North Carolina that has the words Pork Products in it. It's maybe a 10 mile hike off the highway, but if you like pork you will like Wells. Slaughterhouse across the street, they will even custom slaughter/process beef, lamb and wild game. and don't forget your dressed pig for a good old fashion pig pickin. There's not much to the store, just refrigerator cases filled with cuts of pork. They even have fresh pig ears for your dog. Wells Pork Products

If you haven't already read them, Jacques Pepin autobiography from a year or so ago is pretty good as are Michael Ruhlman's 2 books about the Culinary Institute of America. and of course Anthony Bourdain's books are fun.

Yeah I saw his cook book at a book store over christmas and skimmed through it, it wasn't very pleasing to the eye. Hopefully the recipes work better.

Yes the food sucks...and no it's not on my rotation of bars...but they do kick ass beer tastings about once a month in the back room with lots of cool brewers...that's about the only plus I'll give the place

You know, I didn't get the full tap list. No Bass. They seemed to have the usual suspects Bud etc. when Pete said IPA, I stopped him there and ordered the IPA but never really did get what brand it was. I fear the beer list right now isn't as extensive as say the Cap Lounge or Big Hunt. But the place is new, the neighborhood isn't there yet, so maybe they will expand their offers as more people move in. H Street right now is what 14th Street, NW was like 10 years ago, a bunch of beat on store fronts...cerrtainly no million dollar lofts and Whole Foods!

It takes a lot for me to dine outside of DC...two trips to Restaurant Eve is all my New Year addled brain can remember for 'burb dining in 2005. So when a dear friend of mine from england was visiting the area last week and her friends suggested Ceviche in Silver Spring...well...I wasn't all that enthusiastic. I'd never been to "downtown" Silver Spring before...and hopefully I'll never be back. What a mess. However, Ceviche was a pleasent surprise. If you are a fan of Chi Cha or Gazuza or other lounges of that ilk, then you will dig Ceviche. Dimly lit, low tables and couches, interesting cocktails (the one spiked with jalapeno pepper is tasty), and a good looking staff. Prices are reasonable, a cocktail that would go for $10 in DC goes for $7 at Ceviche, the wine list included many bottles in the $30 range, and most entrees were in $13-$20 range. I started with the corn fritters stuffed with gruyere cheese, which oddly looked almost like a corn dog, but stuffed with gooey cheese, pretty tasty but not remarkable. We tried several ceviche, which in general I liked. The pork rib was actually pretty damn good, as mentioned above it's huge: crispy skin, tender meat, and succulent globs of fat. The lime marinated onions really went well with the pork, while the slaw of julineed veggies was just ordinary. Desserts were ok, sweet and desserty, but nothing to rave about...the deconstructed cheese cake mentioned above was perhaps the weirdest dessert presentation I've seen, it actually looks kind of gross but I thought tasted the best of the bunch. The Mousse was pretty good, as described, flaky napoleon style wafers with mousse in between. Would I run out to Silver Spring on my own accord to eat at Ceviche again...probably not...but the next time some one says lets meet up in Silver Spring, I'll make the hard sell for dinner at Ceviche...and I'll go with the pork rib! Ceviche

Actually, the Mousse, a dress shop and a pizza joint along that row were all forced to close probably 2 years ago and the space was going to be taking over by what was coined as a "high end national chain." That deal must have gone sour because the space has sat empty for a long time. Guess Caribou snapped it up recently...it is a prime spot.

Joe Englert, the man behind such dive bars as The Big Hunt, Lucky Bar, Capitol Lounge, and Pour House, strikes again, this time expanding his empire to the H Street, NE Corridor. Viewed by some as the next gentification project around town, Englert is moving in fast and furious with at least 7 projects slated to open on H Street -- the Argonaut Tavern being the first. What can I say, it's a typical Englert dive bar! This time he has struck with a 1800's sea wharf saloon meets pirate rum bootlegger theme. Lots of nautical stuff, pressed tin roof, uneven floor boards, mismatched tables and chairs, a pool table, and flat screen TVs showing sports the modern touch. The beer list was a little small, I had a rather tasty unknown IPA, but unlike many Englert spots the food was actually rather tasty in dive bar way. Despite it being New Year's Day, we went with the fried calamari which was tender, with lots of black pepper in the batter and the Italian sausage sandwich was actually pretty darn good. The winner being the sweet potato fries. Joe's places are what they are, dive bars, but it's a winning formula for him, and I look forward to checking out his other joints on H street in the coming months. Argonaut Tavern