Tweaked

Curly chicory salad with warm goat cheese and croutons at Montmartre is simple and yummy and the ginger salad at Spices is very tasty

Picking your spots is essential. we recently had a company good-bye lunch at Penang, across the board awful (except for the fried bananas). Last weekend I went to the Brickskeller for HH with 3 co-workers, all of whom had been to the Panang luncheon. After a couple beers we decided dinner was in order. I immediately vetoed dinner at the Brick (beer good, food bad) and after some consideration I led them to Malaysia Koptium (sp?). At first they thought we were going back to Penang, but I assured them this would be better. Bottom line they loved the food at Koptium and claimed that they would never have thought about going there (despite walking past the restaurant many times) and now they know never to go back to Penang, when good Malaysian was 20 yards down the street

we had at least that many for Don's e-gullet goodbye happy hour. You should probably contact Ferhat or Rissa about details...I'm sure they would be very accommodating

I'm on their e-mail list which announces their various wine sales. you can sign up at www.cellar.com Here's their latest e-mail with white burgundy closeouts: Armagnac Special Purchase Castarede XO Bas-Armagnac............... Reg:$49.99......................Sale:$19.99 Buy a case of 6 bottles for 107.94 (that's 17.99 a bottle for XO Armagnac!!!) The House of Castarede, founded in 1832, is the oldest of all Armagnac trading houses. It is still family owned and operated with Florence Castarede overseeing the company. White Burgundy Closeouts! These wines are all available in very limited quantities, please call us at 202-543-9300 with a CC# to hold them for you. 1999 Comte Philippe Senard Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru..........Reg:$79.99.....Sale:$49.99 A rich and full bodied Corton with depth and flavor. Only 9 bottles available. 1997 J.M. Boillot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru...Reg:$89.99.................Sale:$59.99 "Superthick and full-bodied, with nice pear, lemon and green apple vibrancy. Harmonious finish, with a subtle toastiness." Wine Spectator Only one bottle available. 2000 Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru.....Reg:$89.99.........Sale:$69.99 "Refined, full of chalky, minerally character, and full-bodied, with vanilla beans, pear tart and toasted oak. Silky finish. Wine Spectator- 94 points. Only 8 bottles available. 1998 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes Premier Cru...Reg:$79.99.........Sale:$39.99 "The apple and toast-scented 1998 Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes is a broad, rich, deep, medium to full-bodied wine. This beautifully crafted, mineral, and apple-flavored effort is concentrated, harmonious, and possess an extremely long, subtly oaky finish. Anticipated maturity: 2002 - 2010." Robert Parker - 90 Points Only 2 bottles available. 1998 Roger Belland Puligny-Montrachet Les Champs-Gains Premier Cru...Reg:$59.99.......Sale:$39.99 Full bodied and racy with rich minerality and complex flavors reminiscent of Corton Charlemagne. Only 3 bottles available. 2000 Bouchard Pere & Fils Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières Premier Cru..Reg:$69.99......Sale:$49.99 "Complex aromas of white peach, spices and mint. Very suave and seamless on the palate, but also adamantly dry, with rather subdued flavors of flowers and spices. Richer than the Chalumeau but also subtler and finer. This struck me as more concentrated than the '99 version." Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points. Only 5 bottles available. 1997 Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet La Maltroie Premier Cru....Reg:$59.99....Sale:$29.99 "Clean, medium-bodied and steely, with butter and coconut character, this bursts with crisp fruit and mineral intensity on the succulent finish." Wine Spectator Only 4 bottles available. 2000 Bernard Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Premier Cru...Reg:$59.99.......Sale:$39.99 "The 2000 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot has a white flower, vanilla, anise, and spice-scented nose. It is broad, medium-bodied, and reveals loads of earthy minerals, toast, and candied lemons in its fresh as well as persistent character. Projected maturity: now - 2010." Robert Parker 90 points. Only 2 bottles available. 2000 Blain-Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet Caillerets Premier Cru...Reg:$59.99......Sale:$29.99 Concentrated in flavor, this wine has loads of tropical fruit, honey and lime. Only 165 cases made. Only 10 bottles available. 1998 Pothier-Tavernier Meursault Les Bouches-Cheres Premier Cru...Reg:$59.99.........Sale:$39.99 Big and rich with fat buttery flavors. Only 5 bottles available. 1998 Francois Jobard Meursault Charmes Premier Cru...Reg:$59.99.......Sale:$39.99 "Spiced apple with a honeyed richness on the nose. Very rich and tactile; fatter than the Genevrieres, with thoroughly enrobed acidity giving the wine impressive sweetness and generous texture. Thoroughly ripe and long. This is evolving nicely. The crop here was just 20 hectoliters per hectare, vs.. 35 for the Genevrieres, according to Jobard." Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points. Only 4 bottles available. 1998 Remi Jobard Meursault Sous La Velle...Reg:$49.99......Sale:$29.99 "Chalk and earth make a statement in this white burgundy. Well-made '98, ripe and flavorful, with good pear, citrus, pineapple, honey and toasted oak character. Silky finish." Wine Spectator 93 points. Only 6 bottles available. 2000 Marquis d'Angerville Meursault Santenots.....Reg:$49.99.............Sale:$29.99 The best producer in Volnay produces a great Meursault! Only 6 bottles available. 1998 Domaine Laleure-Piot Pernand-Vergelesses.....Reg:$39.99.............Sale:$19.99 Crisp and balanced with bright apple flavors. Only 7 bottles available.

If I'm cooking: a big pot of chicken curry that has slowly bubbled away all afternoon on the stove. my world famous roast pork tender loin served over cheesy polenta with a rosemary wine reduction all topped with caramalized onions...party in the mouth lamb shanks braised in wine If I'm not cooking: rich bowl of pho mixed cheese and pork papusa with a side on plantains and a pork tamale from Tortilla Cafe and Grill (across the street from Eastern Market) open turkey sandwich with gravy, stuffing, and mac and cheese.

looks like things are kicking off right at 5:30

Yes all you spelling (and key) challenged DRers need a stiff drink...I have to grab a couple drinks with the work folks but will probably swing over to Corduroy around 7:30/8:00

I like the bowls of noodle soups at Eat First and Full Kee. That's always my stop off for lunch when on jury duty.

59 from my lovely spot on the Hill...but I wonder how many are on the Anacostia side of the river??? opps that's right just one... Safeway-Wash DC #1445 2845 Alabama Ave SE Washington, Washington DC 20020 note: I don't live on the Anacostia side of the river, just close to the Anacostia side of the river.

Last time I was there $89 for tasting (roughly 11 courses once the amuses are offered, including a cheese course that can run 9 cheeses)...$40 for wine pairing (which is an absolute bargain!).

This here's the darndest naming contversy we've had round these parts since the "daSto" incident of '04...

Well the first greenhouse at the new farm is almost completed...most of the framing is done and Dave was hoping to have the plastic up by Monday. First frost is scheduled for Tuesday. Camille-Beau were planning on a Sunday trip so maybe they have an even more up-to-date report. Dave wants to get a second greenhouse up before the first freeze and he claims that between the 2 greenhouses he can have most of his inventory protected for the winter. I guess that is the good news. The bad news is there is still a shit load of work to be done at the old farm. However we can report that the crab soup at Suicide Bridge restaurant is way excellent, especially when you follow Cracker's advice and get a shot of sherry on the side. Toss in a couple dashes of Tobasco...YUM! Soup and sitting by the roaring fireplace they had going made for a pleasent dinner after the farm...too bad they were out of Bass beer

In the most recent edition of Saveur (Pumpkin pies on the front cover) in the message from the editor column they have a photo of a po boy fundraiser credited to DC, I'm assuming it is from the first Acadiana Po'Boy fundraiser.

Rabbit can be bought at Eastern Market and Montemartre does a nice presentation of rabbit with house made pasta.

From the special greenhouse???

Then gosh darn it I'm there!

Being Brits, my mom always makes Christmas Cake (which is the fruit cake with the marzipan and the icing) and the Chistmas Pudding, or lovingly referred to as The Pudd. as well as mince pies (with the candied fruit mincemeat). The Christmas Cake I can take it or leave it, but there would be revolt if there was no Pudd. Mom just made this year's Pudd this past weekend. It is essential to dose the Pudd with alcohol (we use brandy) and then set it on fire before serving...actually sometimes we dose it twice and set it on fire twice...I mean why not. The outer shell becomes crispy and singed, little pockets of brandy remain and it makes for quite the show. we serve ours with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream...even better is reheated Pudd the next day for Boxing Day...it's all crunchy and alcoholy and fruity and everything has perfectly settled together.

I wonder if someone could do that, set up a grill on the street corner and grill dogs and burgers or what ever...I know roberto was doing that when he started the grill concept and people/city complained thus having to move inside, but could you set up shop in the middle of Dupont Circle...would you be able (assuming you could get the correct vendor permits) or would DC not go for it...Weber Grill in the Circle.

I haven't been too high on Firefly on past visits, but I can say with authority that the lamb dish (described above with the sundried tomato sauce and pumpkin bread puding) kicks serious ass! The perfect foil to this crappy rainy cloudy gross weather we have been having for the past week. Sit at the bar, talk to the wait staff, eat lamb...you will enjoy

No Komi, what up with that???

At least on the Hill when they redeveloped 8th Street almost every (all?) new business that opened was small and independent, in fact the only national chains that are on 8th have been there since pre-redevelopment (Subway, Blockbuster, Popeyes etc.). Of course it will be interesting to see what happens when the new condos along Penn ave open (Jenkins Row especially) and what shops they put in. Harris Teeters should be a bonus since our Safeway sucks, but is Pot Belly that far off?

Chef Krinn was on DC 101 "Eliott in the Morning" this morning. Eliott was raving about the restaurant, the space, the fish pond. Chef Krinn said he is 37. He is the only chef to get his Mishima beef from the ranch he buys it from and has the exclusive rights to use it on his menu. He said that no Kobe beef actually comes from Japan anymore, they stopped importing it 5 years ago and that most American raised Kobe beef uses cows mixed with Japanese and American stock cattle but his supplier uses only Japanese stock. Apparently chef brought in some Alba white truffles which are just starting to come into season. Otherwise eliott made fun of the restaurant being in an office building and the sommilier for sampling their wine. He was on for maybe 10 mintues but good to see some local coverage, esp. right before our dinner!

I made some preserved lemons early this year that I'm still enjoying. garnish fish, stuff into chicken breasts with herbs, toss into salad.

There's also a late night happy hour menu at McCormick and Schmick click

Jaleo and Zaytinya are only a couple blocks away