DC in DC

I have just decided to make eggplant parm tonight, and the recipe calls for panko. Do you think I can get this at Giant/Safeway, or is a trip to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's in order (in which case, I may just substitute bread crumbs or matzoh meal; or, defer to another night)? World Market doesn't carry it. Thanks.

What is the price-point for this place? We're thinking of going this weekend with some friends who don't want to break the bank. Are we talking $20+ for entrees? Thanks.

Having lived in A2 for 3 years, I have to concur that the food options are lacking when compared to my time in another college town in the frozen tundra (Ithaca, NY, which is about 1/3 the size but far superior options). If I went back, I would probably head to Sabor Latino on Main Street for Mexican food, which is pretty much a hole-in-the wall ethnic joint with great food. (I can't speak to authenticity, but it's the one place I'd import to DC.) For sushi, we went to Maki (?), which was decent. For high-end, we liked West End Grill, where the menus were on mini-blackboards at your table, all the entrees came with house salads, and the food more innovative than the other high-end traditional places in town (Movable Feast, Gandy Dancer). Also, we had a great graduation meal at the Common Grill in Chelsea, MI, a place we wish we discovered earlier. Finally, all I can add to the tips on great Middle Eastern food (apparently Dearborn is the epicenter) is a local chain called La Shish (sp?), which, in terms of decor, is a bit like Lebanese Taverna, but blows that place out of the water (which, admittedly, it is not difficult to do). There is probably better stuff in Dearborn proper, but I never made it there. I know it's blasphemy, but I was never totally on the Zingerman's bandwagon-- while I recognize the quality of the ingredients, it is pricey for a student budget. The bread, though, was wonderful. You can have a nice morning wandering the farmer's market at Kerrytown, and having lunch at Zingermans. Misses: Seva, the vegetarian restaurant, does not hold a candle to the Moosewood Restaurant. Also, since I didn't do undergrad there, I don't have the same fond memories of the various college dives that line State Street. Hope no one is heading there this time of year!

I think he may be referring to the all-white decor of Blackbird in Chicago?

Can you tell us what the missing items were? I'll be there tomorrow, and hope the items I've got my eyes on aren't typos. Thanks.

We are currently struggling with the same issue. Our entirely unworkable system is a (totally dogeared) folder of printouts, cutouts, and emailed recipes, 4 years worth of Gourmets (with the name of favorite recipes handwritten on the covers), and a hodgepodge of cookbooks (we had a book-themed wedding shower thrown for us, the result of which is an inordinate number of cookbooks), with red flags on favorite recipes. I reached the breaking point with our Gourmet system (similar to what others have described-- 30 minute frustrating search with vain attempts at remembering what month we first ate a particular dish, etc). Last month, I chron'ed the Gourmets (yes, before, they were in haphazard order, adding to the frustration), so now if we can remember the month, the recipe can be located quickly. This weekend, I intend to start a computer index of all recipies and their source, probably organized by main ingredient (chix/vegetarian/shellfish/fish). We also write notes on the recipes, as well as jot down the date and any special event it was made for (Rosh Hashana dinner, so-and-so's birthday, etc). So I don't want to switch to a system where we would lose those. I'm also resistant to tearing out good recipes and throwing away the magazines, because when it comes time for a holiday or seasonal meal, we always look through all past issues of the same month or theme.

I didn't have a great meal at Pesce earlier this month. The meal started out well enough, with a very fresh arugula salad and sardines for my husband. We waited an unusually long time between courses, although we didn't mind the leisurely pace until we finally received our mains; they were lukewarm (which may explain the wait). My other gripe was that my mushroom ravioli dish was $26, and came with two raviolis and 4 pieces of lobster. I didn't think this was a good value. (I could understand getting two raviolis at that price point had the raviolis been filled with lobster instead of mushroom.) As our dishes were being cleared, we told the server that our mains were not served hot. We were then given comped sorbet. (I hate complaining because I don't want them to think I raised an issue just to get something for free.) I want to like neighborhood restaurants like Pesce (and had fond memories of our last trip 8 years ago), but for my next seafood fix, I think we'll go back to Hank's.

Went last night because it was in the neighborhood and we were looking for an easy meal. The decor is actually pretty nice: light and modern (I think I was expecting a dark wood-steakhouse with booths, etc) with a relatively large bar area. I made the mistake of ordering risotto balls, which do not compare to those at 2 Amys-- they were just heavy and blah. They were accompanied with a nice red pepper (?) dipping sauce that helped. For entrees, my husband had the cod, which appeared to be prepared with a light wine sauce and artichokes etc; he was actually very pleased, and said it well-cooked. He'd order it again. I, OTOH, made a second mistake of ordering pizza (apparently, I really wanted to go to 2 Amy's for dinner): various cheeses and garlic. The one word I best describes what I felt like while plowing through the pizza was laborious: it seemed like it would not end. This is not a good thing. Other notes: Service was pleasant and low-key. The place was pretty crowded. On the basis of my husband's cod, I might return and get something else (I had been trying not to break the bank and order one of the entrees, which start at and run in the $20s). They also have a deal on Sundays where all the wine is half-off.

Sorry! I won't be able to join, but next time...

New Haven In New Haven, I've also enjoyed meals (granted it's been a few years) at Caffe Adulis, a hip Eritrean restaurant that's unlike the Ethiopian places on 18th street in terms of ambiance and decor, yet the food doesn't suffer as a result. My favorite dish was the Shrimp Barka.

Has anyone been to this part of the world recently? We will be in Carmel for a night, and aren't looking for high-end fare, just something casual, satisfying, and good. Thanks.

Thanks guys!!

We're heading out to California next week, and it just occurred to me that we won't be able to bring back wine bottles on the plane (as we usually do) because of the liquids rule. We go to great lengths not to check bags, so my latest thought is that we should plan to ship them back. However, not being oenophiles, we're probably not going to buy a case at each vineyard; rather, we usually buy one or two bottles at each one. Should I try packing the bottles myself in bubble wrap at the end of the trip and shipping them? What's the most secure and cost-effective way of doing this? I'm sure someone else has encountered this problem since the rule went into effect; any thoughts are appreciated.

Sorry to bail at the last minute, but I'm not going to be able to attend. I'm eager to hear reports though...

Would this be the second Sushi-Ko location expected to open in Friendship Heights in the new Giant shopping center? According to this article, it will open next spring. http://www.examiner.com/a-415973~Allen_Smith__Sushi_Ko.html

JoeH you are too funny! I suppose I have outed myself as a rube (I hadn't realized it was THAT difficult to get a reservation)! I told my husband that we'll take a nap before we go...

We will be in SF on Xmas Eve (arriving in the afternoon) and staying through the 26th. After making half-hearted attempts to call a few places to see if they were both open on a Sunday and on Xmas Eve, and had availability, I have come up empty so far. I would appreciate any suggestions for those who are familiar with the SF scene. I am thinking ethnic (Mexican, Chinese) or hotel restaurants will be our best bets. We don't celebrate xmas, so it doesn't need to be particularly fancy or special. At the same time, we don't get out to SF every day, so I want to make the most of every meal (as with any vacation, of course). Thanks! ETA: I just got a reservation at Gary Danko on Xmas eve at 9:30pm. We will be totally beat with the time difference and flying in that day (on a ridiculous route designed to maximize FFM for gold/elite status). Will it be worth it? I don't know if Xmas is like V-day or NYE in terms of days to avoid eating out.

Add me to the list. (don't know what days are currently in play...)

I'd be in for this too. 12/18 works for me.

Agreed. We usually stick to the curry soups--they are gigantic, and really all you need for a meal. They are also considerably cheaper than the rest of the menu (maybe $10-$12?). Although, if I am in the area for lunch, I get the eel bento box. Not a bad deal for $12.

At Notti Bianche this weekend, two service issues arose that don't make me say "never again" but only because I love the food there-- 1- We show up and there is no one there to valet the car. My husband goes in to see if someone can help. He walks up to the podium, and the GM/matrie'd walks away without saying, "excuse me for a second" or whatever. Then, he comes back and my husband explains the situation, and the GM says "What do you want me to do about it." At that point, a couple comes in, and the GM turns away to deal with them, without so much as an "Excuse me." My husband almost goes through the roof. The person at the front of the house is the public face of the restaurant, and it's shocking when you are confronted with rudeness from the get-go. 2- There was a large party (maybe 6-7) next to us. The server goes over and says, "we need your table now, the next party is here." They are still eating dessert. Our group watched as half of the group vacated the table (it was 2 4-tops pushed together) and while they were still standing around finishing conversation, the GM goes over and separates the tables and chairs. It was all very rude, and if were that party, I would have been quite upset (it appeared to be some kind of celebration since it was a larger group). Plus, about 20 minutes later, the restaurant really cleared up and there would have been tables available for the group of 4 without disrupting the existing party. I just kept thinking that it could have been handled with so much more class-- we were at Bucks a year ago, and after we had gotten the check the server came over and ask, very apologetically, if we wouldn't mind moving to the bar and having an after dinner drink on the house because another couple is about to burst if they don't sit down. We weren't going to linger anyway, but it was a nice gesture. Of course, this was just my observation, and I don't know the particulars-- were they told that they needed to vacate by a certain time when they made the reservation? Had they already been there for hours? Our server, Elizabeth, however, was quite charming and we had a very nice evening. (Risotto and squash raviolis were excellent!). As Tom S. pointed out in his chat, if only the restaurant's front of the house could match what is coming out of the kitchen. 3--On Sunday morning, we wanted to take the in-laws to Raku in Bethesda for lunch. Before we go, we call to see if we can make a reservation. The response is that reservations need to be made at least one hour in advance, so they could not take our reservation. Since I'm not in the business, I'm not sure what the reason for that policy-- I understand "no reservations" or "no availability," but I didn't get this...

Crazy! I was there last night and while it didn't seem very busy, the wait staff definitely looked harried. We had the sweetest teenage boy as our server that kept (unnecessarily) apologizing for the "wait." Anyway, we left at 8:20 and the main seating area was almost empty. Maybe they were turning people away already. They did have clam pizza last night. Not bad, but I agree that it's a little pricey at $18. My husband was also surprised by the small size of the pies. We decided to forgo the pong cake to play ping pong instead. Does anyone know if they plan to serve other appetizers besides the salad? The pizza alone isn't quite enough for a meal (for me).

I returned yesterday in the hopes of trying the clam pizza after reading reports here that it was available (and, after sampling New Haven-style clam pizza at the "Spot" next door to Pepe's over the weekend in New Haven). Unfortunately, both the clam pizza AND smoked mozzerela (my backup was that + garlic) were unavailable last night. That was kind of a bummer. Did anyone notice that the pizza has gotten smaller since the opening? I went about 2 weekends ago, and I swear the pizza was much larger than what is being served now. I agree with those who thought the crust was a bit too charred and thick. Nothing that the excellent olive oil on the table can't solve. Otherwise, the pizza is very flavorful and seasoned. We were erroneously brought pieces of the "pong cake" early on in our meal, which of course, piqued our interest in ordering it later. It is an extremely rich piece of chocolate cake, with super rich and yummy frosting, and a dollop of marscapone cheese on top. Our server said that the cake is made at Buck's. Definitely order this.

I have a call scheduled for 5pm that may last 2 hours, in which case I would not be able to attend tonight's Dino meal. I will send definitive word with Gus.

Thanks Blake. I did review the notes on Bryants upthread to go to the original location only. We won't be renting a car, and I was hoping to cab to these places. Is Bryants too far out of the way for this (i.e. will it be an exorbitant cab ride?)