crackers

Where to go before watching the Caps trying to pull themselves out of the basement? I usually head to Full Kee, but this time I was with a few people who really like their beer and don't mind missing the first period of the game to have it. So Matchbox was it. Best to time arrival so the friends are there before you and order the drinks and get a table to open up one minute after you arrive, thereby avoiding the crush of humanity at the bar so dense that you wonder how the bartenders can possibly hear/see/serve anyone. A couple of us ordered a half order of the "simple salad." It was tasty and ample but IMO overdressed (the other person who ordered it had on a suit and tie and didn't think it was overdressed, while I was wearing my Caps fleecy. Salad was wearing a whole bunch of strong vinaigrette) Even with the place packed solid the food arrived pretty fast and still hot. The plate of nine miniburgers -seven with mozarella, my two plain- were >insert alternative adjective for delish here< and cooked to medium as ordered. In the middle of the plate was a pile of frizzy fried onions. They look so light and non-caloric. right. Anyway, we also shared a large spicy meatball pizza which was >insert alternative adjective for scrumptious< and heavy on the fresh garlic: and each tried several brews to tide us over during the game. Magic Hat #9, Dogfish Head, Chimay, something else that was definitely not Amstel Light. In and out in less than an hour, got there in time to watch Bondra score against the Caps [but Caps won].

Fahrenheit Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in Georgetown has a deal where, between 6:00 and 7:00pm you get free valet parking, movie tickets to the Loews Georgetown movies and a three course (rather limited) meal for $39.50. I haven't personally tried anything other than drinks at the bar, so maybe someone else can talk about this restaurant since it seems to be one that never comes up. With the price of parking and movies in Georgetown though, this would seem to be an interesting option.

De gustibus non est disputandum. Ya likes what ya likes. Welcome Smokey!

What was that wine? If it's the same one I tried, it brought to mind not rubber so much as magic marker... or was it rubber cement...hmm...a bit fuzzy on the memory of that one for some reason.

Click here for more about Tosca's pre-theater menu. Marcel's also has a pre-theater deal - but at $48, and a limited menu, it's not as much of a deal, unless you are heading over to the Kennedy Center: it includes a free limo ride over. And if you want to come back for dessert after the show instead of before, you can do that too.

One year I found myself in Arcata, California, (on the misty north coast), for Halloween. With a big costume party coming up we decided to spend the morning foraging for certain mushrooms in the cow pastures, with good success, and then up into the woods for chanterelles, with even greater success. We must have had ten pounds of chanterelles, which simmered down quite nicely. I recall helping to make two gigundo frittatas for the party that night - one with each kind of mushroom. This was before the days of jello shots, with or without whipped cream for lubricant, but we managed quite nicely anyway. Besides, I wasn't of legal drinking age yet.

You can add Chick and Ruth's Delly in Annapolis to the list. The Levitt family has been there since August, 1965.

I inherited several pieces of le Creuset - '60's era orange flame type. Just last week the knob on the dutch oven went ka-POW! in the oven, scaring the bejeezus out of the cat which was napping closeby. One brief call to the toll-free number and a replacement is on its way, no charge, no questions asked. No, not a new cat, thank you very much. He is just fine.

It was sitting in front of me tonight. My eyes watered just looking at it, but it really was tasty in a burn-in-hellish way. Also had the creature-of-habit roasted fish with green onions (and cumin), General Tsao's duck - (succulent, sweet and crispy skinned); dan dan noodles, baby wontons in chili oil, and shredded pork in garlic sauce. I was so warm inside from all those peppers that even with the constant opening and closing of the doors on a cold evening as people came in and left with their take out orders, I wasn't feeling a bit chilly. I saw people sharing some intriguing looking meals from pyrex pie plate serving dishes. I figure I'm going to have to start at the top of the menu and work my way down until I figure out what everything is.

I thought I'd bump this up before y'all scatter for the weekend. We'll be gathering on the evening of November 8th at Kotobuki. Hopefully those of you who are going to 2941 on Nov. 6 will have made room by then. ETA to follow later. Anybody else interested? If you plan to come with others, let me know by PM or email so I'll have some idea what to expect since it is not a large space. Or if you want to let me know by PM or email rather than being listed on the board, please feel free. So far the following people have expressed an interest: Lydia R Stephen B Scott Johnson clayrae DanielK NCPinDC goldenticket Do any of you have a digital camera that you can bring that doesn't go all blurry at the sight of exquisite food? [ ]

And I'm certain this is because they invented alcohol.

That could be. I used to work a block away and it was one of our after work go-to places too, but I've only been there for food in the main dining room recently, which hasn't seemed to change. Maybe when I left that job the rowdy young attorneys decided the bar was no fun anymore.

The upstairs bar at Marshall's can get busy, but it has always been a rowdy young lawyer crowd, not a barfing co-ed crowd.

Marshall's Bar & Grille A discussion on a different thread brought up the question of where to find a good burger, and it reminded me of the 1/2 pounder that Marshall's serves up that is damn tasty. The burger is also half price on Monday evenings. Nobody ever mentions this place on the boards, but it really has consistently good food. They have homemade pastas and breads, and entree size salads that aren't just same-old-same-old. It's located in a strip of a few restaurants where L St. merges with Pennsylvania Ave. right before going over Rock Creek Park into Georgetown.

I could probably be persuaded to take one for the team.

What she said. I have tried the new Baltimore Inner Harbor location twice. But never again. My first burger came in three separate chunks, each cooked to a fairtheewell. The onions were just little chopped up bits that fell out of the dry, flavorless bun. Fries, yes plentiful, but also so flaccid and greasy that both inner and outer bags, all the napkins and the table underneath were coated with peanut oil. I fed the fries to the seagulls. And the space: filthy. I'll return to Junior Whoppers for my lunchtime burger cravings from now on.

Can't say, as in have no idea, or won't say, as in waiting until the official announcement? It sure is hard to pin down a floppin' fish.

uh oh...

To clarify: We're talking dinner, not lunch. Hope that helps!

"No, she has an outie and I have an innie. Wanna see? >wink wink<"

Did anybody make it to the St. Mary's Oyster Festival? There is another popular oyster festival coming up Nov. 4-5 (Friday and Saturday), this one in Virginia. The Urbanna Oyster Festival includes such classic Americana as a firemens' parade and a festival parade, crowning of the Festival Queen, a Firemens' Dance, oyster shucking contest and lots of music and crafts. The whole town is closed to traffic during the day on Saturday while the festival takes over. slurp slurp

Kotobuki. DR.com Twenty-Dollar Tuesday. Not if. When. Nov. 1 or Nov. 8? Discuss!

Prime beefsteak at Annie's. If you can get in the door.

Clickity dahlin'

Weekly - check. On-line - check. Mid-week - check. Mid-day - check. Publication's restaurant critic answering questions - check. Questions can be submitted ahead - check. Questions can be submitted live - check. Restaurant critic throws questions out to the audience for response - check. Rants allowed without fact checking - check. Ubiquitous "Where can I find" questions - check. DR forum host screwball questions slipped in for comic relief - check. OK, maybe rip-off was too harsh; let's call it a a liberal borrowing of a successful existing format.