crackers

Interesting response to a question from the Sietsema weekly chat:

Welcome Julilette (to the USA and to donrockwell.com)! You might be able to get more info ---> here at ShalomDC.

People people...way too early! If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to shoot me a PM.

[That's all I'm sayin' for now] To peruse earlier picnic threads, go here ---> *

Like this, only with people in it. It would be a really good place to sit and get work done, provided you're not doing it around happy hour time.

Food and service issues aside, if a monthly magazine with wide distribution made false statements about my business's financial soundness, I'd seek redress too.

This event just gets bigger and more organized every year. The festival's website lists all the wineries, distilleries, chefs and other exhibitors that will be on site, as well as the schedule of events.

1789's sounds great. However, I'm not sure that "horse-smoked" bacon will be a big draw

-----> Clique deux I once got an electric ice cream maker for a special child, along with an age-appropriate recipe book, and it was a huge it.

The 2007 RAMMY nominees were announced tonight. The winners will be announced on June 17. NEW RESTAURANT of the YEAR: Blue Duck Tavern PS 7 Rasika BLT Steak Farrah Olivia FINE DINING: 1789 CityZen Komi Restaurant Eve Vidalia INFORMAL DINING: Bangkok54 Corduroy La Chaumiere Pesce Tallula CHEF of the YEAR: Cathal Armstrong (Eve) Yannick Cam (Le Paradou) RJ Cooper (Vidalia) Robert Wiedmaier(Marcel's) Eric Ziebold (CityZen) EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Chris Kelley (bartender, Mie N Yu) Dave Voorhees (waiter, 2941) Jonathan Crayne (captain, Marcel's), Apolinario Flores (cook, Chef Geoff's) Jennifer Roe (maitre d', DC Coast) PASTRY CHEF: Kate Jansen, Willow Restaurant Steve Klc, Think Food Group Naomi Gallego, PS7 Huw Griffiths, Tabard Inn Tom Wellings,Maestro WINE & BEVERAGE Program: Michel Richard Citronelle Restaurant Eve 2941 Restaurant Taberna del Alabardero Vidalia MANAGER of the YEAR: Ellen Kasoff Gray, Equinox Emily Jarmuth, Mie NYu Pual (PJ) Kern, Charlie Palmer Steak Christine de Clerfay, Oceanaire Seafood Room Paco Pena, Taberna del Alaberdero RISING CULINARY STAR: Nathan Beauchamp, 1789 Amy Brandwein, Bebo Trattoria Mark Hellyer, Blue Duck Tavern Barton Seaver, Cafe Saint-Ex Tony Conte, The Oval Room The next awards will be voted by the public. Go to www.ramw.org or look for a ballot in the May 20 Washington Post Magazine. NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING PLACE: Ardeo Busboys & Poets Hank's Oyster Bar Sonoma Restaurant & Wine Bar Willow Restaurant HOTTEST BAR SCENE: EatBar Mate Oya Urbana Zaytinya POWER SPOT: Bistro Bis Charlie Palmer Steak Georgia Brown's Oceanaire Seafood Room Oval Room PEOPLE'S FAVORITE: selected by the public

And who can forget that famous late-night date of Fanne Foxe and Wilbur Mills? Drinks and dancing at the Silver Slipper, followed by a 2 a.m. romp in the Tidal Basin. If only those darned Park Police would leave people alone to have some fun. And to bring this back on topic, one of my favorite dates is a pre-theater dinner at Marcel's, followed by National Symphony at the Kennedy Center. And at the other end of the spectrum, mini-burgers at Matchbox, followed by a Caps game.

YES.

[Whoa there. Don needs to work this out with the owners.]

If porcupine's driving the bus, I'm on it. It should cut at least an hour off the drive time.

JoeH did describe the wine upthread.

A last minute reminder that we will be enjoying some fine Mexican and Salvadorian food at Los Tios Grill, 2613 Mt. Vernon Ave. in the Del Ray section of Alexandria tonight at 7:00pm. We have had some cancellations, so if you'd like to join us, please PM or email me before 3:00 pm. so I can notify the restaurant to adjust the reservation. Here's the current roster: crackers mdt +1 cucas87 mktye +1 Catherine porcupine +1 ol ironstomach

I'm looking forward to this! Plus, according to Yahoo Maps, it's only 7 minutes' drive from Ray's the Bar. Just sayin'.

And to add to the joy...on April 12 (Thursday), some of us are headed to Thai Square, the very best Thai food you will find in the area. I was there on Saturday to check things out - veeery tasty! Update: There are just a few seats still available for this one, so PM me if you're interested, need a ride, have questions, etc. The 16Y bus from DC will get you very close. I encourage those who have never come to an event/gathering to sign up for one or all of these casual mid-week dinners! I am holding open a couple of seats at Thai Square just for you! There will be a waiting list of sorts, as these lists tend to change quite a bit from start to finish. To recap: China Star on April 4. (mdt) Thai Square on April 12. (crackers) Sabang on April 24. (Heather) Thai Square: crackers mdt mbk catherine +1 mktye + rktye jacques gastreaux natharobed capital icebox +1 cucas87

Welcome, Pariskelly!

Metro buses 30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38B, D5 and G2 also get you there. Thanks Mike for organizing - it was really a good discussion, and I'm looking forward to the next one too. I came down from Baltimore, and I am not complaining - it made the Old Raspy taste all the better!

There will be a tasting of Muscadet and other Loire wines this Saturday, March 17, from 12-4pm at Wine Cellars of Annapolis. It will include: 2004 Muscadet Sur Lie, Granit, Domaine de l'Ecu, a 100% Melon de Bourgogne 2005 Quincy, Domaine Jean-Michel Sorbe, 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 2003 Reuilly, Blanc, Domaine Jean-Michel Sorbe 2005 Sancerre Blanc, "La Reine Blanche," Jean Reverdy 100% Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Vouvray, "Clos Le Vigneau", Château Gaudrelle 2005 Silex, Sancerre, Blanc, Domaine Michel Thomas This is how the Muscadet is described:

Would that be the Caboose Cafe and Bakery.? And there have been rumors that a butcher and an artisinal baker may be considering space near there.

Our next $20 Tuesday will be this Thursday, March 15, 7:00 pm at Los Tios Grill, 2613 Mt. Vernon Ave. in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. We will be ordering off the menu, so bring cash and a good appetite! Here's the current roster: crackers mdt Capital Icebox +1 cucas87 +1 mktye +1 Catherine porcupine +1 ol ironstomach PM me if your plans change. If you'd like to join us, just post or send me a PM - we do have room at the table.

I tried it. Here's my take: "Wow - that puckers the roof of my mouth. It's tart." I didn't taste any citrus, melon, apples, grass, wet stone, green pepper, iodine or "nuances." In fact, I thought perhaps that was the point of tasting this particular wine - that it was straightforward without much nuance. (am I hopeless?) I'll try it again with some seafood and see if that makes a difference.

What were Todd Kliman, Johnny Apple, Calvin Trillin, or Jeffrey Steingarten's qualifications before they became food writers? (writer and professor, NYT bureau chief, journalist for the New Yorker and The Nation, and lawyer, respectively.) For that matter, what are DonRock's qualifications? (I know, I know...don't ask.) What kind of formal "food critic" training does one need? One travels, eats, learns, writes.