Joe H

Let's see: I have travelled an average of 125+ days a year for more than 30 years. As I type this I am reminiscing about countless hotels I couldn't stay in, rental cars I couldn't book, restaurants that I couldn't eat in because someone like Adam23 made muiltiple reservations which, until the day or so of the reservation, excluded me and everyone else. Because of him or people like him, for 30+ years, I changed my plans. My family has owned restaurants which took reservations. Adam23 may have reserved at them, too, until the last minute or the last day. Of course I was once a waiter, too. Don, you are on the wrong side of the table on this.

This is the instagram you posted on your blog from Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe who provides an absolute rave about what you are doing: "your commitment to providing locally sourced, delicious and creative meals is to be applauded. Your superior talents have helped to put Virginia on the culinary map as a primiere culinary destination that consistently provides the best products and dishes." The Governor goes on but this is in recognition for the Shack leading the charge for which Virginia has been by awarded by Esquire the title of the top food region in the U. S. in 2014. This is an enormous, affirming national level recognition of the committment of Chef Ian Boden and his family who have posted regularly and loyally on here since just after the first day he opened. As he has been loyal to us; we should applaud and investigate the judgment of Esquire and others and visit Staunton and sample what he is doing that causes others to travel hundreds of literal miles to experience. Bravo, Chef Ian!! Really happy for you. Joe

FWIW, my wife and I had a trip to the Dolomites a couple of months ago that we had to cancel. I had five restaurant reservations that I had made as much as a month or more in advance. I called every single one until I got a person on the phone who would confirm my cancellation. For two restaurants I called four times before I got someone. All of this was two weeks before the date of the reservation. I did this out of respect, I did this out of consideration, I did this because I want to go back to each restaurant and want them to look forward to me as I look forward to them. For the person above who makes multiple reservations I am guessing that you and several like you contributed to our anniversary and birthday reservations being cancelled for a group. I don't care if you admitted it and posted on here. What is remarkable to me is that you "confessed," admitted, "bragged" about doing this for restaurants, hotels and car rentals. Your rationalizations, your sense of entitlement is frightening. " I don't view a reservation as a commitment until day of (unless, I have agreed explicitly to some sort of contract)" Breathtaking. Everything that affected me for 35 or so years of travel. People like you made my life a great deal more difficult. And for the restaurants...

I have to add that we "know someone" (I won't go into any more specifics because they may read this and i don't want to get shot in public in our neighborhood) who recently had a trip to a major city on the East Coast. They had two "significant" reservations for two nights and were on the waiting list for a third restaurant for one of those same nights. After their trip was over, sitting over a second bottle of wine, they talked about the excellence of the dinner they had-the restaurant that they got into at the last minute. I asked about the restaurant they had the original reservation at for that night and what did they do? From my perspective it didn't matter whether they called or not. They should have said no to the "third" restaurant and honored their standing reservation. (There should not have been a third restaurant!) But they didn't. The topic was changed before I got an answer. Again, I am certain that attitudes like this played a major role in our own cancellations. FWIW I lost a lot of respect for the couple who told this story. I agree with Chef Cooper-if people had something invested in the dinner, I believe they'll make a sincere effort to show up. And, if they don't, as Ferhat noted, there's an expense that they should be responsible for. Ferhat, I absolutely loved Rustic Canyon. A GREAT chef who is imaginative, talented and wildly successful at pairing odd flavors and textures. Even contrasting hot and cold in the same dish. Superb wine list, too and a very real ambassador in the front of the house who is their GM ("Steve") I considered Melisse but am extremely fortunate that we found Rustic Canyon.

There is another side to this: I am 67 years old and have never stood up a restaurant. I also literally have more than three quarters of a century of my family being involved in restaurants and understand what it means. But... 1. My wife and I have had two significant reservations cancelled by restaurants recently. We were married in 1996 and had our wedding dinner sitting at the chef's counter in the rear of Wolfgang Puck's Chinois on Main in Santa Monica. Three months ago I made a reservation for that very same chef's counter for our anniversary (which was last week). I offered to guarantee, even prepay given the historical significance. I was told this was not necessary. I was also told that having this on the books would "protect" us from a possible buyout which the restaurant occasionally had. Two weeks before the date I received a call from Chinois telling me that they could not honor our reservation because they had a private party that night. They asked if we could switch to another night? No, we couldn't. it was the anniversary of our wedding dinner which was there. Would we consider Spago which they would comp us? No, because we didn't eat at Spago the night we were married. Sorry, they were booked and looked forward to seeing us another time. This was for a reservation they had on their books, at the time of the call, for two months. That I had reconfirmed. Last week we were in Santa Monica and I drove by Chinois the night of our original reservation. At 9:00PM it was almost empty and several staff were rolling oversize tables out the front door. It looked like the private party that bought the restaurant out had totalled somewhere between 75 and 100 covers. Total, for the whole night andl again, almost all gone by 9:00PM. I thought about going in and asking for the manager but I didn't. It would have been bad form and created an awkward situation. Still, it was awkward when they asked if we could change our wedding anniversary dinner to another day or another restaurant. I wrote this on Chowhound in 2007 soon after Wolfgang Puck's The Source opened: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/450594 Then, there was no Yelp nor Travel Adviser. If anyone googled "Wolfgang Puck The Source" this is what came up. Please note the first paragraph. I was not happy when Chinois cancelled our reservation. I must also add that I sent the corporate office an e-mail and never heard from them. 2. My wife and I and another couple made a reservation for Patowmack Farm two months in advance. Ten years ago you HAD to reserve months in advance for there-it was that popular. This was another anniversary and the couple we were going with (no names) knew Tarver King. I have also cooked for Beverly in our house. Two weeks before I got a call from Patowmack Farm that they had a private party and could be reschedule for another day? No, because a birthday is a birthday. Also, at that time, our reservation had been on the books for six weeks-why were we now being cancelled? It was also a Friday night: Didn't they have enough covers that a private party would have been out of the question? This was through Open Table. My guess is that Patowmack Farm and Beverly had no idea who anyone was who was coming, nor any idea if it was a celebratory dinner. But we were cancelled for a private group. Twice, in a couple of months. My guess is that if more, many more people actually showed up for THEIR reservations restaurants wouldn't be cancelling our's. But for myself this is a bad direction that restaurants are taking: believing that with a week or two of notice that it's all right to tell someone who has been on their books for six weeks or more (and who was willing to prepay/guarantee with a credit card), "no." I'm not going to stand out on the street for a restaurant that doesn't take a reservation. But I'm also not going to go back for one that cancels me. I'm not talking about an illness or an extraordinary situation; I'm talking about being "riffed" for the security of a prepaid private party. Even on a Friday night when I would not have thought that a private party would have been a consideration. FWIW, L. A.'s Rustic Canyon (where we went in place of Chinois) is one of the best restaurants in Southern California. It's chef should be nominated for a Beard award-he is that good. I never would have eaten his cooking if it were not for Chinois.

Fastest, most direct and, by far, easiest route to Fields of Athenry from the Beltway: Dulles Toll Road to the Greenway and continue to route 15. Take route 15 to the left for 3 or so miles (away from Leesburg) to route 733. Turn right. Continue for six or seven miles and the route number will change to 734 but it is the same road. Fields of Athenry is on the right. Virtually no traffic going this way. Negative is that there are tolls. Thank you for trying. It is a huge find. PS They are selling fresh Thanksgiving turkeys...November 10th is the cutoff date.

At least fifty years.

http://www.popville.com/2014/11/fire-at-1509-17th-street-nw-most-of-damage-appears-limited-to-3rd-floor-status-of-komi-unknown/

What's misleading about the recipe is the "fish stock." Not sure what this means. For me it means fish heads and frames and cooking these in a stock pot. For others it can mean something frozen purchased in a case at Whole Foods. The difference is night and day. I must also add there will be a difference in the fish "stock" depending on the fish heads and frames used. I'm also assuming these are truly fresh.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/485636 is our experience at Nice's L'ane Rouge from 2008. Sorry if you've seen it before.

Waitman, I thoroughly loved your post. Please forgive me: what is boullabaisse-"manging?"

Absolutely, amazingly good. I cannot rave more about this place. Superb, small tostadas equal to any I have had anywhere. Maybe better than anywhere. This is from of Aaron Sanchez (TV Food Network and El Paso via Kansas City) and John Besh (Restaurant August) in New Orleans. We had eleven or twelve different tastes/plates from the menu and every single one was much better than I had even hoped for. All of the tostadas, four or five of the tacos. I never thought that grilled scallions would be a Great dish but these were. The El Paso connection is an interesting one for me personally since I once felt that I would fly there specifically to eat Tex Mex. L & J (a biker bar across from a graveyard) and Kiki's for anyone who has ever been there. Baltimore is closer. Not a full blown restaurant but a taqueria which features the tostadas after 5:00PM. I must also note that @7:30 every single one of the 200 or so seats and bar seats was full with people lined up to get in. All the more remarkable that it is in a casino.

Go to Baiersbronn which is in the Black Forest 75 or so minutes west of Stuttgart. Specifically either Schwarzwaldstube or Bareiss, each of which has three Michelin stars. The first has a six+ month wait for dinner reservations and two + months for lunch. Schwarzwaldstube: http://www.traube-tonbach.de/en/schwarzwaldstube-restaurant http://www.bareiss.com/en/restaurants/restaurant-bareiss.html is Bareiss. If you stay in Baiersbronn take Bareiss as your first choice. The rooms, ambience, character are very similar to the Inn at Little Washington. The countryside surrounding this is exquisitely beautiful and well worth getting lost in. Baiersbronn itself is enchanting; the village that hosts Schwarzwaldstube is Traube Tonbach, or "village of the grape." This is THE major dining destination of all of Germany with four restaurants that have at least one Michelin star-all in a literal village. Again, this is not that far from Stuttgart. I'd also make the argument that one of the most beautiful and unique wine countries on earth is the Kaiserstuhl on the French border (Colmar is on the eastern side of the Rhein). From Stuttgart this is probably a 90 minute drive. Colmar, Strasbourg and Munich (90 minutes or so to the east) are all well worth visits. To the south is Lake Konstanz. Further south are the Dolomites which are breathtaking.

Fantastic thread.

Fields of Athenry is a superb supplier from raising their own chickens and beef to a really talented owner who is also a good cook. Additionally, their "Liquid Gold" chicken stock is the exact same chicken stock I would make myself in my stockpot. Negative is that it's $14.95 a quart but worth it. Simply, this is an excellent source from a number of perspectives.

Ilaine, please take a serious look at the farm's website that I linked above. I believe it is exactly what you are looking for.

Fields of Athenry midway between Purcellville and Middleburg: http://fieldsofathenryfarm.com/

It wasn't that long ago that I tried to talk him into opening an Estadio in Reston Town Center on here. I just really loved his passion and his praise for so many restaurants that he would visit. He was also usually the first. I never met Mark but I felt that I knew him from his writing and his heart that he put into his words. I cried when I heard.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/485636 is my essay on Chowhound from 2008 about eating bouilliabasse at the source.

FWIW 10 or 12 minutes north of LAX is Marina Del Rey. You can take Lincoln Blvd. to go there-you do NOT have to take the 405. I've stayed at/near LAX dating to the early '80's. At some point I started staying at the Doubletree aka Marriott (which is what it is today) on Admiralty in Marina Del Rey. Ask for a harbor front room. Difference between an airport hotel and this one is the difference between a business trip that you will dread and a memory you'll look forward to revisiting. The Venice Beach boardwalk (i.e. concrete) starts two blocks behind the hotel. Venice Beach and the nearby area are extremely interesting in and of themselves. Santa Monica starts 5 or 6 minutes north of there. Between Venice and Santa Monica there is a huge choice of interesting places to explore for dinner. You'll also pass by an In-n-Out Burger en route. Last, my wife and I will return in two weeks for an anniversary (we were married in Malibu). Our wedding meal in '96 will be our dinner two weeks from tomorrow sitting at the Food Counter in the rear of Chinois. Similar to Roberto's Eight or the kitchen counter at Rose's everything is prepared directly in front of you. The positive is that my wife believes that Chinois lobster with flash fried spinach is the best lobster she's ever had. The negative is that the lobster station is three feet on the other side of the counter from where she will sit. An interesting perspective... Still, Wolfgang Puck's best restaurant. Other meals on the trip are Nobu in Malibu (see Sundae in the Park above); note that Nobu books up one month in advance but for one you might have a chance) and Osteria Mozza (Pizzaria Mozza next door has the best pizza crust I have ever had; Osteria you can eat at the bar which is ground zero and a good seat) along with Santa Barbara.

The Roma Restaurant was at 3419 Connecticut. Coppi's was further down...near Club Soda (downstairs) where the Greaseband used to play.

This was an important weekend for me: Thursday I met my best friend from high school and spent the day with him exploring Silver Spring where we grew up. Saturday was our fifty year high school reunion (Montgomery Blair '64) and last night we met for a last night of wine and friendship before he flew back to Florida. My wife and I, he and a female friend of forty years who lived in Chevy Chase had a decision to make: where would be appropriate for dinner to celebrate a weekend like this. Especially at 6:00 in the evening in Reston when almost every possibility focused on Town Center. Dave's friend, Cindy, had a favorite that she and her husband (she's a widow) passionately revisited once a year but, with his passing, she hadn't been in a while. L'auberge Chez Francois. Dave had never been, my wife and I had a visit on their patio (noted above) but not an inside visit in four or five years. I called not even sure if they were open on Sunday evening. After a few rings the phone was answered warmly and I was told if we could get there by 7:30 we could be seated. That was when their kitchen closed on Sunday. A glass each later we were in our car and on our way. For all the world, the drive through the Great Falls countryside to the Alsatian chalet looks and feels like one is on the far side of the Atlantic ocean. Pulling into to their gravel parking lot it looked far more like Strasburg than it did Fairfax county. Inside, for us, remarkably, every single seat we saw was full. At least two thirds of the men had jackets and every woman I saw was dressed nicely. No jeans, no shorts-there was a soft, but elegant ambience in a room that I had forgotten how beautifully, intimate and warmly caring, actually reassuring it was. Nobody writes about L'auberge Chez Francois on here. Nobody. Rose's Luxury, Red Hen, Fiola Mare, several on 14th street but not the thirty five year old Alsatian icon that annually would win D. C.'s most popular restaurant award from Washingtonian. My feeling is that nobody from Washingtonian would be caught dead there today. L'auberge is not edgy in any way. It is a celebratory family that warmly shares and acknowledges that you've arrived. We loved it. Absolutely loved it. The food was all very good, some excellent (i.e. Grand Marnier souffle with cognac cream infusion, puff pastried wild mushrooms-anything from Alsace) but this was about the room and the professional, so softly assuring and caring warmth. And, it was romantic and personal. How could we have waited so long to go back? L'auberge Chez Francois may not receive the press it once did but it is known and continues as an important and popular destination. One third of the cars in the parking lot were from D. C., one third from MD and the last third from VA. Seemingly egalitarian. In back, the their second lot, there were four (Four!) black cars with their drivers waiting for their passengers to have dinners! I was impressed. For whatever is written about any other celebratory restaurant on here this should be on the list: L'auberge Chez Francois is very much still on its game. We have a reservation to return. For ourselves, for a celebratory dinner to salute a fifty year high school class reunion we were extraordinarily fortunate. And deeply appreciative. Thank you, L'auberge.

Kinkead's Portugeuse seafood stew: http://www.starchefs.com/chefs/BKinkead/html/recipe_05.shtml More ingredients, more time than almost any other recipe, only rarely made in the restaurant. But worth it.

Interesting that some restaurants which are indeed excellent are never mentioned on here. Obelisk is a case in point: we've celebrated birthdays and anniversaries there but, for whatever reason, haven't been in a couple of years. I just did a bit of research and, fortunately, others haven't forgotten about it: 28 from Zagat for food (same rating as Komi which is rarely mentioned anymore either; should I mention Marcel's which is also 28...), 4.5 out of 5 from Yelp and Trip Adviser. We'll be back-just reassuring to hear that it's still doing well. Reassuring that Obelisk, Komi and Marcel's are still loved by many. These are foundational restaurants for D. C.

Really sad. I loved the place. We would drive from Reston to walk on the C & O Canal in Great Falls and afterwards stop in Potomac for dinner we would finish off at home. River Falls was excellent.