RaisaB

Some wine dude who Don snogs in print occasionally, in return for free cases of small-house Champagnes.

This Terry Theise piece is perfect. I dunno who Terry is, but she knows Don well.

Our gathering tonight is being postponed until we can find a date that works better.

I use glass jars and the freezer. Works very well to keep my spices potent.

RE: Indian Spices and Appliances (Ballston)...when they closed (because of said building being torn down) they were going to reopen at the same location, in about a year they said...who knows if that is still true...and I can't remember if that was a year or more ago! I hope they do reopen because I love that store, great selection of Indian stuff and the homemade samosa and breads kick butt.

The Mediterranean Bakery and Cafe place on Pickett Street by Duke Street and 395 sells spices...not sure on the quality...but you can always find something yummy to buy there!

The Crabcake last night at Restaurant Kolumbia came atop a softshell crab. It was very good.

It was a very nice evening! Thanks Amit, Jamie and Caroline. I only met one new person, but it was nice to see so many of the dinosaurs there also. Oh and a big thank you to Don, for starting this board, I have met some very nice people through it, including of course you!

The roasted cuban big has to have tender meat and a very crisp skin. Most pig roasts I've been to are just a cinderblock oven built over a driveway with the pig flattened inside of heavy duty metal mesh. Similar to this: http://cuban-christmas.com/pigroast.html.

I want to buy a Caja China, but my basement apartment in Shaw might not work. Although I could chain it up out back with the grill and the patio furniture.

Basically yes it is a big oven, but these were invented for a Latino style of roasting a pig. We don't care for the smoke, we usually want the pig to shine. It is minimally marinated with mojo criollo, which is sour orange (or lime), garlic, cumin, salt and pepper.

Culocho, tu no fuiste a nuestro ultimo picnic, verdad? Yo, Cubana y otro, de Puerto Rico, supplied the caja chinas. But, los Americanos, de verdad no supieron, como bake un lechon latino. Yes a few of us have one, they are not for rent, but go to CajaChina.com and they aren't that expensive. They were designed by a Cuban in New Jersey who wanted to roast a lechon on his balcony, y como they say, el resto is history.

I live in the forest and spotted a morel popping up through the moss underneath an old double tulip poplar this morning. Right next to the driveway. Question: if it's the only one, should I let it stay so the spores will disperse and create more for next year? I've lived there for over two decades and never seen any before.

ETA: If you really want to propagate them, follow this link and skip to step 25 after the the cultivation of spores!Morels

son of a b&*^*&!!!!!!!!!

Just found out Mrs JPW has to go to NYC on Friday, so I'm out.

Their blue foot chicken is an American version of the bird. I think I saw it served once before at a restaurant here, but it was a special, and for the life of me, I can't remember the restaurant.

ETA: It may be a first as I remember where I saw it was New York and not DC!

Has anyone tried Steve Raichlen's High Flavor, Low Fat Cookbook for inspiration? They have it at Costco for 7.99 . I have made a few things from it in the past two weeks and it is astonishingly good! I think he has other's in the series also. They include all nutritional breakdowns also.

XCanuck, we (2) are in for drinks and dinner. Thanks for planning this!

Herb Crusted Crown Roast of Lamb

Roasted Carrots

Celery Root Mash

Assorted American Artisan Cheeses

Key Lime Pie

2000 Delectus Lodi Syrah

2004 Kilikanoon Covenant Syrah

Joe, I have heard mixed reviews about Palena from mutual friends. I have never tried it, especially after the Palena chicken project, (cafe chicken I suppose?). I will definately try it within the next couple of weeks and report on it. I trust your taste. But if I disagree, well we'll still be friends.

And anyone (and I mean ANYONE) who whispers sweet nothings in Don's ear in French, gets to keep him for the evening!!! Any takers?

Joyeux Anniversaire à nous tout! Feliz aniversario para todos nosotros!

I was in Barcelona last year so I won't be returning this year, but thanks for the links Joe. I may try both places. Perhaps one at the beginning and one toward the end of the trip. Another restaurant which I have heard quite a bit about is Etxebarri near Donostia also. I am pretty sure it is not starred, but if you go on ChezPim.com she gives an excellent review of it.

Being married into an almost pure Basque family and being part Basque myself, I learned long ago, that there are three languages in the Iberian Peninsula. Castellano, Catalan, and Euskera. I would NEVER ask anyone in the northern part of Spain if they spoke Spanish, as there is no such language. Sad for me I am not familiar at all with Euskera. It is unlike any other language.

Hi Matt,that was an excellent post. But what do you mean bacon that melts in your mouth? That sounds kind of yuck to me!

I think you should post at times when you go out with your dad (with his permission of course, and after homework). It would be interesting to see your opinion next to his.

A huge thanks to everyone for coming and donating last night! We raised $1200 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I wasn't sure what the turnout would be like, but the room was packed. And thanks again to Jake Parrot and Bill Thomas (of Bourbon) for their contributions.

Just a little backstory that I should have mentioned before, as several people asked last night about how Binni (txaggie) and I got involved with the L&L Society. My mother died of lymphoma when I was 13, so that's my personal connection. For the past two years Binni and I have fundraised through a program they have. As part of that, the L&L Society gives you a pretty good education in what they do. We've gotten to know several survivors who did so through drugs that the L&L Society's research funded. This is all just to say that we want you to know that your money is going to a great organization that does a lot of good things.

I am sorry I wasn't able to attend last night, I hear it was a great time by all. I hope everyone who said they were going to show up did, otherwise maybe they can also donate through you.

Dave, thank you for taking the time to post such an informative reply! So I should make reservations at Arzak? I also do not want to be fooded out. We are driving while in the region so distances are not a problem. We will be staying in a few areas in the Basque and Rioja region.

BTW. I noticed I spelled Donostia wrong, thank you for correcting. My husband's family is Basque as is part of mine. We both still have family in the region. We plan to visit our namesake town (Berriz).

I will be in Donostia Spain and the surrounding Basque area in about 8 weeks. I also plan on visiting Rioja. Does anyone have any recent experience in this area? Any thoughts on restaurants, vineyards, etc?

Thanks!

I have one of these Jura Capressa. This is the second one I have had, the first was recalled and they replaced it with this one. It is incredible! No cleaning, it cleans itself. Easy coffee, just press a button. Better than anything else out there. (Commercial machines excluded). It has easily paid for itself over 7 years! (The one I bought originally was the demo model and I got it very cheap).

Wow. I was there Saturday night and were advised that they were opening the 2nd level. Nothing was said about it being adults only. They are very child friendly, and their pizzas are hit or miss. Don, what is the name of the Shakespeare play? Is it 'Much To Do About Nothing'?