clayrae

AYE!

I haven’t been to Olives in ages, but I remember this being really good:

"Little dumplings of goat cheese wrapped in black olive pasta dough with

goat cheese cream and roasted yellow tomato ragout"

Slightly off topic question. When do "multiple locations" become a "chain"?

Not to compare Thomas Keller and Todd English, but Keller has four restaurants. And then there is Jose Andres.

Is it a chain if they have the same name? Or does it depend on number of locations? Or?

(apologies if this topic has already been discussed elsewhere...)

In other college food news, my alma mater is now offering cooking classes in the dining hall:

"While gourmet foods may be in the curriculum, the real aim is to teach students the basics, starting with boiling water and making popcorn in the microwave."

http://www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=2827

i didnt look up any of the products mentioned here, and ive never ordered from this site, but im always facinated by what they offer:

The Hard To Find Grocer at Hometown Favorites

http://www.hometownfavorites.com/shop/htfg.asp

They carry products that are still manufactured, but that may be in limited supply or only available in certain geographic areas.

Ok i just looked it up, they do carry Quaker Quisp cereal...

oh, and Big League Chew

And I used Pecorino Toscano on tonight's pasta with autumn veggies.  Seems a lot of us were inspired last night.

i was only inspired to make a purchase im currently munching on some alderbrook and pecorino toscano straight up!

YUM!!

When's the next one??

(and thank you to jill and hillvalley!)

Chicken flavored Rice-a-Roni

My “only from scratch” mom would serve it to us when the babysitter was coming. It was a “special treat” (artificial food out of a box- how fun!)

When I went off to college I reveled in the fact I could eat Rice-a-Roni for dinner every night if I wanted – now that I was an adult!

And I did just that- for about a week. Haven’t touched the stuff since…

ok lets see:

adapated from "Salsa di Parmigiano" (cheese salsa) from napastyle.com

(Yield: 2+ Cups)

8 ounces Parmesan cheese

8 ounces Asiago cheese

1 tablespoon chopped garlic (i add more)

2 tablespoons chopped basil (i add more)

2 tablespoons chopped scallions (i add more)

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper (i add less)

1 tablespoon pepper flakes (i add less)

1-1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil

Shred cheese. Chop the rest. Mix all. Refrigerate for up to a week. Bring to room temperature before serving. Serve with crackers, also good as a topping for bread, tossed with pasta, spooned over fresh sliced tomatoes etc...

Chocolate Biscuits (adapted from a martha stewart recipe (i think))

Makes 16

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Heat oven to 350°.

2. Mix all.

3. Roll 2 1/2 tablespoons of dough between the palms of your hand to form a ball. Place on baking sheet, spacing cookies 2 inches apart. Using a dinner fork, press tines into dough, and gently press into biscuit shape. Bake biscuits just until firm to the touch, 12 to 15 minutes.

n.b. dough is addictive in its raw state...

I will echo the thanks already given for the organizers of the picnic. It was fun to put faces with names, and the food was excellent!

I'm one of the people who rave over the Cafe Atlantico brunch.

The vegetarian tasting is $24.95/person, you wont miss the meat (although you might want to order a plate of duck confit on the side...), and have PLENTY of food for two.

i think ill bring something chocolate along with the cheese salsa...

i will be driving from takoma park if anyone needs a ride from that area.

Not sure but I know they have another branch in Prince George's County that predate the one on 8th...

I seem to recall finding a website somewhere...and now I can't find it...

http://www.levisbbq.com/Washington_DC/washington_dc.html

Big Night is my favorite!

ill be there solo as well.

was thinking of bringing michael chiarello's cheese salsa with things to dip.

I eat.

DonRockwell.com

(but then, im a minimalist)

the best guacamole? cafe atlantico!!

4 each avocados

2 oz. cilantro, fresh.chopped

1 oz. serrano, minced

4 oz. tomatoes, roma

4 oz. red onion, diced

to taste salt

found at: http://www.geocities.com/chefsrecipes/show445.htm

i scale this down for one avocado for a quick snack. wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. yum...

Has anyone participated in any of their classes/events?

What did you think?

Thank you!

A cautionary note about the Deluxe Tasting Latino Dim Sum:

The food is fabulous, don’t miss the cauliflower quinoa cous cous, potato and vanilla mouse, and sweet potato soup.

However, there is more food than two people can consume comfortably. After trying the Vegetarian Tasting with three people (which was perfect), my mom and I went back to try the Deluxe Tasting. After three hours and twenty seven plates, we were feeling rather sick. The portions were much too large for two, three or four bites each, rather than one or two. We could barely bring ourselves to taste the last five or six dishes, which was a shame because everything is so good.

In short: bring friends!

Anyone have a recommendation for good fish in Mont.Co., MD?

I’ve been less than impressed with Whole Foods and Balducci's.

Thank you!