Chris W

That's just wrong....

I thought that it was a fine pairing....different wine maybe? I'm moving this weekend to Boston and this is the one restaurant that I wished I'd have gotten to while I was here but I guess we'll have to save it for another day.

Last night a TsingTao at Chinatown Express. 

Night before Albert Mann Gewurztraminer 2001 Steingrubler: fat silky with a lighter spice element that I woould have expected but a softer and silkeir mouthfeel in return.  With a bowl of won ton soup from Full Kee Wheaton

Was that the recent Parker rated 98 point Albert Mann Gewurtz dean?

Last night a fantastic bottle of 1999 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow.

Hey Now!....

I will say this the one thing I miss about Ray's is that they have gone from the roasted garlic served damn near whole to minced garlic, which may or may not be roasted first.

Hat's off to the crew at Ray's......again another stellar meal, however will someone get Michael a fashion assistant!!!

Just kidding Michael I have shorts with crabs on them too.

2000 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling. Still young but very good.

Seriously pick up the new GQ if you haven't already. Not for the Tom Cruise BS, but for the wonderfully written article on Fegus Henderson and his restaurant St. John in London. Really a wonderfull read and has me craving offal at 10:00 AM!

The oysters are out of this world but more importantly the Cucumber Collins is right now easily my favorite drink in the city!

[Piling on.  15-yard penalty.]

You forgot the....automatic first down.

I like the way Nadya thinks!

My thought would be to have some wine and small plates at Bistro Lepic and then maybe take a nice walk down to Mendocino for a couple glasses of port and desert, followed up with a room at the Four Seasons across the street and breakfast of room service.

NOW THAT'S A DATE!!!!

Can anyone confirm the rumor that the chef at the Oval Room walked out?

"and a dark & stormy."

Well now I know what I'm having for a little apres work drink. I've got the Goslings and lime now I just need the ginger beer.... Perfect!

Brunello I trust... or at the very lease Valpolicella.  Or Amarone.

Brunello is the slipperyest of all the italian varietals! Perfect for coating artery walls. It's about that time isn't it?

our new 2 1/2 lb Rib Steak for 2 on the bone.

I have to take some Lipitor just after reading that!

Holy smokes is Rockfish normally that expensive??

Goldwater Estate Sav. Blanc

This will again be my standard house Sav. Blanc for the summer.

I look at split pea soup as a reason to buy ham hocks. The soup itself is just a vehicle to eat smoked swine. At least in my oppinion it is.

I almost wish it would get stormy out so I had even more of a reason to tuck into a bottle of burg and some bistro food tonight.

You should be fine, just speak with your waiter and they will point you in the right direction. I'm sure the kitchen is aware that many diners are going to have requests tonight that are similar to yours. Now for suggestions. I was there a little while ago and the steel head trout was awesome, as was the rabbit.

For a drink, I like la paloma: blanco tequila, squirt (grapefruit soda), and a squeeze of lime on ice in a salt-rimmed glass. I believe Rosa Mexicano will make one. A little girly, but no less delicious. It was originally suggested to me at Blue Agave in Bmore.

Not girly at all. I drink these like it was my job in the summer time, but I had using squirt! Way too sweet for my taste. I just use good fresh either regular grapefruit juice or ruby red grapefruit juice and a splash of fresca for the fiss and then a ton of fresh lime juice.

swung through Zola pretty late last night for some food. The smoked mussell & corn chowder was good, as was the lobster roll. Lobster a tad overcooked but I couldn't be picky after almost eating my shoe while waiting for a table. The fondue was good as well however we happened to be at the table with a Veg head so they took the sausage out of it. I'd like to go back and try it again the way nature intended it to be made.....with the meat.

I totaly dig the Home Farm. One of my favorite places to shop. When I was there a couple weeks ago you could tell they had just slaughtered some spring lambs because you could get just about anything lamb based you wanted. I got some lamb skirt steaks grilled them sliced them thin and made some flaffel with them....awesome.

So interesting story of how I ended up at Corduroy last night. It wasn't intentional but now I really wish stuff like this happens more often because it was really fun.

The girlfriend and I go to see the Cherry Blossoms one last time and take a seat with our backs facing the impending Malestrom down on the tidal basin.

My brother and his girlfriend were going to meet us down there so they were walking at the storm when they decided it wasn't the smartest idea to be where they were. I get a phone call from my bro telling me to get the hell out of there just as I turn around to see a massive bolt of lightning streak across the sky. I just look at the girl and say "feel like going for a run?" We get on the other side of the bridge on independence when all hell broke loose. A cherry tree next to me litterly exploded with blossoms when it was hit with what must of been a 30 MPH gust. We were covered!

So I'm darting into traffic trying to catch a cab while my brother who was at the corner of 15th and Independence was trying to lead me there like he was trying to lead me out of a war zone. I kept getting

"is the Monument on your left or right?"

"IT'S ON MY LEFT!"

"Is it in front of you or behind you"

"IN FRONT!"

"Just keep running, we're up on your left."

It was NUTS! So we all decide to go to Old Ebbit but the closest parking lot we could find was at the Willard so instead of walking outside in the torent we tucked into the bar at the Willard and started in on some Manhattans which helped lower the adrenaline. It was at this point that my bro realized his bedroom windows were open in VA and freaked out about the Bose surround system etc that was in front of said window. Net Net he took off. So my girlfriend and I are sitting at the Willard now starving and Corduroy comes to mind. Honestly nothing tastes better than aged burgundy, lobster salad, and porkbelly after an experiance like that. The porkbelly was better than I remembered it. The girl had the Lamb which was also off the charts good. Service again impecable, just a stellar way to end a crazy afternoon/evening. Thanks!

Last night

2003 Tir Na Nog Old Vines Grenache

2003 Ramey Hyde Chardonnay, soooo good!

and just because of the post about big cali pinots...

2003 A.P. Vin Gary's Vineyard Pinot Noir

My question about whether there are any good personal chefs in the area stems from my brothers birthday coming up and the fact that when I move in a couple months he is going to be in a world of take out and frozen dinners. He doesn't cook for a number of reasons chief amongst them he just doesn't want to.

That said, I thought I would for his B-day get some personal chef services for him so he can take advantage when I'm out of here. Any thoughts? Who's good?

Thanks!