Flavortown

To think that I was considering staying at my internship later than usual so as to avoid showing up at the restaurant too early. That plan is out the window. Awesome. Group tactics are definitely the way to go, since there are too many options on there I'd like to try.

All right, my mind's made up. Barring some unforseen disaster I'm gonna aim for 6 as well. And I'd like to propose in advance some intense teamwork for the purpose of getting through the entire app. menu.

Not 100% sure that I'll be there, but between reading the menu and seeing the discount, it's pretty tempting. Plus I get out of my internship at 5 anyway...

The people on my floor walk into the kitchen every time I cook to tell me how good it smells, haha. The other night they roped me into cooking dinner for the floor. I'd gladly do stuff like that more often (in fact, I used to do a weekly dinner for all my friends when everybody lived on campus last year), but nine times out of ten people don't put in the money they owe for all the ingredients, so I wind up getting gypped. You'd think $3 for a meal would be a bargain...but oh well. Wow, funny. I didn't see the show, I just happened to have a butternut squash sitting on a shelf thanks to my CSA and decided it was finally time to use it.

Clyde's may not be so impressive overall, but I still love their chili. Pretty sure it's available at all their locations. Plus the recipe is online (and extremely simple), and it's come out well the three or four times I've made it.

Thanks. Oddly enough, the seeds were probably the best part. Salty (boiled them in salted water prior to roasting), crispy, and sort of nutty, they really helped to make the dish taste savory overall, staving off a rampage of butternut sweetness.

Butternut Squash Risotto: diced onion, roasted butternut (both diced and pureed), parmagiano, and toasted squash seeds.

I think we should beg petition for hush puppies in addition to fried chicken (or even instead of? they're that good). Despite the fact that their presence would probably lead to neglect of my Suppli, I'd happily pay an exorbitant sum to get my hands on a batch next Sunday.

Brought a few friends up to Radius tonight (I'd been talking about the place so much that they kind of demanded the chance to try it for themselves), and we had an awesome meal. Had to go for the Fall Pizza again, and it was a hit once more, even to a rather picky eater who was totally skeptical of pumpkin on a pizza. The Aprilia - a white pizza with garlic, olive oil, mozzarella, and ricotta - which I had with pancetta, was also great. It had just enough cheese, and the pancetta was crisp and salty, exactly what I was looking for to add some variety to what could have become monotonous after a slice or two. Still, while the pizzas were great, with each pasta dish I have at Radius I become more and more tempted to favor that portion of the menu. The Oyster and Shiitake Mushroom Ravioli we had tonight, served with beets, over polenta, were almost as addicting as the pumpkin ravioli of the last visit. The polenta in particular stood out since it was just so rich and delicious, and I made sure to employ my crusts in order to get all of it off the plate. If I hadn't been accommodating a vegetarian I'd have gone for the Duck Confit pasta as well, but I guess that'll just have to wait until next time.

Both of my friends, who have yet to join the board, and myself, really enjoyed tonight's dinner at Indique Heights. It was a ton of food - I still feel stuffed hours later - and most all of it was really good. My only regret is that we didn't really get to try many of their unique takes on classical Indian food, for example the many dishes shown in the slide-show that were Indique's reinterpretations of traditional Indian foods (Papri chaat, etc.). But I guess that's just their way of roping us into coming back for more, right? If so, I think it will prove effective. Here were a couple of our favorites... Shrimp Varuval - These were simply great as an horsd'ouvre. Bite sized, not stingy on the shrimp, and packed with flavor thanks to the sauce said shrimp were cooked in. Cashewnut Pakoras - Addicting. I want these instead of popcorn at the movies. Once they set the platters down on the table, I couldn't help going over and grabbing more and more. Cauliflower Bezule - Also great, and my vegetarian friend was quickly hooked on them. I was surprised by how crispy they looked, only to find them softer, and touched with a hint of acidity. Konchan Chaar - I found this broth/soup to be far more enjoyable than the one brought out later in the meal (Tomato Rasam, I think). It was creamy and spicy, yet well balanced, while the other was just a bit too oily for my tastes. Mathan Erissery - Surprisingly, I think this was my favorite of the night. This was the pumpkin curry, and it was just awesome. Or maybe I'm just on a pumpkin kick lately (pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin pizza, and pumpkin bread from Radius, and now pumpkin curry...) Pineapple Menaskai - A great contrast to all the spicier flavors going on, the sweet pineapple really stood out, and I found myself wanting more as I repeatedly delved into the Chicken Chettinad and other more aggressive offerings. Aleppey Fish Curry - This was probably my favorite protein, just barely edging out the lamb. It was nice and light, with balanced flavors, and not overly creamy. I disliked only a few of the many courses served... Tomato Rasam - As mentioned above, just a bit bland, and oily. I could have gone for another shot of Konchan Chaar instead. Hyderabadi Baingan - I was determined to love this based on its description. But for some reason I felt like it didn't deliver on the peanut flavor I was eagerly awaiting. Instead the peanut was too subdued, and the thick, sort of grainy sauce seemed bland as a result. I think some added saltiness and a stronger peanut presence would have done it a lot of good. Everything else was quite good though, but I couldn't really call my list "favorites" if I listed much more. Thanks again to Chef Vinod, and the whole team at Indique Heights, as well as Dan for organizing the event.

Haha...based on this you'd think the Eagle was paying me, or at least being picky about what they publish. At any rate it's no big achievement, but hopefully it'll inspire more AU kids to eat at Radius rather than eating the junk they usually go for at dominos or Angelico and the like. Edit: And please note that any grammar issues are the result of some rather creative editing choices on the paper's part; they don't like dealing with sentences that have multiple clauses, apparently. - Gennaro

So the Suppli test run was a success! Here are some pictures to whet people's appetites:

It's definitely going to be an awesome event. I'll be there, but as a volunteer. Edit: And if it inspires anybody to buy more tickets, the list of competing chefs isn't quite up to date. Brian Voltaggio is going to be taking part as well.

An omelette and cheddar cheese on a toasted Asiago bagel from Bethesda Bagels:

Thanks for the suggestion Dean - I was sort of considering that option since I'd prefer to be a runner in a restaurant that I'd really like to be in rather than be a waiter in a place I wouldn't ever choose to eat at. Thanks for the vote of confidence KMango - hopefully the places I apply to will see the same traits.

While I've been around restaurants and good food all my life - my dad has owned his restaurant in New Jersey for more than 30 years - I've never actually worked in one. I've been thinking about pursuing a job as a server, and I've even shot out a few applications, but considering my lack of experience I've had a slightly hard time figuring out what sort of place could use me. So, I figured I'd throw a post up on here and see if anybody had some suggestions: not necessarily connections or even specific names of places, but just some tips for somebody who really loves food, and has seen some of what goes on in restaurants, but wants a slightly closer look. Thanks all Gennaro

Plenty of people who got to take part in Thursday's event have already mentioned dishes here and there, but I figure I should still post a comprehensive description of the dishes for those who missed out. Of course, goodeats' pictures are about 10 times more effective than any words I could choose. At any rate, here's the rundown... Amuse Kabocha Squash Soup: A creamless soup that somehow managed to be creamier than any bisque I've ever had. It was finished with a drop of rosemary oil, and when I reached the bottom of my small cup I found myself wishing I had a whole bowl. Chef Wiss mentioned that he'd used just one pound of butter to make three gallons of the soup, and not a drop of cream. I find this incredible, and have to rank this as one of the best dishes of the night. Appetizers Prince Edward Island Mussels: The muscles were in a Jersey tomato broth that was delicious, yet almost cloyingly sweet; but the addition of the smoked paprika aioli completely balanced the dish, and made it extremely difficult to resist reaching for the accompanying grilled ciabatta and mopping up every last drop of sauce. Panzanella Salad: The word "panzanella" immediately makes me think tomatoes. There were no tomatoes in sight here though, rather, the salad was comprised of "Organic Greens, Honey Crisp Apples, Grilled Ciabatta, Gorgonzola," and "cider vinaigrette." Once again, this dish demonstrated the chef's ability to achieve balance between the ingredients on each of his plates. The almost overpowering Gorgonzola was offset by the greens and the grilled ciabatta, the honey crisp apples added a touch of sweetness and a little crunch, and the cider vinaigrette was not drowning the salad, but rather allowing it all to mesh together. I'd rank this dish near the bottom when compared to the stars of the night, but it was still fantastic. Heirloom Pumpkin Ravioli: These ravioli blew me away. Served over greens, with walnuts, sage, and brown butter, they were irresistible. As KMango mentions, the walnuts were what elevated the dish from good to extraordinary. Cutting into the ravioli led to a delicious explosion of pumpkin puree, but only when each bite was accompanied by a piece of walnut did it blow my mind. Meanwhile, the brown butter added further nutty richness without overdoing it. While others at the table ate two ravioli a piece, I couldn't help but double this. Plus, I was lucky enough to get to take the leftovers home. Pizza All of the pizzas in general showed the same amazing balance that I picked up on in all of the dishes. The crust and toppings went together perfectly, the former making no attempt at crispness, and the latter spread with a generous, but wise hand, kept any of the many flavors at work from overwhelming their carrier or one another. As for specifics... Fig & Feta Pizza: This pizza was shocking. It was the last one I tried, but it really left a strong impression. As one who doesn't particularly appreciate the flavor of figs, I went in skeptical; after the first bite, I knew that my one slice would be gone far too soon. The sweetness of the figs butted heads with the saltiness of the feta and generated truly wonderful flavor. The pie was finished with baby arugula and basil, but these elements were less important than the marriage of those two key components. If I have any complaint, it's that I wish there had been more figs on my slice. Fall Pizza: My favorite of the pizzas, just barely surpassing the Fig & Feta, for this seasonal pie the chef swaps out red sauce for Kabocha pumpkin puree, then tops this with ricotta, feta, caramelized mushrooms, and red onions. This pizza was simply addicting; the pumpkin, which leaned more toward sweetness in the ravioli, was made completely savory, and matched with the duo of cheeses and in particular the mushrooms, it was a hit. When I return to Radius I'll be asking for one of these pies, with extra of the mushrooms (they were so good, and there simply weren't enough) and perhaps I'll experiment with some pancetta. Ducati Pizza: "House-Ground Italian Sausage, Roasted Red Peppers, Red Onions, Mozzarella, Red Sauce." I felt like this was more of a safe choice for those afraid of the more uncommon flavors at work in the previous two pizzas. It was good, but outshone on every level by the other two. The flavor profile worked - though I would have preferred some spicy sausage, personally - and it offered the meatiness lacking in the rest of our pies, but if I had to give up one pizza, it would easily be this one. Dessert Cranberry Panna Cotta: I imagine that this dish was beautifully made (I don't have much experience with Panna Cotta, so I'm not the best judge), and it seemed to me that the flavors worked together (The cranberries along with tahitan vanilla bean and orange), but this was my least favorite course. I was just wasn't in love with what was going on like I was after my first bite of the ravioli, or the fig & feta pizza. Goodie Bag: I couldn't believe that after how generous each and every course was, Chef Wiss and his wife were actually giving us more stuff to bring home. Our bags included pumpkin bread, honey crisp apple butter, and fresh fettucine. I've yet to try the bread or the pasta, but I can vouch for how stellar the apple butter is: I made a sandwich with it and some goat cheese, and I couldn't have been happier with it. It's nice being able to recognize the specific flavor of the apple - you can immediately single out that it is honey crisp, and not just any apple. Considering how good the ravioli was, I imagine the fresh pasta will be fantastic. And as for the pumpkin bread, it seems to me that any dish where Chef Wiss has a chance to use pumpkin is going to be a homerun. In sum, as I mentioned in my last post, topping this event is going to be damn near impossible. Radius Pizza is a great place (I too was loving the sound track, as well as the overall mood of the space), and the food is more than worth a trip up to Columbia Heights. If I don't get an infusion of Fall Pizza some time in the next two weeks or so, I think there's going to be a problem, so I'm sure they'll be seeing more of me. And for those who didn't get to go, there's absolutely no reason not to hurry up and give the place a shot. Their happy hour is great (a pint and a slice for $5), and the prices in general are totally reasonable. Thanks again to Chef Wiss and his wife. The food, the price, and the service were all great. I really loved getting to hear about the thought process behind what was happening on my plate from the chef himself, and if the flavors weren't enough to gain my trust, that last touch certainly was. After my surprised love for the Fig & Feta pizza, as well as getting to meet the chef, I'd gladly try any new concoction he happens to come up with.

It is going to be ridiculously hard to top this event. The food was fantastic (and overwhelming for some at the second table), and the fact that we got goodie bags was just bad ass. More specifics to come when I type up the official post tomorrow. And look out for tons of pictures from goodeats.

Best word choice ever.

All these events will be the death of me. Or at least the death of my wallet...yet I can't resist. Sign me up.

So the family came down from New Jersey tonight to celebrate my 21st birthday, and at the behest of Don, we decided to have dinner at Sou'Wester. I'm glad I took his advice; almost every item ordered was great, the service was awesome, and the overall mood of the restaurant was perfect for this sort of dinner. I'll start with a run-down of the dishes ordered (and some that came out as gifts from the chef), and I apologize in advance for the blurry pictures; more than half of them don't do the food justice as I'm still getting used to the iphone's camera. You can see them all at since the board wont let me post them all here.Appetizers Bread Service: Mini-biscuits, corn bread, and what was described as a sweet roll, with softened butter. All were really good. The biscuits were tiny, but very rich; the cornbread was a great rendition; the sweet rolls didn't taste sweet at all, just fluffy and satisfying, simultaneously reminiscent of potato bread and brioche. Old Fashioned Cream of Mushroom Soup($8): Simple and good; my little sister loved this. It was creamy and had plenty of mushroom flavor, as well as discernible chunks of mushroom. Kale and Bean Soup($8): My dad's choice; I didn't get to taste, but it looked good, and was packed with pork along with the kale and beans. Pan Fried Oysters ($13): These were delicious. The smoked pepper aioli was a good accompaniment, and the plating was unexpected and impressive. Entrees Porgie Crab Imperial($24): This was my entree, and I really enjoyed it. A pretty generous portion of crab imperial, baked and then topped with a porgie filet, all served with a lemon beurre blanc. The beurre blanc was pretty much unnecessary though since the combination of sweet, rich crab and the fish had plenty of flavor; I think some other form of accompaniment would elevate this dish even further. Corned Beef Shortribs($24): This was a surprise hit, and probably the most tender piece of meat I've ever consumed in my life. You could cut through it like butter, and it delivered on what was promised: the taste of corned beef, but without the graininess. The pool of horseradish soubise worked really well with it (much better than the beurre blanc with the fish), though I could have used a little more of a horseradish kick in there. Fried Chicken($13): A leg, a thigh, and a wing, served with coleslaw. The two orders my family had were probably the least impressive items of the night. They were by no means bad, just not amazing. I thought the coating could have been a little heavier and a little crispier. The two who ordered them (Mom and 8 year old sister) were disappointed by the lack of a breast/white meat. The coleslaw was nice and refreshing though, rather than being drenched in mayo. Chicken and Dumplings($17): Dumplings, assorted vegetables, and a chicken breast in a broth that was not overly creamy. This was a solid dish, and my 13 year old sister enjoyed it. Sides Hush Puppies with Honey Butter($4): These hush puppies are reason enough to come to Sou'Wester. They make me consider applying for a job. Each order (we got 2) comes with 5 hush puppies, and they are just perfectly crispy, salty, and delicious. Dipping them in the honey butter leads to a clash of salty and sweet that is utterly satisfying and addictive. I'm pretty sure I ate 5 out of the 10 that came to our table, and I could have easily kept going. Broccoli & Rice Casserole($5): Broccoli + rice + mushroom = boring, right? Not when the Campbell's is replaced with Sou'Wester's mushroom soup, and cheese (I think the waiter said it was gouda) is thrown in along with the broccoli and rice. This was creamy and satisfying, and it actually managed to distract me from the hush puppies for a moment. The host (I wish I could remember his name, he was great), stopped when he saw me attacking the casserole and told me that it actually came completely from a recipe Eric Ziebold's grandma would make, just with house made soup rather than the canned stuff. Grilled Corn with Espelette Pepper Aioli($4): A gift from the kitchen, the corn was good, but the aoili was a little bit heavy; when it comes to corn on the cob, I'm a bit of a purist, so I tend to prefer very little on it. Baked Beans($4): Another gift from the chef, these were really good. Pretty sure I picked up on a good amount of bacon flavor in there, which really kept me coming back for more. Desserts($5 each) Fried Apple Pie: It was impossible to resist ordering this, even after all of the previous fried dishes. And it was more than worth the $5. It is indeed like a turnover, with the flakiest, most addicting crust ever. Match that up with some really good ice cream, and you've got a winner. Brownie Sundae: Not nearly as impressive as the apple pie. My sisters split this, and they were disappointed by how little brownie there was in comparison to the whipped cream and ice cream. I got a little taste though, and while the brownie couldn't compete with the apple pie, the nuts in there were really good. Cheesecake with Plums: The host brought this out after our other desserts, along with a bottle of Moscato (and non-alcoholic Riesling for the little sisters). The plums matched really well with the cheesecake, and it was all good, but very rich; after the other two desserts I almost couldn't handle it. The Moscato, though, was really refreshing. So overall, a great meal. The service was attentive and really generous, and all the staff did a great job of insuring that my birthday was a special one. There was one little slip up (a mix up in the kitchen caused the twice-baked potato we ordered to be delayed), but other than that things were great. A few tiny quibbles about the food from some, as noted above, but nothing at all serious. The only thing I personally had an issue with was the temperature in the restaurant: it was a little cold, and as a result the food got cold very quickly (sometimes before it even got to the table). But I'll definitely be back for more hush puppies, and to try some of their drinks, which seemed really interesting, but I managed to forget to order (I fail at fulfilling 21st birthday requirements). EDIT: Another note - Sou'Wester = great food without having to listen to boring background music. The medley of Johnny Cash, Don McLean, etc. was great. Quick summary: Go to Sou'Wester, eat copious amounts of hush puppies (but still explore the rest of the menu), and you will enjoy any occasion without breaking the bank. Thanks again to Chefs Ziebold and Harriman, and the whole team there.

Just got back from Taste of Bethesda, and had some really delicious food. Tickets were 4 for $5, and I wound up blowing through 16 of them, though I easily could have used double that. I'll give details on a few of the highlights. First thing I went for was Visions' Crab Mac & Cheese (3 Tickets): It was good, and there was plenty of crab, but I did get enough cheese flavor, and it was a little dry. It was far surpassed though, surprisingly, by Rock Bottom's Chicken and Mac (2 Tickets), which was cheesier, creamier, and overall more satisfying, while also being cheaper. Another cheap but really satisfying choice was California Tortilla's Turkey Chili (1 ticket), a nice sized bowl that was a little spicy, and tasty, though completely out of place given today's heat. Another favorite (which was free, actually) were the samples from Spring Mill Bread: Pesto Asiago Bread, Apple Streusel Bread, Brownies...they were all so good. Finished the day with a Nutella Crepe (2 tickets)from Original Pancake House that was buttery and delicious. I also tried food from Penang, Jaleo, Angeethi, and Bangkok Garden, but none of it really stood out. Ruth's Chris had a constant line that was way too long to bother with, though I would have liked to give it a shot, and Brasserie Monte Carlo's onion tarte looked really good, but I wasn't willing to shell out 4 tickets for it. I'd been looking forward to trying Passage to India, but their food just didn't look appealing, especially in comparison to the other Indian options. There were a lot of others I wanted to try too, but I had to limit myself somewhere. Anybody else go? What were your favorites?

Not that I saw. They do, however, have fresh squeezed lemonade.

Stopped by Toscana Cafe today for lunch after getting out of my internship at the DC Central Kitchen office. It was 1 PM, and the line was out the door, but they kept things moving quickly. There were some interesting specials (A zucchini soup if I'm remembering right, a few pastas, and lasagna), but I already knew what I was getting: Toscano ($9.00): Pork Shoulder, Broccoli Rabe, Provolone on a choice of White or Whole Wheat Ciabatta While they didn't offer me a choice between white or whole wheat (maybe you have to ask?), the three promised ingredients were there, and in abundance. It's shocking how delicious something so simple can be. I've never been one to love the taste of broccoli rabe, and provolone has never been my favorite cheese, but these three flavors just worked together so well. The shredded pork was extremely tender and flavorful, the provolone was sharp enough to cut through its fattiness, and the broccoli rabe brought a little crunch and freshness to it all. As for the bread, it's passable, but nothing special. Is the sandwich worth $9 though? That's debatable...$9 seems a bit steep, even considering that they don't skimp on the portion size. My main issue is with the accompaniment: Utz Chips...really? And only two varieties (Plain and Sour Cream and Onion)? It'd be nice if they had an option for a soup/sandwich combo, and maybe a side salad, or something else for people who don't want chips. And for those who do want chips...Utz just plain suck, and for $9 Toscana could do better. I saw a few salads and such behind the glass counter that looked good (shrimp and corn salad, etc.), but these all appeared to be meals; none of them were sides. The addition of good sides would put Toscana Cafe over the top for lunch, especially since they have 14 really appealing sandwiches, and pizza that looked pretty decent. One last thing that was nice was that they had ice water available, already in full size cups, unlike most places that give you some mini cup when you don't want to pay for a drink. I'll probably be back to try a few others, since it's so tempting, but for the price I'd like just a little more.

Since it looks like we're going to be able to do some deep frying, I think I'm going to take a crack at making Suppli al Telefono (balls of tomato risotto stuffed with fresh mozzarella).