ktmoomau

Sin above all sins... I can't believe they even served you

Hey Dave, What are you guys doing for NYE?

Thought the same thing, see American Flatbread thread.

I think we need a Rockwell vigil... (not to be confused with a normal vigil, a Rockwell vigil is observed by eating copious amounts of very good food and drinking a copious amount of beverages while at the same time as observing the devotion to love all good food, especially that which is locally sourced and of supreme quality) Who is with me? This event seems to be coming together here.

Let me know and you could have company if you want it. Man our hood is taking a lot of hits lately: this, Eventide things, stupid American Taproom replacing Sette Bello (not that I loved Sette Bello, but the replacement is even worse).

No, just a notice on their website. I would guess it wasn't busy enough only because I know they were giving out a lot of groupons for brunch. But the lounge always seemed pretty packed at brunch and there were always at least like five other tables in the dining room when we would go possibly more, that dining room is so big and designed to keep quieter, I am not good at guessing how busy it is. So that is only a guess, a quite uninformed guess. It and Tallula are the hands down best brunch places in Arlington. Although neither are ever packing them in like Harry's Tap Room, Whitlows or Cheesecake Factory when it comes to brunch.

Where is that like button? This is my sentiment too. I don't go for the food particularly (except the beef sandwich, Dave) although it is good, I go for the cocktail program. I really truly hope that doesn't change. I don't give a damn about the rooftop, really, just the cocktail program and bartenders in the lounge. I want to be able to go in and tell them things I like and they bring me something different that I love and then say want to try something really different with a smile on their face. I want the cocktail menu to be different everytime I go in and when I say whaaa you took my favorite drink off again, they laugh and say don't worry let me make you this one. If that part of Eventide changes then I feel like it will have lost it's soul. And I don't want it to lose it's soul because I lost Gina to downtown DC, this is my only GREAT and I mean it GREAT, FANTASTIC cocktail bar left in my hood. Thanks SeanMike for being able to describe the exact thing I was feeling better than I could myself.

MY !*@%ing Media Center DVR didn't records the last couple minutes of the show! My husband blames Bravo for not timing the shows well with the TV guide. I blame the computer! I had to go online to see who lost. I was really happy for Dale to win, I think he kept true to himself, but went out of the box too. His dish looked awesome I wish I could have eaten it.

Well maybe if you put that beef sandwich on the bar menu.... I am serious. I am not supposed to eat gluten (don't worry I won't die) and I do because every element of that sandwich on the brunch menu is so damned good, even the bread, I can't resist. It was perhaps my husband's favorite thing there of all time. And now I have told everyone about it, and now you stop brunch. And Steve isn't there. I really think it is the least you could do.

I am so sad to hear this news. I knew things were taking a turn for the worst when I would no longer be able to get that awesome beef sandwich for brunch, and now add the fact that I won't be seeing any of your smiling faces there. I will genuinely miss having you all there. Steve was pretty much the sole reason I liked hanging out at the bar at Eventide so often. I wish you all the best. And I am really kind of steamed that you will probably be turning up next somewhere not as close to my house. Best of luck and let us know where you end up! This really is such rotten news, but I am hoping you end up somewhere that appreciates your philosophy for customers. If the rooftop bar goes the way of Whitlows or etc, that will suck.

Calling DCCK.

I think there is an interesting dynamic on Top Chef. On one hand if Angelo last season couldn't perform in the finale due to health reasons he wouldn't have been considered, he didn't get a pass he got eliminated so to speak. And if a chef soldiers through with an injury they are still expected to cook well. But clearly Jamie got a pass. I guess the lesson here is if you are injured go to the hospital and don't soldier on. In some way I feel like if you have an injury and need medical attention you shouldn't be penalized, but then again if you do nothing in a challenge when you could have perhaps done something... I think the rules should be clearer and more consistent on injuries.

Oh I am so jealous, this might be the first year in five years I won't be in Miami in January Please do write in so I can live vicariously.

I was really surprised it was Jen over Tre whose sauce seemed to be unedible. But hey I didn't taste the food. I am sad to see her go. I think she probably needed some sleep and was annoyed with the restrictions of the challenge. But still you have to play the game and she knew that. I for one will miss seeing her in the upcoming shows as she was one of my favorites from past seasons.

Was at Grapeseed last night before going to a play. Didn't have a full meal, but had some really good appetizers. I really liked the mushroom and polenta appetizer. It had a really nice sauce and was comforting. The vietnamese meatballs were good, they had a nice little salad with them. The calamari was really good, I liked that it wasn't battered and fried. It also wasn't overcooked or really chewy, it was nice. My mother and her SO also had the scallops, foie gras and chicken livers. All which were good. I also liked that they had a lot of things with no or minimal gluten in them. My only complaint was perhaps portion size compared to price for some items like the piquillo pepper, which was $10 for one stuffed pepper. That seems pretty steep. The meatballs were $10 for three meatballs and some salad, again when the final bill came, it just seemed steep for the amount of food on the plate, although the food was prepared well. But the drink pours were very generous and it was a nice evening. I would go back, especially to the bar, but it just wasn't a super great value.

Just heard some new items are being tested. If you are in there later on in the evenings you may get a taste. Crossing my fingers that they get the wow factor back. If anyone goes please report.

I had the offline message all day today too.

Well if you understand collection laws/ bankruptcy laws and the price of trying to collect judgments you might understand how difficult doing what you suggest is, quite frankly it's impossible. You can only collect what money is there now, and then there is the issue of jointly titled property. Him going to jail would only make that pot less. But him having a salary means his wages will be garnished and that isn't as costly as many other collection methods. Maybe he is being underpayed, but that wouldn't benefit him. It means he will have his wages garnished for a longer period of time, he will be working for more years, he will have a collections going on for a longer period of time anytime he ever gets anything. And if you think he might be getting an influx of cash in another way I doubt it because I am sure there are numerous collections and tax attorneys carefully going through all of his financials, especially for taxes. In this day and age it is harder and harder to hide cash. And I am sure he couldn't finance the restaurant or get any credit if he had any ownership of the restaurant and no one who would work for him if he controlled the ship so of course he doesn't own it. He wouldn't be able to own a restaurant. So I don't think that is a sham either, just the reality of royally screwing up and now having large debts and no credit. If he can do press and earn more money it helps him pay off these judgments, and eases his stress level and helps his family so I am not sure that is a great arguement. I don't think there is any reason it makes sense not to take more money if you could get it. He might be being payed such a low salary because the owners aren't sure from past experiences how successful this venture will be, especially with his current lack of appeal to many and down economy in higher end dining. I am in no way saying what he did is good or that he should benefit from it, I am just saying that the only way these people will get paid is if he is successful, that is reality. So I think people going and dining at the restaurant shouldn't be lauded as supporting a monster. And the press of course want to interview him, or have him on chats because he will bring in readership and that is what they are all about. I am not saying you have to patronize his restaurant, I am saying though that in reality that is the only way the debts will get paid so you shouldn't be so critical of others who go if you really so deeply care about these people being paid.

Went to the Sterling (Dulles) location after I bought my new Saab!!! (I know, I know, I bought the same exact type of car one year newer and in a different color, it seems silly but I loved my old car very sad it was totaled.) I like the feel of the place and really liked some of the sauces: garlic, wild, terriyaki. But I thought the wings were really small and they had too much dressing on them. I have to say I much prefer Nando's Peri Peri wings and even Bateman's to these. It is a good place to watch games and I am sure nice to come with a big group for sports and trivia, but I wasn't impressed with their main product.

Had a nice evening out the other night with Sthitch and Ericandblueboy and spouses here. It was my first hot pot experience so I have nothing to compare it to. Overall I liked it, but I can see how it could be kind of a seasonal thing. I don't think I would want hotpot in summer. We had a half hot half mild pot. I loved the hot side the oil and broth just had so much flavor, but I thought it was nice to have the mild pot, although I think others at the table were less whelmed with it. I liked the mild pot for cooking pea shoots because the hot overwhelmed their flavor. I also liked it for the lamb because then you could taste the lamb and dipping sauce you made, as well as, fish balls and dumplings which I liked absorbing a brothy flavor instead of the hot. But the hot was excellent for everything else. Highlights for me were definitely the pea shoots, rice noodles, wood mushrooms and meatballs. I really liked the greens in the hot pot. The lamb, tripe and etc were all good, but I think I like those things better grilled not boiled. The shrimp and fish balls really benefited from the boiling in the flavors. But it was so much fun with a group. Watching people cough, sneeze and etc was actually pretty comical and made it a fun dinner. And all the reaching and sharing made it very interactive. All in all it was fun and nice for a cold night. They said you got rice, we never got it, but didnt' really need it especially with all the greens.

Had brunch here on Saturday for the MIL's birthday. Started with french press coffee. Wowzer, I don't drink coffee often so this to me was strong coffee, good but strong, my FIL loved it though. We had a platter of doughnuts which I am not supposed to eat (gluten) but they looked so good I was tempted beyond my ability to control my actions, so I ate a couple slivers of a couple of them. They had a cake doughnut with lemon icing that was really good, the praline chocolate was forgettable- not worth the calories or gluten, but the butterscotch may be the best doughnut I have ever eaten (and as a side note my amish nanny makes homemade glazed doughnuts that put krispy kreme to shame). So worth the inevitable popping of stomach pills and regrets later. It was light light light, crispy and the topping wasn't too thick and icing like, it was more like a thin butterscotch that they dipped it in. Not too sweet, but with great flavor. Really best doughnut ever. I then had steak frites. I am a little tired as I noted in the gf dining thread of the repetitive gf options including steak frites. At least these were done exceptionally well. The meat was terrific, tender, a nice portion, seasoned well, but the sauce may have made it a little too rich, it was great, just very rich for brunch. Frites were exactly how I like them. Salad was perfectly dressed and I loved the pickled onions. My Hubby thought the croque monsieur had way too much butter, he wasn't as thrilled with it as I was with my selection. Also as a note the omlette my MIL had is just an omlette so if you want potatoes or etc you have to order them as sides. It was a little strange since the rest of us had huge plates of food come out. Service was good although our server just looked a little undone. Bedhead, untucked shirt, looked like perhaps she worked the night before too. But she was very nice.

Probably the past four times I have eaten out I have sat next to someone extremely picky/bitchy. I have felt really bad for the server/manager in all occasions. I tend to tip even more than normal in those situations. What frustrates me sometimes is when I can't speak to a manager at the time of an incident, then write them a polite email just letting them know what happened and I don't even get a thank you for your email we are working on those issues. I think on this board that most people make good judgment calls as to when to write what. When there is something negative I read that and evaluate it just as I do a positive post. Some I might take more to heart than others. But I think there is a place for everything written on here and that people typically do a pretty good job.

I think some of the support he gets currently is based on the fact that he can't pay any of those debts if he isn't cooking, and cooking well. So I think at this point going and eating at the restaurant supports his past employees, Arlington County and etc. Probably at more than any other time he is cooking to make sure he and his family are ok, so I am sure that he isn't taking his time in the restaurant for granted. For him now every night counts.

That's a good idea. They are really good about having gf options at dinner that are interesting and accommodating needs.