ktmoomau

I really like the lobster pasta with chucks of lobster and lobster meatballs at Eventide. I thought it was the second best lobster dish I have ever had behind the French Laundry.

Not sure if you are looking for restaurants or for in home preparation, but after tasting it, if you got fresh pasta you could probably figure out how to do everything except perhaps the meatballs those looked tricky, but you might be able to figure that out.

I really liked the lobster at the French Laundry because it had a beet sauce which really equaled out the richness well with the earthy flavor of the beet. But I don't think you would want a lot of beet, just a little beat sauce perhaps.

D'Acqua has it as a pasta. Haven't had it, but I figured it would be on their menu...

The old Hook used to have a black risotto with fresh squid with risotto cooked in the ink that was fantastic, very reminiscent of Barcelona, which has a lot of cuttlefish and ink preparations.

Contacted my Rep, thanks for the information.

I noticed the upcoming season has Mike Isabella (Zaytinya) and Bryan Voltaggio (Volt) among its contestants (as well as local born Michael Voltaggio - chef at Bazaar in L.A. and Bryan's brother). Should be fun for the locals.

Should be really exciting. I got to eat at Michael Votaggio's Hemisphere adventure at the Greenbrier and that was an amazing meal. And Volt was good, but after reading Joe H.'s report about Table 21, I need to go back now. Will be fun to watch. They also have a chef from Baltimore from Abacombie so a good representation from our area.

I ate there only once, but they had a lobster pasta that was good (nowhere close to the lobster pasta at Eventide though). Had a bite of the gnocchi and it was ok, but not as good as many other gnocchi's in the city. But again was only once. I find the ambiance a little kitschy, but it is at least endearing kitschyy and not scary kitschy.

We have been going here since it first opened. I like Dolcezza better, but it's nice to have such a quality place nearby. Went back recently and had peanut butter brownie and blood orange. Both were very good. Blood orange was really refreshing and sweet, but not too sweet. Peanut butter brownie was a really good mix of the two flavors. I love both peanut butter and brownies and have a bad sweet tooth so it really hit the spot. When we went on a Friday night around 8:30 the line when we got there was a few people but quickly grew to the end of the block. I am glad to see them doing well they try to have really good creative flavors.

Actually finally ate dinner at PS7's last night after normally hanging and eating at the bar. I love Gina, miss having her at Eat Bar so I don't have to go so far, but love what she has done here. Their bar food is just great. That Primanti Brothes sandwich while not the original makes me happy to have something with similar flavor nearby.

But last night sat at a table. Ordered a bottle of sparkling wine and had a good time with a friend. Started with oxtail tots, then had the cornmeal encrusted trout with green beans, which was fresh and good. Had a nice crunch on the crust but the fish was perfectly moist, nicely seasoned. The green beans were cooked nicely and I liked the sauce. Not anything over the top just really good.

What I really loved was the Creme Brulee Cake with raspberry sorbet. The cake part to it had a great lavender flavor and was moist and dense. I would love to have the recipe for just the cake part (well I would take the whole recipe). I love lavender and this was great for me. The sorbet on top gave a nice freshness to it, the custard in the middle was nice for moisture, sweetness and texture, but I could have eaten a big piece of just the cake on the bottom.

What are you favorite all-around knives? I used a Wusthof Trident chef's knife - but are any of you using something you love that doesn't break the bank? Iknow Cook's Illustrated is a big fan of the Forschner - have you used it?

I'm in desperate need of steak kinves - mine rip and tear the poor meat....any suggestions?

I really like my global chef's knife and it wasn't real expensive, it fits my hand well. I always check out some websites like cutleryandmore and etc and see who is having a sale on what, but we have a set of henckel steak knives that we got at Kohls with money from a return of some christmas present and they were ridiculously cheap and work well for steak knives...

I awoke the other day with a craving for fried clams. For the life of me I can't conceive of a place in Mont County that would have anything decent.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Not in MoCo, but Tacklebox in Georgetown and Hank's Oyster Bar are my two favorites, although I am no connoisseur of fried clams.

Really???????? Noooooo. I would have gone for one last chicken and goat cheese or sausage sandwich. Some things were hits, some things were misses (the awful poboy). But all in all I loved this place. It was the go-to at my old work. So sad, it couldn't be business. Business was always good.

Hubby and I have had the kitchen out of commission due to renovations so we have been eating out a good bit lately, I might go in reverse just to remember it all:

Sunday: Lunch at Lost Dog so we could go to the little Hardware store. Had the White Pizza II, which isn't near as good as the white pizza at the Italian store. Way too much cheese (I think even I.S. is a little too cheesy but the garlic is soo good there). Their philly cheesesteak is a much better white pie I wanted to get that one, oh well. We also had the Catahoula with broccoli, chicken, spicy red sauce, tomatoes, mozz and basil. This one was good. I like broccoli on pizza I don't know why. Also had a side salad and italian fries. Salad had way too much feta cheese on it. I never remembered the side salad having cheese, I will now always remember to ask for none. Fries were waffle fries seasoned nicely, but just waffle fries, no big deal. The draft root beer, however, I love. Very smooth, not too sweet or too tangy very nice.

Dinner- Matsutake in Arlington because we didn't want to drive and I was sick of everything else in walking distance. Sat at the sushi bar, stuck with the staples, nothing really a standout, but decent sushi if you live a block or two away and don't feel like getting in the car. The guys at the sushi bar are nice so I tend to sit up there.

Saturday: Lunch at friends in Annapolis. Mmmm crabcakes done right. Dinner at Rock Bottom because after a day of putting all our servers and hard drives in the new media center that arrived, grubby hubby wanted wings. I got a salad after the night befores debauchery.

Friday: Honey Pig- delicious. Had seafood pancake, boiled egg, spicy pork belly, beef ribs, octopus and pork. It was our first time and it was great. We will be back. The spicy octopus on the grill was great my favorite, not chewy just good.

Thursday: Eventide at the bar. The upswinger cocktail was sweet, but a little tart and very good for a girls night. I had another drink that was very good too, but I can't remember the name obviously less memorable. Had the olives and cheese plate to start. A nice portion of cheese, needed more bread, crackers, but that it a small complaint. Nice selection a brie, a blue and hard white that I forget tasted a lot like a softer asiago, but I forget the name. Had the chicago inspired beef sandwich which was juicy, but not too juicy, the meat was cooked to tender perfection, it was a little salty, but balanced with the caramelized onion and side greens. Companion had the skirt steak that looked very good. The bar was packed... I mean packed. But the bartender was nice as can be- when I was slowly sipping the second cocktail he was worried I didn't like it and offered to make me something else. Made sure even though we were at the table not right at the bar we had everything we needed and got drinks. Really for such a crowded busy place the bartenders were excellent.

Wednesday: Went to whole foods by the tile store we had to finalize the tile at. Had coq au vin, mashed potatoes, eggplant roasted in tomatos, wheatberry salad and broccoli. This was nice and comforting as it is the closest we have come to eating at home in a while. After a couple weeks without a kitchen you kind of ache for the type of food you make at home on a normal basis- fresh salads, potatoes, chicken, steamed veggies. Note to anyone out of a kitchen for a while- Wholefoods is a good option.

Tuesday: Mahi Mahi at Big Buns with lettuce, grilled peppers, grilled onions, corn salsa, tomato and pineapple with a little bit of bbq sauce and sweet potato fries. I am always impressed with how crispy they get their sweet potato fries. They are really good. A little salty but good with the spicy aioli they give you. The mahi there is always really juicy, I like the toppings with it, they ensure it will fall apart and I will have to eat it with fork and knife, but that is ok. I like that we have a cheaper burger place that also does chicken and fish nearby, which has beer.

The meals out seem endless, but I can't remember any other highlights at the moment, except the mac and cheese at Grand Cru with wine, two bottles, with friends who made the house being a mess bearable.

Thanks for those who have responded so far. Eastern Market is definately on the top of my list for the bluebucks. I just hope everything is back up an running by then.

ktmoomau, regarding the dietary restrictions. Don't worry too much about it. You would be surprised how many restaurants have a small selection of vegetarian plates on their menu.

Ice cream... where's the best place to go?

Thanks,

Dan

Well if you are anywhere near Dolcezza it is the top of my list. It's Gelato they have flavors like honey, lemon, cardamon. Their cinnamon is really good, so is the marscapone and pistachio. If you want Ice Cream you could go to Giffords in Penn Quarter. There is also Thomas Sweet in Georgetown. Then there are a slew of frozen yogurt places now all over. I also heard they opened a Pitango Gelato at 15th and P that I am really excited to try.

For the bluebucks please note- they stop serving breakfast at 11 on weekdays, 12 on weekends and that means you have to order by then. On the weekends the line really depends on the weekend but it could be up to an hour on a busy weekend. It can be tricky. If you are a baker though you must be used to early hours so it shouldn't be as bad

I think the restaurants in Courthouse don't do as much business because alot of them aren't that good or worth seeking out and there's much less foot traffic than in Clarendon because it doesn't have the stores or as many bars that Clarendon has to draw people to the neighborhood. The restaurants in Courthouse Plaza like Sawatdee and Asahi are also hidden from the street.

Agree with the above.

GuaRapo is ok for happy hour, Rays is great, it's also a recent newcomer and doesn't have a bar so doesn't help the bar scene, Me Janna is good but more expensive than many places with similar dishes. We go to Satwadee when we go to the movies there. But it isn't a place you would go bar hoping at, or just drive to and say well meet here and pick some place to go or that you would want to walk around after dinner and explore. Also there is the courthouse parking lot but it is kind of hidden and most people if they don't know about the Highland garage go to the one at the shopping plaza which isn't too expensive and highly visible in Clarendon.

They have more lunch options because of the courthouse that just aren't exactly what you want for dinner, but serve their purpose. But also because of the times of the Arlington dockets I never am there at lunch time.

I'll have to try them again. I stopped in around the holidays to get some wine and cheese for a party I was heading to. Quite literally, the cupboards were completely bare. Aside from mass produced plonk and frat boy beers, there was nothing in the store worth drinking. And there was no "gourmet food" anywhere in sight, save for Route 11 potato chips. The gentleman working there explained to me that they "Just ran out of a lot of things" as if four tour busses had departed as soon as I pulled in the parking lot. I figured they would be out of business soon, and never went back. I'll have to poke my head in there this weekend.

I went a while ago (when I first got my job and was still allowed to leave for lunch because I wasn't as useful as I am now) and haven't been back. I am trying to think what I had it was either a rueben or hot pastrami and was pretty good. Maybe they have gone downhill, or I was there on an off good day? It wasn't packed with gourmet foods either as I recall, but I just really wanted a decent sandwich. I might have to try it again now too... just to see.

Here's a conundrum. Why is it OK and acceptable for ladies to be able to wear sandals in some places and it's not ok for gents to do the same? I'm not talking about nasty old or casual sandals, but nice man sandals. What's the deal?

And big giant über colorful sneakers. Why are these allowed anywhere? Some of them are the size of small moons. ;-p

Shall we also discuss hiking boots?

Carry on!

Because society feels man feet are disgusting, while lady feet are very appealing. You don't hear about many women who have foot fetishes do you? Yet I have seen an advertisement on TV for the bachelorette where there is even one on TV. No one wants to see big, ugly, hairy man feet, especially because the majority of men don't take care of their feet or nails. Although I have to admit hubby has very attractive feet, but he won't wear nice man sandals only flip flops (he lives in Arlington, at least they aren't brown flip flops) so he wouldn't get the privilege of wearing sandals out to dinner anyway (or any nice place). And maybe you do too, but alas society is too scared of big ugly man feet so you lose.

How about the Chinatown/PQ area? Any HH specials? The office is right across from Metro Center. Thanks!!

Ceiba has great happy hour deals. It is on their website under events at the bottom normally. Poste also does a good happy hour. Zengo has happy hour deals (food and drink), I think Zola has happy hour but I don't know the specifics. PS7 has $7 bar food and $4 glasses of wine and other specials. Oya has happy hour with drink specials and I think half price small plates and it runs later than some of the others until 8 I think. Matchbox probably has beer specials. McCormick and Schmicks has a like $1.75 menu at happy hour with small plates and drink specials as I recall pretty good. And Clydes has "Afternoon Delight" food and drink specials (a couple also have the raw bar special like Old Ebbitts but not all). Old Ebbitt has the raw bar half price at certain times which is a great deal.

I think Ceiba and PS7 probably the best in terms of what you get- the cuban sandwiches at Ceiba are great and the flatbreads and primanti brothers sandwich at PS7 excellent and both have stellar cocktails and specials on wine/beer normally.

^ Over-watering is a different animal than watering when the plant is wilted. If you water herbs when they don't appear to be suffering from water stress, you will lose a lot of the flavor by effectively diluting the essential oils in the plant. You get more plant, but less mintiness (for lack of a better word). The same thing happens with hot pepper crops in wet, rainy years - you make your dish and wonder where the heat is. A dry year, however, will give you that nice burn.

It just dawned on me the reason my serrano peppers were so much unusually hotter than normal. Sometimes I am a forgetful gardener with my balcony and tend to go on vacation and they fend for themselves. I guess my peppers were living on the edge as they were some freaking hot serrano peppers. Will have to remember that this year for my jalapenos as I like those about as hot as they can get. But those serranos... I love spicy spicy and I could barely eat those. I thought I killed poor hubby with them.

Will you be here during the week or weekend? Just wondering... if you are here on a Thursday afternoon near the mall is the Penn Quarter Farmer's market with breads, cheeses, meats, fruit and really tasty gelato which I used to time my court runs around. On Saturdays is the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market and the Eastern Market is open which are bigger markets for you to paruse for picnic stuff.

We in DC don't really have huge amounts of bakeries, but I think if you were here during a weekday you might like Breadline near the white house and I believe they have good veggie stuff too.

You could also go to Cowgirl Creamery in Penn Quarter for picnic stuff.

Also Le Pain Quotiden will have picnic stuff too, although a chain, I know, but pretty good bread.

Not sure about dinner places because of the dietary restrictions, but perhaps Indian food? Bombay Club makes good vegetarian and fish dishes and so does Rasika (although Bombay Club always seems cheaper to me). There are some other cheaper Indian options in DC that have good vegetarian that I read people talking about, but haven't been.

Regent Thai in Dupont/Adams Morgan has good thai food.

And I hear good things about Java Green for healthy vegetarian in DC.

I am sure other people will help you out. What price range are you look for in terms of dinner? Tacklebox has great grilled fish and is casual and cheap and has good veggie side dishes?

Don, enough with the guest chefs at this web site. Obviously, Miss Manners should register and talk to us for a week.

But I am loving reading all this and it has been really insightful! I learned I am an elitist snob. I had my suspicions all along though. Maybe it was my love of good stinky blue cheese and vinagrette on salads at an early age, or because other kids wanted ponies and I had a horse or maybe it was my obsession with chicken nuggets at age 3 (obviously elitist I only liked the all white meat ones) or maybe it was my Father's obsession that I learned tennis so I would fit in with all my elitist friends... I should have seen it sooner, really the signs were all there. Now I feel very enlightened and self-aware. (see? very snobby and elitist...) With this realization I am going to go dictate an email to my assistant- she will LOVE this. And when she gives me that look I will tell her sorry but I learned I am an elitist snob and this is what elitist snobs do.

I learned that some people think that this is an income issue, when I find it really isn't. Just like going to church you can be poor and dress nicer for church than Joe Moneybags.

I love that there are multiples of us youngsters who think that t-shirts are inappropriate.

And I am shocked no one has blamed it on the influence of engineers, .com and technology companies loosening dress code standards. I mean we have blamed it on so many other things why not?

FYI: Zaytinya's dress code says there isn't one but most people wear upscale casual. I think Armani jeans therefore qualify? I do think diners put restaurants in an akward position when they clearly state a dress code and it is ignored. I mean they want to get new customers and keep everyone happy and that is such a fine balance.

And really do we think lunch standards should be lower than dinner?

I am truly loving this. I can't stop reading this thread for the sheer delight.

Thanks everyone. I tried Chutzpah yesterday. Not bad. Corned beef was a little dry.

I'll try to work on my spelling in the fyoocher.

I shouldn't put down Fairfax, I grew up out here. It's just feels somewhat sprawling and bland.

I feel for you. I grew up in the country then moved to the city and I have many of the same feelings about Suburbia. But I have a few friends who have spent pretty much their whole lives in Fairfax and they have taken me to some good places... You just gotta keep trying places and being adventurous and you will find places you like and then it wont seem so bland.

Also forgot to mention Dogfish Head Ale House, it's in Falls Church and I never know what part of that is Fairfax or Falls Church...

I am pretty sure Lost Dog is in Falls Church or worse... Arlington. La Caranquena is in Falls Church but notably good and cheap. There is a good thread on CH about restaurants in Vienna you might paruse, it was up again recently so it is probably on page 1 or 2 of the DC board. I don't spend a lot of time in Fairfax County so I can't give you more recs wish I could but I don't go out for lunch that often although I should.

Please name that deli! I have found no redeeming deli's in my 'hood.

After some digging found the article that led me there in the first place. I thought it was good, but I am not a deli expert.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9021501314.html

Are you looking in Fairfax the city or the county? Here are some ideas for the county which is huge:

If you are looking for more refined dining:

Inox

Evo

2941 (it's ok now, but not what it once was, and not what it was the short time Scott Bryan was there either)

Passionfish (mmm get a soup they are great)

Four Sisters

The Palm

Present

Tachibana

Less refined-

Metro 29 Diner

Artie's

Honey Pig

Nizam's

Rose

Shamshiry

Lebanese Taverna

Monterey Fish Grotto

Wildfire

Dolce Vita

Short list to add to what is above. You will be getting Michel Richard here soon too! There is also a good deli a little north of George Mason that I forget the name of... will try to remember. I work in Fairfax, but they chain me to the desk so I don't leave for lunch. In Fairfax the city there is less, but still some stuff.

And the shrimp diablo at Uncle Julio's is decent.

The main problem is that how one shows respect comes down to a matter of opinion. I might think that wearing my most pristine Iron Maiden concert tee shirt shows respect. Most people here would probably disagree, and say it is not appropriate attire for dinner or drinks at Zaytinya (where this thread began). But if the wearer thinks it is appropriate and management thinks it is, then it is. Who am I, as a third party, to say someone's opinion of appropriateness is right or wrong?

If someone's attire bothers me, at best, I have the right to ask management what they think is appropriate so that I am prepared for next time - if I decide there is to be a next time.

Aren't you the same person who was asking me about my reservation at the French Laundry? Are you going to wear your Iron Maiden shirt there? Do you think that's appropriate? Sorry just had to comment because I bet you will be dressed nicely.

We went to Inox probably week two of its inception. Friends took us as a wedding present. Overall it was really good.

I was extremely happy when I pulled up my junker of a car to the valet and asked them if there was somewhere I could self-park as I had not $1 on me that day and hubby wasn't there yet for me to go inside and steal cash from. They laughed said it was free and to pull right up.

Had a cocktail inside at the bar, the bartenders were really nice, very helpful and informative and our drinks were very good.

Moved onto dinner and I remember a couple minor details I would have changed, my entree just salted a tad too much, I would put a tiny bit more veg on the plate. But all in all for the second week a restaurant was open it was really good. And the wine service was excellent. Desserts were incredible. The walnut financier made me happy I didn't get a chocolate dessert which is really rare.

We didn't pay so I am not sure what the damage was, but I think even at week two it was excellent. So I can't wait to go back now that it is cheaper and they have had some time to work on things and evaluate feedback.

We were a little shocked that it got reviewed so quickly and like it was, but we will gladly go back, so oh well.

Stupid tourist season.

I absolutely loved it last year when I heard that some restaurant wouldn't let a party dine there because they were wearing flip flops (they were from like L.A. and insisted they were important too). Had I not been studying for the bar I would have gone to patronize that restaurant right away and thanked them.

I agree t-shirts have their place, but middle to fine dining it just doesn't have the same atmosphere when dining when people are in their crocs, flops and t-shirts. If they pull the Michael Kors and have a t-shirt under their jacket then it's ok. Part of what you pay for dining out is an experience, and I appreciate a pleasant experience and feeling like it is somewhat special not just an everyday thing when I am dining at a nice place (which is a little ironic because the people eating out everyday are normally wearing suits).