Rovers2000

Took the +1 to Eventide to celebrate her birthday last night and from start to finish, had just a perfect evening. Arrived 20 minutes early for our reservation so we hopped over to the bar and paid Steve a visit. she had the mulled wine (merlot, mulling spices, cherry juice) which was perfect for a night where the winter chill was starting to make itself known. I had the Tire Swing (Apple Brandy, Pressed Cider, Orange bitters) which was also delicious. Heading upstairs to Eventide's stunning dining room, we were seated and began the night with a bottle of the Eventide Cuvee (2008, Oregon, Patricia Green Cellars) which was delicious. Once we ordered, an amuse of fried butternut risotto over a maple creme fraiche was a nice little start to the meal and was quickly followed by Eventides house made biscuts. They hit the table still nice and warm and I had to restrain myself from eating more than one basket of them. For the app course, I had the bison tartare. I really loved how the bison and cranberry mustard tasted together and even after the generous portion, I could've kept eating this. The +1 had the butternut squash soup which was nice, the apple/bacon adding a nice additional layer of flavor. For mains, I had the Roasted Lamb cooked a perfect medium rare. The brussels spourts/homemade italian sausage combined with the chestnut puree and the lamb were a perfect compliment for a chilly December evening. She ordered the flat iron steak which again, was cooked to perfection (I didn't have much of this as she stabbed at my hand as I tried to sneak more than one bite). For desert I had the pumpkin bread pudding and literally ended up scraping the remainder of the bourbon/molasses sauce off the bottom of the plate...clearly I was thrilled this was still on the menu. She ordered the apple/cranberry tart which I ignored b/c I was too absorbed with the bread pudding. So the food was clearly excellent but what really made Eventide stand out was just how effortless their service is. Multiple times I chatted up the folks serving us (be it Steve at the bar, the manager upstairs, etc) and the ease at which they provided a service that, putting it simply, made me feel relaxed and comfortable should be commended. In my mind Eventide has jumped ahead of the other food destinations in Arlington (and has no problem competing with those in the district)is wholly on the shoulders of the team manning the kitchen, the bar, and the floor itself. I am already eagerly awaiting a return trip.

This is fantastic! Well done!

Shelly's Back Room is what I would recommend off the top of my head. I've had scotch and cigars there with my father and it sounds like it'd be close to what you're looking for. The food isn't good, but if you're just going for a smoke and a few drinks it would work.

...don't judge me for literally beginning to drool when I read this post. Pumpkin Ice Cream...Maple Syrup...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I just picked up a pint of the Spiced Pumpkin from Max's (cash only, FYI) in Glover Park. MY GOD . Delicious stuff.

Has anyone out there spotted the Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada collaboration beers: Limb & Life and Life & Limb? I'd love to get my hands on some but have yet to see them around town.

I would check out China Town Coffee Co. (http://chinatowncoffee.com/blog/). I know they have Intellegentsia teas and what not. I've never picked up freshly roasted beans there, but I would think it'd be a good bet (or give them a call to double check).

So as Gennaro and I were walking into Palena I actually said to him "I hope I haven't hyped this up so much to myself that it won't live up to my expectations". The lesson here, as always, is that I'm an idiot. I knew going in that I wanted to try the burger so after the delivery of my Brooklyn Lager in went my order for the fry plate and burger. Before I jump into my thoughts on what I ordered, Gennaro was nice enough to let me sample both the chestnut soup and the consume and I agree with all the comments about the consume, simply put it was perfect in every way. EDIT: although thinking back, the slice of foie gras didn't really add anything (although, that simply could be a result of an unrefined palate on my part). Next up was the plate of fried goodness that landed in front of me. I thought the thin crisp fries were perfect, the onion rings coated lightly in a tempura like batter, little dollops of fried mashed potatoes, but the star was the fried lemons (which were sliced very thin)...screw savoring these, I literally couldn't eat them fast enough they were so good and legitimately, I may ask for an entire order of them the next time I head to Palena. In terms of the burger...well, it was everything I wanted it to be. Perfectly medium rare, not too much cheese, and a thin smear of mayonnaise and while the meat itself was not only perfectly cooked but perfectly seasoned I feel that the bun was what brought everything together. It stood up to the juicy burger extremely well, holding the excess moisture within its brioche goodness. After I cut a piece of it for Gennaro I literally mowed this thing down in about 5 minutes, simply b/c I couldn't make myself put it down. So while it may have taken me 5 months to walk up the block and visit Palena, I can assure you that it won't be nearly as long until I'm back (esp. b/c the fried duck egg burger that the bartender was discussing with me sounds glorious...)

I've never seen a CSA in Eastern PA that delivers (I grew up in the Lehigh Valley) but this guide was passed along to me by a friend and seems like it'd be a good place to start: http://www.localfoodphilly.org/cg_csa.php While there aren't any that deliver, there are a few that have quite a variety of pickup locations. Best of luck.

Just met an old colleague at Lost Dog (the original, expanded location) for lunch. I have to say, I was pretty impressed with the new space. Much more open than the old and at noon it was easy to get a seat (as opposed to when I used to frequent the old place, back when I didn't work/live in the city). The chicken corn chowder was as good as I remembered it being and the Razbo Oscar (chicken, feta cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes) actually was better than usual (not sure what sort of upgrades they did in the kitchen but its definitely much bigger). Another welcome addition is the increased cold storage space for the beer selection. As opposed to having shelves and shelves of warm beer all the cans/regular sized bottles are stored cold.

The GOG's just posted a note on their blog that The Passenger will be open as of 5pm on Thursday. Joe, you've been lucky to have such nice weather while you've been out on your cot

Who all is heading to Old Ebbitt for this? I have 2 tickets on Friday and it'll be my first one. Any tips/suggestions for a first timer?

Marinated (in apple cider, mustard, garlic, and rosemary) pork loin over roasted apples and leeks. Whole grain mustard mashed potatoes.

I thought this was an interesting read (being the data focused/analytic type that I am), I like that they admit that this "study" doesn't really prove much and that you aren't going wrong if you either ignore the parker ratings/medals or just decide to experiment and choose what YOU like. Here is the link. In the event that the article gets locked behind the pay wall, shoot me a PM and I'm happy to send you the full text. I also got a good laugh from this line: Or you could just shrug and embrace the attitude of Julia Child, who, when asked what was her favorite wine, replied "gin." With a snippet from the article:

Gennaro (and now Leigh) beat me to it, but I'll chime in with my thoughts on the meal and beers from last night: First the beers, of which I had 3: -The Mahattan Project by Brooklyn Brewery - This tempted me b/c I'm always down for a good Manhattan and I was curious to see how a beer crafted to taste like one would come out. Deep red color with some strong cherry syrup/bitters notes at first with a definite rye aftertaste. Served in a tulip glass. -Palo Santo Marron by Dogfish Head - Went with this as I've never seen it on draft before, definitely a deep black color with some caramel malt at the front and a spicy bite on the finish. The high alcohol content is apparent but it is a surprisingly easy drinking beer. Served in a snifter. -Black Chocolate Stout by Brooklyn Brewery - Tried this Russian Stout after discussing a few different options with the server. Great aroma of chocolate and coffee. Definitely a creamier feel than the Palo Santo and it was a nice end to the meal as it was definitely a more filling brew that went very well with the deserts we had ordered. As someone who has now eaten both upstairs in Churchkey and downstairs in Birch & Barley, while the service is spotty I think it is important to remember that the place has been open for what, a month? In terms of the food, I really enjoyed the Arctic Char Tartare from the app course and the Fig/Gorgonzola flatbread and the Risotto from the seconds we had at the table (Gennaro and Leigh have captured the food well above so I won't go into detail). Additionally I really thought their take on a dessert plate was cool ("hostess" cupcake, oatmeal cream pie, pumpkin pie ice cream with graham cracker crumbs, home made marshmellow, etc) and extremely tasty and a great conversation piece. All in all, I really have enjoyed my two visits and look forward to many more to both Churchkey and Birch & Barley. While the upstairs bar gets packed they definitely do their best to keep it managable (resulting in a line out the door). The decor downstairs is mesmirizing (fortunately I had my back turned to the "Beer Organ" or I would have been staring longingly at it all evening) if a bit loud. The place is off to a great start in my opinion and once the staff get some more seasoning this will really be a bright spot not only for beer, but for food in Logan Circle.

I had checked at the Giant (Van Ness) and Harris Teeter (Ballston). Neither had them (when I asked if I could order them I didn't receive much of a response)...I checked with Wegmans earlier this am (Fairfax) and they have them. Thanks for the suggestions.

I would be in for the first Friday in December idea (+1 or +2 based on the bacon chocolate chip cookies/sweet onion bacon ice cream alone)

Ate there on Tuesday with a party of 7. Dining room was fairly empty at 730 which surprised me somewhat, although this was my first trip to the actual dining room as on previous visits I'd eaten at the bar. I personally skipped the salads/starters (although two in the group split the evolution salad which was met with a positive review) and jumped right into a "punctuated equilibrium" pie. I have to admit that I really like the touch of sweetness in their flatbread crust. The pie struck a good balance with the saltiness of the olives and the sweetness of the red onions...I would definitely order this again. Another pairing in the group ordered their ham/cheeder/apple flatbread which while good, is trumped by the version up the street at Liberty Tavern. The only disappointment came during dessert when I was informed that at the Clarendon location they aren't serving the Moorenko's pumpkin ice cream anymore (alhtough oddly enough in the newsletter that hit my inbox a bit ago, it seems the Ashburn location still does ). Instead I split the ice cream sandwich. While good, it wasn't anything to write home about (unlike the pumpkin ice cream that I had on previous visits). All in all, this was an enjoyable meal (and they seem to be on the Bell's bandwagon, which I wholeheartedly endorse, as they've added the Best Brown Ale on tap) although I tend to waver in regard to my thoughts on if its a bit on the expensive side for what it is. Irregardless, I will be back.

Does anyone know a shop (or grocery store) that sells smoked turkey wings? I'm planning on using them to make some stock for the holiday but can't seem to find them (I apologize if this is the wrong forum to post in...figuring a butcher shop may have them) in the area. Anywhere in DC/NOVA/MD is fine but in the district or NOVA would be ideal.

Picked up a 6 pack of the Bells Winter White. As someone who is a huge witbier fan, this heartier/nicely spiced version is a refreshing change for the winter months. Actually reminded me a bit of the Troegs Dream Weaver but a bit heavier. I first tried this last year on draft at the Big Hunt but couldn't find it in the area by bottle (sadly, at this point last year, I was unaware of Ace Beverage ), however I have seen it all over this year. Bells continues to amaze me with the quality of their product.

Broiled flank steak (marinated in lime/garlic/chilli's) Quinoa with black beans and cilantro ...possibly some chocolate covered cherries for dessert.

I just peel the tough outer layers off the stalk, slice so they're about the same size Dean recommended above and either saute or roast them (tossed with olive oil/kosher salt/black pepper). If you keep them the size of the half sprout they take about the same amount of time to cook.

After having salivated over the fall pizza from Gennaro's previous reviews, I finally made my way over to Radius (which is dangerously close to home) yesterday with the +1 and her cousin. For a group of 3 who all are die hard pizza fans (I had been talking the place up even though I'd never set foot inside) everyone was pretty excited to try and Radius certainly did not disappoint. As we were there for a late lunch/early dinner we skipped the apps although they were tempting and dove right into two pizza's: The Fall Pizza and the Benelli. The fall pizza was everything the previous reviewers said it was. There was some skepticism about the pumpkin base but everyone agreed it was a perfect accompaniment to the cheeses/red onions/mushrooms. The crust was just the right balance of crisp and chewy but I kept looking at the pie in amazement over how well the ricotta and feta cheeses worked together. The Benelli is a more traditional pizza with lovely sopresetta (sp), spinach, kalamata olives and mushrooms. While the olives have a strong flavor, they worked very well with its counterparts on the pie. We wrapped the meal up with some of the pumpkin bread (which was served as a generous portion with a few slices and some apricot (I believe) preserves). This was interesting as it gave up the cake-like traditional idea I had of pumpkin bread for more of an actual bread (if that makes any sense ). At first everyone was a little surprised but of course everyone began aggressively digging into the dish and silence settled over the table. While it certainly doesn't displace my love for "true" pumpkin bread, it is an excellent end to the meal without the traditional amount of sweetness. So all in all we left thinking a few things: Radius knows their pumpkin (that in and of itself will prompt returns). How long will the fall pie stay on menu (please another month!). What delicious seasonal pies will the chef come up with next? Clearly, I (and my guests) look forward to returning soon.

Banana buttermilk pancakes with roasted bacon. Black coffee and OJ.

Picked up a 4 pack of this from Ace Beverage after work today. Excellent stuff, wonderful roast coffee taste. Managed to resist the urge to pick up some of the other stouts in the case, instead picking up a 6 of Geary's Autumn Ale (since I'm a sucker from all beers from Maine). Another great fall beer in the english brown style. Nice maple syrup notes to it and very smooth.