jayandstacey

Oh, and PS - my other takeaway related to boiling water is that the biggest thing you can do to reduce lead is to 'clear the pipes' or let the water run for a minute or two before using. This is especially true after the water has been sitting in the pipes for a few hours, such as in the morning. Hot water 'pulls' more lead than cold - but both need to sit against the lead for a while to really absorb a significant amount.

Thank you for the sources and info. Especially the first source, the link to paper from NIH. It has me thinking, as I sit in my 35 year old house with my two little kids, that I should do lead testing. Note however, that from a technical (logic / scientific proof) side, I still don't see a proven correlation resulting in risk. Words like "if" and "may well be" show this. The NIH article even says that more research should be done - BUT - it summarizes the known research and concludes, at a minimum, that risk may still exist and is worthy of more attention. Fair enough, and the cost of lead in the water is high enough to be worth the effort, even if the odds of having it in dangerous levels are small. So.... my takeaways... 1. I should test for lead 2. The design of the test should show me my best strategy of avoiding lead - either using cold water, or simply letting the water run for 1 or 2 minutes before using.

I dunno. I hear what they are saying, but the logic is really kind of weak. So for instance, the quote provided says that hot water dissolves contaminants faster than cold. If I understand correctly, the claim is that there is an amount of lead in the pipes, even "lead free" pipes. OK, so the hot water flows through the pipes and more quickly 'pulls' lead from the pipes - So wouldn't the logic be this?: The VAST amount of hot water is used for washing and bathing - not consumption. And the hot water only flows through separate pipes for a bit of time (from the heater to the faucet). So wouldn't those pipes become 'cleaner' vs the cold pipes as the impurities like lead are 'pulled' from the pipe walls over many years? My point is that the same trains of logic they ride in such an article can be said about almost any human activity. A passenger car COULD drive off a bridge into a river. It MAY flip over in a wreck. It CAN burst into a raging inferno. And yes, all of these things have happened, yet do so within a risk tolerance that allows us to climb into those same cars each day. Where are the stats of the number of lead (from pipes) related brain injuries and deaths? Don't get me wrong, I'm all about saftey regulations where needed. But an article written about trace amounts of lead in hot water vs cold water is, quite simply, a reporter that doesn't have enough to do.

I enjoyed a really nice meal here this week. The chevice, specifically the "De Pescado Peruano" is $13.95 and comes with three sides: two types of corn and sweet potato slices. The fish is not cooked except in the lime marinade. It is a very "bright" dish but not overly lime flavored. It is cut into bite sized strips and comes with raw sliced red onion, which again is tempered by the strong marinade. The fish is light and fresh, the marinade seems to cook it to a nice degree of firmness. The corn sides are 'regular' and toasted. The regular corn is very large kernels of corn, any one of which is the weight of 6 or more kernels of what comes in American cans of corn. It is meaty and tasty, more like lima beans than corn. By the time I started eating the fish, the fish marinade had run into the corn - and that was fine by me. The toasted corn is served in a leaf of romaine lettuce to help keep it out of the marinade. The kernels have shrunk a bit from the toasting and are lightly salted - they tasted a bit like "corn nuts" without the excessive salt and dryness that make that snack so harsh - there's just enough moisture left in these kernels to make them a little chewy inside. The sweet potato came in two thick slices, served cooked and plain. Given the bright nature of the rest of the food, this sweet addition was welcome to the palate. These too were served in a lettuce leaf. A side dip is a peppery complement to the fish marinade, the way that neon green and neon yellow go together - both will grab your attention, but things get interesting and nice when you mix them. The spice level was enough to know there was a heat source but not enough (in moderation) to cause reactions. All in all, very nice. Every once in a while, I want a meal that is light and bright - not meat and potatoes. This is it, and the next time I have that craving I'm headed to Chantilly

"The Bavarian Nightmare" - I like that. I've worked for about 8 years right where the OP describes...and have eaten more than I should in that time. And given that we're talking about a work lunch here, I'm going to assume we're talking about places that don't require reservations. To that end... I'd add to the list Rubino's italian place next to the shopper's food warehouse - it is really a glorified pizza place with counter service and a good number of tables. Their italian cold cut is one of the best around. You can have it cold or hot and I only recently tried the hot version - it really brings out some flavors and I was expecting it might just be weird. Their thin crust pizza is also pretty good. Not the best ever, but pretty good. The chinese take out place behind rubinos might be the worst chinese food I've ever had. The good news is that it is plentiful - or is that the bad news? I feel like I need a shower after eating there. The next door down is Hama Sushi which has always been very good. They have a small, nice room that if you have a group of 10 or so could be closed off - it's that whole 'leave your shoes over here' kind of place in the room. Ned Devines at the other end of the center is OK for comfort Irish food in a comfort Irish setting. I usually go for their shepards pie or fish and chips, and while neither is the best I've had, both hit the spot, especially on a nasty day. The fish and chips always seems like a TON of food. SBC (Sweet Basil Cafe) is more refined than most. One big hit there is the chicken pot pie, which if they still serve it comes out blown up like a chefs hat. It has a very light and flakey crust and shows care. Many other dishes are good, and again, this cooking is a definite notch above most others, at only a bit more of a price. Up toward old town Herndon, there's a peruvian chicken place on the left side near fudruckers. Pretty good, always crowded. If you Potbelly, there's a Potbelly across the street. Sometimes you need a PB&J. The Amphora diner is also on that side of the street, and while I generally wouldn't recommend it, if you feel the need for some scrambled eggs for lunch, this is your spot. On the way to those places you pass Worldgate shopping center on the right, just after passing under the toll road. There's a Mongolian Grill in there that is really a factory buffett style place. I go when others choose it . Turcuisine is (IMHO) the interesting option in Worldgate, serving Turkish food. I've been a handful of times but not recently, so I can't give a specific review. To a certain degree, Turcuisine is a very modern "hip" vibe to it, so tuck your shirt in if you go. ABck toward the office, there's a new Generous George's right in the mix of new buildings along sunrise valleya by itself and not too easy to find. That place is kind of rediculous. The food is edible, and I'm a big guy. But each of the 2 or 3 times I've been there it's been all about the absurdly piled food placed before me. The good news in Herndon is that there are LOTS of places, many that are even walking distance from where you describe. You have your choice of two Pho places, 3 burrito places, etc. The downside is that none are really super upscale - but that's OK. Most days I just want some lunch. And if you're like me and work with a bunch of others, you end up eventually trying the good, bad and the ugly as everyone gets a vote.

hehehe - I'd say that place was kid friendly. The precious note at the end was provided for free - which is a decent deal, even in euros! For my money, I found my babies and young toddlers were generally OK most anywhere - if they acted up, we could contain/remove them pretty easily. The issues start in the mid-twos, where they start to become independent (ie, no high chair). And most nice places aren't fertile grounds for expressions of freedom by toddlers - no matter how nice they are about it - it just isn't fair to anyone. Our strategy has been to find places with the following features: 1. Fast. Time is the enemy, especially when hungry. 2. Some kind of distraction to kill time, like crayons. 3. Simple foods such as fries, mac and cheese, etc. 4. Autonomy for us is a plus, like seating ourselves, getting our own drinks, etc. 5. A generally high noise level and casual feel. We'll take a high mark in most any category - so for instance, a really high noise level can mitigate other factors. Some places we like: - Noodles and Co. - Japanese Steakhouses (although I'm usually not a big fan of the food) - Chinese places - Pizza places - diners My wife and I went to Black's kitchen once and loved it. We took our kids there the second time and while the food was just as good, the experience was not - I was too tense from the kids to really enjoy. The staff was kind and there were no issues, but I still was in constant "don't do that...sit still!" mode. So to me, if I feel like I might wear a tie to the place, I also leave the kids with a sitter.

Sir Rocks, Thank you for the sugestion - took it and very much enjoyed it! Oddly, I've never thought of myself as liking spicy dishes - but this may be the result of being tricked too many times in college and thus associating "spicy" with tears, pain and repercussions. In this case, I figured that I didn't know Indian cuisine, so why not try it? If I'm going to enjoy Indian food, I can't hide from spice, so I dove it. Loved it. The spice is hot, but more from the sum of the spice than from pure heat. It reminded me of eating heavily JO spiced MD crabs - have some beer ready and your mouth 'dances' for an hour or two following the last crab. Same here - that nice 'dancing' of my taste buds still enjoying the dish. We split a mini-dosa for an appetizer, it was really nice - a chicken filling with a bit of spice, acting as a nice base to a selection of dips (chutneys?) set around the plate, 5 or 6 very different ways of highlighting the dosa. They included a coconut based paste and a spicy hot cranberry choice. Very nice and quite a little adventure. I ordered the Chicked Chettinad with Raita and Naan bread. It was as Don described above, the chicken was perfectly cooked, tender yet firm enough to stand out (in texture) against the two grains when eaten together. My wife got the Shrimp in coconut milk - the presentation was very similar, with two grains and other sides. My two kids (8 and 5) split chicken biryani that the kitchen despiced, but sadly they weren't convinced. They stuck with Naan and pined for mac and cheese. (The biryani seemed good to me - we've jest been gastro-coddling them too much) As mentioned, I don't know Indian cooking; this is only the second time I've ordered it and the last time was 6 years ago. So for me, this is the start of an exploration that will continue. And while you might say "well, if you go right to one of the best dishes, any later experiences will be disappointing", I disagree. This meal makes me look forward to learning and exploring more Indian dishes. Some might be not be as good but that won't discourage me - as I've had the pleasure of an excellent meal at Indique Heights to set me on a good path.

Went to Amicci's in July. Glad we did. I arrived with my wife and two kids, including a 5 year old boy who is generally either happy and loud or unhappy and loud. Fortunately, Amicci's was able to handle this adeptly. They do this with a layout that has enough nooks and crannies to stuff us into one - which didn't isolate us, but it did keep us from being next to any other tables. And that's nice. He'll be 8 soon enough, but for now it's nice to know there are places where we can eat a nice meal. We started with the signature appetizer, the pane rotundo. As mentioned, this is a large breadbowl with a garlicy cream sauce and about 6 giant shrimp. The breadbowl isn't hollowed out like a Panera soup presentation, so in effect what you have is a bread basket covered with a Shrimp Scampi-like offering. It was good, bready and more than enough to satisfy the four of us and almost keep us from eating our main dishes. I realy enjoyed the chicken parmigiana. The chicken was pounded flat and breaded - the meat was tender, the breading crisp and the cheese not too heavy. The pasta was not overcooked (as it often is in more casual places) and the sauce was quite good. It has been a few weeks since the meal, so i can't describe the sauce in detail but it I definitely liked it - and REALLY liked the chicken. Everyone else liked their meals and we overall felt we made the perfect choice, given our party and our tastes. I'd recommend it to anyone except maybe someone in a tuxedo, looking for a very formal experience. Luckily, they address that fact right on the front door. Enjoy! Jay

I had what may be my single worst take-home experience at Branded '72. We called and ordered a bunch of food for pickup, about $150 worth of different, basic stuff. We added a $15 key lime pie - I think it was listed as a special on the website menu. There was some issue with what we tried to accomlish with our order. We wanted BBQ sandwiches and ordered a few pounds of BBQ meat - then couldn't find a way to order rolls. I understand that maybe they want to sell the individual sandwiches - but those don't survive take-out too well. I eventually talked them into selling me a bag of rolls, scratching my head and wondering what I was missing in the conversation. The kicker was the pie. When I arrived for pickup, there was a little scramble to get the pie. But it was added, covered with foil and I left. When I got home, the pie was sliced into a normal 12 slices. 11 of the slices were a newish pie. The 12th slice was added to the pie from something that was key lime at one time, but had hardened on the top, was quite a bit darker with age, and so dry it had cracked and shrunk. When we opened the pie we nearly lost it. We had no appetite for the rest of the pie - as the dead piece touched the rest of it. It was just gross, and in retrospect, was a decision to assemble that and sell it to us, not an accident. To ice the cake (or pie)...I brought the pie back and showed them. They offered my money back...and then asked me to sign another credit card slip for $135, which was $15 off my original $150. "why am I giving you MORE money?!?!" "Well, we had to credit your card the whole order, but have no receipt for that. It will charge back to your card later tonight at closing. We're re-charging your whole bill from scratch, less the pie." Was the rest of food good? I dunno, I don't remember. Why didn't they just tell me they only had "most" of a pie? To serve up something that's nearly rotted is bad - but to mix it in with fresher stuff is just insane. They have a roomy facility. There, I said something nice. But it was my worst take-out ever, second worst dining experience ever. Plus, I had to watch my checking account balances over the next few days just to see if I had paid $150, $135 or $285 for the fun ride! (The money did turn out OK, as promised. Still...)

Now that I think about it, you are right. The poor, misleading choice of name indicates that you should not go. Besides, it is crowded enough already. I recommend going to Dave's or RH&B.

I know you guys are foodies and I'm a nube. But did YOU know that Black Hog was a fine, rare breed? I didn't. I had heard of Kobe, but never Black Hog. In fact, coming into the place, I thought...maybe...it was named for an African American that ate a lot. So when I first ate there, I read the little story and learned something. And I didn't flinch, wondering why I wasn't getting Black Hog on my plate. Panda express doesn't serve pandas. Buffalo wings don't cause much confusion. And Starkist is sill the chicken of the sea. I'm just sayin - seems like you guys are swimming in the deep end of this one.

In fairness, that part of their website starts with "One of the rarest of the heritage breeds of hogs, the Black Hog is listed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservatory as endangered with fewer than 300 breeding hogs registered today" Implying that it would be unethical, if not illegal, to actually sell black hog meat. It is exactly what they intend it to be, an homage to a breed nearly gone. Although somewhat different from most names, I don't see the issue here. If I named my courier service the "Homing Pigeon Courier Service" I don't think anyone would expect homing pigeons. They'd understand the link. Give the place a try. You might find something positive about it.

I've been 3 or 4 times. I'm not a BBQ snob, looking for the depth of the smoke ring and all that - but I do like Black Hog and what they serve. I see them as a very approachable BBQ kind of place - kind of the way Hard Times Cafe is for chili, offering different styles at reasonable prices. It may not be quite like the pit BBQ like you might find in southern MD, but it is much better than, say, BBQ ribs at a TGI FRidays. I like it better than Dave's or Red Hot and Blue (though I love listening to Blues music when eating BBQ!) They have a number of different BBQs - pulled pork carolina style, ribs and a few others. Looks like Arkansas BBQ is a new addition. But the menu is not outrageous with a ton of other things - this is BBQ, take it or leave it. The atmosphere is one of a neighborhood hangout - almost saloon-like, with red brick walls and nice big windows facing the street to watch the cars go by. Service has been good and you might see the owner out back over the smoker. I believe that this place is a great value for the money and would recommend giving it a shot. People tend to be particular about their BBQ, so not all will like it (not all will like ANY such place) but I suspect that most would. And don't expect a seat on a weekend night. The place seems to have caught on.

ate there with the kids about 6 months ago. A few things were OK, some were not - sorry, can't remember specifics. I do remember though that the menu is a tour of the US and has specialties from nearly every state. While on the one hand this means something for everyone, on the other hand it makes you wonder if the kitchen has any particular skill or focus. Even diners have some basic ingredients served 100 different ways. This place is literally 'all over the map'. I can't think of any reason to recommend it.

Hi all, Jay here. When you plan a vacation, do you plan the meals first and then work the rest of the trip? I do. When you think of the upcoming weekend, do you first think of what kind of culinary adventure you'd like to have? I do. Do you think of the balance between old favorite places, places you haven't been to in a while, and entirely new experiences? I do. Have you thought through the PERFECT meal, the best combination of food, drink, company, ambience, service and comfort? I do. And despite all this, do you still NOT know how to spell restaraunt? I don't. I am not the world's best food critic, but I know what I like and am willing to add more things to my "like" list. My wife and kids and I eat out WAY too much, and so we might as well make the best of it. I look forward to learning, sharing and growing my food adventures here with you folks.