curiouskitkatt

A litte star power to boost the appeal of a restaurant. not that it needs it, but fascinating nonetheless. 

Jeff Koons is a native of York county, and a graduate of Dover High School. Amazing people got their start in our little town of York. I hope our dining scene is recognized as well too!!! 

-kat

This is how our tiny town of York does pop-up. I love York city. 

Tonight, something amazing happened. 

Three of us were dining enthusiastically at the King Brat Pop-up, and based on my excitement of the brats, the couple next to us ordered a brat. Mind you, the beautiful realization I had was they already ate a completely different meal. 

I like to think that my sheer excitement over the brat is what persuaded this gentleman to order more food. I love knowing that...

pop!

kat

25 minutes ago, Nadya said:

Here is the dialogue I have with my DH on a biweekly basis that illustrates two main problems with the halal restaurants.

"Let's go out for dinner tonight".

"Not the fucking kabob or chicken karahi again."

"Oh come on. It's a restaurant."

"But are the napkins made of cloth?"

I will break it down for you. 

The first problem with halal restaurants is that they operate in a ghetto of their own making, confining themselves to the known.  This is typically the Indopak and the Middle Eastern variety, with little imagination or effort to get creative with other cuisines or thoughts. That's not to say that one doesn't ache for a good karahi at some point, just that it doesn't HAVE to be that way.

The second problem with halal restaurants is that they are *typically* lowbrow, with the majority making ample use of styrofoam containers and paper napkins. There is again nothing wrong with that, but it pigeonholes them into a box where they really have to be. I don't always want to eat in strip malls for the sake of keepin' it zabihah. 

Now the bright sides and happy exceptions, in no particular order:

 - the Iranian-owned restaurants offer *usually* a more refined tradition and approach to dining where one is more likely to find well-composed menus, able service and real utensils

- the same is sometimes true of the Iraqi restaurants but there's fewer of them

- some dishes are worth it. As are some holes in the wall. Jerusalem in Falls Church. Khan Kabob near Dulles does awesome karahi and lamb brain curry.  Kabob Corner in Tysons does dependable Afghan, with vegetable standouts. I'll have some more names tonight.

- random fact that the goat thing at Komi turned out to be halal

It's not the clientele. The cuisine isn't inclusive. Halal is just a way to butcher meat. It doesn't HAVE to come with a particular way of preparing it. 

The alcohol thing doesn't help, either, but Iranian restaurants are usually a happy, civilized exception. 

Its a breath of fresh air reading your post. 

Im a fangirl. 

I think others are as well!

Missing the District!!

kat

1 minute ago, DanielK said:

Kat! What are you doing these days?

Nadya just posted in the Halal topic, her first post in THREE YEARS.

Nice to see some of the "original crew" back in the fold!

Yay!!! 

On 11/3/2005 at 1:08 PM, kitkatpaddywak said:

First Post ever....

Hello to all. A brief introduction- I'm Kathryn Hull- recent addition to the staff at Corduroy. I am interested in learning more about this city through other people that work at other restaurants. A " dining tour guide " of sorts, I am in search for- the more the merrier. Anyone interested in filling this position or at least giving me some direction is well appreciated. It seems that HH at FF is the place to go to get started- but any other suggestions I would love as well.

On 7/12/2006 at 0:40 AM, Nadya said:

Oh good grief, another thread to respond to and forget as always.

My name is Nadya, I drifted here from egullet.org that encouraged my till-then dormant interest in eating and blabbing. I am famous for my ability to work the word "bottom" into every sentence and the knowledge of many adjectives.

From 9 to 5, I'm a nonprofit health communicator who gets paid to make using condoms sound like fun. At night, I'm either fronting the door at Bis or walking into the door some place else. I write a column for dcist which some people say is masturbatory. Well, the real truth had to come out eventually, you know. Typing with one hand ain't easy.

Also, I grew up in a very tough place with actual breadlines where at times food was so scarce that we had no bread and had to eat our caviar straight out of the jar.

Oh Nadya!!!! Where have you been!!!

Miss this mischievous cherub...

Please find your way back!!

Kat

On 11/28/2016 at 8:51 PM, kitkatpaddywak said:

"Spoon Fed" on susquehannastyle.com

I've got a lot of eatin' to do.

Thankful for spandex.

-kat

45. Moonlight Cafe

Incredible.Charming.. Courteous.Warm. Delicious. 

These are are just a few words to describe my new fav place to eat. I knew I was in for an great meal when I was seduced by the aroma of sauted garlic as I  was parking my car. 

Moonlight Cafe is a tiny cafe in Dover, Pa that probably seats roughly 40 people at one seating. The size of the dining room is propably smaller than your average Doctor's office waiting room. The kitchen is open,so if you are lucky enough to be seated close to the kitchen , take it. Two whirling dervishes, disguised as highly proficient cooks knock out rapidly incoming tickets like a well oiled machine. 

Everything is prepared a la minute. I ordered the Veal Piccata, and watched the chef dust the veal and saute it just minutes before it arrived to my table. perfection. Briny capers dotted all throughout the dish with the brightest lemon sauce coating perfectly a dente spaghetti. But wait, what did I start off with? 

I know its well past summer ,but I could not resist ordering the Caprese salad. The star, the mozzarella. I was expecting buffalo mozzarella, but was pleasenty surprised by what I got instead. If I didnt know any better, I would say they used ricotta salata. Mozzarella ++ as I refer to it. It had a saltiness to it, that I found to be yummy. Rather gourmand term for crazy delicious. The plate was finished off gluttonously with torn basil, and drizzled with a sweet Balsamic reduction. Superb!

the desserts naturally delivered a sweet ending to a rather perfect, rustic Italian meal. A slice of Limoncello spongecake.

The only missing detail would have been to finish with an Americano. But I do not think they had a Cappucino machine. all in all a most pleasant meal. Ill be back, many times over.

Bueno Appettito!!!

kat

I would have included a photo, but max mbs wont permit it. 

---

Edit:  Im not sure how I missed it, but they do in fact serve espresso based beverages! Perfection!!!

York Restaurant Week, Feb 20-27, 2017

and here I thought this was only a Beltway tradition

4 hours ago, DonRocks said:

My guess is that whatever fish they get in NYC, they'll be bringing in here - at least to start out with; the true story will be told after about six months.

Also remember that at this level, we're going to need at least one master sushi rice maker based full-time in DC. Knowledgeable diners will know the difference if this doesn't occur, and will be happy to chime in.

Poach Koji Terano. He was by far the best I had the pleasure of meeting. His execution of omakase at Sushi Ko was the most memorable birthday dinner I ever had to date.

Tonight's meal was brought to you by the letter B as well as S. Bad service , boys & girls, cancels out a great meal everytime. I often equate it to a bad review. I could read 100 reviews ,but that one bad one will sit heavy with me. The Cove in York has one less patron. 

Let me start off with the good stuff,though. A bowl of cream of crab,by far is the best deal in town at $4.99. Large bits of backfin crab is abundant throughout the savory blend of cream& spices. I asked the surly bartender what he recommended as a restaurant fav, and the service staff jumped at the opportunity to reccomend the Cantina Nachos. The nachos can be topped off with an array of protein options. I chose the brisket. Wow , just wow. I was  blown away when the dish was served. A long oblong plate stacked high with fatty goodness. Housemade chips piled high with beef brisket accented by an abundance of jalepenos, black beans, scallions,tomatoes, and gooey cheddar cheese.It would have been made a bit more perfect if a sprinkling of chopped cilantro made an appearance. But thats me.But my dear followers, thats where the perfection ended. 

I was really trying to give the bartender the benefit of my doubt, but he failed miserably. I watched him reach into a ice bin with a glass tumbler. Irresponsible.

But more importantly , he didnt even bother to greet me once I sat down. Whats the average time a bartender greets a patron? He made eye contact, walked away from me to pour a glass of wine. Still no greeting& or acknowledgement. Not off to a good start. 

The service when downhill from there. Everytime I asked him a question, he acted indifferent,& bothered by my request. I wasn't his only victim of the evening. I watched him give bad service to just about anyone in listening range.

I wanted to like this place, I really did, but bad service cancels out great food everytime.

disappointed,

kat

"Spoon Fed" on susquehannastyle.com

I've got a lot of eatin' to do.

Thankful for spandex.

-kat

---

Ma(i)son - kitkatpaddywak
Dining in York - Gloria

That was my response to reading the first iniatial reviews of Thip Kao. I need to read through the entire thread. That was my first impression. I take into consideration the reviews listed, but am rarely swayed my opinion for the worse. If anything a bad review will have an opposite effect in my choosing to go there. 

Thank you for the rebuttal. I miss this about Donrockwell.com. 

-kat

On 7/10/2014 at 2:33 PM, Tweaked said:

Washington City Paper with more details.  Opening "next year."

eek. food good. service bad. 

Lancaster has a bustling food scene. There are countless options of non-chain restos that deliver good eats at a great price. The one I chose on this chilly Sunday evening was Lancaster Dispensing Company. The pub is located on North Market Street in downtown Lancaster. Upon walking in, I am immediately charmed of the backdrop of my choice. Dim lighting, anchored by a large bar that runs the length of the space. To locals, its known as Dipco. Its reputation for light fare at reasonable prices is true to form. 

I am greeted warmly by the bartender. A german hefeweisen starts off this dinner. I ask for recommendations , & with out hesitation she points out the either the Old Style Reuben, or the Short Rib sandwich are a solid choice. I follow her direction and order the Short rib, plus I add a cup of soup. A cream of celery soup does not disappoint .I mainted decorum and resisted licking the bowl.Followed by one of the most delicious sandwich I have had to date. An ample sandwich piled deep with unctuous slow braised short rib beef, toppled with gooey mozzarella. Its finished off with a bright tomato jam. Incredibly satisfying to both my palate & wallet. Price of meal tallied at 18.25. I could easily cozy up to the idea of being a local at a place that delivers great eats at a great price.

Cheers!

kat

to add on to my last post

"Wood-Fired Pizza Next at York Tast Test" by Anthony J. Machcinski on ydr.com

Who doesn't like pizza?

Taste Test York

This is the current model in York for pop ups. Ive only been to one, King Brats. I have had dreams about brats eversince. You have a menu to choose what toppings you want on your grilled brat. I chose mango siracha, covered in crisp jalepenos, finished off with fatty avocado. And to gild the lily further, fried tots are offered as well. fat kid status!!!

The past pops ups have included Game Day Kitchen, Steam-ramen& bao buns, and Indian Fusion. 

This Friday they will pop up once more a the Central Market in downtown York city, Pa. 

I can hardly wait!

...hungry

kat

2 hours ago, silentbob said:

What are the best large format meals in town these days?  I'm thinking something along the lines of the head-to-tail beef dinner that Palena Cafe (RIP) used to offer.

My family (six adults, two young kids) are looking to have a celebratory dinner at some point in the next month.  Based on a quick search, the options that I found were either the fried chicken or Bo Ssäm at Momofuku CCDC, or the pig feast at The Partisan.  Or maybe the two iberico pig large plates and a paella at Jaleo?

wow, could you adopt me!! 

This sounds amazing. Ssam bar, in the city hands down, is incredible. Havent had a chance to visit Chang's outpost in DC. 

Not sure what your travel preferences are, but Parts & Labor, might be worth checking out. Its lead by the critically acclaimed  Chef Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen. His outpost is in Baltimore. Let me know what you decide on!!

-kat

18 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Think so?

"How do you make God laugh?"

"Tell him your plans."

la-Di-da, la-di-Da, la la

I wrote this up several weeks ago, but worth repeating. 

The Copper Crust Company is a god send to this carb addict. Its located right inside the Central Market in downtown York. The owners are originally from NY, city proper, I may add.  They brought their skills to town. An everything bagel that a New Yawker would eat!! Although, I do believe the secret to NY bagels & pizza dough is the water. This should be on a list of MUST eat places while visiting the area, among many more. But rec needs to wait til my next review!!

building suspense,

kat

1 hour ago, DonRocks said:

[You're tearing me in half, Kat - York is more Baltimore than Philly, but then again, it's not - and then there's Lancaster, Bird-in-Hand, etc. I honestly don't know what to do with these south-central Pennsylvania posts, although I'm leaning towards the Baltimore forum.

Regardless, it's my problem, not yours, and it's exactly the type of problem I want to have.]

Be careful what you ask for,Im a wherling dervish!! Somethings never change...Deliciousness, whereever it may be.. I shall go. Ill do my best to categorize it geographically, but thanks for sorting my frenetic tastes!!!! 

Its fun to be back!!

kat

1 hour ago, DonRocks said:

I've never actually thought about "why" before now, and my guess (it's only a guess) is that it's a similar concept to eBay - you have a supplier (of unrented kitchen space, usually temporary), and a demander (someone who wants to start a restaurant, but isn't ready to go The Full Monty, often due to "the perfect location" not yet being available), and someone had enough vision to link the two together and create the concept. 

Just like eBay has someone with a Hummel figurine sitting in their attic collecting dust, and they're linked up with a buyer in Des Moines who collects Hummels, creating a $50 transaction, making the market "more perfect," and filling the gaps.

Anyway, that's my guess, and the more commercial (culinary) real estate and restaurants a city has, the more pop-ups you'll see. Yes, we have them here in DC, more than in most cities. As a restaurant-forum administrator, I view them as something of an annoyance, but the world doesn't exist exclusively to please me ... although it should, dammit!

Its a Rocks world, we just live in it...

There's a series of pop-ups in my town that have garnered a rather stealth following.The drawback, it only runs a few times, & I'm left wanting more. Their model is pretty straightforward, just curious the execution in other hoods. 

as always, thanks for your insight!!! 

kat

Interested in learning & enjoying  the ever popular Pop Up restaurants? Has this trend caught popularity in the District? 

Stayed at the Hershey Hotel last night, in a round about way of going to my bro's in NJ.

Lunch was at Devon's Seafood.  Had a ditzy server.  After some prolonged waiting, she came up and said she didn't know we were in her station.  She then forgot an extra order of clams, and sides of whipped potato and Brussels sprouts.  The food was pretty good though, for Hershey.

Dinner was at Trevi 5, within the Hershey Hotel.  Note: the garden was pretty barren in November and the sweet lights weren't very exciting.  The Italian fountain in the hotel is cool tho.  Dinner was pretty good, for Hershey. Breakfast buffet was just meh.   

The hotel was packed with kids and the fire alarm went off at 3 a.m.  

Hershey is such a nostalgic town. Ill need to add that to my list of places to review!!

21 hours ago, kitkatpaddywak said:

Here goes nothing..

Bear with me & my excitement in stirring a new following toward South Central Pennsylvania Dining 

Stay tuned for my first review!!!

I am currently in a state of euphoria induced by the most wonderfully crafted pie by Emily Truman, of Odd Pies. The suspect, a malted chocolate pecan pie. She doesn't offer these pies regularly, but she should. It was a gift to be able to indulge in her offerings. 

To serve in her inspiration for her pie confections, she looked to the owner& founder of  the famed Four& Twenty Blackbirds in Brooklyn, NY.  The crust of the pie was perfectly flakey, and filled with a sinfully stickiness of chocolate pecan. Traditional pecan has been elevated to a new standard. I don't think I can return to eating any other rendition.

 I am thankful for Emily Truman of Odd Pies for making this holiday extra delicious!!

Please look her up on both Instagram, oddpies. You are welcome.

>••< kat

Wow, I had no idea. Who knew a simple introduction would catch such interest!!

Here goes nothing..

Bear with me & my excitement in stirring a new following toward South Central Pennsylvania Dining 

Stay tuned for my first review!!!