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bookluvingbabe

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Posts posted by bookluvingbabe

  1. 12 hours ago, DonRocks said:

    First, let me say that other than 2 Amys, I've been to Palena more than any other restaurant in Washington, DC (almost surely over 100 visits).

    Regarding "Frank Ruta and Annabelle," I went (to Mirabelle?) about 4-5 years ago, with DIShGo, raving about this insanely great chef - the legendary Frank Ruta - and left the restaurant embarrassed, with my tail dragging between my legs.

    After a few years passed, we went to Annabelle, and had essentially the same level of dinner. It was bitterly disappointing, and once again, I left with my tail dragging between my legs.

    Before I write the next paragraph, let me say that I haven't talked with Frank in years, and never told him about either of these ... primarily because the meals were *so* bad that any "feedback" wouldn't matter. They were bad at such a fundamental level that I, myself, didn't believe that Frank was actually in the kitchen (even though before the second visit, I called the restaurant, and specifically asked if he would be there).

    Neither of my two meals approached what I see from your pictures in terms of disaster. The only difference I see between your meal at Annabelle and The Titanic is that The Titanic at least had a band.

    It says a lot that I've been to this supposed "Frank Ruta restaurant" twice in five years, having left both times feeling like someone violated my mother.

    In terms of Frank, I'm willing to believe that "hard times" can force the greatest of people to drop to their knees, but only to a point: I simply do not believe that Frank Ruta had anything to do with these plates of food.

    And you have my absolute sympathies because I suspect this meal was not inexpensive.

    Cheers,
    Rocks

    We had a good meal there last thanksgiving, prompting BL-10th grader to ask to go back. 

    We had a pretty much perfect meal there for our anniversary and a really good pandemic carryout meal for our anniversary in 2020. 

    Our experiences at Mirabelle, while limited, were excellent. 

    It’s very depressing.

    • Sad 1
  2. Well…

    Our thanksgiving restaurant was Annabelle. 

    It was the most bizarre meal we’ve had from Frank Ruta in the 20 years we’ve been stalking… I mean enjoying his food. 

    yes, I should have chosen turkey. But I wasn’t in the mood for turkey. 

    Mr. BLB, a wiser soul than me, had the pasta dish and it was pretty close to perfect. Thank goodness that doesn’t change. 

    On 11/27/2022 at 1:49 PM, DonRocks said:

    My best guess is that this is a tired, male (*) cook, working at a dying - perhaps even a chef-less - restaurant which was initially well-funded enough to provide marble counters and attractive plates and cutlery.

    Is that a Roquefort salad?!

    Viewed as a whole, this is as if a prison decided to do something special for Thanksgiving.

    (*) No female has an aesthetic this bad.

     

    • Like 1
  3. On 11/25/2022 at 7:05 PM, Pat said:

    Is that tofu and beef or fish and beef?

    Steak and a single grilled mushroom. 

    On 11/25/2022 at 10:12 PM, DonRocks said:

    Wow, this is hyper-minimalist. I assume this is marinated beef, and ... tofu? portobello? And Japanese.

    This dish could have been awful, or could have been terrific - if quality beef is marinated properly, it can be overcooked and still be marvelous. Did the beef (assuming it's beef) have a teriyaki-like sweetness?

    Where did I dine on Thanksgiving? (I wouldn't say this was representative of what I've had here in the past, but it fit the bill, especially for leftovers today.)

    Thanksgiving2022.jpeg

    Maybe I should rename this thread "Foodle."

    It was not Japanese. It was just steak. And a grilled mushroom.  

    You made far better thanksgiving decisions than I did. 

    This was the dessert to go with the steak and single mushroom. 

    BBCE5FD3-A040-460E-BD5A-5DDAD046A832.jpeg.3f7cf19f5e210b42c4d1020c438adc59.jpeg

  4. We hosted the Timber food truck at BL8th grader’s (god, I feel old) school last week and it was a great success.  The PTA purchased 50 pizzas for staff at the school to take home.  I bought a variety of pizzas for us and the winner was the Green Monster.   Loved the pesto on it.

     

    Mr. BLB liked it so much he has tracked down the food truck schedule and is picking up dinner tomorrow night. Win-win. 

    • Like 2
  5. We planned to go for Valentine’s Day but Mr. BLB was in CT with his family as his father had just died. And then we were going to go in March for BL-8th grader’s 13th birthday but we all know what happened in March. 

    We did curbside pickup in May for our anniversary.  I took no pictures.  I know there was pasta and a burger and it was lovely.  It was everything I loved about Frank Ruta and it made me melancholy for the old days of Palena. 

    We need to go back again soon. 

    • Like 2
  6. Cooking for a bottomless pit of a 13 year old here. 

    He had the audacity to tell me he is tired of rice.  He used to beg me to cook rice.  Dinners are usually some type of meat, cooked with onions and zucchini and garlic, with any other veggies I want to throw in, a can of beans, a sauce, and then served over rice.  Or pasta if I’m feeling kind. It isn’t fancy.  It isn’t going to win awards. But it keeps us fed.   He has the leftovers for breakfast. 

    I did make a shepherds pie that we all loved recently and if I can ever get decent potatoes again, I will serve it again. 

    I have also stopped asking what he or Mr. BLB want or think of my dinner plan. I just cook.  If they don’t like, they can cook dinner. 

    • Like 1
  7. Mr. BLB and I went last night.  The salmon collar and blue crab eggs were the winners of the night, along with the grilled broccoli. The Swiss chard was too salty and they removed it from the bill.  For mains we had the pork porterhouse and the flatiron. Both were prepared well.  I think we would happily go back and do more appetizers and sides and skip the mains though. 

    We walked around union market because we arrived early.  It’s such an interesting collection of options. 

    And even after the worst of the storm was over, it took us forever to get home to upper MoCo 

    • Like 1
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