bookluvingbabe
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Everything posted by bookluvingbabe
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Any Friday markets beside's USDA? I see myself trapped at my desk and unable to get away. Am in desperate need of decent bread. Will get up at crack of dawn for Arlington tomorrow if there is nothing else this afternoon. Thanks!
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Chocolate napolean??? What happened to the bittersweet chocolate panna cotta??? Damn... We need warnings so we can come and say good-bye to favorite dishes! I still treasure my last evening at the bar with the spring rolls. Mr. BLB is going to be mighty unhappy when I pass the news on... Jennifer -
Wow! Drove past this morning and couldn't tell what exactly was going on or where... Sad, sad, sad... Jennifer
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They could do serious business with the pre-game Nats crowd if they opened at 5. I'm just anxious enough that I wouldn't want to go in right at 5:30 but if I could be there spot on 5 I wouldn't worry so much about missing the first pitch. Jennifer
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That toasted ravioli receipe looks exhausting. Good but exhausting.For my 29th birthday a good friend in NY offered to make me gooey butter cake. I gave her two recipes--the one you have above and one much more complicated. She chose the complicated one and then complained about how it didn't seem to set properly. Personally, the next time I get a craving I'm picking the easy one. Mr. BLB totally loved Imo's. Mayhap that is a birthday present I could get for him... Jennifer
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Mr. BLB and I will be in Kona for 7 days in Feb. with his parents. They go every year, he's been once and I'm a Hawaii virgin. I see lots of fish in my future. Any places that are not to miss? I don't want to rock the boat in their routine too much but I also want to be able to claim some portion of the trip as mine. Thanks! Jennifer
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You know, I think they can revoke your St. Louis citizenship for not ordering the gooey butter cake. I was very sad that I was out of town while a co-worker visited StL last week. He offered to bring stuff back but I didn't have the heart or energy to send him all over town for Pratzel's cupcakes or gooey butter cake and then have to freeze the stuff for me. Sigh... I'm jealous of the last visit to Busch. Couldn't work it in to my summer schedule. But I am seeing all 3 Nats-Cards games this weekend. Jennifer
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I swear by the shrimp burritos at Fin's. It's a small chain of fish taco, etc., places in strip malls. There is one in Mission Valley and one in La Jolla. Nothing to look at but the best damn shrimp burrito I've ever had. [As of August 19th, 2012, there is only one Fin's left, in La Jolla.] Seriously. Mr. BLB and I are planning a trip to LA and Hawaii for the winter and I'm working on a plane to fly into San Diego just for a stop at Fin's before driving up to LA. They are that good. Beyond that, I've had nice meals in the Gaslamp District but nothing sticks out in my memory. Enjoy! Jennifer
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I did not see a Valet last night at all. I had foolishly made reservations for 6 instead of my usual 6:30 and had the worst time finding a parking space. I would gladly have handed over the car to a valet. Ended up parking illegealy and hoping for the best. Luckily we didn't get a ticket...
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Several years ago--they aren't always up-to-date but isn't it a great resource?
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I really want to like them, especially since there are so few cupcake places around these days. (Still mourning the end of Amernicks...) But the frosting is too heavy and sweet and I always feel like I've eaten a stick of butter when I'm done. I will say the strawberry frosting does have a nice flavor if you can get past the butter intensity. Jennifer
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Yummy dinner at Corduroy this evening. I started with the Northern Neck corn soup--perfect corn flavor. Tom Power is a soup rock star. Mr. BLB seemed a bit dubious that I was passing on my beloved charred tomato soup to try something new... He had the lobster salad, passing in his favorite cesar salad at my encourgament. Luckily he really liked it. We both had the lamb as our main course. It's so good, although it doesn't taste very lamb-like to me. The goat ravioli's were a perfect match and I had a lovely glass of pinot noir that went wonderfully. Finished with the kit kat bars and the creme brulee. Both were great but I have to confess that I would have been happy with something lighter. I was pretty full. Mr. BLB paid the bill while I stepped away so I didn't get to see who our server was but I suspect it was Ferhat--he said that sounded sort of familiar when I quized him on the way home. Men... We had a lovely evening. I did have scallop envy when I saw them delivered to a near-by table. Wow! We'll be back soon... I just need to find a second job.... Jennifer
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Sunday night at Dino's was lovely. We arrived just after 5 so avoided the crowds. I had some of that lovely Iron Horse rose and we nibbled our way through the affettati misti, the proscuitto , an amazing cheese plate, the baby octopus, the calamari and the lasagna. The proscuitto was breathtaking--it was out of this world amazing. One very small quibble--there were chunks of peppercorns in with the octopus. Now I know I have an unnatural aversion to peppercorns but I don't remember them from last time. I'll have to remember to ask if they can be left out. I thought the lasagna was nice and will be a wonderful fall and winter dish. I did think it was a bit unevenly seasoned--one section was heavily peppered and others had no seasoning. (I had a smidge of that lovely salt...perfection.) AND they added a chocolate dessert--a chocolate panna cotta. (I would probably rewrite the menu description to make it clearer that the almonds are in the panna cotta and not on the side but that's just semantics. It was a perfect end to the meal.) The price was reasonable, the service was good and it's just a lovely neighborhood place. Kudos to the whole team--especially Justin who always seems to know just what we should order. Jennifer P.S. And March of the Penquins is a darn good movie!
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Two types of heirloom tomatoes (yellow and red), cilantro and fresh mozzerella with pan-fried sausages (tequila, lime and black bean) and the Toigo "better than chocolate" corn. 2 ears. Burp....
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The Grill is open Wednesday and Thursday... (And darn if I don't have a lunch meeting at Bobby Van's on Wednesday...Sigh...)
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I think we need a chart to keep track of all our old Palena favs! I was just saying to Mr. BLB that I hadn't seen Evan at Palena in a while...Jennifer
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I went on Thursday night for a solo dinner while Mr. BLB worked late. I was in and out in an hour. Felt slightly rushed but not too badly. It was still early and all the tables weren't full yet. I started with the grilled octopus with chantrelles and creamy urchin sauce--good but I thought they were a bit overdone. Next was the ravioli with veal and spinach. Wow! Lick the plate good. Dessert was the tiramisu. Lovely and just what I wanted. (And the reason I opted for dinner at Tosca over Dino's ultimately--I needed chocolate!) No wine--too hot -- althought I was impressed by the wine list. I need to plan a return trip when it's a bit cooler and I can indulge more fully in the pastas and wines. Jennifer
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I dragged Mr. BLB along to help me carry stuff at Dupont this morning. We bought Tomatoes at Wheatland and Gardeners Gourmet. Smoked mozzerella at Blue Ridge; chevre at Firefly Farms. Corn at Toigo. Blackberries, plums and necatarines at Reids. So far I've had one BLT and a tomato, cilantro, bacon and chevre salao today. Lunch will be corn and probably another tomato. I love August!
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Award-Winning Local Cheesemakers
bookluvingbabe replied to CrescentFresh's topic in Shopping and Cooking
I was at Whole Foods a week or so ago, looking for a Blue Ridge smoked mozzerella fix. They were out (or don't carry it anymore, or something...) and tried to steer me to a NY smoked mozzerella. Please. I waited until Sunday and stocked up at Dupont Farmers Market. Finished it this afternoon with a perfect blt on Takoma Kitchens Dill Cottage Cheese bread. Yum. The local cheeses are very good and keep getting better. Firefly Farm is doing some amazing things with goat cheese... Jennifer -
We're planning to go Sunday evening after a lovely, cool trip to the Uptown to see March of the Penquins. Mostly I'm going for the octupus and squid... Hoping for some lovely pink wine. Jennifer
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Anyone been Tosca this year? Decided to take myself there for a solo dinner to ease the heartbreak of postponing Corduroy to next week. Jennifer
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Small, pathetic, whimpering.... When is the next grill day????
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Thank god! (And Tom Power!) Had to cancel my reservation for tomorrow and reschedule for next week.
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Did I mention that Mr. BLB isn't a fan of RW? I make reservations, he wrinkes his nose, I make different reservations and he has to work late. Go quickly my friends--I just cancelled a table for two on Thursday at 6:30 at Corduroy. I'm hoping the rumor of an extra week there is true because I made a reservation for next Tuesday night. Sigh... Perhaps I'll see if I can get a place at the bar at Dino's tomorrow night.... Jennifer