MBK

It's unfortunate we caught them on a bad day (and fortunate you caught them on a better one). I've traveled extensively in Japan, eaten kaiseki many times before, and will never subject my stomach to what I unfortunately ate Tuesday night.

There's not much to add to lackadaisi's post. The meal had its good moments - the first course of sesame seed tofu with sea urchin, and the mirin-marinated fish - but was mostly full of bad, or even inedible, food. And two good moments across a multi-course meal just doesn't cut it.

The more I think about the meal, the more upset, and disappointed, and just ripped off I feel. But rather than get into all of that, I'll just add to lackadaisi's comments on the sushi/sashimi.

I understand that the bad weather of last weekend may have impacted shipments of fresh fish to the restaurant - but I firmly believe that when you're trying to compete at a high level - which Sushi Taro clearly thinks it is - if you don't have access to fresh fish, you don't serve the old fish you do have, the fish that was cut hours if not days ago and tossed into the fridge. You maintain quality, no matter what.

The fact that Sushi Taro served what may well be the worst pieces of sushi and sashimi I have EVER eaten suggests that they haven't yet learned that basic lesson.

My parents and grandmother are meeting me for lunch next week - they'll be driving and need parking, and my grandmother can't walk too far. I'll be coming from the Union Station area and can probably go as far as Gallery Place, Metro Center, Cap South, Eastern Market. Suggestions?

Anyone have a good-to-great source for challah in the metro-accessible DC area (bonus points for DC proper, even more bonus points if it's between Union Station and Dupont)? I should've just gotten my mom to bake an extra last weekend and brought it home, but I wasn't thinking ahead.

Three of us had dinner there on Friday night and it was a beautiful night to sit outside and lounge for about 2.5 hours. I will say that our experience was a bit different. We ordered a few dishes and passed the plates so that we could all get a taste.

We started with the corn ravioli, fish cakes, and Portuguese sardines.

The corn ravioli was delicious and the corn puree (mousse?) filling was incredibly good. We all thought that the crab meat was not needed and it was rather lost in the mix.

The pan fried fish cakes were very good and served with braised fennel and other things that I don't remember.

The star of the first courses to me was the Portuguese sardines. Served with a nicely acidic dressing to cut the oiliness perfectly.

Our shared mains were the roast chicken, the duck, and the fry plate. The chicken and the fry plate were as good as always and the duck was tasty, but was just OK to me.

Looking forward to the new market and expanded cafe menu.

Agree with everything mdt said. As an aside - I had corn ravioli at Jean Georges yesterday, and it did not compare to Chef Ruta's version at Palena.

Surprised there hasn't been discussion of Batali's extravagant new venture - Eataly. I'm going to be in NYC next week and it'll be hard not to give this place a visit. This is so over the top but the success of the one in Venice makes one think this could actually work.

I went yesterday. Was underwhelmed - but do think it will probably be lucrative. Just don't really think I'm the target audience. I don't need overpriced Italian snacks/groceries I can find elsewhere. And I don't need mediocre gelato that doesn't hold a candle to Dolcezza. But I do think it will hold an allure for tourists and Batali fans. I mean, many of the workers there wear orange clogs...

Will post more details later...

Catoctin Mountain Orchard in Thurmont -- right on US 15 -- has tons of great produce and excellent PIE! Definitely worth a stop.

Whatever you do, do not stop here. It may be packed, but trust me, it's not packed with people who care about good food.

Not even for pie to go? excellent info, thanks for preventing me from an unnecessary trip out of my way......

I've heard the York farmer's market, which is on Saturdays, is cool. You might find some good snacks there.

And don't forget Tröegs

Oh, Chris. I've got Troegs on the list for either tomorrow, or when I return to H'burg in two weeks.

Or both...

Wave hi to me on the road tomorrow, as we are driving up to Harrisburg as well.

I270-I15 is the easiest way to go. As others have mentioned, there will probably be some roadside stands along I15, usually north of Thurmont and into Pennsylvania. We usually make the trip straight through, as we try to time it around our daughter's naptime, so we haven't had a chance to explore as we used to. There is also a Sheetz in Thurmont, if you are into the MTO thing.

I'm guessing not...

Well, perhaps I'll just drive up and back, and get my fix of deliciousness at my very own farmers' market here in DC on Sunday. Oh well...

Well, the Shamrock is always packed, but I have never gone in. The Cozy, also in Thurmont, is also always packed and is best regarded as a period piece - fascinating, but the food is only so-so.

Lots of farm stands - Those are always good. (I just made this drive earlier this week. Seriously, the farm stands had a lot of awesome stuff.)

Farm stands - that sounds promising. Along any road in particular? It seems there are many ways to get from here to Harrisburg

Yeah, I'm thinking less BBQ and more snacks - pie, etc.? I'll be coming from a lunch and probably have no need to have a big meal, especially if it's not good... maybe I'll drive out of my way to Thurmont to check out this Shamrock place and see if it's worth it.

I posted in the intrepid traveler forum, but just to cover all my bases ... I'm driving from DC to Harrisburg, PA tomorrow (and back) and will have time to stop off for snacks on the way - if there's anywhere worth stopping. I've been told of a place called Shamrocks in Thurmont, MD, and a place called People's Restaurant in New Holland, PA. Is either of those worth it? Anything else worthwhile a little more on the way? Am looking for something to improve the drive

I'm going to be driving up to Harrisburg tomorrow ... any must-stop food places? Mostly thinking of things to pick up to go - probably won't have a meal - but anything to make the drive worthwhile would be helpful! Thanks...

you can also cook the vegetables directly in the rice, tossing them in several minutes before the rice is finished cooking. this interrupts the flow of adding stock to the rice a bit, because there is some liquid initially added by the vegetables, but the consistency of the rice gets back to where it should be fairly quickly.

i guess this is the easy and obvious way of making risotto. alice waters suggests cutting the asparagus on an angle into quarter-inch pieces.

(i like making purees, and use a blender and have gradually learned how to do this without having the hot contents erupt -- in my face and all over the kitchen. but i like the soft crunch of the whole asparagus pieces.)

Yeah, I aim for the best of both worlds by pureeing the stems and adding the tips whole toward the end. But your way works too

Risotto - cut asparagus into one-inch pieces, blanch. Puree the stems (with some cooking liquid if needed), reserve the tips. Add stem puree to risotto during cooking. Toss in tips at end. (I've done an asparagus-ramp risotto and also an asparagus-mushroom risotto).

Pan saute in butter. Serve atop a smear of a compound butter of miso, butter, and sherry vinegar. (I've done this as is, and also with cubed sweet potato, and tossed with cilantro at the end)

Ha -- that's almost verbatim what Gennaro and I said when we had it (months ago ... FAIL).

At the southern end of your range, what about Poste?

Poste was also on my list - and we haven't been there. Just checking to see if there are any obvious choices I've missed in my brainstorming. Thanks

Is Kushi too far afield?

Funny, we were just there too - we are clearly making the "healthy yet tasty" rounds - I was underwhelmed, but that's a comment for a different thread.

I wish I could have the spicy tuna hand roll at Masa 14 every day!

Yeah, that's on the list - although we were just there recently so was trying to branch out.

Looking for a restaurant where one person can eat low-butter, low-salt; and yet the meal will still be tasty for the full-fat-and-sodium eater. Would pick sushi, but am restricted in neighborhoods to U Street/14th Street/Gallery Place/Metro Center. No good sushi around there.

Thoughts?

We would have licked the casseroles clean, if a potential Supreme Court nominee hadn't been dining at the other occupied table in the room off the bar, where we were sitting.

Oh, the intrigue. One who lives in DC already??

See my reply in Silver Spring thread and moderators, feel free to transport it here and delete this post.

It's a matter of seasonality. I may be wrong, but I don't think Eco-Friendly had previously unfrozen local chickens this past week. Local chickens are a May thing.

Grumble. I'm always out of town the weekend of the festival.

BourbonSteak would have been your perfect venue tonight (two TVs, relatively empty bar, Korean Fried Chicken (*)).

(*) Yep, taking up where Posh left off.

During Passover, Korean Fried Chicken would've been just depressing.

My perfect venue was on the couch, nervously watching as my team pulled it off. And I won my pool. Was a good night...

Okay, a slightly more specific question than just, where can I watch the Final Four tonight...

Where can I watch the Final Four that is (1) in DC, preferably U Street/CoHi area (but not necessarily there); (2) not a WVU bar; and (3) has a reasonable selection of wine - as I'm keeping Passover so won't be drinking beer - but also beer, as my partners in crime aren't similarly limited. I'm stumped. Bonus points for a place where we can actually see and hear the games. I thought of Vinoteca, but was hoping to come up with another option.