kirite

Looking for recs for a caterer (no pick up, delivery only) at Sandy Point State Park (family reunion, prob in the neighborhood of 50-60 folks, lunch) for BBQ. My relatives are coming up with Adam's Ribs and Famous Dave's. I don't know from BBQ or catering in that area. Can you either give thumbs up or down for the two caterers on the table, or recommend us towards or against another?

Thanks!

Anne

Red, Hot, and Blue is terrible. Try the Palette Pleasers in Eastport. It is incredible. I wish DC had a comparable place.

Okay. I'll say it:

I don't know anything about the circumstances behind this move, nor, I imagine, do most folks who aren't in the business. So what are the ethics behind a chef pushing reservations at a chef's table just over a week before departing a restaurant when said departure had been planned for several months?

This might be a potential story for "The Ethicist" in the NYT Sunday Magazine. Or not. As I have previously posted, we had dinner there three days before his resignation. He had just rolled out several new items and was swinging through the dining room asking for responses.

We've had breakfast several times at the Brusnwick Diner -101 Pleasant St, Brunswick, ME 04011. They have all the diner breakfast standards, convivial atmosphere, tasty food. They are located on Route 1 just south of mid-town.

Jen's Place also looks promising. Thanks.

We ate there last Saturday just as it was opening at 5:30. RJ was unveiling several new dishes that night and was eager to get the opinions of the diners. He seemed very happy.

Just as a follow up Y&H has a story about his departure and plans.

I had reservations for later this month. Not anymore... Bummer.

We ate there last Saturday just as it was opening at 5:30. RJ was unveiling several new dishes that night and was eager to get the opinions of the diners. He seemed very happy.

Not "New (*) Riche?"

* They serve veau

Nourish Market's website is not up. Does anyone know its hours of operation? Eating shit in McLean (to quote a recent poster), and I won't take it anymore!

Thanks

Looking for a good breakfast spot that serves more than pastries. I checked out the Barn Door Cafe but that seems to be a sweets shop.

Thanks

My favorite this weekend were from New Morning Farm!

* * *

Lunch today: Deep-fried squash blossoms stuffed w ricotta, parmesan, basil and chives; fleur de sel. Fennel & citrus salami. Plain yogurt w rhubarb purée and strawberries.

"Raising the Salad Bar" by Catherine Walthers has lots of great and inventive recipes. Vegetarian, red meat, chicken, seafood, and fish recipes.

Thank you for you recs. I guess the sensible thing to do would be to ask the server if two appetizers and a side would be satisfying. We have an early reservation, followed by an NSO concert, followed by smoked salmon at home after the concert.

Well we asked our very attentive server, and he suggested two appetizers each. Great suggestion. With the amuse bouche and bread, it was just right. R.J. swung by to inquire about dishes we had ordered from his revamped and very interesting new menu. Kudos all around.

If you're at the bar, you can always fill up on the various lagniappes... not sure what they have out currently, but usually some deliciously crunchy pickled vegetable.

Thank you for you recs. I guess the sensible thing to do would be to ask the server if two appetizers and a side would be satisfying. We have an early reservation, followed by an NSO concert, followed by smoked salmon at home after the concert.

I'll be there on 6/18...cannot WAIT!

We are going to dinner on Saturday but not to the Chef's Table. We have never been, so some advice would be appreciated. If we each ordered two appetizers and no entrees, would we be satisfied? Neither of us consume large portions. Plus, the appetizers look more inventive. Thanks.

The GARs cater to the masses, and the masses are willing to sacrifice certain things for "reliability" which others might interpret as "predictability". Many on this board don't fall into that camp in this way: Many here will try different places in a journey of improvement and newness of dining experience. The general population isn't willing to do that. Most know of a certain rhythm to service, to menu selections, to decor, to taste and to quality. And the risk of downside FAR OUTWEIGHS the upside surprise to them - so GAR caters to that desire. In short, people go to GAR to get:

- service that's understandable, not like dim sum or family style or other slight variations

- menu selections that cover a wide enough range of desires (beef, chicken or fish?) while never straying too far from the known realm

- decor that is of a certain level of sophistication while still following a plan: leather booths, plain tablecloths, etc.

- taste that is as expected. Pasta, gravy and other items match what people think they should taste like.

- quality that doesn't embarass, ie, they're careful not to serve a fish that's still frozen inside.

Understanding this as their goal, they succeed. It is all about NOT HAVING A BAD MEAL vs having a really good one. Which explains, IMHO, why I believe there is a higher percentage of 4 and 6 person tables vs 2 tops. These are where "other people" are taken, where the other's tastes aren't known... or more likely...the host doesn't trust their own taste. So they throw their taste to the masses, much like an inexperienced investor who might hand their money to a mutual fund vs. making their own choices. They go where many other groups of 4 go.

Which also explains, I believe, why the chain has a handful of different place names yet overlapping menus. It is that same hedging strategy that allows menu items to be tried in one place first, then applied to others. It means if a bad review happens, the other places "are different". It means that with expansion, two GAR places could be opened in a small area without local headscratching. The benefits of scale without the risks of a single name.

It is dining as risk aversion.

You have convinced me to stay away from the GAR group. Are there any good to excellent restaurants from Vienna to McLean? I seriously doubt it. As a pevious poster put it--I'm paraphrasing--lots of money, not much taste.

Hmmm... "Fresh from our pallet to your palate."

Not that it matters much, but Tom S. at WaPo, not exactly a blue collar guy, consistently recommends these restaurants and laments that none have opened in Maryland.

This is the absolute wrong time for high end dining at Tyson's. Inox, in particular, had a strikingly plain dining room that the first time we were seated were surprised at how little "character" it had. I really believe that the chef never stood a chance; the design and the ambience of the room were awful. Somebody approved this, some one said this was the feel that they were looking for. Incredible that some one should have trusted this opinion; incredible that a room so vanilla, actually so "brown" and totally devoid of character should have been opened for such a talented chef. Regardless of what we thought of the food we were turned off by the room. I am truly sorry that Inox didn't work but I remember walking into the dining room and marvelling that such a plain, nondescript room could be offered to represent a great chef. I don't think it was just the location; the room was a factor, too.

Just a hunch, but I wonder if they unwittingly took the rather industrial looking 2941 interior to Inox without the "lake." That essentially means that there are no really good restaurants in McLean/Tysons.

Mom: "Who was that nice man, Donald?"

Don: "He's the restaurant critic for the Washington Post."

Mom: "Are you kidding me? Well <laughs> I probably embarrassed you. Oh well <laughs some more> I'm old enough where I don't give a damn."

"Donald?" How sweet!

Jackson 20 in Old Town allows dogs in the sidewalk seating-even behind the rail. It's great people watching. Of course they also have Doggy Happy Hour Tues and Thurs. Last Thurs was packed in the courtyard, so we too Tucker to the King St. seating.

We had been big fans of Chadwick's, but the service has been so off (forget to bring drinks, 50 min. wait for food (not good with doggie in tow)) that we haven't been in a while. Perhaps we'll give it another shot.

The French Hound (ha ha) in Middleburg.

If you're curious, a few people have mentioned it ... with varying opinions. (Which sorta makes me want to check it out.)

It is definitely worth a look.

When I think of great beer documentaries, this is what immediately comes to mind.

 
I'm not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread, but "Mostly Martha," a German film is wonderful, by turns heartbreaking and hilarious.

Ironicly this month's Washingtonian features them in the cheap eats section.

Does this mean that Amma's in Vienna will also be closing?

Had a wonderful brunch at Urbana today. The mushroom omelette was delicate, varied, and inventive. My poached egg veggie nest featured julienned asparagus, mesclun, and red peppers. We had not been here before. Service was very professional and unobtrusive, and we loved the sleek decor. While most of the other brunchers were downing copious amount of champagne, we confined ourselves to two pots of Earl Grey tea.

Has anyone stayed at the Palomar next door?

I'm there every summer - unfortunately not for the entire summer anymore, like when I was little, but for at least a month. My place up there looks out at SW Harbor, actually. I've been to Red Sky in SW Harbor and enjoyed it. If you venture in to SW, check out Sawyer's Market. Also Red Bird Provisions in NE Harbor, if they open this summer - I had heard that they might not. If travelling by boat, you could always try the Islesford Dock restaurant on Little Cranberry Island. Great view, and Cynthia and Dan gave me my first summer job back in the day!

Thanks for the tips. We plan to take the ferry from SW Harbor to both the Big and Little Cranberry Islands. We'll only be there for the first two weeks in July.

Moving up the coast a bit, has anyone eaten at Fiddler's Green, Red Sky, or Cafe 2 in Southwest Harbor?

Are any other Rockers going to Mid-Coast Maine this summer?

My husband and I took my mother in law and family here for mother's day brunch. The service was impeccable, and it was one of the best brunches I've ever had. Highlights were the English scones with clotted cream, bacon, quiche, maple glazed shrimp with corn cakes (kind of a sweet version of shrip and grits) and chocolate french toast.

We also went for brunch and were underwhelmed by our entrees. We much prefer Zaytinya and Oyamel. But the service was extremely professional.. Our highlight was the fish market where we bought trout, salmon, cous cous, and beet salad. (and the fish monger went to the basement to give us some dill for the trout--grati). Thank you Black Salt Fish Market!

Chef Levi Mezick and William Washington will be leaving the Jockey Club. Their last day will be May 15th.

What's the story? These guys arrived about six months ago. Rocks?

Boynton-McKay has a pretty elaborate website, so it appears to be open and thriving. I will check out both of your recs.

Moving up the coast a bit, has anyone eaten at Fiddler's Green, Red Sky, or Cafe 2 in Southwest Harbor?