Bob Wells

On 4/25/2018 at 12:20 PM, DonRocks said:

[I went ahead and mentioned Price Club in the title, since the 1993 "PriceCostco Merger" was done on equal footing, and Price Club was founded first, in 1976.]

I wonder what percentage of members at the Chantilly Costco know about Price Club? Gotta be pretty low now, 25 years post merger.

And of those that do, how many know that Price Club was named for fortuitously named founder Sol Price (who gave jukebox pioneer David Rockola a run for his money)?

4 hours ago, astrid said:

We are really enjoying TruFru chocolate covered raspberries, available in the frozen desserts area.

I bought a bag on a whim and the gang loves them. We are awaiting the return of the Nib-Mor chocolate with blueberries. Have you tried the dark chocolate-covered tangerines?

Can you tell I like dark chocolate & fruit? 

3 hours ago, dracisk said:

Plus one on Al Forno, inventors of grilled pizza. As I read through this thread yesterday I thought of posting about them but didn't have time!

Yes, I was going to mention the grilled pizza, and forgot to do so! It's not often there's an undisputed inventor of a dish, but this is one of the rare cases!

PS Speaking of RI, the Modern Diner in neighboring Pawtucket. Iconic. (owned and run by people I grew up with. As noted above, RI is a very small place)

Gotta mention Al Forno in Providence. Started the PVD dining renaissance in 1979 and still going strong 39 years later.

My brother Jon worked at a photo agency above Al Forno's original location on Steeple Street and he became such good friends with George (RIP) and Joanne that he's been to their home in France and went with them to visit a neighbor you might have heard of... Patricia Wells (no relation). (RI is a very small place). 

NB: My quasi-cousin Emily Percelay Conn and her husband both worked at Al Forno and she is now killing it with her bakery in Burlington VT. Her Instagram feed is a must. http://inthekitchenwithbronwyn.com/blog/food-entrepreneurs-series-part-iii-the-bakery-at-the-farmhouse-kitchen/

36 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

The one lobster roll I had at Bite Into Maine was mostly if not all claw meat.  It was disgusting (because it was claw meat).

Nothing gets the ball rolling like a good lobster roll debate!

13 hours ago, Marty L. said:

I didn't like the brown butter lobster roll at all--gimmicky and not worth the $$, kinda like Cronuts.This might be the best lobster roll in the area, and it has the added virtue of being located in Ft. Williams Park!

Eventide is not cheap, that's for sure. As for Bite Into Maine, solid lobster roll in a great setting! 

11 hours ago, Marty L. said:

Central Provisions is great.  As is Drifter's Wife (special joint dinner with Tail Up Goat tomorrow!).  And Rose Foods is a surprisingly terrific bagel & smoked fish place (not quite Russ & Daughters quality, but not too far off).  I know it's a minority viewpoint, but I've found Eventide rather disappointing--resting on laurels (and long lines) perhaps?

Thanks Marty -- definitely have heard about Rose Foods. And if Drifter's Wife is teaming up with TUG, that's a place I'd probably like!

As for Eventide, they certainly don't need our business, but everyone should try that brown butter lobster roll at least once. Of course, you'll definitely find people who say that Fore Street is resting on its laurels these days too.

One more note: High Roller Lobster Co is getting a lot of buzz these days, but we've found the lobster rolls to be nothing special and possibly benefiting from the lack of real competition in the Old Port area.

Hi Team -- Just discovered this thread. I am really up on the Portland (and Maine in general) restaurant scene. We go up there at least once every summer and sometimes twice, and I have several partners in crime (brothers and friends) who are equally food-centric. I can help with any price point, cuisine, locale, etc.

Regarding the places mentioned in this thread, I have been to and can give thumbs up to: Duckfat, Fore St, Street & Co, Two Fat Cats (NB: while the highly touted whoopie pies are perfectly fine, the fruit pies are outstanding), Bite Into Maine, Eventide, Miyake, Micucci's, Becky's, and Hot Suppa!

Here are a few more places just off the top of my head that Portland-bound Rockwellians should consider: Palace Diner in Biddeford (a must), Scratch Bakery and 158 Pickett Street Cafe in South Portland, Black Dinah Chocolates in Westbrook, OTTO Pizza (several area locations), Day's Seafood in Yarmouth, and in Portland: Standard Baking Company (literally below Fore St), Belleville Bakery, Paciarino, Gelato Fiasco, and one of the most beautiful Whole Foods you'll ever see. Coffee By Design is my non-Starbucks choice but the city is loaded with interesting coffee places.

If you want to try one of Maine's famous Italian sandwiches, Amato's and Anania's are safe choices. Italians should not vary too much from place to place; they have a very standard list of ingredients.

Places in Portland I have not been to but definitely are on my radar screen include Emilitsa, Central Provisions, Petite Jacqueline, Slab, and Piccolo.

This is just for Portland and the nearby towns.

We are actually sort of kind of considering getting a little place on Peaks Island in Casco Bay at some point. Just love the area.

1 hour ago, DonRocks said:

You don't need Philly sandwiches when you have The Canopy (website - order rare, with bbq sauce and horseradish, and scarf it in your car driving home (with fries if you want to feel extra guilty) - make sure to have at least one additional sandwich for later). 

I've been here twice this year, and it's just as good as it was 10-15 years ago - exactly the same, actually.

When I first went to John's Roast Pork (thanks to ol_ironstomach), I was enthralled; my enthusiasm has waned on my last two visits (I generally go here as I'm driving back to DC, since it's in South Philly, and sort-of close to I-95). They use tongs and pull fully cooked, pre-roasted pork out of a vat of liquid - if you think about it, how good could that really be? I love the sharp provolone, the broccoli rabe, and the rolls, and yes I'll continue going, but the pork itself is kind of overrated.

Took the family to John's last December and enjoyed the roast pork sammy a lot. NB: Unlike many other top Philly roast pork purveyors, John's actually uses garlicky spinach instead of broccoli rabe. Locals rate it very highly. NB2: The rest of the gang got meatball sammies and they were excellent. Next visit I'd like to try the roast pork at DiNic's in RTM.

On 7/13/2018 at 12:04 PM, Kibbee Nayee said:

I don't like the cutesy names of the sandwiches at Taylor, like Ritner instead of Roast Beef. I also don't like that I can't get a legitimate Philly cheesesteak or Italian hoagie at either place. Rather, they have their own version of these, but not the originals.

Ritner is cute? it's just a street name in Phila. I kinda liked the street names.

4 hours ago, ICD said:

I was really annoyed when they didn’t have the pork and broccoli rabe sandwich because that was not seasonal.  Yes, get rid of one of your most popular sandwiches for an extended period.  I’ll miss the risotto balls.  Good luck to the hard working employees.

Yes. I was shocked when they got rid of the Pattison Ave (the pork, broccoli rabe, sharp provolone). That is an iconic sandwich in Filthadelphia, and to me that really said they had forgotten their roots, especially when they were putting out bizarre combos like that ChiKo thing.

11 hours ago, rbh said:

I drove by today and saw a For Lease sign in the window, and then checked online and saw this:

"F.C.'s Argia's Italian Restaurant Closes after 18 Years" on fcnp.com

Sad news. Argia's was a go-to for me and my colleagues at Tax Analysts from the day it opened until I left TA in 2008.

22 minutes ago, mtureck said:

But if it's delicious, why is it distressing that they use asian crabs?

Glancing at their website, I don't see Faidley's claiming to use Maryland crab either, fwiw. 

Pappas (and Faidleys) are supposedly a cut above the Phillipses of the world. And Don is right, Asian crab is tasteless. Beautiful but tasteless. The deliciousness of the crabcake should not depend on the other ingredients.

PS Just checked the websites for G&M and Jerry's. None of them use the key word "blue" in front of crab. Thus I have to believe they all use the swimming crabs from Asia.This should be a freakin' scandal! Ah well, life goes on.

Well this is distressing. We got Pappas crabcakes for my father-in-law's 91st birthday last weekend. He and my wife are full Baltimoreans and I've been eating these things for years, and we've never suspected they used those SE Asian things. The cakes were delicious as usual.

Pappas has always been up there with Faidleys in our top tier. 

Will investigate more and circle back. I have had a Congressional press pass, so on some level I am a journalist. 😎

I haven't been to this place in many years, but it looks to still be the go-to place for conch in all forms (fritters, chowder, grilled, etc.) and all sorts of other seafood. 

http://www.calypsorestaurant.com/calypso_about-us.html

16 hours ago, JBag57 said:

Not to totally derail this discussion, but both Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings are (or at least used to be) available to both individuals and business entities.  Chapter 11 is not well-suited for an individual for at least a couple of reasons, but it is an option.

I think Ericandblueboy above has raised an appropriate issue--the possibility that the authors are not writing the headlines.  Thus, we may not be able to pin it directly on the authors.

Not only is it quite possible the authors didn't write the header, it's quite likely.

2 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

Poop Deck at Nassau.  I don't think they're great or if there is such a thing.

Conch fritters are the Florida equivalent of RI clam cakes. Either you love them or you don't. People who expect big hunks of clam (or something) are always disappointed with their first bite. Sometimes they come around, sometimes they don't.

20 minutes ago, dcs said:

Tysons Corner’s Legal Sea Foods Will Serve Its Last Lobster Roll This Month - The suburbian location is closing on Wednesday, September 26, by Tierney Plumb, September 4, 2018, on dc.eater.com.

Not a huge Legal fan like I was back in my Boston days, but it's always been decent. Can't say I'm surprised, however. The place never looks too full, and the permanently shuttered "Legal to Go" takeout stand gave the place a forlorn look (to me anyway).

48 minutes ago, John William G said:

There is a very interesting article in today’s NY Times about which chain restaurants are the worst for your health.  There are some real surprises in it, at least for me.  For example, “Hungry for a hearty breakfast? You could … try the Cheesecake Factory’s Breakfast Burrito: ‘warm tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, chicken chorizo, cheese, crispy potatoes, avocado, peppers and onions, over spicy ranchero sauce.’  Nutritional information: 2,730 calories,… 4,630 milligrams of sodium…and 73 grams of saturated fat…You’d have to eat seven Sausage McMuffins from McDonald’s to equal the cardiovascular and waistline damage done by one burrito…”

I'm having a hard time picturing anyone other than a teenage boy eating the entirety of that thing or some of the other things described in the article.

8 minutes ago, Bob Wells said:

Anyone remember Dad's Backyard Burgers (or something like that) in Merrifield? Was just north of 29 on Gallows Road. Took about two years to open, then was open for about two weeks before closing forever due to road construction.

That's the closest parallel I can think of to this fiasco, albeit one that didn't blow through millions of someone's dollars.

Dad's actually got a discussion on DR.com back in the day (And there's a link to the hilarious Chowhound discussion that I started). 

Anyone remember Dad's Backyard Burgers (or something like that) in Merrifield? Was just north of 29 on Gallows Road. Took about two years to open, then was open for about two weeks before closing forever due to road construction.

That's the closest parallel I can think of to this fiasco, albeit one that didn't blow through millions of someone's dollars.

On 8/19/2018 at 8:50 PM, Ericandblueboy said:

Immediately after eating my proteins at Federalist Pig for lunch, I went to Amsterdam Falafel for some fiber (just a small sandwich).  They were playing some African pop music which I really digged. 

The balls were crispy on the outside, soft, salty and fluffy on the inside, and they even crush them for you.  I was handed a pita with the balls smooshed and ready to be topped.  I topped it with 2 kinds of cucumbers - sliced pickled and diced fresh, and then some tzatziki with even more cucumbers in it.  The contrasting textures of crunchy and soft was wonderful.

Next time I'll skip the BBQ and just get my falafel.  I wish there's one near me.  I've had Cava, Pita Pouch, the Halal Guys and they all suck compared to Amsterdam.

Have you tried Yafa Grille yet? Very good felafel.

30 minutes ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

Sorry, brain cramp.

But a good call. I used to eat way too many baked goods from Nordstrom.

28 minutes ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

I mostly agree, but I won't lump Lebanese Taverna in with that crowd. The Tysons Galleria outpost is one of the best of the Lebanese Tavernas, along with the expanded original on Washington Blvd in Arlington. And footsteps away is the dependable Paul Bakery, one of the better coffee shops in Tysons.

Other than those two, you are right. You even missed Cheesecake Factory.

Yes, did not mean to lump Leb Tav in with the mediocrities. Definitely include CcF, though. It's ok, and not a bad value since you get three meals from each entree (or you should). But this is the Galleria, not a "value shopping" destination. And personally I kinda like TCB, but it's miles downscale from the stores at the Galleria. Paul is pretty good and fits pretty well at the Galleria, but I'm a Maison Kayser fan!

2 hours ago, DPop said:

Agree with the issue about the location upstairs.  It almost feels like that needs to be either a furniture store or a big box restaurant like the PF Changs or Maggiano's a level below.  And even then, I think whatever goes there will struggle a bit, although I say that and Wildfire is always pretty crowded when I go.

This raises another good point. For a mall that has many -- not just a few, but many -- of the finest, most recognizable names in fashion/retail in the WORLD, the eateries are remarkably pedestrian. Anyone got a theory about that? Corner Bakery, Legal, Maggiano's... it's as if the restaurants are a completely separate entity, aimed at the white-collar drones in the neighboring office buildings, that was grafted onto the Galleria's retail.

Are malls simply not conducive to higher-end dining?