LizH

Has anyone been back to David Craig recently? Until Rays Classic opens, I am stuck for a place near home for dinner with my visiting father. He is a meat and potato man, and according to Tom's review, there may be something for all of us.

thanks all. I think the key will be adding some beef broth and some red wine. I think the way I am making it is braising, as I first brown the meat, and then put an oven safe pot in the oven for 3 hours or so. now, if I could only figure out the elusive light, floating matzo ball. Cheers.

Since Passover is almost here... I am making my second brisket, and I am looking for suggestions. I like to keep it classic "old school." I can't find the recipe I used last year (my first brisket), but here is what I remember... * Braise the brisket on all sides * Place in roasting pan with.... onions, carrots, fresh herbs (I used some thyme from my garden) * Coat top with thin layer tomato paste (my aunt, who uses the family recipe) suggested tomato sauce here, but I liked the thick outside and earthy quality of the tomato paste. I didn't need to make any gravy, as it was very moist. * cook for as many hours as you can stay awake (I think I did it for @ 3 + hours) * cool brisket and serve the NEXT day. I am afraid I am missing something. Do I need to add some sort of liquid? Maybe that is what I forgot? Before I call my Aunt again, any help from the peanut gallery? thanks!

This is a great place. The service is pretty hit or miss, but it is worth it for the dumplings. I agree the pork are the best. You have to be prepared for that hot broth coming from the "buns"-- but they are great. I usually go with a friend and we get the dumplings and the stir-fried noodles. The noodles are not to be missed either, we usually get them with chicken. There are always left overs. It is a great cheap eats place and yes, better then any of the other Chinese in "chinatown." If only the service could be improved, but alas, we keep going back too.

I tried Oya after a show on Saturday night. It was @ 10:00 and the tables in the restaurant were filled, but we were able to get two seats at the bar. We had a nice view of the fireplace, though it meant we could not actually see the faces of the bartenders very well. We just wanted a quick bite, so we got a few of the sushi rolls. The standout was the Crunchy Tuna. On the outside they had crunchy shredded potato, which was great. I would go back for that alone. Yum. FYI, very well dressed crowd. They have some small rooms that are part of the lounge/ bar that looked very cool, as does the whole restaurant. A very attractive place. I am curious to try more, though the entrees look to cost $25-30, which seems a bit high for my tastes.

well... memory is fuzzy. I think they brew their own. I just looked at their web site, I think I had Bombshell Blonde. My friend had more of the dark beers. He is more of a beer expert then I am, but he really liked the place, so we went for lunch. It was interesting trying to do research at the National Archives after that lunch! fyi: www.franklinsbrewery.com

I have been before. Great beer. The food's focus is all over the place, chinese, thai, burgers, pizza. I would stick with the burger or other classic grub. There is a very cute gift shop that is attached, with fun toys, note cards, foodie gifts, etc.

FYI, if you want to try a local verson, the Quarry House in Silver Spring has them on their menu. Not sure how they make them, but I bet they may tell you if asked. They served them with a dill dip that was pretty good. They were thinly sliced and fried nice and crispy. The chips went very well with a cold beer.

I have to say I didn't really like the coffee the few times I have been. After a trip to Miami I ordered the Cuban coffee that I so enjoyed all over Miami, but it could not compare. I have found the three times I have gone the coffee was worse then the last time I went. It always seemed more bitter then smooth. I like the idea of this being a local place, but the product was really not that great.

I made it to the new/old quarry house last night. We started with the homemade potato ships and dill dip, which was enjoyed by all. We all had the burgers, which were not the same as the old Quarry burgers, but were good none the less. Instead of that big flat patty it was a big thick burger. The quality of the beef was very good. It seems like everything is served with tater tots. Now I think it has been YEARS since I had tater tots, but it was worth the wait. Portions were large, so we couldn't finish, though I blame the potato chips. The inside looks exactly the same to me. I didn't check out the bathrooms, which were never the finest of Silver Spring, so hopefully they get/got fixed up. It still is the dive bar of yore; I think it is safe to go back. It still seems to be more bar food then the gourmet, but that is what you would want while eating in a basement dive bar.

OK, I couldn't find a listing for this restaurant, so here it goes... I have tended to only go to the take out place in Arlington and the new "cafe" in Silver Spring recently, but Friday I found myself at the Lebanese Taverna in Woodly Park. I used to go here all the time in years past, so when were were looking for a quick bite to eat, we thought we would give it a try. I would say the food was ok, but not as good as I remembered. I think ultimately knowing you could go to Zatinya and have similar food, but prepared in a more inspired way, you would pick Zatinya. We ordered a bunch of the mezza. Some items were fine (the Kibbeh and hommus), one item was very good (sharaht ghanam- which was sliced lamb), and others were average to not very good (the lamb kabob appetizer was terrible, the pieces were so fatty my piece was impossible to eat as it was all fat). I know that its location near the hotels means that there are many tourists, but I think they may have dumbed down some of the food for them. I used to remember this restaurant as a fun and interesting place to go. I still like the take away in Silver Spring, but if I want to sit down and eat, Zatinya is the winner, with better food and atmosphere. I wonder if they are successful with the 100 King restaurant in Alexandria, they will go back to to Woodly Park, and give it a much needed update.

Well we gave Gallery another try. I find it strange that they don't seem to be very busy. Perhaps they would rather be a lounge/ club and not a restaurant/ lounge. We arrived @ 8:30 and met friends for drinks. Perhaps since it was cold, there was not much of a crowd. There were a few people in the bar area, and maybe 4 tables in the restaurant area. Overall, I would say the lounge area is the more successful part of this venture, as when we left later in the evening (say @ 11), there was a small crowd there at least. My drink (a house specialty on their list) was not very good. After this and the not so good mojito I had last time, I would stick to beer and wine. Like last time, it seemed a bit weak. Since there was not that many people there, it could not be because they were busy. We had some appetizers, which were fine. The guacamole was fine, though they seem to be serving it with less chips then last time we ordered it. The chorizo and boniato mash is still their best thing on the appetizer list. The empanadas were tiny and in need of salsa or some sort of sauce as they were quite dry. we did get some entrees later, the chipolte shrimp was enjoyed by our friend that ordered it. I had the Churrasco (skirt steak, with yucca fries). I enjoyed it, but if you like it more on the medium rare side, you need to ask for it rare, as it came out as more medium to well done. It came with a spicy mayo for the yucca fries that was interesting. A few folks had the mussels, which also came with the yucca fries and sauce. I will say it is nice to have an interesting lounge in Silver Spring, but there was something strange about how empty it was for most of the night. It is such a big place, you feel a little strange being one of only a few tables filled. I think they need to do some PR. I also don't understand the upstairs bar that is street level. It has been completely empty both times we have come. FYI, they have added prices to their web site. (http://gallerysilverspring.com/)

My husband and I are thinking about where to go on our next vacation. One idea is to go to Berlin and Prague, and possibly going through Munich on the way home. Does anyone have any food advice? My knowledge of German food is somewhat limited, but I hear that there is good food to be had. I have been to Prague, so I know that the food there can be limited. Either way, I know we would drink well in all three cities. cheers (Prost) in advance.

That is funny; I was there Friday night as well. I also always get the ginger salad, which is still very good. We ordered mostly sushi, and it was all quite good for the price. I found it decent for the money, which is not as easy to find in DC these days. It was busy, but we got in before the crunch. Despite the crowd, the service was good. I wouldn't mind if they opened a Spices in Silver Spring.

I went back to Jackie's this past weekend. I really want to like that place, but the one thing that they always made well has been changed, not for the better. We had the mini-Elvis burgers, which were good as usual. I always count on the steak to be good, and it is usually what I order. They changed it to include some sort of potato gratin, which was no where near as good as the fries that usually came with it. There were two sauces; one was a bordelaise, which was fine, and the other spinach, which was terrible. I had to push it away so that it would not mar the rest of the food, but it was the most prevalent. I don't know how my favorite veggie could make such a bad sauce, but there you have it. The service was maddening as well. Our waitress was MIA most of the night, and over zealous when she was there, interrupting, etc. We were there for over 2 1/2 hours, but it was not that relaxing. I am glad they are updating some of the menu, but I wish they would not mess with something that was not broken. FYI, the steak was still good, but it was the only thing I liked on my plate. I probably should have spoken up, but with the MIA waitress, by the time she came by, our dinner was over. I REALLY can’t wait for Ray’s Classic to open

I made a few items from the cook book this past weekend. The one I really liked was the toast with chocolate. I saw this noted somewhere (the Wash Post food section, maybe?) and I wanted to try it. If you don't have the cookbook, it is VERY simple... just toast some good bread, stick it back in the toaster oven/ broiler with some pieces of good chocolate on top. When melted, toss on a little sea salt and drizzle a bit of extra virgin olive oil. The salt and the olive oil is a nice compliment to the chocolate.

We can't wait for Ray's to open. I drove by last weekend and saw the same notice.... I thought it was a hopeful sign... Please open soon, Silver Spring needs your steaks!

I went to Gallery this past weekend. First off, it is a very cool and attractive place, which I think will add to Silver Spring's burgeoning nightlife. In the same way that Jackie's has transformed a funky old garage, the space inside is very cool for the suburbs, which I appreciate. I will say that I had not been to the "Blair Mill Arts Center" before, so it was a pleasant surprise. The place is quite spacious, which makes me wonder why they sat us in a table that overlooked the blinding light from the kitchen. It was not that crowded, but we had already moved from a cold seat by the window, so we stayed there. The food is Latin American. I was lulled into ordering the Mojito. While not the worst I have ever had (that one was in Miami, believe it or not), it was not as good as my gold standard (Cafe Atlantico). But we drank on, and listened to the techno music, which matched the setting. They said they would have DJs in the future, and that there would be a dance floor for dancing in the future. The wine list seemed fine, though Argentina was spelled three different ways. They are a new place, so I assume this will be fixed soon. We received fried plantain chips after we ordered, which I thought was a nice touch. The staff seemed very attentive, and came to check on us often... so while it is new (I think only open a week or so), they are trying. We had a few appetizers and a few entrees. The better of the two aps was the Chorizo with Boniato Mash. The chorizo was lightly (not overly) spicy, which was nicely contrasted with the sweet Boniato. I don't think I have ever had boniato mash before, but I enjoyed it. It was like a sweet mashed potato, but not as sweet as a sweet potato. The other ap was Guacamole, which was fine. They said the chips were made in-house. I found that it was better with the lighter plantain ships that they gave us previously. My husband had the Chipotle Shrimp. It seemed fine, not outstanding. The scoop of rice with it was one of the smallest I have ever seen as a side dish. The shrimp were spicy, but again not overly. I had the Braised Pork shank (also served with the Boniato mash). It enjoyed it, but it the texture of the braised meat and the mashed boniato was so similar, I felt like it needed something else to contrast. The flavor of the lamb was sweet and spicy at times, bland at others. I don't know what our final bill price was (note the prices are not on the web site). The entrees were @ $18 and up range, the appetizers were @ $9 + each, so this is a moderate to expensive place. The mojito was @ $ 8.50 and I think the wines by the glass were around $8-10 a glass. We will likely go back for the fun atmosphere, and the decent food. I think I would order a few aps and maybe skip the entrees if I was watching $$$ as the appetizers were of a good size. There were some larger round corner tables that look like they would be fun for a group. I was happy for a new, non-chain restaurant to open, we will have to try some more of the menu for a better sense of the food. The food seemed similar to Civiche, which opened recently closer to the movie theater, etc. In comparison, I thought some of the food may have been better at Civiche, but a bit more expensive (then at Gallery). Both are attractive spaces, which next to the chain restaurants is a nice change. Like Jackie's, I think the food is OK, but could be a little better for the price. These same restaurants in DC proper would likely need to rise to a higher standard. one minor quip... the closest parking is a lot that is about a 1/2 a block away, the cost is $5.00. For some reason the parking is only $3.00 for those going to the Mayorga coffee shop. It wouldn't hurt to have the price be the same for Gallery's patrons, especially when it is FREE everywhere else in Silver Spring after 6:30. I think there was valet parking, but I didn't see the sign until we left, and I am not sure how much it was.

So, anyone been to Zengo recently? Should I go? I am always wary of fusion restaurants, but I am looking for something interesting in that area (besides Zatinya) for a Friday night post Holiday party dinner. JLK, you list tempts me...

It may be too late for ideas, but here is what I do every year... my version of Turkey pot pie! In a baking dish I use the extra gravy (or get some from Whole foods, which is really good)... cut up pieces of turkey... add a bag (or so) of frozen peas and stir... top with Mashed Potatoes, Iadd some butter on top to help crisp the top of the potatoes... Bake until hot. Add other veggies if you have them. Cheers.

I am having friends over for a belated Rosh Hashanah dinner this weekend. I am thinking of brining my chicken (a first for me). Does anyone have any tips? Can I do the whole brining thing in a big sauce pot, or do I need to line the pot with a plastic bag? Thanks!

If you go to the Delano, go out by the pool, it is beautiful. Though, the drinks we had there were terrible. We had some small plates of food, which was good (better then our drinks) though expensive. a MUCH better bit of advice, try: Tap Tap 819 Fifth Street 305.672.2898 It is a very cool Hatian restaurant, slightly off the South Beach strip. Very good, very reasonable. MUCH better drinks and food then the Delano, and a 1/4 of the price! Big portion, and great drinks. We had their version of the Mojito, and it was the best one we had in Miami. Setting is very funky, with bright color, miss matched chairs, etc. There was live music the night we went and it was really a blast. Cheers.

FYI: interesting article in Today's (Oct. 5) Wash Po food section on chefs cooking a huge meal using sous vide: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...5100400271.html

First impressions of Tabaq bistro... We got there early for a drink in the roof bar, which was nice, though you are facing away from the nice view. We were able to switch our table for dinner to the roof area (as opposed to the lower level of the restaurant). Make sure to request the roof top tables, as the view etc. really is lovely. Downstairs (middle level?) was a bit bright for me. I think there is an even lower level, but we didn't go down there. I liked the bread, which they serve with basil oil that was very nice. I enjoyed the lamb chop (two good sized chops) on a puree that was good for that bread. A seared tuna and mushroom dish was ok (small), not at all like described on the menu. Perhaps they gave us the wrong thing? We also had a shrimp dish that I can't remember the name, but I liked it. The shrimp is in phyllo with a very nice sauce. It was a good size for sharing. We also had stuffed mussels, which also were pretty good. Drinks were expensive, as expected, but I had an interesting drink made from the fruit in the vodka that you will see in big jars on the bar. It was very good, though WOW was that fruit strong when you get to it at the end. Regarding service, we found some very friendly staff along the way, service was fine. One funny thing I noticed... there was some fumbling around with forks flying off tables, etc. I think some of it was caused by small and darkly lit tables. Even with our little plates of food, it was pretty crowded at the table. In the daylight the next day, I am sure they find many a missing fork, twist of bread, etc. I would go back, for a fun dinner with a view, you can't beat it (sorry, Hotel Washington doesn't cut it food wise). I like the food better at Zatinya, but for a change it was fun.

Stamford Wow, St. Moritz, a blast from the past. I grew up in Stamford, CT and we always went to St. Moritz for the best chocolate Moose cake. They also had perfect chocolate moose that came in glass bowls. I think you were supposed to return the bowls (maybe for more chocolate moose), but we kept the bowls and bought more. My dad still uses them. Now, I haven't had it since the early 1990's, but for an old school classic bakery, that might be the place.