brettashley01

The most delicious thing I've had at Dino- and most places in DC for that matter- is the melted Gorgonzola with tomato sauce ..golden raisins mixed in.. to die for!

Ogonquit If you go to Ogonquit, try The Oarweed, ask for Sarah Smallwood as your server and tell Jeff the manager that Brett says hi! (And then go across to Barnacle Billy's for some magical rum punch...)

Ditto that. It is so damn good. Also if you have a chance, go out to Estoril for some good seafood.

Oh awesome Zora! I'm already intrigued by the fiddlehead ferns- they have taunted me at TJ's, but I've been hesistant to buy them as I have no idea what to do with them! What is the propper trimming procedure for these babies?

hehe Oops, I meant beer.

I can't be the only one who's heard of Miller's new hybrid of light bear/Michelada, the Miller Chill

Not sure exactly where Hudson is, but I'm from Westchester and could recommend lots of great places there, plus in CT, Putnam, and a bit further upstate if that's the area you'll be in!

I was having drinks with a colleague at Vidalia's bar on Friday when I literally bumped into R.J. Cooper as I left the restroom. I was a little star-struck but didn't want to seem too weird, or like someone who spends all her free time on the internet, so I casually inquired if he was the chef, and congratulations on winning that award, wasn't it the James Beard? Oh, yes, it was! Well, no I'm not a food blogger, I just read them. A lot. Chef inquired what we were eating. I told him oh, no, we're just having wine before my colleague's dinner plans. To this exceptionally gracious chef, this was an unacceptable answer. Not only did he insist on sending something out, he even took my allergies into consideration in the preparation. Within 5 minutes, we had the most delectable nibbles in front of us: hamachi on watermelon (why didn't anyone think of this sooner?) complemented by homemade lime sorbet with hints of piment d'Esplette; and a salmon sashimi over white beets topped with salmon roe, served with a touch of aioli. Oh, wow, my compliments to the chef. We will be back for more, this time when we don't already have plans.

I have only eaten at the Guards once for lunch with my parents, and we all loved it. The same owners of the Childe Harold in Dupont... large plates, low prices, very nice service. It only seems like a crummy dive until you go inside and realize there's a huuuge sunroom in the back!

Wow, how apropo to my date last night. Me: veggie-loving, fish eating, fry despising health junkie with a weakness for wine and new tastes. Him: Won't eat a vegetable unless it's a fried potato- and won't even try anything else (seriously would not even try a piece of arugula). Unnerved by tomatoes not in spaghetti sauce. Would only eat the croutons on a Caesar salad, and thinks his appreciation of fish and chips counts as a pescatoral inclination. Was literally disgusted by the guacamole that came with our soft shell crab. (Hello?! Sooo good!) Sigh. Looks like I'll be going back to Pesce alone

So, as a seafood fanatic, I was very happy to see Trader Joe's prepared, cooked mussels on the shelves yesterday afternoon. They come in a sealed pack, already cooked and ready to eat cold. If you so choose, they may also be reheated in the broth/juices and eaten alone or added to pasta. Sounded delicious and just what I was craving. Mussels, broth, and something to sop it up. Unfortunately, my dream dinner came with a side dish of major stomach ailments. And since everything else I ate yesterday was either completely allergen free (ie cereal, yogurt, fruit), I'm pretty sure it's the mussels that did me in. Is it just me, or does TJs prepared food have a tendency to uh... go down not so easy? I bought their crushed garlic and everytime I used it I felt pretty ill after.

I have been to two of the three existing Pain Quotidien- in Aix-en-Provence and in London (I believe the third is in Brussels). I love the fact that their products are fresh, they have a small menu, and are reliable. Community tables are part of the concept. A good lunch choice... very French, not carb-heavy (the tartines can provide the perfect balanced meal). I'm a fan for sure, and excited that they're coming here. Let's just hope the concept translates across the Atlantic. ETA: I was clearly misinformed and there are a lot of these both in the US and throughout the world... No thanks to my know-it-all Londoner friend...

Wow, 22 users reading this topic. How many of you join me in raised brow, embarassment and wondering when the second part of the Civil War (Battle.....PIZZA) will officially begin? Jeeeez....

such a good time and so good to meet so many people! Thanks for the warm welcome and delicious food- and shoutout to the cousin i never knew i had!

Pat, I feel your pain! I just burnt an entire batch of pita chips! GRRRRRRRRR

Ok so my weekend has turned crazy busy. I am still bringing pita chips, which are vegetarian and allergen-safe. Hope to be enough. Fruit salad has devolved into pink lady apples. I apologize. Oh, and what time is the run/walk fun beginning??

Need they be domestic? You may want to look online for some middle-eastern retailers. ETA: Yay I'm now a ventworm!

Is anyone bringing pets? (I lurrrrve doggies!)

Now you've got me curious! I tried one of the flavored varieties (can't recall if it was the peach or berry) and it was NASTY!!! I was all excited and really looking forward to the Enviga. Was a total buzzkill. I'm going to buy the plain version today and see if it's any better, or if it's just not gonna do it for me. I am a fan of green tea, and green tea ice cream (red bean also, yum), so I hope to be pleasantly surprised. ETA: Plain version is much much better. May have found a new sipper.

Was thinking of bring watermelon or some sort of fruit salad (yummy yummy)

I used to live right around the corner from Beacon, and went to their brunch more than once. I really never thought it was worth it- there was always something off, usually with the service. Examples include unwanted ingredients in made-to-order omelets, bloody marys spilled on customers, a half hour wait for milk for coffee, mysterious items appearing on our bill. Things got so bad one time that I wrote a letter to the manager, got invited back for a complimentary brunch- where the same comedy of errors played out!

congrats y'all!

Wasn't criticizing... sorry if it was taken that way

It's a much less precise science than roasting a chicken.

Lord no! You don't wanna know what goes on in my oven, but I assure you it's not conducive to roasting eveness or perfection. Have a hard enough time roasting vegetables in that thing...