Cook&Bottlewasher

.It took 90 minutes to cook the pizzas from begining to end at 900 degrees.

Huge MISTYPE!!!! I meant it takes only 90 SECONDS from beginning to end to cook the pizza at 900 degrees. It was amazing to watch.

Chatting with Will and the staff reminded me of what I like about working in restaurants. Haven't felt that in a long time.

Absolutely delicious dinner tonight at Pizzaria Orso. I had been trying to get there since Will Artley left Evening Star. Definitley following Will here!

The small plates featuring fresh raviolis we amazing but I could watch the wood burning oven all night.It took 90 minutes to cook the pizzas from begining to end at 900 degrees. They were so blistery and thin I really did feel I could taste them with my eyes.It was exactly as I remember in Naples.

It seemed to be loaded with kids considering how sophisticated the food was but they were well behaved after they received a ball of pizza dough from staff.Shut them right up!

More about this as I taste the rest of the menu in the weeks to come.

Let's make this 11, not 10.

11) Hold doors open for people as a matter of habit. If you're in any public space, pushing or pulling open a door, don't look behind you before holding it open; just pause for a split second, with the door slightly held open, so that someone behind you may be the recipient of your momentary act of kindness. Yes, by all means, look over your shoulder while you're doing it, and if there's nobody there, let go, but your first instinct should always be to hold that door open for the split second it takes to be polite. I'm not saying to let people through before you; just hold it so it doesn't slam shut on them. Total cost: zero. Total time spent from your day: less than one second. Pretense: zero. Don't expect a thank you, don't even make eye contact if you don't want to; just do it and move on.

Number 11 is a sure sign of a lady and gentleman. Aspire to be one.

Richmond Peter Chang's for lunch tomorrow! So thrilled!

"Peter Chang's Richmond Restaurant: Elusive Chef Resurfaces Along With His Fans" by Arin Greenwood on huffingtonpost.com

For me there is a short term tipping point and a long term one.'

The short term one come as the over analysis of each dish moves farther and farther from the simple gratitude of having something to eat when we are hungry.This is why I never, ever critique even in my head food which has been made and offered to me by another person.I am so lucky and grateful for the gift.

This does not mean I cannot or am not analitical of food and restaurants. I just completely compartmentalize based on the spirit with which the food was offered and the sincerity of the gift.

Long term....hmmm... I would have to say,on ones death bed, how it would feel to say to one's self,"I ate a lot of fancy food I don't remember and cra*ed it out." Doesn't seem like a great use of time and money.

Please,children, forgive a cranky old lady who has lived long enough to realize that food is yummy,nourishing and fun but not really that big of a deal unless you don't have enough.

Will Artley announced that he will be adding a late night seating (10pm) on Friday on Saturday.If you are interested you better get right on it. It's gone soon!

Mostly,having Pork Barrel on the Ave just reminds me that I want to eat at Dixie Bones or drive to Lexington for BBQ.I was so sad to see that The Smokey Pig in Ashburn has closed after 37 years. I blame my self for not eating there enough. www.smokeypig.com.

I think the thing that I want most is authentic vibe. I want that more than meat. I want it more than collards.The fact that this place is half cocktail bar full of yuppies helps not. You can forgive a lot at a place that feels real.

<!--quoteo(post=139286:date=Jun 23 2009, 02:04 PM:name=Cook&Bottlewasher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cook&Bottlewasher @ Jun 23 2009, 02:04 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=139286"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Unlike the other places visited,the press was not allowed inside. This was personal visit,not official.However......check out these shots a customer took. I bet Theresa will never go anywhere w/out a camera again!! I like the yard sale sign behind the president's head.I also like the finger licking by POTUS! <a href="http://bit.ly/xnE4M" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/xnE4M</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thos pictures are great! Did the president get to skip to the front of the line?

Well,the crowd parted when he walked in so he came to the front but he did not realize what he was doing. No-one cared.Trust me.

It was very busy today but super smooth due to my great employees and some hard work and planning.I'm glad you reported smoothness Friday night Goldenticket.

This new format is disconcerting.Did we get a warning about this? Change scares me!

Really? Moms blogs, NY Times, CBS news, Huffington Post and other media picking it up isn't frenzy?? I *know* that Liz's team will be great at fielding everything and I do hope that things skyrocket business-wise, but I just have to disagree respectfully with the press-part.

PS. Hillvalley: Am extremely drooling over your selection. Sounds like a trip with gebaby this week....

Unlike the other places visited,the press was not allowed inside. This was personal visit,not official.However......check out these shots a customer took. I bet Theresa will never go anywhere w/out a camera again!! I like the yard sale sign behind the president's head.I also like the finger licking by POTUS! http://bit.ly/xnE4M

The day after Obama's visit to The Dairy Godmother the line was out the door at 8:00pm. Despite the long line the wait was not bad and all the credit goes to the staff behind the counter. The line moved quickly because they were calm, efficient and friendly at the same time.

Don't let the long lines scare you away, the custard is as good as ever. I had chocolate with marshmallow and sprinkles which was the perfect end to a great weekend.

I have GREAT staff this summer.We were not any busier than usual today,Father's Day,a Sunday in the summer.We will see what the rest of the week brings. Glad everything was OK.

It's all over the internet. Congratulations, Liz!

The Dairy Godmother discussion thread is here, and their website is here.

A friend of mine missed him by only a few minutes - here's a picture she took (journalists, please don't reproduce this without proper reference):

It was a fun experience and a real rush for my super-hardworking staff.

They were just a very nice family. Obama said he was trying to butter up his kids because tomorrow was Father's Day and he was hoping for some good stuff.

I have to wonder what this means for my business. We have all heard about how crazy Hell Burger is now. It's a mixed blessing for sure, but a blessing nonetheless.

It would be WAY cheaper to get a part time job. People have no idea how complicated this is. Best would be to get a food cert and work in a food place so you can learn.

I had the pleasure of visiting North America's only tea plantation this winter in Charleston, South Carolina. It was marvelous to see the tea camellias being grown and processed. The tea was delicious. I still purchase some other teas for the variety but the green,black,oolong and "Earl Grey" can't be beat for clean taste and freshness.

http://www.bigelowtea.com/act/

It was bought by Bigelow a few years back.

I hope we all consider buying more American and more local for economic and environmental reasons.

Now I'm going to Edible Landscaping to buy a tea camellia online.

How wrong and unsanitary was it to see the picture of the folks in chef's whites digging in a garden? I guess everything is about photo op.

I was at TJ yesterday looking for their ultra cheap compressed rawhide for the little ones.For the third time in a row they were out.I asked a staff member and they said that everything form China had been discontinued.I am all for that! Hooray for Trader Joe's! I try to buy all American products only but the lure of the cheap rawhide was great.

This is the last day The Dairy Godmother is going to be open until February 6th. We're going ice fishing.Come and get it! Open until 10pm.

Spend $5 today and get a free small hot fudge sundae on reopening day,February 6th.

Wishing you and your's a peaceful hibernation period.

Offer of fresh yeast!

I used to run around to all the local grocery stores trying to find fresh yeast for the essential heirloom recipes at Christmas time. Finally Shoppers caved and it is no longer available. I am able to order 2 lb. blocks cheaply from one of my purveyors and would be delighted to share if anyone out there would like some this month. I can give you a nice chunk for a dollar if anyone is interested. Just let me know! Happy Holidays!

This is a great thread. I recently was asked to judge an amateur cookie contest and had to taste 21 different cookies that were almost all raw in the center. I felt like I was going to hurl.I think rare is associated with "fresh" or proof that the cookies are not from the grocery store or something. Bottom line.....raw flour tastes awful and a raw cookie is not the same as a fresh cookie.

It is easily made at home by rendering the chicken fat and straining and chilling.My Scottish mother make smaltz brownies which were rich and delicious. I believe she learned from her mother during the Great Depression when nothing was wasted. Important to NOT use and herbs or garlic with the chicken cooking if you want the fat for brownies.

The "place" is Alexandria Pastry and Cafe and has been around for 20 years. They do some delicious (and beautiful) cakes - raspberry marquis and lemon mousse with raspberries being some of my favorites. They also have a catering business. I haven't been for lunch in years, but I remember a nice selection of salads, sandwiches, and prepared foods.

I've been going to Bradlee shopping center since before I can remember and the traffic flow has only gotten worse over the years. To avoid the mess, park in the back lot off Braddock Road (next to the best shoe repair shop around) and walk through the passage to the main shopping area.

They have delicious sandwiches. I love lunching there. They have also been EXTREMELY generous in feeding the TCW football team for years. Being able to get a great piece of cake on top of kindness is a bonus.

I walked past the space last night and it clearly states that this is the location.

He has both but I only care about the location near me :-)

That would be great news, if only because it would be a nice indication that it's not going the way of all other tenants of that spot. I thought it was one of those cursed locations - I didn't even try it for quite a while, and I live walking distance (for shame).

The owner himself told me that they were opening a carryout in the old Eight Hands Round/Artfully Chocolate space. If you peep in the window you can see the start of pizza equipment. (yes.I'm that nosy ) I;m sure there will be hoops from the city to jump through since it was not previously a food place. It is difficult to say if it will even be allowed. I hope it works. Their pizza is really good and owner is a Del Ray resident and a good,energetic guy.

Those were the exact places I was about to suggest! All The Ritz's have it (and all on the pricey side, but don't go to Pentagon City location because it's *really* dark in there). Four Seasons has it (also a bit pricey), as does The Henley Park Hotel.

ETA: I believe the Empress Lounge has tea service right now at The Mandarin as well.

I like the Pentagon City location for tea and their food is the best tea food I've had in the area.I like to think of it as cozy.

Yes, both. Tacoma. Oklahoma.

Raise your hand if you think this is a co-incidence!