Escoffier

How does March 13th at 6:30pm sound for everyone?

Okay, I want to do this dinner on a Wednesday or Thursday night (because the chef asked that we do so in order for him to talk about the dishes, answer questions and in general be available). Which would be a better night and when? February 27 or 28 or March 13 or 14?

I spoke to Chef Sylvain Tonello of La Bergerie and Del Ray Cafe and he agreed to prepare a special dinner for Rockwellians at Del Ray Cafe. We discussed menu and came up with the following dinner:

Premiere cours:

Le Souffle aux Trois Fromages

Bleu, Parmesan, and Gruyere Cheese Souffle

Deuxième cours:

Les Coquille St Jacques et leurs Sauce a la Truffles

10/20 Diver Scallops with a Truffle Sauce

Le cours principal:

Les Escaloppes de Veau au Tarragon

Milk-fed Veal Scaloppini with a Tarragon Sauce

Et pour le dessert:

La Crepe aux Fraises et Chantilly faite Maison

Strawberry and Fresh Home-made Whipped Cream Crepe

Dinner will be a miniscule $60 per person. I had to ask 3 times to make sure that I didn't hear incorrectly. That's right $60 for dinner. These are dishes that Grover and I have enjoyed in Paris and would like to share.

There is a wine pairing available which consists of the following:

First course: Cahors, 2011

Second course: Mader, Riesling Reserve 2009

Third course: Berthet-Rayne Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2010

Dessert course: Veuve Cliquot Champagne, NV

The wine pairing is available for $25 a person. This is a great opportunity to sample exquisite French cuisine for an unbelieveably low price.

If you wish to attend, please let me know. When we get 10 people, I'll arrange for the dinner. We'll dine in a private dining room with personalized service. If we go over 10 people, I'll arrange for a second dinner at a later time.

After a short talk with Grover. The only difference between the two dinners was that at the second, we had duk guk or rice cake soup (which was praised quite a bit).

I think I'll let Grover have the honors. I know some of it, but not all.

Do you have a picture of this? I can't visualize it. Radish greens, maybe?

Korean radish is sliced horizontally into very thin slices and then marinated. You use them just like lettuce or cabbage leaves.

They've decided NOT to change the alcohol content in any way.

For the people attending Tuesday at 5:30pm. Please be there on time (if not a bit early). Grover and I will be there to greet you. We look forward to seeing you.

Peter Chang's...50 locations and growing. What's next? Peter Chang's in your frozen food section...take some home today...it's the McDonalds of Szcheuan cooking.

Tuesday is getting close. Please make sure you are at To Sok Jip at 5:30pm. If you are late, chances are that we WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET TABLES for everyone. Please be there. Alex, we'll see you at Braddock Road Metro at 4:45.

Evening Star (in Del Ray) is 1.7 miles from the intersection of King St. & West Braddock. LIght Horse (in Old Town) is 2.7 miles from the intersection of King St. & West Braddock.

yep, you're right.

That's real close to Del Ray, too (Evening Star, maybe?).

Ummm, no it's not. And if you consider Evening Star, you might also want to consider Del Ray Cafe, but it appears that Light Horse wins this round. Once Will left...well, let's just say it's different.

I checked them out at jandres374's suggestion, but I don't see a wine list on their website (they seem more beer focused). Anyone know what their wine selection is like? This is probably more of a wine crowd than a beer crowd.

A fairly decent selection of wines. Nothing extravagant but, in the times we've been there, there has always been a decent selection of wines. (A disclaimer of sorts. We tend to pair wines rather than get whole bottles.)

So far The Majestic looks like the best option to me both considering our vegetarian friend and my eternal desire for locally sourced and made in house food, but there aren't many recent reviews of it on DR so I'm curious if anyone has been recently and not posted a review? Also still open to additional suggestions.

Lighthorse does a lot of locally produced veggies. I don't know if they have a strictly vegetarian selection for your friend (dedicated carnivore) but it wouldn't take more than a phone call to find out.

Is he no longer affiliated with Peter Chang's China Grill in Charlottesville? Obviously it still bears his name.

He may still be affiliated with China Grill but as far as I know, only as a consultant. I'm not sure that he's been back there since he opened the restaurant in way west-end Richmond.

Question since you have a Korean speaker handy, would those noodles be made of rice or wheat? I am gluten intolerant. I work very close to the restaurant and would like to go if there's room and there's stuff I can eat safely.

Date doesn't matter, I am free both days.

Unfortunately, they're made from flour which means wheat. There are other things however, noodles are a very small part of the food offered. (I'm the one who eats the chicken noodle soup.)

I am looking forward to it. It's funny, my DH completed HS in Seoul, but he's not overly fond of Korean food, now me, from the backwoods of NC, I could eat it all the time, I appreciate the punch....

For some reason, about 15 years ago I got heavily involved with Korean food. I discovered that it wasn't only the food that packed lots of punch...(and that punch is sitting just to my right )

Here is the current attendee list.

1. TheMatt

2. Darkstar965

3. thistle

4. Weezy

6. Kibbee Nayee and Lady KN

7. Alex C

The Feb 19 Group

1. cheezepowder

3, deangold +1

4. Albert Yi

5. Soup

6. noahcofc

8. DanielK +1

My wife Susan and me would be intersted in attending if there is a third date - or on the 12th if space opens on that day. Thanks

There is a spot for one on the 12th. Stay tuned.

Lordy, if that "Bamboo Fish" is the same that he served at China Gourmet, it will be worth the trip by itself. I can't believe all that food for under $25 each. Can't wait!

When I went for the soft opening, he served the Fish in Bamboo (I assume that's what you meant). It was as good as the one he served at China Boy and the Charolttesville (short-lived) venture.

We're going to pick up Alex at Braddock Rd. Metro on the 12th at 4:45pm. If you need a ride, we can (with a minor bit of work carry 4 more people in additon to Alex (wear deodorant and be friendly, please). Send me a PM if you need a ride. We'll also be really nice and carry you back to the Braddock Rd. Metro because otherwise, it's a really long walk from Annandale.

Same question. Have you been to Urban or KBQ? If you have, did you not think either or both pretty good?

I have to admit that I've not been to either of those two. I was a fan of B'z in Leesburg until he sold out to someone who has no idea what BBQ should be. Come Springtime (and warm weather), a BBQ trip on a Saturday is always welcomed (and scheduled quite often).

Feb 12 works... as long as there is a way to get there via metro. I'm a carless urbanite.

Personally, I'm a hedonist . Annandale isn't exactly near, close to, conveniently located, within the proximity of anything Metro-centric. With that being said, If you can make it to the Braddock Rd. Metro by... oh 4:45pm, we should be able to pick you up (and we'll take you back there as well).

Never made it to Ned and Buzz's in Richmond, I take it.There is no really good BBQ in this are.

Please add me to the wait list, if such a list exists.

If you can do Feb 12, you're good to go. Darkstar is going to be a single so there's one spot open. I'll wait for your answer.