Sundae in the Park

Anyone have any experience with the pate tubs at TJ's? They have a few available right now (pork, non pork, non meat, and salmon), and I wouldn't mind finding out about another easy indulgence to go with the adorably wee mini toasts.

Go get some of the fleur de sel caramels now before they are gone! I got one of the round boxes last year and was profoundly disappointed to later learn that they are a limited availability item. They are very good and a great deal at this price point ($8). This year there are also dark chocolate caramels to try...

Chicken chicken chicken.

Yes, Minerva Fairfax has been chicken-happy lately, even on the weekends. It's chicken (tandori, vindaloo, butter) everything, plus a few vegetarian dishes. They bake too much bread (naan and roti) and leave it out too long on the buffet, so it becomes gummy and unpleasant. The pakora are out too long as well and become very stale, which is nice only if you want to avoid fried indulgences. The dosa shells hold up surprisingly well, though.

So you're saying you would've been equally happy to go to a Gnudi bar?

Yes, YES, YES!!!!!

Rounding out a celebratory weekend, I got to try out the tasting menu at Proof, which was quite a lot of tastes for a first impression. I was very excited to be able to order the tasting menu - because I don't eat shellfish, most set menus aren't worth it, since I'd be shut out of at least one course.

I enjoyed the whole experience, which isn't surprising because I'm a sucker for fall/winter flavors. Here are some impressions:

Swordfish Toro with Yuzu, Jalapeño & Young Ginger - the pool of sauce was bright and tart, and everything tasted...fine, but it turns out that I simply prefer my meatier fishes raw. The swordfish was lightly seared, with a very red inside, but the texture was off to me, I think because I've become so accustomed to the sashimi texture. Very good, though, and the least traditional preparation or "fall"-tasting of our dishes.

Spinach & Ricotta Gnudi with Maitake Mushrooms & Pumpkin Emulsion- the meal could have stopped here, repeating ad infinitum, and I would have been very happy. These extra-cheese stuffed gnocchi-relatives were so, So, SO good - pillowy and chewy, and soaking up the luxurious sauce. For this course I was really missing a more soppy bread (though I liked the crackers), because I wanted to experience every drop on my plate!

Crispy Wild Striped Bass with Matsutake Mushrooms & Madeira Jus- surprisingly not interesting, even though mushrooms and madiera are usually my favorite combination. It was good, but ordinary after the mysteriously perfect alchemy of the previous course.

Seared Pekin Duck Breast with Foie Gras, Grilled Scallions & Pomegranate- great combination of elements! The pomegranate sauce was richly tart, there were crunchy hazel?nuts scattered about the plate, and the duck and foie gras were perfectly cooked. Taken all together, they formed a wonderful bite of well-marrying textures and flavors.

Selection of Artisanal Cheeses with Accoutrements- a cow, a sheep, and a blue. I didn't catch any more specifics, but enjoyed watching the cheese queen working in her little "cheese shop" space all night. They were all good, but what stood out was the little pot of raw honey that accompanied the board. It was fantastic, and drizzled well over everything.

Warm Apple Shortcake with Black Walnut Ice Cream- not too sweet, and a nice ending to the evening!

The space is sparely clubby, with lots of heavy wood and walls of wine and the lighting is kept very, very dark. I was glad I already knew what we were going to order, because it was difficult to read the menu. The service was cheery, a tad slow, and extremely nice - I had to run a gauntlet of birthday well-wishes on our way out! I hope to be back soon to try a few more of the dishes that caught my eye.

The Rouge Vif D`Temps Soup was...everything y'all said it was going to be. The perfect, sumptious soup to ease me past Thanksgiving withdrawal and kick off my birthday dinner.

I was sad that the mushroom blintz wasn't available, but my dining companion wasn't, because he got to eat the crab-stuffed version all by himself. In record time - chomp, chomp, chomp, all gone! After he'd already had (and loved) the lobster tail. So, apparently, it was good.

My grass-fed beef loin was tender, juicy, and wickedly flavorful, the clear winner of the entrees, even though the tuna was much enjoyed.

We got a sabayon and some sorbet, to balance out dessert, but next time we should just bite the bullet and order two of the sabayon. It is that good.

Thanks to everyone for a lovely celebratory dinner! I love the new space!

We brought newbies to Thai Square and, despite the wait (a not-bad 20ish minutes around 7 PM on a Saturday, but it was chilly standing outside the restaurant), they were wowed by the experience. The honey duck delivered a handsome crunch and a huge pile of fried basil, the noodles and curry were warmly spiced, and the flaming tureen of soup, while somewhat difficult to maneuver, made a great table centerpiece.

I dropped by after a long absence and got my usual - the mom's pad thai, which she loads up with chicken and vegetables and leaves of the scallions - just for me - all without asking. I get my usual scoldings, "What! Still not married!" and hugs (I'm not technically friends or family, just a long-time customer) and head back out into the cold, stuffed to the gills with several kinds of warmth.

The tiny dining room was packed for lunch, which I was very glad to see. I think their amazing lunch special (cup of soup, spring roll, and entree for ~$7) is quite a draw!

I recently did back-to-back visits to the Annandale and Rockville locations and can happily report that the food tastes (wonderfully) the same at both restaurants. Good show, A&J people!

Can't let this thread drop off the first page!!!

My office did a burger crawl week, hitting Elevation, 5 Guys, Foster's Grill, Ray's, and...somewhere else. The burgers were evaluated, among other characteristics, for tastiness, juiciness, presentation, value, bun/meat ratio, and the "how did you feel afterwards?" condition of the stomach. Shockingly enough, Ray's emerged as the champion - I think the juiciness factor pushed them to the top!

As for myself, I love the new sides!!!! The mac and cheese, along with the burger, brings value decadence to a whole new level.

Every time I come back to this restaurant, I am struck anew by the ridiculously beautiful setting. The waterfalls, the soaring wall windows, the brightly soothing decor...we went on Wednesday, and it wasn't even half full, which makes me a little nervous, even though I know that destination dining in VA during this economic climate in the middle of the week isn't going to pushing ahead at full steam. I had the short ribs, which is everything dcpolicywonk says above - a generous portion of fork-tender beef, bathed in a sauce that screams "RICH! DARK!" whenever it touches the tongue. A lovely seared foie gras with vanilla and pear accents, and a fantastic bread service (get a side of sea salt and drizzle over their rich and soft, but undersalted tub of butter). I would not, however, recommend the apple tatin, unless you are looking for apple butterscotch candy to end the night. The chestnut souffle, though, is airy, nutty perfection.

We had gracious, attentive service, and a nice chat with the Chef. A wonderful early birthday dinner!!!!

How to save the the Artisan chocolates from the toddler:

"No dear, put the art down!! Musn't break the pretty art!"

And, despite the seductively, definitively chocolate aroma, she looked down and saw that, lo! it was beautiful art, and gently put the box down with the contents unharmed.

The "art" was mysteriously stolen shortly thereafter...

Now that the cooler weather is back, the noodle soup bowls have been calling my name. I dropped in the other day for a bowl of the spicy beef noodle soup, some dumplings, and a bubble tea. The soup wasn't particularly (spicy) hot, but was deeply flavored and quite delicious.

I have finally perfected my pan fried beef bun-eating technique. First, I LET IT COOL for awhile. Several burnt tongues really do teach you a lesson (eventually)! Then, I poke a hole in the side with my chopstick, and begin draining the beef-oil juice into my soup spoon. I pick it up, tilting the hole up so leftover juice doesn't escape, and take small bites, alternating with sips of the fatty, salty juice. My mom calls this bun a Chinese hamburger, but I call it the Ultimate Comfort Food. Ummmmmmmmm.

The cup here also comes with a plastic seal on top. I just punched through it immediately and started drinking. I hadn't thought about the portable aspect.

The Song Que bubble tea also has seals on the top.

During the great bubble tea hunt of 2008, I tried to find the Shilla's bakery near me. There was supposed to be one by Fairfax Circle and I finally figured out the bakery is a stand store inside the Lotte building. They didn't have any bubble tea. What they do have, however, is a brand-new Fairfax location (10940 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22030) in the new plaza with the 5 Guys and the Starbucks past H Mart (heading west). This place is ADORABLE! Bright colors and clean lines, cafe-style seating and tons of bakery snacks. There are an assortment of sandwiches and some hot food Korean entrees. Most importantly for me, they also have boba! $5 seemed expensive, but it turns out that their "tea" is the icee/slushee version, as a flavored ice dessert complete with small, chewy, sweet bubbles. I really enjoyed mine, though it was different experience than just a bubble tea. They have a variety of flavors - teas, coffees, and fruits.

On a disappointing note, the asian bakery on Pickett in Fairfax (one plaza down from Trader Joe's and Blue Ocean) that claims to serve bubble tea does so, but it's not anything you'd actually want to drink. I ordered a black tea, but they made me something like a Thai iced tea (which I don't care for). Then the bubbles were both slimy and crunchy. Avoid!!!!!

Yes, Tosca is a great place for a "snack" before a show. We shared a plate of francobilli pasta (some soft cheese, dark greens, and nut combination) and a bowl of the cauliflower soup (silken, enriched just a touch with a quail? egg) at the bar. With a basket of bread (onion focaccia that didn't hurt my tender baby mouth and olive bread) and a few glasses of wine, suddenly, it was a delicious light dinner! A wonderful stop on a rainy night.

Stopped by the open house on Saturday. The hot chocolate mix is AMAZING, dark and rich without being too sweet. There were a few new flavors - figs and chocolate are an excellent combination!!!!

They now have a "card-carrying chocoholic" card - once you hit 10 stamps (a stamp for each purchase exceeding $10), you get an extra treat! Thanks, guys! I can't wait to collect more stamps...

I enjoy the coffee bubble tea at Song Que, the little carryout deli associated with Huong Que (Four Sisters) in Eden Center in Falls Church at Seven Corners. They have a variety of flavors, mostly fruit, including avocado (unexpectedly refreshing and tasty). AND they are VERY generous with the Bubbles, which are nice and gummy and chewy.

(hmm, COFFEE bubble TEA - well maybe it's not tea, but it's a bubble drink, or as one of the merchants at Eden Center describes it: "jelly gumdrop fruit drink" - either way I love it!)

Their coffee bubble tea isn't tea, per se, but it is delicious!!! You can order the coffe medium or dark, both of which, I assume (since they just pour it from a pre-mixed pitcher), are sugared up to the extreme. Then the plentiful, perfectly chewy bubbles seem to have been boiled in sugar syrup, because they have a sweet taste of their own. YUM!!!!! Even on a cold, windy day

Yep, this is the best pho around here (Fairfax). I like that they also have a variety of other dishes (stew, appetizers, bun) that are all pretty decent. Funny, though, I'd always thought that Pho 75 was far superior. Maybe I've been away too long and have been romanticizing the broth...

Yep, the classic bubble tea is mighty fine, just what I was looking for. When it's busy, the takeaway window is genius, and I can attest that potstickers don't suffer any for being scarfed in a car...

How's the bubble tea at A&J? Anybody had it recently? I've had a few bad ones lately (not around here), so would like a sure thing next time I give in to a craving...

Thanks!

Has anyone been here recently? I have not, but some of the things on this menu look interesting.

My usual order is the spicy garlic eggplant hotpot and the diced fish with pine nuts. The hot pot is packed with asian eggplants, chicken?/pork? strips, garlic chunks, black fungus, and scallions, all swimming in chili oil (this is a good thing). The fish is extremely mild, almost boring, with random white fish and cucumber chunks in white sauce, sprinkled with some pine nuts. I'm not sure I would recommend these dishes separately (or more accurately, by themselves, as they both need tempering, which is, after all, the whole point of Chinese food); however, I LOVE them paired together, as they complement each other very well. I last had this combination a couple of weeks ago, and based on these dishes there was no reason to think that the kitchen's cooking has changed in the past few months.

I LOVED EATING IN VANCOUVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After poking around in the thread, on egullet and on http://www.eatvancouver.net/, I devised a list of must/want/might eat-at places. Walking around, there were hardly any neighborhoods where I didn'y spot a place I'd read something about. There were so many great food experiences. We were in the West End on Robson, so our block already had a wonderful array of choices. Some highlights:

izikaya at Guu, Goyza King, and Hapa Izikaya

authentic ramen at Kintaro Ramen

many, many cones at Mondo Gelato

dim sum at Kirin

fish and chips and amazing fish tacos at Go Fish on Granville Island

lots of street crepes from various vendors

sushi pretty much everywhere

Oddly enough, our least favorite meal was at West. Probably a case of inflated expectations, and the service and setting were rather magnificent. The food, however (summer tasting menu)...each course was slightly not to our taste. Maybe the pickles overwhelmed, the fish paired with flavors that that didn't quite match (for us, anyway), and creme brulee was NOT improved by freezing. (I did enjoy the risotto, but couldn't detect much seafood flavor, which pleased me but not my shellfish-loving dining partner). All the ingredients were fresh and the presentation was lovely, but overall, I was underwhelmed, which made me sad because I'd looked forward to the meal all week!

Our favorite meal was at a cute little Malaysian cafe (Banana Leaf) on Denman - we stoped in for lunch during the Pride Parade (I could still watch out the window) and we ordered the tasting menu. Small tastes of pretty much everything on the menu we wanted to try- puffy, chewy roti, chicken satay, excellent seafood curry, bright, tart fruit/vegetable salad, succulent beef rendang, fiery vegetables, and something like tempura-fried bananas served with ice cream (I thought I wouldn't like this but it was scrape-the-bowl FANTASTIC). We had to roll out of there and barely had room for a late dinner that night (but managed somehow, of course!).

We're going to be in Vancouver and Victoria for a week or so (staying on Robson street in Vancouver), and trying to plan for some fantastic meals. If anyone has any suggestions for cheap or moderately-priced meals, I'd really appreciate it! We're probably going to try and hit West and Tojo's for our pricier meals. Is Feenie's still a good place to go if we're thinking of skipping Lumiere? We're also planning on late night izakaya and ramen eats - any favorite spots? Thanks!

Found them frozen at the Great Wall.

What's the texture like after they've been frozen?

There's a new one in Fairfax (City?), off Route 50/29 (right before the split) in a not-yet-fully-tenanted or finished development on the right (heading West). I haven't been, but the coworkers keep going back, and it's only been open for a couple of weeks!

Fairfax Market Place

10940 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030

It's been there for at least a year. I've been wanting to go, but never think about it unless I'm driving by...thanks for the write up!

Same here. I've driven by it a zillion times, thinking that it would be great for weekend afternoon treat, or a cute place to take out-of-town guests for a look at the rapidly (re?)emerging Old Town Fairfax.