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Auld Lang Cuisine


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When I was traveling to DC on business in 2001 and 2002, I regularly stayed at the Radisson Barcelo in Dupont Circle. The rooms were large, and room service provided by Gabriel was a joy. Who wouldn't love polenta with mascarpone and fresh strawberries for breakfast?

The service was always exquisite. One week I rolled in from Philadelphia with an upset stomach and threw myself into the hands of my server. (No, not literally.) He was able to steer me through a full meal avoiding anything that might make my situation worse -- I was well satisfied and felt much better after a night's rest.

When I returned to the restaurant for a special dinner after not being there for over a year, the hostess inquired about my name. I didn't know why, and asked if there was something wrong with my reservation. Actually, they wanted to seat me at my favorite table. Now that's service.

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I miss Tung Bor Harbor. It was in the Wheaton Mall. They had the best fried sesame balls, which had yam paste inside. I think they closed in the early-mid 90's.
What I miss from Wheaton Mall-Shopping Town-Plaza (whatever the hell it is called) is Farrell's. There was no better place to go as a kid even if it was not your birthday, and you were only able to witness the bass drum being beaten for someone else.
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What I miss from Wheaton Mall-Shopping Town-Plaza (whatever the hell it is called) is Farrell's. There was no better place to go as a kid even if it was not your birthday, and you were only able to witness the bass drum being beaten for someone else.

The "Trough". An ideal (!) I have always hoped to live up to, but have not ever yet, and never will. Those drums will never beat for me. Ask, or ask not, as I may will. (Thanks, Mr. Donne)

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Okay, not really cuisine that I miss, but bars. The Naples Cafe. Dolly's. The bar in the old Greyhound Station, which may have had a name, but if it did I don't know what it was. Does anyone miss them? Especially the Naples. These were places down in the old bus-station area at roughly New York Avenue and 12 St. Places that crackled with hustlers and transvestites, and when I say "crackled", I mean crackled. New York Ave really isn't anything like what it was, once upon a time. I imagine some would think it's better now, but they're misguided. Anyone remember what it was like back in the day?

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"The day." I'm not sure that you expected a post like this but "the day" was the day of Big Al Downing and the Rocket Room at 12th and New York or Rand's on I street just off of 14th. Later, came "This is it" and the "Casino Royale" on 14th street which sat on either side of the street just up from the Trans Lux theatre. Trailways and the Greyhound flanked the White Tower with rock and roll blaring from the Rocket Room. But this is the time of Roy Buchanon (played a serious blues guitar while drinking Black Label) and Jimmy Dean (before he made it big!), Link Wray ("Jack the Ripper" still stands as an anthem to?), Roy Clark (Bladensburg's Crossroads ((I snuck in without ID in the '60's and was a regular in the '80's))was big then as was a joint in the 3100 block of M Street which he played at) and a few others who travelled north from Occoquan's Hillbilly Heaven. Of course WUST blasted Elmore James' "I Need You" all over Dupont Circle where we were being nightly gassed.... Up the street (18th street) at the Ambassador, if one was really lucky, Jimmy Hendrix played the Star Spangled Banner in DC's first rock hall where there was no seating and the police patrolled IN the auditorium nightly!

Hard to believe but a "stripper" on 14th street from then is now a grandmother. Perhaps a great grandmother!!!! Rand's and the Rocket Room really did rock and Barry Richards paid tribute on a host of radio stations...

"...putting, struttin', jivin' and strivin', thrivin' and arrivin', easing the pain with rock and roll gain...the geater with the heater...the boss with the hot sauce! the blue goose hangin' loose...e tiddlio addio it's the daddio of the raddio..."

...a GREAT Christmas Eve memory for a native born Washingtonian!

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Pig Foot. It was a legend back in the day, in the Woodbridge area. By the time I was of age, it had closed. Rumored to have good southern cuisine (until Gillian Clark, a contradiction in terms) and fine music. Now it would be called dive bar. But a damn fine dive bar at that!

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Arbaugh's (on Connecticut just north of Calvert) had great ribs and was a Washington tradition. There was an interesting taco joint across the street from it, too. Originally it was a Tippy's Taco House but later changed to private ownership. I can't remember the name of it but I frequently apologized to friends of mine then for liking their tacos!

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There was an interesting taco joint across the street from it, too. Originally it was a Tippy's Taco House but later changed to private ownership. I can't remember the name of it but I frequently apologized to friends of mine then for liking their tacos!
I think we did this before. It was Tucson Cantina, and I'm sorry but it was awful. I'm not sure what was the first restaurant in that space after Tucson Cantina, but among the early entries was Thai Flavor (which moved from somewhere else, maybe where 2Amys is?). So for a while, there was Thai Flavor on one side of the street and Thai Taste on the other (where Arbaugh's had been). Now it's Tono Sushi on the east and Jandara on the west.
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Tippy's tacos were never exemplery; in fact they made Taco Bell look good! But the Tucson Cantina was open late and served their tacos in the downstairs room in back where various bands would play. At midnight, after more than enough to drink, the tacos were good. The next day I would swear to never drink again because they tasted awful in daylight. But many things are better when inebriated and their tacos were among them! (as White Castles, Cincinnati Chili, Primanti Bros., Pat's on Passyunk, etc.)

Of course, today, I am grown up and considerably more mature...I only eat tacos in the daytime although I do still like Camp Washington's four way chili, even before sunset.

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But many things are better when inebriated and their tacos were among them! (as White Castles, Cincinnati Chili, Primanti Bros., Pat's on Passyunk, etc.)

This Pittsburgh transplant appreciated the Primanti Bros. shout out! I've spent my share of time waiting in the late night drunk line so I could shout my corned beef and egg order to staff who never writes anything down after midnight and never messed up an order in my experience. It's a necessary stop--though during the day and under unusual sobriety--whenever I visit family and friends. Sure, it's nostalgia, but my originally squeemish wife loves the piled high fries and cole slaw on that fresh italian bread.

Pax,

Brian

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That was probably the Omega. We used to eat there a lot in the 70's, as well as at La Plaza (loved their ceviche!).
Nah, that one was owned by a different family. When it had a fire and closed for good, it was the last of what had been many Cuban restaurants in AM. I finally decided that if I ever wanted to eat Masitas de Puerco again, I would have to learn to make them myself. So I did. :lol:
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Nah, that one was owned by a different family. When it had a fire and closed for good, it was the last of what had been many Cuban restaurants in AM. I finally decided that if I ever wanted to eat Masitas de Puerco again, I would have to learn to make them myself. So I did. :lol:
You are taking me back to the day Barbara. I practically grew up at el Caribe. My parents would drive into AM every Sunday to buy the Spanish newspapers and then we would got o el Caribe for lunch. When I got older - we moved to La Plaza. What a wonderful restuarant - and I agree 100% on the flounder dish. I remember those gorgeous Renoir reproductions that Raul had in his restaurant. He used to get so stressed working the front of the house. It was funny. My family knew him for years.
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It's been at least a couple years since I ate at Lauriol Plaza but when I do/did go, the Masitas de Puerco was my go-to dish. The pork was always (usually) very tender and I liked the black beans, rice, and plaintains that accompanied it.
The Masitas at La Plaza were NOTHING like those at Omega or the El Dorado (down the street). Never understood that, but also didn't care because I always ordered the stuffed flounder. BTW: Last year I discovered Goya's frozen fried plantains (Plantains Maduros?) in the frozen-food section of ALL the supermarkets around here. :lol: Seriously, these are as good as in ANY restaurant, so I haven't had to go through the trouble of figuring out the fresh plantains and how to cook them. I don't generally look much in anybody's frozen food sections, but this is a true keeper. :unsure:
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Does Pizza Pantry still survive?
I finally have a definitive answer to this. I've still never gotten around to going by the Walter Reed Drive location to see for myself, as it's far outside my regular orbit, but I've just been on the phone with them. The place is now called Salvo's Bistro and Buffet. When I told the woman who answered the phone that I was trying to get in touch with the Pizza Pantry, she told me that the Pizza Pantry is now Salvo's, but that they have much the same menu, including the Fillmore sub, for those of you to whom that means something. I guess it probably also means they still have really bad pizza.
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El Pollo Primo is the sister establishment of the lamented Pollo Primo on 18th St. in Adams Morgan, I believe. I have been mourning the loss of that place for well over a decade now.
Has it been that long since they closed? Dame Edna and I had many, many dinners out of that place. I recall that one could get 1/4 chicken, beans and rice, salsa and tortillas for UNDER $3!!!. It was cheaper (and better) than what we could cook at home. Maybe that was the problem? However, I don't think any of their fans would have complained about a price bump. 'Tis a puzzlement.
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Has it been that long since they closed? Dame Edna and I had many, many dinners out of that place. I recall that one could get 1/4 chicken, beans and rice, salsa and tortillas for UNDER $3!!!. It was cheaper (and better) than what we could cook at home. Maybe that was the problem? However, I don't think any of their fans would have complained about a price bump. 'Tis a puzzlement.
Yes, I think a meal such as you describe cost about $2.85. And not only was it cheap and wonderfully good, it was FAST. I was usually in and out of that place in less than 2 minutes. But you're right, if they'd charged double what they did I would have kept going and thought myself lucky. And it has been that long; I remember I was still living in my previous apartment, which I moved out of in the summer of 1996.
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Farrell's.

Sure, I was probably six years old the last time I went, but now that I have a child of my own, I wish there was still Farrell's.

They had a sundae called the Hot Tin Roof that was vanilla with hot fudge and Spanish peanuts that was my favorite. Apparently there are a few around the country, but none that I can find here. I know of one in Hawaii and one in Santa Clarita, CA.
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Farrell's Wheaton Plaza - everytime I was there I wished it could have been my birthday.

And I remember on one of my birthday's, perhaps my twelth, I went to Capri, also in Wheaton, and got my first-ever order of spaghetti in butter sauce. That's all it was - a plate of spaghetti drowning in melted butter. And it was good, too!

I also remember a birthday dinner at the Luau Hut, one of the last holdouts before being swallowed by Silver Spring Metro. The server dropped an entire tray with about six entrees on it, and said, "SHIT!"

And then on one of my birthdays, my parents let us kids bring home a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken from Gino's AND a pizza from Sammy's Villa!

My dad downing an enormous chocolate-mint ice-cream soda at the original Giffords after picking us up from bowling and taking us to Bonanza Coins.

Fran's County Kitchen in Four Corners.

Seibel's Dairy Bar in Burtonsville when it was actually a dairy bar.

My parents going out every Friday night to the Villa Rosa (or so they said!) and us kids torturing the baby sitter, dear old Mrs. Schwartz. How I wish I could tell her how much I appreciated her.

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Dolce Finale - for a place that was so frequently used as an optimistic end for a first date, the name could not have been more apropriate. The confections and coffees I barely remember. The exposed birck, old wine racks, tiny tables, and intimate conversations I had there I recall every detail.

DC needs another sweets only destination (I have a full glass of liquid ventworm nut for the first person that mentions cakelove in response to that statement.)

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Luau Hut -- jeez, my fourth grade class at Harmony Hills Elementary went there when we were studying Hawaii. Steak Teriyaki and pineapple sorbet (I can remember dinner but not the name of my teacher). Very authentic view of island life, I recall. :angry:

Any of you old geezer remember The Explorer Restaurant? The very first "fine dining" spot I ever ate at. I'd never worn a jacket not at church. A filet mignon bigger than my fist and elaborate ship models hanging from the ceiling. I was only eight, but I was livin' large.

Is Farrell's the place where you could get the canoe full of ice cream?

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Farrell's.

Sure, I was probably six years old the last time I went, but now that I have a child of my own, I wish there was still Farrell's.

I remember Farrell's. There was one near us in PA at a local mall. It's odd to be nostalgic for it, but yeah.

The restaurant I'm most nostalgic for is a not very good 1960s-70s checkered tablecloth Italian restaurant near where I grew up in PA. It used to have lines out the door (literally), which I find bizarre thinking about it now. My dad knew the family that owned it, so he would call and reserve a table. We'd walk in past all the other people and sit down at a table with a little reserved card on it. We ate there many Friday nights for years. I once--when I was 9 and had a broken arm in a cast--got trapped in the bathroom and couldn't get out. I thought I was going to have to climb through the window. One of the waitresses finally got the crappy lock (which repeatedly stuck) to open.

Here, I've been missing Sherrill's lately...really missing it.

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DC needs another sweets only destination (I have a full glass of liquid ventworm nut for the first person that mentions cakelove in response to that statement.)

Samadi Sweets Cafe in Bailey's Crossroads was good! They had other stuff too, but the desserts were great, at least from what I remember - this was only 7-8 years ago.

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Luau Hut -- jeez, my fourth grade class at Harmony Hills Elementary went there when we were studying Hawaii. Steak Teriyaki and pineapple sorbet (I can remember dinner but not the name of my teacher). Very authentic view of island life, I recall. :angry:

To this day, my mom still laughs at a drink they had called a Suffering Bastard. I always got a chuckle out of the pu-pu platter (which I think they also had at the Kona Kai, in the Pooks Hill Road Marriott).

Harvey's, restaurant of the presidents. The first high-dollar dinner date I ever had. I was about 20 and making $13 an hour from giving tennis lessons. Honestly, I don't even remember who I took, but I do remember getting surf and turf. Going downtown to dinner back then was the equivalent of going to Mars.

Stuffed potato skins and nachos at Jasper's in Greenbelt. (No, really! It was great food! I swear! Or at least that's what I swore at the time.)

A chef's salad at Bentley's in College Park. I used to think that was such a treat.

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Harvey's, restaurant of the presidents. The first high-dollar dinner date I ever had. I was about 20 and making $13 an hour from giving tennis lessons. Honestly, I don't even remember who I took, but I do remember getting surf and turf. Going downtown to dinner back then was the equivalent of going to Mars.
Mine was at Hemingway's in the Crown Plaza in Rockville. I was impressed by the sorbet course. I remember not being very impressed with the food, but maybe I didn't know anybetter, or maybe it just sucked.

Same girl, different date, after seeing a show at the National Theater we headed over to The American Cafe for something to eat. I had a sandwich trio that was rather unforgettable other than the best tuna fish sandwich I have ever eaten.

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Speaking of first grown-up date - 
I was 16 and it was my first day with my first car, a white Fiat Spyder with a tan top. It was June 1st and weather for the evening was supposed to be the kind of late spring balminess that is the reward for bitter winters.

Finally decided to ask out Toi Robertson*. I had been crushing on her from a distance for months but I couldn't ask her out until I could take her out properly - in a car that is. I get to her house, survive her old man's roasting and finally make it to the car. I am feeling like I have the tiger by the tail as the really pretty girl settles into the seat of my convertible, the car I had been saving for a year to buy. I came crashing back to earth when she asked me to put the top up. I should have known better than to keep going; but my first real date could not end like this. So I drove to dinner with the wind that was in my sails, now passing all around but not in the car.

I took her to dinner at Houston's in Georgetown, hoping that the really pretty girl would be impressed that we were having such a grown-up evening. No. Our conversation was non-existent. I was hoping that it was the difficult shy conversation of soon-to-be star gazing teenagers; but no. I kept asking questions only to receive the minimal number of words in response. I tried everything in my paltry 16 year old arsenal, but all romantic weapons were firing blanks.

After dinner, we walked around Georgetown, all the while I was hoping against logic and hope that something would spark. Walk-Away Sundaes from Hagen-Daas - nothing. Continue to ask questions in an attempt to display my earnest interest in her - nothing. The only weapon left was the Declaration of Independance Memorial, a small island on a man-made lake that is romantic overkill. Surely no one could stand in the presence of the most romantic space in all of DC and be nonplussed.

As we drove to my last chance of an island, I teased the view to come. She actually showed a hint of interest for the first time. After the brief search for parking we are walking in the moonlight towards the island, under a canopy of trees, in the midst of a young summer night until we arrive.

They had drained the lake for cleaning.

OK, Karma, message received.

* not her real name

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I fondly remember the beer steamed hot dog at Lum's. I'm pretty sure it was part of a now-defunct chain, but I always got excited when my parents announced the outing to me and my brothers.
Every time I see those little red baskets I remember the Lum's dogs and French fries. Whenever I would see the sign for the one in Woodbridge I feared visiting as I did not want to sully the fond memories of my youth.
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Samadi Sweets Cafe in Bailey's Crossroads was good! They had other stuff too, but the desserts were great, at least from what I remember - this was only 7-8 years ago.
I loved this place; Jlock and I used to go at least once a month. Until his family came with us one time (they always bring out the absolute worst in this area), and we saw a roach running over the baklava.
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