xcanuck Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I’m getting sick and tired of all of those dr.com “regulars” having all of the fun; what with all their happy hours at places like Firefly and Corduroy. As somewhat of a “newbie,” I kept asking myself "self, maybe they really don't bite - why don't you go?" But self did not go because self didn't want to feel like an outsider looking in. So then I says to my self, “self, why don’t I try to organize a happy hour specially for newbies and lurkers where everyone will feel equally uncomfortable because no one would know one another.” So, here goes. I declare a happy hour at Restaurant Kolumbia for tomorrow evening (Friday, September 22) at about 5:30. It’s at 1801 K Street, so it should be fairly convenient for those who work in the downtown area and it’s close to the Farragut West Metro. The chef is a guy named Jamie Stachowski and he has agreed to do some special things for us. Who else is in? Oh yeah, and “regulars” are welcome too (we don’t bite). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Ox Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I'm in. Thanks for organizing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdt Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 This will probably move to the whim thread, but I great for trying to get some folks out. I, a regular, will be out of town so will not be able to attend tomorrow. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikv Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 If another newbie happy hour would occur next week, say Mon-Wed, I would be down.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edenman Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 The chef is a guy named Jamie Stachowski and he has agreed to do some special things for us. Did he say anything in particular? Or should we just leave it a mystery? Also, anybody know how their beer selection and/or happy hour deals are? The Kolumbia thread, for others like me, who had to look it up. Regardless of the answers to above questions, I'm gonna try to turn up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm chen Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Dang, I've got plans, but I may try to come by after they wrap up. If anyone needs a reason to go besides general camaraderie and curiosity, here are two: a) warmish white bean dip so garlicky and silky you'll want to drink it down, and Hook & Ladder on tap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agm Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Cool! I'm not really a dr.com newbie, but I'm definitely a happy hour newbie - I'd love a chance to put a few more faces to names (or screen names, or whatever). See you there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. B Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I’m getting sick and tired of all of those dr.com “regulars” having all of the fun; what with all their happy The chef is a guy named Jamie Stachowski and he has agreed to do some special things for us.Beef on Weck? If so I'm in! Even not I might be in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillvalley Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 /Smacking self upside the head for not thinking of this/ We will definitely do another "newbie" HH so that those who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah tomorrow night will be able to join in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Thanks for organizing this. I will be at Dulles at 5:30, but count me in for the next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halloween Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 What a great idea! I'll be there. Hillvalley, we will miss you, but something tells me that this HH is the start of a new dr.com tradition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdt Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 We will definitely do another "newbie" HH so that those who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah tomorrow night will be able to join in. While I should be doing something for Rosh Hashanah tomorrow night, the nice part of being in a very small congregation is that we're only doing services on Saturday morning. So I should be able to swing by for a drink and some food after work tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halloween Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 New tradition? We have been having HH forever and newbies have always been welcome. I can assure you that there will be some HHing going on the 29th! I know. I know. But this one is a little different. I attended my first dr.com HH in July 2005, and I am happy to say that I was warmly welcomed by everyone. In fact, three complete dr.com strangers invited me to stay and join them for dinner. What a community! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 OK, my mom's plane gets in at 7, so maybe I could swing by for a drink and then head out to Dulles.... Seriously, sometimes "newbies welcome" is sometimes left out of the happy hour posts. This is a nice reminder that these "events" are open to all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdt Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I know. I know. But this one is a little different. I attended my first dr.com HH in July 2005, and I am happy to say that I was warmly welcomed by everyone. In fact, three complete dr.com strangers invited me to stay and join them for dinner. What a community! Cool, just wanted to remind folks that everyone is always (has always been) welcome to HH. I for one will be sure to note that in future messages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanCole42 Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I may be something of a quasi-regular on the boards, but I'm DEFINETELY a noob when it comes to DR outtings. I can tell any concerned newbies or lurkers, though, that the regulars aren't nearly as intimidating or imposing as they seem on-line (although Jacques Gastreaux DOES bear more than a passing resemblance to 007), and that you'd be a complete moron not to attend. I, however, AM a complete moron, and due to certain wedding planning constraints will be unable to attend. After October 15th, though... look out, DC. This is an awesome idea, and if you have the means I highly suggest taking it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bioesq Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I hope that it's possible for me to drop by. The last time that I ate at that address the chef's name was Jean-Pierre Goyenvalle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLK Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Have fun, all. I could use a drink, but will be in Chicago working on a weekend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domino Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Hello, Chef Jamie Stachowski here, I welcome Newbies, Lurkers and "Regulars" Too! Join me tomorrow evening during Happy Hour when I will feature: WINE SPECIAL - $5 per glass Chateau de Fregent Bordeaux 2004 (provided by Ed Addiss of Wine Traditions) Mas Neuf Rose 2005 (provided by Kysela Pere Et Fils, LTD) ========== Oh, and of course! Come taste my "Chef Stachowski" Brand Charcuturie. It is prepared all in-house! I will provide, "gratis", butcher's board presentations of: Venison Pepperoni Fresh Kielbasa Duck Salami Boudin Rouge And if you tell me you like my new haircut, I will throw in more of my charcuterie inspirations! Looking Forward to the Happy Hour, Chef Jamie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 (although Jacques Gastreaux DOES bear more than a passing resemblance to 007)What the heck have you been smokin', son? Hello, Chef Jamie Stachowski here,Thanks for having us, Chef. I, for one, plan to attend. Just look for the shirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 What the heck have you been smokin', son? And where can we get some? Venison PepperoniFresh Kielbasa Duck Salami Boudin Rouge I'll say anything you want about your haircut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Johnston Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Great Idea! Sorry I am in Rockville today (instead of downtown) and I have my daughter tonight. But otherwise I would be there! Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiral Stairs Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I wish I could drag my shy ass, and the shy ass of my wife, to this. But we're tied to a 7-week-old right now, who isn't really up for it. I hope for another opportunity in a couple months, when the boy can focus on faces more than three feet away and track moving objects (like venison pepperoni being conveyed into my mouth). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcanuck Posted September 22, 2006 Author Share Posted September 22, 2006 Hello, Chef Jamie Stachowski here,---snip snip snip--- Venison Pepperoni Fresh Kielbasa Duck Salami Boudin Rouge ---snip snip snip--- Boudin rouge? BOUDIN ROUGE????? All I can say is everyone better get there early because I will be monopolizing that part of the charcuterie. Boudin noir is one of my absolute favorite meals of all time, and I've never experienced boudin rouge. Look forward to seeing everyone there. This is one hell of a way to end the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertyy Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I had to cancel on the first DR event I'd planned on attending (Corduroy dinner this spring) due to a broken rib. I can't attend this one due to a broken leg. For the sake of my health, it looks like I'll have to become a staunch nonparticipant in DR-related revelry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brr Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I wish I could drag my shy ass, and the shy ass of my wife, to this. But we're tied to a 7-week-old right now, who isn't really up for it. I hope for another opportunity in a couple months, when the boy can focus on faces more than three feet away and track moving objects (like venison pepperoni being conveyed into my mouth). I too, am salivating at the prospect of all that charcuterie but am also knee deep in diapers so will have to skip this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I had to cancel on the first DR event I'd planned on attending (Corduroy dinner this spring) due to a broken rib. I can't attend this one due to a broken leg. For the sake of my health, it looks like I'll have to become a staunch nonparticipant in DR-related revelry. PS - for the newbys, I've been known occasionally to bring Peanut to happy hours. PPS - Peanut is the adorable creature in the Lilly Pulitzer sun dress to the left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cucas87 Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I'll be stopping by tonight -- for my first dr.com happy hour -- but I may be a little late. I was going to decline (too much to do, trying to do something for the holiday, trying to get my car inspected (apparently a new part of my holiday tradition) and a variety of other things) but I need this happy hour. I just found out that even though I've been at this job for less than 2 months, I have to have a performance review at 4:00 today. So, drink up before I get there. I suspect I'll be monopolizing the drinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbq4me Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I can't make it but Jaime and Carolyn are 2 cool cats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jparrott Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Yeah, I'm going to traipse in for this one. See you there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RissaP Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I really regret missing this, but unfortunately no can do on a Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 I really regret missing this, but unfortunately no can do on a Friday. Maybe next week we'll come visit you instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcanuck Posted September 22, 2006 Author Share Posted September 22, 2006 So far we have the following: xcanuck EricOx ferment everything (maybe) jm chen (maybe later) agm Mrs B (maybe) Monique DC DanielK (maybe) Heather (maybe) bioesq (maybe) JPW cucas87 jparrott Looking like seven definites and six maybes. Should be alot of fun. See y'all there in about an hour!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Maybe next week we'll come visit you instead. Some of us were there last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanCole42 Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I want to hear how it went! Did we have any newbie converts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jparrott Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Medium-sized crowd--xcanuck, agm, NotQuickDraw, DanielK, cucas87, CrescentFresh, Black Sheep, JPW, Monique DC, Xochitl, myself. Brilliant charcuterie and refreshing Hook-and-Ladders! Supplemental happy hour at PS7's was well fooded and wined and then I offed to the obligatory Corduroy nightcap (with special guest Kats Fukushima!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edenman Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Medium-sized crowd--xcanuck, agm, NotQuickDraw, DanielK, cucas87, CrescentFresh, Black Sheep, JPW, Monique DC, Xochitl, myself. Brilliant charcuterie and refreshing Hook-and-Ladders! Supplemental happy hour at PS7's was well fooded and wined and then I offed to the obligatory Corduroy nightcap (with special guest Kats Fukushima!) and me! the charcuterie was great (kielbasa!), and PS7's bar menu was excellent (soup shooters! donuts! foie gras!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Gastreaux Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 I thought I'd throw in a little nostalgia for the newbies and lurkers as to precisely the moment in time that many (not all) of the "current" regulars got to know one another. Our own JLK, under the auspices of JennyUptown, on eGullet, declared an event at Sette Osteria a couple of years ago. The event is chronicled here. But my memories of the event are vivid. Virtually no one knew one another and we had to give a description of what we were wearing so people would who we were. I was very apprehensive of meeting people from the "Internet" and was prepared to bail at the first sighting of someone "weird." I recall standing at the bar and this guy kind of saunters up and asks me if I'm with the eGullet group. I say "yes," and introduced myself to DCMark. I also met Busboy (waitman), Hillvalley, al dente, JennyUptown, (JLK), Babka, bilrus, I think JPW was there, and the rest is history. We became such a cohesive group that the powers that be at eGullet became jealous of our socializing and basically banned socializing, which led to donrockwell.com. We owe it all to JLK. The moral of the story is that I sucked it up and went, despite my inner warning signals. The signals were for naught. Then there was the eGullet dinner at Colorado Kitchen where I met the likes of Nadya, Tweaked, Stretch and mdt. I remember the pre-dinner HH at Firefly. I volunteered to drive a group to the dinner and wound up with mdt, stretch and al dente in the car. Al dente had a bad back and had to ride in the front seat relegating mdt and Stretch (both 6' 5"+) to the back seat. Stretch, who lived close to Colorado Kitchen, volunteered to allow me, mdt, and tweaked to come back to his house to smoke cigars (after determining that his wife, pregnant with their first child, was asleep and thus would not object). We proceeded to drink all of Stretch's single malt scotch whilst smoking the cigars. At 6' 3" tall, I was the shortest of the bunch. The point is, you never know who you might meet at one of these events. I will not guarantee that you will like everyone. What I can promise is that you will meet a lot of people who share a love of good food and drink and you will enjoy meeting most of them. There is nothing to be afraid of and if you don't like the scene, there is nothing that obligates your to show up for another event. 'Nuf said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 At 6' 3" tall, I was the shortest of the bunch. And with an IQ of 46 coupled with a blood alcohol content of .24, he was also the dumbest and drunkest of the bunch. Not a pretty combo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheezepowder Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 No report yet from xcanuck, the newbie organizer, on how it went? What did you all do to him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jparrott Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 the charcuterie was great (kielbasa!)Yeah, I'd like to order about 20lbs of that Kielbasa for the freezer. You never know when you need it. Blood sausage and venison pepperoni also great, washed down with the ever-reliable Mas Neuf rose and a few Hook-and-Ladder pales. $5 parking in the garage at the back of the block lessens the difficulty for us bridge-and-tunnel types as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Most important thing learned at the happy hour: that amazing kielbasa is available for lunch at the bar for $9, including fries. I can't go today, but anyone up for lunch tomorrow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Gastreaux Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Most important thing learned at the happy hour: that amazing kielbasa is available for lunch at the bar for $9, including fries.I can't go today, but anyone up for lunch tomorrow? I might be able to make a lunch tomorrow. And, I looked over that charcuterie platter again, I didn't read it closely enough the first time through. Sh#t, the pepperoni is made with venison, the salami is made with duck, the sausage is Polish and the boudin is rouge as opposed to blanc or noir, screw the newbies and the lurkers, I've got to check this out for myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcanuck Posted September 25, 2006 Author Share Posted September 25, 2006 First and foremost, I had a GREAT time meeting so many people from DR.com. I only got to meet about half the crowd before I had to leave (I had dinner reservations at RTC) but everyone I met was really nice! And woulda thought that I'm meet other hockey-obsessed foodies?? That made my night. Looking forward to meeting more at the DR.com picnic! I have to admit that full disclosure is warranted. This wasn't my idea. One of the more senior members of the board made all the arrangements and I was the "stooge" (as DonRocks put it!) who fronted the whole thing. The guilty party can step forward if he/she wishes to or just bask in the glory of the event in anonymity. I had to leave before the charcuterie board made it's way out - I was SO jonesing for some of that Boudin Rouge. Luckily the restaurant is close to where my wife has her Thurs night class so I can see myself waiting for her at the bar and chowing down. The menu looked great! Again, it was so nice to meet some of the gang and hope to see more at the picnic. And thanks to He/She Who Shall Remain Nameless for putting the event together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crackers Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 And woulda thought that I'm meet other hockey-obsessed foodies?? >perk!?!< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcanuck Posted September 25, 2006 Author Share Posted September 25, 2006 >perk!?!< Hrmmm...I can see myself trying to round up a few of the boardies for pre-Caps games HHs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jparrott Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Hey, with PS7 where it us, we don't even have to go to the game! (Or I suppose Matchbox if some of the folks are less dressy). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agm Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Lunch at Restaurant Kolumbia on Tuesday works for me - what time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Lunch at Restaurant Kolumbia on Tuesday works for me - what time? See whim thread. 12:30p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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