morela

How about just eat at two star restaurants in New York. Take Chinatown bus ($35 round trip), visit old friend, let old friend buy you first round. Sleep on cot in old friend's lovely apartment. Feel fulfilled, cultured and less than deprived. And realize: By golly, NYC can be cheaper than DC!

For the soon to be thread: Belga Cafe has a website. I'd really like to go here. Check out Chef's CV and the menu.

I was there about a month ago on a Monday night (instead of the Redskins/Cowboys game), and was pleased with my meal. Nothing amazing (far from it), but I had a really clean, simple (not show-offy, with drizzle/essence bullshit) cold cucumber soup, and some grilled portobello dish that was as good as I hoped it would be. I also really liked the lamb sausage with eggplant salad (another first course). More importantly, tough, the steak tartare that my friends had was outstanding (much better than BDC's or the recent bite I had at Les Halles). It was just comfortable the and the service was caring-good, not career-good. I mean, I could tell she wanted to make us feel welocme and good, but she was obviously trying to make a living in city/country that clearly isn't her own... And the pomme frites that came with the tartare weren't the soggy/pasty ones that we all seem to despise. They were a little on the crisp side.

How's the wine list, Mark? Do they have really strong cocktails with top shelf tequila or what?!

I like the framing and the quaint stone walkways of Bishop's Garden http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/ Asia Nora might be a good bet too. It's all about communication and service...the rest is a product of that.

I found the following good news in October issue of On Tap (which I might usually use as my place mat when I eat dinner in front of the television): "Sea Catch Restaurant and Raw Bar celebrates the return of oyster season, providing an extensive array of oysters from around the country for a specially priced "Oysters and Such" happy hour. Every Monday through Friday, Sea Catch will showcase oysters for $1 each from 5-7 p.m. Oysters are always discounted at Sea Catch's bar. Reputed to possess aphrodisiac powers, fresh oysters will be available throughout the season from September through April. Six to eight oyster varietals will be offered daily. (1054 31st St., NW, 202-337-8855)" I'll go give it a try pretty soon and let ya know...

I think a lot of people here cook at home, but many of those accounts end up in the general food or cooking forums...and the rest of these seeming non-homecookers do it for a living (and deserve to have stoves at home covered in cobwebs). Unfortunately, it wouldn't be hard to find bottled water in DC that costs more than gasoline. And Rob, in Brunswick, I'm sorry. That truly sucks; you were just trying to make yummy pancakes for some little guys. Those shitty health hazard stores should go to hell. I certainly hope you pay less rent than us.

Go outside Landrumm, enjoy the day. Put the top down and ride through the countryside.

Everyone: I took one for the team today at Whole Fools. Yes, I was the one with 32 items in an 8 item line, buying vitamins and bottles of wine whose ups bar codes had not yet been entered into the system...and initially using an old SUNTRUST bank card that expired in 1997 to pay. Good times, good times. They love me. All the customers that usually push me with their carts to get to the free snacks and the best heirloom tomato; the ones in a hurry. They paid today.

Translation: Saint Michael, You're the good guy. No need to ask for forgiveness. Lots of Love, GOD

I like youse since of houmour!

I won't pho go pho tonight either. No pho can way. I'll let you know he does alright...

How about my uncle's sailboat!!? Any pirates or sailors out there? We have booze fest and catapult canned goods at all the bad restaurants in Georgetown (no hurting the Barnes & Noble, though). Aye Aye, Captain.

Thanks for the suggestion. West Annandale. Metro ain't Metro 'til it's got the Western Annandale/Hot Pho stop. That would have to be the Orange line. I would cab there before I had another bad Trios meal (which I haven't in sometime, thank you, Lord). Though, Trios is great inspiration to go running (away).

No, mine would be the best duck confit sandwich with invisible bread. Minster of Drink always said that for his last supper on Death Row he'd eat a cheese plate full of the best cheeses in the world, but he'd time it right, so that he could leave his executioners a stinky little present at the end.

Mike, I was eyeing your swinging porch benches in front of RTS tonight. Could I have a mug of clam chowder out there the next time the Pho place closes on me? I was doomed to Cafe Asia tonight.

Pho places must open at 9 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. WHY?! Why not, say, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.? I Phocked up tonight.

I recommend a trip to Cleveland Park for Indique If you need to stick in Georgetown, though, maybe Basil Thai at Wisconsin and Q or you could try a few $9 plates and wonderful rolls at Sushi-Ko (or since we're all recommending the most ethnic food of all, try pizza at Pizza Paradiso on M Street). Also, sushi at Dean & Deluca (on M Street) is a good bet if you just feel like picnicking close to GU campus or on the waterfront (for lunchtime). Malaysia Kopitiam also on M Street (in the Downtown direction), although I haven't been in a while, has always been very good. And if I were 17 I wouldn't mind doing a dinner at Nayla in Georgetown, because the ambiance is kinda cool and the food is fine (even if it is a chain)... http://www.neyla.com/dir/menu/dinner.aspx

You've inspired/committed me to have Pho tonight. It's cold, I want soup, etc. etc. Thanks for giving me one less thing to think about. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Next time use the heel of the skinny shoes to poke out the eyes of the annoying man in express line... I'm telling you, it will help!

Ahhh, I can have a Waburger and a sidecar in front of a tree. I promise I won't drive home.

No, I haven't been to Louisiana Express in a while, but I used to work at Euro Motorcars when I was in school and the company catered with that food three times a week. I ate there maybe 57 times between between 1999 and mid 2001. It was salty, greasy, dirty food (I mean in an internal sense), but I liked that sandwich and the eggs on Sundays, the beignet and the creamy iced cafe oles. c'est la vie.

Mini-burgers, mini-flashers, mini-bridges, mini-ranters. So, Mike, do you get along with the neighbors? Like, the folks at Guajilo? Do they get jealous sometimes that you're maybe more brimming with business than them? Do you agree with me that the coffee at Greenberry's is terrible, but that the people who work there are so damn nice that you keep going back and back and back for more... Or do you drink tea? Good for you for not having a bellyvision at home. So, which books are on your nightstand right now? Who (writers, militants, non-chefs, women) inspires you? Answer how ever you want. Or not at all. :-D PS: That was you honking? I didn't know you had that color Mercedes!

My Dad was raving about that place just yesterday! I'll have to check that out...

Sometimes it helps to eat the garlic fries first. Those guys actually taste good to me, but they do a serious number on your taste buds. The the only memory I have of GB is that the crowd (the genre) really bothered me, but then again, dogs aren't allowed. Too bad it's such a beautiful space. Wasn't it a Riggs Bank or something?