morela

For those of you who don't know you by anything other than your marvelous posts, describe a bit if you don't mind. I like my hair out of my face. I like to eat soup with my hair back. To be honest, I'm one of those ppl who has to be asked a lot to wear hair down. The hubby was so persistent that, the snowbunny wife had to chide him...and defend my position.

Alright, I'm back to tell you about my soups from Saturday. Galileo's Organic chick pea soup with onion flan and pancetta, topped with crispy onions I was very pleased. It was really hot, a nice smooth froth; an otherwise empty bowl came with the little timbale (an onion flan), crispy fried onions, and of course, the pancetta. Then, as you might guess, a friendly old Italian bartender poured the soup from a big silver pitcher into my bowl. I think this is one of those soups that needs to be the right temperature to get the most out of the flavors, and I'm happy to report it was. Onions and ham sort of melt into base, timbale was tasty and added depth; it held up well. Yum. It was good enough to push me to the next place, Marcel's, and for that, I thank god. **Other details: Music there is essentially Italian elevator music, not really my kind of thing. Also a bit distressing is the fact that Galileo seemingly didn't have any heat on a night when the evening high was 14 degrees. I hope they pull through. It was hard to leave there and not have a little pasta something...but I managed. MARCEL'S Roasted Autumn Chestnut Soup, Roulade of Duck Confit, Caramelized Onions Okay, this might be the best soup I have ever had. It was really bacony-tasting and the onions were like candy. I can't even find an adjective that would do the roulade justice, but it was three times what I hoped it would be. My expectations are high in general, higher at Marcel's, but that soup makes up for every not-so-great soup I've ever had. The presentation was beautiful, the temperature was right (steamy), I didn't feel cheated on the portion. My soup tour is designed for soups like this. **Other details: Sometimes guests at Marcel's can be a little nutty. This time a couple from Harrisburg, PA begged me to take my hair down and were put off when I said 'no'. They were perplexed by my ability to be in there alone... They had plenty of loot, but no manners (man kept hiccuping in my face) and they pronounced foie gras in one of he very worst ways. This kind of thing certainly won't keep me from that soup, though. I can live with the strangers at Marcel's. Go get the soup; I bet it disappears from the menu soon...

Look a this. It's a year old. Did they open? Feedback? Anyone sick of pizza at ella's? Ginger Cove and Ginger Reef

Chevy Chasers will have affairs there, no doubt... ...and how clean is that?

Yeah, Stoney's hood is dirty!

SOUPS LAST NIGHT Galileo Organic Chick Pea Soup with Pancetta, Crispy Onions, timbale and Chives Here's what it sounded like: Go to 'Listen to Samples' Solo Ieri Marcel's Roasted Autumn Chestnut Soup, Roulade of Duck Confit, Caramelized Onions Here's what it sounded like: Felicidade (music has to be really loud...and picture low light with little procession of cigar smoke clouds) More TK, I promise. I have plenty of detail for later... Everyone needs a break from me. I need one...

Leaving for (a) soup now... but 'tour' might be canceled, due to bearish qualities of taster. I enjoy hiberating! If the first stop lives up to my expectations, I will forge ahead! I don't even know where I'm going; all depends on what race the cab driver is (I'm joking)...

What if I did a soup tour that went: Citronelle Nectar Firefly one night, 6 hours long... or reversed the order? Minus, the wine, that's prolly less liquid than two small cans of soup.

hillvalley: try not to go if you can. it's horrible there... Cashion's, Rumba Cafe, and maybe one other place are worthwhile, but the people even on the coldest Saturday night, cancel out the best of meals. I cld do Cashion's for $20, but I am evil.

Wld that be Cheesemaster Gene, fomerly of Dean and Deluca and Norman's? Tell Gene I still remember selling melons on the side of the road like it was yesterday. If Gene ain't there anymore....then no wonder the front of that place looks so much better (kidding)...

uh..oh....... chestnut soup with duck confit and foie gras at 'uh..oh.......' wasn't my plan, but it certainly can be! Razer clams might hurt.

Tour continues tomorrow, but it's going more upscale...

Say Ahh at Ceiba Just got back from a go at both of these soups and a few mojitos at thebar. Here's my report: Cuban Black Bean Soup Ham and Manchego Cheese Croquetta, Pickled Red Onions, Latin Crema Tunks style, the bean/liquid portion of soup is poured when served (in this case, into the bowl that has croquetta and onions; latin cream scribbles on sides). Visually speaking, it's not as festive or attractive as, say, the bright/creamy squash soups are (which they do at Coast), but who cares. The soup itself was several grades colder than I would have liked and much beanier than I hoped. I guess I tend to like purees the best (as opposed to whole beans), unless there's seafood or some other meat to help balance. Overall, though, good beans that just begged to be HOT. The croquetta was awesome! I could have eaten that and the onions on a bed of warm spinach salad and been in heaven. For $6, I say have the bean soup, make sure it's hot, and do a mojito to boost you blood sugar level (and to make your cheeks feel warm). Overall value: HIGH. I'm being awful by analyzing a soup to death at a place where everyone was SOOOOO nice to me. They don't know me, but they treated me like gold. West Indies Conch Chowder Sweet Corn Johnnycake, Dark Rum, Outerbridges Sherry Pepper Sauce This one was served in bowl; on the side you get a shot of pepper sherry and a shot of dark rum, both to be mixed in before you eat. It's not a creamy chowder, but a dark one that works on your palate much more the way wine does than food. It wasn't very salty or sweet, but was full of spices and was the temperature the beans should have been (steamy hot). It was a soup that makes your nose run and makes you drink an extra mojito...just because. The conch was pleasant in texture and danced around the bowl with plenty of diced potato. The best part, though, was the jonnycake ( several fried oyster-sized pieces of cake floating in soup) . The cake was sweet, filled with whole corn cornels, and was still crisp (even toward the last few bites). Having given it some thought, my read is that both of these soups are designed to be eaten in big bites (appetizer: a food or drink that stimulates the appetite and is usually served before a meal) so you can then forge onto the bigger and better things. You can't scrutinize $6 soups like these ones (as I shamefully have). On a night like tonight (colder than ever), that West Indies spice along with rum has worked wonders. I have three times the energy I had before eating (which has nothing to do with nutrition), my cheeks and lips are on fire...and I think my metabolism is highest it's ever been. I need something more to drink to cap the night. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx PS: Edited stylistically; editorial content unchanged PPS: The flan was damn good too, but that has no place in my soup tour thread

wow, that sounds yum too.

JRage: You are kind. That soup sounds good. Flowers Perennial that I like still there by the glass? Maybe I can do a soup tour...

Toying w/ idea of trying one of these guys from Ceiba: Cuban Black Bean Soup Ham and Manchego Cheese Croquetta, Pickled Red Onions, Latin Crema 6 West Indies Conch Chowder Sweet Corn Johnnycake, Dark Rum, Outerbridges Sherry Pepper Sauce ...sounds tasty enough.

Moving on... Best Winter Soups Lead me again; I need soup and wine tonight! Really damn good soup... Where?

The song I remember from Nectar is from John Williams' soundtrack to "Catch Me if You Can." I think it's called "The Float." There's also some Sinatra on that soundtrack, needless to say. Blue Rondo A La Turk David Brubeck!

I had to get rid of the 'make love to the camera' line...and a few others. That was way too nuts, but who on 17th Street really minds that much? Komi sld at least play that song for drag races, with the front door of the place open. And a liquor licence wld be good too~!

What's that song they always play at Nectar again? Komi should play songs like that... or maybe RuPaul's "Supermodel" to go with theme of 17th Street. That Album's from the charmed 90s, you know.... .................................................................................................................. Supermodel from the album Supermodel of the World performed by RuPaul in 1993 .......... (ahh. this is bad) I have one thing to say Sashay, shanté Sashay, shanté Shanté, shanté, shanté I have one thing to say, you better work!

do do that, meany. (he he! do do!) I'll be nicey, meany. I hear it's $15.

No more seriousness from me, I said!

Mark, What did you write at nearly 4:00 a.m. on November 30 and then edit later that day around lunch time? Hey that was in the review too. Mark, your intellectual property is at stake...and what was in that editorial you wrote at nearly 4 a.m.!

"None of this would be all that noteworthy if it were taking place in Cleveland Park, Georgetown or Penn Quarter, or if the food were prepared by a name chef like Todd Gray, Ann Cashion or Jose Andres. But here we are on a stretch of mostly undelicious restaurants near Dupont Circle, enjoying dishes cooked by a chef, Johnny Monis, who until three years ago wasn't *legally able to drink alcohol. " (Pasted from Sietsema's review ) That's funny! Everyone Johnny and I are the same age! *Legal, smeagal!

Folks, I've learned my lesson. No more long nice posts from me. I Promise! To clarify: I have no ulterior motives.