Tweaked

If you are a cheese lover, then you should pick up the April edition of Saveur, which devotes the whole issue to American artisanal cheese. They rank their top 50 favorites and 2 are in this region. Everona Dairy in Rapidan VA. Apparently they are Virginia's only licensed sheep dairy and produce raw sheep milk cheese. Saveur calls their cheese "earthy and full of sheep's milk flavors and goes well with big red wines." Firefly Farms in Bittinger MD. They produce goat cheese and Saveur liked their Mountain Top Bleu. The cheese is surface ripened and aged for 5 to 8 weeks. They also recommend their Merry Goat Round, a goat's milk brie.

I've been checking out the Annapolis Home Brew shop...has anyone tried their products?

never been to levi's...go to Montmartre, have some chestnut soup and the chicory salad with goat cheese...and if you still have room the pate.

The Parallel Board?

In e-gullet speak, the "other" board means Chowhounds.

The Hill's restaurant explosion continues...anyone tried Old Siam on 8th Street yet (formerly Mickey's patio)?

Komi at 17th and P Street area of Dupont Circle, entrees high teens, low 20s, apps in the $7 range...parking not so good. Parking on Capitol Hill and by Montmartre is actually pretty decent at night...sucks during the day.

Komi was Komilicious last night We started off with the mushroom cappacino soup that they have been serving all winter as the amuse and a box of the house made crackers. For starters we had the asparagus, mushrooms, and micro basil salad, a very light and refreshing plate. We also had the charcuterie plate, which came with two small slices of chicken pate, salumi (which was excellent), and serrano ham, all accompanied by a small bowl of pickles and a little pot of mustard. we then split a bowl of the grilled squid (unfortunately they were out of the sardines). Unfortunately this was the one clanger of a dish. The beans were undercooked and the sauce just wasn't coming together. However, the squid was perfectly cooked, three body segments and plenty of tenticle parts. We then moved on to the main courses. The roast chicken was really well done, crisp skin which came with a small pot of a maple glaze (forget what was exactly in the sauce), along with some sauteed rapini kicked up with garlic and red pepper flakes. I had the tea smoked pork, mainly because I wanted the pork belly! It came with the usual brussel sprouts, apple and bacon. wonderful as always. For dessert we ended up spliting an order of the donuts. I was talking to the waitress and apparently alot of people don't know what to think about the pork belly, which wasn't making Chef Monis very happy. I suggested that for people in the know, they should be able to order the dish without the tea smoked pork and get a double order of the pork belly...she smiled and said, next you are here place that order, it will make the chef smile.

Might be further then you want to go, but 2941 is in that neck of the woods...might make a nice respite after the hustle and bustle of shopping at Tysons. 2941

Nope. It closed four or five years ago I think. ← It's now RFD

mmm, now that's an idea...btw, the liquor store in Cleveland Park, directly across the street from the Uptown sells 6ers of Dogfish

sounds like ane gullet investigative mission will be in order when they open in Silver Spring

The fish guy at Eastern Market sells whole fish, I'm sure if you went during a quiet time they would be happy to break down the fish for you.

When we were there for Joe's dinner, Chef Black said that he was working on a website.

The 90 minute/Randalized is what they poured at the beer tasting I went to at RFD, powerful stuff!

The Dogfish boys also invented a device they call the Randalizer, you tap the beer through a canister filled with fresh hops, imparting a extra hops kick to the beer...they have one at RFD.

Interesting article about the Dogfish head brewery in Forbes Magazine. I saw this guy at a RFD beer tasting last year...hilarious...and he makes damn good beer. Apparently he is opening up some brewpubs around the DC area. Article: Forbes Article website: Dogfish Head Brewery

and chomp down on some mushroom cigars with a ginger dipping sauce...very tasty!

I did take out from Cap Hill Tandoori and Grill shortly after it was open and thought it was the worst indian restaurant food I've had...seriously...I've had better canned Indian food...stick to the overpriced Aatish your best bet on that list is La Plaza.

Actually, Joe, all the above photos were taken by emily...she is going to let me use them on my blog when I get around to posting about BlackSalt...Her photography skills are at a much higher level then me and my camera phone

you better double check but the tasting menus at Komi are approx. 5 courses for $59 and 7 courses for $79 (but that may have changed). Lounges you might want to check out: Blue Room and Mantis in Adams Morgan (a lot of the other clubs in Adams Morgan are young and post-frat boy crowd)...another spot you might want to check out is Chi Cha on U Street, around 16th, lots of couches, South American tapas menu, music is sort of world beat boarding on a house tip. Not sure what you are use to but you will probably find 18th Street Lounge too pretentious, nice space but definitely the monied see and be seen scene. I'm personally not a fan of Dragonfly. If you want to do some dancing. Saturday night at a place called Andalu in Dupont, there is potential for a good DJ, Holmes Ives (house, progessive house) crowd not overly pretentious, but drink prices are pretty high $8 for a Jack and Coke. It will be more of a club scene. Finally if you want to do some late, late night dancing check out a small house club called Red, around the corner from Andalu, entrance is down a side street Thomas Jefferson and is located under the Fuddruckers in Dupont Circle (on Conn Ave), things start hopping around 1am and go to 6am. 18th Street lounge, Dragonfly, Andalu, Red are all located in a block stretch where 18th Street and Connecticut Ave intersect between N and M Streets. PM me if you have any other questions!

If you want to do a tasting menu try Komi's...it's very good.

what about Pete's Diner and the place next door Le Bon (or something like that?)

Brewer's Art, the bar menu is quality and their house beer is great...try the beer braised four hour pork. Brewer's Art

Perhaps Sebastian at Komi, or tracking down the Nectar boys.