syzygy8
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Posts posted by syzygy8
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Restaurant Kolumbia
1801 K
Anyone heard of this "contemporary American" fare restaurant? I had not but we tried it today for RW and was pleasantly surprised.
It was Le Tarbouche. Now, with new ownership and a new name, it's run by chef/owner Jamie Stachowski, formerly of eCiti in Tysons, Pesce and a couple other places I can't recall.
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Went with some friends to DC Coast last night. They have a decent RW policy-- soups or salads for first course, anything off the menu for an entree (with supplements for the lobster or steak) and basic desserts (panna cotta, choc cake, creme brulee). The whole fried sea bass was the best dish, I thought, followed by the nut-crusted tilapia in a pesto cream that was the special of the night. Service was excellent-- free of any RW condescention (though this often varies inversely with the size of your wine bill, our server seemed genuinely enthusiastic about RW and making sure we had a nice meal).
I'm very glad to hear this. Will be going to DC Coast on Thursday for RW, based upon the positive feedback here. I haven't done a RW at all since a vile experience at Tosca that left me with poor thoughts about this promotion. Not to mention poor thoughts about Tosca which I have never returned to.
Assuming the tilapia will not be repeated on Thursday, any other suggestions aside from the sea bass?
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Even though I have done alot of traveling I would still love to find a great tour of French and Italian cheeses. DO you know of anyone who is offering a few weeks or so touring the French or Italian countryside visiting places making these cheeses.
I have looked and looked and found nothing at all. If you know of anyone offering a good one I would appreciate it.
I'd really like to know this also. Perhaps, you've met some friendly cheesemakers who would welcome and appreciate having visitors who are interested in their way of life to come by and learn more about what they do and how they do it. At the very least, we'd buy their cheese!
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The only acceptable flavors for bagels are: plain, onion, sesame, poppy, garlic, salt, everything, pumpernickle and cinnamon raisin. Anything else, particularly fruit is sacrelige.
I must agree with all but cinnamon raisin. That is, if we're having an official poll here.
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Then you went to the appetizing store and bought lox, cream cheese, maybe some herring as a side dish (NOT to put on the bagel, God forbid.)
This brings up the issue of cream cheese and what is verboten. Plain and scallion/onion seem to me the only acceptable ones. Smoked salmon/lox bits? C'mon, buy the sliced Nova. Honey-Walnut? Is this a danish?
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I've always thought that mini-bagels were kind of silly. They end up with no soft bread in the middle and virtually no hole. However, I'd welcome a bite-size bagel that I could pop in my mouth. I always end up pulling apart my bagels into bite-size pieces anyway.
I blame Bob McAllister and Wonderama for foisting these abominations, generally from Lender's on us.
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The guys who run the outside club called Air are running it. Aria, Air, get it? I heard they are doing the catering for the entire gigantic Ronald Reagan Building.
Oh. Then it will probably have the quality of Aramark. Ariamark? Airamark?
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It must have opened for business this week. It's where Palomino/Jordan's used to be. www.ariatrattoria.com. Anyone eaten there yet? Anyone know anything about it? Ownership? Kitchen? Etc.?
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What's the deal on those places in The Underground? The tex-mex looking place, and the cajun place? Any good?
Don't even think about them.
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Anyone know when the new one is opening up in Crystal City?
Last I heard, October, but I'm quickly learning to take opening dates with a grain of salt.
The way they still have everything torn up along Crystal Drive in Crystal City I'd be shocked if they're ready for it to open before Christmas, let alone October.
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Are they open for lunch? Weekends? Do they have a website? I can only find the Artisanal online store on the web. Me and the Mrs. are big fans of artisanal cheese and were hoping that when we're in NY this weekend we could stop by for lunch on Saturday. Reservations necessary?
Thanks!
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I think you're thinking of Honolulu, which has indeed closed. Shame, too.
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(First, a disclaimer: I externed in the kitchen of T.L.'s chef/owner, Maurizio Dumas, and he's been a close friend & mentor to me for years...)
Actually, the main menu at Trattoria Liliana changes seasonally. And the specials change from day to day. They also have on ongoing series of special nights, each with a menu devoted to a single region of Italy. But on most nights, it's just a great place (and perhaps the only place now in DC) to experience the food of Liguria, a.k.a. the Italian Riviera. It's a gentle and comforting cuisine that makes lavish use of fresh herbs and great olive oil, not your typical tomato- and cheese-heavy Americanized Italian food. Appreciate the subtlety, the ingredients, the attention to detail and the service. But you'll be disappointed if you want a glitzy place where a hot young chef serves one-of-a-kind signature dishes on precious-looking plates. And don't forget to order dessert! Liliana makes them all in-house. My favorites are her moist cakes that use almond flour, with some type of hazelnut- or pistachio- or chocolate-flavored creamy stuff between the layers.
Do they have a website or post anywhere when (and what) these special nights are?
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Red Newt has a very tasty cafe.
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Went there about a year or so ago. We had a good, but not great meal. I'd definitely go back, but I'm rarely in that neighborhood. I remember we really enjoyed the pasta. A gnocchi dish and a tagliatelle. Good wines too.
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The U-pick asparagus from Tarara was really good. Some of their wines were good, and we came home w/2 bottles.
How many people were picking? Was it orderly? When we did it last year there must have been 2-3 dozen people, and when we went out to the asparagus patch and let loose, it was like a gold rush, or Oklahoma land claim when everyone ran to find their "plot of green!"
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What started as a simple desire to sit outside with Mrs. syzygy8 and enjoy some wine and cheese turned into something much more pleasant on our first ever trip to Palena.
Wandered up the escalator at Cleveland Park and we were quickly seated outside in the sun (about a week or so ago when there were more reasonably comfortable temperatures).
We asked about the cheese assortment. Types, quantity, etc. Is there enough for the two of us? Should we order two plates? Is there enough variety properly ripe that if we order two plates we can try even more kinds?
She returned with 1.5 orders of cheese which gave us two bites of each kind they had ready to be served that night (I think we had seven selections). Some domestic (a bleu from PA was tasty) and many from Italy. A well done plate with enough variety of flavor, texture and milk type to keep us happy. The accompanying bread concerned me at first. (Don't recall the exact name, but some kind of Tyrolean bread rings a bell) It seemed too sweet and fruity at first glance, but it happened to be a great pair with the cheese.
The wine we left to their suggestion. Villa Sant'Anna Chianti Colli Senesi 2001 ($39). Good body and mouthfeel with rich fruit that wasn't so overpowering as to steal from the varying flavors of the cheese. We were quite happy with what we got.
We also left the menu sitting at our table so we could study it a little more. It was our first visit after all. Next thing you know, we've ordered the greens and goat cheese salad for Mrs., the roasted chicken for me, and the Palena fries for the both of us while we waited the 45 minutes for the cooked to order chicken.
The fries were the only disappointment of the evening. I liked the variety of potato styles. Standard fries were alongside whipped potato fries and even fried lemons. But the breading/batter was rather bland and they just felt a little too oily and greasy.
The sun was about to set, and we moved inside just as the chicken and salad was to be served. I still can't believe that chicken is only $9. Normally I'd never order chicken unless I was at an Asian or Mexican style restaurant, but I'd heard plenty of good things here. All correct.
Served on top of some greens and garlic (seemed like spinach, but there was definitely more in there. Chard perhaps?) the chicken was huge. The skin was brown and taut, and when you touched it with your fork and knife you felt and heard the crispness. Breaking into it was like breaking into a creme brulee. And when you completed that crack, the steam poured forth from the opening with the smells of herbs and spices (I could swear I smelled anise in there!)
It was hot. It was juicy. It was everything I thought chicken could not be. And it was only 9 dollars! Thankfully the Mrs. is a vegetarian, or she'd have been very upset when I said, Cartmanlike, "No, it's MY potpie!"
I wish I could remember what we shared for dessert. (I should have written this sooner). But it was very good. (That's helpful, no?).
Palena will find a place in the regular rotation. 9 freakin' dollars for that chicken!
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I prefer the soft tacos - 1 each of chicken, barbacoa and carnitas -
I'm a soft taco person too, but didn't know they'd divvy them up like this. What do they charge you for that? Is there even a button for such a mix on their registers???
Usually I just get chicken, w/tomatoes, corn, lettuce, sour cream and then add the hot sauce on my own. Sometimes grab some of the lime wedges by the drink dispensers and squeeze them on.
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Danceteria and the Peppermint Lounge (hey, i'm a child of the 80's)
Many a fun time was had at the Peppermint Lounge circa 82/83. (another child of the 80's). The Ritz was also a winner.
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I was thinking less raucous party, more grown-up newish places with great bars (if it doesn't completely negate any maturity one might have to use the phrase "grown-up")
I like old-school drinks, gimlets and proper whiskey sours, so no $1 shooter nights either :)
You could do a very good Penn Quarter crawl. Starting from the 9th street exit of the Metro (cause who'd wanna drive after a night like this?):
Zaytinya-Ellas-McCormick&Schmick-GordonBiersch-CaucusRoom-Zola-CafeAtlantico-AustinGrill-Jaleo-Andale-DistrictChophouse-RosaMexicano-Fado-RFD-Matchbox.
Plenty of old school, some ethnic, and a dartboard assortment of quality beer, wine and liquor. You could eat all night by grazing appetizers throughout, or have a full scale meal at any one of them and be happy (except for Biersch, Fado and RFD). And I think I've probably left out a few other joints to stop off at that others could add.
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I was just going to post this here and I see how you beat me to it. If I was her SO, I'd want to shoot myself! Holy freakin' kill me now!
edited for typo
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Old Town might have the best variety of choices and it's a relatively short hop off the Beltway.
If I understand correctly, our traveler is heading north (from Richmond) to the beltway and connecting to I270. If this is the case, they will not be driving by the Old Town exits (Washington St. or Rt. 1) from the beltway. They would need to travel several miles in the opposite direction (toward the dreaded Wilson Bridge) to get there. There are probably better options that are on a more direct path toward their ultimate destination.
You're right. I didn't notice 270 and was just thinking the 95 corridor.
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Old Town might have the best variety of choices and it's a relatively short hop off the Beltway.
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- The floor reporter is annoying. Very annoying. His comments aren't particularly useful and I'm not convinced he knows much about food. I'm not sure what to do about that. Maybe make him the theme ingredient?.
- And I still want to see Battle Wonder Bread some day
.Ha!
I think my favorite lines were something like (doing this from memory):
Fool on the Floor: He's putting the lobster in the blender. I think he's going to blend it!
AB: That's usually what happens when you put something in a blender.
Zaytinya
in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining
Posted
I've always found the place to be over-rated. Although I do like sampling their wine list, I much prefer Jaleo and Atlantico for food. Am excited for the opening of Oyamel, which still is claiming to be open in October. Interesting that its website says it's opening in Washington (instead of Arlington/Crystal City).