otello

It is actually in Eutawville, not Holly Hill, btw. Look for it on a map north of Holly Hill on route 453. Words cannot describe how good this place is.

when I say dry, I mean that they don't immediately put the pork in the roll, they let it drip for a couple of moments first. That said, the sandwich is by no means dry. congratulate me on my 100th post.

tell them you want it dry next time

The lamb I've always found to be outstanding here; medium rare, of course.

I've been to the one in Rockville a couple of times, most recently a few months ago. For a group, it's lots of fun. The food is good, but nothing spectacular. The best deal is the inclusive meal, which includes the chocolate fondue. I recall reasonably priced wines as well.

I had a little of each. They were just sitting there after all. I had to try just a bit.

Dinner for nine last Saturday night. Everything was excellent, exceeding our expectations. Because it was a birthday dinner I'm guessing, spicy sauteed shrimp and scallops appeared unannounced at the table. All uninvited guests should be so delicious and have such a short stay on the plate. We had a late reservation, so all of the butcher cuts (i.e., hanger or flatiron) were snapped up by those who went before us. Hopefully, we'll get some next time. With a group of nine, we sampled several of the cuts, including the ribeye, strip, entrecote, filet and cowboy. Everyone loved their steaks. I cowboyed up, and there were no survivors. My steak was HUGE and cooked a perfect medium rare with a flavorful crust. The sauteed onions, garlic and horseradish only added to the perfection. I did meet this challenge (focus... focus), but at the cost of not enjoying as much of the tasty garlic mashed potatos and creamed spinach that otherwise would have. Quoth my friend: "That was the best steak I've ever had." (cowboy, by the way) And this is from a guy who lived in Chicago for 10 years, ate at the original Morton's at least once a week, and the Chop House, Gibson's and Gene and Georgetti's were on his short list of places to go when he wasn't at Morton's. Michael was obviously busy, but took the time to speak to us and well as every other table there. The wine list was spacious and well priced (recently expanded too, I came to learn). We enjoyed several bottles of a Franciscan cab, one of the number of wines that Ray's has that would complement their fine steaks. For dessert, a couple of shared chocolate mousses and the last piece of key lime pie. At this point, one can only muster a taste of both. Both were excellent. Service was great, too; there when you needed it, not there when you didn't. What else can I say? Believe the hype. Thanks Ray's, for making a great dinner happen. See you again real soon.

Thanks to someone who shall remain nameless, we will be dining there this evening. Please do not ask me how this came to pass, because I have been sworn to secrecy. Thanks, Michael, for accomodating us on such short notice.

Five Guys for chili is a good call too, especially as it gets colder. Five Guys should be on your websitie.

As I stated in a previous posting you started, Holly, DC is not a sandwich town. That said, you should obviously visit Ben's, but do not be surprised if you are underwhelmed. Though I've only been to Five Guys a couple of times, I thought they make a good burger. Try the Market Lunch in the Eastern Market for breakfast on the weekend. Eastern Market is a nice place to visit this time of year. Imagine a smaller Lexington Market with much, much more going on outside the market and its environs. Obviously, Charles County for ribs, but you should not have to drive that far to get good eats. Good luck.

Who do I have to pay to get a reservation for a birthday dinner (MINE!!!) tomorrow night (and how much)? It's for me and six of my closest friends. I dropped numerous hints with the wife that you need to reserve well in advance. She's still trying, but it's not looking good. If we were just two, I would take my chances, but with seven, that's a tough sell. Pray for us.

You know what's sad/funny, is that the land there is probably worth more if it were simply used for dorm room space. Best of luck to you in your new endeavors, because the cream always rises to the top.

What about Taylor Pork Roll, another Philly favorite? With cheese and spicy mustard on a roll. Good stuff.

Fox News Sunday just did a nice piece on Cakelove, which is located at 1501 U Street. The cakes looked really good. I haven't been there yet. Has anyone had the pleasure? I just checked out the website. Nothing special, as it's a work in progress. The owner is a former lawyer, who determined that law just isn't that much fun. Though he's no longer a practicing lawyer, I found it funny that he's trademarking the names of his cakes.

I didn't manage to get a piece of the dark meat, but I understand that it did not suffer from the same infirmity as the breast meat (again, not a big deal in the grand scheme). Come along next time and see for yourself.