mdt

Where are you located? There is good fish to be had at Slavin's at Glebe and 395 in VA. In DC there is Black Salt. I am sure others will chime in with their favorites.

Are you talking about the Laboritorio? If so, then I would have to agree that it is an experience. There has not been too many positive comments on dining at Galileo in the regular dining room. Has anyone been recently that can comment?

Just curious, but when was the last time you were there? What did you have? It has been getting decent talk of late if I am remembering correctly.

The lobster burger is $18, if I am remembering correctly.

THE LOBSTER BURGERS ARE BACK BABY!! Met up with mnebergall and Chef Shogun for what was supposed to be a quick bite, but we lingered. Anyway, I really do not know what to say except get your butt to Citronelle and have one. They are served up on a fresh brioche bun with wafer thin potato crisps, a slight bit of mayo (could have been seasoned), a surprisingly fresh tasting slice of tomato, and a side of fresh greens tossed in a vinaigrette. Simply put, this ain't no lobster roll. Try it with a glass of the Alsace Riesling or the Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc.

How about this?

When I first called to make the reservation I asked for a time around 6:00 or 6:30 since my wife works in Ballston and get off from work around 5:30. I was told if we came that early we would have to be out in 90 minutes. When I asked for 7 or 7:30 on a Saturday night instead I was told that it would be five or six weeks before a Friday or Saturday would be available where we would not be limited to 90 minutes and could arrive later. My problem was wanting to come early. It seems that ALL of his early reservations have 90 minute limits. I don't believe you can go to Ray's at 6 and stay longer than 90 minutes if you want to. He and I also had a disagreement in that first phone call. Some of this isn't worth going into but what's important is that I asked for four consecutive Friday nights at 6 or 6:30 until I learned that he did not have any early times that did not have a time limit. ← Here is a link to the chat with Mike's policy. Please read again.

It is too bad that you felt rushed, but others have talked about being in and out in 90 minutes with no problems. I personally have been there with a group of 5 and we all had soups, entrees, desserts, and a couple of bottles of wine. We knew we had the 90 minute timer on and we all had a great time and nobody felt rushed. I personally do not like the idea of pagers at Ray's. The place is not setup to handle that and you can call and make a reservation and they let you know the deal. Would you really want to wait for 1-2 hours for a table anywhere? I don't think so. Why is everyone getting so damn worked up over a damn restaurant. If you do not like the very well stated policies that they have, get over it and go enjoy a meal elsewhere. Sorry, I am a fan of Ray's so I guess that I am biased.

This is surely not a hidden event as there are signs on King St. where you sign up. They are not particulary scary either, as some friends of mine went one night. The only surprising thing was when some homeowner turned on the porch light to see what the noise was about outside. The underground tour of DC does sound interesting.

I know this has been discussed somewhere before, but I could not find a thread. Anyway, I was thinking of signing up for a CSA this year. Overall I remember that folks have been please with the service and was wondering if anyone has any specific information about Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA.

I also must question the notion that walking along Connecticut Ave. near Dupont "feels exactly like" Paris (?!). Not by a long shot. Civic pride is all well and good, but too much of it can cloud an objective view. ← I thought the same thing, but since it has been a couple of years since I have been to Paris things might have changed. I can surely say that it is not like walking around the streets any Italian cities that I have visited.

Is he providing a discount if you are not served in a timely manner?

And what is wrong with VA license places? There specials are pretty tasty, but I am partial to their wild mushroom pizzas when they have them.

Cool. I'll bring the baby, the stroller and the shopping bags. You guys don't mind, right? ← Stretch, Should we make it 4 + (2 x 1/2)? I am sure that I could convince Mrs JPW to add to the shopping bag collection. ← Throw on a suit and possibly a tie and nobody will look twice.

Oyamel and Jaleo Jose Andres' sister restaurants, are located just on the edge of National Airpost. Jaleo is tapas and Oyamel small plates of interior Mexican. Both are quite good....but Jaleo is probably more consistant. ← It will have to be Jaleo as Oyamel does not open until 5pm on the weekends.

My one surprise at Eve was the number of people in the bar in jeans and casual tops. Granted it WAS the bar, but still.... While I didn't really notice any difference in service at Eve due to attire, as mnebergall and Shtitch both noted, the way you present yourself has an impact on how you get treated in almost any customer service situation. ← Well I guess I better bring a change of clothes if I ever decide to stop and eat at the bar at Eve after work one day. Why are people so hung up on what people are wearing?! You all sound like an old boss that I had that made me wear a suit to pull LAN cables under raised floor at a customer sight. Of couse he got the dry cleaning bill. I really cannot believe that someone not 'dressed' up enough ruins your dining experience. Rant over...

So they have a separate lunch menu with some of the Cafe items? I guess I know whre I will be this coming weekend!

If I remember correctly those donuts were made at Palena.

That pork belly is a wonderful thing. I really do need to get back there. Anyone else scared by his sig?

Ok. I'll take back my 'maybe the world' part, mainly because I'd be afraid of Japan and the Scandinavian countries. When it comes to coffee, they're really about pursuing the highest of the high-quality. Not like here. ← Are you also saying that the people in Italy do not take their espresso seriously?

From Tom's chat yesterday... Has to be a regular eGer, right? Anyone?

It is different, and in French there's even a different word for it: théine (pronounced TAY-een) as opposed to caféine. Santé, Roches Acides. ← Going back in time to when I lived in a chem lab... There are two different chemicals, 1,3,7-Trimethlyxanthine (Caffeine) and 1,3-Dimethylxanthine (Theophylline), that exist in both coffee and tea. A quick google search found this info... From "Principles of biochemistry", Horton and al, 1993. Caffeine is sometimes called "theine" when it's in tea. This is probably due to an ancient misconception that the active constituent is different. Theophylline is present only in trace amounts. It is more diuretic, more toxic and less speedy. Caffeine 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine Theophylline 1,3-dimethylxanthine Theobromine 3,7-dimethylxanthine Coffee and tea contain caffeine and theophylline, respectively, which are methylated purine derivatives that inhibit cAMP phosphodiesterase. In the presence of these inhibitors, the effects of cAMP, and thus the stimulatory effects of the hormones that lead to its production, are prolonged and intensified. Science class is now over.

Anything particularly special about this rum?

5...4...3...2...1...

zora -- Not to take away from your praise of the meal, of which looked interesting from the menu, but don't you work at Blacksalt?