DCMark

Wow Snowangel, my hunting heritage comes from Minnesota. My mom was born in Winona and her brothers and father hunted to put meat on the table. It was in my blood and despite being an east coast city boy I decided to learn to hunt in my 20s. I have hunted ducks near Alma, Wisconsin, pheasants in Mn and SD, and geese in western MN.

I hope we can use this post to share our hunting successes and favorite recipes for the 2004 season. Personally, I have not hunted regularly since I moved from Virginia to Washington, DC. I hope to change that this year with several trips planned to hunt ducks (and perhaps deer) at the Assawoman Bay hunting area near Ocean View, DL. I will start this off with some venison I prepared this Saturday night. The venison was shot last year. I believe the cut is called a chuck roast: I combined a few recipes with mixed success. First, I browned the roast for about 3-4 minutes in a Creuset pot. Then into the oven for 25 minutes, which was 5 minutes too long (always trust the thermometer). I then added two types of mushrooms: fresh cauliflower mushrooms from Whole Foods, and dried Trompette de Mort from St. Suplice (in Isère , near Voiron) in France (from my mother-in-law). Into the pot with the drippings of the venison: Here is where I need some direction. I then added some beef stock (could not find venison stock), red wine and a bit of tomato paste. I cooked this together for about 10 minutes. While good, the sauce really did not impress me. Any ideas on what to have done differently at this point welcomed. The final product, excuse the presentation: Served with some braised endives and a bottle of Chateau Loudenne 2000. I picked up 4 bottles of this Friday and wanted to try a bottle before storing the others for five+ years. Please add your harvest.

Thanks. Here is the plan. Arrive SF late Wed night. Early AM head to Big Sur for the night: dinner at Sierra Mar. Fri to SF, dinner at Gary Danko. Sat?

Thanks and keep em coming! Bill I saw your review of Chez P. on the other board. I would love to go there but with only a weekend I am not making such a long trip out of town.

I am heading to SF in November and would like an idea of 'your' favorite eats there. Don, I know this is not DC-related but I am looking for recs from people I know. I will persue this same topic on the California board but would appreciate some answer from here. Thanks

Virginia peanuts are always nice.

Robert W. at Marcel's offered to do this for me once.

Did you do the climb? If so, there is a delightful restaurant in Alpez D'Huez called Au Petit Creux.

Thats all well and good but how was the dAtE?

Leaving for a bachelor party in Montreal tomorrow AM. Eating destinations include The Globe and Au Pied de Cochon.

Anyone?

Wow. Lots of wine. Was DonRocks there?

Aye Al Dente!

This looks like fun. I just booked two tickets. Anyone want to join us? The Alliance Francaise de Washington, DC and the French Culinary Society Present THE AUTUMN MUSHROOM AND WINE FESTIVAL Thursday, October 21st, 2004 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at La Maison Francaise 4101 Reservoir Road NW Washington, DC ~ Come and enjoy this wonderful French tradition. Celebrate in style the wild mushroom and wine harvesting season! Wonderful food prepared by six of Washington's top French Chefs and a selection of fine American and French wines. Fun, excitement and flavor! Also in the program: music, raffle and a silent auction to benefit the culinary scholarship fund of the FICS. General Admission: $55, FICS & AF Members $45 (ALL INCLUSIVE) Mushroom and Wine Festival

Yikes I have to disagree with two of these, Dragonfly and Johnny Half Shell is not the place for romantic dining. Too loud. And BdC had to be a joke, right? What about Mantis, Little Fountain, Kuna (again a bit loud), Al Tiramisou, Bistro Lepic (upstairs is very nice and you can eat there)?

Brilliant Don! Mr Gillman's description of choosing wine rings a few bells for me and (if they admit) many others. However, I always embrace the Somellier in these cases as he/she is my best ally. Now I have found some dud Sommelliers, especially in France, but this may be attributed to my language skills. I would like to do a wine tasting of corked bottles, to learn what to look for. Mark, have you ever heard of this?

Despite being an instigator of this broohaha, I sadly cannot make it. Have fun!

Thank you all so much. And shame on California for so many options. Sorry if my first message was not clear but we only have one day (and overnight) for this trip. The other two nights will be in SF at the Fairmont. I decided to head south since I think the scenery there is the most un-European. Plus we land late Wed. night at the SF airport so we can make a quick getaway Thurs AM. I actually do like driving so the Route 1 trip should be a blast. I did it once from LA to SF, but on a motorcycle. WOW! I am making a new post to ask advice re hotels in Big Sur. THanks

There is a way to order but isn't being a newbie part of the fun? You order from one of the gentlemen behind the counter. Then you sit down a he brings you your food. On the way out you pay him and don't forget to tip. The half smoke is the DC tradition, covered in chili. I live nearby and love the place but the food is really not that great.

Hey I saw you. I was about to ask you to join my table but your friend showe up. I was with the three top right next to you. What a great deal! I had a double order. As I am Atkins meat is my lifeblood so I had the pork and sausage, hold the bread. Wonderful! Next time I need to track down some salt. The reserving of tables thing was a bit 3rd grade, especially the guy (not CH) who held a large table for at least 30 mins after it opened.

My wife and I are taking a 4 day trip to San Francisco in early November. She is French and has never been beyond the East Coast. I want to show her San Francisco but I have set aside one day to head out of town and spend the night. My goal is to show her some of the breathtaking beauty of the West, something different than what Europe offers. I need some suggestions of where to go, more for the scenery and nature than for the fine food or hotel. We will get plenty of that in SF. Ideas are? 1. Go north to Marin, stay in Mill Valley and see Muir Woods, Stinson beach, etc. 2. Go south to Big Sur 3. Go to Napa. I am leaning against this as she is from the Rhone Valley and wine tours are not a priority. Any ideas and suggestions? Also, do you think this trip is better done on a Thursday or Saturday? I would think the traffic is less on a weekday. Thanks!

Crystal City is going to blow up. Its SO close to DC with so many apartment buildings. It makes sense.

Are shorts ok for the grill lunch? A coworker is slumming it today and we want to head over. thanks

I will be at Les Halles tonight if anyone is around and wants to enjoy a cigar....

The waffle fries are delicious!