DCMark

Great news! I am still sad to see Pied is gone as I had many good times there dating back from high school. Five Guys burgers is going into the old Pied space.

This topic is rediculous. It is leading to nothing but generalizations and innuendo that is not, and frankly cannot be, supported by anything other than emotion. My children behave. I am not from France. I behave. I am not particularly self absorbed and both of my children have a very clear view of right and wrong. I got my ass kicked in Candyland and later bridge and gin regularly by my parents (although I started taking the old man in tennis when I was 10 and have been doing it ever since-no quarter given, none asked for). My kids have been eating pretty much whatever hits the table in front of them for as long as they have been out of high chairs. They are interesting, funny, can hold up their end of the conversation, and have reasonably good manners. My children are in no way unique. I know lots and lots of families with children who have been raised to behave this way. So don't lump everybody into one big basket. The world doesn't work like that. Personal responsibility is the key to the whole thing with raising chldren. Show them by example when they are young and when they get older- expect it and enforce it if they fail. This got discussed to death around the New Year and if you guys want to continue flogging this dead horse-fine. I think that I will withdraw from the field and take my kids out to eat tonight. I would reccomend that the personal attacks come to a halt. This could be an interesting subject, even after so much discussion 4 months ago, if the name calling stopped. You personally sound like a great parent. But its not just opinion that kids in the US today are often raised by parents who have no concept of the word NO or that life does not revolve around them. We see it everyday. Ask any therapist, police officer or college professor. Its pathetic! Its funny how you make your statement then run away from the conversation, isn't it?

Yes, but are they sautéed, braised or roasted? Sorry, couldn't resist. I have observed the same thing for many years: French children, sitting quietly through extended meals in fancy restaurants. Like the French dietary paradox (smoke, drink, eat, but be thin and live longer) I find this one elusive. Perhaps it's the little sips of wine that the kiddies receive. The absolute WORST behavior of children I have ever seen was in France actually, in Chamonix last year. We were staying at Hotel La Savoyarde which to our delight had a wonderful little restaurant (one of those little places in France with a 25 year old cook out-cooking any French restaurant in DC). We were seated in a room with a large table of two or three international couples. Italian/German, English/Spanish and maybe a french person. About three kids who as the meal progressed got louder and louder. One continually ran around the table screaming and throwing things. The boy's mother was Italian, and not to stereotype, but Italian mother's seem to be the biggest pushovers (there is a phenomenon called Maminos (sp?) where 40 year old men still live with Mama) and she did nothing to stop except mumor 'Paolo, Paolo...'. After about 30 minutes of this the French couple behind us finally snapped and nicely asked them to stop, that this was a nice restaurant, etc. This did not sit well with the big table but they finally got the hint and left. Afterwards I turned to the woman and thanked her for doing what I did not have the guts to do.

I love this from yesterday's Health section: Slacker Mom edited to comply with bux's kindly message

well?

Wow, I wasn't aware of the pandemic we now have of demonic children. And we don't have to have kids?? I thought it was a required act, like registering for the draft here in the States. And to think I could've avoided the early morning eyes smiling to tell me, "I love you dad," or the daily renewal of my own life through the life of this precious, growing being, as in wonderment he looks to Lake Superior and declares it "pretty." Or the insane romps of ticklefests and bouncing on my back as I give piggyrides. Man, if I only had the sense to forgo this hell, and, additionally, not foist his goodness on this world. You know, your idea (and, I'm sure, that of your confrere, Minister) of "crating" 5 year old kids is not half bad. Most would've thought you made a typo in "create," but now that you've shown me the virtue of being parentless, I know what you mean, and couldn't agree more - crate the monsters, much like the kennel dogs. I'd feel sorry for you and Minister if you weren't so abrasively arrogant in your appraisals of children generally. Edited in the interest of civility, at least to an extent. Cheers, jrufusj. Paul Not sure I want to touch this topic...but you really don't see a serious DECLINE in the way kids are raised in the US, especially in middle and upper middle class households? The focus has shifted from raising a child to supporting and justifying the child's every wish, desire, fear, etc. The result is incredibly self-centered non-adults who have no concept of right/wrong and think that since they always won playing Candyland with mommy and daddy, then their college professor has no right to give them a C+ in Chemistry. I compare the way I see children raised in the US to France and its scary. Certainly, this is personal observation, but French children at meals are PART of the meal, not the focus of the meal. As young as 4 or 5 and they are expected to eat whatever is being served and rarely do they act up to the point of becoming the center of attention for the family or restaurant. This Minister guy is just trying to get a rise from everyone. However, many parents cannot be trusted to consider the greater good when dining out since their abilty to say NO to Jane or Johnny seems non-existent.

Having enjoyed all the same simple food in Italy many times, the answer is (unfortunately) you will not find what you desire. But in a few months the memories will fade and mediocre will again become acceptable.

Their Sesame Chicken and General Tsos are my favorites. Beef w/mushroos is also popular at my house. Remeber to get your free grape or orange soda and report back.

Oh yes. I love it. They are very nice there too. MUCH better than Blue Diamond around the corner. You can watch them make the food at Eastern which is comforting. Don't be put off by the bulletproof glass, its a relic from the bygone days of U St.

This is GREAT news. I order weekly from Eastern Carryout (Chinese) and this will add much needed noodle-power to my belly.

Whatever you eat for dinner, you WILL be seeing later on.

For the end of the night try Club Red at 1802 Jefferson Place, right below the Fudruckers at 18th. Open until 5:30AM with alcohol 330 AM weekends . Great DJs spinning deep house. Try to behave!

Patisserie Poupon way up Wisconsin (1645, right next to my office) makes a good cup and really, if you have one of their Pain au Chocolats, who cares about the coffee??

While this may be technically illegal in France (I am not sure of this) there is a wine industry push to promote taking home unfinished wine. There is great fear in the French wine industry that the recently strengthened DUI laws will cut into restaurant wine sales.

I, too, went to Jay Comforts fine Bistro 309 and had a relatively great meal, certainly the best meal offered that night in Fredricksburg. I remember the first time I met him at Poste, we pieced together the puzzle and realized we had met each other down in Fredricksburg the year before. I'll miss him at Poste. When you're getting your breakfast at Charlottesville, you will, of course, end up at The Tavern: "Where students, tourists and townspeople meat." I'd nix their buckwheat cakes and go for the fluffy stuff, with lotsa bacon and about four eggs, and buy all means DO pay the extra dollar for real maple syrup. I've been a few times, and would happily go again. Cheers, Rocks. Memories! As a double Hoo, 87-91 and 96-98 I can tell you the quality of the restaurants has improved by Charlottesville always had good food. The old C&O restaurant was really one of the only fine dining options in central VA for a good 20 years. Its been a while so I will not make any serious suggestions. However, Don is correct about the Tavern. However, us old timers call it Seargent's. Late night drunk dining should be done at the White Spot on the Corner (the main student drag near the University). The specialty is a Gus Burger which is a burger w/fired egg on top. I was always partial to a double Gus all the way. You can still see remnants on my waistline. Also on the corner is the Virginian. Its the oldest student bar/restaurant in town and full of history. Food quality I have no idea. Sam Shepard tried to pick up on my date there one night, while I was in the bathroom. He did that (not only to me) on a regular basis. On the downtown mall Miller's is an old jazz bar. Metropolitan is a good restaurant on the Mall too. Nearby is Fuel Co, a gas station/restaurant owned by super-social-climber Patricia Kluge. Avoid this place on principle alone. Actually, Charlottesville has a number of gas stations with excellent food. The Exxon in Ivy has a mean virgnia ham sandwhich. For the biggest burger in Virginia go to Big Jim's. FOr good bagels try Bodo's (the bagels are coming!). The nicest hotel is 20 minutes out of town at Keswick Hall. This tuscan villa was (is?) owned by Laura Ashley's family and was part of a trio of worldwide hotels she owned (the others were in St. Michaels, MD and Wales). ANother great hotel/Inn is Clifton. Don't miss spending some quality time at the University. The grounds were designed by Thomas Jefferson and are an architectural wonder. Each building on the Lawn and Range is in a different classical style and was designed so young men could study the great architecture of Europe without leaving Charlottesville. Have fun!

Well that kind of rumor and innuendo is very prevelant on any food-based messageboard. We all rely on the experience of others to form opinions of restaurants we have not (recently) visited. Personally, I went to Obelisk last year and found it good but not great.

Exactly. All this talk of Wegman's has me jealous and saddened. Saddened because a store like this will never grace DC. Of course, I don' think what DC needs is a HUGE store. We just need some regular grocery stores that are decent. We either feast (Dean, Whole Paycheck) or famine (Safeway).

THANK YOU

THIS IS NOT ME, THIS IS A POST FROM THE POST CHAT: "Old Town, Alexandria, Va.: Please help! We're celebrating my birthday this weekend, and I am one of the pickiest eaters in the world (I will try to convey this in terms of restaurants). We want to go either to Dupont, Penn Quarter or Georgetown. We're thinking possibly Cafe Atlantico, and we've done Jaleo, but personally I preferred the tapas place in Shirlington (on the good nights when things aren't over cooked), and my SO wasn't too impressed. Here's my problem: I hate anything African, Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian (minus Americanized Chinese food, which I don't want, as that's a hit or miss, and -- sometimes -- Thai or Japanese). Dietarily, I eat ONLY skinless boneless chicken breast meat-wise (I once went to a restaurant where they gave me an entire chicken, and I didn't know what to do with it!). No mushrooms, no chickpeas (hence the lack of desire for Middle Eastern, etc). Yes, I do eat veggies (broccoli, spinach, etc), but I don't want to go to a purely veggie place. Restaurant-wise I like Italian, any European (but French is iffy), including Eastern European (I even went to the Bulgarian restaurant in Adams Morgan and enjoyed that!), Latin American, Mexican, American, and a fusion of any of the above choices. Preferably I'd like something fun and new (we went to Scotland Yard once, which was interesting -- but not bad!). Price isn't a huge factor, but please no 100$ per person meals. I'd also like a good desert (like the volcano brownie at Theissman's -- mmm!). Romantic is a plus! Also, any good Greek places you know of? Thanks for you help, I looove your chats. My SO looks at me funny when I quote you (especially when I told him that you found Popeye's to be the best fast food, and he just rolled his eyes, as I too love the Popeye's). But I'm sure if you were to mention someplace different from the norm he would be immensely happy."

LOL! This should be good. White Zinfandel?

Marcel's

I find with Bank of American Visa Check Cards thats its a good idea to tell BoA of your trip. Otherwise (twice for me) they tend to put a hold on your card after a few major charges overseas. They then call you at home (US) and wait for your call back to restart it.

I recently learned to open my own oysters. No more $12 for 6 oysters for me.

Cheeselifters of the world, unite and take over!

My mother in law cooked them. We had pigeon that evening and they were served in the sauce. We also had a Morel omelet earlier. I am hoping to find some in Virginia this weekend.