razzar

This is disappointing. I admit, the last time I was in the Sam Adams place at Dulles was about 5 years ago, but the beer was good and fresh-tasting. Didn't try the food though -- that would only counteract the beer, and I still had to get on the plane.

Ah, thank you. It's amazing how a bit of misinformation can rattle around in my head for such a long time.

The dish sounds absolutely incredible. But, (and this may be way off the topic) did you do this by pre-arrangement? I thought it was against some sort of "rules" to bring wild game into a restaurant to be cooked.

This is why I don't go into ABC stores that often.

So, I go into a Virginia ABC store Sunday afternoon (!), and am kinda surprised about what's going on as a result of trying to respond to competition from private District liquor stores: Clerks recommending brands of liquor (as opposed to the traditional ABC attitude of wanting to deliver a temperance lecture); Recommending ways of serving the stuff; Special ordering single bottles; Calling you when the order comes in; Being open on Sunday (repeating myself). This is almost too much for my old system to bear.

These are all excellent suggestions, and I'm sure more will come. As one who is on the tail end of a decade long eating binge by miscellaneous teenagers (we not only fed our own, but a whole bunch of other adolescent boys too), you'll also find out that you get used to buying in these large quantities and you'll need to relearn how to buy "small." We're still learning.

If we can also list bar/restaurants -- Murphy's in Alexandria (either '78 or '79) Scotland Yard ('79(?)) The Dubliner Tastee 29 Diner in Fairfax

He did his chat yesterday. And, I just tried the Post website -- I had no problem getting the schedule up. Maybe you just ran into one of its recurring glitches.

How about a self-sizing fridge - adjusting automatically to the quantities of leftovers/new groceries? I, for one, am tired of seeing stacks o' food.

The "merger of equals" tag was the same that Daimler-Chrysler used. The "equality" in that merger didn't last too long. And, according to the Washington Post version of the story, the combined company will maintain two headquarters operations, and seeminly separate marketing operations. How is this going to work? (Of course, I really don't care as I drink neither Coors nor Molsons)

The term that grates on me is "Perfect." Especially on the Giada DeLaurentiis ("Everyday Italian") show. Everything is always perfect, not simply good, or delicious. And what, pray tell, is with all of the extreme closeups on these shows? Why do we need a closeup of something being poured into a bowl?

Or drink a teaspoonful before you go out drinking to prevent inebriation. Old folk preventative from my father.

Was there an eye-dropper in the bottle too? But, on the whole, this just seems wrong.

If you are still trying to decide, let me expand a little on the list I put in before: While there are no "great" restaurants in the area north of Quantico (as in "great" like some of the ones in DC or Northern VA), there are some good to very good choices, all within your 20 minute limit. Tiziano's - on Rte 234 (west toward Manassas, 2 stoplights from Rte 95). Good Italian, moderately priced. I tend toward the specials, as there seems to be a little more creativity there. Giorgio's - a little farther up Rte 234. Italian and Greek. A very good "neighborhood" type place. I tend to stick with the Greek dishes. They have a very good roast pork entree. Tim's Rivershore - On the Cherry Hill peninsula. Extremely casual. Caters to a lot of boaters. Simple, direct seafood entrees, broiled or fried. Great softshells (at least the last time we were there). Large outdoor bar area, although they recently got into a hassle with Prince William County over rebuilding the bar area after the hurricane last year, so it may be "off-limits."

I've never heard of "Tixian" on Rte 234 - maybe they meant "Tiziano's." Italian. Good, but you need to be semi-careful on what you order. Certainly no match for the restaurants downtown. Others close by -- Tim's Rivershore in Dumfries. Giorgio's in Montclair (right off Rte 234). Italian and Greek. Neighborhood type place.

Thanks, Laurie. Way off topic -- you have a lot better memory than I do. The Post is my local paper and I had completely forgotten that he had written an article on this.

We finally got our visas approved and were able to make the trek in from Prince William County on Saturday night. Let me echo everything that has already been said here: The steaks are delicious and the sides are worth scarfing down for second helpings. All five of us who went took some home; the portions are ample. And the service is worth mentioning too -- our preggo daughter, who's food tastes are getting even MORE particular, was steered to a cheaper entree than she had originally picked out when she said she wanted it "well." The "house special" that I had (NY strip with the peppercorns (I can't spell "au poivre) with the brandy/mushroom cream and bleu cheese crumbles) is something I want again NOW.

In this and other articles about "Raw Food," it says nothing is heated above 118 degrees. What's so magical about 118 degrees, why not 120, or some other temp?

Unfortunately, the picture only seems to be available in the print edition of the Post's Food section.

Congratulations to Steve Klc and his partner Colleen Apte for their first place in the wedding cake competition at the Beaver Creek Culinary Classic on June 12th. Story from today's Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...-2004Jun22.html p.s.: I hope this isn't too late and hasn't already been discussed before.

OK, I tried picturing all of that. And I kept hearing the Batman changing-scene music in my head all the while.

I think it was the same ad. The main problem was that it was so annoying, especially when caught in rush hour traffic. But, to your other questions -- No, I don't remember ever seeing a Carrabba's television ad. I'm not too sure, however, I ever like restaurant ads I see on TV or hear on the radio. Most ads, especially the locally produced ones, seem to gush over the food, like it is perfection itself. I think I really prefer print ads for restaurants. They can provide more hard info rather than merely trying to grab attention.

To go slightly off topic for a minute -- when DonRocks originally started this thread, it was with a (since deleted) complaint about the Carrabba's Father's Day ad on the radio. I heard that ad on the way home Friday night. And I agree - that ad was awful. It even included a song-type thing that I stopped listening to about halfway through (like I react to an Eagles song). That ad should have been smothered at birth.

How about theCapital City Brewery in Shirlington. On a day like this -- sitting outside with a beer ...

We've been (3 or 4 times) to the one in Woodbridge/Dale City. While I agree the food isn't that great, we've never had a really bad meal there, it's just so-so, especially for the price. I think the crowds line up because it's fairly "safe" food, nothing too radical after a day of shopping at Potomac Mills. But, I would go, sit at the bar, and try to make a meal off of some of the appetizers. The mussels I had there were some of the better ones I've had.