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FunJohnny

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  1. Well we came in for the early shift on Friday. Two colleagues from work, one of whom had not yet enjoyed the RTS experience, and my brother, a former server at Morton's (employee of the year, etc.) also a first timer at Ray's. Because we were one of only a few parties at that hour, we benefited from Jarad's ability to offer suggestions on the wine. Helped the ongoing consolidation of the wine list by consuming a couple of bottles of their burgundy -- available now at bargain prices. Since even at drastically reduced price the first one we had was pricey, Jarad insisted we order another bottle after detecting the first was corked. I couldn't tell -- guess I've been drinking a lot of corked bottles in my life -- but the second bottle was much fresher tasting.

    3 NY Strips and 1 Cowboy.

    We had three votes for best steaks ever consumed, and my brother conceded that they were on a par with Morton's. Will return with an even larger group within a short time. Just difficult to find a Friday when we can all participate.

  2. If a person eats at CityZen tonight, Minibar tomorrow night and Citronelle on Saturday, about how many calories and grams of saturated fat do you think he'll ingest?  Is it possible he could die of some sort of glorious butter overdose?

    Not if you dilute the fat with a lot of wine. :biggrin: Have fun sounds like a great wkend. Make sure you consult Mark Sommelier at Citronelle, if he's working that evening.

  3. On the upscale side there is La Colline (The Hill in French -- tres original). Been a long time since a lobbyist has taken me to lunch, but I think it's on D Street NE. They have a bar.

    But I really second the Irish Times. If the weather is nice you can sit outside, and who cares if its divey inside.

    Edited to respond to Mr. Dente who got posted while I was composing this -- La Colline is quintessentially a place where powerful lobbyists take powerful members (or their staffers) to be dined in a quintessentially "French" style. They do have a bar though.

  4. I saw a write up of the P St Bistro Café in the Dupont Current or some similar community paper, it looks like it's going to be a nightmare. The owner said things like "We'll offer some small plates, too, they're very trendy" and mentioned "Elegant burgers". I wish I could find it to post, it was almost comical. Trying to be everything to everyone in a small spot.

    ]

    On the sample menu in the window for P Street Bistro I saw a listing for grilled mahi-mahi with a banana vanilla cream sauce.

    Bon Apetit

    No mention of something with a wasabi crust? Not that trendy then :raz:

  5. My uninformed guess is the puker was at Tallula.

    Stretch would be correct. My sources said it was not pretty!

    That's interesting, because I have heard from the locals who frequent another trendy bar in that neighborhood -- ok it's Harry's Tap Room -- that the folks who live near Tallula are expressing the same unhappiness that led to the revocation of Whitey's liquor license, i.e. rowdy in the street clientele, throwing up on people's lawns, etc. Did the lady who got sick in this case imbibe too much, or was it just the flu?

  6. Not a place to go if you don't fancy being greeted by a poster of a nekkid lady over the host stand.

    The bar scene is great and busy on weeknights but almost empty on weekends. Take note.

    I swear when I first read this in a glance I thought you said "greeted by a nekkid lady" :laugh::laugh:

  7. anyone been recently?

    anyone been in the past?

    tell me all what you think. I have walked by it the last two mondays, and have heard about it, but never been...

    is it bouchon? is it Bistro Lepic? is it somewhere in between?

    I believe a distinguished member of the Society is an employee -- Ahem, Nadya

  8. The Final Chapter :angry: :

    TRADING SPACES: Eight months after taking over the kitchen at Aria Trattoria (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; 202-312-1250) downtown, chef Anthony Chittum is saying ciao to that Italian retreat and heading to Foggy Bottom -- and two 50-seat restaurants, both run by the Potomac Restaurant Group.

    One is the American-themed Dish (924 25th St. NW; 202-338-8707); the other is the yet-to-open Notti Bianchi -- that's "white nights" in Italian -- which replaces Nectar at 824 New Hampshire Ave. NW.

    Aren't two restaurants a lot more work than one? "Luckily, they're half a block from each other," says Chittum, who in his capacity as executive chef will watch over both businesses. He's also putting his current sous-chef at Aria, Miles Vaden, in that same position at Dish, where the menu of comfort foods will be tweaked to include goat cheese ravioli, venison with corn bread and country-fried steak based on Chittum's grandmother's recipe.

    A second-in-command has yet to be hired (Attention, sous-chefs!) for Notti Bianchi, but its owner, George Washington University, hopes to have it open by late April or early May -- just in time for college graduation, natch.

    Apart from taking issue with the notion that Notti Bianchi will "replace" Nectar, I'm wondering how this comports with the supposed reason GWU closed Nectar in the first place, in order to provide a less upscale restaurant in its less than upscale hotel.

  9. "On a Whim" I stopped for lunch at Vidalia today, the first day of their new menu -- according to the Bar Server. I had the She Crab soup (not a new entry), the "Grillades and Grits" App, and the death by chocolate decadence dessert. I write this in a semi-comatose but contented state. The soup was sweet and creamy with a delicious essence of crab roe. The grillades featured veal cheaks on top of grits. The only problem were the capers which I suppose were to flavor-up the grits, but overpowered the veal. The quatro of chocolate confections which comprise the "Decadence" :rolleyes: were awesome -- too much for a mid-day meal, but kinda hard to resist.

  10. An interesting point about the Cathedral, I believe this is correct, is that it is the last true Gothic structure to be built anywhere in the world. Flying butresses and everything, including the Gargoyles. They had a hard time recruiting the stone cutters to finish the outside -- apparently stone cutting is an extinct profession because it is invariably lethal for the stonecutters.

  11. Docsconz,

    One place that’s great for families with a young child is 2 Amy’s. It has excellent pizza and antipasto dishes. It’s one of the best restaurants in the city, I think, and it also happens to be one of the most child-friendly restaurants in all of DC. Kids seem to get a kick out of seeing the guys slide the pizzas in and out of the oven.  :smile: 

    (There is a thread on 2 Amy’s on egullet, but I’m not sure how to link it -sorry.)

    It’s three or four miles from downtown, off Wisconsin Avenue. (The address is 3715 Macomb St. NW)  It would be a good choice if you felt like venturing away from the Mall for a couple of hours, just for a change of pace. The National Cathedral is nearby - interesting architecture – check out the gargoyles if you go. 

    Have a great trip!

    Two Amy's

  12. Since they are too modest -- let me put in a strong recommendation for a dinner at Corduroy and/or if Georgetown is in your plans Mendocino for either lunch (wkdays only) or dinner. If you are here on a Sunday night Mendocino has 1/2 price on a good selection of wines.

  13. A friend of mine is having her upcoming birthday gathering at Cilantro in Georgetown.  I was going to post a message asking "anyone been?" when I decided to visit the web site first.

    :blink:

    Although the home page advertises "Tapas Bar" the menu goes on to attempt to be all things to all people.  If you're not in a "Mezza" mood, try a "Focaccia Panini" or "Pasta and Risotto."

    Kibbeh Asado anyone?  Followed by...Coco Shrimp.  It would be funny.  If I didn't have to go there.  I predict a spectacular disaster.  Has anyone been brave enough to eat at Cilantro?  If so, what'd you eat?

    Why do things at tapas places come in threes? The beef kabobs were three skewers of two pieces. Are just not supposed to ever be able to split things evenly? Just a little side gripe.

    Maybe something to do with the mystical power of three :raz:

  14. Had a post meal meal with Babka last night at Mendocino. After sampling the Lobster Burgers at Citronelle :rolleyes: -- chased down with several glasses of an awesome Pouillly Fuisse (shoulda just bought the bottle) -- we went across to Mendocino. The place was packed but after a while we snagged a couple of seats at the bar just intending to watch my wife who joined us there have her breast of duck. But Drew brought us out a plate of his new risotto topped with black truffles and a crab quiche (?) -- both were the bomb(s). They served as the dessert we might have otherwise ordered. Thanks Drew

  15. Passed an enjoyable Happy Hour(s) w/mnebergall, al dente, mdt, Chef Shogun, JPW --- consuming the rock 'n Springrolls, Scallops saute'd and tartar, (thanks Tom) and the chicken confit (really big thanks Tom :biggrin: )

    Thanks also to Fero Style for keeping it flowing.

    Now need to breathe deeply, lean back and loosen the belt buckle -- relax zzzzzzz

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