FunJohnny

My wife (Malaysian Cantonese) was taken there for lunch not too long ago, by her friend (Hong Kong Cantonese). Her report to me, which was why I recommended it earlier in this thread, was that it was really good -- which is high praise, and the fact that her friend from Hong Kong thought it was worth driving from downtown DC out to Rt. 7 for lunch in the middle of the week validates the praise in my mind. I believe that their wkday lunch is an all-you-can-eat deal.

Thanks Scott123 -- Helpful info, and I am trying to lose weight via the South Beach regime rather than deal with a sugar craving.

Is this true? I certainly hope it is because one of the things I miss most is pasta made with semolina. I asked a friend if semolina counted as a "whole" wheat, and she thought not, but she, like me is not a nutritionist. If there is anyone out there who knows one way or the other with a high degree of confidence sure would appreciate getting the skinny ( )....on semolina

Do invectives taste as good coming up as they do going down?

Pretty bad standard Cantonese food. Edited to add: For Dim Sum try Marks Duck House (it's crowded but worth the wait) on the weekends or Lucky Three on Rt. 7 (where Fortune was originally located).

Hey -- Good luck with the South Beach. Just did my purgatory two weeks w/o wine last month. Actually went for almost three. After you get thru phase one, its not so bad and the weight does come off pretty quick.

OK -- I've been skeptical about the feasibility of carrying this one off. But now, my appetite thoroughly whetted by the thought of Devilishly Good Eggs, I'd like to get in on this. Put me down for a double order of the Eggs (I'll bring my own silver, or should it be horn, spoon ). To accomodate all those who have expressed an interest, Michael may have to close his restaurant to the general public. The establishments of those professional e-Gullets who want in on this should also be closed to allow them to participate without worrying about whose minding their store. In fact, let's just declare a national holiday the next day or do this on a Saturday so we can digest our steaks and sleep off our hangovers. Let the Games Begin!

If we go early enough, we can get half-priced oysters AND crabcakes! Not today for the 1/2 price deal on the shellfish, it's Monday-Thursday only. I'm going anyway because all this chat has stirred up a yen for some oysters!

Supermarket lines are one thing. Don't block my path to the watering hole!!! Often when I shop on Saturdays, the check-out line is on the way to the Watering Hole!

Fernand Braudel's The Structures of Everyday Life, part of his Civilization and Capitalism trilogy which is an economic history of Europe (15th-18th Century) has a very interesting and enlightening discussion of food, comparing and contrasting the eating habits of Europe with other regions during this formative period of modernity.

Prof. Kliman: Do you have any favorite food writers -- not necessarily critics -- but people who love and enjoy writing about food, e.g. MFK Fischer?

Yikes! Were the White House (and other) interns there in force too? Seems like peak tourist season would not be the best time to take advantage of this otherwise pretty darned good deal.

Maybe just my imagination, but Mortons regular (not Kosher) salt has a peculiar alkaline taste compared to sea and Kosher salts -- even if I'm putting it into boiling water for pasta. For that reason, I eschew Mortons regular whenever I can. I think that Fleur du sel or similar pricey salts should be reserved for sprinkling on food just before you put it in your mouth so you get the full effect of the briny, sea flavors and the little bit of crunchiness as they're released.

If you decide on the salmon tasting, I agree with reesek that you might consider varying what kind of salmon you use. I.E. farm vs. wild (really no contest there IMHO) or west coast vs. east (a variety of wild vs. farmed since I don't think there is such thing as wild Atlantic salmon any more), or, for the smoked, Nova Scotia vs. Scotland? If you contrasted wild with farm raised I think those that have never tried the two side by side will never go back to eating farmed again.

California Dreamin' Where the wine is priced right and the seafood rocks

Had lunch at the Tap Room on Monday and didn't see any mention of a half-price deal on their wine list. I will make inquiry if i stop by there this evening (depending on the weather) on the way home.

Hey Jonathan: Just wanted to let you know my family celebrated Father's Day at 2941 (at my request) and we had a wonderful meal from beginning to end. My daughter, who is a finnicky teen, said the smoked duck appetizer was "the best duck she ever tasted" -- that's high praise. She also was delighted by the cotton candy. The restaurant is an amazing and unexpected space so close to Rt. 50. Hope to be abe to get back soon.

I seem to recall on a thread somewhere (maybe this one, but I'm too tired to go research) that the phyllo at Zaytinya comes from the chef at Lebanese Taverna.

Asian Bistro is under a new manager who is trying to carve a distinctive niche for -- well let's face it -- a fairly common concept. They now have brown rice as an alternative to the white for those seeking healthier carbs for example. I have not yet tried the Pho there, but I hope those who work or frequent that part of town will give them a try. They do a brisk lunchtime business and have a lot of standard Vietnamese and pan-Asian fare on the menu. Also they will soon have a beer/wine license.

OK -- being basically a wise guy, I have to point out that we're talking about a staple of VIETNAMESE cuisine here and I don't believe that Vietnamese who drink/eat Pho do it on a chilly winter's day -- maybe during the rainy season or perhaps up in the Highlands it drops below the 80s. Now I realize that we nothern hemisphere types maynot be as gastronomically wired so as to appreciate hot soup in the summer time, but actually consuming hot beverages triggers the body's normal cooling mechanism, and some people advocate consumption of a hot drink to cool-off. This is what I constantly was told by my friends in Kuala Lumpur when I would be melting at mid-day. "Lay off the beer and have a cupa tea!" Rarely could bring myself to do it though.

Pho 75 (which I believe was the original Pho place in NOVA) across Graham Rd from Lohmans Plaza on Rt. 50 in Falls Church. And yes they do have Vietnamese Iced Coffee. There is also a newish place at the Plaza called Pho 50 if the line at 75 is too long -- it does move fast so you shouldn't be discouraged even if it's out the door.

Thanks. Do they have an alcohol license? Promise this is the last inane question on this thread. Someone else recently made a strong recommendation on this place, so I think I can convince my oh so particular wife (Cantonese) to go.

So how hard is it to get seated at this place? Curious about both wkends and wkday dinners.

How many people remember Le Lion d'Or? Rocks. I do! My parents loved that place and took me there when I was five or so. Lion d'Or -- now that was one of the original places when DC started acquiring some decent establishments for lobbyists to wine and dine the powerful c. 1970s. When things really started getting interesting I guess the owner(s) lost interest or couldn't keep up. I believe it closed in the mid-90s. I had a meal there once curteousy of a crusty old reporter who covered the Agency where I was then employed. Wasn't the Lion d'Or the orignal sponsor of the Bastille Day race?

Hey y'all when I went to the link for the magazine at the top of this thread my virus detector sent up a balloon!