Chef Shogun

Here's hoping! That said, Nectar's not comming off of The List until there is something to replace it with!

Good evening at Firefly! I didn't mention it at the time, but I could swear the guy at the table behind where I was standing was The Thirstly Traveler from The Food Network, but I could be wrong. In fact, I probably am. In Firefly news, still totally addicted to the fried oysters, and the squash soup was as good as advertised! Mini-Review: Got a call from roommate on the way back from Firefly with mdt. He (roommate, not mdt) was being....'displaced from his room temporarily'...so we went to "Bailey's Pub And Grille" in the Oyamel/Jaleo strip for some beer. Decent-to-pretty-good chicken fingers, decent stuff on the TVs, and a pretty damn respectable beer list (I had a Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA and a Delirium Tremens). Total Gallo/Woodbridge wine list, but you're not there for the wine. Not bad, all in all. Service not so hot, but it's a sports bar - albeit trying to be a step or so up from your standard generic sports bar - so what do you want. One thing I thought was funny: The 'specialty drinks' weren't priced, but when are they ever, but neither were the beers. Wine was, though.

I'll be there around 6:15.

Firefly was my first thought too, but with the red line being how it is, he'll lose too much time in travel. Probably best to keep it in walking distance. Not that I know anything about the Metro Center area, so...I've got nothing. Isn't Les Halles over there? That might be good for beer and snacks. How close is Corduroy (1201 K Street) for their bar menu? That would probably be more relaxing. Isn't there a Teaism on H street out that way, too?

That'll work, too.

Blast, I was going to ask if anybody wanted to go for happy hour. So...want to go back in a few hours?

No BBQ for me today. I expect a full report, and ideally a transcript of the proceedings. Also a pork shoulder sandwich. Thanks!

Noooo!!! I KNEW I should have checked my email sooner. The grill at Galileo was open today! That would have been so good. Well, it's open tomorrow, too. At least I'm on the list now.

Normally I'd say Colorado Kitchen, but I think I'm going to need a place with a full bar by the time I get out of work. Maybe even before then.

So?? Where are we going? Anybody remember if they had a TV at the bar at Oyamel?

For me it begins and ends with Spaghetti-O's. Heated in microwave with salt, fresh ground pepper, and whatever hot sauce I'm interested in on that day. Serve alongside PB&J for the perfect Saturday lunch. Things that don't work so well: Spaghetti-Os, salsa, and tuna from one of those sealed foil bags.

Ahh...Good. To. Know. Worth the price of admission (and perhaps some kind of bizzare BBQ chicken caeser burrito) for me!

I was researching lunch suggestions for a friend and went to the dining guide to see if Breadline is open on Saturdays. I didn't think it was, and indeed it is not, but the guide says that it's open until 5 on weekdays. I'm pretty sure that's incorrect. When I get there at 2:30 some days they are well on their way to being closed (for 3 or 3:30 which is what I had been going on until now), to the point where I almost feel bad ordering food! Anybody else run into possible factual errors in the guide?

That's all well and good, but did you get any tail? I do believe I'll be there for dinner at the bar tonight.

I could, too. I really, really could. Especially since I now 'have' to go to this thing at The Froggy Bottom Pub with some people from work. Right down 21st street. So close, yet so far....

Now that's what I'm talkin'bout.

Hey, that's all I've got! In other news: Is that all I've got? What's the Foggy Bottom/'Golden Triangle'/H-Triangle Pho scene like these days? Asian Bistro was decent enough the twice I was there. Not so speedy, though...definately cut the hour lunch break close, even when I went later in the afternoon and the place was all but empty (Packed around 1, though, so at least they do brisk business). Put this way: it was my first Pho, and I'm not totally turned off, so it can't be all bad! The tonkatsu Bento brought back memories, too!

I'm always up for a run to Firefly. Except on those nights when I can't go. Tonight is one of those nights. Tomorrow's looking better, though!

That funky monkey.

iamthestretch: Did you ever work for the Times? Are the plantain chips still free? When I was in last week, I didn't get any when I sat at the bar, and it didn't occur to me until just now. It also didn't occur to me to ASK for some, so it might have just been an oversight. Think I'm due for another 'dose' of oxtail taco goodness soon. I can see this being a weekly thing! Funny how I've been to Oyamel a couple times since it opened, but I've still never eaten at Jaleo.

Maybe I'm just odd, but when I think 'fall soup' Pho doesn't immediately spring to mind. Give me some form of thick, chunky chowder! On the other hand, if Pho is all you've got...

I'm usually heading out right around then, and it doesn't seem like it would be much of a wait at all. I sit at the bar, so I have no numbers for you. You'll probably be ok!

Went to Oyamel for a small dinner after work, but have little to add to the thread. Why? Because I had basically the same stuff I had when we went for the soft opening! Come on, that stuff was good, and I wanted more! So, the lineup was: oxtail tacos, Tamales Oaxacanos, and a new member of the team: fried potatoes with mole. These were the potatos we were going to get if we went in for another round of food before dessert, but opted instead for the dessert. They were french-fried potatoes, of some not-your-standard-restaurant-fries variety: Sweeter and slightly smoky, and nicely fried, topped with mole and drizzled with some sort of creamy stuff. The head and tail of the meal were an above-pictured Oyamel Margarhita (bit 'boozier' and with thinner salt air than last time, but servicable and appreciated after work!), and the goat milk Cajeta. Went with one of the lighter desserts, just like I posited I might! The Cafe de la Olla was calling to me, but I just couldn't do it! On some level, maybe I should have tried some dishes other than those we had when we went. But I figure hey, I'll be there enough...all in good time!

You know? I'm trying to come up with example scenarios, and each one basically boils down - like many other things - to 'don't be an ass'. Ok, will do!

Another bar etiquette question: What is the general protocol of the 'buyback'? I've never encountered one in the wild, but have always been curious about it.