Chantilly Bob
-
Posts
83 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Store
Help Articles
Posts posted by Chantilly Bob
-
-
Clam Fritters.
They're called clam cakes in Lil Rhody, to be served with chowder. (New England clam, of course, not that appalling red slop known as Manhattan clam. Yeesh.) Chewy bits of quahog in a deep fried flour batter. Like hushpuppies, they serve primarily to transport fried crust into your mouth; the clam bits are an excuse.
Conch fritters down in Florida are very similar. Same rubbery texture, same bits of protein to provide that oh-so-thin veneer of respectability. YUM!
-
I live in the clam-obsessed North Shore area of Massachusetts, but breaded, deep-fried calamari has always been a popular restaurant item. When I first moved here you always got your calamari straight up with tartar sauce, but over the past few years, I've noticed more and more places serving (first as a special, then as a regular menu item) calamari with hot pickled peppers.
Mostly, they just toss your classic calamari fritti with what I guess is a mix of commercial pickled pepper slices (red, green and yellow) kind of like the generic sandwich topping 'hots' that are also popular around here. In most places this makes the calamari a little soggy, but I like the combination and often order it as an appetizer when I see it.
At any rate - I thought this was just a micro-regional affectation, but last night I had the dish at a pretty upscale place (Glenn's in Newburyport) and they called it Rhode Island Calamari. I took the trouble to ask one of the owners about the menu claim and she corroborated, claiming that it was really a Rhode Island dish that had made its way north.
Dear readers/eaters from that area - can this be true? Did Rhode Island really give birth to this new treat, along with coffee milk, Johnny Cakes, clear clam chowder and 'New York' system hot dogs?
Jealously yours in advance,
L. Rap
The first place I saw fried squid both prepared this way AND called Rhode Island Calamari was at the first outpost of the Capitol Grille, which just happened to be in Providence. This was back in the early 90s.
A couple months ago I had lunch at the Capital Grille in Tysons Corner VA -- payment for a Super Bowl bet; GO PATS! -- and there it was on the menu so of course I ordered it and it was delicious and pretty zesty but not quite as hot as I remembered from Providence. It was also a bit soggy, now that you mention it.
So, AFAIK, this preparation did indeed originate in RI. Sadly, other RI classics like snail salad, grapenut custard pudding, and pizza strips (RI natives will know what I'm talking about) don't seem to have gained footholds beyond the bounds of Little Rhody.
-
There is a great Jewish shop on Hope Street near Rochambeau whose name I'm forgetting, which has the usual stuff, albeit a small selection.
You must be thinking of Davis's. We drove by there late on Saturday -- it was closed, but the placed looked exactly the same as it did 35-40 years ago.
So where do you go for good Portuguese sweet bread these days? I remember discovering Faria's on Wickenden St. That stuff was so good that my younger brother could sell hunks of it to his bunkmates up at camp in Maine.
-
Al Forno(although heading in the Cappriccio direction),
I am pleased to report that we had a family gathering at Al Forno on Saturday night (not the kind of family gathering that you'd probably find at Capriccio), and the food showed no sign of decline whatsoever, despite George and Joanne being in Provence much of the time now.
Capriccio is old Providence. Al Forno, despite being 20 years old or so, is new Providence. Old Providence can be fun: Angelo's Civita Farnese is old Providence, for example. But there was virtually no good high-end food in old Providence.
-
I must be starving -- I just had a vegetable and hummus wrap at Borders here in NoVA and it was really really good. 
Anything good cooking at your Borders?
The problem with the food at both Borders and Starbucks is not that it tastes like crap, but that it just seems overpriced. The sandwiches and salads appear about a buck too expensive, and the baked goods too pricy by some smaller amount.
But they obviously get enough starving customers to justify the prices.
-
Anyone give a 'proper' name and address for these two places.
Googleing does not help
Grand Mart (locations in Lincolnia on Little River Turnpike and Falls Church at 7 corners)
GrandMart is one word
-
Horseplay: are you associated with Aster? The Washingtonian's current issue just gave Aster a nice preview sort of writeup.
I can vouch for the attractiveness of the room, having eaten there when it was the Black Coffee Bistro.
The food sounds very interesting, but the prices, um, sound like they are aimed at the horsey set (owners, not groomers).
Yes Bob, I am associated with Aster. I'm the Maitre 'D/Bartender/Host/Janitor/. . .
But yes you are right we are not an inexepensive restaurant. We are a fine dining establishment and and our prices reflect what comes out on the plate, as well as what is on the walls and the staff of professionals that service our guests. We are not targeting the horsey set, although right now they make up the majority of our clientele. Rather, we are targeting the foodie, such as those who post on and read egullet. The Washingtonian "Best Bite" article was great in that the magazine reaches Chantilly, Reston, Herndon, Ashburne, Great Falls, etc. Aster will succeed when the foodies in these areas find out about us. Bob, thank you for your interest and I look foward to having you as my guest.
Cordially,
Craig Erion
Maitre 'D
Aster
Craig: thanks for responding. I look forward to trying Aster but it may be a while -- we have seven-month-old twins.
Right now the budget is more in the Teddy's Pizza range, so you guys have to stick around for a couple years at least! -
I'm also surprised that no one has mentioned that Todd Grey has had success with Market Salamander out in Middleburg. Talk about virgin territory for fine dining satellite locations with patrons capable of paying to cover costs!
Middleburg is a unique animal. How many other burgs do you know of that have so few residents and so many eateries, real estate agencies, and cutsey-poo shops?
Market Salamander is very nice, with some really good barbecue sandwiches
and other stuff. But let's not forget that it's bankrolled by Sheila Johnson and could exist indefinitely no matter how much money it makes or loses.Let's see how the new Aster Restaurant does. High prices plus cutting-edge food is an interesting combination for the capital of horse country. The former will be no problem; the latter could be a big problem.
-
Horseplay: are you associated with Aster? The Washingtonian's current issue just gave Aster a nice preview sort of writeup.
I can vouch for the attractiveness of the room, having eaten there when it was the Black Coffee Bistro.
The food sounds very interesting, but the prices, um, sound like they are aimed at the horsey set (owners, not groomers).
-
Thanks to Bilrus for the note about Sweetwater in Sterling; I forget about that whole area up there.
As for opening a restaurant in the boonies, this area is like the Comstock Lode. Washington might have the most affluent boonies in the country (at least on the Virginia side).
-
I have to agree with Raisa.
In our case, it's a matter of economics. We have 2 kids and one income. When you're paying $10 plus/hour for the babysitter, you tend not to pick restaurants that will add another 1-2 hours to your drive time.
Heather: we in Southern Loudoun County hear you loud and clear.
A local developer is working on developing three parcels east of South Riding. One of the parcels would contain a supermarket and other stuff. When he told several of us at a neighborhood meeting that the plans included two sit-down restaurants, people went nuts -- he didn't have to mention possible names or anything. Just having sit-down restaurants around here is good enough for now. The developers of South Riding (Toll Brothers) really did a poor job of bringing in restaurants.
Fortunately, The Washingtonian magazine including 20152 in its list of "Golden Zip Codes" for home prices should entice some decent spots. I'd love to see Great American Restaurants (Coastal Flats, Artie's, etc.) put its first Loudoun restaurant in this area.
Around two years ago Fair Oaks Mall took a chance on an independent restaurant -- an attractive place called Miano Bistro that even offered some Finnish(!) dishes. Washingtonian mag even gave it a blurb. We tried it once and it was quite good, but close to empty. Didn't last six months. There's an unfortunate lesson there.
-
take the now-closed St. Basil in Reston, for example. Great fried oysters, wonderful brick-oven pizzas. Place stayed empty most of the time, despite accolades from critics.
We liked St. Basil and took out-of-town guests there but the prices kept going up and up to the point where you just paid too much for what you got and where you got it.
-
If you're staying in Thomasville, you'll be in the heart of "Western" or "Lexington" barbecue country. Lexington #1, also known as "Honey Monks" is a good choice, as many believe it to be the best representative of this style of NC barbecue. Go to this thread for a tour of some lesser known joints, which I think you should try. A simple google search will help you find them all, and they're quite close by to where you'll be staying.
As you head towards Hickory, you leave barbecue country, so make sure you get your fill in the High Point region. Lexington itself has a dozen or so decent establishments.
One final thought: most barbecue restaurants are closed on Sundays, and many are also closed on Monday. So call before you go!
Have fun.
Jimmy's, one of the better Lexington cue joints, is open on Sundays. It's right off I-85 at the Southmont exit.
Their cue just melts in your mouth.
-
In the realm of not-exactly-fast food chain joints, I'm not sure that a D'Angelo's steak & cheese is surpassed. I can't say anything about their pita pockets but their steak & cheese's are a very occasional guilty indulgence.
IIRC, the "number 9 pokket" (Steak, provolone, peppers, mushrooms) was the way to go.
-
May be coming to Jacksonville during Super Bowl week. Looking for local flavor recommendations, either casual or fine dining. Thanks.
A very knowledgeable poster over on Chowhound named mezzrow has posted several "local flavor" recommendations from time to time.
The only one I've tried is the Blue Boy Sandwich Shop. They have a couple of locations, I believe. If you're going to be in town for a few days, you've gotta check out the Blue Boy. The sandwiches are humongous, fantastic, and cheap. The rolls are baked in house and the guy who makes the sandwiches is a true artist. You will not be disappointed.
-
Wow, a thread that's in large part about Shirlington and no mention of the Weenie Beenie? For shame!
-
Where is the Italian store?
The Italian Store is in the Cherrydale section of Arlington, in the plaza at Lee Highway and Spout Run Parkway.
In addition to excellent subs -- choose the hard roll -- they have Berger Cookies from Baltimore.
Dolce Vita restaurant in Fairfax just opened up a cafe next door in space formerly occupied by the Viet Thai restaurant. From what I read about this place it looks very promising.
-
-
As for Publix - it's one of the best (if not the best) middle-of-the-road supermarket chains in the country. And it treats its employees very well. If I had to pick only one place where I could do my shopping - Publix would be it. Robyn
Robyn: I will second your accolades for Publix. I spent a year in Gainesville for school and the two closest supermarkets to my apartment were a Publix and a Winn Dixie. The choice was not a tough one.
The Whole Foods on Glades is certainly a spectacular store but for a regular market the Publix on Hidden Valley at N. Federal is more than sufficient.
Publix looks even better to me as I watch the gradual destruction of the once-beloved Giant chain here in the DC-Baltimore area at the hands of Royal Ahole, I mean Ahold.
-
[Actually, I have eaten at the Fair Lakes location a few times, mostly out of convenience. The burgers are ok - not bad, but not spectacular.
-
I agree about the food. I was there about a month ago and the food was horrid (how can a ruben get screwed up?). It was late at night, but there was only one other group in the restaurant. I can't quite put my finger on why, but the place felt odd.
I know they had been bought out by Jerry's which I was ambivalent about. I grew up in L.A. and had been going to Jerry's for a while. It was the same formula as Rascal House; however, the restaurants were newer and a lot cleaner. They've opened a branch in South Beach and I'm not sure how it's doing. I believe the tourists are the ones keeping it open. I hope they don't let RH go the way of Wolfies.
Well, I can report that something is amiss at the Rascal House in Boca too.
I stopped in the morning after Thanksgiving for some whitefish salad. The place was almost deserted at 8 AM. The takeout section was unmanned but finally a woman came up to "help" me. I could barely understand her, and she had to go back to the main kitchen to get what I wanted. She came back and said "no whitefish."
Uh, if you have no whitefish in the morning, don't bother opening your doors.
I drove over to Flakowitz, where they had no trouble fulfilling our cravings.
-
Thanks to Gifted Gourmet's post I just found this amazing trip report. Truly superb.
All I can add is: You forgot to get a fried pie at the Varsity.
-
Just got back from a round-trip visit to Florida, and the eating highlight was definitely our last meal on the road, supper at Mitchell's Bar-B-Q Ribs & Chicken in Wilson, NC. Not only was the food very good -- we "splurged" for the three-meat/four-side combos, which are a whopping $6.99 each -- but Stevie Mitchell gave us a personal tour of the entire operation.
I wouldn't expect that kind of treatment at lunch, when the place must be a zoo, but we were the last customers in the evening. Stevie even comped me to a slab of bread pudding.
Back to the food for a second. The ribs were really good, and the cue is more peppery than most eastern NC cue. As for the side dishes, you could certainly make a meal out of five or six, or eight or ten, and be very happy.
For anyone who has to spend a night in Wilson (and thereby get to eat more barbecue) the Holiday Inn Express on Montgomery Drive is centrally located and you can walk across the street to Cherry's Barbecue, which we didn't get to try but has been around since 1965.
-
Okay - I looked at the menu of Southside and it is tempting and I'll try it but it's not exactly what I'm looking for - they have a menu that tries to appeal to anyone from any southern state. I want a simple soul food kitchen.....surely we are not below the Mason Dixon line if one doesn't exist? HELP!!!
I have no doubt there are places in DC that would fill the bill but to find the best, I suspect, you are going to have to do some reconnoitering of neighborhoods in the eastern half of the city. Unfortunately, the gems in those areas do not get much press.
OK, who am I kidding? They get no press.
Actually, I just thought of one place I do know of: Flavors Soul Food, in Falls Church. Fried chicken, pork chops, fried whiting, sweet potato pie, sweet tea, etc.
Foods That Are Native to New England
in New England: Cooking & Baking
Posted
Here's a few more RI favorites no one has mentioned yet:
Snail salad -- definitely an acquired taste. I just realized that like conch fritters resemble clamcakes, conch salad is very close to snail salad -- both require lots of chewing.
Grapenut custard pudding -- one of my all-time favorite desserts. Just what the name implies: custard with a layer of grape-nuts baked on the bottom.
Frozen lemonade -- the best thirst quencher on the planet. Del's is the best known purveyor, but there are plenty of others. Beaten out by coffee milk for title of RI's offical state drink.
Pizza strips -- these can be found at Italian bakeries and convenience store all over the state. The name is sort of a reach. Pizza strips usually consist of dough with a thin coating of reddish-orange grease on top. The better versions will have some actual tomato sauce. Almost always eaten cold. When I was a kid you could get a pizza strip for around 7 cents.
Stanleyburgers -- One of Central Falls' two culinary claims to fame, the other being that it's chef Wiley Dufresne's hometown.
Saugys -- beloved local hot dog variety, made by A. Saugy & Co.