lackadaisi

I would not choose Ortanique. Our office recently had a party there, and it was a disappointment. The drinks and food were wonderful, but the space was unacceptable. They put us behind the upstairs bar. This would have fine - if a bit removed - except that they then allowed other people to remain sitting on that side of the bar. So, there were several uninvited people at our "private" event the entire time. I found this to be very strange, especially as it left us without those seats and there is another bar at the restaurant. We have decided to hold our next event at Andale.

I am really just looking for fondant covered cakes. I understand that I may find better quality in other types of pastries, but it is those that we are craving, and we would like to find the best ones around. Price is of very little concern unless the seller insists on the purchase of huge quantities - this is not for an event, it is just to satisfy a craving shared by a couple people stuck in the office. Edited to correct mispelling.

Exactly!

We are having a real craving for petit fours. Real ones, not just fancy cookies. (We were sorely disappointed last night when we ordered them from olives and were presented with cookies). I recently had some good ones from the Heidleburg Bakery in Arlington, but would love to know where else (especially in downtown DC) I could find good ones. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you.

I can not do the adding heat thing when I am drunk, so I generally go for (sometimes right after one another): 1. Any leftover baked goods or chocolate 2. A big glass of chocolate milk (if only slightly drunk or really tired, I end here) 3. A pickle (yes, sometimes right after chocolate milk, that's when I know the next day will be bad) 4. Pecans or other handy nuts 5. Canned corn eaten straight from a can with some random (I try to have them not be random, but I don't believe I succeed) spices thrown on 6. A spoonful of peanut butter with honey dripped on it 7. Anything else that does not look lethal and can be eaten without additional heat added.

The number 9 bar IS the upstairs bar at the Evening Star. Although it is pretty cool, I would skip it in general because it is so sporadically open. I have been several times and very rarely is it open and I have not been able to get a good explanation about the hours, so if you want to go, call first. But, if they have an event that takes place there, or you want to rent a room, that would be a pretty good spot.

Thank you for the information and recommendation. I have since tried them, and I too agree that the quality is excellent. I don't know if I could do it every week, however, because it is a little cumbersome to plan meals based on what they have, but I will continue to use occasionally.

Has anyone tried the service provided by www.washingtongreengrocer.com? It seems like a pretty good idea - they deliver produce. I was just wondering if anyone could comment on the quality. Thanks.

I also enjoy Singh Thai - and it is so inexpensive. I think that Duangrat's has gone downhill a little in the past few years. The best pad thai that I have had in the area is at Neisha Thai, which is across the street from Duangrat's. I have only been to Rabieng for their version of dim sum, and it was wonderful.