sara

After meeting Dan and Mary Anne at the Egullet dinner on Monday night, I'm heading to Chloe tonite for dinner with LiamDC. We're debating what kind of wine to bring-- I have a couple of lovely Italian reds, some syrah, a sauvignon blanc, some muscats...anyone been, have thoughts on the menu and what might be nice to bring? It's only 2 of us, but I may bring as many of 3 bottles--after all I'm graduating this weekend!!

So, has anyone been to Vida??

Did anyone else see that episode of Sex and the City where Samantha took on the mom and her noisy child, and got a faceful of food in return? I've had plenty of meals disrupted by children, by drunk people, by bad servers, etc etc etc. But whether that 'ruins' your dinner is actually up to your ability to handle yourself.

Hm. Well, I'll agree with regard to some restaurants and not others (i.e. children don't belong at Nectar, for example, but should be fine at Whitlows in Wilson or other places with mats to drawn on) and some children and not others (I think it's possible to teach children to behave when going out to dinner, and those that don't learn shouldn't be taken out). So what kind of restaurant was this?? ps. Advocating punching a child are you? Or the parent?

Hi-- Ok, let's start by getting Tim's much-slaved-over menu up here: Egullet Tasting Monday May 10, 2004 Moshulu Amuse Bouche: Crispy Diver Scallop, ginger braised celery, vanilla lobster butter Salad: Mache, Red Cabbage, and Crispy Leeks, Honey Sherry Vinaigrette Pasta: Potato Gnocchettti, chanterelles, truffled parsley puree Intermezzo: Apricot Sorbet, kumquat chutney Fish: Gently Cooked White Salmon, apple-rosemary puree, zucchini, almonds and sultana raisins Meat: Coffee and Star Anise Roasted L.I. Duck Breast, apple barley, vinegar poached pear, dried cranberries Dessert: Fried Rice Pudding Wonton, tropical fruit chutney Wines were available by the glass. We started with a glass of champagne. I then had glasses of pinot gris (name escapes me), 2001 Echelon Syrah Clarksburg, and Steele Zinfandel. The syrah was especially superb, and the zin was a very good match for the duck. IMO, the outstanding courses were the start and finish-- the scallop was perfectly crisp and sweet, and that wonton was exactly what Tim said it would be--an incredible pudding in a crisped wonton with a sweet and savory chutney on the side that included a little red onion. Inspired. Another favorite was the lovely duck breast. Tim rolled the gnocchetti as we enjoyed our champagne, those were especially fresh. All was very enjoyable, and ok, now I am STARVING again and going to eat some leftover vindaloo from Indique. Other comments?? Pictures?

I just woke up...AH, fabulous time!! Can't wait to see the piks--people, get thyselves to Moshulu!

Hmm. Interesting go-round here. My take is that asking for any old wine isn't equivalent to asking for a green salad, since you did at least specify the 'green' and very very often more than one isn't offered. "A chardonnay" does seem to me to imply that one really doesn't care, and that's what amused me and Liam. Why wouldn't a foodie be amused by a lack of concern/care over what one drinks? I'm not putting her down by being amused, but rather, simply being amused.

Hey--Anyone going to this dinner who is driving from West Philly and want to give me a ride?? Thanks!! Sara

LiamDC and I had a very nice dinner at Indique last night (my first time there, not his). We arrived early, at 6, but still couldn't get a table in the dining room , so we sat in the bar area instead--which was actually quite nice, since it was light out and they have big windows and a view of the street. I had a tamarind margarita (ok, I had two), which was wonderful-- very cool and different from a typical marg, and soothing with my hot food; and Liam had a glass of Covey Run gewurtz followed by a glass of spanish wine that was just mediocre. We started with the calamari, which was really terrific, nicely cooked little pieces of baby squid in chilis, and the salmon cakes, which were only ok. For my entree, I had the lamb vindaloo, which I asked for extra hot (and boy did they follow directions--it was kickin!), and Liam had the shrimp curry. Both came with lentils and rice, and we had plenty of nan on the side. I eat a lot of vindaloo (usually chicken tho), and this dish was particularly good, and particularly hot. Yum! Now for our amusing moment of the evening-- towards the end of dinner, a new couple was seated next to us (and the tables are close together in the bar area, making for great eavesdropping), and when the server approached and asked for their drink order, the woman (approx 45 yrs old) responded "I'll have a glass of chardonnay." Ok, we both contained our laughter, wine snobs that we are, but busted up as soon as we exited the building. "A glass of chardonnay"??? Any glass? That's like saying "I'll have an entree" or "I'll have a soft drink." Is it too hard to open the wine list (which is ONLY two pages long) and pick something, or ask for a recommendation? Does she care so little about what she imbibes? Anyways, don't mean to be harsh, but when I think back to this, our first evening at Indique, that drink order is what I'll remember. Ok, that and then our subsequent fabulous 6 hrs at Atomic Billiards, where I received the pool-shooting lesson of my life from an elderly former air-force captain. And then that lamb vindaloo and those margaritas. Yeah, I'll be back.

Going to check out Indique tonite, thanks to that article. http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=22370&st=60

LiamDC and I had dinner at Kampai in Rosslyn tonite (it's on Oak at Wilson Blvd; there is some parking on Oak and the side street off of it, fyi). The place was nearly empty when we arrived at 7:15 but was fairly full when we left at 9. The sushi was very good- and importantly, the sushi/sashimi assortment was quality--not just the usual tuna, salmon, yellowtail. This assortment included fatty tuna, a special salmon, mackeral, etc ($25). We also ordered many additional pieces, including amaebi, scallops, bluefin tuna, uni, all of which were nicely presented and very fresh. We both agree that Kampai ain't West Coast sushi, but it compares very favorably with Kaz, and is better than Sushi Taro or Cafe Asia.

Trying to use the name's good karma?? From the Philly Inq this week: "Michael Wei, whose holdings include Bryn Mawr's Yangming and Chestnut Hill's CinCin, and Scott Morrison (Paoli's Basil and Bryn Mawr's Tango) are planning a big splash early this summer at 1091 Lancaster Ave. in Berwyn: Their new restaurant - combining Chinese and Japanese - will be named Nectar...Exec chef is Patrick Feury, who just left Susanna Foo's employ; he was running the kitchen under Foo at Suilan at the Borgata in Atlantic City and previously worked at Foo's flagship restaurant on Walnut Street, after stints at Center City's Avenue B and New York's Le Cirque 2000. Chief Chinese chef is Wo Qin Huang (now at Yangming) and chief sushi chef is Kenji Sekamoto (who worked four years in Osaka, Japan, and the last eight years as a master sushi chef in New Orleans). As for Suilan, Foo has hired Alassane Seck, a Senegalese-born Culinary Institute of America graduate who previously cooked at Voulez-Vous and Chez Josephine in New York."

No contest for me--Cafe Clave--West Philly.

I'm in for 3-- and bringing a chef from El Vez. (Tim, no one answered, I left a msg). See y'all then!

Went with friends to check out Lolita last night and HECK YEAH this place is good! We thoroughly enjoyed two pitchers of margaritas (got some great Two Fingers tequila at the state store for $14.99--sure beats Cuervo), the guacamole (which was fine, but a little bland), that awesome ceviche Andrew described earlier, the pork carnitas (crispy pork, homemade tortillas, guac), and tamales con mole rojo. Everything but the guac was totally ON. The service was a bit inept-- one dish was forgotten, timing was all off, the server said I could take a paper menu home and then changed her mind after I'd folded it and put it in my purse...But the room was lively, the chef was visible in her open kitchen, and our wait (on a Saturday night arriving at 8 pm) was only about 20 min. One friend got tres leches for dessert, but I opted for orange and cardamom gelato across the street. I'll definitely be going back to Lolita SOON for entrees...And btw, their bright red Lolita take-home bags are worth the price of dinner alone!!

Katie--I've been meaning to go to Samba for a long time-- so I'm up for this, for sure. Keep me posted. I have a girl friend who'd like to come too.

Hi Thanks to Katie's nice writeup re: her dinner there for Dining Out for Life, LiamDC and I visited RX last night. I hadn't been in awhile--Greg was chef last time I was there. We brought an Oregon Chardonnay from Carleton Winemarkers; a nice inexpensive, unoaked, with lemon flavors. So, we opted for the fishier parts of the menu, although the steak, pot au feu etc looked tempting. We had: 1. White anchovies with escabeche and plantain chips--we enjoyed this dish immensely. It came with a lovely little salad as well. 2. Grilled calamari -- very nicely done. 3. Diver scallops--this was Liam's entree. I got a nibble--very good. 4. Whole bronzino with haricot verts and fingerling potatoes. Slightly spicy, wonderful dish--a real summer keeper! 5. Flourless chocolate cake--homemade, deep, dense. Wonderful whipped cream on top. 6. Chocolate cake with coconut--made by Jenuine (sp?) I really liked this one. This place is such a good deal--a delicious meal, for around $60, right in my neighborhood. Even if it's not in yours tho, it's definitely worth checking out.

Certainly--I've never eaten Indian in DC at all (I live in a part of West Philly with plenty of Indian food), so I have much exploring to do...

What struck me most when reading Monica's article was her clearly superior writing ability, compared to the other food-related articles. Honestly, I cannot imagine how many of those folks get hired-- they are terrible, awful, no-good, very-bad writers!! Thanks Monica, for producing something both interesting and readable!

OK--how about Bella Luna in Bryn Mawr? We're now thinking that a BYO sounds best. Anyone been??

Thanks all. I'd like to hear more about Citron--couldn't find anything else about it on the web. Anyone else been??

Many more places do this than previously used to in Philly-- Django, Rx, Matyson, Carman' s Country Kitchen, Fork, Sonoma (?).

Last night, LiamDC, Mazman, and I went to Oceanaire to checkout their oyster happy hour. I ordered rather lightly, having had a very filling, very good lunch at BDC (pate, mussels in cream sauce, duck confit, cherry clafoutis--YUM!). The oysters and shrimp are 1/2 price from 3-6 pm weekdays. That said, the prices are high. We had a dozen Hama Hamas, 1/2 dozen Beau Soleil, and 1/2 dozen Blue Points, along with one shrimp cocktail (5 big shrimp). At half-price, that all came to about $30. Ok, maybe that's not so bad. But what ran the tab up were the wines by the glass ( I know, not surprising, but still). I had two glasses of riesling, which ran me $12 each!! I had ordered off the chalkboard, which didn't have prices on it, and was honestly stunned when I saw the check. Liam says "Oh well, DC prices." I dunno, we don't have $12 glasses of wine in Philly that I know of... Anyways, good, fresh oysters and nice shrimp, but happy hour ran us over $80 for three people. Just FYI.

Dear God, I swear I DATED that guy once! Oh, it's a girl. Oh well. It's reminiscent of so many exes-past for me...The "Macaroni Grill"-only guy, the "McD's"-only man, the "Springfield Pizza" or "TGI Friday's"-only guy....

Ok....well somewhere along those(?) lines, I'm trying BDC for lunch for the 1st time tomorrow...