sara

The wine store on P st in G-town, around 20th?? has wine tastings for free every Saturday afternoon. The owner is very nice, knowledgeable, not at all pushy.

Whoops, I stand corrected! Thanks

Try Best Cellars in Dupont Circle for plenty of wines around $10 and under.

I actually like the food at Rio Grande, even if it is a chain. Too bad they stopped making goat. I like the ceviche at Rio Grande. I'm debating whether to try the ceviche at Tia Maria (Near the Ballston Mall) when I eat there with a group of ethnic foodies next week...but its so divey that I'm afraid to get raw fish there. I tried Tia Maria for the first time last night. The visit was inconclusive. I need to go back, and try fifferent things. Nice hotsauce and fried corn kernal munchies. What is elote? I believe elote is edible flower petals.

El Pollo Rico for Peruvian rotisserie chicken Cafe Dalat for 5 spice chicken and other assorted great Vietnamese food Mexicali Blues for tamales de elote Costa Verde for ceviche Rio Grande Cafe for chips and swirlie margaritas Hard Times Cafe for chili

I had a small bottle of their cheapest sake, which could've been served a bit colder but was just fine. I agree that the sushi was very fresh, and certainly comparable to Kaz--and less expensive in general (tho their price for sea urchin seemed unusually high to me at $8 for two pieces). I was impressed with their very wide selection (3 tunas, 2 yellowtails, 5 clams, etc), and certainly look forward to going back and exploring the menu further. I only wish that the sushi bar allowed a better view of the chef's work, that the chef's interacted with the bar patrons, and that the room wasn't quite so noisy.

I had a nice 6-pack of oysters (Malpeques and some French-Canadian I can't recall) and some awesome spicy chicken wings--very meaty, spicy, not too greasy. We sat at the bar and really enjoyed the bartender, who was smart, friendly, and sweet enough to feed the fish to entertain me.

I highly recommend the Stellar Bays from British Columbia, which Sansom St has occasionally. Out of this world and worth the price. I recently ate at the Grand Central Oyster Bar and was unimpressed...Done much better elsewhere in NY and certainly on the West Coat (i.e. Swan Oyster Depot), but Sansom St ain't a bad deal for Philly.

Hi I got my schedule and it looks like I'm going to Sunset Grille for dinner the first night, and having breakfast at the Noshville restaurant, and lunch at Midtown Cafe. The second dinner location isn't listed, so I'll bring your suggestions!

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I had dinners at Kabul (quite good Afghan food, spicy, cheap), Cafe Continental (great wine list but otherwise totally missable, other than the wonderful ice cream), and L'Etoile (wonderful wine, great service, loved the bone marrow ravioli and the cheese plate). Had lunch at Michael's and really enjoyed the cheeseburger and the custard (cookie dough--YUM). And had several lousy breakfasts at the place in the HoJo (oh well, convenience was the main factor). I also had a nice brew at some pub with Angel in the name--a Devils Dopper or something. Anyways, I was definitely impressed with the diverse food scene in Madison, and more importantly the lovely town and nice folks. If I get the job, I'll surely be back for more advice!

Lakeside Chinese Deli is the best I've had in the area *that's not saying very much but still, you wanted a place in Philly.* No carts, but cheap prices, nice service, and I'm usually one of the only Caucasians in there.

Dude, you are hysterical! You should write your own advice column...

I've found the food to be pretty subpar--it really doesn't even begin to stack up to Monk's IMO. The atmosphere, especially upstairs, is pretty weird--especially the coffin room. And the service is ridiculously slow. But the beer list is extensive, and it's definitely one of the less expensive more laid back places to hang in Old City.

This is very sad news indeed. I feel particularly stupid for not making it over there for a last meal during my trip to Portland in November... I will lick my wounds during an upcoming meal at Frontera Grill in Chicago. Claire, come to Philadelphia--you'd be a smash here!

I should mention the proximity of this restaurant to the Frozen Custard Stand,which is now, sadly, in a strip mall on the other side of 50. It used to be a true stand, with lines around the store, but I do take a little comfort in its continuing existence, albeit in a new form. They still have the real custard makers/machines in there, I believe. Good stuff after some spicy food.

Hi Secret Garden, a Korean restaurant at the corner of Annandale Rd and Rt 50, has long been a family favorite (and I do mean long--at least 15 years). They do bulgogi, hotpots, etc, have table burners etc. It's inexpensive, the service is prompt and polite, and although my palate is probably undereducated to Korean food, I think it's very good. Anyways, I was wondering if any Egulleteers have been, and if so what you thought? Are there any other Northern VA Korean restaurants you think are better?

Yum, Cap Grille looks great. I'm waiting on my itinerary from Vandy to learn where they are taking me for dinner (keeping my fingers crossed it's one of the places y'all have mentioned) and then I'll pick a place for my other two nights...

Oddly enough, I actually had a dream about the MiniBar last night. I was at a restaurant (not Atlantico apparently), and I was handed a plate with different colored glazes on it, and each glaze tasted like a dish I had at the Minibar. Especially memorable were the potato shot, the cotton candy foie gras, the guacamole, the ravioli...I could actually conjure the tastes in my dream. Unfortunately, the other guests at the table didn't like this plate presentation, and smeared the glazes together and put their plates aside!! (and I was yelling No Stop!) Anyways, my point is, I have NEVER had a dream about a meal after the fact, especially months later, and yet, the Minibar experience has stuck with me. I can't wait til they change the menu up and I'll go again.

Hi I've got a job interview at Vandy in a few weeks and need dinner recommendations for 1-2 nights, preferably near campus. I'd like to try the best Nashville has to offer--be that BBQ, more upscale, whatever--let me hear what you have to say. Thanks!

I tried this place during the past summer and was sadly disappointed--the q was dry as a bone and barely chewable. The chicken was good tho. I haven't had the ribs at Red Hot and Blue since I was in college, but I thought it was good then--although at that time (i.e. around 1996-7), I also thought the q at Old Glory was tops!

First, regarding Liam going to far-away grocery stores.. let alone those around the Beltway. I'm still trying to get him turned on to Trader Joes!! (hey, anyone know if they're planning to open a TJ's in Vermont anytime soon?) But really, when the Wegman's nearest to me (in Philly), which is 30 miles away in Downingtown, opened, I went once, loved it, and fully intended to go back. But soon thereafter, TJ's opened downtown here, and I honestly can't bring myself to spend an hour driving to Wegman's...the produce is great, but the prices are still too high for this lowly grad student. And gas is expensive these days... With regard to choice, I agree it's often an unestimated freedom, but it's also simultaneously a burden. As Barry Schwartz argues in his new book "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less," freedom of choice can turn into a tyranny of choice when those choices go completely unconstrained. Interestingly, Schwartz cites research that found that shoppers who confront a display of 30 jams or varieties of gourmet chocolates are less likely to purchase ANY than when they are given only a variety of six (tho present company likely differs substantially from those study participants when it comes to food preferences!) Anyways, just my two cents!

I am apparently being taken to dinner at the Cafe Continental one night...anyone been? How is it? Entree suggestions?

Hi I'm coming to Madison for 4 days for a job interview. I'd love to check out the best of what you all have to offer, especially since I'm considering a move. So, what are your dinner suggestions (any type of food, so long as it's high quality)? Thanks.

Hi Here are some piks from my birthday celebration at Nectar... First, here is the pan-fried salmon w/ oestra creme fraiche: Next, the wonderful bread, served to me with the crusts cut off by Jared: LiamDC (my boyfriend), me, and Mazman, happily dining: Finally, pictures of me in the kitchen with Jamie and Jared (had to split a pik of the three of us into two to fit in here):

Going to El Vez for RW tonite--anyone been and having ordering suggestions? Is that guacamole worth the extra charge?