tjaehnigen

I like Ben's. Half Smoke loaded as others have mentioned is the way to go and do get fries and a milkshake. Haven't been for breakfast. Is it worth it?

We very much enjoy Addie's. I don't get there as often as I'd like, but we were there in mid-July and it was great.

It's unfortunate that this is happening, but I suspect that Roberto Donna will weather this storm. What really stinks is that this company/organization/whatever-else-his-restaurant-empire-is-organized-as is stiffing the government of justifiable taxes. This ends up costing the rest of us more, even in collections costs alone. I'd really like to know if this is Roberto Donna's doing or one of his business/money people's doing.

I saw some fellow eGullet dudes at Palena a week or so ago.

Have a great birthday. Open something special and enjoy!

I'll pay up to $20, maybe $25 per bottle. So, since DC is the only local allowable place for me to do this, that is where I dine most often.

Palena.

Did anyone mention a small local trifecta of food in Parkville section of Baltimore? Angelina's (funky seafood (yes, crabs, too see this link and Italian restaurant/pub-joint) Mastellone's Italian Deli (a block up the street and on the other side) Fenwick Bakery

Thanks, MS. That's it. They are quite decent stems, to be sure. I thought this wine was just too tight to properly evaluate, but it has the makings of something really good that will come together over time, IMO. It did not taste overly alcoholic to me at all, BTW.

Tasted 7/17/04 at the DC Crü event at The Caucus Room Nice stems (some unknown germanic sounding name producer) Just basic notes as we were having too much fun This is a wine waiting to reveal itself to you. Shrouded by tannins it guarded its secrets well only showing good structure and balance to you wrapped in some blackberry coulis. I kept this is the glass for a long time, I think all the way to dessert to see if it would open further, but it is locked up tight. This will, someday, be a super wine. Sit on them if you have them. This is going to be a knockout, but I think it is hard to predict how much of a knockout. I’ll give it 91+ TJ points for now.

Tasted 7/17/04 at the DC Crü event at The Caucus Room Nice stems (some unknown germanic sounding name producer) Just basic notes as we were having too much fun This is quite approachable at the moment, even though it is still tight. Delicious red fruits, predominantly currant, provides a canvas for cinnamon, caramel and untouched mint leaves to be displayed. This opened nicely in the glass and gave up a great finish to wrap it up. Nice. I really enjoyed this. Worth 91 TJ points

Tasted 7/17/04 at the DC Crü event at The Caucus Room Nice stems (some unknown germanic sounding name producer) Just basic notes as we were having too much fun This wine was FANTASTIC. Superbly balanced and delicious, it reminded my of raspberries right off the vine. Finely integrated tannins added structure, but it elegantly danced around the mid-palate with delicious red fruits and a barest hint of something sweet, maybe sweet oak? Or perhaps I goofed on this descriptor and someone else’s comment about rhubarb is more accurate. I loved this wine. Worth 93+ TJ points my WOTN

Tasted 7/17/04 at the DC Crü event at The Caucus Room Nice stems (some unknown germanic sounding name producer) Just basic notes as we were having too much fun This was an interestingly hidden wine to me. It was near the end of the wine line-up, so perhaps my ability to discern tastes was starting to fail, but this wine revealed little to me. Good fruit and apparently good balance with currants and spice being evident and a tiny twinge of black plum perhaps. The finish was a bit more abrupt than I expected. Perhaps this just needs some more time to come together. Hard to evaluate as it came near the end of the meal, I think, but I’d rate it 88 points. But take the rating with a grain of salt.

Tasted 7/17/04 at the DC Crü event at The Caucus Room Nice stems (some unknown germanic sounding name producer) Just basic notes as we were having too much fun Spicy, with figs, bananas vanilla and even faint fennel. This was a complex wine that surprised me. It was delicious and intriguing without whacking you over the head with oak or milkiness or butter. Terrific wine. Worth 91 TJ points

Thanks for the TN. Heard good things about Planeta juice before and this further confirms that info. Grazie!

Probably staying in Sonoma (might try the house rental thing), but that is still open. Willing to drive for food. Absolutely.

My wife and I will be heading to wine country next early April. Starting to think of possible restaurant ideas. I have some ideas...Would be interested to hear what comments you all might have about your top 5 lists -- one for blow out break the bank dinners and one for more 'reasonable' dinners. Some places we're thinking of are-- The French Laundry Terra Bistro Don Giovanni Bistro Jeanty Glen Ellen Inn Wappo (probably for lunch, been here before) Taylor's Refresher (for lunch of course!) Thinking about Domaine Chandon Anyway, any comments on the list above? And what about your 'Don't Miss' places? Where would you go? We'll probably have maybe 5-6 nights to do dinner, maybe 7. Depends on the trip length. One might be a meal we make on our own if we go the rent-the house route as opposed to getting rooms at an Inn/hotel/b&b.

Interesting. I'll have to digest this. Now, what I'd like to know is why most sushi places don't offer up a great champagne list. Sushi and champagne are made to go together IMO.

A bunch of wine-o friends of my an I are looking for the next place to hit for an evening of good dining and that allows BYOW with reasonable (no more than $20) corkage. Any suggestions on what should be on my short list?

I am seriously craving a 'real' Italian thin crust sublime pizza of the gods. Is there such a thing available in DC?

Wrong, Jpw. Montgomery County is the only controlled COUNTY in the US. They do a truly shitty job. Maryland law pertaining to corkage is set at the county level. Illegal in Montgomery, legal in Howard and Baltimore City (obviously up to resto's policy). Wow this is news to me. Are you SURE? I have a few places I know and have an 'in' with in MD, but can't share their names in fear of them getting fined or whatever. But if it's legit in some parts of MD that would be COOL. Most times, I BYOW in DC, since there are so many fine restaurants that allow it.

I'll have to post our line-up. Went a few months ago. It was AWSOME and quite fun.

Is Red Tomato still there? It's a great little pizza sit down for lunch joint.

South Beach Cafe is good, I think relocated to Woodmont a year or two ago. Cesco is good and decent. California Tortilla is a great lunch joint for huge burritos. Oodles Noodles had an outlet in that vicinity, but I am not sure it is still there....

I find Calvert Woodley minorly annoying as a store. It's often too crowded and difficult to find stuff. I prefer MacArthur's if I am in the District. Lately, I have been buying stuff from a place in Jersey and shipping it to my bro in Virginia (since it is legal now! Woo-hoo!). Even with shipping, it is still quite a bit cheaper than locally. Really.