mnebergall

I propose an eGullet event tonight at Firefly so we can all watch.

It would be illegal to "sell" wild game. There is no law against having a chef prepare your game at a restaurant. There also is no law against making a gift of your game. My understanding is that it is not an uncommon practice for hunters to bring their game to restaurants for preparation. A friend of mine used to do it at Jean Louis. And your are right, the dish was absolutely incredible. Edited to add: And it was by prearrangment.

I'm shocked, shocked I say, that you would imply that I would foist off on the restaurant staff the task of cleaning game that I brought down. And another thing, doves don't come from the woods, they come from the fields.

Stretch is right. I had a half-limit of doves that I shot on the Eastern Shore on Monday afternoon and I brought then in for Chef Cathal to prepare. There were just enough for about 3 plates: one for me, one for him, and one for someone else and Stretch and his wife happened to be in the right place at the right time. When Todd brought them out, my jaw dropped onto the bar. An absolutely magnificent presentation; I just sat there and looked at it for a few minutes before daring to taste. The dove-breast fillets had been wrapped in prosciutto ham and roasted. The roasted doves were then layered with slices of seared foie gras and presented on top of a mound of Swiss chard chard and a piece of toasted brioche. There were cipollene onions and then drizzled with the dove jus reduction. The combination of the doves with the foie gras made for an interesting contrast in textures with the smooth, almost creamy texture of the foie gras against the moist and tender dove/prosciutto morsels. Todd paired it with a very nice Minervois. This was the best prepared/presented/tasting wild game I have ever had. Chef Cathal is an absolute genius; he clearly misunderestimated* when he said "dove is good." The next thing up on the hunting agenda is likely to be wood duck, which come into season in mid October. Also, if pigeons are airborne rats, then sea gulls are ocean-going pigeons. *A "Bushism."

They were in mourning this evening at Restaurant Eve. I will let the Stretch-man comment before I elaborate further. edited.

There is a large price differential due to a lower liquor tax rate in DC and competition. Back when Central Liquor was in its heyday, the VA revenooers used to stake out the parking lot across the street and follow cars with VA plates that had loaded up and then stop them once they crossed the river. The DC government got a permanent injunction against VA barring them from their stake outs.

How about your Tartiflette (sp).

I thought it was the Crystal Titty Restaurant.

Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Marty Feldman (Eyegore) tells Young Dr. Frankenstein that the brain he put into the monster's head (Peter Boyle) came from someone named "Abby Normal."

All I know is that my lawyers will be in touch with Busboy and Stretch shortly regarding lawsuits. Busboy forced me to drink something resembling engine degreaser. Stretch had a defective bottle of Laphroaig (there was a hole in the top of the bottle). Perhaps later today I will have a flashback of what happened at CK.

The old folks will look, well, kind of old and the new folks will look, well, kind of young. Why don't we try to congregate near the round table across from the back end of the bar.

But Don, one of the cigars is for you.

I packed a bottle of 1997 Chateau Woltner Chardonnay and a 1999 La Bernardine Chateauneuf du Pape, and 3 cigars, for tonight's festivities.

The only service I have ever experience was "self service."

I will have room for 3 extra for the drive from Firefly to CK. I will arrive at Firefly between 5:30 and 5:45. (paisley necktie; it was the "whitest" necktie I could think of)

Don't forget, a few of us plan to stop by Firefly for the wine happy hour beforehand. Dinner is not until 7:00. Some my feel a little fortification is in order as there is an element of stepping into the lions' den here.

I'll be at RTS at 8:30 this evening with my three kids.

How bout you have to actually bring an elk? Or at least a lawyer with a big rack (do elks have racks?). Depending on what time I get outta the office (not BdC), I may be able to swing by. I'd like to try that lamb minute steak too. Elk have huge racks (only the boy elk tho').

This one is going to haunt you when you run for higher office, Mark. Although, if you're right, I guess you can't really aspire to a more elevated position anyway. (PS: How about changing my bottle of Deer Park into that '89 Chave Hermitage your designated devil keeps banging on about?) I already did this one, in a prior life, no repeat performances.

Michael Phelps is actually Michael Landrum, the chef, I'm Jesus Christ, Al Dente is the devil, your late father is the Pope. And it is only natural for the devil to pick up the check after ordering cheap wine.

I'm glad someone is expending candlepower in August. Excellent thread Jenny.

How were the steaks and what were we drinking? If I recall correctly, I picked up the tab-- so you guys owe me. We don't owe you much because I had the same dream and we were drinking wine from a box.

I had to make a trip to the Eastern Shore this afternoon to drop my dog off at the Trainers. I made a detour towards Easton and took the road towards St.Michaels. I stopped at the Exxon station just outstide of Easton in order to get a great cheesesteak sub sandwich and 3 lbs. of homemade country sausage. I'll let you know how the sausage is tomorrow. Skins win 17-0. edited to add: The Exxon was packed with eGulleteers. Shit, the word is out.

Lets' cut to the chase. The anwer to all of these questions, and the question why some restaurants apply an exhorbitant markup on wine is the same as the anwer to the age old question "why does a dog lick his balls?". The answer is "because he can." Some restaurants apply large markups to wine simply because they can get away with it.

I think the point of JoeH's remark over on the"oldest DC Restaurant"' thread from yesterday is that just because one is a creative and talented chef, it does not necessarily mean that one is the most astute businessman (woman). According to the article, there is a $1 million shortfall in sales tax remittences to DC and that the debt built up over several years. This has been festering for some time. When cash runs short, collected taxes such as sales taxes and payroll taxes become a tempting source of liquidity. Folks need to keep in mind that those collected taxes are held in trust for the government and if they are used to pay other creditors, the persons who made the decision to use the funds to pay other creditors can become personally liable. The owners and managers can't hide behind the "corporation" to protect their personal assets (house, car, bank account, brokerage). (There's your free legal advice for the day. Remember you get what you pay for).