I've been to a get-together at Urbana that was about 15 or so of us- I didn't Love the food but the atmosphere's v. modern if you're in to that.

I would also add on Ping Pong Dim Sum, which is v. close to Zaytinya and has really tasty drinks- my favorite is the Lemongrass + Lime cocktail. They do HH specials on drinks every day so it'd be a good chance to try it out :o) Info here: http://www.pingpongdimsum.us/files/pi...

To each their own- but just to address one thing- They do take reservations, I've done that a few times already (up to 1 month in advance).

Ren's is still open, as of this past Tuesday (16th). I'd call ahead just to be sure though, especially if you are coming from farther away.

Ok whew! haha.

... You were doing a Bakery/Sweets tour of Bethesda and didn't go to Georgetown Cupcake?? :o)

I'm heading to Sushi Taro for RW - should be interesting, my first time back since they re-opened (I know, I've been lazy, haha)

I know you had asked for restaurants that serve it, but it is v. easy to buy canisters of matcha powder at Japanese grocery stores and make it at home - it's usually just an "add hot water" type thing, and I use it for baking as well. Sorry that this doesn't directly answer your post but it's one option.

Has anyone seen/tried this place called yocake in Montgomery Mall? There's limited info on their website, but I was curious if anyone has tried it yet. I love Pinkberry-esque frozen yogurt and cupcakes- not expecting it to be amazing, but maybe a nice treat while shopping.

A slight mix-up I think- Kevin was asking Bryan about what was in Michael's dish, and Bryan was the one that snapped at Kevin, defending Michael.

I for one thought it was a) nice of Bryan to stick up for his brother, with a valid point that no one had tried the dish in question; and b) considering the amount of time they spend in the stew room waiting, I'm not particularly surprised that even the usually quiet Bryan would snap at some point.

Strange- I just clicked on the link and it came up again. Hope it works now!

This site is one of my favorites- they are so spot on about pretty much every personality's "quirks" haha.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/arch...

I thought this was pretty interesting, even though some of the stuff doesn't appeal to me. I order the Starbucks "short" size all the time, and I've asked for 1/2 vanilla 1/2 chocolate frosty's at Wendy's before. Anyone ever try out these "secret" items?

I know these aren't really new, but has anyone else tried these and NOT wanted to eat it by the bagful? I was expecting the usual BBQ chip flavor, but WOW! Actually has a great kick to it, that was surprising (I was expecting a muted spice level). Crunchy, smoky, spicy, delicious! I think I'll definitely pair these with a sour cream-based homemade dip for football season :o)

I've been to PS7 a few times, once for RW. I don't recall the a la carte menu being too different from the RW menu. I've always found the bar area to be louder and more crowded than the dining area- like Jeserf said, the dining room is laid out well.

Some notable items in my book were the Tuna Sliders app and the Donuts and "Coffee" dessert. The entrees were good, but I just can't remember any specific ones.

I went over to Bravo after seeing this post... does Richard Blais' blog photo look a little... strange to you?? I didn't even recognize him in the photo!

There were? I've watched each season but I can't remember every episode- but, didn't the promos specifically say that this was the first time TC was having a males vs. females challenge?

I'm pretty sure Ilan was on Anita's team, I have a vague recollection of him at the table next to Dale when they had 30 mins to plan the menu

Haha, thanks for posting the photos- there's almost a yin/yang sense of the 2 photos that you chose :-)

Great episode (and comments from scrolling around a bit on this thread!). A few comments:

- Fabio: LOVE.
- Anyone else surprised Jamie didn't do JUST scallops? hee.

- Just based on looks, does ANYONE else think that:

Hubert Keller = George Carlin

Rick Bayless = Ned Flanders (Simpsons)

Or is it just my friends and I??

Glad I could help!

Not sure if it's at all Harris Teeter stores, but I noticed once that they have decorated and undecorated cookie cakes in the North Bethesda location. There's also a Mrs. Field's in White Flint mall on Rockville Pike as well, where I have ordered cookie cakes before in the past.

While it's not the best Mexican food I've ever had, it's a decent place with a lively atmosphere. I like coming here with a group of friends and getting a bunch of the appetizers to share. Depending on the number of people in your group, that might be an option instead of ordering a straight 3-course meal.

If not, some of the items I've enjoyed are:
- Guacamole (I like it spicy, they will adjust depending on your preferences)
- Pomegranate Margarita
- Alambre de Camarones (Shrimp Brochette)
- Tablones (Short Ribs)
- Carne Asada Tacos

more info can be found on their online menu: http://rosamexicano.com/LinkClick.asp...

I had a chocolate-based dessert there once (sorry, blanking on the name) that was v. rich but might be good for sharing.

I agree with the Rio Grande suggestion, or Austin Grill (along the same lines cuisine-wise). I've seen flyers at Lebanese Taverna for Children's events there (guest performers etc.) so I feel like they must be kid-friendly to a certain degree. Mia's, like you said, always seems to have kids there so that's always a good option.

haha, that was my initial response when I saw the header for this post

Thanks for the initial report... I've been seeing more and more of the commercials advertising these, and I was curious to see how they were (although not curious enough to go get them myself, haha).

I think Chris Lee actually did use popcorn in his first course with the ceviche? It had avocado in it too but can't remember the fish he used. I thought it was random when he popped into another dorm to offer up some popcorn, until I realized he made it to use in his dish :-)

Depending on the type of food you're looking for, Firefly might be a good option. It's an easy walk from Dupont Circle, I've always enjoyed the food there, and I have heard that they have a special children's menu that isn't your average chicken fingers/spaghetti sort of deal. If they took the time to create an interesting menu for children, I feel like they should be pretty kid-friendly.

I do this all the time, since I live by myself, and don't want to eat sandwiches for 2 weeks straight once I buy a loaf :-)

I usually wrap them in saran wrap, 2 slices at a time, and throw them all into a ziplock freezer bag. They last much longer this way, and a quick trip in the microwave or letting it defrost on the counter til you're ready to use it, good as when you bought it!

I think Hello Cupcake is fantastic, but just note that it is in Dupont Circle, which is a good drive from the area you will be staying in. Also- it's closed on Sundays, just in case you were trying to plan around it.

Moby Dick is a good option to keep in mind, especially for a quick meal. There is a Moby Dick chain off of Shady Grove Road (in the Fallsgrove shopping center), which I'm not sure is closer to you or not than the other chains you mentioned.

Like another poster mentioned, the Rio/Washingtonian center is close and has a few good options- Rio Grande/Uncle Julio's, Red Rock Canyon, Potbellys (I like their salads and milkshakes), CPK, etc. Nothing too exciting but it's a good selection if you're in the mood for something specific that is there.