mselectra's Profile
Glass food storage: Luminarc vs Pyrex vs GlassLock?
Another brand you may or may not know is Frigoverre (I think I spelled that right) which is made in Italy -- we picked one up at a local home goods place the other day, my partner's been taking his lunch in it, don't think it's leaked. I've barely touched it since he's the one using it, so just FYI....
Glass food storage: Luminarc vs Pyrex vs GlassLock?
Yes, I agree don't see the point in having two sets of lids. I've got a couple old glass containers I got from my grandmother, with glass lids, don't know how old seems like she had them as long as I can remember -- I'd never actually checked the brand so turned them over the other day and sure enough they're Pyrex ovenware (never occurred to me I could put them in the oven, guess I will now, and I wouldn't use in microwave or dishwasher). No, you couldn't put them on their side or something, it's not like the lids seal, but I love them -- pretty colors too.
Radius in Mt Pleasant, DC - Report
Heads up that Radius is today's Living Social deal....
We go there a lot (thanks to the amazing pint and a slice deal and that it's so nearby), love it, and I have wondered why it doesn't come up much on Chowhound (and also noticed it does on Don Rockwell). I don't know if it's just that this isn't a neighborhood of much interest to chowhounds? It does get crowded, so don't think they're hurting.
The pint and a slice deal before 7pm, every night of the week, is a great deal. I've also enjoyed the soups there (there were different good cold soups all summer) and I recommend the fried chickpeas next time you go. And yes, I'm with you on the pickled vegetables. Ice cream's good too, local seasonal ingredients. What pizza did you have?
(And, Steve, bummed to hear about the noodles pop-up -- it seems like maybe he wasn't ready for the amount of interest the place generated. I sure wish I'd managed to get there a few weeks ago.)
Best apps for Chowhounders?
A couple days ago I downloaded the free version of Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything app -- it seems really cool so far and think I'll end up getting the full version. It's basically the cookbook in a handy smartphone interactive version. I actually heard about it from an interview with a Chow editor on The Splendid Table a week or so ago.
Glass food storage: Luminarc vs Pyrex vs GlassLock?
I'm also trying to switch gradually to more glass storage, although not doing as careful research as you. No personal experience with them, but in case you hadn't seen the Pyrex that come with both plastic and glass lids, the glass lids apparently vent for use in microwave and oven. Found them on amazon (and not with the other Pyrex at local Bed Bath and Beyond, the only other place I've looked): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002PHNW6K/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_8?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER If they work well, might save some wax paper....
Soul Food at the Grocery Store
Although not technically a grocery store, I think your sister might also enjoy checking out the Florida Ave Market.
"Japanese Ramen and Chinese Noodles" Pop-Up Restaurant in Columbia Heights
ahack -- That's a bummer (did you end up getting pho next door instead?) I've been out of town for a couple weeks, so I hadn't had a chance to find the noodles pop-up. According to the Mt Pleasant Farmers Market email I got today, the steamed buns guy -- actually apparently called People's Bao -- is supposed to be there tomorrow, so might be worth another try. Not sure if I'll make it, but if I do, I'll ask again about the pop up, too.
"Japanese Ramen and Chinese Noodles" Pop-Up Restaurant in Columbia Heights
Hi hamster -- steamed buns, we had one with duck confit and one with pork, he was out of mushrooms (I assume fillings all from farmers at the market), really good to my admittedly inexperienced taste and big and filling too, I believe $7 each. Wish we could have gone for the noodles the other night and won't be able to go the next couple weeks, so hope you can go and report back! Seems like a nice guy and he was certainly treating the food with care. He sort of modestly described the noodles as just what he eats every day.
"Japanese Ramen and Chinese Noodles" Pop-Up Restaurant in Columbia Heights
Getting Hot Asian Buns (!) at the Mount Pleasant farmers' market this morning and the guy who runs the stand said he's got a pop up selling noodles on Saturday nights in the Senor Chicken on Park, that's just west of 14th next to Pho 14. The meat is from local farmers. Sounds like this could be a real treat....
Good bar food near or enroute to Kennedy Center
Another possibility might be Tonic, which is also close to the Foggy Bottom metro -- tater tots! -- might be the kind of place you're thinking about.
(I've also had a good experience at the bar at Ris.)
Assume you know about the free shuttle from Foggy Bottom to the Kennedy Center?
Bobby's Burger Palace
Some discussion of this already going: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/799635
Restaurant Week-August 2011
It should say in the fine print, might vary by restaurant, but my impression is mostly no. Dino, for example, makes it clear you can't use the Living Social during RW.
Drip Coffee / Baked Goods near West End
Thought of this thread when I saw this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-out-gurus/post/who-serves-the-best-coffee-and-pastries-in-dc/2011/08/03/gIQA9k8HsI_blog.html
Drip Coffee / Baked Goods near West End
Has anybody mentioned Swing's coffee yet? I don't go often and can't actually remember if I've had a non-espresso drink there -- but it would be worth you looking into. Chinatown Coffee does regular coffee really well, I think.
Recommendations near International Trade Center?
Hi -- It is not a 15 minute walk, it can take 15 minutes just to walk around the Capitol itself, depending on your speed. it's a nice walk down Penn, but I think you should allow more time (or take a cab there and walk back) especially because you also need to allow time to get through security into the Capitol Visitor Center. Be sure to check security rules before you head over there, they're really strict. To make this slightly food related (perhaps other answers have been deleted already?) -- no food at all or liquids or even empty bottles allowed in.
Acre 121
Elyssa -- here's a little info on it: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/acre-121-takes-over-old-commonwealth-space/2011/06/21/AGigs2eH_blog.html
I wouldn't call it a bbq place, but just kind of low country inspired menu, I guess. We went once, right when it opened -- not very impressed, but also didn't try much so don't take my word for it. I only had a tomato and vidalia salad (tasteless tomatoes, certainly not a seasonal menu), my partner had the fish and chips which was maybe not the best order since they were not as good as Commonwealth's had been. I can't remember drinks now, but think it was a good beer menu. They took out the separate room that was in front of the bathrooms so it does seem a lot more open and I think fewer tables. The live music was to the left, in front of the window, as you come in. A lot of people were just sort of standing around in the middle of the place with drinks, I think dancing could break out there. Nice service. Could turn out to be a good bar scene -- great location (for us, at least), so hoping we end up liking it but I don't *think* it would be somewhere to go out of your way for the food. But I'm a tiny data point.
I somehow haven't been to Lou's, either, the sports bar next door (same owners) which always seems packed.
Looking for a DC restaurant with good Summer Menu
Just to add to your list -- I had a cold cucumber soup at Cashion's last week (I think) that I enjoyed a lot. My partner had a soft shell crab there that he really liked, too, fyi, so it was pretty summery menu. Also, maybe not the kind of place you're looking for, but we go to Radius in Mount Pleasant a lot ($5 pint and slice happy hour special is fantastic) and they've had a seasonal cold soup for a while -- asparagus last month and now cucumber. They always have a seasonal pizza, too, etc.
If you were visiting DC, which neighborhoods are the best package of sightseeing and good cheap eats?
Just don't be fooled by deals on hotels near L'Enfant Plaza -- I know you can sometimes find good deals over there, and you'd be near Metro and able to walk to the Natl Mall, so they look good on a map, but *especially* if you're looking to be near good eating, you'd really feel like you're in a wasteland there.
Brunch & Nails
FYI, I enjoyed a pedicure at Nusta Spa -- I'm no expert on day spas at all, but it was a really relaxing space and they had complementary wine, actually maybe it was champagne now I think about it! And good tea also some snacks and flavored water. It would be near Firefly.
sour cherries at farmers markets?
Quaker Valley (is that the correct farm name?) had them at Mt Pleasant (DC) market on Saturday, and they also sell at Dupont so seems likely.
brunch buffet for teens in DC? any other recommendations?
Near the Navy Yard, you might want to pack a picnic and eat it at The Yards, a recently developed riverside park. Or you could go to Levi's, that's not far I think. You won't be too far from Barracks Row, either, if you want to search that -- others might have brunch suggestions in that area.
4 days in DC with wife and 2 kids in June,
I also love Ollie's Trolley (and I like the fries, although I get the salty comment). And I appreciate the comfortable booths and the classic jazz/american standards soundtrack -- I find it relaxing next to crowded, loud places nearby, especially after intense touristing, and good for kids. (I don't think it's dirty so much as not recently renovated....[it's actually retro, not faux-retro]) But you do have to be in the mood for a burger place -- and it's cash only. Convenient to American History and Natural History -- or Natl Archives.
In a different vein, I don't think anybody's mentioned Zola Wine and Kitchen -- adjacent to the more expensive restaurant, they've got this great $10 lunch menu. I met friends recently who were spending the day at American History and Natural History and it worked out really well, we all loved our food (fancy italian sandwiches, grilled romaine heart salad, that kind of thing; I think there was a mac and cheese, too). You order at the cash register (there are two rooms, we were a little confused at first) and then you sit down and they bring your food. You can watch the open kitchen, it's casual but interesting high-quality food. It's also around the corner from Ford's Theater (which I highly recommend, btw).
You might want to do a search on Teaism, too, if you haven't run across it yet.
I don't think Five Guys has come up, but in case you don't know, it's not a good place for a peanut allergy.
And heartily second the Ethiopian food suggestion. I think with kids Dukem might be better (atmosphere, not food, but I have to say I haven't been in a really long time). If they don't like it, go across the street afterwards for a half-smoke at Ben's.
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Teaism
2009 R St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Ollie's Trolley
425 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Zola Wine and Kitchen
505 9th St NW, Washington D.C., DC 20004
3 days in DC with 2 kids-how is this plan? (a few holes remain)
On the day you're at the Hirschhorn, you wouldn't be far from L'Enfant Plaza, where there are frequently food trucks at lunch time -- they're there for the govt workers, not the tourists. I know I've see Takorean along there fairly often, not too far at all from Air & Space, either -- but I wouldn't go over there unless you knew for sure or are walking to that metro anyway. Another option, if you're a burger kind of family, is Ollie's Trolley (cash only), which is convenient to Natural History.
And I think somebody mentioned that Safeway grocery store that sounds like it's not too far from your hotel, I think.
Seems like you've done good research already. Hope you have a great time.
Oh and one non-food thought -- you'll likely see pedicabs around, which could be tempting and fun on your non-biking days to get between sights, especially what with your daughter on crutches -- fyi I understand (from somebody who works a pedicab part-time) that fares are completely negotiable.
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Ollie's Trolley
425 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
3 days in DC with 2 kids-how is this plan? (a few holes remain)
If you do end up needing/wanting to eat near the Foggy Bottom metro, Tonic might be good for you, at least might be worth looking up, in case. You can eat at the cafeteria at the Kennedy Center, not special food, but in a pinch it could work (good view).
soup to fight a sore throat, very near Union Station, DC (for today, 4/11/11)
Thanks very much to the three of you for the quick replies. I ended up getting the French onion soup at Bistro Bis -- I had been thinking it would be too fancy for what I had in mind, but I'd never been there before and it was the right location, so decided to treat myself. Since I wasn't feeling well, and my nose was getting stuffy, I think I didn't appreciate it as much as I could have -- would have preferred more soup/broth and less cheese and bread, but only because of the cold. Lots of onions in there, the cheese on top was really good, and it seemed more rich than salty (onion soup seems like can be too salty often). Also liked the accompanying bread, I think it's sourdough right? Sat at the bar, it was before the dining room opened, treated well by the bartender (and I wasn't drinking).
On the other suggestions, it looked like Cafe Phillips isn't open for dinner? And that soup at Ping Pong did sound just right, but I just wasn't up for dealing with another neighborhood. And Au Bon Pain/Corner Bakery was a good back-up, but I decided to go for white tablecloth over food court, for this time.
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Bistro Bis
15 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
soup to fight a sore throat, very near Union Station, DC (for today, 4/11/11)
This might be too last minute, and I only did a quick search -- but wondering where you'd go if you were fighting a cold -- quick meal, by myself, before an evening meeting by Union Station, so preferably "cheap" and casual. If I could teleport myself, I'd go to A&J for the beef noodle soup that I'm convinced has cured me in the past.... I'll also be around Metro Center before heading to Union St, so I'll take ideas near there too. And no worries if I don't get any, just thought I'd give it a try.
Coming to D.C. in April...We know nothing!! Need some good recs.
hill food -- volunteers who help care for the animals would have been on the list to get in, but I'm not that kind of volunteer... Fortunately all that is moot now (for now) -- and maybe I'll run into saintp at the zoo!
Coming to D.C. in April...We know nothing!! Need some good recs.
The zoo will certainly be closed, it's part of the Smithsonian and they'll all be shut down, as will the Natl Gallery of Art. (Zoo keepers allowed in to take care of the animals, the zoo police will have a list.... I'm a volunteer there and I won't be allowed in.) I'm not sure, though, about the Building Museum, it's really popular with locals with young children (they have a play area) so might be worth checking, in case.
Cultural Tourism DC has posted a good list of alternative things to do, I think taking children into account, as well.
And it turns out Arlington Cemetery will be open (I don't think it was during last shut down) and so will the Kennedy Center, but with some limited hours -- they have a great view and room for the kids to move around, plus the free 6pm concerts every day seem to attract families.
I think restaurants etc will be very grateful for the tourist dollars, you could eat well! -- since this could be a big blow to the local economy, for sure.
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Kennedy Center
2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20256
Adams Morgan dinner tonight
hamster -- if it's not too late -- I think the old Pepitos, Super Tacos, has a couple stools. What about Old City? Haven't you recommended that before? There's also a Pica Taco in the Argonne Building, on Harvard. For less casual than those, I haven't been in a long time, but liked the food at Bourbon. At the Diner I would only order eggs or maybe grilled cheese. (Tryst has some okay sandwiches and a new build your own salad menu that's not bad.) If you'd be able to go a little further, into Mt Pleasant, the pint and a slice deal at Radius is great. Not sure any of this is what you're looking for, just trying to be a little helpful.... Oh and there's also those couple Peruvian chicken places.
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Old City Cafe
1773 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
