Ellen's Profile
VA wine country trip this Sunday: winery and lunch suggestions?
A route 29 to Orange wine crawl involving Prince Michel, Barboursville and Horton is a nice day trip, with lunch at Barboursville. Make a reservation.
Top five Cheesesteaks in Baltimore
Johns Roast Pork is the best, although its close enough to Tony Lukes that you could do a taste test of your own, but bring a friend. John's roast pork sandwich with spinach or rabe and sharp provolone is pretty fabulous as well and now you can buy the pork by the pound and take it home with you, but its also a close tie with Tony Lukes. Stay away from Pat's and Geno's and Jims. No where near as good, particularly the quallity of meat. I've lived in Philly half my life and have tried them all. Chinks and Chubby's are good but harder for an out of towner to find.
Rib Pit on 14th Street?
I went once about a year ago because I saw all the wood in the window and was also intrigued. I recall that the ribs were just ok and the sides were mediocre. I never went back.
Need varied place within walking distance of the Smithsonian, 1-2 April. Early Dinner.
You might want to try Central on Pennsylvania Avenue for solid bistro fare. The food is excellent and the menu is varied enough to please most, including teens and kids. Great burgers, fried chicken, salads and foodie fare as well. Its not cheap but if you go at lunch you won't break the bank. Check out the website and decide for yourself. I don't think they're open for lunch on Sunday but are on Monday.
http://www.centralmichelrichard.com/eat/
Shad Roe
It's been available for about a month now. I get it at Whole Foods and Wegmans. Probably have it at Eastern Market too.
Best Sunday Brunch?
Can't attest to whether its the best but went to the Breslin today as it was very convenient to our 32nd St. hotel and we enjoyed it enough to go back. Very English pubby. The prices were reasonable, the menu is not extensive but is diverse enough to satisfy a variety of tastes, and the food was really good. I had the special of breaded and fried house pork sausage, a fried egg and beans in a spicy sauce. My friend had the baked eggs on the regular menu and enjoyed those as well. Other dishes going by looked equally appetizing. I liked the space too, even if it was a bit dark.
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The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001
Where is awesome BACON in Washington DC?
Contact Againn. They have access to a lot of local meat purveyors in the area and also do their own charcuterie. They should be able to set you up with something along the lines of what you are looking for.
Ground venison?
I buy mine in Del Ray, VA at Lets Meat on the Avenue. He'll grind it fresh. Don't recall seeing it for sale in MD.
Irish Soda Bread
Wegman's is seasonal and agree it is good. Best Buns in Shirlington makes it too, also very good.
Was your mom a timid cook?
If it could be made with a can of Campbell's Soup, we ate it.
Any good German food?
H'towners call it the Stube. I avoid the Bavarian because it's overpriced, have rarely been impressed with the food, and a little TOO old world.
oyster happy hour
Legal Seafood does $1 oysters. They were briny, plump and fresh. Also did Senarts, also quite good. I never seem to get to OEG any more.
Good eats in Downtown St Louis
I'm staying downtown at the Renaissance Grand and several of the restos recommended here are a bit farther than I want to cab -- I'd rather save the $$ for good food, I've got a reservation for Niche Sunday but was wondering what would be a good bet for Saturday night. I'm looking for contemporary St. Louis cooking. Also, is there a good breakfast joint within walking distance? TIA!
Where can I find Yum Pla Dook Foo (Crispy Catfish Mango Salad)
Along the same lines, does anyone know where i can get good yam pla grob (crispy white fish and scallion salad)? Also in NOVA?
crabs in Cape May
There is a place called H&H seafood on the causeway between Wildwood and Cape May that sells live crabs out of tanks and also has tables where you can buy them cooked. They rent kayaks so look for them on the road. This is the best place in the area to do that. Bud's Bait and Tackle in the Villas also sells live crabs. You can also get them at Lobster House but you'll pay more and should avoid that place anyway -- its an overpriced tourist trap with mediocre food - unless I'm buying fish or lobsters to cook at home. You can't buy fresher seafood in the area, which is why I'm constantlly amazed that their takeout and sit down food is so mediocre.
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The Lobster House
906 Schellengers Landing Rd, Cape May, NJ 08204
Where can I get a bushel of second paste tomatoes?
I find them at the larger farmers markets in NoVa for about $15/box. I have the best luck at the VRE parking lot in Burke on Saturday mornings.
Good Happy Hour Food Special NOT in Penn Quarter/Downtown/Georgetown?
Taberna del Alabardero at 18th and I has half price tapas and sangria at happy hour that are excellent, much better than Jaleo. The bar area is small, though. FYI, the Golden Triangle is downtown.
uh oh-- Oyamel AND Jaleo??
I would vote for Oyamel over Jaleo. I have been totally underwhelmed the last two times I went. definitely try Againn. I like Acadiana and Central for lunch but Againn is serving up some great food and cocktails these days.
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Acadiana
901 New York Ave NW Ste 200A, Washington, DC 20001
Where to buy tomatoes for canning?
I buy seconds by the box from the farmers markets in NoVA. I've gotten them anywhere from 10-15 box, depending on where you are in the season. If I'm really lucky I'll get mostly heirlooms, but beefsteaks and plum tomatoes are also readily available. I usually roast mine in the oven and then freeze the result. I also pick them up from roadside stands if the timing is right.
Two Amys: not a great first experience
I agree, all pizzas at a pizza joint should be good. I have never been disappointed with their stuffed pizzas. The regular pizzas can be hit or miss. When they're good I love them, but when they're a miss they're exactly as you described, a soggy mess. One I've had good luck with is the one with arugula on top. The day of the week doesn't seem to matter. And the small plates are usually very good. But its best as a neighborhood place that you can usually count on rather than destination dining.
Winery for a Retirement Luncheon?
I would contact Hunters Head Tavern in Upperville (a few miles north of Middleburg), which serves food from their organic/sustainable farm, and tell them you'd llike to pair it with a wine tasing from a local winery. I'm sure they'd hook you up with a good local winery and do a super job. If you were willing to to to Orange, VA, Barboursville has a great restaurant and very good wines. If you want Leesburg, Tarara has very good wines and could put together a dinner with a local chef at their facility.
Where do I get paczkis in DC?
Since I was thinking of going to Trenton for paczki, Balmer doesn't sound so bad but I don't know where to go. Where would you go to get them? They must be fresh not frozen. And a few handmade pirogies wouldn't be bad either. I've been disappointed by the kielbasa factory the few times I've tried it compared to what I could get in Jersey so I'm willing to drive.
Restaurant in Foggy Bottom?
You're actually closer to Palisades. Try Black Salt on MacArthur Boulevard. Happy hour seafood specials are worth the trip. Very good food overall. Don't even think of Blue Ridge. Seriously on the way down, if not already at bottom. The restaurant has devolved into a burger and beer joint. The last meal I had there was awful as was the service. Bistro Lepic on Wisconsin is good for classic French fare but it's not cheap and you will likely need a reservation. A better buy is Bistro Le Coin on Connecticut Ave. Excellent mussels, good rabbit, overall a very reasonable and solidly good French Bistro for the money with good service. You'll more than make up for the cab fare if you don't feel like walking both ways. Somerville, NJ?
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Blue Ridge Restaurant
2340 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007
Looking for fun food and bar in DC near Holocaust Museum for Birthday
Hmm. This is probably the first time I have seen "fun" and Holocost in the same sentence. ;-) Againn has a great beer list and makes fabulous cocktails and would be my first choice (but not open on Sunday). The appetizer menu lends itself to good sharing options among the charcuterie and pates and cheeses that are locally sourced. Their bread is great too. Brasserie Beck, a block away from Againn, will fit your bill as well but you may need reservations if you want to go for dinner. Central is closer and a good option for food and cocktails but don't know about their beer choices.
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Brasserie Beck
1101 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005
Great Sunday afternoon hangout
I like the idea of Tabard but anyplace else with a fireplace in the area? I think Angler's Inn has one. Anywhere else? I'm looking for good food and couches to just hang. Don't really want to sit at a bar.
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Angler's Inn
10801 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854
Hot-smoked salmon in the DC area?
Try Wegmans or Whole Foods. But its never going to be remotely as good as what you can get out there so I ship mine from Pikes Place Fish Market in Seattle. Its worth the cost.
http://www.pikeplacefish.com/
Do You Choucroute? (Alsatian Choucroute -- or Other Variants)
I have had very good results using this recipe as a guide. I have varied the meats, using wild boar, smoked pork chops or ribs, black forest ham, hunters bacon, various keilbasas and/or wursts. Some will take longer to cook than others so use the directions as a guide depending on what you're using. Its important to get good sauerkraut too. I use a dry Reisling or Alsation pinot gris. If you have a good German or Polish deli with a large selection of quality European style meats you can really do a nice mix. I make and serve it in a large Le Crueset dutch oven. I serve with more of the wine I cooked with and a loaf of sourdough rye and locally made butter. Its an impressive dish for company. Its also great because you can prep most of it in advance and except for adding a few items during cooking, you're free to take care of other things and hang out with your friends. Everyone I've ever served it to came back for seconds.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/05/dining/05CABB.html
New England Thrift - eating chicken after making stock?
This may work for you: poach the chicken until its just cooked, then take it out and remove the meat when cool enough to handle, and then throw the bones and other bits back into the cooking liquid and ontinue to cook until the liquid is reduced and you get a good broth. If you cook a carcass from leftover roast chicken or turkey, remove the meat you want to eat first and just cook the rest down. In either case, whatever meat is left on the bones afterwards should go to the dog as it has little flavor at that point. Little is wasted and the dog is happy.
