fisherdm's Profile
Smoking a boston butt for pulled pork
Killer tip. I didn't know what to do with that liquid gold the last time, but since I'm doing another this weekend, you can bet I'll put it to good use. Cheers!
Smoking a boston butt for pulled pork
This is an awesome thread and very helpful. After reading it and rereading it a few more times, I smoked a whole shoulder a few weeks ago. I smoked a 7 lb. bone-in boston butt and it turned out beautifully.
I did 40 brickets in a chimney till they were white and then piled them on one side of my grate. I soaked hickory chunks (not small chips, fist-sized chunks) in water for an hour, and threw them on top of the coals. I had no foil pan with water. I put the shoulder, which had been out of the fridge for one hour, on the side of the grill opposite the coals in a sturdy, disposable foil casserole, and capped the grill. I monitored the temp closely, keeping it right at 300. After an hour or two, we added 8-10 unlit coals to the grey coals in the grill to maintain heat, and capped the grill again.
After three hours on the grill, I put it in the oven at 300 degrees for three hours. After three hours in the oven, and a total of six hours cooking, I pulled it out and tested using the bone wriggle method. Sure enough, the bone could have slipped right out, but just to be safe, I tested with a thermometer and it read 200. I let it rest covered in foil for three hours (my pals were running late) and when we finally pulled it, it was still very hot.
The results were amazing. It required no sauce, some of us splashed a little chili vinegar on it tableside, but it was perfectly smokey and moist on its own.
Thanks to all for the suggestions, and happy bbqing!
Organic Produce or Vegetable Delivery?
Great recommendation - I just checked out the site: customizable, no long-term commitment....look fwd. to receiving my first box.
Hill Country BBQ coming to DC
OK, after reading this entire thread, I finally went on Saturday.
No wait, sailed right in. Easy enough ordering process, I had a combo which included lean brisket, 1/4 chicken, one spare rib, corn bread, mac 'n cheese.
The food was incredible - I wanted to sub moist brisket for the lean in the combo, something the carver told me he's getting a lot of requests for, but currently, they can't do. All the meat was flavorful and smokey, the mac 'n cheese (uses penne) was just about the best I've had in DC (although I haven't had Levi's and some other heavy contenders). The corn bread was mediocre.
The biggest hit was the jalapeno sausage link that my buddy ordered and we split. Holy cow, amazing.
It ain't cheap, as other commenters have stated - my lunch, with tax and tip, ended up being $25. Not an everyday BBQ outing, but for DC, the place is at the top of the list.
If you're a pulled pork and baby back ribs kind of BBQ fan, this ain't for you, but if you're open to Texas style, it's worth the trip.
Alone in downtown DC: On a budget and with geographic requirements.
The Bombay Club is exceptional, and literally three blocks from your hotel. Good for lunch or dinner, although is is upscale, so if you go over there, you'll be sitting with suits. Call ahead and you can pick it up to-go as well.
-----
Bombay Club
815 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20006
BELGA Belgian food in DC
It hasn't changed a bit, but its neighbors have. The Barrack's Row strip is now home to several newer additions, several of which are quite good, depending on your mood and cuisine preferences (Ted's Bulletin, Cava come to mind).
Eating alone/at bar in South Beach
In town for a few days dining alone, read this thread, and went over to Pubbelly. The barstools are a little low, but don't let that keep you from checking it out. The establishment is hip without being pretentious and the food was terrific. David Chang's porkbelly sliders will always be king for me, but the ones they do were terrific, and the duck ravioli with almonds, pumpkin puree and browned butter would make the trek worthwhile all by their lonesome.
Quest for Mexican Restaurant with White Cheese dip
I found it people. Los Cuates in Georgetown. 1564 Wisconsin Ave NW
Liquid white cheese dip served in a heavy crock. Recommend getting the guac too, which comes with thicker chips, which are perfect for dipping into the white cheese.
The rest of the menu is standard, including the numbered combo dinner options, and the ambiance is your typical bright colored sombreros pinned to the walls.
Because it's around the corner from Georgetown, we were the only non-students in the place at 9:00pm on a Thursday evening, and it was incredibly loud.
But man, that dip was what I've been looking for.
-----
Los Cuates Restaurant
1564 Wisconsin Ave. nw, Washington, DC 20007
Fun breakfast place in DC
DC is a vacuum for breakfast restaurants - the city's scene is seriously lacking creativity and affordability. Places like Trios in Dupont or Belga on Capitol Hill on the weekends are what DC thinks of as breakfast options. There's a diner on East Capitol Street, Jimmy T's, which puts out food that is barely palatable, yet people wait in line on the weekends to eat there.
The options folks have posted on this thread are good (I too didn't know Ebbitt did breakfast during the week - good tip!), but most are chains ( Le Pain Q, for example) and/or expensive for what you're getting (I can't get out of Pain for breakfast for less than $20).
Maybe it's the cost of real estate, but if you opened a diner-style eatery that served solid breakfast that wasn't fancy, but featured pancakes, waffles, hashes, etc., you'd be crowded all the time.
My contribution for a downtown breakfast suggestion would be the Willard or Hay-Adams, but both are going to set you back a few bucks.
Quest for Mexican Restaurant with White Cheese dip
That's a great question - I will do some research on this and report back with my findings. Incidentally, a friend has informed me that Los Cuates on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown has what I'm looking for. I'm going tonight - fingers crossed!
-----
Los Cuates Restaurant
1564 Wisconsin Ave. nw, Washington, DC 20007
Good Steakhouse Near Washington National Airport
Yeah - Landrum installed a walk-in right next to the host station, and that sucker is full of tasty, dry-aged goodness.
Good Steakhouse Near Washington National Airport
I 2nd this vote for Ray's. From the airport, it's a ten minute cab ride, and DC's highest quality, authentic steak option. Get a reservation, and thank us later.
Quest for Mexican Restaurant with White Cheese dip
I too dig the fundido. They make a great version with poblano peppers at Guajillo in Arlington, but the dip I'm thinking of is a lot less classy.
Banana Cafe and El Tamarindo are decent spots as well, but they don't have what I'm looking for. Don't get me started on Las Placitas (I'm pretty sure they use Tostitos Cheese Dip for their dip, which is yellow).
I know it's out there - I will keep you all posted if I find it.
-----
Las Placitas
517 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
El Tamarindo
1785 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
Really Good Deal: Trummer's on Main
True words, Will, Valentine's, Mother's Day brunch, Easter, they're all dates which restaurants use to pass on a holiday mark-up to their customers, and ordinarily, I bite the bullet, but the quality of the food slipped so poorly that the price was an added insult.
Quest for Mexican Restaurant with White Cheese dip
You know the dip - comes out in a shallow bowl, searing hot liquid at first, but quickly congeals if you aren't consuming it quickly enough. This variety of cheese dip is easily found in the strip malls of most southern cities, Atlanta for example has them everywhere, in Mexican restaurants that have roughly 78 numbered order options which are really just five different entrees mixed and matched into different combinations. The sodas come out in gallon-sized plastic cups, and there's a dusty pinata hanging in the corner.
I don't want authentic. I don't want fresh. The quest for the perfect taqueria is better left to other threads.
I want this experience, and I know it has to exist somewhere in or around Washington DC. Come on foodies - help a brother out.
Really Good Deal: Trummer's on Main
I've eaten at Trummer's on Main twice. The first time was several months ago, and while the prices were high (especially given they're located in Clifton, VA), the food was delicious. Nothing overwhelmingly inventive, but well prepared dishes, many of which feature economy cuts of meat braised to tenderness with flavorful sauces. They're in a beautiful building that's really nicely decorated, with plenty of room between the tables.
So on Valentine's Day weekend, we booked a table, as we had planned to spend the day out in the country, and Clifton was en route back into the city. This second experience is why I'll never return.
The problem with putting a fine dining restaurant in the middle of nowhere is that you are going to have a hard time attracting wait staff with adequate experience. This wasn't a problem the first time we ate there, but this time, it was a problem at every step of the way. Our waiter obviously entered the seating positions incorrectly when he created our ticket, and as a result, every course was delivered to the wrong seat, which made for awkward exchanges with the food runners as they auctioned off the plates.
Secondly, they featured a prix fixe menu, but didn't tell us about that when we made our reservation. At $78 a pop for a three course meal, it wasn't Palena or Komi, but it was considerably higher than their usual menu. The menu was unimaginative - my wife's beet salad featured three or four small baby beets, a few nickel-sized slivers of goat cheese, and my "love mussel soup" featured three shelled mussels in a cream broth. My wife's entree was risotto, which came out cool, and while I ordered a ribeye medium rare, what came out was two slices (approximately 8 oz. total) of a medium well roast which were placed haphazardly on a plate with one, steamed, pealed and trimmed baby yukon gold potato and two, roasted cipollini onions. Desserts were small and lacked creativity.
So, let's break it down. $78 for three courses. That means that I paid $20 for a bowl of soup, $40 for two slices of overcooked beef, and $18 for a dessert. Based on my first experience here, I would guess that standard pricing for these courses would have been 10/30/10, at a total of $50, which means that I got a Valentine's Day surcharge of $28.
My wife and I were thoroughly disappointed with what turned out to be a $200 meal (two prix fixe plus one glass of wine for her and two coffees), whose quality was not in line with that price point.
We will not return.
-----
Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036
Boston rec: French brasseries
After reading this and several other threads, I visited Brasserie JO this evening. I'm in town for a few days, and am staying in the Back Bay, so it seemed like a convenient option.
The place is beautiful, a bit more spacious than a typical Brasserie, and there were some definite successes. Experienced bar staff that could read me well and tailor their service according to my preferences, the best french bread I've had in any restaurant in recent memory, and the sides which accompanied my steak au poivre were all worth noting. Sides, by the way, were sauteed spinach and potatoes au gratin, with the perfect amount of nutmeg.
The steak itself, however, was grossly overcooked - ordered medium rare and delivered medium well. I ate early, and the restaurant was not crowded, so there was really no excuse. I showed the steak to the bartender, who agreed that it was overcooked, and while I didn't send it back, I probably should have, as I ended up leaving most of it on the plate.
Not having a competent grill person is a tremendous liability for a restaurant that otherwise could completely knock a dining experience out of the park.
-----
Brasserie JO
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116
Best Bakery in the North End
You Bostonians don't know how lucky you are. I'm from DC, which is a barren wasteland for bakeries, so to have such options as you do is a luxury.
I hit Modern for ricotta filled cannoli with an espresso. Sat in the window, watched the sidewalk traffic, and had a terrific afternoon.
Sel de la Terre -- good but not great
Visiting from DC, staying in the Back Bay, and given the temps, didn't want to walk too far, so SDLT seemed like an OK match from other threads I'd read on this board.
Good duck leg entree, did oysters for the starter, and closed with a banana cake. All the way across the board, the meal was good, not stellar, just good, and not worth the $75 I paid (no booze).
Disapointed at Ray's the Classics
Michael Landrum is on record as stating that his restaurant is probably not ideal if you're into a leisurely dining experience. His success stems from the fact that he identified a market for a steak house minus the formality and expense of the big boys. Obviously, he was right, based on his success.
I've been going to Ray's the Steaks since the early days, and the quality of his food is still high, and the style of service is still brisk. That works for me, so I go frequently. On the few occasions where I've hosted groups which required more time, servers seem totally willing to give me as much time as I request.
As a former restaurant worker, I appreciate the fact that he looks out for his staff, and protects them from some of the ridiculous behavior which unfortunately accompanies higher-end clientele.
On New Year's Eve, I wanted a steak, but I wanted it up-scale, at an oversized table, in a formal dining room, served by a staff that would treat me like the King of England, so I took my wife to Charlie Palmer and paid 150% more for a comparable meal.
The bottom line is, Ray's fits for most of my steak needs, but not all, and so I'm glad I've got options.
Disappointing dining experience
As soon as I'm eventually seated, I'd smile and ask why I was forced to wait 40 minutes for my table.
Chuck's Wagon BBQ on H Street NE?
What about the dudes down in the north end of the RFK parking lot that are always out there smoking ribs. Anybody tried them?
Bye Bye Morty's
I understand how many in DC have a nostalgic connection to this place, but on the food/ambiance alone, I won't miss it in the least.
Stocking up for a party: be$t place to buy beer/wine in NOVA
Thanks, all. W/O a Costco membership, it looks like I have a trip to McLean in my future.
Prettypoddle, thanks for the leg-work on the Springfield location. I think without traffic, it's an even split, but I'll probably do McLean to avoid the mixing bowl.
Stocking up for a party: be$t place to buy beer/wine in NOVA
Live on the HIll, work in G'town, want to go immediately after work, and am inclined to head into NOVA for lower prices/taxes than, say, Dixie Liquor or other DC spots, but would rather not head all the way out to McLean to the Total Wine store.
I need a few cases of wine, ten cases of beer, would love to find a place that has bulk discounts. Any suggestions?
All Time Greatest Cheap Eats Washington
How have I not known about Levi's? It looks fantastic, and I'm always lamenting DC's lack of decent bbq. Good tip!
Three days in NOLA - How I ate it
Very cool. I've done this with Chinese preparations, but when the hot oil in the wok cooks the shrimp, it really softens the shells. Generally, when I've had it done that way, the shrimp weren't as large as the ones I tasted at Mr. B's. This gives me something to shoot for next time!
Three days in NOLA - How I ate it
It's definitely hands-on, ClevelandRandy, but as others have said, well worth the mess. You feel like you've really earned the meat once you get it free of the shell/head.
recommendations for a family staying near the Smithsonian
There are two places to eat inside the National Gallery of Art. One is sort of an open, casual cafe near the gift shop, the other is a more formal, table clothes and waiters restaurant. For lunch, the latter is one of the best finds in the city. They have a wonderful buffet with hot and cold items, charcuterie, grilled vegitables, all within the beautifully designed halls of the museum.
If you cross the mall and head north, you can hit Central, which is on Pennsylvania and 10th (or maybe 11th, I can't recall). The cooking is creative, delicious and satisfying. I'd put it in the $40 per person category, without alcohol/dessert/tip. This is not fancy, per se, but amazing. Their fried chicken is the best I've had in Washington, and their burger and lobster burger are also smash hits in my book.
Otherwise, hit the Penn Quarter for any of Jose Andres's restaurants, including Jaleo and Oyamel, tapas and Mexican respectively.
But for non-fussy eaters, I'd go Central for sure.
