Ericandblueboy's Profile
Hunan Taste - Authentic Hunanese comes to Catonsville - in the HMart strip mall
Who knows? Every dish has different levels of heat as interpreted by the chef and possibly by who they think their target audience is. The complexity of flavors is a different story. You really have to eat at these places frequently to really make that call and I don't eat out enough. I'll admit that I haven't been to Joe's and SP more than once recently.
Hunan Taste - Authentic Hunanese comes to Catonsville - in the HMart strip mall
I sweat my butt off at HKP so it's hot enough for me.
Hunan Taste - Authentic Hunanese comes to Catonsville - in the HMart strip mall
Mostly HKP.
Next Iron Chef Finale - Spoilers
You're right, the fries were undercooked too (but I don't know who fried them).
Next Iron Chef Finale - Spoilers
Mehta should be responsible but he shouldn't be accused of not knowing the fundamentals of cooking - that criticism makes no sense.
Hunan Taste - Authentic Hunanese comes to Catonsville - in the HMart strip mall
Joe's is sloppy, so is Sichuan Pavilion. Throw some red sauce over the food at the last second, otherwise no flavor. The da lu mein at Joe's is terrible, absolutely terrible (despite the menu saying the soup should be thick, it was watery). Sichuan Pavilion is just no match for HKP (based on my one experience there with you). Normally I couldn't care less about heat but SP did not deliver at all when they're supposed to. We don't order the same food and I'm sure we don't have the same taste buds....so it shouldn't be shocking we have difference preferences some times.
Eight traditions of Chinese food
I'm not even sure there's a decent Hunan restaurant. Taiwanese is basically a derivation of Fujianese cuisine. Bob's Noodle Bistro is the best for Taiwanese (but I haven't been there for over 1 year).
Best Restaurantants for Foodists in Dupont / Logan Circle / Thomas Circle
Two of the very best restaurants in their respective cuisine are in Dupont, next door to each other: Komi and Sushi Taro. Unfortunately it costs $100+ per person to enjoy either one.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
You're probably right. If the competition doesn't allow outside help, then Bryan shouldn't win.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
No, Tom's blog specifically says that it was NOT by default, and that Kevin's food "was more precisely cooked and had better flavor than the others, period."
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Tom talks out both sides of his mouth. On the one hand he said Kevin's win seems like a win by default but then he goes on and said Kevin's food tasted the best. He also said, had Bryan cooked his food better, he would've won. So but for Bryan's mistake, he would've won. That means Kevin won by default.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
You people have selective reading. Tom posted this:
"Bryan’s lamb, while not as terrible as Eli’s, was still pretty bad. Had it been better cooked, Bryan just may have won this challenge, as his dish was very sophisticated."
That means Kevin won by default.
What Would You Choose--Quick Response
Know nothing abotu Pita House. Cafe Salsa is merely okay. I suppose if you're really craving Puerto Rican, you can eat there. I have no desire to go back (not because it's terrible but because there are other restaurants that are better).
recommendations needed: good Chinese food in NOVA
Places in NOVA that I would eat at (in no particular order, all have authentic Chinese food, and I'm sure I'll miss a few places):
Sichuan Village - Chantilly
Hong Kong Palace - 7 Corners
Jasmine Garden - Merrifield
Miu Kee - Falls Church on Rt 50
XO Taste - 7 Corners
Mama Wok - Reston
Mark's Duck House - 7 Corners
Canton Cafe - Springfield
Sampan - Springfield
Fortune - 7 Corners (heard it might be edible again)
A&J - Annandale
China Star - Annandale
Apparently chefs/cooks come and go at these joints all the time, even the owners may change. So if a place sucks, maybe something's happened but at one point, they were good and it's possible to suck for a period and then become good again.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
If both executed to perfection, the more complex would win. The problem is the failure in execution by Michael and Bryan. Yes Kevin won, because his dish failed less than others, not because his dish was executed to perfection. It is by default - Tom's blog points that out.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
Bryan laughs like a hyena and he stil shows no personality, other than a willingness to help Kevin.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
Maybe you people bought too much into the editing and judge people too harshly. You can't judge the food without tasting and you can't judge the character of the person based on a TV show.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
Things get lost during the editing process. Until I read Tom's blog, I thought Kevin had won a spot on team USA, not just the right to compete for that spot on team USA.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
The other contestants' platters had flaws because they were trying to meet the criteria of making something complicated and fancy. So not really fair to give Kevin the win IMHO. (Even though Kevin is probably my favorite of the chefs).
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I agree with that logic but I don't know the rules of Bocuse d’Or or whether they followed those rules. IIRC, one early comment was that Kevin's food didn't qualify for the Bocuse d’Or because it didn't meet the criteria, but Kevin won anyway.
Fancy lunch around 20th and K--Kellari?
The best restaurants in that immediate area are Teatro Goldoni (Italian), La Taberana del Alabardero (Spanish), Kaz.Sushi Bistro (Noveau Sushi), and Kinkead's (Seafood). I haven't been to Prime Rib. Not sure if all of them are open for lunch. I am not a fan of Equinox - small menu, less than flawless execution.
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #12 - 11/18/09 (Spoilers)
Everyone has a different perspective. I think Kevin's food looks good but it is less refined. Having eaten out at many top restaurants all over the world, I think I'm less appreciative of the simple food and I'm more wowed by the inventive dishes. I can see that someone else might appreciate Kevin's more basic cooking techniques, though done to perfection.
Having correctly called the top 4, I'll wait to see if I called the top 3 correctly next week - Kevin, Bryan, and Michael.
Ray's Hell Burger (I Don't Get All The Hoopla)
I'm not sure how to help you get it, if that's what you want.
Are there any local potato chip makers?
Rt. 11 Potato Chips is from Va.
http://www.rt11.com/
Annandale Korean tonight with two toddlers
For some reason I think the porridge place may be closed....I think I read that somewhere.
Annandale Korean tonight with two toddlers
How are the grilled meats? That's the first thing to judge a Korean restaurant by, not the mushroom soup.
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Not if their specialty is tofu soup.
Inox: Game Tasting Dinner
Even before my wife got pregnant, the two of us would share 1 wine tasting. Now that she can't drink, I suppose I can still have wine tasting, since I have a designated driver.
Inox: Game Tasting Dinner
$150 pp includes wine? I don't suppose there's a non-alcohol option?
Komi Degustazione
We didn't have a choice (because no one gave us that option). I guess I'll ask this time.
I don't recall any game in the tasting other than goat (but you can get pig or fish), but there are lots of seafood.
Komi Degustazione
Going back to Komi this week. Had the katsikaki to finish the meal last time. Questions: can I request a different finale? If so, pig or Lavroki? One other dish that I'd love to try but wasn't served last time was the spaghetti with sea urchin and crab. Can I specify that I want to try this dish? We did request no raw protein this time because my wife is pregnant - not sure if they honor requests for anything more specific.
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Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036
Top Chef - Las Vegas - Ep. #11 - 11/11/09 (Spoilers)
I think you attribute too much integrity to chefs. I think these chefs go on TV to get publicity, so what if they have to "spin" a little? Gone are the days when the contestants are little known nobodies. Bryan V.'s Table 21 is apparently booked until July of next year on weekends. This show brings alot of publicity! Martha Stewart was busted for insider trading. You think these people have more money and more brand recognition than Martha Stewart?
