darlin_clementine's Profile
Looking for recs for budget romantic dinner
They say you can find anything in New York....
I'm looking for a romantic restaurant for dinner w/my BF in NYC. Moderate prices are best (under $20ish per entree, the more reasonable the better). I'd like the whole meal (entrees, appetizers, bottle of wine) to cost under $100. $65 would be a lot better.
Somewhere that is private, ambient, excellent service, delicious food. It does not have to be 'fancy'.
I don't really care about the type of cuisine. We like good food, and well-balanced meals. Dietary restrictions: tomato, shrimp. I am less interested in oriental.
I really just want to find a 'hidden gem' to eat at (yeah if you post it here it won't be so hidden anymore). We're in the town on business. I've had unlucky experiences in the past by picking things that 'look nice' and YELP is overwhelming because I don't know where to start.
Please help! What's your favorite place to take your honey for a special (but not too expensive) meal?
We're staying in the Fashion District. I don't mind taking a cab.
TYVM!
En Route to Inn at Little Washington
The Griffin Tavern in Flint Hill is nice (great view from the front porch), Ray's in Sperryville is affordable with lots of hippy character and decent eats.
Restaurants In Frederick
I like Brewer's Alley in downtown Frederick. Comfort food and very good IPA.
'Pick Your Own' Berry Farms
Where can I find Pick Your Own farms with fresh blueberries or strawberries? I'm looking something within easy driving of D.C. (under 1 hour). Organic/no spray or low spray would be great, but isn't necessary.
Pasta Plus in Laurel
Pasta Plus is good, I usually get takeout from their market. It's fast and reasonably priced (1 entree easily feeds 2 people). I'm not a fan of tomato-based pasta in general, but I like their other dishes (especially the side dish of vegetables cooked in garlic. YUM). Their desserts are yummy, if you get them on the day they were made. The white chocolate eclair with strawberries is delicious, but the tiramisou is soggy.
Pig 'N Steak --Near Shenandoah Park
Pig N Steak is pretty good BBQ. Their sides generally suck (frozen fries, Sysco rolls, etc), but who goes to a BBQ joint for sides? Stick to the basics, they do it well.
Local source for raw / unfiltered honey
You can buy honey from Lord Byron's Honey at MOM's Organic Market (they have locations all around the metro area). Lord Byron's is one of the only honey producers in Maryland who actually keeps his own bees.
Here's a link to Lord Byron's Website
http://www.lordbyronshoney.com/
and MOM's locations:
http://www.momsorganicmarket.com/retailer/store_templates/ret_custom_page2.asp?storeID=A6B40AE98C7842A98FC8DE4784880288
It's really good honey. I love it.
Where can I get my hands on some raw milk?
Nope, I buy meat from Grocery stores all the time. But I don't eat it raw, I cook it first!
Balducci's is Closing in D.C.
I don't think the Bethesda store will be going anywhere soon... Even at the height of mismanagement 5 years ago their sales were booming.
Last time I was in there, I was pretty disappointed with their grocery selection. Everything was cheap-looking private label, and they'd dropped some of the good, decently priced items that they bought through direct import. For example, they no longer had good Delouis vinegar for like $7.99... It was a choice between $19.99 vinegar or the same crap I can buy at Giant for $3.99.
The customer service has always been very hit or miss. Overall, they treat their staff really poorly (I've seen it first hand) and have a bunch of low-paid recent immigrants working there for minimum wage.
I've always felt that if they treated their employees better, there wouldn't be such massive waste/loss and their bottom line would improve. Those 500% markups on prepared foods don't really help you if your staff is doing everything they can to create accidental waste to 'get back at the man.'
On site BBQ for firm picnic!
If you're trying to decide between Urban BBQ and Red Hot and Blue, Urban BBQ is cheaper per head. I've seen them do the onsite grilling at a couple different gatherings, and have personally used their pick-up prepared food.
I don't think any of them do onside grilling... I think they prep the food in the kitchen and heat it onsite. It's still tasty!
escargot
I like the escargot at Bistro Francais in Georgetown. It's nice and garlicky, and consistently good.
Where can I get my hands on some raw milk?
With all this talk about the wonders of raw milk, it's important to remember that you can get listeria, salmonella, and other nasty bacterial infections from drinking raw milk. It is definitely not a good idea for anyone with a compromised immune system.
Pasteurization kills bacteria. Think eating peanuts and pistachios is scary? Think twice about drinking raw milk...
Two young people visiting Baltimore first time
The Helmand
806 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21201
Delicious Afghani food. Tell them to try the pumpkin!
Where can I get my hands on some raw milk?
You can buy non-homogenized milk in MD in stores. Trickling Springs Creamery (at MOM's Organic Market, Roots, etc has milk in glass bottles with thick layers of cream on top. Very old fashioned. It is pasteurized. South Mountain Creamery has the same thing, but it's more expensive.
Organic milk is free of growth hormones and antibiotics.
For raw milk in MD you will need to join a milk share program, where you essentially buy part of the cow and get the milk for free. Here's a list of milk share programs in MD, it might be out of date.
http://www.ediblechesapeake.com/content/Listings/Milk-Share-Programs.htm
CSA in Culpeper area?
Has anyone heard of a CSA in the Culpeper area of Virginia? Ideally something offering organic or lowspray produce.
Dogfish Head Ale House over Tap and Vine
I haven't tried all of Dogfish's brews, but I really like their 60 minute IPA, and recently enjoyed Palo Santo ale. If you think Dogfish is uninspired, what beer do you think is really good and inspiring? What do you recommend instead?
Wine Stores
I live in the wilds of College Park, so my options are rather limited. Corridor Wine & Spirits in Laurel is good. More locally, we have the Village Pump. They have a better selection of wine and microbrews than your average PG county booze shop.
Dried, Shredded Tofu and Seitan
I've never seen dried shredded tofu, but I've seen fresh tofu noodles at MOM's. It's called Shiratake. I think they also have seitan and other meat substitutes.
Spicy Chocolate Ice Cream
Moorenkos in Silver Spring also has Red Hot Chocolate ice cream. Yummy!
Where to buy spelt and farro in DC?
I just bought a bag of farro at MOM's Organic Market in Rockville. I think it cost around $8 or $9. Their other locations might have it also.
MOM's Organic Market
11711 Parklawn Dr
Rockville, MD 20852
Now I just have to find a nice recipe for it!
MD suburbs good, cheap eats
Some of my favorites:
Moby Dick -- kabobs, afghan food
Pasta Plus -- family-run Italian in Laurel, MD)
Maurya -- great pakistani/indian take out joint on Cherry Hill Rd in Beltsville
Sardi's Polo a la Brassa - charcoal chicken in College Park (Rt 1)
