helmswoman's Profile
Where to eat in Jekyll Island
Thanks for all the great suggestions. We just got back, and enjoyed Latitude 31 (twice) and Rah Bar, as well as the main dining room at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel (including its great Sunday brunch buffet). We also enjoyed Fins on the Beach, which is very casual but the chef/cook has a deft hand with the fryer. We also had the most tender, perfectly grilled shrimp of our visit there, and we ate lots of shrimp on Jekyll. Sorry to say we did not enjoy the food at the Courtyard at Crane, although the lovely setting almost made it worth the visit. My companion ordered seafood scampi, not a terribly challenging dish for a cook, which came without any discernible taste of garlic, and was seasoned with dried herbs that were harsh and unpleasant. My dish was good with the exception of a gluey risotto. Didn't make it to St. Simons, but that's just one more reason to go back.
Where to eat in Jekyll Island
Will be traveling with my favorite traveling companion to Jekyll Island for a long weekend. I've never been there, and see that there has been no discussion of Jekyll Island restaurants on CH. I hope that this is not an omen. We may add a day trip to St. Simons Island. We are partial to places that feature local cuisine using local ingredients in inventive ways. Any recommendations for either location would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
Desperately seeking montasio cheese
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will check out the local (DC-Baltimore) places, but Murray's is a little far to travel for cheese, even to make the wonderful frico. And I had hoped to avoid the high costs of shipping a perishable item. (I appreciate knowing that you need to buy the young cheese, as it wasn't clear from the recipe I saw which stage of aging was required. Thanks Delucacheesemonger.)
Desperately seeking montasio cheese
It would be worth a trip to Eastern Market just to check out the smug cheese vendor.
Desperately seeking montasio cheese
Looking for montasio cheese--the real thing, from Friuli region of Italy--in the DC-Baltimore area. Have tried the usual suspects in the DC suburbs--Balducci's, Whole Foods, etc., with no success. Online sources are available, but shipping charges make this an expensive option. Any thoughts?
Need idea for hors d'oeuvres
Thanks for the wonderful ideas!! Chowhounds always inspire me.
Need idea for hors d'oeuvres
I need a few ideas for what to serve with drinks before dinner. I don't want to overwhelm my guests' appetites, but do want to give them something to eat with drinks. This group tends toward wine, and we'll probably be serving champagne and/or kir royale (w/pomegranate liqueur) before dinner. For the meal itself, I'm serving a mixed greens salad w/smoked duck breast as a first, seafood stew (cioppino) as a main, if that helps. Thanks!!!
What is one tip that you learned about cooking that was simple but made a huge difference? [old]
That the technique for gravy was the same as for a basic white sauce. It changed my life. No more gluey gravy and it comes out perfect every time.
Vapiano's arugula salad dressing
Has anyone managed to duplicate Vapiano's addictive arugula-mustard salad dressing? I've tried an internet search to no avail.
Fresh Whole Turkeys
You might try the Amish market in Laurel. There is a stand there that sells fresh poultry.
Best place for Sunday brunch in Annapolis or DC?
In DC, we like the amazing brunch spread at the Georgetown Four Seasons (Seasons restaurant). It is pricey, but the variety and quality of food, plus the nonstop pours of sparkling wine (domestic) make it worthwhile. Particularly loved the seafood bar, the vegetable table with inventive and delicious vegetable combos, and the dessert table. There is something for everyone, including carving station, omelette bar, and much more.
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Four Seasons Cafe
50 S Pickett St Ste 23, Alexandria, VA 22304
Best food (especially crabs) a short drive from DC?
We visited Fallingwater recently and found good food difficult to find in the area. Nemacolin resort in Farmington PA (about 15? miles from Fallingwater) has a very good restaurant. Probably need a reservation. If you are looking for something quick and casual, the visitor center at Fallingwater has some things that looked interesting. There may be some good food in the town of Ohiopyle (in between Fallingwater and Nemacolin), although we didn't eat there.
Crabs and crab cakes
Best crab cakes anywhere are not far from Aquarium/Inner Harbor area--Faidley's in the Lexington Market. They don't sell crabs, but the crab cakes alone (get the jumbo lump only) are worth the trip.
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Lexington Market
400 W Lexington St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Where to go for dungeness crab
Thanks all. Ran out of time due to Hurricane Irene (needed to leave Seattle sooner than scheduled), so I bought a couple of cooked, chilled crabs at the market, packed to travel. Cleaned then and cracked them myself (crab anatomy is the same, whether it's Dungeness or blue) and served them chilled with cold mustard-mayo dipping sauce. They were good, but I was surprised that they are the reverse of the blue crab in terms of where the flavor is--the blues have their best, most flavorful meat in the backfin, less so in the claws and skinny legs. The body meat of the Dungeness is pretty mild in flavor, the claws and legs are sweeter. Next time I will try some of your suggestions for freshly cooked and chilled crab in Seattle and see if absolute freshness makes a big difference. Post scriptum: ironically, our local (Maryland) Costco had Dungeness crabs for sale when we got back.
Where to go for dungeness crab
I've spent some time reading recent threads of "where to eat" recommendations for Seattle (and have some great general ideas for restaurants based on those) but haven't seen any suggestions of THE place to go to eat fresh dungeness crab. Brother-in-law describes it as "ambrosial," better than Maine lobster or even our (Maryland native) beloved Chesapeake blue crabs. I have to try it! I'll be in Seattle in 2 weeks and would appreciate recommendations for best places to get fresh dungeness. I'll be staying in a hotel, so buying fresh and taking it home to cook is not an option. Thanks!!
Where's the shad???
We last bought boned shad fillet at the Salt River Lobster truck at the Kensington farmers market (Sat 8-12). I prepare baked stuffed shad fillet according to James Beard Fish Cookery's recipe, stuffed with a simple-to-prepare mixture of sliced onion sauteed in butter with thyme, parsley, bread crumb and egg. It is delicious and really enhanced the sweet and delicate flavor of the shad. Sometimes Whole Foods fish counter has the boned shad fillets. Also, the seafood store on Connecticut Ave. in Chevy Chase (can't remember the name, it is about 1 block south of Safeway).
Best french onion soup in DC
With the coldest January in almost 30 years forecast, we need good french onion soup!Last post was from 4 years ago and recommended a restaurant that is no longer in business. I'm looking for the real deal--made with lots of caramelized onions, real beefy stock and topped with melted gruyere, no gummy mozzarella. Recommendations?
Burtonsville Amish Market Potato Salad
Thanks to all. The recipe from recipelover was really close--the key is to chop ingredients fine and let the flavors develop in the refrigerator--but not quite the same as the Amish Market. There is still something missing that I can't identify. The Germantown market is identical, as near as I can tell, but is too far to go for potato salad. (Never thought I would spend so much effort looking for a potato salad recipe, but it was the only one I really liked.)
Anniversary weekend trip to Annapolis
I'm grinning as I read your post. My husband and I are going to Annapolis this weekend (early Sept.) for a getaway, love food and drink, and are staying at the Westin. We have visited Annapolis many, many times, sail out of Back Creek, and can't go there without dinner at O'Leary's. Not sure if it qualifies as "foodie," but the food is good (skip the flown-in-from-Hawaii fish and concentrate on what's local--soft shells if they're on the menu) and the service is great. We've also enjoyed Carrol Creek Cafe and second the advice on avoiding most downtown restaurants, especially on a late summer weekend when it will be mobbed. We've enjoyed O'Brien's for drinks, Pusser's is fun but can be very crowded. Brunch at McGarvey's for great bloody mary's (brunch is served Sunday only). Shopping: if you like pottery you have to go the Annapolis Pottery. Sightseeing: in addition to what's already been offered, go to the State House--full of history--the Paca house for gardens if you enjoy that, stroll some of the back streets downtown for the ambiance. And by all means get out on the water, even if it means booking one of those touristy boat trips.
Potato salad from the Amish market
Thank you, recipelover. I can't wait to try this, and absolute measurements are not needed. I wondered whether they used straight mayo or something lighter. Will try this.
Burtonsville Amish Market Potato Salad
Just checked their web site--apparently they closed July 4. Now I NEED the recipe!!!
Burtonsville Amish Market Potato Salad
Have they actually closed? I was there a few months ago, and signs were posted that they were open until further notice. I thought they move fell through, victim of the real estate bust.
Burtonsville Amish Market Potato Salad
The potato salad at the Burtonsville (MD) Amish Market is the world's best. It is not the eggy, mustardy, yellow kind, but straightforward potato salad with lots of finely minced onion, celery, maybe some parsley. I don't know what makes it so good but I could eat quarts. It is now 3:10 and the market is closed for the weekend--anyone have the recipe?
Where can I find Godiva Ice Cream
Just back from a wild goose chase shopping trip and learned (via Chowhound) that Godiva Belgian Dark Chocolate is no more. I've tried other so-called "dark" or "intense" chocolate ice creams, but nothing comes close. Another great product bites the dust.
D.C. specialty foods shops
For great bread, try Bread Line on Pennsylvania Ave and approx. 18th St. Hours are, unfortunately, limited, but it is worth going out of your way for.
New owner of Stand Mixer
I am planning to purchase a stand mixer--reviews are mixed, to say the least. Kitchen Aid Pro 600 was recommended by Cooks Magazine in Nov 2005, but other (user) reviews are all over the board. There is apparently a problem with plastic gearbox housing that breaks down and a "proper use" issue--have to let the motor cool down when making bread dough. Any experience with this model, particularly for bread-making or other heavy-duty use?
Scrimshaw in Albany, NY?
Re: the late lamented Cranberry Bog--I have been looking for years for the recipe for their cranberry bread. It was better than any other recipe I've tried (the baking soda/orange juice kind). I know the Times Union published it years ago (predating the internet). Any Chowhound Tristate folks have it?
Annapolis Favorites and Updates
Still haven't found any place better in Annapolis than O'Leary's, although I miss the old O'Leary's--fresh catch (much of it local!) on the chalkboard. Fish flown in from Hawaii leaves me cold. Stick to the specials there, avoid anything that waitress describes as "a party on a plate." And ask for your soft shells sauteed, not deep (or "flash") fried.
Cantler's on a weekday without the crowds.
