Apples and Bananas

At home, on hold

2008-12-11T15:09:00.002-05:00

I've written six hundred posts before this one, but I'm still unsure why it's taking me this long to write 601. Maybe because it's been a long while since I've done it. Perhaps it's because I've spent the past four months in three states, working on three congressional campaigns, one senate campaign, and not checking out a single food blog along the way. Perhaps it's because as it pertains to this blog, at this moment, I simply have nothing to say.

That's not to say that I no longer have an interest in food, but that it's no longer my primary interest, and I don't feel comfortable writing about food in a city that I haven't stepped foot in for four months.

Sure, I've had some interesting culinary experiences on the road. From the wonderful Indian restaurant in Port St. Lucie and real home cooking in the berbs of Atlanta, to ham sandwiches in Oklahoma and my new all-time favorite restaurant tucked away in a mall in Shreveport, I've been to and eaten at a lot of places I never thought I'd have the chance to go.

I don't know when I'm coming back to Washington, and at this moment I'm looking for campaign work in either Virginia or New Jersey, so if you know someone who has a guy who knows a guy, shoot me an email.

In the meantime, if anyone actually finds their way to this site again, keep reading the blogs on the right. I can't say that I don't miss writing. I miss the restaurants, I miss the people, and damn do I miss the food. But sometimes you've got to move on; because you never know when you'll get another chance to be part of a national scandal in Florida, to work for a convicted felon, or to blow a hundred dollars in five minutes at a blackjack table in Louisiana.

Seasonal Produce

2008-08-13T16:37:00.002-04:00

The fruit and vegetables that we eat are planted, grown and harvested over the course of a cycle. The portion of time in which they're ripe and best ready to eat is considered their "season".

I am not a fruit, or a vegetable, but I too belong to a class of those who are picked during a season - the political junkie. No, I'm not just the guy who watches The Situation Room every night, I'm the guy who went to grad school for campaign management, and now I'm the guy who is leaving Washington DC to work on a congressional campaign.

It's been a strange 24 hours since I heard from my new boss that I got a job as a Field Organizer in Florida's 16th Congressional District, but since I'm leaving Friday morning for the Sunshine State, and I'd prefer that my not so unique brand of snark and sarcasm not be around for any prying GOP opposition researchers to find, I'll be temporarily shutting this blog down sometime this weekend - so if you come and visit, and it says you need a password, you really don't, it's because there won't be anything to read until after Election Day.

I want to thank my friends and readers for being so good to me over the past year and a half. I started this blog out as something just for Apples and I, but now people actually read it, and I couldn't be more humbled by that.

I will miss writing for you, I will miss obsessing over the latest trend or which chef is going where, and I will miss all of you who have given my ego that quite unneeded boost over the past months.

I'll be back, better than ever; but in the meantime, if you'll excuse me, we've got a race to win.

Beach Bums and Bacon Ice Cream: Rehoboth Beach Part 2

2008-08-13T14:48:00.004-04:00

Whoever designed Rehoboth Beach must have gotten their start designing medieval defensive fortifications; of this I'm positive.

Rehoboth Ave. funnels visitors directly to the boardwalk, and like a team of well trained archers high upon the keep, restaurants and shops a like methodically mow down the invading hoards with slices of pizza, fudge and candy by the ton, and novelty t-shirts.

Except for Sunday, it was raining. This wasn't just rain, this was - let's go out and get an ax for arc building purposes - rain. So after seeking shelter in a little novelty store on the boardwalk and eating our weight in fudge, I decided that the best way to ride out the storm was to find a restaurant and get a drink.

We ended up at Mariachi Restaurant, a charming little Mexican restaurant with subpar service, decent food, and a Margarita with enough booze in it to kill a small animal. In retrospect, this was probably the only place I'd take a Mulligan on - it wasn't bad, but there are so many other places along Rehoboth Ave., I'd probably wait until I got back home again for average Mexican food.

Somewhere between the chips and the booze the rain stopped, and we got brave enough to take our towels out of the car and find a spot on the beach - where we napped, heavily.

Getting up in time for dinner I wanted to take one of your recommendations, so remembering what a commenter named "Jimmy" wrote, we made our way down to Nicola Pizza just off the main strip.

Like a Pizza Hut if Pizza Hut were, you know, good, Nicola Pizza draws locals and tourists alike - or basically anyone who has kids. Its easy to see why your standard party size is of six or more people - good looking pizzas, fast and friendly service, great prices. But as recommended, I decided to get the Nic-o-boli, a variation of the stromboli, or basically a wonderful concoction of dough, tomato sauce, meat and cheese.

Surprisingly light and not very greasy, I was able to eat the whole thing without a problem, and with the assistance of several gallons of birch beer - the king of all sodas.

Apples also got a variation of the Nic-o-boli, this one with mushrooms, and a couple other kinds of veggies. In all, it was quite tasty, and if I were to spend more than a day at Rehoboth again, I'd find it awfully hard to fight the temptation to make a return trip.

Running (or walking rather slowly) our way through the gauntlet of beach food, we weren't quite satisfied without at least some ice cream in our system. While I contemplated your traditional custard in a cone, the utter simplicity (oh I'm so punny) of a shop called "The Ice Cream Store" just seemed to make sense.

Pretty much right on the corner of the boardwalk and Rehoboth Ave., The Ice Cream store has over seventy flavors, a decent portion of them are special to the store, and it seemed that all were store made.

The selection is overwhelming to say the least, but with Apples craving a mint chocolate chip hot fudge sundae (she's been talking about this for weeks) and me craving something strange, we dove in, and were reminded why we love ice cream.

At its best ice cream is complex, playful, and the kind of treat that just brings you back to a better time. The Ice Cream Store does this, but it does it with a sense of humor, and better than almost any I've ever had. Looking for a reason to have ice cream for breakfast? Try their bacon ice cream (which would be amazing on a waffle with maple syrup) which beautifully balances the sweet of the cream and the salty savoryness of the bacon.

Looking for something season and strange? Try their sweet corn ice cream - yes I know, it's corn, and there are actual bits of corn in it, but good gracious this is good stuff - like a chilled orgy of summer scooped up and placed into a cone, I got it with some African vanilla to mild the corn flavor, but next time I might get it with some bacon, or hamburger flavor if they have it.

Apples of course got her sundae, which was terrific and a half, and was consumed with the vigor of an entire kindergarten class devouring a cookie factory.

The rest of our trip was fairly ordinary - if by ordinary I mean we ended up spending the night at Apples' parents house in Northeast Maryland because we couldn't get across the Bay Bridge in under five hours, and we got back home around ten the next morning.

It is often said that it's the journey, not the destination that really makes a trip; Rehoboth Beach lets you have both. It may not be the most exciting place on the face of the planet, but I could probably live there for a year and never eat at the same place twice, and be perfectly happy doing it. So pack up the car, come hungry, and bring lots of cash, because you're driving away satisfied.

Tragedy, thunderstorms, and the best chicken ever consumed: Rehoboth Beach Part 1

2008-08-12T12:37:00.006-04:00

I don't remember going to the beach when I was a little kid; which is strange considering I'm from Miami.

When I got to high school however, I tried my best to make up for lost time, spending a decent amount of weekend nights (and skipped school days) on South Beach - the closest beach to our house. But when South Beach is your neighborhood beach, your idea of going to the beach is slightly warped, and culture shock settles in when you realize that "the beach" (or the shore, depending on where you're from) isn't about drinking your way through the day or keeping count of the number of topless women running around.

For most, the beach is about time with friends and family, cruising the boardwalk, eating fatty food and digging a large hole in the sand - all activities pretty much mandated in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

One does not get from Arlington, VA to Rehoboth in the blink of an eye, no, we had a three hour drive, and a lot of twists and turns ahead of us.

Once you get past DC, there's not a whole lot aside from Annapolis, a shit load of corn fields, and an awfully large body of water between you and the Atlantic. While we quietly passed Annapolis by, and the corn fields didn't offer us up much trouble, it was a tragedy on the Bay Bridge that put us in bumper to bumper traffic Sunday morning, and scrambling to find shelter Sunday night (more on that later).

Beyond the Bay Bridge the drive to Rehoboth is remarkable in an unremarkable kind of way. There's a whole lot of nothing out here - real country nothing that reminds you that there is life outside of the city, and begs the question, "Can you imagine living out here?".

Far away from the hottest new French bistro or wine bar, you can't help get a sense that the people out here respect food on a whole different level than we do here in the city - probably mostly because they grow it. Especially when you get into Delaware, you'll see roadside stands with all kind of produce, from tomatoes to "lopes", why go to a farmers market when you've got a farm?

Like most ventures the memories are truly made during the journey, and in a sea of fresh produce, a sign called out to us like a beacon calling us home: Kiwanis Chicken BBQ. Now we had seen one of these signs when we first entered Delaware, but the BBQ was on the other side of the road, and with Apples driving, there's almost no stopping her. Luckily however the Kiwanians of Georgetown, DE decided to set up shop on the Eastbound side of the road, complete with a sign indicating that the chicken was ready; so looking for a late breakfast/early lunch, we pulled in and took our chances.

We were probably the first customers of the day, and it was clear that we were from out of town. Pulling up in a convertible Mini Cooper, we must have looked like a couple of rich kids from the city who had nothing in common with the four guys manning the big open pit grill, most of whom were shirtless, and the girl working the register (it actually couldn't have been further from the truth - Apples and I both being from the country and my family having been involved in Kiwanis for three generations).

The menu was simple: you could either get a half chicken, or the chicken platter, which came with a roll, a bag of Herrs potato chips, and pickle slices. That's it. No hamburgers, no hot dogs, just one thing, done amazingly well.

I don't know how to describe this chicken in a way that sounds half way reasonable. I'm not a fan of absolutes; I don't like declaring anything the best, the most, the least. But this was the best chicken I've ever had. Now, if I would have ordered this at a restaurant, and had it served to me by a waiter, would I feel the same way? Probably not. But sitting on a picnic table somewhere near Georgetown, Delaware, eating a piece of chicken that came right off the grill, that was seasoned perfectly - just the right amount of salt, pepper, spice and char - and was perfectly moist, you can't get much better than that.

Food is best when it connects us to something bigger than ourselves, when it speaks for the people who made it, and when allows two yuppies from the city to enjoy something so basic and simple, it would be seen as a novelty here in Washington. We ate a lot during this trip, but this is the one place I would insist on visiting again, if only to allow a molecule or two of smoke from the grill to pass into my nose and live forever in a studio apartment in my lungs.

As we got back out onto the road, all wasn't chicken and pickles. The sky was starting to darken, and we had to pull over to put the roof up. We pulled into Rehoboth Beach just as it started to rain, and just like that, it looked like our time at the beach was over even before it began.

To be continued...

Openings and Closings

2008-08-12T11:28:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm back after a crazy weekend that somehow extended into Monday, but before I get to that, here's a little business to attend to:

I'll start off with the good news; I've got two new openings to announce, one being a second location for Agraria, the Georgetown Harbour restaurant that focuses on locally grown seasonal ingredients. I don't know exactly where the restaurant will be, but according to Donrockwell.com, it'll be somewhere downtown and open on September 8th.

Also in the downtownish portion of the city, Current, which will be taking the space formerly held by Dragonfly, will be opening Thursday, August 14th with an invite only event.

But now to the bad news, it looks like M'Dawg, the Adams Morgan hot dog joint formerly owned by the folks over at Amsterdam Falafel, has closed. The quality of this late night favorite has gone downhill significantly since the Amsterdam owners left, and it'll be interesting to see what takes the place of this prime location.

In the meantime, word on the street is that Adams Morgan will be getting a frozen yogurt place of its own, so once I have further details on that, I'll be sure to share them with you.

We're going to the beach...and we need your help.

2008-08-08T11:15:00.004-04:00

This will probably be the last post until Monday, because Apples and I are headed to Rehoboth Beach, DE for the weekend.

So this is where I turn to you for advice; is there a restaurant that we shouldn't miss? Some beach specialty that I can't come home without? Are there places to avoid?

Please, leave comments with suggestions, and I'll report back with results on Monday. Until then, have a great weekend everyone!

Samantha Brown Does DC

2008-08-08T10:44:00.002-04:00

I've got to admit, I was a skeptic. I honestly didn't think this bubbly little blond would be able to pull off a decent show about our city.

But man was I wrong. I actually really enjoyed Samantha Brown's jaunt through our fair city.

Yes, everyone does Ben's - but if I wasn't from Washington DC, and I knew nothing about it, Ben's is exactly the kind of place I'd want to see - the kind of place that really defines this city (as opposed to the politicians and tourists).

So what did you think about it? Do you think she did a good job, or missed the point?

Go for the Gold with Olympic Specials Tomorrow

2008-08-07T10:54:00.002-04:00

Looking for a way to celebrate the beginning of the Summer Olympics tomorrow? Well you don't have to scramble to buy that last minute ticket to China, you can stay right here in town and celebrate with some great meals.

In Shirlington, Ping by Charlie Chiang will be featuring eight entrees for $8.00 for eight hours. But don't worry if you can't make it tomorrow, during the entire games, Ping will be offering a "Summer Olympic ‘Pentathlon’ Prix-Fixe Menu consisting of an amuse bouche, appetizer, soup, entrée and dessert for $28.88 per person.

If you're looking for something downtown, look no further than The Source, Wolfgang Puck's Washington contribution, where Executive Chef Scott Drewno will be serving up a three course menu for $35 that includes dishes such as, "Roasted Duck with scallion wraps and Mandarin Orange reduction, Hot and Sour Soup with jumbo lump crab and pork tenderloin, and Kung Pao prawns with a spicy garlic-chili sauce and toasted peanuts."

If you know of any other specials going on during the Olympics, let me know so I can post them. Until then, let the games begin!

First Look: Bob's 88 Shabu Shabu

2008-08-06T10:54:00.004-04:00

Silence.

There was absolute silence. Actually, there probably wasn't. With kids jumping around and pots and chopsticks clanging together like some sort of delicious culinary chorus, the air was as heavy with noise as it was with the smell of broth and beef. But I couldn't hear any of it, I was too focused on the task at hand.

Shabu Shabu, though a funny sounding name, is very serious eating. Originally from Japan, the Chinese have embraced this way of eating - taking raw meat/seafood, cooking it in boiling broth, and then using that broth with noodles to make a soup - and have seen this incarnation pop up in hot spots ranging from Hong Kong to New York.

Apples and I visited Bob's 88 Shabu Shabu this past weekend in Rockville, a humble house of culinary delights in sea of flashy lights and chain restaurants. Once we settled in and made our way through the menu, we both decided to get separate protein options - she got the seafood and beef, and I got the lamb and pork - and we split to appetizers, steamed buns and garlic cucumber.

The service is incredibly fast and properly impersonal - you're not here to make friends with these people, you just want your food, ASAP.

The first thing you'll get, and these come out pretty much right away, are the pots filled with broth. I'm fairly sure it's either a chicken or fish based broth, but either way it's fairly light and serves its purpose. Shortly after, your actual food comes out. You'll get two plates, one with your protein - I got a large amount of raw lamb and pork rolled up into manageable pieces, where Apples got a fantastic variety of seafood, from head-on shrimp, to oysters, scallops, and a big hunk of white fish.

Along with the meats and seafood, you'll get a big plate of veggies, including what I believe was some sort of spinach, cabbage, mushrooms, noodles, and an egg - the last two being very critical for the last portion of the meal.

Once everything is set down before you, the process is pretty much pure primal instinct: put the meat in the boiling broth, let it cook, add vegetables, and then eat.

Along with what you have brought to your table, you also have the option of visiting their sauce cart, which is basically the salad bar dressing equivalent, where you can load up on chili sauces and fish sauces and soy sauces, and well...pretty much anything else you can turn into a sauce.

Now if this seems like a lot of food, it was. But think of it more like a four course meal than just one big dinner (in include dessert in that, which I'll get to later).

The appetizers which came out first were fantastic. The cucumbers were nicely crisp and properly garlicy, and the buns were full of juicy porky goodness.

All of the meat was about as tender as you'd expect - the real trick being to cook it just long enough to be safe, but not to over do it - less than a half minute in the broth will do. The seafood and vegetables were also about what you'd expect (assuming your expectations are fairly high) - fresh and flavorful.

My favorite part of the meal was once all the meat was gone, when I could add my noodles in and make myself a couple bowls of soup. Add in some spicy chili oil and sweet chili sauce for a great contrast in flavors that blends well with the broth that's somehow absorbed everything you just ate, and poach the raw egg you're given for a little texture and sweetness - this may be my new favorite soup (sorry Pho).

After you're finished with all of that, you can't pass up on dessert, especially shaved ice covered in coconut milk and fruit. We decided on lychee, mango, and taro. I haven't had lychee since I lived in Florida, and taro - a root vegetable, provides a pleasantly dull hearty flavor to a very light dish.

It's hard to sum up Bob's 88 in a single post, and honestly, words can't do the experience justice. It's interactive, interesting, and simply incredible. With so much amazing food in front of you, it's easy to lose track of the families having fun and the whirl of activity around you; but all you'll hear is silence, silence and slurping, as you work your way through one of the best meals you've had in a long time.

Food Day: Back to Basics Edition

2008-08-06T10:05:00.002-04:00

Happy Food Day everyone, here's what's going on in the world of food today:

Living Local: I remember always being confused growing up when I'd go to the grocery store and see tomatoes from Mexico and Avocados from California - why transport them from thousands of miles away when we lived next to an Avocado grove and down the street from a tomato farm? Well it looks like big grocery stores, and even Wal-Mart, are embracing local produce - this NY Times article has the details.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Time!: Every morning I get up and make myself a PB&J sandwich, and usually I have another before I go for a run in the evening - but evidently my love for the PB&J isn't as unusual as I thought. According to this Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, we Americans love our PB&J, and eat an estimated 10 BILLION sandwiches a year!

Blast from the past: Remember the days when people used to eat real food? Well those days are here again, and according to this Washington Post article, eating real food may be better than any diet.

It's not the cut, it's how you cut it: Looking to do a little grilling this weekend? Well according to this Arizona Republic article, you don't have to pay ridiculous prices for fancy cuts to get a good steak.

It's a big country: Much of the world's attention will turn to China over the next couple weeks, this Denver Post article shows us that "Chinese Food" isn't just what you find in your mall food court.

Go @&%# Yourself Ruby Tuesday

2008-08-05T16:50:00.003-04:00

Well it seems that Ruby Tuesday is to PR as what, well...Ruby Tuesday is to food - the embodiment of everything wrong and unholy.

Thanks to the good folks at Capital Spice for bringing this to my attention, as I was too busy watching Army of Darkness to actually watch this PR disaster.

You see, instead of blowing up their last "old Ruby Tuesdays", they just blew up some fake restaurant and released this letter:

Good job Ruby Tuesday, you had us, but then you lost us by trying too hard to be cute and clever.

Oh who am I kidding, it's not like I was ever going to go back anyway.

It's the most important meal of the day

2008-08-05T15:55:00.002-04:00

But according to this ABC report, breakfast isn't exactly what it used to be, and now breakfast icons Denny's and IHOP are fighting back against their fast food rivals.

Introducing "more portable products, offering to-go and curbside pickup programs and remodeling their locations", Denny's and IHOP are hoping to cut their loses and regain what was once their sizable share of the breakfast market.

For me, growing up, Denny's was my favorite of the bunch, probably because there were two within close driving distance to where I lived (there was actually a place called Wags Restaurant that had a cute little raccoon as their mascot that I really loved, after that closed it became a Todd's - which was essentially the same restaurant, and then an empty lot for years), yet oddly I rarely got breakfast there - it was mainly a dinner/after school hangout kind of place.

So my loyal reader(s), do you think restaurants like Denny's and IHOP have a chance against the golden arches? Will you buy into their new schemes to get you into their booths early in the morning?

What I'm Reading: Salty Girl Cooks

2008-08-05T13:45:00.003-04:00

I normally wait until Monday's Weekly Website to do this, but why wait when you've got a blog this good to show off?

Salty Girl Cooks is a blog for the manic eating and recipe freak and the food porn lover in all of us.

Filled with great vegetarian recipes and beautiful pictures, I hope you add this blog to your daily reading list too.

My dream comes true

2008-08-04T22:11:00.003-04:00

Well, almost. I've always wanted to take part in the destruction of a Ruby Tuesday; the tacky crap on the walls, the subpar, uninspired, mystery food that's always just a few dollars more expensive than it should be. But it looks like the fine folks at corporate are going to beat me to it, all in the name of pure promotion.

According to their website, the last "old Ruby Tuesday" will be destroyed tomorrow at 3pm - a sign that Ruby Tuesday has moved in a new direction.

So what does that mean? Ruby Tuesday's website states:

After more than 36 years of being one of America's favorite casual-dining brands, we came to the conclusion that when you went out to eat, there was too much sameness and not enough quality. So we decided to make a better, fresher Ruby Tuesday, a familiar, comfortable place but one that is more in step with who you are today. Ours is a brand built on quality, with passion and pride in serving you food made from the freshest and highest-quality ingredients and with gracious hospitality in a place with a fresh new look and feel.

Some of those changes include, "fresh, never frozen chicken and beef", "seasonal vine-ripened tomatoes", "artisan cheeses", and "Going Green to make our world a better place".

Think about it - fresh meat, seasonal produce, artisan cheese, eco-friendly environments - is this Ruby Tuesday or Chez Panisse? Who would have thought that the home of the menu that's long on words and calories, but short on flavor and innovation would go so...progressive.

But I guess the real question is: are all of these things still progressive? Or are they so mainstream that Ruby Tuesday can offer artisan cheese (or at least what they're marketing as artisan - whatever the hell that means) and no one thinks twice about it?

I guess when it comes down to it, a dream of mine has come true - and I didn't even have to blow anything up. Looking at the menu, there are actually some items I'd get, and this nationwide chain is making some major steps to improve its product.

I can't say that I'll be visiting my local Ruby Tuesdays any time soon - not with so many other amazing options in this wonderful food city of ours - but the next time I'm out of town, and at a loss for anything else, you'll know where to find me.

Travel Channel's Samantha Brown's Special on DC to air Thursday at 10pm

2008-08-04T21:55:00.003-04:00

I've never seen Samantha Brown's Passport to Great Weekends on the Travel Channel, but I'll be watching this Saturday as she reports on what you can do to make a great weekend right here in DC.

So what hot spots will she be hitting up? Well, according to the website, she'll be visiting the following places:

1. Hudson for a Cocktail
2. Jack's Boat House to go kayaking
3. Ethiopian food at Etete
4. Poetry and Coffee at Busboys and Poets
5. Anything at Ben's Chili Bowl

Also, if you watch the commercials, she clearly goes to Perry's for drag queen brunch. I've got to give it to her (or most likely, her producers), she actually picked some decent places - though I have one quasi-issue: Ben's.

I love Ben's. Don't get me wrong, I actually think nothing (aside from Eastern Market) encapsulates the real Washington DC like Ben's, but every travel show on our fair city doesn't need to go to Ben's. There is more here, and it's ok to cover it - visit 2 Amy's on a Sunday morning, or Amsterdam Falafel/Jumbo Slice late on a Saturday night, or maybe even a little Steak and Egg somewhere in between.

So what do you think? Do you approve of this list? What's she missing? What would your five places be?

They call them "Big Kids" meals for a reason

2008-08-04T20:25:00.003-04:00

Straight from the department of "I could have saved you a lot of money and just told you that", a study from the Center for Science in the Public Interest states that "Nearly every possible combination of the children's meals at Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Sonic, Jack in the Box, and Chick-fil-A are too high in calories", according to this Washington Post article.

Really now? You mean that a double cheeseburger and fries with a chocolate milk - the elements of Burger King's "Big Kids" Meal - are high in calories? Or what about grilled cheese, fries and a slushie - the contents of a Sonic "Wacky Pack" - you mean that's bad for you?

Of course, the National Restaurant Association fired back by saying the report "fails to acknowledge the essential role of nutrition education, physical activity and parental responsibility in childhood nutrition - good eating habits and healthy living must be established in the home."

You know, they're absolutely right. Good eating habits and healthy living must be established in the home - with parents not bringing their kids to these restaurants in the first place.

Weekly Website: Extra Snarky Edition

2008-08-04T14:52:00.003-04:00

This week's Weekly Website doesn't just bring you one website...oh no, you've got three great blogs to check out as you count down the minutes to five o'clock today, so here you go:

Magniferous: There are some blogs you start reading, and can't stop until you've read about a month's worth of material. This isn't a straight up food blog, but that's a good thing, because you'll also find some absolutely hilarious commentary.

Dudes on Foods: Covering both NYC and Washington DC, Dudes on Foods has a ton of great news, reviews, and other great food related content. If you want to know what's going on between here and "the city", this is a great blog to read.

Restaurant Refugee: So many food blogs are written by people like me, normal people with an abnormal interest in food. But Restaurant Refugee gives you an insiders take on the industry - lots of great commentary and stories, good read overall.

As always, you can find all of these sites on the right hand side of the page. If you have any sites you'd like to see added (your own included), just leave me a comment and let me know.

British Gastropub, CommonWealth, to open August 6th

2008-08-04T14:14:00.001-04:00

The coolest neighborhood in DC is about to get a little cooler with the opening of CommonWealth, Chef Jamie Leeds' (of Hank's Oyster Bar) British style Gastropub in Columbia Heights.

With lunch and brunch scheduled to start later in the month, Leeds hopes to "transport guests to a lively, urban pub scene reminiscent of those found in London." While the beer list here is impressive, the food is the true highlight. From pub favorites like fish and chips, pot pies, and bangers and mash to more Americanized grub like a grass-fed burger and roast chicken.

Sunday evenings you'll find the "Sunday Roast", which features "a selection of roasted meat for the table served family style, paired with sides, such as leg of lamb, rabbit, pork, turkey, chicken-whatever is market fresh and available from local farmers", and will be around $20 per person.

In the spirit of the times, you'll see a very strong nod to local farmers, ensuring the top quality of the ingredients you'll be eating.

And of course the food isn't the only thing eco-friendly, Leeds worked hard "incorporating vintage wood paneling salvaged from barns, “tube” tile reminiscent of the London subways, concrete block walls, stained concrete floors and leather seating, creating a warm, rustic pub atmosphere."

You can see the whole menu here. It's a little more expensive than you'd normally find at your regular hang out, but this isn't your normal bar food. I'm guessing this gastropub is going to fit right in with the hip Columbia Heights crowd.

Funny, I usually just dream about being chased by wolves

2008-08-03T21:21:00.002-04:00

But evidently this is what chefs dream about.

Chef Cooks 'Dream Omelet' From Recipe That Came To Him In A Dream

Wakey Wakey, eggs and bacey!

2008-08-03T19:56:00.002-04:00

Waking up never tasted (or smelled) so good; I present to you...the Wake n’ Bacon alarm clock!

According to the folks at Crispy on the Outside, this alarm clock starts cooking a slice of bacon a few minutes before you want to wake up, filling the room up with the smell of heavenly pork and waking you up ready to chow down.

And if that doesn't work, a backup alarm goes off...and then you eat the bacon.

Now if only they had a pancake and eggs attachment, that's something worth waking up for.

Photo Courtesy: Crispy on the Outside

I never thought I'd hear this at a baseball game

2008-08-03T17:50:00.004-04:00

"You don't have to stay for the whole dinner, but you should come over for a while, I've got a Polyface chicken."

If you were the person who said this, please leave a comment. We need to be friends.

A sign of the times topped with cheese and pepperoni

2008-08-02T10:36:00.003-04:00

It was only a matter of time, but with everyone going organic these days, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Pizza Hut is rolling out a line of organic pies called, "The Natural", according to Fast Food Maven, a California based food blog.

Much like Robert Redford in pizza form, you'll find a multi-grain crust, organic sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes, and natural mozzarella cheese.

But the hippie pizza fest doesn't end with what you're eating, even the box will be made of 75% recycled material.

This Natural will be introduced in Tampa and Dallas before it's distributed nationwide. Hopefully, for Pizza Hut's sake, this product ends with a Robert Redford like home run (and not a Robert Redford like slow death due to a stabbing wound).

Photo Courtesy: Fast Food Maven

The British are coming...to Ballston

2008-08-02T09:15:00.003-04:00

Union Jack's British Pub is coming to Ballston. The sister location of the Bethesda restaurant and Bar, Union Jack's will be taking the space of the now closed Macaroni Grill immediately next to Rock Bottom Brewery.

This makes three "Restaurant and Bars" for the Ballston Mall, and it'll be interesting to see how all three manage to co-exist.

If the menu is the same at the new location as it is at the Bethesda one, expect to see some great happy hour deals, such as $2.00 Bud Lights and Coronas from 4-7pm on Monday through Friday and a "Ladies Night" with half off drinks on Thursdays.

There's also a large menu of your basic Americanized bar food, such as burgers, pizza, and various sandwiches.

So my fellow Ballstonites, will you be frequenting Union Jack's, or will you stick to your regular set of bars?

Fatty Country demands Fatty President...

2008-08-01T10:15:00.002-04:00

...at least that's the vibe you get from reading this Wall Street Journal article, which insinuates that Barack Obama might be too fit to be elected President.

The article quotes a couple Clinton supporters who claim, "He's too new ... and he needs to put some meat on his bones", and "I won't vote for any beanpole guy".

But it's not just Joe and Jane six-pack who feel this way, Arthur English, a political-science professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock claims that putting on the pounds and eating crappy food, "says: 'He's just like one of us".

Haven't we learned our lesson? We don't want a president who is "one of us", because then one of us could be president, and that's just the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I want a president who can lift a small car and then run ten miles. I want a president who can set an example for how we should eat in this country. A little Arugula isn't going to hurt you people! Drinking organic tea and and skipping the fast food isn't going to plunge this nation into a depression.

But no, let's vote for the guy who can't stop stuffing his face with candy bars and doughnuts, that would be the American thing to do.

Rachael Ray not content ruining people food...

2008-07-31T12:15:00.002-04:00

...it looks like dog food is next on the list of conquests for uber-almostchef Rachael Ray.

According to NBC, Ray is set to launch, "Nutrish", a line of pet food "based on recipes she has created for her pit bull, Isaboo."

All proceeds will go towards Ray's fund to help at-risk pets, "Rachael's Rescue", so at least that's a good thing.

Somehow I doubt she'll stop here, not until every dog and cat across America can say the word "sammy" and "yum-o".

Photo Courtesy: NBC

At least he doesn't look French

2008-07-30T23:25:00.002-04:00

I usually try to keep politics off of this page, but when food is brought down to the level of petty politics, I can't help but speak up. However, speaking up was probably the last thing that Rick Davis, Senator John McCain's campaign manager should have done when he said this:

"Only a celebrity of Barack Obama's magnitude could attract 200,000 fans in Berlin who gathered for the mere opportunity to be in his presence. These are not supporters or even voters, but fans fawning over The One. Only celebrities like Barack Obama go to the gym three times a day, demand "MET-RX chocolate roasted-peanut protein bars and bottles of a hard-to-find organic brew -- Black Forest Berry Honest Tea" and worry about the price of arugula."

Okay, so forget about the first two sentences - that's a subject for another time and another blog, but let's look at that last sentence: MET-RX bars? Honest Tea? Arugula? You call that elitist? You can buy MET-RX bars at any CVS, Honest Tea at almost any grocery store, and Arugula? Well that just has a bit of a peppery taste!

Maybe Davis is right, maybe Obama is a celebrity elitist who'd rather munch on Mache than Kraft Mac & Cheese. He'd probably be best served relating more to the little guy, your average Joe-six pack, you know like John McCain. So how about it Senator Obama...are you ready to take a walk in McCain's $520 Italian loafers and see what being a real American is like?

Umm, sir...the food is already dead

2008-07-30T23:08:00.002-04:00

Somehow it's come to this: some Atlanta restaurants are telling their customers to leave their guns at home after a new law "allows holders of concealed weapons permits to bring guns into restaurants that serve alcohol", according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Obviously not being familiar with the work of Johnny Cash or the concept of simple common sense, the Georgia State Legislature's decision to allow people to carry deadly weapons into establishments where small children dwell and people generally get hammered now puts an accidental shooting into the list of bad things that can happen at say...a Ruby Tuesday's - come for sub-par food, stay because you've been shot in the head.

Luckily the restaurant community has at least one person with Oxygen properly flowing to their brain; Susie Oddo, the vice president of operations for Tappan Street Restaurant Group told the Atlanta Business Chronicle, "When you add alcohol, it's not a good mix".

There is a bright side to this law: you'll never have some snot nosed restaurant manager try to screw a customer out of having breakfast again (see clip below for reference).

Food Day: Late and uninspired edition

2008-07-30T14:57:00.003-04:00

Happy food day folks. We're going to keep things short today, so here we go.

Oh good, another "celebrity chef" is coming to DC: According to Metrocurean it looks like DC has another uber-chef on his way to impress the small-town crowd. Michael Mina, owner of over a dozen restaurants nationwide (and one in Mexico) will be opening up a Bourbon Steak location at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. What will we have to look forward to? According to Arizona Central's review of Bourbon Steak - one of the best steaks you've ever had (but you're going to pay for it).

Lobster powered cars?: Prices of everything everywhere are going up, except for lobster, which is going down according to the Boston Globe. This is horrible news for lobstermen who are having to contend with higher costs for fuel and bait.

Oh the Irony: LA, the birthplace of fast food, has put a one year moratorium on new fast food joints in South LA according to this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

Celebrate with Cheap Cheesecake TODAY!

2008-07-30T08:07:00.003-04:00

Talk about a sweet deal. If you're in the market for a cheap dessert tonight, make your way on over to the Cheesecake Factory (I can't believe I actually just wrote that) and claim your piece of any of their over 30 varieties of cheesecake for only $1.50.

Regardless of what you (I) might think of TCF, thirty years is remarkable for any restaurant, and people seem to like this place (like my parents, and professional athletes)

And if that's not enough for you, $.25 out of every $1.50 goes to America's Second Harvest. So there, do it for the kids.

Goodbye Bennigan's

2008-07-29T16:05:00.003-04:00

Still saving up that money to buy yourself a Bennigan's franchise? Well it may be time to look elsewhere, because as of today, it looks like Bennigan's is a thing of the past.

According to a Chicago Tribune article, Bennigan's parent company, S & A Restaurant Corp, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and suddenly closed seemingly all of its corporate owned restaurants.

How sudden was this move? So sudden that they didn't even tell their employees, all of whom showed up for work to only find out that their jobs were no longer on the menu.

I haven't been to a Bennigan's since high school, and always thought the same of it as I do other casual dining restaurants - but this has to hit its (former) employees particularly hard. In a time where the economy is in the tank, I can only hope everyone hurt by this lands squarely on their feet.

Building a better burger

2008-07-29T13:52:00.003-04:00

I'm not a believer in the concept of perfection - so Eric Ripert's quest for the "perfect burger" isn't something I take seriously. However, after reading this article, you've got to say that this master chef has the right idea on how to build a better burger.

Of course those of you who live here in the DC area don't have to go far - just to the WestEnd neighborhood to Ripert's restaurant, WestEnd Bistro (fitting, isn't it?)

Just be prepared to pay. Your basic burger will run you $16.

So, have you tried Ripert's better burger? Thoughts?

Jose Andres on the Today Show

2008-07-29T08:51:00.003-04:00

If you're reading this in the next ten seconds, turn on The Today Show to watch Jose Andres go crazy on a watermelon.

Of course, no one will understand a word he says - but I'm sure it'll be very loud and tasty!

Weekly Website: Panache Nosh

2008-07-28T10:27:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday everyone. Today's Weekly Website features Panache Nosh, a welcome addition to the DC food blog scene, with plenty of great reviews, beautiful pictures, and snarky comments.

As usual you can find the link to this site on my blog roll on the right side of the screen. If you have a website you'd like to see featured, just leave me a comment and I'll put it up next week.

Happy Birthday Apples!

2008-07-25T13:26:00.002-04:00

Ok, so her birthday isn't until Sunday, but today begins the three day celebration in honor of all things Apples.

Actually, that's a little misleading - we've been celebrating her birthday for at least a week now. But hey, she deserves it.

Tallula Appoints New Executive Chef

2008-07-24T11:30:00.002-04:00

It looks like one of Arlington's best restaurants is about to get better as Chef Andrew Markert will take over as Executive Chef of Tallula Restaurant and EatBar before the end of the month.

His most recent work has been at Alexandria's Vermilion as Chef de Cuisine under Chef Anthony Chittum, but Markert has done time at such notable locations as Dish, Notti Bianche, and Citronelle.

According to Michael Babin, President of Neighborhood Restaurant Group, which owns such distinguished restaurants as Evening Star Café, Vermilion, Rustico and Buzz, Markert will oversee "new menus in both restaurants that continue to utilize fresh, seasonal products by the end of summer."

New York Retort

2008-07-24T06:11:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I forget that people actually read this (aside from my parents). Matt Gross, the NYT writer who I used as the basis for my NYC wrote a rather pleasant and well reasoned retort to my rant that you can read below.

My favorite part about this blog is the ability to create a dialog and to start a conversation. I just want to thank Matt for engaging me. I'm looking forward to that piece on Taipei.

Hi Anthony,

Matt Gross here. I totally get what you're saying and wanted to clarify a little:

I wouldn't say it's my New Yorkeriness that prompted me to call for kalbi hash and Momofuku in Seoul—it's my experience traveling all over Asia. Taipei, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City—all have rich culinary heritages, but they're also reaching into other food traditions to create new dishes.

Seoul isn't quite there yet, which is strange since it considers itself such a sophisticated, modern city. Kimchi jigae is a great dish (I make it at home on a regular basis), but in the week I spent eating it there, it was served much the same way everywhere I went. For such an otherwise innovative country, this tight adherence to tradition was surprising.

Anyway, glad I provoked a reaction from you! Hope you'll keep reading my work. (Look for a similar piece on Taipei in the coming months.)

—Matt

Just Shut Up: My Case Against NYC

2008-07-23T20:24:00.002-04:00

It all started last Sunday by the pool. It was a picture perfect day; only a handful of clouds in the sky, the pool was douchebag free and Apples and I were enjoying watching a mother teaching her child how to swim. It was paradise.

I didn't bother to bring a book with me, so I grabbed for the travel section of Apple's copy of the Sunday New York Times - her latest venture into full-blown yuppiehood. Flipping frantically for something food related, I was relieved to find Matt Gross' article, "The Weird, Wild, and Ultimately Sublime", a piece about food in Seoul, South Korea.

Sitting quietly in my chair, attempting not to disturb Apples or block any of her Sun, I sprung up in a fit of rage. Ok, so it wasn't a fit of rage, more of a bout of annoyance. But I was upset. Why? Because of this line:

Where were the kalbi hash and the kimchi huevos rancheros? (Note to David Chang: Seoul needs Momofuku.)

No! No, I shouted. That's bullshit! Apples didn't bother to react to my outburst, she's heard it before. But I went on anyway. "Who does this guy think he is?", I asked, as if someone would appear from the bottom of the pool and validate my angry question.

If anyone would have bothered to ask, I would have told them that my anger isn't directed towards one NYT writer, but towards what seems to be the prevailing attitudes of those in the New York City food community, that somehow, without them there would be no fine cuisine, hell - food itself would simply be reduced to large vats of gruel, and us rural yokels will be left asking for more.

The idea that Seoul, the capital city of a country with a rich food heritage that far predates the existence of New York City herself, "needs Momofuku", one of the top restaurants in NYC, is absurd. Seoul needs Momofuku like Paris needs Citronelle, or Dublin needs Restaurant Eve. They don't; those cities do just fine on their own.

But this statement captures a lot of what I've seen and heard from people from "the city". "Oh I miss real pizza", "Why don't you guys have Pinkberry here?", and "Man, I can't wait to head back to the city to get a cupcake at Magnolia", are all thoughts in the same vein - we have it all in New York City, and by definition, you're just playing for second place.

It's a sentiment I detest. They're statements that get my blood boiling. Yes, NYC is a great food city. The best in the world? Possibly. Though I believe Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city right now, America's best restaurant is located not in NYC, but in Northern California, some of the best pizza in the country is being made in Phoenix, frozen yogurt is a global trend (started in South Korea - probably by someone who said, "NYC needs this"), and even the New York Times own food critic Frank Bruni said in a recent blog post that Georgetown Cupcake's product, "beat[s] Magnolia Bakery’s by miles and miles".

I know that not all NY foodies (for a lack of a better term) feel and act this way. Perhaps I'm just not as plugged into the NYC food culture as I should be. Perhaps I have a bias against NYC because growing up, my father, who grew up in the city, wasn't shy about sharing his disdain for it, and perhaps I'm just taking one writer's comment out of context. But this is what I hear, and this is what I take away when a food writer tells a city that they "need" a NYC restaurant.

You've got a lot to offer, New York, but it's time you recognized that you aren't the whole picture. You're a piece (albeit a big one) in a much larger global culinary puzzle. My advice would be to shut up and just let your food speak - it'll do so louder and clearer than you ever will.

Thought of the Day: Cupcakes are wicked expensive

2008-07-23T19:04:00.002-04:00

Perhaps I shouldn't have bought the solid gold cupcakes with the platinum frosting, but either way...

...cupcakes are flippin expensive.

(Thus ends the thought of the day)

First Look: Ping by Charlie Chiang

2008-07-23T08:39:00.003-04:00

As my cab pulls into Shirlington shopping center I can't help but be impressed. Even my cab driver comments on the number of restaurants packed into these few square blocks of carefully planned community.

Ping by Charlie Chiang sits at ground zero of this culinary maze of bakeries, ice cream shops and ethnic food outlets, on corner allowing passers by a glimpse in, or customers a view out of its big windows. The space is remarkable and well put together. Split into three sections - a bar and two distinct seating areas - Ping looks a lot bigger than it actually is, and provides plenty of room to sit back, spread out, and breathe.

Ping is the seventh location in Virginia for the Charlie Chiang family, and the tenth in the Washington D.C. area. But talking with Christiana Chiang, Charlie's wife and co-owner of the mini-empire, Ping is special.

This isn't your parent's Chinese restaurant. Hell, this isn't even your Chinese restaurant. This is Chinese food 2.0.

No more dull looking noodley mess out of a paper box. You'll find cuisine that attracts the eye first, something very important to Christiana, and then takes a hold of the rest of your senses.

The menu, which is made up of "best of" dishes from the Chiang's travels, covers a good portion of Asia - from Thailand to China to Japan - with a surprisingly impressive sushi menu complimenting the traditionally heavier Chinese dishes.

Working my way through the menu, it's easy to see Christiana's influence. Everything looks clean and vibrant, lacking the traditional heavy sauce and grease you normally get with Chinese food.

Shiny Slippery Shrimp, a dish that tastes better than it sounds has a nice crunch to it, and a solid garlic flavor. Garlic is something you'll see a lot of here, sometimes to a fault, but if you're a fan, you're in luck. Other highlights include a sashimi soup that's light and flavorful, a lamb version of "Pot au Feu" that's tender and rich, and pepper steak cubes with just the right amount of heat.

Of course there are some dishes that just don't work, mostly due to a bit too much tweaking with traditional recipes. Vegetables and rice with some sort of cheese that looked and tasted bland, and a scallop dumpling that again had some sort of cheese on top. Lesson here, avoid the stuff with cheese and stick to what the Chiangs know best - Chinese food that's better than what you're used to.

It's hard to believe that Ping won't succeed. The Chiang family knows what they're doing, and it shows here. This is a restaurant that will grow with the neighborhood around it, and its versatility - from its large bar (with four huge flat screen TVs) to its diverse menu - will cater to the business lunch rush and the family dinner crowd alike. This is an impressive cornerstone in an impressive neighborhood; a restaurant that holds up well in the long tradition of the Chiang family.

Food Day: Slow and Cold Edition

2008-07-23T07:56:00.002-04:00

Happy Food Day folks. Trying to beat the summer heat? Want to slow down and chill out? Well have I got some stories for you...

Foodstock: It's probably one of the most controversial movements in the food world today, but the Slow Food folks are determined to stay, and during Labor Day weekend in San Francisco, they're planning a gathering that's expected to draw 50,000 people - but will it be enough to democratize this institution? This NYT article has all of the details.

We all scream: How popular are frozen treats these days? Popular enough for an article in the NYT, Philadelphia Inquirer, Detroit Free Press, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

All are great articles, be sure to read them all before they melt!

The Best Part of Waking Up: This isn't your father's cup of coffee. This WaPo article shows how better beans translate to a better cup of joe.

In and Eating: Pickles can do a lot of things, but according to this LA Times article, they're just plain in right now.

Go ahead, learn something: Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics, has a great chat with the San Francisco Chronicle talking about what else...food politics.

Restaurant Week Summer 2008 List is Up!

2008-07-22T14:12:00.003-04:00

That's right folks, here's the list, start making your plans now.

Remember, avoid places that already have pre-theatre menus that are usually cheaper than the RW menu ($20.08 for lunch and $35.08 for dinner) and focus on places you normally can't afford.

So, what restaurants are you looking forward to visiting?

Arlington to class it up with food kiosks

2008-07-21T21:54:00.003-04:00

Earlier tonight the Arlington City Council voted to make it easier for kiosks (like the one shown below) and food carts to set up shop throughout Arlington County.

“In many towns and cities across the United States and in Europe, kiosks bring color, vibrancy, great street food and unique crafts into the urban mix,” says Chairman J. Walter Tejada, hoping to attract what Arlington sees as "an amenity for residents, pedestrians, and visitors".

I can't help but think that the Pupatella cart, an Italian food cart located in Ballston and run by a couple neighbors of mine, had a large role in getting this passed. Their success will hopefully encourage others to give it a shot.

So, I know I have at least a couple people from Arlington who read this thing; what do you hope to see open up? I'm hoping for a noodle kiosk, and maybe something that has meat on a stick.

Fake News, Real Funny

2008-07-21T18:01:00.003-04:00

Somewhere there's a scientist at the Domino's Food Lab who just thought..."You know, hot dogs on a pizza, that's not a bad idea!"

Domino's Scientists Test Limits Of What Humans Will Eat

That man should probably lose his job.

Salmonella source turns out to be Jalapeno Peppers

2008-07-21T16:26:00.002-04:00

According to a just released AP report, it turns out the the Salmonella outbreak that has sent over a thousand people to the hospital was caused by a bad batch of Jalapeno peppers from Mexico.

So remember folks: Tomatoes = Good, Jalapenos = BAD.

That's all (until the next Salmonella outbreak).

Weekly Website: HSUS's Factory Farming Campaign

2008-07-21T08:51:00.003-04:00

This week's Weekly Website shows us that it's not only what you eat, it's where it came from that counts too.

The Humane Society of the United States Factory Farming Campaign is working to stamp out the horrible practices of factory farms that put profits over standards and put the safety of our food at risk.

If you have a website you'd like me to feature, leave a comment and I'll put it up next week.

Other People's Breaking News: Cupcakes to Coming to Annapolis

2008-07-18T15:16:00.002-04:00

Fresh out of the oven from our friends at Delleicious DC, it looks like Annapolis has gone cupcake crazy with the announcement that Nostalgia Cupcakes will open around Labor Day.

Click here to read all of the details and a great interview with Nostalgia owner, Sharon White.

Cold Stone Creamery Enters the Frozen Yogurt Market

2008-07-18T11:37:00.002-04:00

Ok, so this isn't exactly breaking news - Cold Stone actually introduced this product, called TangyBerry, in some of their stores last November, but today was the first time I noticed it in the Cold Stone location at the Ballston Mall here in Arlington, VA.

The product, which has been compared to Pinkberry, is "fat-free and contains 100 calories per 4-ounce serving."

He's Here!

2008-07-17T21:48:00.003-04:00

Word on the street is Anthony Bourdain is in town shooting an episode of No Reservations. He'll be here until Monday. My guess is a stop at Ben's, one at Jaleo to see his good pal Jose Andres, and probably a drinking tour of U St./Adams Morgan/Dupont Circle/H St. and everywhere else where there's a bar.

If anyone sees him and can manage to take a picture, send it to me at anthonypdeangelo-at-gmail-dot-com.

Oh, and buy him a shot of something strong.

Can I has tomatoes?

2008-07-17T16:09:00.002-04:00

Yes, yes you can.

According to the FDA, tomatoes are not going to kill you anymore. Hot peppers might though, so...avoid those now.

Gerard Pangaud Bistro Closed

2008-07-17T15:57:00.003-04:00

Another closing today: Gerard Pangaud Bistro near McPherson Square.

Not exactly a household name to youngsters like me, Chef Pangaud headed up a two star Michelin restaurant in Paris before he was thirty years old.

Chef Pangaud left his position at L'Academie de Cuisine back in March to come back full-time to the restaurant.

This makes two high profile restaurants that have been closed within the past few weeks in the McPherson Square area; Butterfield 9 was the other.

Photo Courtesy: Washingtonian Magazine

An Open Letter to Michel Richard

2008-07-17T09:40:00.002-04:00

Dear Chef Richard,

As one of the most talented and well recognized chefs not only in Washington DC, but in the entire country, almost anything you put your mind and frying pan to will be a success.

Your newest restaurant in Washington DC, Central, was named the best new restaurant nationwide by the James Beard Foundation, and you're even venturing back to LA to reconquer the west coast.

You're a treasure, and this city is better for having you here.

So with that being said; for the love of God don't open a hamburger restaurant!!

Yes, the hamburger at Central is among the best in the city, and you'd probably find a way to put your tuna and/or lobster burgers on the menu, and it'd be one of the most popular restaurants in the city, but please...

DON'T DO IT!

Do we really need another hamburger shoved down this city's already full gullet? Probably not. I think the few hundred burger places we already have are on the case. And even though you excel at taking American cuisine and adding class to it, there has got to be something else you can do, something better you can improve upon.

How about you open up a legit gourmet deli? One that can shut every New Yorker up and make me fat and happy. Or what about an actual French bakery that will allow you to show off your first love and one of your true talents?

So please, don't do it. You don't have to, and we don't need it.

But if you decide to, I promise to be first in line to eat my weight in hamburgers.

xoxo,

Bananas

Another one bites the dust

2008-07-16T10:37:00.002-04:00

At this point I could probably start a weekly feature on this, but again, we've got another restaurant closing.

This time it's Merkado in Logan Circle. The sister restaurant to Logan Tavern will officially close on August 24th, and reopen as Commissary, "an all-purpose cafe, lounge, coffeehouse and wine bar", according to the Washington Post.

There is a silver lining on this cloud though, the restaurant will "offer customers 75 percent off the price of every bottle of wine."

Now that's a closing I can drink to!

Food Day: iFood edition

2008-07-16T09:44:00.003-04:00

Happy Food Day folks. Here's what's going on in the world of food.

It's not just here: According to the NYT, Washington DC isn't the only city with a serious case of burger fever. Paris has it, and there's no cure.

But will it pay the bill?: The iPhone may be the best thing you've waited three hours for in a long time, but can it tell you the best place to eat? This NYT article has its doubts.

The King Returns: He collects Michelin stars like you collect...well, whatever it is you collect. Now the best chef in the country is back in LA, and the LA Times couldn't be happier.

Boston Tea Party: Sweet Tea may be a southern thing, but it's made its way to beantown according to the Boston Globe.

Foreshadowing: If you haven't heard, world-famous chef Alain Ducasse is opening up a restaurant at the St. Regis hotel here in Washington. WaPo food master Tom Sietsema ventured to the Big Apple to see what we have to look forward to.

Redwood Set to Open in Bethesda

2008-07-15T09:27:00.002-04:00

Redwood Restaurant, the sister restaurant to Georgetown's Mendocino Grille and Capitol Hill's Sonoma, will open its doors next Monday, July 21st.

With a menu based locally and its theme inspired "by and committed to the farm-to-table movement that grew out of California and the Pacific Northwest in the 1960's", Redwood will be headed up by Executive Chef Andrew Kitko, who comes to DC from San Francisco.

Redwood will feature "seasonal, naturally-raised and often locally-sourced ingredients on a frequently-changing menu; wood-grilled and wood-oven based cooking methods will highlight the straightforward style intended to showcase the carefully selected ingredients." Not to be outdone, expect an impressive wine selection of around 125 wines, sixteen of them by the glass.

As is the style of the day, Redwood will be a "green" restaurant, with "sustainable, reclaimed materials" throughout the restaurant.

Weekly Website: Brighest Young Things

2008-07-14T11:40:00.002-04:00

Want to read about food from someone who is way cooler than you? Well obviously that's not why you're here, but the folks at Brightest Young Things could probably scratch that itch.

Today's entry is about places where you can celebrate French Blowing Stuff Up Day.

The link will be on the right hand side from now on. Read it.

Happy Bastille Day!

2008-07-14T11:31:00.002-04:00

Feel free to take this opportunity to free some prisoners, take an oath on a tennis court (squash or racquetball would suffice as well), set something on fire, and of course eat some cake.

But please folks, let's keep the beheadings to a minimum.

I'll take a number 5, hold the puppy

2008-07-11T12:20:00.004-04:00

If you're heading out to Beijing next month to catch some Olympic action, you might want to bring your own dog - because puppy is off the menu at Beijing restaurants and hotels thanks to China's fear that anyone (i.e. Westerners) may look at that practice as abhorrent.

According to this Reuters report, a government directive "ordered Olympic contractor hotels not to provide any dishes made with dog meat and said any canine material used in traditional medicated diets must be clearly labeled."

I'm not quite sure what ailments require consuming some sort of dog "material", but it looks like actual medicine will have to be administered for the month of August.

No worries though for you folks who want to eat something out of the ordinary (and perhaps friendly), donkey, a popular dish in some Beijing restaurants, is still on the menu.

In honor of this decision, here are some pictures of puppies*.

*These pictures are primarily for Apples, who is a sucker for a cute puppy.

1789 Names New Pastry Chef

2008-07-11T10:19:00.002-04:00

1789, the Georgetown institution which just last month named Daniel Giusti as new Executive Chef following the sudden departure of Nathan Beauchamp, has named a new pastry chef.

Travis Olsen, a veteran of the Clyde’s Restaurant Group and native Washingtonian will bring with him the mission of bringing "the best of traditional American desserts to 1789, incorporating the freshest seasonal fruit and the highest quality ingredients available."

Travis started baking at the age of twelve while living in England, and graduated from L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He later worked under award-winning Pastry Chef David Guas at DC Coast.

I haven't been to 1789 since last September, but regardless of changes in the kitchen, the food that comes out to the tables is always solid. Best of luck to Travis.

Got some dignity to spare?

2008-07-10T15:20:00.003-04:00

Well if you're hungry tomorrow (and looking for something to eat with your free Slurpee), stop by a Chick-fil-A.

Oh yeah, and don't forget your cow costume - because you'll need that to eat free on Cow Appreciation Day.

If you go to a Chick-fil-A tomorrow and wear a costume, or see someone with one on, take a picture and send it to me. I'll post it tomorrow.

Free Slurpees Tomorrow at 7-11!

2008-07-10T14:56:00.003-04:00

Need a quick way to beat the heat, or maybe add a few pounds of sugar to your diet tomorrow? Well stop into your closest 7-11 to grab a free Slurpee.

According to their website customers can celebrate the chain's 81st birthday by pouring "their favorite Slurpee flavor in colorful, 7.11-ounce “Birthday” cups throughout the day, while cup supplies last."

Not up on your 7-11 history? Here's the lowdown from their website:

• Slurpee – 1967, 41 years. 7-Eleven actually began selling frozen carbonated drinks two years before coming up with the Slurpee moniker, named for the straw’s slurping sound.

• Big Bite – 1988, 20 years. Although 7-Eleven has been selling grilled hot dogs since the early 1970s, the Big Bite name was coined 20 years ago when Oscar Mayer created an exclusive spice formulation for the winning wiener.

• Big Gulp, Super Big Gulp, Double Gulp fountain drinks – 1976, 1983 and 1988; 32, 25 and 20 years, respectively. 7-Eleven was the first to introduce self-service soda fountains to Americans, which mirrored the success of its hot coffee in to-go cups.

• To-Go Coffee – 1964, 44 years. Coffee was 7-Eleven's first venture into the world of self-service beverages. It must have been a good idea. Today, most convenience retailers and quick-service restaurants offer some type of self-service beverages.

• Franchised Stores – 1964, 44 years. The same year 7-Eleven introduced hot to-go coffee on the East Coast, they looked to expand the 7-Eleven convenience chain to the West Coast with its first franchised, or owner-operated stores. California, the first state offering 7-Eleven franchises to individual entrepreneurs, today boasts more 7-Eleven stores than any other state. The company now offers franchising across the country, by making company-owned stores available to store managers, and negotiating with operators of other branded stores to bring them into the 7-Eleven retail family.

Apples Reviews: Spider Kelly's

2008-07-10T14:46:00.002-04:00

Today is day 16 of Apples-Got-A-Raise-And-Still-Doesn't-Want-To-Work, 2008. Awesome, right? So instead of working, lets blog!

I've been tasked with writing about Spider Kelly's in Clarendon, a brand new little gastro-pub sort of affair that we wandered into on Tuesday night after my yuppified yoga class and Ant's 109,384,120 mile run. Spider Kelly's advertises itself with the slogan "come as you are," which is fortunate, given that both Ant and I were probably a touch past acceptably stinky.

Anyway, we sat outside and enjoyed good, simple food—a very flavorful chicken burger for me (served with amazing, spicy pickled veggies and a tasty honey-based sauce), a veggie pita for him, and a nice big dish of pungent, crunchy grilled coleslaw between us. The burger had a pleasant zip too it, as did the sauce, and the grilled ciabatta bun was hefty enough to support it all.

Spider Kelly's is not afraid to throw a little flavor in your face, which I appreciate. The menu covers your basic sandwiches and salads, with an emphasis on burgers and some fairly creative appetizers (lemongrass beef, for example). The beer list is good and relatively inexpensive for the Clarendon area. Given its location right off the metro and a door down from Clarendon Ballroom, and the fact that it will be open till 2:00am every night, I see this place quickly becoming the haunt of the post-college frat boy set that seems to be the main consumer group in this particular part of town.

That said, if they'll slide down the bar enough to allow me to sit and have a burger, I think we'll all get along just fine. Next time Ant and I want good drunk food after stumbling home from Adams Morgan, I think Hard Times is out and Spider Kelly's is in.

Takoma Park Passes Resolution Opposing Foie Gras

2008-07-10T14:19:00.004-04:00

A special thanks goes out to Magda, a reader and commenter who just alerted me to this story: the Takoma Park City Council has voted in favor of a resolution "opposing the production and sale" of foie gras.

According to this article in the Examiner, "The resolution “encourages Takoma Park residents not to buy foie gras in order to avoid supporting this extreme form of animal cruelty.” But some City Council members may want to take it even further: They have asked staff to investigate whether they can legally ban the production, consumption or sale of the substance."

While an outright ban is probably unlikely, mostly due to enforcement issues, not everyone is happy about the resolution.

Carol Blymire, a Takoma Park resident, who you probably know from her wildly popular blog, French Laundry at Home, calls the resolution "embarrassing", and adds, "We have this reputation of being these crazy people in Takoma Park who spend all our time on symbolic gestures. I feel like there are stronger local legislative issues that should have gotten priority."

So, what do you think? Is this an example of a city council gone too far? Or one addressing a serious issue?

First Look: Takoma Park

2008-07-10T11:51:00.003-04:00

If you showed a picture of Takoma Park to ten people, and asked them to identify where in the country that picture was taken, none of them would say within the Beltway.

Northampton, Massachusetts? Yes. Ptown? Yes. New Hope, PA? Yes. But right next to our buttoned up little town? Never.

Going to Takoma Park is like jumping through a wormhole and ending up in some San Francisco suburb, all while never leaving the Red Line - and frankly, after spending the afternoon here, we didn't want to cross back over to the other side.

From its lively Sunday farmers market to its lovely antique shops, there's a certain charm and sense of zen about this place.

We stopped in Mark's Kitchen, the one restaurant in the area I've heard of, for lunch, and immediately fell for it. Busy and friendly, with a waitress right out of the movies (the kind that calls you sweetie and hon, and knows everything about everyone who walks through those doors), the menu is diverse with a definate focus on Asian cuisine.

Apples and I split an order of man doo, wonderful little fried Korean dumplings with a nice hint of spice to them, and then we each got cold noodle dish - sesame noodles for me and cold soba for her.

Both of these really just hit the proverbial spot. The vegetables were fresh and had a great crunch to them, and the serving size was just perfect for lunch.

The real draw seems to be their brunch, which they serve until 1pm on weekends, but that'll be a post for another time.

After Mark's we decided to venture out for some dessert, and didn't have to venture far - just across the street. Summer Delights is a throw back. "You just went back in time forty years" says Greg Moorin, the shop's owner as we walk in. Greg is everything you'd want an ice cream shop owner to be; friendly, knowledgeable, funny, and a guy who takes his craft seriously.

Greg makes all of his own ice cream, pies, and other goodies, and his pride in his work comes through while talking to him. Scoops of this high-fat, no-excuses goodness come in a cup - not an ice cream cup, but just a regular paper cup. No frills here, if you want ice cream, you're going to get the real thing, and you'll think twice about going anywhere else after.

The vanilla is strong enough to stand out on its own, while being subtle enough to compliment other flavors, and the brown sugar cinnamin I had was probably one of, if not the best scoop of ice cream I've ever had - ranking very close to a scoop of cinnamin I had at a co-op in Vermont a year or two back.

Apples got a scoop of chocolate on a brownie, that Greg insisted he heat up. If perfection could be put on a plate and eaten with a spoon, it's probably made here.

Takoma Park is dangerous, and I want to move there and spend my days eating cold noodles for dinner, pancakes for brunch and eating ice cream in between. Even though that probably won't happen, this gem will always be right around the corner, a quick wormhole ride away.

Should I?: The Dilemma of Bad Reviews

2008-07-10T11:07:00.003-04:00

"Be nice".

If Apples had to say two last words to me, those would be it. But sometimes it's hard, especially when you're a food snob like myself at a restaurant you know isn't worth the price of water, on an occasion (like a friend's birthday) that simply requires you to show up, eat your food, and have a good time.

But at what point does my duty as a food writer (If I may flatter myself as such) go beyond my duty to just sit there quietly and shovel shitty food in my face?

Last night for example I went to a restaurant that I won't name for a friend's birthday. I had a great time, laughed a lot, and got to spend the evening with the people I like the most. But the experience from a dining perspective was horrible. The service was slow, the menu really restrictive and uninspired, and worst of all, I couldn't find one redeeming quality about the food - the bread just didn't do it for me, my veggie pizza was more like industrial generic white cheese substance melted on matzo, and the steaks that everyone else got looked like they were straight out of the Army surplus crate from Afghanistan.

But all of that being said, I can't help but feel bad for writing that. I didn't pick the restaurant, and I don't want anyone to think that I'm looking down on anyone for choosing it, even though I know there were certainly better places in the neighborhood that would have worked better.

It's easy sometimes to blurt out restaurants run by award winning chefs that have earned the praises of a Sietsema or a Rockwell, and insist that everyone change their plans to go there; but that would be easy.

Sometimes the only way to get through the dilemma of a bad review is to do the hard thing, and just be nice.

What I'm Reading: My Husband Cooks

2008-07-10T10:58:00.002-04:00

When I first started this blog about a year and a half ago, My Husband Cooks was my favorite food blog.

Snarky, with amazing pictures and fantastic recipes, it was a joy to read. But the "Husband" went to culinary school and they had a baby and for a while they stopped blogging - so I stopped reading.

But in the past couple months they've gotten back into the swing of things, and they're just as wonderful as ever.

They don't blog that often, but when they do it's worth reading. So check it out, the link will be on the right side of the page.

I don't think he gets it

2008-07-10T09:32:00.003-04:00

Spike Mendelsohn and his Good Stuff Eatery have been getting a lot of press as of late from myself and almost everyone else who writes about food in this city. Yet in stark contrast to another (although actually established) chef's new burger joint, some of that press hasn't been positive.

It's not because his burgers aren't good (in full disclosure, I haven't been yet), or the service isn't friendly, it's because Spike keeps saying things in the media that piss people like me off.

Here's an example from today's Washington Post Express:

Tall and lanky, with a wiry beard and a rotating collection of pork-pies, fedoras, and panamas, Evangelos "Spike" Mendelsohn left his job and his digs for what he calls the next gastronomic frontier: "D.C. is the next big food city. It's like Vegas was a few years ago. And nobody is doing what we are yet. We're paving a way for ourselves here in D.C., but also, we're paving a new direction for the food culture here."

I don't even know where to begin with this. There's so much wrong on that quote I'm stumped. The idea that "D.C. is the next big food city" and is "like Vegas was a few years ago" is perposterous. We're not an up and coming, we're not an emerging, we are a culinary powerhouse. Just look at the Beard awards - Richard, Andres, Ziebold, Armstrong - two winners among four nominees (Ziebold for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic and Richard for Best New Restaurant Nationwide). How many winners did Las Vegas have? None, out of two nominees.

D.C. might not be New York, or Chicago, or San Francisco, but this is an area with incredible talent both home grown and brought in from around the world, and to say that "nobody is doing what we are yet" is just plain old ignorance. Tell that to Ruta, Richard, Landrum, and the other award winning, nationally recognized (from their work behind a stove, not in front of a camera) chefs who put together burgers that transcend the genre.

Spike might have a winner in Good Stuff, and honestly, I hope he does. I can't wait to stop by for a toasted marshmallow shake and a burger, but in the meantime he's got to focus on his product and his restaurant - he's not the pioneer he thinks he is, there were others before him who are, and will always be better - he needs to realize that right now he's just another guy flippin burgers, and the sooner he sees that, the sooner he'll gain complete acceptance.

Date Night: Etete and Indebleu

2008-07-09T16:16:00.004-04:00

Dinner and a movie.

Nothing says going out on a date like those two activities. So like the 16 year old high school students we are, Apples and I ventured out this past Saturday to Etete, looking to expand our culinary horizons.

Etete is a neighborhood establishment, and a destination for young folks such as ourselves and families alike. Arriving at 7pm (with a reservation) we were seated immediately at a half table that juts out of the wall on the left side of the first floor. Seeing this as impractical, I asked the waitress to see if there was seating up stairs, which was practically empty.

After moving to friendlier confines, we ordered; sambusas - essentially the Ethiopian version of the empanada, but filled with lentils - for the first course, followed by kitfo - an Ethiopian steak tartare-ish dish - and a ton of veggie options.

The sambusas came out first. Light and flaky, the lentils inside had just the right amount of heat to them to warrant a sip of Diet Coke (a can of which costing $2 - stick to water instead). The dish could have been benefited from a serving of sour cream to cool the heat, but in all was a great way to start the meal off.

Now if you've never eaten Ethiopian before, you'll be surprised by the lack of utensils. Instead, the meal is eaten with a light, sponge-like bread that comes rolled up like hand towels at a hotel. The veggies, everything from greens to more lentils to potatoes, are also served on this bread.

The bread itself is great. Slightly tangy and very soft, it's not fantastic by itself, but with the accompanying meats and vegetables, the flavor really shines through.

The kitfo, which found its place in the center of our plater, was the star of the show. More than enough for two people (assuming you get other stuff), the meat tasted fresh and was wonderfully seasoned. While there were too many veggie options to comment on any individually, the experience as a whole was fantastic, and one that I'd do again.

The meal wasn't perfect however. Service seemed like it lagged at times (even though we were in and out in a little over an hour) and I got cranky when one of the patrons (or one of the owners, not quite sure) began harassing (though Apples would tell it otherwise) one of the families sitting next to us, but in all, Etete is worth the trip and the cost; something we'll definitely do again.

But you probably noticed something missing from that review: dessert. Opting to have dessert closer to the theater (we made the mistake of going to the one in Chinatown), we finally decided to stop in Indebleu and see if we could get a table.

Luckily, the lounge area was pretty much empty, and we were able to grab a table there and order dessert. I'd highly recommend doing this if you don't have a reservation, as you can order off of both the lounge and restaurant menu from the lounge.

The dessert menu is an impressive one, with plenty of dishes that were both ordinary and rather unorthodox. We decided on the "Spaghetti & Meat Balls", which consisted of saffron cardamom ice cream - strained through a pasta press (I don't know if that's the real name for the device, but that's what I'll call it), and with gulab jamun, which I'm assuming were the "meatballs" which were actually three pastries in honey and rose water.

What a fantastic combination of flavors. Sweet without being painfully artificially sweet, the texture of the ice cream and the "meatballs" worked well together, and resulted in one delicious dessert.

While we didn't see the actual restaurant space upstairs, we were both really impressed by the lounge space, which was open and surprisingly comfortable for being so posh.

Etete and Indebleu couldn't be further apart as far as style or cuisine, but when paired together with a Pixar film and a Saturday night, you just might have yourself one hell of a date.

Food Day: Three is the new five edition

2008-07-09T10:35:00.003-04:00

Happy food day folks. I normally give you five stories, but because I'm pressed for time, I'll give you three. Maybe I'll give you seven next week.

Burger Bash: Washington City Paper's Tim Carman writes an article in today's WaPo that might just have all Five Guys shaking in their meat filled boots. Seriously, this article needed to be written. With the rise of the burger joint here in DC, there are a lot of little places - like the Apples and Bananas approved Big Buns - that don't get enough press or enough credit for raising the burger bar.

How long til we see this here?: The big new thing right now in NYC are dessert trucks, according to this NYT article. Like every other big NYC trend, one of these will eventually make its way down here, and have us lining up around the block. It's only a matter of time.

Crossing the Pond, one page at a time: British chefs are all the rage right now, and they're doing just as well with the pen as they are with the pan. This LA Times article shows us some of the best cookbooks from the UK.

Photo Courtesy: Washington Post

Is he judging you with those awfully cute eyes?

2008-07-09T09:39:00.004-04:00

This past weekend Apples and I saw Wall-E, the latest offering by Pixar, the uber-studio who brought you Finding Nimo, The Incredibles, and Monsters Inc.

Now I'm not in the business of doing movie reviews, and in fact I haven't written about a movie since I wrote about another Pixar hit, Ratatouille. But if you've seen this movie, you'll know why its subject matter pertains to this blog; and if you haven't, I'll try not to completely spoil it for you.

The setting is 700+ years in the future, and mankind has been floating around space waiting for a team of robots to clean up the mess we've made on Earth. Unfortunately, only one remains operational - our hero Wall-E, and the first part of the movie follows his day-to-day operations.

Ok, so at this point the movie is completely harmless; just a cute robot doing cute robot things.

But after the introduction of another character (Eve) and a plant, we're transported to a massive space ship where the bulk of mankind resides - and I use the word bulk carefully, because everyone is fat. And I'm not talking a few pounds overweight fat, I'm talking about can't walk anymore because robots do it for us, feed us like industrial farm cattle, and shove images in front of our face so that we'd never have to turn out necks to see what's around us.

To a certain extent, there's a great irony in this message, as pointed out by the bloggers at Rethinking Youth (link from Andrew Sullivan's blog).

This film warns us of the dangers of mass consumerism, inactivity, and general gluttony, while feeding it to us at the same time - what activity in our modern lives indulges in these three sins more than movie watching? You're paying money to sit perfectly still and watch commercials for almost a half hour before the movie starts (and even when it does, product placement is so rampant these days, that you're in for another two hours of ads) while eating (fake) butter drenched popcorn and HFCS filled snacks.

As we left the theatre, I commented to Apples on how bad every overweight person in the room must have felt after watching that movie. While I'm all about the message of taking care and responsibility for yourself, and fighting against the whole mass-consumerism culture, I found the messenger to be an odd one; but I guess a message that strong and that harsh is best delivered with awfully cute eyes.

Chopsticks Cafe Now Open Downtown

2008-07-08T16:10:00.004-04:00

Chopsticks cafe, the little sister of the Georgetown sushi eatery opened earlier this month immediately next to Java Green near the corner of 19th and L St. NW

The location, made specially for the lunch rush, features a number of hot options in addition to a decent variety of sushi.

Most dishes will run you under ten dollars, and there's ample seating both inside and out.

New Yogurt Shop Coming to Georgetown

2008-07-08T15:54:00.003-04:00

Get used to these posts folks, because I could start a whole new blog just announcing new frozen yogurt shops.

IceBerry, a firm I know nothing about, is about to move into the old CD Warehouse location at 30th and M St. NW, right across from Citronelle.

IceBerry will be the second shop to offer frozen yogurt in the Georgetown area; Sweetgreen, which is probably best known for their salads, was the first restaurant in the area to incorporate this kind of frozen yogurt on their menu.

DC Chef on Food Network Tonight

2008-07-08T10:28:00.003-04:00

You've probably seen this a few times now while scanning the internets, but in case you haven't, tune in to the Food Network to see DC's own Chef Teddy Folkman of Granville Moore's battle celebrichef Bobby Flay on Throwdown - tonight at 9pm.

Throwdown, the Food Network version of Punk'd, or otherwise known as, "aw screw it, let's just give Bobby Flay another show", involves Flay "surprising" someone who does something very well and challenging them to do whatever it is they do well.

Every time I've watched this show (twice) he's surprising and challenging some grandmother who has owned a gas station restaurant since the year that the Moors took Spain, and makes the best chili in the tri-state area - hence my surprise Flay challenging an actual chef from a real restaurant. Isn't that what Iron Chef is for?

Either way, Teddy evidently makes a good pot of mussels. We'll see how many different types of peppers Flay can put into his.

Oh, and not to spoil it for you, but Flay loses. He loses every episode, and walks a way a little wiser about the ways of the world. Kind of like a Food Network version of Kung Fu - but with more emulsions.

Tofu May Make You...

2008-07-07T16:49:00.002-04:00

oh yeah, forget things. At least according to a BBC article that claims that research has shown a link between "high tofu consumption" and memory loss later in life.

Oh good, not only does tofu make you gay, but it...

You know, I forget the second part.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think my tofu dog is just about ready.

Corduroy Not Participating in Restaurant Week this Year

2008-07-07T12:33:00.002-04:00

Corduroy, a Restaurant Week staple, will not be participating in the event this summer according to the restaurant's general manager, Ferhat Yalcin.

The restaurant, headed up by Tom Power (probably one of the best chefs you've never heard of, and with the coolest name ever), will be rolling out a happy hour menu in a few days that will be available during the week days between 5pm and 7pm.

The full Restaurant Week list will be available July 21st, and you can read all of the names, and get your RW recommendations and news right here.

Review: The Majestic

2008-07-07T11:53:00.003-04:00

We sat there bickering like two little kids, arguing over which one of us would go over and talk to her, nervous as if she'd cut off our hands.

From the looks of it, Shannon Overmiller, The Majestic's Executive Chef, is part pirate, part field general. Standing on the other side of the kitchen, perfecting every plate that comes her way, and pacing with intense anticipation for the next.

We had just finished our meal when Apples dared me to go over and thank her for doing what she does. I of course didn't want to bother her - at least that's what I said - but to be honest I was kind of nervous.

I had met Shannon before, when she was a guest on a show I was a producer on last year. I produced the segment, and had a chance to talk with her then. But that was on my turf - we were on hers now, and it showed.

First of all, I didn't know what to tell her. What dish did I like the best? Was it the Caesar salad, prepared table side and full of wonderful flavor. Big enough for two it's a steal - a definite get for next time.

What about garden pea soup which was so rich and flavorful I could drink it by the gallon? The soft shelled crab that was cooked perfectly and embodied everything a soft shell should be; or the fried green tomatoes, accompanied by a corn-avocado relish that screams summer?

No, maybe it was the gnocchi, soft pillows of perfection - the best I've ever had.

Maybe I didn't want to tell her how much I liked the food I had for dinner. Maybe I wanted to tell her that their drink list is jam packed with winners, and that their desserts - from fruit filled cakes to decadent brownies - can't be missed.

Before I had a chance to figure it out, or we had a chance to decide who would go up to her and say thanks, she came to us. Probably noticing all of the staring and pointing over the course of the meal, Shannon walked over and talked to us for a few minutes. Asking how we liked the menu, only a few weeks old, and telling us what she has planned for Nana's Sunday Dinner in the next few months.

It's hard not to like this place. Everything is open, meaning that if you're lucky enough to grab a seat close to the kitchen, you're in for a wonderful piece of dinner theatre, and the service was remarkable.

I don't think there will be any hesitation next time to go up and thank Chef Overmiller; this is one restaurant where hesitation simply isn't on the menu.

Weekly Website: Washingtonian's Best Bites Blog

2008-07-07T11:37:00.003-04:00

When it comes to food writing in DC, the folks at the Washingtonian are awfully hard to beat.

Their blog, Best Bites, has great information, and their Friday "Wrap-Up" is a great way to catch all of the little details you might have missed throughout the week.

Per usual, you can find a link to this blog on the right hand side of the page.

If you'd like me to add your blog to the list, or if you have any other suggestions, just leave a comment and I'll get to it ASAP.

Smithfield Pork Critics Launch Metro PR Campaign

2008-07-06T20:22:00.004-04:00

If you made your way through the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro Stop this weekend, you probably saw one of these ads by the Justice at Smithfield Campaign, a campaign headed by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

This campaign was started to protest Smithfield's working conditions at their Tar Heel, NC processing plant and has led to a slew of protests against Food Network star Paula Deen - a high profile Smithfield spokesperson.

So, do you think this campaign will have an impact? Will it change the way you buy pork?

UPDATE: EVIDENTLY THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR A WHILE, THANK YOU TO MY READERS FOR SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT!

Good Stuff Eatery to Open Tomorrow

2008-07-06T19:01:00.005-04:00

Good Stuff Eatery, the new burger and shakes joint by Top Chef alumni Spike Mendelsohn opens tomorrow after garnering mixed responses from the DC food community.

While the menu looks solid, and all initial reviews I've seen have been positive, Spike hasn't gained very many friends for what some consider his slighting of the DC food community.

If you watch the interview he did with Washingtonian Magazine, he comes across more interested in making his PR mark on DC, and pleasing his fans from Top Chef than he does in becoming a part of DC's larger food community.

I can only hope that Spike remembers that there were burger makers and top chefs here before him, and they didn't get there through a TV show.

So, do you think that Spike's product will match his hype?

Photo Courtesy: Washingtonian Magazine

Happy Birthday America!

2008-07-04T17:04:00.002-04:00

Wow, what has it been, 232 years? You don't look a day over 218!

How did Apples and I celebrate the birth of our wonderful country? With Vietnamese food of course.

So, how did you celebrate this day off?

Hard News

2008-07-03T16:01:00.004-04:00

Big news for you picnic goers this weekend, according to an AP report, citrulline, a chemical found in watermelons, produces the similar effects to Viagra.

Unfortunately, it would take about six cups of watermelon to do the trick, and as watermelon is a diuretic, you'd probably spend most of the time in the bathroom anyway.

So on second thought,just skip the ten cups of watermelon you were going to eat, and just have a few oysters or something.

Nando's Open Today in Chinatown

2008-07-03T12:36:00.002-04:00

Nando's, a South African "Peri-Peri" chicken chain with restaurants all over the world, opened its first shop right here in DC today on 7th St NW in Chinatown.

Word is that a second restaurant will go just south of Dupont Circle on Connecticut Ave. NW.

I've never been to a Nando's, but from what I gather, it's primarily spicy chicken.

So has anyone here ever been to one? Thoughts? Comments? Let me know!

New Restaurant to Open in Clarendon

2008-07-03T12:08:00.003-04:00

Replacing the old India Curry House, Spider Kelly's, a "a comfortable, appealing bar and dining room that is inextricably linked to the neighborhood." will be opening up at a date yet to be revealed.

Owned by Nick Freshman and Nick Langman, two "long-time area residents", Spider Kelly's will operate under the motto, "Come as you are", encouraging guests in tuxedos and tuxedo t-shirts to feel comfortable.

The menu has some standard bar fare such as burgers and wings, as well as salad, sides to share, and desserts.

As someone who lives near, and walks by Clarendon almost daily, it's very exciting to see the area being built up, and more local, independent viable options for those of us who want a good place to have a bite to eat and down a few drinks.

Chop Talk: My Interview with Hello Cupcake's Penny Karas

2008-07-02T11:33:00.006-04:00

She's a cupcake evangelist. A true believer in every sense, and she's opening up a cupcake cathedral where we can all come and worship at the alter of cakey goodness.

When Penny Karas opens Hello Cupcake later this Summer, she won't be alone. The cupcake movement is alive and well in Washington DC, not to mention LA, New York, and almost every other major city.

Back in 2006, when Karas was in the planning phases for Hello Cupcake, she went on a cupcake pilgrimage of sorts - touring the best shops around the country for ideas. When she came back to DC, she had three lessons learned from the road that she quickly implemented: 1) "product quality and variety is absolutely the number one priority", 2) "a decision to create a premium brand image", and 3) "provide the best cupcakes, with top-quality customer service in a sparkling clean environment."

None of those goals are accomplished easily, but Karas seems to be up to the challenge. She understands that "If the product is not good, it is not going to succeed, no matter how hot the “trend", and plans to use "use premium, seasonal and, when possible, local ingredients" in offering regular, gluten-free, and vegan cupcakes.

Karas has an obsession when it comes to perfecting her product. She says that she "took the Cook’s Illustrated approach and experimented with different versions of my recipes until I found the perfect ones", stating that "basic chocolate and vanilla cakes were the most difficult, because they really must shine on their own and take a variety of frostings well. I did 12-15 versions of each of those before I chose the ones on the menu."

But it's not just cupcakes that will draw customers to Hello Cupcake; Karas says that the feel will be that of a "a boutique or a little high-end jewelry store", and it certainly helps that her husband and designer is award-winning architect Bill Bonstra. The shop won't just look modern; it will be modern, with keeping environmentally friendly a key feature. "Environmental stewardship is personally very important to me" says Karas about what role being green played in opening up her shop, " I wouldn’t open a business without taking this in to account."

While the shop hasn't even opened its doors, Karas is already thinking beyond cupcakes. She'll be offering cake plates and reusable totes to carry your order in, as "a line of all-natural, canine-friendly, mini cupcake treats called Lola’s Pupcakes (named for her dog Lola)". She's also thinking expansion, looking for a space in a similar area where she could maybe spread out, and be "large enough to serve as both a retail shop and the Hello Cupcake commissary, for catering events and making deliveries."

Penny sees in DC a market of people ready to believe in her product. She sees a market that "gets it" in a city that is a "true food destination".

Whether or not her faith in her product or her market is well put or misplaced will come with time. Karas believes that the "individual nature of cupcakes has a huge appeal" and that "cupcakes are precisely the kind of treat that works well in a down economy", much like the one we're in right now.

One thing is for sure though; there is no doubting Penny Karas' enthusiasm about her product, or her dedication to her future customers. I can only guess that her customer’s enthusiasm and dedication will be just as intense.

Photos Courtesy: Hello Cupcake

What Came First: The McNugget or the Millions in Advertising?

2008-07-02T11:06:00.004-04:00

This blog post was brought to my attention by a friend, and in turn I'd like to bring it to yours.

Down to Earth, which is a great blog (that you'll be able to find on my blog roll), has a great post here about the McNugget - everyone's favorite supposedly chickeny nugget, and how McDonald's (and other fast food outlets in general) have been working hard to reverse the negative image that folks like myself have of the nutritional (and otherwise) quality of their food.

So, read the post, and tell me - do you think that the fast food industry's PR campaign is working? Or are those McNuggets really just that good?

Food Day: Beware of Bears Edition

2008-07-02T10:17:00.003-04:00

Happy Food Day Folks. With America's birthday right around the corner, it's picnic time for millions of people as they head out to watch the fireworks. Read all about it and more below.

Bring the Basket: Looking beyond sandwiches and potato salad for your picnic basket? The WaPo and NYT, along with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Boston Globe, and the LA Times all have great alternatives for your picnicing needs.

Celebrate with Berries: With so much in season right now, there's no excuse not to use some fresh berries with your July 4th spread. This Arizona Republic article shows you how.

Beat the Heat with Something Sweet: Aguas Frescas have been keeping Central Americans cool for centuries. The LA Times has some great recipes to help you catch up.

Killing Ketchup: Condiments will be on full display this weekend, but according to a recent poll, Cleveland Plain Dealer readers prefered mustard to ketchup by a margin of 2 to 1. Click here to find out why.

Peanuts and Tamales?: Going to catch a game this weekend for the first time in a while? This Kansas City Star article tells us that you might not recognize some of the items on that ballpark menu.

First Look: Ray's Hell - Burger

2008-07-01T22:13:00.006-04:00

Over the past few months I've written a lot about hamburgers. These things are so hot right now you'd think they were made out of gold and served on pieces of the true cross.

From Five Guys to Z Burger to Good Stuff Eatery, DC is a burger town. But every town needs its mayor, and that mayor is Michael Landrum.

Ray's Hell-Burger (officially called Butcher Burgers) is exactly what you'd expect from Landrum, owner of Ray's the Steaks. There's no sign outside (yet) and the inside resembles a twenty something bachelor's apartment - bare white walls with a few obscure movie posters on them, mixed in with a few posters showing different cuts of meat. This is Landrum at his most playful, showing off his fun side.

Once you get to the counter you'll see a big open kitchen with Landrum leading the charge. They toast their own buns in a series of toasters, they grind the meat right in front of you and grill it up for you right before your very eyes.

The menu is simple: burgers with a variety of free toppings and cheeses, more awesome sodas than you could ever shake a stick at - they have Moxie and Cheerwine!!!! - and a free piece of corn on the cob and a nice slice of watermelon.

If food could talk, it would say one word: Summer.

A cheeseburger, cooked to medium-rare perfection, accompanied by a nice firm and sweet piece of corn and a fresh piece of watermelon. The flavors are so simple, so your old back yard on a hot summer's night, it's simply brilliant.

The burger feels fresh; it falls apart easily and reminds you what meat is supposed to taste like. You won't need a single drop of ketchup or squirt of mustard with this burger. Eat it the way whichever deity you favor made it; you'll be happier for it. The bun looks generic, and probably is, but did a great job of holding everything up while tasting great, and the tomatoes and lettuce are exactly what they should be.

Best of all, Apples and I walked out of Ray's Hell-Burger not feeling like death. No Five Guys hangover here, just an empty plate and a full stomach.

Next week I'll be standing in line at the opening of Spike's Good Stuff Eatery on the Hill, and eventually I'll review Z Burger; but I already feel biased towards Ray's. Much like it's big steak brother, the burger version embodies everything you'd want out of a hamburger joint - a great product in a relaxed atmosphere at a phenomenal price (burger, corn, and melon for under $7.00).

There may be a lot of burger places out there, but with Landrum giving even Mayor McCheese a run for his money, there's no doubt who's leading the pack.

Iced Coffee: Starbucks to Close 600 Stores

2008-07-01T18:07:00.002-04:00

According to an AP report, Starbucks will close 600 underperforming stores in the U.S.

No word on how many of those will be DC area shops, but this is a good sign that the bad economy is having a negative effect on the coffee giant.

So, what other mega chains do you think will start scaling back their operations?

It's Michael Landrum's World...

2008-07-01T09:48:00.003-04:00

...we're all just waiting in line to eat his food.

For those of you who don't go, Landrum is the owner of Ray's the Steaks (find my review here), the place to get steaks in the Washington DC area.

Now, Landrum will have the place to get burgers in the area. Sorry Spike, sorry Five Guys, sorry everyone else - but this honestly sounds like the GREATEST restaurant of all time.

Here's the description that Landrum wrote on donrockwell.com:

As those of you who were too foolish to heed my warning on Monday already know, Ray's Hell-Burger (street name), aka Butcher Burgers (government name), is due to open today, Tuesday, July 1st.

We will be serving one thing only--10 ounces of our secret blend of premium and prime aged beef, char-grilled over an open flame. This is the same single-breed, farm-raised beef that we use at Ray's The Steaks and Ray's The Classics, aged in house ridiculously long, hand trimmed to the same exacting standards as all of our steaks, and ground fresh daily, several times throughout the day.

Free toppings include: sauteed mushrooms finished with sherry and brandy, grilled red onions, sauteed peppers, charred jalapenos, vine-ripened beefsteak tomatoes, roasted garlic, and dill or bread and butter pickle chips. Applewood-smoked bacon (the same that we use for the grilled bacon app at Ray's The Classics) and guacamole are available for an additional charge.

In addition to the regular quality cheeses on offer ('Merkin, aged Vermont white cheddar, imported Swiss, imported Gruyere, aged Danish Bleu/Italian Gorgonzola, smoked mozzarella, Monster, Brie, pepperjack) we wil also be offering a changing selection of specialty and artisinal cheeses--currently, Epoisse, Rogue Creamery Smokey Blue, Queen Anne Stilton, Pa Noble Cave Aged Amish Cheddar, Chimay a la biere, Taleggio, and Bel Paese.

Throughout the summer, Hell-Burgers will be served with fresh, buttered corn on the cob and a slice of cold, juicy watermelon AT NO CHARGE!!! Dominion root beer ON TAP and other great sodas and 8-10 flavors of MOOrenko's ice cream for cones and floats (no shakes, maybe later--I don't want to be the one to push shakes into the trite category, too many others stand eager to do so soon enough).

Ray's Hell-Burger (imagine the "Hell" part in flamey letters) is located at 1713 Wilson Boulevard in the same strip mall as Ray's The Steaks. We plan to open Saturday and Sunday from noon on and weekdays from 5 pm, for the time being, with expansion into weekday lunch hours possible, maybe.

The best part about all this, for me at least, is that since Ray's Hell-Burger is located several doors down from Ray's The Steaks, now whenever someone becomes tantrumishly nasty at the door due to the wait at The Steaks, I can kindly suggest an appropriate alternative destination to them.

Photo Courtesy: Washingtonian Magazine

Weekly Website(s): Good Things Come in Threes Edition

2008-06-30T19:00:00.002-04:00

I've got three new food blogs on my roll that I'd like to feature today. Remember, you can find these on the right side of your screen.

On another note: I'll be purging some of the blogs that haven't updated in the past two months, and will do this once a month, so I apologize in advance if your blog is one of the ones that gets cut - but I've got too many blogs I want to put on the roll, and I want to keep the best list possible for you.

Back to our originally scheduled list, already in progress:

Adventures in Shaw: Focuses on recipes and DC food news. You'll find some great pictures and great dinner, dessert, etc. ideas.

Mango & Tomato: I like blogs with two food names and pretty pictures - and this blog has that and so much more. The dishes are smart and look fantastic. It's only been around for a month, but it'll be great to watch this blog grow.

The Bitten Word: I just hate it when I find blogs that are head and shoulders above mine. But then I forget about it just enjoy the show. The Bitten Word is putting on one hell of a show - featuring some great recipes from some great magazines. It's like having a subscription to every food magazine, but without the cost.

Good Stuff Eatery Releases Menu

2008-06-30T14:29:00.002-04:00

It looks like Good Stuff Eatery, the new hamburger joint from Top Chef alumn Spike Mendelsohn, will live up to its name - that is if the menu is any indication.

Follow the link above to the website where you can find the menu.

I can't wait to get my first Farmhouse Cheese with a Toasted Marshmallow shake.

Which burger are you most looking forward to?

Neglect

2008-06-30T08:42:00.002-04:00

When used as a transitive verb, it means "to give little attention or respect to" or to "leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness".

When used in relation to sweet potatoes you got at the farmers market a month ago, you get this:

Any questions?

Butterfield 9 Rumored to be Closed

2008-06-29T23:29:00.002-04:00

Starting from a rumor on the donrockwell.com boards that started two days ago, it looks like Butterfield 9, the downtown restaurant once called "one of the 100 hottest restaurants in the world" according to Conde' Nast Traveler Magazine, is closed.

The restaurant, headed up by Chef Michael Harr, was the subject of many jokes between Apples and myself, as it was the site of our first Restaurant Week meal, and a very disappointing one at that.

If these rumors (which, coming from Rockwell himself I'd consider above the rumor level onto pretty solid fact) prove to be true, it'll leave another big restaurant space opening downtown, near where Red Sage used to be, and continues to sit as a restaurant corpse.

It'll be interesting to see why BF9 is closing, and if any other restaurants of similar ilk close their doors in the coming months.

First Look: Mr. Yogato

2008-06-28T14:31:00.006-04:00

"Are you a fan of Mr. Yogato?" yelled Steve Davis, Mr. Yogato's so-called "Man of Yogurt" as I took the picture below.

I didn't know how to answer that. How can you be a fan of a restaurant that still isn't open? So I responded with the only reply that came to mind: "We'll see in a few minutes."

A few minutes later, the doors to Mr. Yogato, DC's newest, and second major frozen yogurt shop opened, and the customers came flooding in.

Immediately Mr. Yogato, the brainchild of a set of Georgetown business school students, will draw comparisons to TangySweet, its primary competitor and Dupont neighbor.

It's ironic that Yogato is run by grad students, because it feels a lot more like a undergrad kegger as opposed to TangySweet's grad student martini happy hour feel. Mr. Yogato's space feels cramped and chaotic by comparison, something that could be solved with signs showing people where to order and where to get their yogurt.

Going to Mr. Yogato isn't just about getting a cup of yogurt and some toppings, the emphasis is just as much on the fun as it is on the product. There are a number of "rules", basically fun ways to get a discount on your yogurt - today you could have gotten a $1 off your order if you did so in a Scottish accent. I declined and just paid the extra buck. You can also get a flavor named after you if you order something for thirty consecutive days, or get a discount if you suggest a topping or flavor that's adopted.

If you're going to Mr. Yogato expecting the same product as TangySweet, you'll be sadly mistaken, or pleasantly surprised, all depending on your views on TangySweet.

If you like and are expecting the tangy-tartness of TangySweet, you won't get it. Mr. Yogato's product is milder, almost to a fault. With flavors like Mango, Mojito, and "original soft" (a flavor akin to all the TCBY you ate as a kid), there's a lot of variety here, but sadly those flavors didn't exactly all come out as strong as they should have. Even the topping options are plentiful. I got mochi, strawberries and blueberries. I was glad to see mochi, something Apples turned me onto, on the menu - I've got a feeling it'll be a regular topping of mine when I visit.

Agatha, my yogurt partner for the day, got granola, blackberries and raspberries. She was a little disappointed that they only fit four blackberries on the yogurt (and pointed out that much like TangySweet, she had an air pocket in her yogurt), but seemed to like what she got (a little original soft) overall.

Like any other startup, Mr. Yogato will undergo some growing pains. The flavors need to be distinguished further, and there needs to be some greater order to the flow of traffic through the restaurant.

So to answer Steve's question - yes, I'm a fan of Mr. Yogato. Right now I don't think they're quite where TangySweet is when it comes to their product or their operation, but I think this team has the potential to do very well for itself, and I look forward to watching them grow in the weeks and months ahead.

A sign of hope with a side of fries

2008-06-28T08:13:00.003-04:00

There's been a lot of talk over the past five years about benchmarks in Iraq (I know, this is a food blog, but follow me), but there's a great story in the Washington Post today about how one of the best indicators of things starting to go well in Iraq is the reemergence of their restaurant industry.

The article focuses primarily on one restaurant, Qadori, which was the site of a suicide bombing a couple years back, but is now running at 100% again, and making one of its most popular dishes, makhlamah, described as, "a spoonful of hot grease into a small frying pan, then tomato chunks, minced meat and eggs."

Regardless of your politics, this is great news. Now if I can only figure out where to get me one of those makhlamahs.

Photo Courtesy: Washington Post

To Do: Smithsonian Folklife Festival

2008-06-27T15:11:00.003-04:00

Looking for something to do this weekend between the predicted thunderstorms? Make your way down to the mall for the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

This year's festival features exhibits from Bhutan and Texas (I'd like to see the dart board they used to pick those two places), below is a sampling of the menu:

Bhutan

Nakey Tshoem
Chicken (shredded), fiddleheads, cheese, chiles, onion, garlic, ginger, and special seasonings served with Bhutanese rice

Ema Datsi
National dish of chiles with cheese, served with Bhutanese rice

Momos
Pork and cheese filled dumplings

Texas

Steak Fajitas
Grilled flank steak with onions and peppers, served with rice and beans

Cheese Quesadillas
Two flour tortillas filled with melted cheese, grilled onions, and peppers, served with rice and beans

Taquitos
Deep-fried corn tortillas filled with chicken, lettuce, and sour cream, served with rice and beans

New Frozen Yogurt Joint to Open in Dupont Circle This Weekend

2008-06-26T17:49:00.004-04:00

At what point does a neighborhood have too many frozen yogurt outlets? Dupont Circle, already home to TangySweet, and the future home to Sweetgreen, will now be the home of Mr. Yogato when it opens this Saturday, June 28th at noon.

Located just south of Q St. and 17th St. NW, it looks like Mr. Yogato will look a lot like TangySweet, but with more flavors, toppings, and sans the smoothies.

People who aren't into the whole tangy yogurt thing can also get an "original soft", which I'm assuming tastes more like the TCBY yogurt a lot of us grew up with.

So, are you excited about another yogurt place? How do you think this will match up against the wildly popular TangySweet?

Good Stuff Eatery Rumored to Open on July 7th

2008-06-26T13:08:00.004-04:00

Top Chef fans and burger freaks get ready, because according to a source on donrockwell.com, Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery is set to open on July 7th.

The burger and fries place will be located at 3rd and Penn Ave SE on Capitol Hill, and will also serve a milkshakes with homemade ice cream.

It'll be interesting to see if the product can be as big as Spike's hype. In a city with plenty of burger options, I certainly hope so.

Happy Birthday Tony!

2008-06-25T20:36:00.002-04:00

Chef, TV personality, and professional bad-ass Anthony Bourdain turned 52 today.

Celebrate by drinking a bottle of liquor (any will do) and eating vast quantities of Vietnamese/Chinese/Japanese food. Have a carton of cigarettes for dessert.

Food Day: Breaking News Edition

2008-06-25T18:40:00.008-04:00

There's a lot going on in the world of food today. No New York Times stories here on the evolution of spinach, these are stories that you need to read, because they'll effect where you'll eat.

Hooked: It was his restaurant, and the restaurant was him. Sleek, hip, on the forefront of the environmental and sustainable movements, Barton Seaver was the face and the frying pan behind Hook and his new restaurant, Tackle Box.

No more.

As of today, according to multiple sources (I found out through a simple text from Apples saying, "Seaver left hook"; yet another reason why I have the best girlfriend ever), Barton split with his ownership group, Pure Hospitality, after "difference in philosophies" were highlighted between himself and owner Jonathan Umbel.

While Barton states that he remains "committed to seeing Hook and Tackle Box succeed", losing him in the kitchen and as the creative driving force behind these two projects is a huge loss, and hopefully doesn't affect the service or quality of the restaurants respective products.

Josh Whigham, Hook's Chef de Cuisine, will take over for Barton as the Executive Chef. According to Umbel, "“The restaurant was being run by Josh anyway."

"She's ready to move on": And so we announce the end of Colorado Kitchen, Gillian Clark's DC restaurant, according to the Washingtonian. According to Clark, "The final day is coming. . . . People should make their plans soon. We've had a great seven years and had a really great time. We're not a one-trick pony. . . . My brain has more restaurant concepts in it than Colorado Kitchen."

So what other restaurant concepts could those be? We'll all find out this fall when she opens up a yet to be named restaurant in Silver Spring.

Guns and Butter

2008-06-24T20:30:00.002-04:00

Have you ever had a craving for a hamburger and to fire a machine gun at an Israeli defense post in the same meal? Yeah, me neither, but next time you're in Beirut, Lebanon, you'll have a chance to.

According to this BBC report, the newest fast-food joint in Beirut is called Buns and Guns, a restaurant "made out to look like a military post and diners eat to the sound of gunfire instead of muzak."

With the motto of "A sandwich can kill you", you can order such dishes as "the Kalashnikov, Dragunov, Viper, [and] B52", off of menus that are shaped like bullets.

Owner Yousef Ibrahim believes that he's got a winner on his hands, "It attracts customers in an unconventional way. You noticed the moment I opened the restaurant, there was a lot of business". We can only hope that his primarily Hezbollah customers put down their real rocket propelled grenades, and pick up the dish by that same name (chicken on a skewer).

Photo Courtesy: BBC News