Birthday Dinner c/o Le Diplomate

When we established that we were going to spend the holidays in the Maryland/D.C. area there was the matter of a birthday dinner. Dad and I talked a bit about it at K. and A.'s wedding and then I began my research stage to consider the options. At first I was limiting myself only to the Silver Spring/Wheaton/Rockville area, but the conversation with Dad made me broaden it somewhat. I considered this Top Chef guy's place, but honestly the reviews were a bit mixed on Yelp. And I don't take Yelp very seriously, but if the overall message is 'some of the food was really good, but it was kind of weird and service wasn't awesome,' you still need to ask yourself if it's worth the hassle. I did think that a French meal of some kind would please me and also be in Dad's comfort zone, so I began honing in on French restaurants in the D.C/MD/VA vicinity. In the end, and not without at least a little Facebook input, I suggested we try a reservation at Le Diplomate. This is a relatively new restaurant in D.C. and is actually part of the Stephen Starr umbrella. Stephen Starr has a definite stake and reputation in the Philly area as one of the 'big-time' restauranteurs. I have not been to all his establishments, but I have been to a hand full. And whatever the formula is, they generally seem to work. Le Diplomate certainly did. Due to not planning many more weeks in advance, the only available times were either around 5 or 10 PM. Dad went with the earlier of the options, which I think was a very good idea. I started off the meal with a pamplemousse cocktail, which I can't find on the website to more fully tell you about. From my own recollection it did the balance between sweet and tart quite excellently. Refreshing but not cloying, with just a little effervescence in the mix.

I will admit that the lighting in the restaurant was better for the actual moode and place than for the photographs I tried to take. They also had very neat/old school tiled bathrooms with sinks that one child I encountered called "really cool." So please forgive the photographs, is really what I'm saying. So the Starr restaurants, I think the thing that really is down to a science is how to put together a relatively effective and professional team. Our server never got flustered by our delays in actually making a decision about the meal, laughed at our jokes, asked the right questions and knew most of the answers to ours. Basically I have zero complaints about the service. Though I will say that we pretty much stumped one newer employee when we asked for more detail about some of the accompaniments to our first round of dishes. But when he didn't know the answer he made the effort to go find out and come back, so that was nice.

I debated on what exactly I would order quite a lot in the days and hours leading up to this meal. I had a few concrete ideas but didn't know what combination would make the most sense. In the end I showed very little restraint. Here is the foie gras parfait...this was the fluffiest, spreadiest, heaven-on-earthiest of foies that I've had in quite some time. The thick toast and fennel aigre doux were the perfect texture and flavor to accompany this rich piece of manna. Seriously good stuff.

I also couldn't resist the frissee salad with duck confit, poached egg and potatoes. Variations of this salad have been my favorite for quite a number of years. The way the yolk mixes in with the existing dressing just makes a magic meal, especially if you add duck into the equation.

Then there was the deliberation of what to actually eat. Ultimately I chose to go with the roasted scallops with red wine salsify, truffle sabayon and black trumpet mushrooms...as well as what I recall as being some kind of legume or potato? I kind of forget that detail. I thought the scallops were well prepared and executed though I thought they were perhaps just a tad salty...that might actually be a reaction to my father's dissatisfaction with the grilled loup de mer he ordered, which he found too salty. His dish did come with tapenade, so perhaps it should have been expected. Meanwhile when I tried his dish I thought it wasn't that salty and, in fact, though my own dish was moreso. Dad didn't agree on his own comparison testing. In the end I wasn't too bummed about the salt level and was pleased with the tenderness of the scallop and the savory elements of its rich butter sauce magic topping.

We had this wine with our entrees.

Above, the photoshopped version. Below, the original. It's bascially like I did nothing, except I spent 15 minutes trying to do something. Alas. The main change is that Dad's country terrine and lettuce accompaniment turned a very different set of colors. Blue lettuce is de rigeur, don't ya know?

We opted for coffee and Armagnanac instead of dessert, in large part because we did have a secondary appointment for the evening and I felt that we were going to be too late if we had any additional courses. When we exited the restaurant we both took a moment before looking around for cabs, and during those moments I noticed a guy standing a few feet away that looked vaguely familiar. After a few surreptitious glances, we met eyes and I finally just asked him if his name was H., which it was, and he asked me if I was me, which I am. H. and I went to high school together! I was quite amused by this random run-in and asked whether we could have a photograph taken in order to prove that it ever happened. Dad and I were both a little punchy, so this is actually the photograph that he took for us. H. is pretty tall and clearly Dad's main goal was getting the sign in the photo. Still, a funny ending to a great meal. 

Big thanks goes out to Dad for the birthday dinner!

Four Course Dinner Plus Extra Treats c/o Marigold Kitchen

A good amount of time ago CPM and I made our way to west Philly to enjoy a dinner at Marigold Kitchen. It was spectacular. We oohed. We ahhhed. We altogether enjoyed ourselves. Soon thereafter LW and I discussed how we ought to go to Marigold for her birthday. And then somehow we didn't. I forget what exactly prevented us from an August visit, but it never came to be. Months later we picked up that dropped ball and traveled on over to enjoy the restaurant's new format. When CPM and I went it was an a la carte design; it was up to us whether we enjoyed proper appetizers in addition to an entree and all their delightful amuse bouches. Now, after getting a lot of good press (I imagine this was a large contributor to the menu change) visitors to Marigold Kitchen have the option of deciding between a few price points and levels of coursed meals. We went with the minimum, but perhaps maximum returns. I must admit that this post will not include a photograph for each and every dish we were given. The lighting was extremely low and while I tried my best not to use the flash and keep my hands steady, the truth is that some photos just aren't at all up to par (and some that I'm including are iffy nontheless). For example, I'm not showing you the opening popcorn we were given that had been frozen/treated in such a way that the first few bites could give you the ability to exhale and have your breath be like steam. Wasn't able to capture that moment. Nope. Similarly, the light was so low that many of the photographs that I am sharing with you aren't entirely similar in appearance. Color correction under these conditions was difficult...but I hope you can see past these issues to the wonderful meal we did indeed enjoy.

This was some kind of tuna with foam.

I've completely forgotten what this was.

Butternut squash soup with foam.

Ravioli with chocolate.

Head cheese terrine with House Pickled Local Fruits & Vegetables, Toasted Baguette, Braised Mustard Seed.  

Hamachi with Wild Mushroom “Forrest,” Puffed Sticky Rice and Mushroom Tea.

Painted Hills beef filet  with Turnip-Horseradish Puree, Seared Foie Gras, Baby Turnip, Pear, Arugula, Caramelized Onion Pudding.

This was a truly tasty plate. The beef was perfectly medium rare, the foie nice and creamy and the radishes were just heavenly.

A little mint chocolate ice cream sandwich.

Carrot almond cake with Goat’s Kefir Ice Cream, Blood Orange, Candied Carrot  

We were seated on the second floor at a small table by a window. We both thought our main server dude was a little brusque, a little less excited than some of the other servers when it came to the magic he was putting down in front of us. Probably just an off day. I can't remember if LW just wanted to high five one of the other servers or if they actually did. I'm sort of leaning towards actually did.

Chicken Liver Paté c/o McCorssen's

With the dart league on break, I haven't been playing so much of the darts. But at some point in the last few weeks, LW and I met up at McCrossen's. I tried their chicken liver pate with pear jelly, which surprisingly came in this jar. The jelly was on top. The dish was rich, but tasty.
Later on we played darts for a bit.

Breakfast c/o Auberge de la Fontaine

So we stayed at Auberge de la Fontaine. I found it after an exhaustive and perhaps unnecessarily stressful search across multiple internet sites and after reading almost 100% positive reviews on Trip Advisor. Many of those reviews mentioned the above average spread for breakfast, so I was curious to see just how impressive this would be on Friday morning. It was a decent spread and somehow seemed of a higher quality than you might find at a Best Western or Ramada. Croissants, muffins, pate, cheese, and tomatoes were among our options. There were also a number of drink options and a toaster. Not bad.
I was particularly pleased to find pate on the breakfast table. Was it the absolute best pate of my life? No. But did it make me smile? Yes.
This was my plate.

Delaware River and Tasty Snack Lunch

After my breakfast and walk I drove to Trauger's Farm Market to pick up a few things for the coming days of ultimate eating. Produce mainly. After that I was in need of charcoal, but managed to miss the one store the women in Trauger's had suggested. So I pulled over at one of the viewing/launching stations along the Delaware for a photo op before getting back on track.
I guess this has something to do with something. But I don't know what.



On my return I made myself a lunch plate. Calamata and black olives, goat brie, cornichons and fresh tomato with a drizzle of balsamic. Oh and a nice shmear of chicken/pork pate/mousse. Living the life I was. Paired it with a cheap but not undrinkable white wine and life was good.
I also began and finished Cleaving while in the country. I have thoughts about it but right now I have to head out the door.

Modo Mio Magic

When I was in New York in March, E. mentioned that she would be coming to Philly in April and asked whether she might stay with me. She and I both thought that getting L. to come too would be fantastic, and I quickly began plotting where we might eat while they were in town. I decided that in terms of budget and bang for the buck, Modo Mio was most definitely the way to go ... I also just wanted to go there. So, on an incredibly rainy night L. and E. pulled into town and I met them at the restaurant. As always, I found the lighting of the place a challenge and I actually think this was one of my least successful rounds of photos. Also, as always, I sort of forget the details of the dishes, and the restaurant's menu isn't entirely reflective of what we ordered. So we'll see how it goes. For my first course I chose a chicken liver 'caramello,' in other words, chicken liver paté or mousse. There were cherries and raddichio and something else good. It was good. It's strange how chicken livers in their natural state are not all that appealing to me, and yet I like it when they're all ground/pureed up. Go figure.
Since I so enjoyed the pasta I had last time, I gravitated to its close cousin on this occasion as well...and found it deeee-lightful.
Oh man, it's pretty much impossible for me to tell you much about my main course. It was tender, delicious duck. With pancetta or something like it, and gorgonzola sauce. But those pink tipped things? Totally couldn't tell you. And there was another element that also slips my mind. But here's something else I can tell you: E. ordered the butter fish, which was a special of the night. And, well, it was maybe THE BEST THING EVER. Seriously. For real. It was not just good, it was super good. It was melting in your mouth fantastic. It was just...there are no words.
For dessert I ordered the pannacotta, which came with a blueberry compote? I need to start writing things down.
I think L. and E. were a little skeptical about my crazy need to be there exactly on time, but once the food started coming I think any annoyance was nicely mellowed by the food. Also? We drank a bottle of prosecco and a bottle of malbec.

Best of 2010, Meal Edition

This year hasn't been particularly kind to me in many respects. The loss of my mother remains a reality I must adjust to and I continue to be stymied by the rules of romance, but in spite of the terrific loss of this year and my own ineptitude, I managed to still have quite a good year when it came to good food and company. And that is not something to under appreciate. As always, I could have gone crazy and listed a lot more meals and experiences I valued over the last year, but I tried to narrow my favorites down a little. My final count is 11. And without further adieu, here they are, in rough chronological order.

My second visit to Modo Mio with L. was even better than the first in terms of food, service and company, and these scallops were particularly pleasing.
L.'s spring visit to Philly was a delight in and of itself, but our meal at Tinto and the wondrous properties of their chicken skewers definitely made a lasting impression.
There were many contenders for good times and great food from my many visits to J. and J.'s house over the year, but he-J.'s seafood paella and the spirits we were all in on that night made it to the list...though the gnocchi and sauce almost took over.
My spring visit to Seattle to see M. and A. and C. and T. was chock full of great times and delectable food, but the evening featuring fancy champagne, truffle cheese and coq au vin was one of my absolute favorites.
Most years dim sum gets a general nod in my round up, but this year it was the specific dim sum experience I had with T. and C. to which it is worth raising a ceramic cup of jasmine tea. The dumplings were larger, fresher and just altogether fantastic (I really only have three adjectives that I can use).
While my extended stay in Nashville in the spring wasn't under the best of circumstances, to say I didn't have any good meals during that time wouldn't be true. For example, eating rotisserie chicken from Calypso Cafe by the parthenon makes the cut. That chicken was delicious.
The soup and osso bucco I enjoyed at Miel with my father was another positive eating experience that took place in Nashville.
The surprising complementary properties of pairing strawberries with radishes became my go-to treat in the early days of summer.
Driving out of my way and searching for Bubby's Burrito's new location was absolutely worth the delay and effort. Bubby's burrito, I heart you.
While Supper didn't live up to my or Mr. Ass's expectations, the charcuterie plate at James easily exceeded my already rather high bar of what a charcuterie plate should be. Their selection of pickled veggies was a great touch.
My impromptu meet up with L. after a hair cut led to my introduction to a whole new level of burger , and a drink that I could happily sip upon for hours. Thank you Village Whiskey, for giving me the best burger of my life.
And that's a wrap. It has been eventful, this year of food. I can't wait to see what 2011 will bring! Feel free to look back at past years' 'best of' experiences: 2009, 2008.

Country Life

When I left Tennessee I broke up the trip in Ohio then drove on to Pennsylvania. I wasn't quite ready to integrate back into an office atmosphere or deal with my cat, roommate, or disaster of a bedroom, so I took M.'s Mom's earlier offer of a place to stay (made back in the summer) in the country outside Bethlehem. I had such a fantastic few days with M. and A. over the summer, that I knew that this was the perfect place for me to regroup. While the house has any number of pleasant rooms, I spent the majority of my time in the kitchen, stoking this wood stove.
I went to a local fancy grocery store and stocked up on non-essentials like mousse paté, Humbodlt fog cheese and cornichons. I also bought a lot of Bordeaux wine. Well, not such copious amounts as to be completely embarassed, but enough that to say 'a little' would be an utter falsehood.


If I could just tend other people's fires for a living, I really and truly would. Seriously. It was this great ever-present task to keep in mind as I went about my work day. This was, of course, made easier by S.'s excellent wood pile and my employer's flexibility with my location. These photographs were taken when I took a little too long to put a new log on top of the old coals...so I had to coax it a bit, which was part of the fun. I like to smell like wood smoke and curl up like a dog at the base of a wood stove. Things to know about me, I guess.