12 days , 12 things ....

So how many people actually know WHEN the 12 days of christmas are ? NO not before the "big day" but actually after. And of course there is always that song "th 12 days of Christmas" blah blah......

Well this year I actually decided for some strange odd reason, that I would keep track of what I "got" during those 12 days. Though by this point the initial bits are fuzzy in my mind - Here it goes:

Day One: One Great Xmas Day brunch thanks to Stefanie & her amazing Mom!

Day Two: Found out Sally had a blown head gasket, apparently a common problem with Subaru's from 1998-2002

Day Three: A Happy Hour with 3 Margaritas! (you're kidding me on the day AFTER Christmas? - well why not - it makes the work day seem easier)

Day Four: I found the approximate repair bill for Sally would be a 4 figure number ($2,000 !!!) . On the lucky side I found a Pro shop a few days later who can slash 40% off that price - the catch is He cant do it until early February)

Day Five: Off To Mutton Top!

Day Six: At least 6 of us went chopping wood! (See the theme) plus it released alot of stress doing it.

Day Seven: Seven Bottle Rockets! (Goodbye to 2007!)

Day Eight: Head wound free since January 2nd 2008!

What you may say? well some may recall an particualr biking accident circa Nov 2006. Well I went all of 2007 without hitting my head REALLY hard on anything - but 2 hours into 2008 - Lo and Behold - I get into an argument with a door latch and I loose - big time. Luckily I have freinds who know how to bandage me up, even if it is a little overenthusiastic!

Day Nine: Fuzziness sets in, a boring nine hour workday....

Day Ten: Played a Great Game of Imperial! (yes I am a geek)

Day Eleven: Saw 11 Shooting Stars (I stopped counting after that)

Day Twelve: A Twelfth Night celebration

This was the capstone of the 12 days - A good dinner where I tried to recreate my Paella recipe from late September. And though it was different - it was nevertheless tasty! Even better that it was shared with good friends (right).

It was all to celebrate - even if it wasnt per the standard method- Three Kings day, also known as The Epiphany. For my family this was the official end of the holidays. The tree came down the weekend after this, there would sometimes be a parade on this day also. But the family wold get together and we would have a good meal together - though it was often times at a restaurant. I remember my grandparents ordering Paella on this occasion more than a few times. SO thus was my impetus to have a dinner with my family of friends. And its perfect timing. Since the holidays are soooo full - one can never throw a holiday party anymore - so throw a small afffair for some afterwards - BRILLIANT!

In the immortal Hannibal Smith's word : "I love it when a plan comes together"

So three Huzzahs! for my wonderfull 2nd family who came out for a great evening (which is what counts)

So on that note I this time leave myself a few thing to remember for the next time I cook Paella

1. It always takes longer than I remember to cook - 45 - 60 min to cut & prep, alot the same amount of time for cooking

2. The Sofrito is the key to the color, dont scimp on the tomatoes, they need juicy pulp (out of season tomatoes dont work as well)

3. As I needed to be reminded - the Mussels are good if they close (if they stay open before they are cooked its bad, if they dont open when cooked they are bad)

4. Clams are not as vital, Scallops do a better substitute

5. Hoard up on Spanish Chorizo - its harder to find than I thought - and the dish misses something when not used

6. Big burner is better than 2 small burners of a regular stove - and a bigger P.I.T.A

7. Seafood is cheap at the DC Waterfront! Take advantage of it - especially cheap Mussels!

8. It always helps to have an amazing sous chef! (how could I forget that point!)

Thats all for now, i'll add if I remember more.

Return to Boulevard de Atlas

I.E. Flexing those Gastronomical Mussels…..

Haven’t been back to the Rock & Roll Hotel for a while, not since seeing The The’s. Went to see The RedWalls, Johnathan Rice, and The Whigs, of whom might have been nice to recruit into the newly formed WHIG Party, but alas they are not very eloquent. Just a small crowd of us went on the first day of snow of the year with A Rotten Rabi, Stef, and Club D, who has a nice and succinct review of the music of the night and the Sauce Boss (whom I see every year) from the previous Saturday night.

I vaguely remember hearing Jonathan Rice from somewhere before, and Behold – he is on my Walk the Line CD & Plays Roy Orbison in the movie. No wonder his sound was a little Country-ish – I though George Throughgood – but I’m no expert.

Of note for the night were the two new spots on H Street – First is the much touted Dr. Granville Moore’s. This place is attempting to rival Bistro du Coin in Dupont for their Mussels (which I think are the best in the city - price & taste factored in).

Well as the list of places for mussels (French style of course) increases in the city, I woefully fall behind on my list to try them: Montmartre, Brasserie Beck – I have been to them, but still remaining are: Hanks Oyster Bar, Bistro Italiano, Marvins, Les Halles and Belga Café I’ve been for drinks but not food.

SO I took up my quest again recently, when my best friend (& former roomy) from Miami, Mario came into town, and started at the beginning with the Bistro. OUTSTANDING!! as usual. In comparison Granvilles mussels tasted like mussels cooked in sauce, & Bistro’s mussels tasted like they were infused with the sauce YUM!! Plus they are always giving you more bread to sop up that sauce.

As for Montmartre, I cant remember them that well, so that doesn’t bode well (although I do remember their risotto with Calamari in Ink plate – 5 stars for that!), and Beck’s were very tasty indeed, as good as Bistro, but way pricier.

SO rating them:

Bistro du Coin *****
(better if you are in the mood for Wine)

Doc Granville Moores Brickyard ****
(better if you are in the mood for Belgian Beer)

Brasserie Beck ****
(better if you are in the mood for Fancy Restuarant)

Montmartre **
(better if you are in the mood for Other types of seafood)

The Hidden Gem of the evening is SOVA, which for full disclosure is owned by the Husband of a friend of mine (Frank – Kavitha’s hubby). He runs a cool Café/ Wine bar two doors down from the R&R Hotel. Well ok technically the wine bar portion isn’t open yet, but that’s just awaiting the liquor license. He has the same neat dispenser system that the pretentious Sonoma Wine bar has – without the pretentiousness or prices.

His Latte rivals mine (he uses good beans but no match for well roasted Dominican). The décor is R&R Hotel done nice – without the gaudiness – i.e big clunky but comfy couches, warmly painted walls in sage green or warm red colors. The backroom has a big ol' big screen tv and the upstairs has a HUGE Table where you could set up a game of World in Flames with room to spare if you wish.

I can definitely be seeing Granville’s & SOVA as part of my regular routine for visits to the venerable Hotel.

Addendum to Summer

1- Saw two genuine musical legends - the incredible Elvis Costello & the enigmatic Bob Dylan

2- Sally finally let loose some steam after all those summer trips. Than goodness it happened near a friends house and Darren & George helped me out in getting her back up and running for $20 bucks! Replacing a busted upper radiator coolant hose is simple work after all. (If you don't know by now - that's Sally pictured below after OBX, dont blame me for the name - My niece Alexia named her)


3- Finally watched my first Football Game of the season. Damm do the Dolphins SUCK!! ok I'm still giving Cam Cameron time to turn the team around - but come on boys - you let thata busted up Daunte Culpepper - whom we let go - score 3 TD's Running the ball in HIMSELF, and another 2 passing TD's??? Talk about embarrassment!

4- RAY knows how to cook !! My GAWD!!

5- Dave C. knows how to brew beer and have FUN!!! cant wait for that batch to be ready!

Yep that covers the last week of summer.....

It's The Great Paella Charlie Brown!

Tonight I made my first real Paella. I had just bought my paella pan, had the correct rice (Bomba), good Saffron, and Spanish Paprika - along with all the seafood I wanted. Ahhhh seafood... that is a big one.

Mind you it took me 3 hours to find some fresh squid as the guys from Sharky's Charters, Bait & Tackle sent me & Rob down out to Roanoke island to the town of Wanache. There we made stops at Oneal's which brings in the seafood from the trawlers in the "Industrial Seafood Commercial Zone". Well then, after having driven 25 miles (and stopping a 5 other places before hand), the guy tells us they have don't have them - despite the Sharky's guys promising up & down they would. At least Oneal's sent us to Ellsworth's a few blocks away. They had Squid for sure! Well they did, and we found out from this big guy in his late 50's with a classic NC OBX accent and oozed lifelong fisherman. Well we could buy all the squid we wanted as long as it was in 28 pound frozen blocks!!! Sure enough he sent us to back to a local market obviously called Seamart !!!

Ok I got my squid - and the Paella was a first of many. Although I knew how to make Sofrito (the tomato base sauce for many Cuban foods) - I had never actually made it from scratch being lazy all these years. OH how amazing that smell alone was filling the huge kicthen I had the pleasure to cook it in. Even more so was that since it was such a large group I was working TWO Pealla pans. Overall I was pleased with the outcome except that I used a little too much of the Hot Spanish Paprika... use less next time!
(of note the cook always makes better food when supplied with a glass of wine!)

A few quick reviews.... and notes of those gone by

Things to kep in mind from three restuarants I've eaten at lately:

Doungrats: Delicious Thai food - best meal/value south of Baltimore for Thai(4 out of 5)
Colvin Run Tavern: delicious and subtle flavors but maybe I just expected more (3.5 out 5)
Montmarte (Eastern market): Delicious scallops, amazing rissoto with calamari with squid ink sauce.... my absolute favorite! (4.75 out of 5)


and on to some sad news, The Cedars (of which I wrote about earlier) and Let's French - local bands I liked are no more...... The Cedars had alot going for them but Lets French was set!! They had a new kick butt full lenght album and everything.... wow interesting how things happen - I discover them a little before summer starts - and they are gone a little before summer ends....

Not A Crabby Time

Well why else would it not be crabby when you eat at the Quarterdeck ??? My amazing friend
Hilary (w/ Ray in pic) came all the way from L.A. just to visit..... well mostly for her sister :) But yet we ate out with some MEETin people and Kara, Karoline, and of course the ever prevalent Ray! (no one else of note really other than "mumbles" who tried stiffing the rest of us on the bill....)

But that was just dinner with an amazing gal!!!! We headed to Dremo's afterwards - yeah that place wont be there long (Spring 08 actually) - We need more High rise condo's after all - forget about the establishments that made the neighborhood cool in the first place..... Anayway it was good to hang out with my peeps (Yusef, Stefanie, Megan, Dana, Liz, Kevin and a surprise showing by Wayne & Annie who had just come in from NYC!!!). Despite wanting to get home early, At Ray's insistence we continued to show Hilary the "historical evening tour"of Court House/ Clarendon area with a visit to Mario's Pizza...... yep.... greasy cheap good pizza...... Ok time to go home-

In a rip off to Rays "Whammies", I give the Quarterdeck two claws out of five... 1 for yummy food, and 1 for atmosphere, but nothing for the slow service (so what if they were filled to capacity) , and apparently cant keep a nice selection of crabs sizes for us... oh yeah beer selection sucks.....