Fondue Monopoly

I went to the Annapolis Melting Pot (http://www.meltingpot.com/) because my friend AZ had a giftcard, which we happily discovered was worth $75. Fondue is fun, but I wish that I could try it somewhere other than the Melting Pot or at home. While the Melting Pot changes its menu up, and the food is fine, it would be interesting to see what a different and probably more authentic take on it would be. I've seen other fondue restaurants in Denver and Quebec, but unfortunately didn't get the chance to go. Here are my main gripes with the Annapolis Melting Pot. First, the ventilation is horrible. I wreak when I leave, and steam was constantly blowing in my face. The Melting Pot should seriously consider installing hoods at each table. Second, I think that it woud be nice if fondue restaurants provided timers if people want them so that they can more thoroughly monitor cooking times. We ordered the Wisconsin trio cheese fondue, Southwest Cobb Salad (a bit bland and too icebergy), the signature selection (two types of beef, shrimp, chicken, and salmon) cooked mojo style (think citrus), and the Oreo fondue. The mojo cooking style is my favorite to date, but costs an extra $5. As always, the chocolate was excellent! The Melting Pot shined in the beverage category. No, I'm not talking about anything as unimportant as cocktails. I'm referring to the coffee. I asked the server if it was good, and she gave it a ringing endorsement as a regular coffee drinker. She was pretty right on. It had that restauranty twinge, but otherwise was pretty good. It was nice and strong without tasting bitter or burnt, and tasted as if it had been brewed in a clean coffee maker. Here's to hoping that the Melting Pot gets a competitor!

Otani

We went to the recently-opened Otani (http://otanijapanesesushi.com/) in the Gambrills/Crofton area because of the deal of the day coupon in the Capital (local Annapolis newspaper more affectionately known as the Crapital) for either a free seaweed salad or California roll. We picked the California roll. There's not much to say about a California roll. I can't say that I've ever had a really good one or a really bad one. They taste pretty much the same to me. I ordered the chicken hibachi plate, and Eugene ordered the ribeye steak hibachi plate. It came first with some miso soup, which was standard except for the enokitaki mushrooms, which I absolutely love. They are wonderful in soup and taste almost as good as meat. The hibachi plates were just ok -- nothing out of the ordinary. The chicken was a tad dry, and the steak, while pretty good, didn't taste like any hibachi steak that I have ever had (and not in the best of ways). I might go back to sample some of the other dishes on the menu, but I might not. Edit: I did go back for the sushi. Read about it here.

Darlington House: A Restoration of Faith

A bit dramatic for a restaurant, yes? Not really. Here's some background. I was reviewing my previous restaurant postings and was beginning to think that I was becoming one of those food snobs who is never pleased with anything. I realized that a lot of what I had to say about restaurants was negative. Heck! The whole reason I started the blog was that I was ticked about bad food and thought, "Hey, I should write about it." The trend as of late in my take on different dining experiences was that the food I was eating was ok, but nothing outstanding. It made me wonder if I had unrealistic expectations for food and if I was taking good food for granted. Eating at Darlington House (http://www.darlingtonhousedc.com/) erased those concerns. It was one of the best meals that I have ever had in DC. I went to DH for the five-course Tasting Journal dinner, which was paired with wine. The first course was a tasty arugula salad with a lemon vinaigrette. The next course was a large pan-seared scallop that was expertly cooked. I bit into it and was wowed. The outside had the perfect level of peppery crustiness, and the scallop was a perfect, hot temperature. The accompanying sauce complimented it wonderfully. The main course was roasted Alaskan halibut. It was to die for. Like the scallop, it was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was wonderful. It was accompanied by cauliflower and fried shallots. I have never had cauliflower cooked so tastily. It was cooked, but still firm and lightly roasty (if that's a word). That, in combination with the breaded and fried shallots was amazing. My only gripes (which are small) are about the soup, dessert, and service. The soup course was a creamless butternut squash soup with amaretto cookie crumbles. The soup itself was yummy, but the cookie crumbles made it look a like barf. The amaretto was a bit too strong for the soup. For dessert, I ordered a banana whoopie pie (rum raisin ice cream sandwiched by banana cookies -- sounds weird, but believe me, the flavors compliment each other perfectly); it was so hard that I couldn't break it apart with silverware. It came with a shot glass of milk, and LP, my dining companion suggested that I pour the milk on the pie. It helped a lot, but I feel like it was counterintuitive and still am not sure if I should have poured the milk on. I feel like the server should explain... The service was very slow at times. It took the server forever to get to our table, and he didn't bring the wine pairing for the main course until we were halfway through it. A food runner from kitchen brought dessert, and our server never stopped by to ask if we wanted coffee. Alas. On a parting and out of order note, we each got a glass of prosecco (sparkling white), which was tasty, and the atmosphere was warm and laid back.

PS 7's

I went to PS 7's (http://www.ps7restaurant.com/, 777 I Street NW) for lunch the other day. I liked the sleek and modern atmosphere. I was also a big fan of the bathroom. Its walls are embedded with glass spheres containing live fish, and the sinks are made of a clear matte material and lit underneath so that they look like they are glowing. While the atmosphere was a little cooler than the food, in my opinion, lunch was a nice dining experience. It was priced very reasonably for a DC finer dining establishment. PS 7's offers a prix fixe menu (3 course) for a low $20. I selected the pumpkin soup, the hot brown, and mini doughnuts for dessert. The pumpkin soup was warm and comforting and garnished with pumpkin seeds. It was good, standard pumpkin soup. Nothing too inventive, but serviceable. The same goes for the hot brown -- turkey on bread with bacon, tomatoes, and mornay. It was tasty, but I would have liked the bread to be a bit thicker. It was about a quarter-inch thick and blended in with the turkey, especially soaked in the sauce. Dessert for me was disappointing. Since I've tasted the beignets from Cafe du Monde, I've had really high standards for doughnuts. They shouldn't be that hard to do. However, the doughnuts weren't really hot and were doughy and tough -- perhaps undercooked, in the middle. I only ate part of one. Let's not forget the coffee. PS 7's serves it in a French press, as a lot of restaurants are starting to do. I have some reservations about the French press. For one, when I make it at home, the coffee is never hot enough for my liking. PS 7's didn't have that problem. The coffee was scalding (in a good way). A tad bitter with some grounds that made it through, but otherwise ok. Would I go back? Probably yes for the prix fixe menu that doesn't depend on restaurant week.

Brief Beverage Review

Recommendation: Starbucks salted caramel hot chocolate. It's rich and thick, even with skim milk and has a wonderful just sweet enough taste. I highly recommend it. It's like drinking dessert. Warning: Stay away from Nantucket Nectars lemonade. A lot of companies have started making natural lemonade that tastes fresh despite being bottled. I had high expectations for NN lemonade since their other drinks, like their pomegranate cherry juice, are good. The lemonade, while not totally nasty, has an unnatural taste.

Jackie's Restaurant

We went to Jackie's Restaurant, 8081 Georgia AveSilver Spring, MD 20910, this past Friday for a friend's birthday dinner. Jackie's is a fun place. The decor and lighting are unique, and I loved that we were able to see right into the kitchen. The restaurant sported cool booths with some of the most interesting and funky upholstery that I have seen and nice seating areas for large groups. The bar looked like a lot of fun as well. Jackie herself approached our party and asked who the birthday celebrant was and personally said happy birthday to him. It was a nice touch. Unfortunately, I didn't try the coffee. Jackie's serves Mayorga, though, for anyone who wants to know. That's all I can say about the coffee, because I would have needed to taste it to see if the restaurant brews it properly. I didn't order coffee, even for the sake of the blog, because I've been sick and thought coffee might upset my stomach. I had a sip of a Jackie-tini (I think that's what it was called), and it was very sweet and fruity -- not that alcoholic tasting. As for food, we started off with the arugula salad. It was tasty. It was topped with goat cheese, roasted red peppers, and grilled (I think) pears. The dressing was excellent, although it may not be to everyone's liking. It was a spicy balsamic vinaigrette. While I like spicy food (especially if it makes me cry), a lot of people don't and could be thrown for a loop by the dressing. It wasn't exceptionally spicy, but would be to people who can't handle their spice. The table also got bread. Mind you, you have to ask for it, as the menu specifies that a basket of corn muffins and biscuits is available upon request. We requested it, and received baskets of corn muffins. They had a nice, sweet, buttery taste, but were a bit too dense or dry for my taste. They stuck to the roof of my mouth. It also took a long time for the server to get the bread to the table. For the main course, I ordered the pan-roasted cobia. Cobia is a flaky white fish. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about it. Having never before ordered cobia, I wasn't sure if I just don't like that type of fish, or if it could have been prepared better. It tasted a bit too fishy for my liking. However, it came with a delicious sauce, which I think was ginger and sesame based, bok choy, and an excellent mushroom and sweet potato tempura. My husband ordered the hanger steak, which was accompanied by fries and green beans. I had a bite of the steak, and it was excellent. I can't speak personally to the fries and the beans, but was told that both were good. Since I had been sick and my appetite was down, I didn't try dessert. Overall, it was a fun dining experience, and I would definitely return to taste the other menu offerings, and of course, the coffee and dessert.

Comparison Shopping

So, I sang the praises of the Annie Chun's noodle bowl, which I usually supplement with protein of some sort. They're cheaper at Whole Foods than the supermarket when they're on sale ($2.19 on sale as opposed to $2.99 and up). Lately, though, they seem to be in scarce supply at the Annapolis Whole Foods. Someone from my office recommended Trader Joe's, where the udon and teriyaki (my favorites) are only $1.99.

Allison's Restaurant: So Close, Yet So Far Away

We had been to Allison's once before and were underwhelmed. We returned this time because there was a 2 for 1 coupon. We probably won't be going back again, but not because it was a horrible dining experience. It's simply ok, which to me, means not worth it. The post title has a double meaning. Take One. Allison's is just a few miles away from our house, but far away in that we probably won't go back. Take Two. Allison's could be a good restaurant; it's not horrible and with a little tweaking could be a lot better, but it's oh so far away from being my idea of a good restaurant. At some level, it seems like Allison's is struggling with its identity. It's not exactly Italian, but has a heavy concentration of Italian dishes (Americanized Italian) on the menu, although tonight's special was catfish with fries. Again, don't get me wrong. Allison's is not an unpleasant dining experience, it's just mediocre. Where to begin. I guess I'll start with the all-important coffee. The coffee, like the rest of the meal was okay. It was bland -- not weak, but bland, like it was brewed from Folger's. To its credit, the coffee was a good strength and tasted like it had been brewed fresh in a clean machine.

The bread came next. Normally, I wouldn't write that much about restaurant bread, but it was odd. The bread basket had a mix of cornbread and what appeared to be Italian bread. Usually, Italian bread comes in thick slices, but the slices of Italian bread were about a quarter-inch thick. The bread was extremely ordinary, and was like something that came from a supermarket. There were about 4 pieces of cornbread, and when I say pieces, I mean cubes of cornbread that were only slightly larger than large croutons. I'm not saying that we needed more bread, but it was a strange way to present it. It was served with a nice, sweet butter.

As an appetizer, we ordered the portabella/shitake mushroom ravioli ($8.95), which came in a lobster ginger sauce. This dish was the meal's fleeting flash of brilliance. I have to admit -- one of the reasons I ordered the mushroom ravioli was because I have recently been reading the Twilight series (those who have read it will understand). The filling had a nice texture and was complimented well by the sauce, which, while tasty, didn't have any visible lobster meat in it.

The main courses were so-so, and actually more like something you would get at an Italian deli rather than a sit-down restaurant. I ordered the lasagna ($12.95) and my husband ordered the spaghetti with meatballs. Actually, it should have been called spaghetti with meatball, as it only came with one meatball. While I'm all for portion control, I feel like there should have been at least two meatballs (even if they were smaller), just for appearance's sake. Sadly, the meatball had an overly mushy texture and was a bit short on flavor. On the brightside, the marinara was good. It tasted fresh, and the chef used the all-important fresh parsley. The lasagna was just okay. It was uninspired and overly cheesey (I rarely ever think that something can be over-cheesed). The cheese overpowered pretty much everything else. The lasagna was accompanied by a side of sauteed zucchini, mushrooms, and onions, seasoned with what tasted like dried oregano, rosemary and parsley. Dried herbs are out of place on sauteed veggies, especially at a purported fine dining establishment. The chef should would have been better off with simple salt and pepper. Despite being unimpressed with the main courses, we decided to get dessert so that I could write a complete blog entry :) We asked for the server's recommendation between the tiramisu and the triple chocolate cake. He recommended the cake ($6.95), which was disappointing to say the least. It tasted slightly stale or fridgy and was not worth the calories. It was boring, and again, akin to something at a grocery store bakery. The strawberry garnish was either marinated or an old strawberry. I couldn't tell. So, was this horrible? No. Would I tell people to avoid this restaurant? No. But would I call it good or tell people to try it out? Again, no.

Suprising Saigon Palace

So, sometimes it's hard to believe that there is good ethnic food outside of major metropolitan areas. Saigon Palace is one of those surprises. Not only is it not in a major metropolitan area, it's not even in Annapolis. It's actually out in Edgewater on Mayo Road. I've been there several times, and I'm always happy with it. Our last visit was this past Saturday. It appears that Saigon Palace rearranged its menu from the last time we were there. I can't swear to it, but I think that they did. The menu is extensive and provides good explanations of the dishes and their genres. I think that the prices may have increased slightly from the last time as well. I appreciate the menu because it is an all Vietnamese menu -- not a pan-Asian menu or one that offers dishes from other countries, and therefore seems more authentic (at least to me). We ordered beef pho (large) and a vermicelli noodle salad (#39), which had grilled chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp. It also came with a spring roll and fresh carrot, cucumber, and bean sprouts. It's absolutely delicious! The pho was ok, but not as flavorful as the pho at Viet Thai on Riva Road. The noodles were a bit clumpy. The service is good too. It includes a hot towel at the end of the meal, and some orange slices. I'd definitely go back!

Not Tom's Diner

So, I have been faithfully going to the Annapolis Double T Diner ever since it opened, and I must recommend it as a good cheap-eats restaurant staple. Open all night with freakishly fast service and great homemade soups. You get a ton of food, and while the coffee's not terrific, it's certainly palatable (which is a lot coming from me). You can get breakfast 24 hours as well. I never get the entrees because they're all expensive, and really, who wants to pay $15 for a diner entree? I always get a sandwich which generally comes with a cup of soup. Instant gratification if you're really hungry because it gets brought out right away. Also, the diner is owned by a Greek family and has some Greek items on its menu. The pita is to die for and is great with the tzatziki sauce.

Humane Chocolate

I recently made vegan chocolate chip cookies, and I used Guittard chocolate chips. They were awesome! As good, if not better than Nestle's, which I love (but aren't vegan).

Good-bye Cupcake

So, JV and I trekked out to Dupont to visit Hello Cupcake!, a cupcake joint that recently opened. We decided to buy 6 cupcakes and were shocked when it cost $18 and some change. We should have known better since cupcakes have become super trendy and all the rage. From what I have been told, that price isn't as outrageous as it could be. Even so, we were still a bit outraged (because we're cheap and not that rich) and determined that the cupcakes had better be like an orgasm for the tastebuds. Excuse the crass analogy, but it's just so apropos. We bought two chocolate cupcakes with peanutbutter frosting topped with hersheys kisses, a lemon cupcake with raspberry frosting, a dulce delece cupcake, a vegan cupcake, and I think a pumpkin one. They all failed to live up to our expectations with one major exception. The chocolate/peanutbutter cupcake was super tasty, and despite the initial outrage, I would pay $3 or more for that one. That's not to say that the cupcakes weren't good. They were. Just not that good (except the chocolate one).

No-gurt

So, as I mentioned before, I love Fage Greek yogurt. The 2% fruit flavors are wonderful. They're $1.69 at Whole Foods, which is a lot for one yogurt. There's a cheaper brand called Chobani. I thought I'd try it to save a few bucks. It was gross in comparison to Fage.

Brunch at Chef Geoff's

So, it's been a long, long while. So much eating out, so little posting. I went to brunch with a group after the Army 10 Miler. No, I didn't run. I was just there for the food! We went to Chef Geoff's downtown. It's a good choice if you forgot to make a reservation. When we got there at 11 on Sunday, the restaurant was only one-third full, if that. There was a jazz band playing. I've been to CGs for lunch a bunch of times, and it's usually decent. Brunch costs $25. It includes coffee, tea, juice, mimosas, and/or bloody Mary's. The first course is fruit and "sweetbreads." For a moment, the horrible thought crossed our minds that sweetbreads could mean things like unsavory animal parts. Sweetbreads, according to Wikipedia (so it must be true) are defined as thymus glands of lamb, beef, or pork. I won't lie to you; I've never had real sweetbreads. They might be really tasty.... At any rate, we were relieved to discover that the sweetbread was a piece of coffe cake, which was actually quite tasty. The fruit was a mix of berries and melon. It was ok. I'm not really a fan of honeydew or canteloupe, especially as flavorless as the stuff that we were served. The second course was a choice of a bunch of different things. Half of us ordered steak and eggs and the other half of us ordered this crab/egg benedict dish. They were fine, but nothing great. The steak was ok, but honestly, something I could have made at home. The crab was like a smooshed up crab cake that wasn't very fresh. Again, the food was decent, but nothing to get excited about. However, the potatoes that came with the main courses were awesome! They were thick, yet crunchy. Wow, that sounds cheesey. The best part of the meal, though? The coffee! It was strong and well-brewed. I heartily approve! Not sure I'd go back again for brunch. In total, with gratuity and tax, it cost us about $70 for brunch (for two of us). Yeah, the food was decent, but is it really worth it to pay $70 for only decent brunch?