Day 6: The Final Day in Washington DC
November 21, 2008 by Greg · Leave a Comment
By Greg B. Well, the final day in Washington DC for the neuroscience conference was upon us. Packing up from the hotel and dreading the fact that we would need to drag our luggage around the conference or stash it somewhere was an annoying factor, not to mention the day of posters, followed by the commute back home as an anticipated future burden. Fortunately, however, Old Dominion came to the rescue. Read more
DC Restaurant Review: Corduroy on 9th Street
Info: 1122 Ninth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202.589.0699
Hours: Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 10:30pm, Lunch: Tuesday - Friday: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Dress Code: Jackets are Preferred for Gentlemen (shorts and hats are not permitted)
Chef and Owner: Tom Power
Kim and I were in DC for a few days for the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting. This gathering of nearly 35,000 neuroscienctists from around the world is a great opportunity to catch up on what’s new in the field, meet up with former colleagues, find a post-doctorate job, and of course get a free trip with an excuse to go out and try new restaurants.
On the recommendation of a good friend of mine who lives in DC (thanks Kevin) we used our one night out alone to try Corduroy. The restaurant is located directly across the street from the DC convention center (which is convenient) on 9th Street and is almost hidden among a variety of row houses and other small businesses.
Entering the restaurant we immediately took note of the simple design and decor. After checking in our coats, we were seated at a very spacious table next to the giant built-in wine cellar (more on this to come). We were promptly greeted by our server, followed by the sommelier who was both knowledgeable and unpretentious. Once he realized that Kim and I are both very much into wine, he offered to show us the cellar. We ordered our first course, enjoyed the Champagne and took him up on the tour.
The main cellar is a very modern design of stained glass walls with simple racking and an intricate storage system. The wine list itself is magnificent for both its selections and its pricing. The list is deep in Burgundy (and other Pinot), the Rhone, and Cabernet from the US and around the world. Most markups were less than twice retail and for those who can’t find a wine they like, Corduroy offers corkage for $30 (only one bottle per table, though). But rest assured that somewhere within the well thoughout list you should be able to find something that tastes suits both your palate and your wallet and pairs well with your cuisine of the night. We settled on a glass of white Burgundy to marry our first courses (duo of lobster) and a bottle of 1998 Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Les Hauts Prulieres 1er Cru which was a steal of a value (though not cheap).
While we waited for our ‘98 Burgundy, we enjoyed a carpaccio of lobster with drawn butter and chervil. This dish featured very thinly sliced lobster meat with a beautiful butter and chervil (similar to parsley) sauce. The lobster was very fresh and sweet and the dish as a whole was rich and complex. The white Burgundy could have used more acidity to cut through the creaminess of the dish, but all in all this was a great course. We also tried a roast tail of Maine lobster with two egg linguine which was fantastic. The lobster here was perfectly cooked and the linguine and accompanying sauce brought it all together. Overall I would highly recommend both courses with the caveat that the carpaccio is very rich and could use a wine with good acidity to cut through it all.
Just as we finished our first course, our ‘98 Burgundy arrived. The sommelier opened the bottle away from the table but within plain sight which was OK by me. The wine was served in Riedel Bugundy glasses which was a nice touch. On the nose the 1998 Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Les Hauts Prulieres 1er Cru was spicy with dried leaves, loads of red fruit and cola. On the palate the flavors were intense with great balance and a long finish. The wine was phenomenal drinking near its peak and went great with both of our entrees.
Our first main plate featured seared Barnegat light Sea Scallops with Maitake rice porridge. The scallops were seared to perfection while medium rare on the inside. Kim found the rice porridge to be a bit odd as a texture for this dish, but I enjoyed it very much. The dish was almost perfectly seasoned and was a nice transition from the lobster to the next course. The scallops held up well with the Pinot with the light tannins cutting through the porridge helping to cleanse the palate preparing it for the next bite.
Our second main plate was graced with a beautiful venison loin cooked medium rare (perfectly to order) with a chestnut puree that added a variety of flavors and multiple textures. This dish was superb and was the highlight of the meal. The ‘98 Burgundy had just enough fruit and tannin to stand up to the dish without overpowering or being overwhelmed by it.
At this point I overheard a conversation between the gentleman at the table next to us in which they mentioned that they didn’t really get red Burgundy…so on cue, I had our sommelier bring two glasses over and we offered them a pour. This led to 30 minutes of talking about wine, DC, Baltimore, Barack Obama, and science (they happened to be physicians). Both couples were delightful to meet and they all agreed their meal was, too, exceptional (one couple frequents Corduroy regularly).
Near the end of the night I took a solo tour of the bar area upstairs which would fit 10 comfortably and seemed to be well stocked with many top-shelf bourbons, cognacs and other after dinner drinks. Chef Tom Power’s happened to be behind the bar talking with a server so I took the opportunity to introduce myself and thank him for the wonderful meal. He seemed very friendly and very passionate about his work. Following our quick conversation, I returned to the table where we finished our meal with a cheese sampler which was bought for us by our new friends at the table next to us.
Reiterating the theme to “food, wine, beer and culture”, this gathering of new friends over great food and wine is what it’s all about: the experience of it all which allowed the components of the meal to facilitate a shared appreciation for food and wine while putting things in life and culture into context.
Corduroy offers a fine dining experience with all the bells and whistles (and great wine list!) at more-than-fair fine dining prices (1st courses between $10-$18, main courses between $20-$36). Add that with the fact that Chef Power’s (who for many years worked with Michel Richard) may be the best kept “secret” in the mid-Atlantic area and you have a winning combination. I highly recommend Corduroy to those traveling to DC, living in DC, or looking for a reason to travel to DC! It would be the perfect place for a romantic dinner out or a business meeting. Corduroy offers an eclectic menu of expertly and innovative prepared local, seasonal and fresh ingredients. Pair that with a wine list that brings great selection, quality and prices (and great stemware and service) and you have the best pairing there is in food and wine!
Credits: Main image from wikipedia.com commons.
Day 5 in Washington DC: Monuments, Dim Sum, Irish Pubs & more!
By Greg B. By Tuesday, most of us are pretty overloaded from the conference. It takes a lot of energy just to maintain a good, productive scientific conversation normally, let alone in dim, randomly fluctuating lighting surrounded by the dull roar of 31,000 people talking, walking, moving, etc, and doing this for hours at a time, over many days. So, these facts, coupled with the fact that none of us had anything really important to see on Tuesday, we decided to take a day off and scope out DC a bit. Read more
Day 4: Chinatown, RFD, Busboys & Poets, Saint-ex and Brickskeller
By Greg B. For lunch today, we ate at the Szechuan House (748 6th st NW Washington DC). Minimal food to order from at first, though if you want there is a menu you can order from. We opted to eat the lunch species, which were rather cheap (plate o’ food and a drink, $6). Not bad Chinese, not amazing either, but a good quick meal. Later on though, after yet another long day of science lectures, posters, meetings and chatting about grant money, post-doctoral research and various elements of methodology of research, I needed a beer. So, I took a stroll with Gabi down to R.F.D., a bar I had seen while in China town that had a ton of beer taps in the window on display. Read more
Day 3: Oyamel Redux and Marrakesh Palace Dinner
November 17, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
By Greg B. Day three was mostly full of science, once again something I wont go into detail about here. The morning and afternoons were spent in the poster sessions, learning about various thalamocortical projections and looking at some decision making, fMRI human studies. However, there was time for some good food, and we took every opportunity we could find. Read more
Washington DC Excursion, Day 2
November 15, 2008 by Greg · Leave a Comment
By Greg B. Day 2 of the Washington DC excursion started like any normal science convention day. We were in transit for several hours this morning, traffic going into Baltimore on I-95, plus some traffic in DC (though minor, especially with the G-20 summit, plus SFN (Society for Neuroscience) meeting starting. After checking into our hotel (Beacon hotel corporate quarters) and seeing our nice suite, complete with kitchen, we went to the conference. Read more
Washington DC Excursion: Day 1
By Greg B. So, for the following few days, I will be in Washington DC for a science conference. As such, I will be taking this opportunity to go out, eat, drink and tour the city like I have never seen it before! I’ll try and post a quick summary of my activities, give you a little of the flavor of Washington, and hopefully find some interesting restaurants and activities. Read more
Mid-Atlantic Taste of Elegance: The night of pigs
By Greg and Michael
On a night when the gales of November returned (after a few day hiatus of warm weather), Bill Crouse, of Sotto Sopra joined a competition. A veritable battle between local chefs, using the ultimate culinary battleground (or tool/weapon?): Pork. Read more
Best Tamales in Town: Michelle’s Cafe
November 7, 2008 by Greg · Leave a Comment
By Greg B. I am fortunate enough to have developed my tastes to the point where I can appreciate excellent Mexican food. Now, there are many different kinds of Mexican dishes, and there is not time or space in this one post to cover them all, but I should devote this one to the Tamal. I am also fortunate enough to live close to Michelle’s Cafe and within easy access to great food. Read more
Fogo de Chao: Full Frontal Meat ATTACK!
October 31, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
By Greg B. One of Mankind’s most primal instincts is to eat, and there are few better sources of energy and nutrition than meat. Meat comes in many sizes, shapes and flavors and being able to capture the individuality of the different forms that Meat takes is a skill that requires a good cook and a good butcher. As a consumer of Meat, I am always searching for better ways to cook and clean it, eating at different restaurants, preparing Meat in many different ways. But I have to say, Fogo de Chao takes Meat to a whole new level. The experience here was almost like experiencing the philosophical idea of ‘Meat”, or one of Plato’s forms of “Meat” in both quantity, quality and flavor. (Image: USCA Choice standing rib roast (2 bone). Photograph made by Michael C. Berch (User:MCB) on 2006-11-25. ) Read more
Clipper City Beer Dinner at Captial Grille
October 20, 2008 by Greg · Leave a Comment
By Greg B. Most weekends start with people getting home after the work week and usually ordering in: Chinese, Pizza, the occasional sub (hoagie, grinder, hero, whatever you want to call it depending on your state of origin). Last weekend for me started off with a bang that wont be soon topped. Hugh Sisson, the owner & founder of Clipper City Brewery hosted a pairing with foods produced by Captial Grille’s awesome executive chef, Daniel Henry. Here, I’ll take you through a little bit about Capital Grille and then through the great beer dinner. Read more
Jack’s Bistro, the hidden gem
September 29, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
By Greg B. I’ve basically lived in Baltimore for 8 years now, but only been outside of the college bubble for 4. In this time I had never heard of Jack’s Bistro, potentially because I rarely ate in Canton, but also for reasons I am not quite sure. This was a great restaurant with interesting atmosphere and a great menu. I strongly urge people to take a night out once and eat here. The food was very elegant, not overpriced and yet also well portioned, the beer list was tremendously varied and interesting, and the special deals this place puts forth are something not to miss!
Sotto Sopra Wine Tasting
I realize this is a bit late in coming, but I finally found my list of wines from that evening and as best I can remember them, I figured I should write something, at the very least! The first of the monthly, 1st Thursday Tasting events at Sotto Sopra went off very well, with a large crowd, interesting people, along with good wines and good foods. I’m looking forward to October’s wine tasting!
Fall 2008 - What makes a good dinner great? 1/2 off bottles of wine!!
September 17, 2008 by michael · 2 Comments
How familiar is this conversation:
“Where do you want to go for dinner.”
“I don’t care”
“Well what are you in the mood for?”
“It doesn’t matter, what do you feel like eating?”
“I really have no preference”
Etc, etc, etc, etc…
Well let me make it easier for you. Below is a list of some great Baltimore restaurants that provide half-off wine nights in Baltimore. I’ve added a few notes on the places I’ve been to and have enjoyed. Don’t forget about Baltimore’s BYOB (Bring your own bottle) scene, of which you can find here: Baltimore’s BYOB. If I missed your favorite spot, leave a comment below!
Sunday Night:
La Tasca (Inner Harbor) - 1/2 price bottles of wine until 9 PM.
Monday Night:
Sotto Sopra (Mt. Vernon) - 1/2 off wine by the bottle (excluding Champagne). Outstanding Chef, new wine program coming this fall (which I am helping with), and fresh, local ingredients make this one of Baltimore’s best restaurants.
Wine Market (Locust Point) - 15 dollar select bottles and 20% off entries
Tuesday Night:
Cinghiale (Inner Harbor East)- 1/2 off wine by the bottle in the Oesteria. A ridiculously good wine list and lots of great appetizers make this an easy Tuesday night choice.
Corks Restaurant: 1/2 off wine by the bottle. All American wine list that offers some interesting, lesser known labels.
Pazza Luna (Locust Point): 1/2 off wines by the bottle.
Vespa - (Mt. Vernon) - 1/2 off wines by the bottle.
Wednesday Night:
Hon Cafe (Hampden) - This Hampden favorite is relaxed with a small but sufficient wine selection. Get the meatloaf and a nice big red wine!
La Tavola (Little Italy) - 1/2 price bottles (up to $100) of wine
Thursday Night:
Helen’s Garden (Canton) - $14 bottles of wine
First-time visitors guide to Montalcino
August 25, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
This past November Kim and I spent nine days dining and wine tasting in one of the most highly acclaimed wine regions in the world. On our trip to Montalcino, we abandoned the guide books that helped us in Florence, Siena and Bologna and decided that we would just find places that looked good and take our chances. The result was quite surprising: two of the more highly recommended establishments were let downs while many of the smaller, lesser known restaurants gave us great food, outstanding service and overall incredible dining experiences. This short guide will hopefully give you an idea on where to eat, drink and stay if you don’t have time to try every place out for yourself. For those of you who aren’t traveling to this beautiful hilltop town, you’re missing out on some of the best food and wine the world has to offer.
Related links:
My first Vietnamese food.
August 14, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
By: Greg B.
After helping Asa move his things to a place in Brooklyn (which, by the way, smells like Peru), we went out in search of lunch. Jessica and Asa knew of a top secret, second China town nearby, so we set out in search of a Vietnamese place called “Nha Trang Palace”. This econd china town was somewhere along 8th avenue, near 60th or 59th st for the restaurant. Having wanted desperately to go to Pho, in Baltimore the week prior, I found it fitting that I would be trying Vietnamese food elsewhere.
NINJA! of New York
By: Greg B.
The Ninja. The name conjures up images of a remote island nation, people living in feudal society with warring samurai lords, engaged in constant battle for both supremacy and honor, but all the while, being assassinated in the dark by mysterious martial arts masters, cloaked in black. The Ninja. Master of Ninja physics, can do the Ninja double jump, a jump in the air, then, at the apex of height, perform another jump and propel himself forward. Running on water, scaling vertical walls seemingly with just their hands. The Ninja.
Now, in our time, Ninja are relegated to such things as Halloween costumes, bad movies involving pirates (I swear to you, in college we watched a movie that was Ninjas vs pirates.) and characters in video games. However, there is a restaurant in Tokyo called Ninja, a recreation of a feudal Japanese ninja castle, with excellent food and ninjas appearing from no where. The idea was to build a replica in NY city. The idea anyway. I expected Ninjas to fall from the ceiling, tumble through the hallways, surprise people from cracks in the wall, assassinate you while using the urinoirs, throw ninjas stars just past you head when you didn’t pay enough tip. Unfortunately, these were the crushed hopes and dreams of a man.
Korean food: Jong Kak and Wong Gal Bi
July 18, 2008 by Greg · 7 Comments
by Greg B.
If anyone is ever in the mood to go stuff themselves silly on good food with a bunch of friends, Korean restaurants are the place to go. I had never had Korean food until this past winter, but since then it has become at least a monthly event. And, if you have never eaten it, it certainly is an event. I listed two restaurants because these are the only two I have been to, and both are excellent. Read more
Free Advice To Restaurants: How to sell more wine and keep your customers coming back for more.
July 16, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
Two months back I was asked by a friend and restaurant manager who I’ve known for years for advice on her wine list. She asked how her restaurant (a mid-range restaurant in a nice area of suburban Detroit) could increase their wine sales and revenue since it had slowly been decreasing as the economy worsened. This was a great question and one that I feel is relevant for many fine dining restaurants in Baltimore and elsewhere in the US. In a time when the economy has many people eating at home and spending less on food and wine, how does a middle to high class restaurant survive? Here I offer advice some pretty simple advice for restaurants that either do not have a dedicated wine manager, or who could use a few ideas on how to sell more wine and make more money. Read more
Sushi Sono: Best Sushi in the Baltimore area - by Greg B.
July 12, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
Author: Greg B
Everyone is picky about their sushi restaurants and we all have our favorites. And why not? We are, after all, eating raw seafood. It’s only natural for an organism to return to the same feeding places where they have successfully eaten and not gotten sick… or worse. After dating a girl in college who took me out to sushi one Friday afternoon (lunch special at Sushi Hana in Towson = excellent), my life changed. Fridays became known as “sushi Fridays”, and it drew a crowd of people from across campus. Once it started, it kept going. Sushi Friday continued even after friends of ours and even we, graduated. Sushi Hana was an excellent place to learn about sushi, and while it is still one of my favorite sushi places to eat at in Baltimore, it has been surpassed.
The first time I ate at Sushi Sono was when my boss took the entire lab out in celebration for getting a very large grant. I cant be sure exactly how much sushi was there, but saying over 200 pieces would certainly not be an overstatement. However since then I just don’t drive very often, and it is extremely rare to see my down in the Columbia, MD area. But this Saturday my roommate and I just so happened to be down there, and with 3 hours to kill around lunchtime. The scene was set for some delicious sushi.
We walked into the restaurant and were immediately greeted by a very polite older woman. Asking if we wanted to sit at a table or the bar, we chose the bar. I like to sit there and watch the sushi be assembled and the fish get sliced and arranged, it’s very interesting work. Once we sat down, a very pleasant young woman dressed in traditional Japanese kimono asked for our drink orders. My roommate got the usual (Asahi) beer, and I decided to get cold sake instead of warm (perhaps the 90 degree temp had something to do with it?). I ordered a bottle of OzekiYam Nishi for $22, thinking I would have plenty of time to drink the bottle before it would be time to go. However, this lunch was governed by extreme efficiency, and just after I drank my first glass, we ordered.
I ordered the vegetarian box A from the lunch special ($10.95) which came with vegetable tempura, rice, a spinach roll and a shittake mushroom with asparagus sushi roll. I also ordered two pieces of Massago (smelt roe, for $4) and two pieces of White Tune ($4.50) since I had never had either of these. My roommates ordered a lunch special Chicken Tempura box ($9.95) with chicken tempura, tempura veggies and rice, along with a Spicy Tuna roll ($5.50). Within minutes, the Miso arrived.
In all honesty, Miso soup is miso soup. It is very rare I get Miso soup I don’t like, and most places taste almost exactly the same. Except again, the waitress was extremely polite and friendly. Halfway through the Miso, one of the men behind the bar placed a wooden tray with my Massago and Tuna over the fridge compartment and onto the bar. It was then that I knew I probably had to drink up with the sake! I finished my Miso and a few more drinks of the sake when our pleasant waitress returned with my meal and my roommate’s spicy tuna roll.
Sake goes great with Japanese food. There is no other way to say it. Drinking sake for it’s own sake (I couldn’t resist) is not something I do unless it is wintertime and the sake is warm. This particular sake brand was not one I had consumed before, and it was very mellow, which went well for a summer afternoon. The vegetable tempura was excellent, along with the little bit of spiced radish we got to place into our digging sauce. I had never had the spinach roll or shittake mushroom roll before, and the spinach roll was pretty good. It was served cold, with a slight touch of rice vinegar. The shittake roll was very good also, as the texture of the mushrooms and the asparagus nicely opposed each other for an interesting bite. The smelt roe was good, but not too surprising, however the white Tuna was not something I had eaten before and was excited to try. It was like butter, soft, cool and delicious. You did not even have to bite to eat it, it was so soft. Definitely a new favorite sushi dish of mine.
As my roommate got a call from the Sears guy saying he didn’t have the 4 tires in stock he thought he had, and we could get the car back anytime, I hurried up my sake consumption. The waitress returned, and took the rest of our plates (they had been floating around during the meal, and as soon as any piece of plateware or lid or anything was finished, they would remove them from the table almost instantly. Definitely made me feel like I was at a fancier establishment than my tee shirt and shorts I was wearing indicated). We paid our bill and received our Japanese fruit flavored gum in a box, you all know the kind. We walked out and I made a mental note to return more often. Hopefully, this is one restaurant I will keep good on my promise.
