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July 2009 - Posts
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My grandparents courted here, and it's still a hot pickup place. Read More...
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Penn Quarter Modern American 701 will close its doors August 2–10 for a reno that includes a new color scheme and window treatments, plus a semi-enclosed lounge and private rooms. When it reopens, there will also be a noteworthy change in the kitchen: Read More...
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– Michael Pollan considers the impact of Julia Child. [ NYT ] – The House rejected narrowly legislation aimed at giving more food control to the FDA. [ WSJ ] – A new study says organic food isn't really better for you than regular Read More...
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Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia Photo: Copyright Columbia Pictures As we’ve mentioned before , we’re more than a little excited about Julie & Julia , the new movie about the blog-documented journey of Julie Powell (Amy Adams) as she Read More...
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Sidewalk supping at New Heights Photo: courtesy of the restaurant New Heights , the second-story Modern American overlooking Rock Creek Park greenery, has added a ground-floor cafe with tall windows that open onto sidewalk seating, offering a choice spot Read More...
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Today the Cheesecake Factory celebrates National Cheesecake Day by offering half-price on its 30 different types of the sweet treat. The chain also debuts its red velvet cheesecake, and for the next year, it'll donate 25¢ from each slice sale Read More...
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Vidalia is participating in Restaurant Week. Photo: courtesy of the restaurant The dining deals that have been proliferating all over town will crescendo in DC’s blockbuster Summer Restaurant Week running August 24–30. More than 180 area eateries Read More...
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Zagat’s just-released 2010 Washington, DC/Baltimore Restaurants guide shows you how to get more for less from your dining dollar. With ratings and reviews of 1,220 eateries, it highlights noteworthy changes to the restaurant scene since last year’s Read More...
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– The situation for this summer's crop of Northeast tomatoes looks grim. [ NYT ] – New York missed inspecting one in five restaurants in 2008. [ NYT ] – Michael Jackson's personal chef speaks. [ Salon ] – Trouble in California Read More...
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Scion Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Offering terrific people-watching from its year-round sidewalk veranda, Dupont Circle newcomer Scion (housed in the former Café Trope digs) serves an affordable mix of American classics with interesting twists, Read More...
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Kora, the relaxed, affordable Italian by Morou Ouattara (whose Farrah Olivia recently shuttered ) and his brother, Amadou, is slated for an early August opening in Bebo’s former Crystal City space. The premises are already equipped with a wood-burning Read More...
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– Sports drink Muscle Milk is neither muscle, nor milk. Discuss. [ NYT ] – Related: Coke is readying a fizzy milk drink. [ Times ] – July 4th was not so good for big beer sales. [ The Atlantic ] – The demand for blue fin tuna does Read More...
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Ed Witt Zagat Buzz caught up with chef Ed Witt, who started his career at the Occidental Grill and went on to work in acclaimed kitchens in NYC and San Francisco. Witt has returned to the DC area to open Morso, a modern Turkish restaurant in Georgetown Read More...
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Summer doesn't just mean hot and sticky weather. To foodies, it also means the return of everyone's favorite dining deals, Restaurant Weeks. And for those around Bethesda/Chevy Chase, the fun is about to start. From July 27–August 2 more Read More...
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– A drop in sales burns McD's. [ Bloomberg ] – Do chefs and drugs go together like salt and pepper? [ The Daily Beast ] – Cereal gets manly with Wheaties Fuel. [ NYT ] – Just how big is Anheuser-Busch/InBev? [ Accidental Hedonist Read More...
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Got a lil' Thomas Keller underfoot? Youngsters will forage in a farmer’s market, then get creative with pizza dough at chef Cesare Lanfranconi’s ( Spezie ) cooking camp, held Saturdays, July 25, August 8 and 22. Kids (and parents) will Read More...
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Watching Amy Adams cook her way through Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking in the upcoming movie Julie & Julia will surely whet appetites for more Gallic fare. Gastronomes can head for their own steamy kitchens – or, take Read More...
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– Menu-labeling laws going federal? [ NRN ] – For one night, as part of the London Restaurant Festival , fine dining comes to the London Eye. [ Bloomberg ] – Starbucks credits McDonald's with getting it out of free-fall. [ AdAge Read More...
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The recent spate of restaurant demises notwithstanding, DC’s dining scene remains robust. Here are some of the exciting openings slated for later this summer. Bayou Bakery: In late August, pastry guru David Guas lights the ovens in the rustic former Read More...
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If you can’t be on a Thai beach for a full-moon party, check out Asia Nine ’s lunar celebration on July 29. The festivities kick off at 4:30 PM with fanciful decorations, $4 drink specials and $3–6 Pan-Asian nibbles, and continue later Read More...
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– A highly contagious fungus is threatening this summer's tomato crop. [ NYT ] – Cooking dirt, or dishes that look like it. [ NRN ] – Baja Fresh is getting into the Korean taco business. [ Speakeasy ] – There won't be a Read More...
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The only thing consistent is the service – consistently bad. Read More...
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Bourbon Photo: courtesy of the bar The Rickey is reputedly DC’s claim to cocktail fame. Invented in 1883 for Colonel Joe Rickey at the legendary Shoomaker’s, it's become a platform for local mixologists to display their creativity. Enter Read More...
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Last year's winning crab cake Photo: Bob Sitnick Crab cakes are a staple of DC-area menus, so it’s no surprise that the annual “ I Love Crab Cakes: The Karen Cathey Competition ," to be held August 10 at Phillips flagship, draws top Read More...
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– Starbucks is testing out new logo-less coffee shops in Seattle. [ Seattle Times ] – An excerpt of Times critic Frank Bruni's new memoir drops in this week's magazine. [ NYT ] – In Argentina, Pepsi is now Pecsi. [ AdAge ] – Read More...
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Occupying a handsome 19th-century Old Town building that once housed the namesake fire company (and, most recently, Bookbinder’s), Columbia Firehouse , an American saloon and raw bar from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group ( Buzz , Evening Star Cafe Read More...
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Belgian Independence Day, on July 21, gives bon vivants a week to recover from all the Bastille Day festivities before delving into the next round of revelry. Belga Café celebrates the holiday with a 12-hour party featuring half-price beers, a Read More...
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– Las Vegas dining has gone from feast to famine. [ NYT ] – Deep discounts are starting to hurt large chain restaurants. [ WSJ ] – Related: after franchisees revolted, Burger King will still sell $1 double cheeseburgers – but only Read More...
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There is a “closed for renovations” sign on the door of Downtown’s Olives, an outlet of celebrity chef Todd English’s brand. His Boston office confirms that the place is closed indefinitely, while lease-renewal negotiations continue. Read More...
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Stefan and Victoria Trummer, who worked in esteemed NYC restaurants like Bouley , bring New American sensibilities to Trummer’s on Main, located on historic Clifton’s picturesque main drag; their elaborate renovation of the former Hermitage Read More...
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– The G-8 pledges $20 billion to food and agricultural assistance in poorer nations. [ WSJ ] – Grant Achatz wonders if celebrity chefs really should stay in the kitchen? [ The Atlantic ] – Of course, sometimes it isn't easy for them Read More...
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Brian Voltaggio Photo: courtesy of Bravo This coming season of Bravo’s Top Chef will again shine a spotlight on DC-area talent, with Brian Voltaggio (formerly chef de cuisine at Charlie Palmer Steak , now chef-owner of Vol t in nearby Frederick, Read More...
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– Remember the world food crisis that seemed to be averted in 2008? It isn't over, just laying low. [ Economist ] – The calorie counts that many restaurants display are more wishful thinking than fact. [ WSJ ] – Mr. Chow and Phillipe Read More...
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iPhone's Seafood Watch App Finding sustainable seafood just got a little easier thanks to two tech innovations pointed out to us by Joe Isidori of NYC's Harbour . With Blue Ocean Institute’s Fishphone , diners can find out about a particular Read More...
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Jean-Georges Vongerichten Last night the Buzz made its way through the soigné crowds gathered for the debut of the W Hotel, a glamorous reincarnation of the Hotel Washington, where we chatted with celebrated chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten about Read More...
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Though it may seem strange that a corporate fast-food chain is supporting a documentary that criticizes corporate food culture, that's exactly what's happening. Chipotle, the second most popular chain in our Fast Food Survey , has arranged for Read More...
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Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro Photo: courtesy of the restaurant An affordable gastronomic tour of Spain comes to Reston’s Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro this Saturday evening, July 11, from 6–10 PM. Featuring a special à la carte menu, Read More...
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– The Obama administration has proposed a sweeping overhaul of food safety. [ NYT ] – In the recession, people keep drinking. They just aren't drinking high-end wines. [ WSJ ] – Are butchers the new culinary rock stars? [ NYT ] – Read More...
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On July 18, the Broadlands Center space that formerly housed Michelangelo will be transformed into Forno, a family trattoria. The setting's Romanesque statuary and frescoes will be replaced by modern red-and-black decor, while the menu – from Read More...
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Carol Joynt interviews Ted Sorensen at Nathans' Q&A Cafe The tough economic times are taking their toll. With the summer dining doldrums looming, several venues have shuttered their doors. Most notably, Nathans , Georgetown’s quintessential Read More...
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– Gordon Ramsay 's profits dove 90%. [ Indpendent ] – Meanwhile, despite his newly Botoxed chin, Gordo talks back. [ Daily Mail ] – Unsurprisingly, the elephants swept the humans at the annual Nathan's hot dog–eating competition. Read More...
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photo: Angela Rutherford Buzz Readers, In order to get a head start on the Fourth of July holiday, the Buzz is taking a brief break from our regular posting schedule, returning Monday, July 6. Until then, we hope your holiday weekend is full of sun, fun Read More...
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The corned beef was so stringy, I was practically flossing with my sandwich. Read More...
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Rue Montorgueil, Paris, Festival of 30 June 1878 Claude Monet Bastille Day offers many delicious ways to celebrate our shared heritage of freedom and frites with the French. Sadly, the traditional waiters’ race on Pennsylvania Avenue NW won’t Read More...
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Policy Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Ellen Gray ( Equinox ), Ris Lacoste (upcoming “ris”), Jamie Leeds ( CommonWealth and Hank’s Oyster Bar ) and several dozen more local female chefs, bartenders and restaurant professionals will Read More...
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– Funny looking fruits and veggies are coming back to the E.U. tomorrow. [ Independent ] – The Taste of Chicago wastes a lot of food. [ MP:C ] – Related: more than half the people at the Taste are single. [ Tribune ] – Denny's Read More...
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