2010 September

When Bad Meals Happen to Good People at Bistro LaZeez

September 26, 2010 By Lori 2 Comments

Long before I began to blog, whenever we go out to dinner with friends, the majority of the time I pick the restaurant. I certainly consult whomever we are going out with, but most of our friends are happy to say “you choose.” This is primarily because no one else devotes as much time as I do to researching restaurants. I rely on multiple resources, including reviews in the Washington Post and Washingtonian, Zagat ratings, opinions on Chowhound.com, various blogs, and recommendations from friends. I have a pretty good track record, if I do say so myself. But I’m always just a little bit nervous when I go out with a group to a place I’ve never been.

On Saturday night our party of eight headed to the new Bistro LaZeez in Bethesda. Bistro LaZeez is a Mediterranean grill. According to their website, the goal is “to offer healthy and freshly grilled delectable meals in an inviting and warm setting.” Tom Sietsema wrote a positive review in his First Bite column and some friends gave it high marks. I was feeling pretty confident that we were about to embark on a good meal. Since I knew this wasn’t going to be a high-end meal, it also takes some of the pressure off.

We walked into the small, but pleasant looking restaurant and everyone agreed it had a nice vibe. I hadn’t quite thought through the fact that three people in our party didn’t eat non-Kosher meat and therefore would be looking at vegetarian options. That’s not usually a problem at a Middle Eastern restaurant. At Bistro LaZeez, however, the only entrée option was falafel. Of course there was a variety of vegetarian appetizers, sides, and salads, but I felt that I had made a faux pas by not checking the menu more carefully.

The meal started off well enough. The meat eaters had grilled chicken wings to start, which had a nice flavor. The fava bean appetizer was also well received, although I didn’t try it. The grilled pita was a nice touch.

For entrees, four people ordered the BLZ sampler which featured four appetizers, and one person had falafel. The remaining entrees were a chicken shawarma for me, a chicken kabob and The Europa which included grilled beef and chicken.

Here’s where things began to go downhill. Food delivery was completely uneven. Some people were served dishes, while others waited for unreasonable stretches of time for their food
.
The BLZ samplers were generally flavorless- potatoes were mealy and underseasoned. Tabbouli was mostly parsley with just a sprinkling of other ingredients. Felafel balls were dry, and hummous was nothing special. One friend remarked that the hummous atGiantwas better.

My chicken shawarma was a disappointment. The thin grilled bread wasn’t bad, but the contents of the shawarma were completely unremarkable. There was nothing that made it stand out, nothing that tasted unique or interesting. Nothing. My husband and I ordered a Cornucopia Salad to share. It had fruit and blue cheese with a raspberry vinegar dressing. The dressing was too tart and the salad so ordinary, I took one bite and handed it back to my husband.

The two people that ordered chicken fared the best. They both liked their meals. Since Bistro LaZeez is stressing the quality of its grilled meat, it’s comforting to know that they were successful on that front. But shouldn’t a Mediterranean bistro also offer high-quality mezze?

My constant question to my dining companions these days is “how would you rate your meal on a scale of one to five?” I use their scores as a barometer and then take everything into consideration for my final score.

Café LaZeez’s ratings ranged from a 1 for the BLZ samplers to a 4 for The Europa. The two people who enjoyed their meals best admitted that the reasonable price played a factor in their higher ratings.

I was definitely deflated at the end of the meal. My friends assured me that I had earned plenty of stock from previous meals, so my reputation would remain unsullied. A phone call received during the mostly dismal meal lifted my spirits a bit. A recommendation for Agora in DC was a big success. Whew!

Bad meals to happen to good people. Sometimes bad meals happen at decent restaurants.
If you’re a vegetarian, skip Café Lazeez. If you eat chicken, you may want to check it out. If you like it let me know, so I can console myself just a little.

Washington Post First Bite Review

Tasting Table Review Here’s another review that I just found, touting the sauce which accompanied our wings. Clearly most of us p’ordered (although most out of necessity).

My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 2

Bistro Lazeez 8009 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, MD

Filed Under: Bistro Lazeez, MD Dining

Dealing with the Daily Deals

September 24, 2010 By Lori 2 Comments

One of the very first things I do every morning is look at my email. I can’t wait to see if I missed something important during those few hours during the night when I’m not checking my inbox. I know that without fail messages from Groupon, Living Social, Buy With Me, What’s the Deal, and Restaurants.com are awaiting my perusal. Emails feature tantalizing offers of 50% discounts or more at area restaurants. What could be better? (Offers for laser hair removal, botox(?!), pole dancing lessons, car washes, and various spas are quickly deleted).

I linger over these daily deals, weighing the benefits of being tied down to specific places that are not on my dining to-do list against getting a meal at half-price. Payment is required up-front and there is a specific expiration date, usually between 3 months to a year. So it’s a commitment.

I’ve taken advantage of discounts at Kushi, Coca Sala, and Frosting A Cupcakery, among others. But my inbox is now starting to pile up with deals that I have purchased and not yet used. It may be time to start exercising some discretion.

The first Living Social deal that I purchased was $25 for $50 to spend on food and drink at Indique Heights in Chevy Chase. It took me by surprise when I received a reminder that the deal I had purchased nearly a year ago was about to expire. Fortunately, Indique Heights is perfect for a last minute weeknight dinner with the husband.

Bhel Puri

Our meal began with “street snacks” from various regions of the country. Bhel Puri from Mumbai is made of Rice puffs, crispy gram flour noodles, cilantro, and tamarind chutney. Aloo Tikki (New Delhi) are potato patties stuffed with spiced peas and chutneys. Both have unique flavors and the right amount of spice. I wasn’t as impressed with the onion kulcha, which is required eating for me with Indian food.

Chicken Chettinad

For my main course, I took a risk on the Chicken Chettinad. It was described as “Not for the faint hearted!” An authenic preparation with coriander, toasted tellicherry peppercorns, and served with lemon rice. I asked the waiter if they could turn it down a notch, but my husband assured them that I could handle it and ordered me a side of raita to cool things down. He ordered Hyderabadi Baingan which is baby eggplant cooked with sesame, cashew-nut, peanuts, spices and tamarind.

I took my first bite of the chicken and braced myself. The spiciness snuck up on me, working its way up through my nose. The second bite was better because I knew what to expect. I settled in for a delicious adventure, affirming what I already knew. The complex flavors, textures, and spiciness of Indian food make it my absolute favorite cuisine.

My husband found the eggplant in his dish a little bitter, but the sauce was interesting and he liked the nutty flavor. Creamy lentils accompanied both his dish and mine—the subtle flavor nicely balancing the main courses.

Now that I think about it, I can’t really argue against saving $25 on a dinner that we thoroughly enjoyed. I can certainly justify a bargain on a weeknight meal, and save my preferred list for the weekends. Problem of having too many unused deals hanging around is solved! Because really, look at all the money we’re saving.

Just this morning I purchased a WTD for Passage To India in Bethesda. If you’re interested, this deal is available until October 6. Follow this link: sowhatsthedeal.com/ref/gardn6277

I get $5 in my account and you get a good deal too!

My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 4
Zagat Rating: 23

Indique Heights, 2 Wisconsin Circle, Chevy Chase

Filed Under: Buy With Me, Groupon, Indique Heights, Living Social, So What's the Deal

Working it Out at the Farmer’s Market

September 19, 2010 By Lori Leave a Comment

On Sunday mornings when most of my friends are at the gym or enjoying long bike rides, my workout consists of trying to decide which farmer’s market to visit. I usually alternate between the Olney Farmers Market and the Bethesda Central Farm Market. They each have their own unique appeal. Both markets get my heart racing with excitement as I begin my lap around the vendor displays. Since an increased heart rate is the point of exercise, I am pretty certain that I have discovered the perfect way to multitask.

I like Olney Farmers Market because it’s larger than the Bethesda Market. There are often cooking demos and live music, and artisans displaying their crafts. I am usually too preoccupied with selecting my purchases to partake in any of these extra attractions, but they are nice to have in the background. The Olney Market is as much about community as it is about buying food. I almost always run into someone I know from my synagogue or neighborhood. That’s usually a good thing, unless I’m feeling particularly disheveled that morning, since once in a while I am actually coming straight from a long walk or a trip to the gym.

My routine usually includes the purchase of a loaf of bread at Atwaters (they sell bread at many area markets) and always includes the purchase of a variety of seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables. I occasionally buy goat cheese, olive oil, and baked goods. I know that I’m spending more money that I do at the grocery store, but it feels great to support local farmers and small, independent businesses. For the most part the quality is decidedly better.

So, why the conflict about whether to head north to Olney or south to Bethesda? One major attraction lures me to the Bethesda Market…Buzz Bakery. In early August, I discovered that Buzz Bakery from Alexandria, VA has a booth at the Bethesda Central Farm Market. Buzz Bakery makes great cupcakes, although in my three recent visits to the market they have yet to have any available. What I found instead goes on my “best things I ever ate” list. Cinnamon buns. This bun is pure perfection. Not too sweet. Not too much frosting.. A delicious cinnamon crunch topping. At $3 this is a steal. I pay double that for a bag of lettuce greens and while they are excellent greens, they don’t compare to the Buzz cinnamon bun.

After fasting yesterday, I decided that a cinnamon bun is just what I needed to start my day. Imagine my disappointment when I arrived breathless at the booth, only to find they were already out of the buns. It was only 10:00 a.m.! I appease myself with a ginger cookie, which is good but cannot compare to that cinnamon bun.

I further indulge myself with a piece of pizza offered by a new vendor, “Fired Up.” “Fired Up” offers wood-fired pizzas, which is a unique concept for a farmer’s market. They feature a pizza with a whole grain crust, flax seeds and all. I try the marherita pizza. While I can appreciate that this pizza is indeed healthier than most, I don’t particularly like having seeds in my pizza crust. I also like pizza crust to be crispy, and this doesn’t have a bit of crispness to it.

So which direction will I head next Sunday? I haven’t decided. I may throw caution to the wind and visit a market in Takoma Park or Dupont Circle. Or I may do something really daring and forego a market and head to the gym. I’ll work it out…one way or another.

Olney Farmers and Artists Market, Route 108 and Prince Philip Drive

Bethesda Central Farm Market, Bethesda Lane between Elm and Bethesda Avenue

List of Local Farmers Markets

Filed Under: Bethesda Central Farm Market, Olney Farmers and Artists Market

P’ordering at the Beach

September 15, 2010 By Lori Leave a Comment

Labor Day has passed, which for most people means weekends at the beach are over. However, this past weekend I went to Fenwick Beach. It’s never too late to talk about beach food as far as I’m concerned. For most people a trip to the beach is about sun and surf. When I go to the beach, I secretly hope for rainy weather so that I can focus on my two favorite things. Eating and shopping. A number of years ago I went to the beach with my kids for 24 hours. In that time period we managed to squeeze in trips to Fishers Popcorn, Thrashers Fries, Auntie Anne’s pretzels (in the days before they were at every mall), steak and cheese subs, and Nic-O-boli’s at Nicola Pizza. Now that I’m older, I have to pace myself.

I had dinner at Liquid Assets in Ocean City. I am not going to spend a lot of time writing about my meal there. Most of the people who spend time at the beach have already discovered this excellent wine store/bar/restaurant. The menu is creative (try the tuna crisp appetizer (crispy wontons, wasabi siracha cream cheese, sesame seeds, scallions, and kimchee). The hummus with grilled bread is quite good as well. Stay away from the fish and chips. They lacked much flavor and they were soggy. Go early because they don’t take reservations and it always seems to draw a crowd.

Another highlight of the trip was Maureen’s Ice Cream and Desserts in Bethany Beach. I had an ice cream which featured pieces of graham cracker and bursts of chocolate. Five Stars!

What I really want to focus on, however, was dinner at Nage in Rehoboth. Nage is a farm to table restaurant with an innovative menu that has just started to feature fall ingredients.

I liked Nage right away. The atmosphere was cool. The menu was interesting. But once I started to peruse it, I realized that I had a dining dilemma. Everything looked good at first glance, but when I took a closer look many of the menu items featured ingredients that I don’t like. Nuts. Oysters. Oxtail. I was left agonizing over a couple of entrees.

Because dining out is so important to me, and because I now have people who actually read about what I eat, I felt an intense pressure to make the right decision.

I asked our server for his opinion. I was torn between a crab cake over a “BLT” salad and a chicken breast with ricotta gnocchi, sugar snap peas, squash, and shitake mushrooms in a sage brown butter. According to him, the choice was easy. It was time to move away from the summerlike crab cake and toward the more autumnal chicken. I took his advice.

Bad decision. The chicken was a complete disappointment. It was dry and virtually flavorless. The ricotta gnocchi also lacked any discernable flavor. I added pepper, which helped a bit.

That was when my friend introduced me to a new term, coined by her daughter, that I will forever embrace. I had become the victim of p’ordering. Poor-ordering.

Think about it. How many times have you been out for dinner and everyone around you is raving about their food, and you are left poking around your entrée in the hopes that it will improve with age? You like a restaurant’s ambiance, the menu has potential, but your meal fails to impress. It’s not that the restaurant is bad. It’s p’ordering.

I don’t want to write off Nage. I don’t want you to write it off either if you find yourself in Rehobeth, Delaware. Just think carefully about what you order. Remember that if you are going to rely on a server’s recommendation, you should be certain that they understand your criteria for a good meal.

But if you do find yourself p’ordering, maybe your dining companions will take pity and give you a few bites of their meal. At the very least, treat yourself to a good dessert.

** A great drink can also take away fromthe stingof p’ordering. I started my meal at Nage with an apple pie martini, which was out of this world.

Liquid Assets 94th Street and Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Maryland
My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 4
Nage 19730 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (also a location at 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, Washington, DC)
My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 3.8

Filed Under: Around the US, Bethany Beach, Liquid Assets, Maureen's Ice Cream, MD, Nage, Ocean City, Rehoboth Beach

Diving into Lasagna and Pie in Baltimore

September 8, 2010 By Lori Leave a Comment

I like to watch Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (DDD) on the Food Network. We all know that great food can be found at hole-in-the-wall places. But Guy Fieri has a way of legitimizing these places and making the food sound spectacular. Sometimes I feel dejected because there’s a pretty strong likelihood that I am never going to get to Mac & Ernies in Tarpley, Texas or The Rock Café in Stroud, Oklahoma. As a result, I decided to only watch episodes that feature places nearby or where I am likely to travel in the near future. I’m much happier now.
When I happened to catch the DDD episode “Real Deal Italian” featuring DiPasquale’s Marketplace in east Baltimore, I knew it was time for an outing. I have friends who consider themselves dive connoisseurs. They have earned the title. I knew they would be the perfect companions. We decided to combine our journey with a visit to Dangerously Delicious Pies in Federal Hill. Because really, why should we limit ourselves to only one DDD destination.
Dipasquale’s is more of an Italian Market than a restaurant. They have a decent selection of wines, fresh fruit and vegetables, dried pastas and beans, and prepared foods that look amazing. The tables are squeezed into the back and the atmosphere is …well it’s kind of a dive. The restaurant is clearly proud of its status as a DDD destination. Guy Fieri posters are on the wall and his book, with a page dedicated to Dipasquale’s, is on display near the register.
When it came time to order, we had some decisions to make. The episode highlights homemade lasagna and Arancini rice balls, so those were a given. We also ordered a vegetable lasagna, eggplant parmesan, and a Greek salad. We were tempted to order a pizza as well because it looked incredible, but that seemed like too much food, even for us. Next time.

What makes the dishes so good in my mind (and in Guy Fieri’s as well) is the homemade ingredients—the sauce, the noodles, even the cheese, is made on the premises. The sauce is chunky and a little sweet and I could pretty much be happy slathering it on anything. In fact I took some home and just had it on eggs. The surprise of the meal was the salad. The wonderful taste of the feta cheese reminded me how important the quality of an ingredient can be, even in something as simple as a salad.
Dipasquale’s is definitely worth an outing but beware: they are only open until 6:00 pm Monday through Saturday, so plan accordingly.

If you have any interest in making arancini yourself, here is a link to the recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dipasquales–arancini-recipe/index.html

My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 4.5
Zagat rating: 27
DiPasquales, 3700 Gough Street, Baltimore

From Dispasquales we drove into the heart of Baltimore to Dangerously Delicious Pies. Our friends had been there before and were particularly excited to have us try the “Baltimore Bomb,” which is made from melted Berger Cookies. (if you haven’t had Berger Cookies you may not be able to fully appreciate the decadence and the sheer delight at the thought of such a pie, but trust me).
Unfortunately, we were told that they only had a few pies available, and we should look to see what was listed on their blackboard. No Baltimore Bomb. A crushing blow.
I ended up with a key lime pie. It was heavenly. I don’t want to know how much butter is in the crust. Truth is that at that moment, I didn’t care.
We also had a piece of chocolate chess pie and a piece of the Mobtown Brow (pecan pie with Swiss chocolate and caramel). I didn’t taste the pecan pie (yuck) but I thought the chocolate chess pie was just average. My husband, who comes from a family of pie mavens, thought the crust on the chocolate chess and the Mobtown Brow was “lousy.”
We were ready to leave when we overheard two people order and receive a slice of the Baltimore Bomb. What? They had it all along? We were incredulous. How could they have told us otherwise! After a brief skirmish with the staff, we left with a piece of Baltimore Bomb. We couldn’t even manage a bite at that point. But a few hours later we were ready to dig in. You know what? I am going to stick with the actual Berger Cookies. The pie is just too sweet for my taste.
My string of visiting restaurants that connect to reality TV remains unbroken, at least for now. Rodney Henry, the mastermind of the operation, was on an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay (Bobby won). Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes mentioned the Baltimore Bomb on the “Guilty Pleasures” episode of The Best Things I Ever Ate. And finally, Rodney Henry will appear on a future episode of Chopped. That’s a lot of reality for one guy. I may have to give the Baltimore Bomb another shot sometime.

Dangerously Delicious Pies, 1036 Light Street, Baltimore (also a location in DC on H Street, NE)
My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 2.8 (except for the key lime pie which I would give a 4)

Happy New Year to All Who are Observing Rosh Hashanah. I’ll be taking a blog break to enjoy 5 star meals in the homes of friends and family. See you in 5771!

Filed Under: Around the US, Baltimore, MD, MD Dining

Diving into Lasagna and Pie in Baltimore

September 8, 2010 By Lori Leave a Comment

If you have any interest in making arancini yourself, here is a link to the recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dipasquales–arancini-recipe/index.html

My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 4.5
Zagat rating: 27
DiPasquales, 3700 Gough Street, Baltimore

Dangerously Delicious Pies, 1036 Light Street, Baltimore (also a location in DC on H Street, NE)
My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 2.8 (except for the key lime pie which I would give a 4)

Happy New Year to All Who are Observing Rosh Hashanah. I’ll be taking a blog break to enjoy 5 star meals in the homes of friends and family. See you in 5771!

Filed Under: Baltimore, Dangerously Delicious Pies, Dispasquale's

An Unforgettable Burger

September 5, 2010 By Lori 1 Comment

Well-known restaurateurs seem to be flocking to the DC area to open burger restaurants. New York chefs Danny Meyer and Bobby Flay, as well as Top Cheftestant Richard Blaise are all headed this way with burgers and shakes. Soon we may be over-saturated with fries.
The more I read about burgers, the more I desire them. I was finally able to satisfy my craving this week with a trip to BGR The Burger Joint in Bethesda. Six of my colleagues enthusiastically joined me.
Initially the menu presented a dilemma. BGR is featuring a Snooki (of the Jersey Shore) Burger during the month of September. In keeping with my need to merge food with reality TV whenever possible, I was tempted to try this burger topped with grilled jalapeno, cream cheese, and a fried pickle. Tempting. But I couldn’t resist the burger I had during my first BGR outing earlier this year. It had been calling to me ever since. It’s called “The Greek.” This burger was not only featured on Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay.” It won. So, thankfully I did not have to sacrifice a connection to reality TV with my order.
The Greek is “made of fresh ground leg of lamb, seasoned with cumin, mint and garlic and topped with tzatziki sauce and feta cheese. Lamb and feta cheese are two of my favorite ingredients This burger is divine and is now on my list of Best Things I Ever Ate.

The fries at BGR are worth a mention. They are a nice crisp texture, they are delivered hot, and they are perfectly salted. My advice is to go with someone who will order the sweet potato fries and share.
The opinions expressed by my colleagues regarding their burgers were varied. One ordered the veggie burger and absolutely loved it. The Wellington was declared a little off (roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, garlic with a touch of mustard seed and blue cheese) I tried it and thought it was pretty good but this is not your typical burger. The sliders were not a hit, according to the person who preferred Five Guys.
My only complaint about BGR is the price. I spent $19 for burger, fries, and a soda. Pretty steep, particularly for lunch. Granted, it was a great burger, very good fries, and…well soda is soda.
I have been reading some good things about a fairly new burger place in Bethesda called Fresh Grill. And I still need to try the Ray’s Hell Burger, which I understand can be found at Ray’s the Classics in Silver Spring. If I can just get that lamb burger out of my head, I may be able to give some of these others burgers a fair shake.

BGR the Burger Joint,4827 Fairmont Avenue, Bethesda (locations also in Alexandria, Arlington, and Dupont Circle)
My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 4.5 (for the Greek), 3.8 overall
Zagat rating: 21
More on the DC Burger Scene

Filed Under: MD Dining, Uncategorized, Washington DC dining

Ulah-la

September 2, 2010 By Lori 1 Comment

Earlier this summer we were looking for a restaurant in the U Street area for dinner before a show at Studio Theater. We were dining with another couple and our three sons, who are all in their twenties. The criteria: moderately priced, a variety of choices to include vegetarian options, and somewhere that did not have a focus on small plates (a request of the 20-somethings). After a good deal of back and forth with my friend, we chose Ulah Bistro. My friend made the reservation and I must confess that I wasn’t terribly excited about our choice. Since dining was not the primary focus of the evening, I let go of my need to have every restaurant meal be a culinary adventure. As our dinner approached a few weeks after making the reservation, neither my friend nor I could remember where we had chosen. This was either a sign of our lack of enthusiasm about the restaurant, or our advancing age. Fortunately our restaurant debate had taken place on email, so we were able to figure out where we were headed.
Surprisingly, Ulah turned out to be a fine choice. The bread came out immediately and looked appealing, which put me more at ease about the food to follow. It was a cross between pita bread and pizza, served with an olive tapenade. It was quite good. I chose a Greek salad with shrimp for my meal. The ingredients were standard but they were fresh and plentiful. The dressing was unique, taking the salad to another level.
My husband raved about his pasta dish, although a few days later he didn’t remember exactly what was in it (it was vegetarian orzo with kalamata olives, corn, marinated artichokes, sundried tomatoes, red roasted peppers, and shaved parmesan).
My friend had crabcakes, and the quality prompted her to declare that this restaurant was her new favorite in the U street area. The guys had brick-oven pizza, which was a very fine accompaniment to their beers. I tend to like menus that are a bit more adventurous. But if you are looking for simple but above average food, this is a good option, particularly for a pre-theater meal.

Ulah Bistro, 1214 U Street, NW
My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 3.4
Zagat rating: 18
Washington Post review