MitchW

This was my first thought for sure, but I didn't realize they made a move into beef protein - plenty of bros there, and the women who like bros are in abundant supply as well - especially during football season at Hair of the Dog! When Significant Eater was working in DC back in the early Obama era, our apartment was not far from Dupont Circle, and SG's first location. I thought it was an interesting concept, but have never been back to any of their (250+) locations. I also remember Steve Ellis trying out a new concept of some sort (which never went anywhere), also at a Dupont Circle location.

I maybe ought to start something called places I'm not curious about...however, I walked past this yesterday... The ever-expanding Venture Capital backed Sweetgreen chain, moving into the corner of Orchard and Stanton Streets, across the street from the hellish Hair of the Dog. This space has probably been a dozen different "concepts" over the years (SMASHD, Mother Duck, Pizza Beach, et al.) we've lived down here. If I were a betting person, Sweetgreen will probably last longer than any of the previous tenants. I'm wondering if this will be one of their robotic concept shops, with robots assembling the orders (evidently, not actually prepping the food).

I may be curious about Chateau Royale and Bartolo. Interestingly, we ate (for the first time in quite a while) at Ernesto's earlier this week. Sat at the bar, had two pintxos, shared a main and a salad. Pluma de iberico, patatas fritas and piquillos. It surprised me how much I enjoyed the food. Had a couple of drinks to start (they do have the nerve to charge $23 for a Spanish gin and tonic), and a couple of glasses of wine. About $240 all in. P.S. I wish there was a little less salt.

Admittedly when we are in tomato season, I go a little crazy at the farmer's market. A quick stop on a day when it was really too hot to be outside: Some plums up front. There was also white corn from Jersey. A quick sauté of the corn, sweet onion, zuke, and a few tomatoes. Served with pasta marinara. This isn't that pasta marinara mentioned upthread, but a pesto pasta made a couple of nights ago... Not classic, which would involve green beans and potatoes, but good nonetheless.

Great strategy to drum up biz...maybe a little too late?

He was no Bruno Sammartino, that's for sure! Rest in infamy.

Stopped by the greenmarket today and picked up a few goodies. BLT, on Balthazar whole grain bread (lightly toasted). Assorted tomatoes (Beefsteak on the sandwich) and corn from Jersey. Duke's mayo.

May the Prince of Darkness rest in peace.

And apparently they are the sole importers of it - it's so good and the wheel had just been cut open. From their website:

Today was the final day in the Pyrenees at the Tour de France. And I just happened to stop by Formaggio Essex yesterday (they get a lot of stuff on Fridays, evidently). Both the Ekiola and Pardou are fab (the Comté ain't too shabby, either (though I usually buy one with a bit more age)).

And some even like Ted Drewes!

Friday night we went to the new outpost of Ops Pizza, on 2nd Avenue and 11th Street. (I think the space was previously Numero 28 Pizza, so maybe they lucked into not having to put in a new oven?) Anyway, a minor (okay, more than minor) service glitch upon arrival, which was dealt with properly...after I wrote to them via RESY. Yeah, they offered us to return on the house, but I declined, as I don't feel that's necessary. We only had a couple of items - actually started with some nice cocktails, followed by an excellent fritto misto, a pizza and the calzone. Very nice pizza. Felt like the calzone was a bit one-dimensional for my taste. I'd return and stick with pies.

We went to Foul Witch last night, for a sorta popup dinner, which featured Jackie Carnesi and Sam Short and Carlo. While the web site reads thusly: Saturday Only: Carlo x Jackie Carnesi The menu read: Anyway, they were all there. Everything we had was quite good. Including the sesame focaccia (I guess they're charging for bread now, or was it just last night?) , finocchiona, grilled chicories, chitarra con bottaraga and lumache pomodoro (and yes, the pastas seem to have gotten a bit bigger): Great dish. And even though, at this point my wife is kinda full, we "shared" the fish: Beautifully cooked and delicious. And while we probably should have ordered dessert (Sam Short, again), there wasn't any way I could convince Significant Eater of that fact. So we had a couple of amari instead. A fine dinner, great service as I've always had here, and I look forward to going back.

They definitely need a webmaster...

We've had fine meals at Noble Rot (twice) and BRAT (twice).

I'll tell you who...Elizabeth Gulino, whose byline reads: a night blogger covering everything from politics to celebrity... Writing for The Cut, in New York Magazine, in an "article" entitled: Now Is the Time to Make Pasta Salad I'd advise to have a good supply of toilet paper and reading material at home the next day.

Five-egg Frittata - mushrooms, onions, jamón, dill, chives.

Bernie Madoff - the gift that keeps giving.

That’s correct, I’ve never, ever seen that.

I ride the M14 a lot, and I’ve never, ever seen the Omni machine out of order.

FWIW, I never don't pay - I feel as if it's my civic responsibility.

Is it possible that Eater is getting worse? To whit (from their "Best Pizza"): First they write that a third location opened on the lower east side. Then they write a third location is on the upper west side. In the same paragraph. I guess what they don't really know is that the third location is, as Lucia's web site notes: On the fucking upper east side! Why I even bother to read this shit is beyond me.

Well, we have this to look forward to: In her first review as our new critic, Ligaya Mishan checks out the View, the revolving Times Square dining room with a nostalgic menu and a stunning panorama of the city.

That sucks. RIP, Mick - a one-of-a-kind guitarist. Ian Hunter is still around - at 86! I've seen him many times over the past 2 decades, often at City Winery, where he played with the Rant Band. I was recently talking with James Mastro, lead guitar player for the Rant Band, owner of 503 Social Club in Hoboken, etc. etc. and asked him about Ian - evidently not in the greatest of health, but hanging in there.

Humidity?