April, 2008 - - Page 7

by Liza

John Mayer Does Perez Hilton – Literally! With a $675 Bottle of Liquor

This is war of the bloggers!

So my fave celeb blogger Perez Hilton (yeah, I said it) is claiming that at Stereo Nighclub in NYC he

MADE OUT – WITH TONGUE

with fellow blogger, John Mayer! John Mayer, in so many words, is denying this.

Let’s look at the facts to get to the bottom of this:

First, I’m pretty sure anything is possible at Stereo Nightclub. Their menu is exclusively alcohol – and no single drink orders here. You may only order the entire bottle, the lowest priced being about $300!

However, I bet Perez and John opted to start with the Stereo Pomegranate shot kit:

Pama Liquor
Shaker
Ingredients for Pama and Lime, Pama “kazi”, Pama/Lemon Drop.

Then perhaps they continued with the $675 bottle of Patron Silver Magnum. Who knows.

But Stereo’s goal is “creating the ultimate sensory experience.” And from the looks of the picture above, John Mayer is grabbing everything in sight- whose hands is he holding while whispering into Perez’s ear?

The Washington, D.C. Smelliest Takeout Awards

It’s an urban legend among roommate disaster stories. Roommate #1 goes to neighborhood takeout joint. Orders smelliest thing on menu. Brings home, consumes half during Lost marathon, puts in fridge. Roommate #2 comes home, sniffs something rank, assumes rotten meat in fridge, throws out stinky leftovers. Passive aggressive notes ensue. Roommate tension escalates. Both move out. And it all started with a smelly dish.

DC has many choices of incredibly smelly, yet unbelievably tasty takeout. Everyone has come across this fare in some form. It’s the food with the stench that is embedded in your car during the five minute drive from the curry shop to your couch (car fresheners don’t come in Lamb Korma). The meal that when consumed at the desk causes coworkers’ eyes to water. The food that may smell better coming out than going in. But in the battle between taste buds and nose, taste triumphs. Meet the pungent posse of yummy DC takeout food.

Honorable Mention: O Jing A Bukom, Adam Express
This nondescript takeout place in Mt. Pleasant may look like any of the many forgettable Chinese joints that dot the DC landscape (sorry YUMS and Dannys). But one step inside this place and you are greeted with an extensive Korean menu, smiling owners, and the succulent stench of food. While everything in this tasty hole-in-the-wall has an aroma, only the daring need to order the stinkiest of all smelly foods: O Jing A Bukom. Broiled squid and vegetables sautéed in a spicy sauce with an odor more ferocious than the villain in Twenty Thousand Leagues. But man, is it good. The fresh chili spicy sauce is the perfect accompaniment to the perfectly grilled seafood. If the squid isn’t malodorous enough, Adam Express kindly includes a side of Kimchi (pickled cabbage) to raise the smelly stakes.
Adam Express, 3211 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010, (202) 328-0010

4th Place: Garlic Knots, Valentino’s, Alexandria
New York pizza enthusiasts love Valentino’s for its authentic pies. But look beyond the main course for an appetizer that will surely singe the senses. This adored takeout joint takes pizza dough and bakes it with herbs, spices, olive oil, and Kilimanjaro-size mountain of garlic. Valentino’s creation heads a thousand knots into Garlic Land (Candyland’s much less profitable successor). The flavor is perfectly spiced, fragrant goodness, and the bread is warm and generously greasy, but the fumes give off a garlic sauna. Perfect for John Carpenter or Vampire Weekend fans, or for one of the Coreys in The Lost Boys. Not at all good for first dates.
Valentino’s, 4813 Beauregard St, Alexandria, VA 2232, (703) 354-8383

Reveal Your Identity

I know this isn’t supposed to be a personal blog. So go with me here as I make it about food.

I think I have a secret admirer!

As BS noted, it was my birthday last week and the cooking themed presents poured in: 3 spatulas from my parents; 2 mini-spatulas from 80P (to make up for this disaster); a beautiful wooden salad bowl with 4 matching mini-bowls from 80P; the Top Chef cookbook from my brother, SAG; a food writing anthology from 80P’s parents; and other non-related food items (like an awesome vintage blue clutch from my sister.)

Anyway, so I thought that my presents were over when I received another package in the mail! It’s a book about restaurant reviews and critic secrets written by the pair that now writes a wine column for WaPo, Dining Out: Secrets from America’s Leading Critics, Chefs, and Restaurateurs. And, there was no sign of who it’s from.

Feel free to identify yourself, either in the comments or to my email: gansie@endlesssimmer.com. I’d like to thank you properly.

And yes, I know, I do love the fact that I got FIVE spatulas for my birthday.

in Personal 16 comments

by BS

A Better Butter Battle

Now here’s an ES fan who is all talk and all action…

Yesterday’s discussion of Kerrygold Irish butter inspired quite the passionate response, with readers weighing in from the Emerald Isle to Oklahoma. But the most exciting response came from MissGinsu, who promised a “premium butter throwdown” and then backed it up with a nine-way butter battle royale, detailed over on her blog.

Miss G. sampled the nine best premium butters she could find (and yes, she does feel a little ill now). She’s still not completely sold on the Kerrygold bandwagon “most of what I’m tasting is salt,” but she was blown away by the French entry – Elle and Vire – and even discovered a high-class butter made right here in the good ol’ U S of A, Pennsylvania’s own Krowka Maslo Wiejskie.

This is goodbye land o’ lakes – I am officially a butter snob.

Link: Miss Ginsu

Photo: Pennsylvania state government, and yes, that’s an 800 lb. Ben Franklin butter statue.

in Contests / Trends 4 comments

by BS

Did You Know $25 Can Buy 4.17 Bloomin Onions?

Good news for those of you still down in the doldrums about effing up your NCAA pools (aside: I don’t care if you did pick all four number one seeds, that was a wuss move and you don’t deserve any credit). But my point is, you have another chance to be a winner, because we’re still looking for that lucky reader who’s gonna get a free gift certificate to the Outback Steakhouse worth $25.

All you gotta do is be the magical 50th person to sign up for The Weekly Simmer, our email newsletter bringing you ES highlights, updates, bonus features, and much more (OK, maybe not that much more).

No cheating of course, but let’s just say we’re getting veeeeerrrry close to a winner.

PS – Here’s a fun fact from the OS: Actor Kevin Costner is such a fan of Outback and the Bloomin’ Onion that he put the Outback Steakhouse Airship in his upcoming Disney Touchstone movie, “Swing Vote.”

OK, fine. Maybe that wasn’t that fun. Just sign up for the email. Please.

Photo: Querocomer

in Contests 4 comments

by gansie

Live Blogging Top Chef: Episode 4

Takin over for 80P this week. And, this is a very special live blogging edition – we have guests over! Neighbors Edouble, Vi and Jerry will help with the commenting. And, of course, 80P. Although we might be like 5 minutes behind – waiting for Jerry to get here.

For the company, I obv had to make some snacks. With an almost bad eggplant I made baba ghanouj for the first time. And I followed this recipe, except for just one eggplant and I tripled the garlic and didn’t measure anything. I served it with whole wheat pita chips which I made by tossing pita (cut into triangles) with extra virgin, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. And then I spread them out on a baking sheet and popped it in the oven for like 15-20 minutes on 350.

— — —

Bring on the veggies. Quick Fire is pretty cool – show off knife skills and technique on vegetables. Like 80 said before, the Quick Fires are so much better. Not just corporate tie in. It’s actual cooking.

Love Daniel Boulud. His After Hours show is so cool. It’s like, get some random celebs (Charlotte’s gay friend from Sex and the City, Mario Cantone, and ~~Danielle~~ Gabrielle Reese) and eat in the kitchen at like 2am.

And although I don’t agree with Vegan – sign me up for the Vegan sashimi by Dale. Very well thought out.

Richard is a douche.

And Dale is the Winner!

— — —

OMG! Gemma! So sorry. Stay with me!

— — —

Hott Links: Cherry Poppin’ Good Time

In this installment from the gansie files, you will learn more than you care to know about cherry blossom themed drinks in DC; get the scoop on the grub at the new Nationals Park; discover an appetizer that isn’t fried or breaded; and find out the green-ness of CapHill fav, Sonoma.

Everything Is Cherry: Blossom Beverages [Express]

Ballpark Cuisine [Express]

Adams Morgan Evolution [Express]

Eat Your Greens [Express]

in Drinks / Veggie 3 comments

April 2008

John Mayer Does Perez Hilton – Literally! With a $675 Bottle of Liquor

The Washington, D.C. Smelliest Takeout Awards

Reveal Your Identity

A Better Butter Battle

Did You Know $25 Can Buy 4.17 Bloomin Onions?

Live Blogging Top Chef: Episode 4

Hott Links: Cherry Poppin’ Good Time