Endless Simmer - A Food Blog

Through my work with Express, I’ve become a sell-out. I’ll explain. I’m in bed with the PR folks. The PR folks will host a “media dinner” I will then eat for free and in return write a *totally non-biased* review. I swear.

Anyway, at my latest comped meal Angie and I ate our way through a deliciously free meal at Restaurant K by Alison Swope, which I then reviewed.

As you’ll see, we tried the tamales. As Angie is from Texas and has a Honduran mother, she knows her tamales: even knowing the difference between the Tex-Mex and Central American versions. So while she clearly knew what to make of them, I am still sorting my way through the technicalities of the dish. Which made me totally laugh when I saw the following thread during Tom Seitsema’s WaPo chat.

one / tom is sure one hot tamale

Ashburn, Va.: This may sound stupid, but I have never ordered tamales at a restaurant just because I have no idea how to eat them. Do I pick them up, or do I eat with a fork? What do I do with the stuff covering them? (And what IS that? It’s not edible, right?) Do I put sauce on them? Please help end my tamale illiteracy!

Tom Sietsema: Tamales, which involve corn meal dough (typically) wrapped around cheese, vegetables or meat, are bundled in husks, which must be removed before you dig into the steamed filling. I eat tamales with a fork. Sauce is optional.

_____________

Tamales. ..: true story. I’m an adventurous eater. My first time at Red Sage some years ago, I saw tamales on the menu. Having never had them, of course I ordered them. I didn’t know how to eat them so I ate them all. It took me some months before I figured out why the waiter had such a quizzical look on his face when he removed the plate.

Tom Sietsema: Funny!

I’ve admitted in this forum that I, too, ate my first tamale — part of it, anyway — with its husk on. Decades ago, I should add.

gansie: like i said before, i’m not so familiar with the tamale (read the review - i compare the dough to a matzah ball!), although i should be - it’s quite delicious! and i can’t lie, i’ve absolutely tried to eat the husk before.  and one more thing, does anyone know where the phrase “hot tamale” came from?

• Continue reading or Comments (4)

Maybe because 80P is always telling me to keep my voice down, I never notice how loud or quiet a restaurant is - I just scream regardless. But apparently I might be the only person that feels this way. According to a 5-part investigative report by Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, noise is the number one complaint about eating out.

He explained the severity through this over-the-top story:

Brown, a 35-year-old senior finance manager at a Washington nonprofit, planned to propose to Rebecca Oser at Central Michel Richard downtown just before Valentine’s Day. Fueled by a few drinks, Brown says, he pulled out a gift-wrapped box containing a sapphire ring from his jacket pocket before the dessert course. It should have been a memorable moment. Instead, Brown found himself competing for Oser’s attention with a bustling open kitchen, CNN anchors on overhead TVs and a conversation at the next table that got louder when another person walked over to say hello.

Despite the distractions, Brown popped the question: Rebecca, will you marry me? He’s not sure if he actually heard the reply, but he got the response he was looking for. Oser, a 29-year-old project director, slipped on the ring and came around the table to sit beside him.

First off, public engagements should be outlawed. You’d think that for this most special of all nights people would want to be in private. I know I don’t want to see a blubbering bride-to-be flashing a diamond around to people she doesn’t know. Get a room! (The best engagement story I’ve heard so far is from my friend, Jules - she was in her sweatpants when Gary proposed! And, she’s letting the bridesmaids sport these gorgeous, absolutely re-wearable dresses! Love you, Jules!)

Anyway, I’d absolutely rather enjoy food in a loud restaurant (my fav place, Bistrot du Coin, was rated the nosiest place in the city!) than in a setting where I have to whisper for fear of everyone hearing my conversation.

When 80 took me to Vidalia for my birthday, we actually both hunched over the table (well, maybe I was hunching because I was hungover) so 80 could whisper to me the details of the previous night’s Happy Hour without completely appalling the neighboring table.

But here, take a look at Tom’s articles and let me know your thoughts on restaurant noise.

• No Appetite for Noise [Cover Story]
• New rating system that will surely fix the problem [Decibel Breakdown]
• Everyone loves lists! [Top 10 Loudest/Quietest DC Restaurants]
• Bring on the complaints [Chat with Tom]
• Nothing’s more fun that watching noise [Video of noise, I shit you not]

• Comments (1)

Here’s more of Sietsema vs. gansie

one / eff off

Anonymous: Getting a jump on the chat today. Hope you will add this annoying terminology to the list of nevermores:

Roast off

Braise off

Fry off

I can see “bake-off” as it refers to a baking contest. But why are we now hearing the word “OFF” appended to the specific cooking verbs? Is roasting off something different than roasting? This is a fairly new construction - you, Tom, could do the nation a great service by consigning it to the scrap heap before it really takes hold. Oh, and, LOVE the chats!

Tom Sietsema: Here’s to raising the bar, not lowering it!

Good morning, all. Good to “see” so many of you in the room today. Bring me your questions, your gripes, your tired, your poor …

gansie: I’m usually one for bitching about annoying food phrases, but I have to say, this “___ off” phenom doesn’t really bother me. I mean, there’s like a million other things to get pisted about. Namely, and yes, I’m gonna go there, the lack of awesome pizza-by-the-slice in DC. I said it.

• Continue reading or Comments (4)

Anton Ego, Food Critic, Ratatouille

Hi all. Welcome to the next edition of Ask a Professional, Answer a Blogger.

one / “mom, dad, well, i’m not pregnant”

Downtown/The Hill: Hey Tom! I need your expert guidance. My boyfriend and I need to tell my parents that we are (gulp!) moving in together. They will be in town in a few weeks and we thought we tell them over dinner. I sent the menu of Central to my Dad and he balked. Can you recommend the perfect, moderately priced, meat and potatoes or Italian restaurant we could go to? They will be staying near Galludet and I work downtown, so in the vicinity of either would be great.

Thanks so much!!!

Tom Sietsema: Try the revamped Dish in Foggy Bottom, Sette Osteria in Dupont Circle, maybe the new Marvin on 14th St. NW, near V.

gansie: aaaahhhh. I super sympathize with this girl. Dropping the whole “living in sin” bomb was NOT on my list of favorite things to discuss with the parental units. All I can say is, I hope her boyfriend doesn’t have to go under the knife when parents finally visit. My suggested restaurant for this occasion: Bistrot du Coin. It’s affordable, absolutely delicious and will supply enough noise to block out any awkward silences.

two / dining with animals is quite common in Europe

New York, NY: Dear Tom:

Visiting D.C. last weekend, I was enjoying a fine meal at Hook on M St. in Georgetown with three friends — we were the last four in the upstairs dining room, close to midnight — enjoying dessert when over by the window, under a table, I spied a large white rat. I called over a staff member and told him what I had seen; he went over and confirmed that there was indeed a rat there.

His explanation was “construction”‘ next door. No apology. No offer to buy us a drink or dessert or to even send over a more senior staff or manager.

I live in New York and do not spook easily — this is just an unacceptable situation.

Tom Sietsema: Yep, a manager should have been called in to address the issue. Even a “I’m so sorry, let me look into the problem” from someone senior would have been nice.

A question for lurking restaurateurs: What kind of compensation, if any, does such an incident merit?

_____________

Capitol Hill, D.C.: Would you really want free food from a restaurant that had a rat in it?

Tom Sietsema: I’d vote for a cocktail myself. Something strong.

gansie: I think I’m with Tom on this one - one dirty martini for the girl who’s standing on her chair, screaming about the rat.80′d take an after dinner 10 year tawny port. Dad gansie - a dessert to go.

• Continue reading or Comments (4)

Hi all. Welcome to the next edition of Ask a Professional, Answer a Blogger.

Dupont Circle, D.C.: Hi Tom - When I walk by The Palm on my way to work in the early morning, I notice that they turn the chairs upside down and rest them on the already-set tables, presumably to clean the floors. Seems pretty unappetizing, to say the least, to have a chair seat resting on a plate and napkin that will be used by a diner. I suspect many restaurants do this. I wonder if The Palm management realizes that their new fishbowl room reveals this practice to passers-by. Your thoughts?

Tom Sietsema: Chairs on pre-set tables might look unappealing, but I can think of worse sights. I recall addressing a reader’s concern a few years ago, about the restaurant practice where servers refold used napkins and put them on diner’s chairs when diners excuse themselves from the table. My response was formed by a medical expert who said germ transmission was minimal/unlikely. I’m thinking the same thing might hold true in this case. But still — the staff could at least wait to set the tables the next day, huh?

washingtonpost.com: First Bite: The Palm

gansie: Really? Is this what people worry about. Um, how about this?

Washington, D.C.: I have a vegetarian friend coming to town and I’ve paid no attention to restaurants with veggie fare. Where should we be going for dinner where both she and I can enjoy our meals?

Thanks

Tom Sietsema: Before I answer your question here, can I share a pet peeve?

It’s the word veggie. I hate it. If I promise never to print “cool beans” again, will you promise not to use veggie?

Places where you and your friend can happily dine together: Bombay Club, Heritage India, Banana Leaves, Zaytinya, Jaleo, Regent Thai, Rice, just about any new pizza place … the list is long. But hopefully these ideas will help.

• Continue reading or Comments (7)

Washington, D.C.: Tom - Where can I find a picture of you? I have looked online and really want to see what you look like in case I see you out at a restaurant! PLEASE!

Tom Sietsema: Folks, I don’t make these questions up.
Good morning, everyone. Thanks for shunning work to talk to me for the next 60 minutes or so.

That’s Tom Sietsesma, the Washington Post’s food critic. And I love him. I refer to him by first name only to all of my friends. Scarily, they know exactly who I’m talking about. “Tom’s been talking about this place a lot lately”…”Tom really hates the service at this place”…”Tom doesn’t really like chocolate desserts all that much.” I think you get the point.

On Wednesday, the nation’s newspaper food section day, Tom hosts a live chat. Every Wednesday at 11am I am glued to my screen and the “F5″ button (it refreshes the page.) I know what restaurants are hot. I know what chefs are leaving, returning or sucking. I know what Tom’s favorite place for sushi is. And, unfortunately, I also know that some lady from Virginia thought her steak came out too rare and was pisted when the chef told her it’d be a waste to overcook a beautiful cut of meat. And other similar complaints about etiquette, tipping and surprise ingredients.

I do not however, know what Tom looks like, as he is an allusive figure, roaming the District in costume, dining in secret. Maybe that’s why I love him so.

This is the first in a series of many, highlighting the funny, absurd and enlightening from Tom’s chats. Full transcript here.

Post jump: Ask Tom, Answer Gansie

• Continue reading or Comments (10)