Appetite Stimulus Plan: November 17th thru 21st

Only in DC would restaurants jump on the stimulus plan bandwagon!

Opentable is doing 2xs the points on special 'restaurant week style' 3-course menus at participating restaurants (Lunch=$24; Dinner=$34) between November 17th and November 21st.

Recipe: Fall Inspired Creme Brulee

Butternut Squash Creme Brulee

• 6 egg yolks
• 1/3 c. granulated sugar
• 1 T. pumpkin pie spices
• 1 t. vanilla paste
• 1/2 c. organic butternut squash puree from Williams-Sonoma
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 4 tsp. granulated sugar + 1 Tbs. firmly packed light brown sugar (for brulee)

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. In a medium bowl, combine until well mixed: 1/3 c. granulated sugar, egg yolks, butternut squash puree, pumpkin pie spices, vanilla paste, set aside.
3. In a medium pot over medium low heat, heat heavy cream until cream just starts to bubble up. Remove from heat.
4. Quickly whisk hot cream into sugar-butternut squash puree mixture until combined and emulisfied.
5. Using a ladle, pour mixture into creme brulee dishes, place in sided baking dish (cookie sheet or casserole dish) and place in oven. Carefully fill up a cup with warm water and carefully pour warm water into cookie sheet/casserole dish to create a water bath.
6. Bake for 30-45 minutes until custard is set.
7. Remove from oven, remove custard dishes from water bath and set aside to cool to room temperature.
8. In a small bowl combine 4 T. granulated sugar and 1 T. brown sugar. Sprinkle mixture over each custard and torch. Serve immediately.

This recipe is inspired by a Williams-Sonoma recipe I did at the Galleria Williams-Sonoma store in Tysons Corner (November 2006) to showcase their butternut squash puree - and the participants really enjoyed it!

Article: Culinary Show on Hilter's Favorite Foods

Professional cook Jeroen Meus of the Belgian culinary show Plat Perefere (aka, Favorite Dish) will do a show on Hilters favorite foods. The show claims "Hitler, the man, will be put in the right context" (quoted Turkey Daily News).

Click here for the article via the AP

Products: Zagat T-Shirts

Buy the t-shirt and you too can be Zagat rated!

Visit their website to purchase

Only $15 if you are a Zagat subscriber ($17 for non-subscribers) - you can even get a zagat logo chef jacket or apron.

Events: 2941 - Halloween Inspired Menu

It's good know that a fine-dining restaurant can still have a little fun with their menu. Starting Saturday through halloween, you can order a 'eye scream dessert' that looks like scary eye-balls, but is really made of white chocolate, pistachio mousse and raspberry-lychee coulis.

On another note, they are advertising a 4-course fall wine dinner for $395/person.

I don't believe it is part of their 'scary' halloween celebration - but that sure send a chill up my spine!

Article: Am I Alone in Hating Baking?

The author discusses her feelings in relation to the cultural insinuation of being a 'baker' in the face of baking a cake for her kids birthday.

From Anna Maxted at the Telegraph (10/21/08)

I think my favorite quote is in relation to the picture in the article of the happy, perfect 50's wife and below the picture it says "Baking tools: whisk, mixing bowl, self-satisfied grin".

$5 Off - Whole Food Printable Coupon

Hey, it may be dubbed 'Whole Paycheck', but we still love it - so every little bit helps.

Click here to read about their new 'Whole Deals' and print the coupon.

And remember you can print it over and over and use it at every check-out between now and October 22nd.

Events: Wolfgang Puck Dinner at the Source

This sounds pretty good - too bad it is more expensive than the Inn at Little Washington, rivals City Zen and (even with the exchange rate) is just slightly under a meal at El Bulli. If you have been to the Source and had their $60 filet choice (which is I think is the highest in town) the price won't surprise you.

But the menu sound pretty good....and you get to see Wolfgang Puck, right? I've heard the restaurant has gone down hill since the opening staff left - so if you haven't been yet, you might want to go when Chef Puck is in the kitchen.

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Wolfgang Puck to Host Grgich Hills Estate Wine Dinner at The Source

Wine and dine with Wolfgang Puck at The Source, the Master Chefs fine dining restaurant located at the Newseum. The celebrity chef and restaurant will host a special five-course dinner on Wednesday, November 12th at 6:30 pm paired with the exceptional organic and biodynamic wines of Napa Valley's Grgich Hills Estate. In addition to Chef Puck, Mike Grgich, founder of Grgich Hills Estate, also will attend the dinner.

Priced at $220 per person (inclusive of tax and tip), Chef Puck, along with The Source's Executive Chef Scott Drewno, will offer guests a range of Asian-inspired dishes including Shanghai lobster risotto with ginger and crispy spinach and Grilled Mongolian lamb chops with stir-fried eggplant and a mint-cilantro vinaigrette. Guests will start the dinner with an extensive selection of hors doeuvres such as Tuna Tartare in sesame-miso cones, Steak Tartare on crostini as well as Pucks famed Smoked Salmon Pizza. Ending the meal will be the signature Ginger Crhme Brulee with apricot marmalade and spice-caramel ice cream.
For the wine pairings, guests will enjoy eight exceptional vintages from the Grgich Hills Estate.

To make reservations for the wine dinner, call The Source at (202) 637-6100. Charges will be added to credit cards the day of the dinner.

The Source by Wolfgang Puck is located at:

575 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202.637.6100
Fax: 202.261.6101

For more information (dress code, parking, map, etc.) or to make reservations at The Source by Wolfgang Puck: http://www.opentable.com/restaurant_profile.asp?ID=14461&restref=14461

Events: Morton's Argentinean Wine Dinner

A four course wine dinner featuring classic American dishes from Morton’s The Steakhouse paired alongside fine wines from Argentina. Salud!

Reception: Petite Lamb Chops & Tenderloin on Crostini, Luigi Bosca Reserva, Merlot
First Course: Spinach Salad with Grilled Shrimp, Goat Cheese & Olive Oil, Bodega 900, White Blend
Second Course: Sliced Whole Tenderloin with Caramelized Onions and Sautéed Garlic Green Beans, Viña Alicia Paso de Piedra, Cabernet Sauvignon
Third Course: Mixed Seasonal Berries with Sabayon Sauce, Luigi Bosca, Late Harvest Gewürztraminer

Where: Morton's The Steakhouse, Crystal City 1750 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202

When: Friday, November 7, 2008, 6:30 pm Reception 7:00 pm Dinner

Price: $130 per person (inclusive of tax and gratuity)

RSVP: Required – Call Karleen Kourkel at (703) 418-1444 or cm.mar@mortons.com