Events: Thanksgiving at Bistrot Lafayette

Don't feel like cooking on Thanksgiving? Want to go out? Its often hard to find a nice thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant that isn't a very pricing buffet spread.

No worries though, Bistrot Lafayette has you covered - they are offering a Thanksgiving 3-course menu (including turkey) for just $32/person from 12pm to 8pm on Thanksgiving day.

You might want to make reservations, as I didn't see this special occasion listed on the website.

Events: Hooked on Mad Men

Hook Restaurant in georgetown is looking to bring you in to their restaurant - even if it means you don't eat the food, just drink and watch tv.

Event: Watch the season finale of Mad Men
Date: Tonite
Time: 8pm to closing (tvs in the bar will be turned to watch Mad Men at 10pm)
Showcasing: Serving appetizers and showcasing the drinks on the show (side cars, manhattans, etc.)

I enjoy Mad Men, but I am just into season 1 on netflicks, so I don't want to spoil it.

This event does seems slightly ironic in that a restaurant so clearly coming from a sustainable 'point of view' showcases a television show where an important basis of character development comes from red meat and smoking.

Products: Sausage

Just so you know, the previous posts pictures were from King Ludwigs, one of the many restaurants serving German dishes in Leavenworth, WA.

Each restaurant in Leavenworth serves the same fare, but each restaurant has its own special sausage (Ludwigs is a spicy sausage), so you can go from restaurant to restaurant trying the different kinds (and eating at all the restaurants!)

Although the story around town is...that each restaurant in Leavenworth gets their 'house' sausage 'out of house' - shipped directly from a small, family-owned deli in Selah, WA (my hometown) at Jahrs European Sausage (sorry, no website, it is Selah you know) where is it made to order for the restaurant and then shipped back to them in Leavenworth.

Travel: Leavenworth Octoberfest

Leavenworth is a little town near the Wenatchee National Forest in Washington state that celebrates its German hertiage. Last weekend I participated in their annual Octoberfest race, running in the Leavenworth Half Marathon.

So what does one do in a German inspired town during the month of October with 800 calories to make-up?

Well....by eating way too much goulash, sausage, cabbage, veal, spatzle and roast pork with family of course!

Events: Farm to Table Month in Arlington

From September 15th-October 14th several restaurants in the Arlington area will be featuring a special one-night-only all local menu featuring local farmers for a special price. This is in celebration of Farm to Table Month in Arlington to celebrate local farms and local chefs.

The VA Cooperative Extension (the outfit running it) is also showing some movies about the farming and food industry. The True Cost of Food; The Garden; FRESH

Restaurant participating that you might want to take advantage of: Liberty Tavern and Williow.

Visit Virginia Cooperative Extension for a list of event times: Farm to Table Month in Arlington

 

Williams-Sonoma Culinary Demos

During these slow economy times, we look for ways to save money - especially when it comes to entertainment.

Williams-Sonoma has released its September schedule for cooking demos. They used to make you rsvp, but now they are now FREE and open to public.

You can call your local store to find out the times or stop by to see the staff in action - you just might learn a new culinary trick - and get to taste its treat!

Click here to see the schedule.

 

Travel: Chiang Rai Tea Room Treats

While in Chiang Rai we visited a tea house where we tasted about dozen local teas, brewed in the Chinese tradition. They served us several treats to enjoy while tasting - some dried, vinegar infused or candied fruits and nuts...and then there were some deep fried caterpillers sauteed in clarified butter right in front of us.

I am (most always) willing to try new things, which is quite unusual for a traveling through american (according to the locals). These are a delicacy and were quite good. I even thought of bringing some home to my brother (he has received chocolate covered grasshoppers before) until they told me the price.

On a Pho (not faux) Mission

I totally admit that I have never liked pho. With most peoples food preferences, it stems back to my first experience that wasn't positive. It was in a dirty place in reston, eating flavorless soup, being young in my food eating experience I was confused over the process and if to use chopsticks or the spoon. Add to that the bad company I had the soup with and it is no surprise, years later, I wince when my husband asks me to lunch and suggests pho.

A few months ago, in my Asia travels, I spent some time in Vietnam. I learned that what I had years ago was more like faux then pho. I ate pho for every meal and enjoyed all the different add-ons you could enjoy at your table.

Now I am back in VA, when my husband suggests pho, I smile...but make him try a new pho place everytime in search of the elusive flavor and interesting add-ons I had in Vietnam. When I find a place, I'll post and let you know.

Here is a video showing one meal my husband and I had in a restaurant in the Saigon neighborhood of Ho Chi Minh City.

Pho Video

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.