By Ms. Gastronome What better way to celebrate Mom on her day than having a grownup tea party? Lady Camillia at the Waterfront is the place to do just that. Previously located in Georgetown, Lady Camillia moved to their waterfront location in Old Town on Strand Street in January of last year. I have to admit that I am sort of embarrassed that it took me over a year to patronize this lovely eatery. I love tea and the idea of getting a little dressed up to go someplace for a “tea party” is very appealing. Full disclosure, I made this decision sort of last minute and all of my lady friends were otherwise engaged so I talked Mr. Gastronome into accompanying me. Truth be told, I think he really liked being the only “guy” in the room. He even held his “pinky” out while drinking his green tea. Lady Camillia is a very pretty and very proper setting. The colors are muted pinks and mauves with touches of light blues. The seating is also very comfortable and I can’t say enough about the elegance of the place settings. When we arrived, we were seated at a table for two by the window next to a group of three sisters celebrating an early Mother’s Day with their mom. They were half way through their “Afternoon Tea” party and were having a fabulous time. We followed their lead with some of our choices for pastries. Since we were there on a rainy Friday, we opted for the “Weekday Afternoon Tea” Full Tea for two. This includes three tea sandwiches (we had the smoked salmon, egg salad and chicken salad), choice of three scones/croissants (we opted for a white chocolate cranberry scone and plain and pain au chocolate croissants) and four pastries….
By the “Gastronomette” I really had a hard time getting this writeup pulled together! There is no way I can cram everything I want to say into this minimal space and still have room for a pic or two, so it is going to be short and sweet with more visuals. First of all, Eddie McIntosh is definitely “one of a kind” and this transcends into the latest in his line of culinary concepts – Eddie’s Little Shop & Deli (ELS&D). McIntosh, who is both Italian and Irish, grew up in the Bronx where he frequented family-owned delis on a regular basis…and worked in a few in the process. These establishments were his inspiration for ELS&D. He is also a 2006 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America – I don’t know many “deli” owners who have that on their resume. His talent as a trained chef shines through in everything featured on the menu at Eddie’s. He is meticulous about the quality and freshness of everything that goes in to the making of the sandwiches (Sandos), sides, chicken cutlets (available Tuesdays and Thursdays), specials and the house-made cannoli. We aren’t in the habit of printing the menus from the places we feature but there isn’t enough room to really tell you what to expect at Eddie’s. My favorite is the NO. 128. Check it out. What sets ELS&D apart from other delis? A major highlight here is that McIntosh makes the fresh mozzarella in-house. Eddie takes great pride in the final product and it is featured in many of the sandwiches and chicken cutlets. In fact, the store mascot – Ozzie the Mozzie – hangs from the ceiling above the meat case. To be honest, if you are a Ghostbuster fan, Ozzie resembles a character from the movie. However,…
By the Gastronomes March is a grand time to visit our two wonderful Irish Restaurants…Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub and Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant & Bar. Even though this article is in our Dining Out Column, the approach will be different. I wanted to write about the opening of each and my thoughts. Some of you might not agree with me, but I feel that Murphy’s is more of neighborhood “Cheers” kind of place while O’Connell’s is more upscale with Old World charm. You can’t deny, however, that they are both Irish to the core. Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub & Restaurant 713 King Street I moved to Old Town in 1977. This beautiful destination was not anywhere as big or popular back then. Actually, only Alexandrians knew much about Old Town. Old Town proper back then extended from the Potomac River to the 700 block of King Street, one block on the other side of Washington Street. Almost all of the action was down on the waterfront with restaurants and shops occupying old seaport warehouses. In fact, the revitalization of the wharf area had only begun that decade. Back in the 60’s, Old Town was just a thought. I met a guy, David Stasko, at the Fish Market Restaurant in the Brass bar and we became lifelong friends. Dave grew up in Alexandria and knew everything and everyone. He invited me to come play rugby with West Potomac Rugby and I accepted. This was my entree to Old Town. We would meet with other new friends every day at one of the bars on lower King Street. The now defunct Ireland’s Own was the only established Irish bar in Old Town but word about a new Irish bar opening up in the west end of town drifted down to the water…
By the Gastronomes We all have our favorite restaurants in Alexandria and particularly in Old Town. Whether it is a creature of habit syndrome or afraid to venture outside our comfort zone, we tend to take the path of least resistance. This month, however, we decided to leave the comfort zone behind and take a trip to the Mediterranean via Elaine’s Restaurant at 208 Queen Street. For those of you who have been in town for as long as I have, Elaine’s is located where the former Bilbo Baggins served us for 38 years. The new owners, Jeff and Cynthia Higgins, gutted the place and did a build out of understated elegance. The décor is very tasteful with clean lines and muted tones in the dining room while the bar side is very warm with jewel and charcoal tones. The dining room sits along a wall of windows that looks out on Queen Street with the bar adjacent to it on the left as you enter the front door. Upstairs there is a dining area with private party accommodations as well as a reading room stacked with books where they hold monthly meetings for writing groups and associations. As I mentioned in the beginning, I am a creature of habit, and dining at Elaine’s was a new and a learning experience for me. Jeff greeted us at the door and thus began our introduction to Elaine’s. Jeff’s wife Cynthia spent her childhood in Cairo Egypt and at the ripe old age of 12 promised her grandmother, Elaine, that she would open a restaurant some day and name it after her. She kept her promise and brought a bit of Alexandria, Egypt to Alexandria, Virginia. When we did the R&D for this column, Restaurant Week (RW) was in full swing so…
By The Gastronome After my dining partner decided to go out of town, I found myself left with the option of dining alone. What choice would I make…go the fast-food route and get it over with, hit up a new place or seek out an old standby. My decision was easy…I took the old standby option and went to Landini Brothers Restaurant here in Old Town and sat at the bar to eat. I have been a customer of Landini’s for over 41 years. They opened in 1979 so I was one of their first regulars. While many of the regulars are no longer with us, a good many are still around. Lani, my partner, has been a regular of Landini’s since she arrived in town in 1992 and it remains one of her favorite places for many reasons. Landini’s has been the go-to place for special occasions, business lunches and dinners, birthdays, and just getting together with friends which is exactly what I had in mind on this trip. Over the past years, the bar at Landini’s has been akin to any boardroom in Alexandria. Businessman and women chose Landini’s as the place to meet as well as be seen. What makes the bar so special and popular is the caliber of bartenders over the years. They are the conductors to our orchestra and still make some of the best Martini’s and Manhattan’s in the DMV. In addition to the bartenders, a good portion of the wait staff have been there as long as I have been going there. I also have to mention that the food is so good because of chefs Rigoberto and Santos and their staff. For every strong ship there has to be a strong captain. Franco Landini and his brother Piero launched the excursion…
By the Gastronomes As we continue to celebrate the 36th year of the Old Town Crier we decided to revisit Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Back when they opened in 1978 they were on the western fringe of Old Town. Back then, there was no Metro stop on King Street and mostly abandoned warehouses in that part of town. They were one of the first businesses to settle in that part of town… and it worked. They were successful from the minute they opened their doors. I know, I was there! The original restaurant is what you see today – same fireplace and same bar. Their quality Irish fare at a reasonable price has always attracted the locals and their lively atmosphere and no cover charge music draws in those looking for a good time. Founders Tom Mooney Sr. and wife Melinda always meant for the place to be your home away from home and Tommy Mooney Jr. continues that tradition today. It is truly where friends meet. Although their menu features Irish favorites like Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie, Hot & Hearty Irish Stew, Irish Meat & Potato Pie and Bangers & Mash as well as many more items, we decided to visit for their famous Sunday Brunch. In Old Town, Sunday Brunch is an event. It is a time to slow down, eat slow and enjoy the moment with friends. Having said that, it is a good idea to make reservations for brunch at Murphy’s as they are very popular. We forgot this rule and therefore had to wait a few minutes for a table for two. The place was packed but the wait for a table was reasonable on this Sunday. The thirty-foot bar was full and all…
By the Gastronomes Here we are getting a running start at the holiday season and thinking about what dining option we could give you all for the month of November. A few specifics came to mind while we were brainstorming said options – has to be close to home, have a reasonable price tag, a no muss no fuss menu and be open 24 hours. Hey, hey, we hit the jackpot with our very own Old Town Bob and Edith’s Diner (B&E). Although the Bob & Edith’s on King Street near the metro station is relatively new, their reputation has been around Virginia since 1969. I know this to be true, since I discovered the Diner when I first came to Alexandria in 1977. The original Bob & Edith’s is located on Columbia Pike. After closing some of the popular pubs in Old Town, we would head to Arlington for some late-night food and coffee. It was always a treat as we were very hungry and the food was great and very affordable. Today, B&E has six locations with the latest in Old Town. Ideally located near the metro and several hotels, the restaurant is accessible to lots of visitors as well as locals and has the potential to be busy 24 hours a day. It is most well-known for breakfast – which is served 24 hours a day. The fare is traditional down home breakfast staples with a couple of specials tossed in and, trust us, it gets packed on the weekends in the mornings. There is a line out of the door and during these rushes they have a 30-minute dining timeframe that they impose so there’s no time to lollygag at a table with people waiting. This popular eatery is well lit with décor reminiscent of the…
By the Gastronomes Ten years ago this month, Bill Ross and Caroline Bruder Ross opened River Bend Bistro & Wine Bar. Both Bill and Caroline are well known in Old Town as Bill was a partner in Letter Comm Type and Caroline was cheffing in some of Washington’s well-known establishments. As their dream began to take shape, they looked around to find a suitable building to open their restaurant. They ended up choosing a part of the former Village Wharf Restaurant in the Hollin Hall Shopping center in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria. As Bill began to put all of the financing together, Caroline began working on the menu. The end result was a perfect fit all the way around – flavorful offerings with something for every palate without being overwhelming, perfect portions and a very reasonable price point. On October 21, 2013 they opened their doors. Notwithstanding the headaches involved with the buildout, their opening was a great success and they have had a very successful ten years. The menu features Snacks, Starters, Entrees, a nice choice of sides and some impressive desserts. They kick the menu off with eight Snacks featuring three flat breads: Hot Italian Sausage, Wild Mushroom and Parmesan – Oven Dried Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Roasted Garlic – grilled Radicchio and gorgonzola w/balsamic glaze. Rounding out the Starters are Caramelized Onion Tater Tots, Sweet Potato Biscuits with Edward’s Country Ham and daily cheese and charcuterie selections. East Coast Oysters on the Half Shell are on the Fall menu as well. The Starters feature 3 salads, Vitello Tonnato, Roasted Honeynut Squash Soup, Crispy Duck Confit w/frisee salad and Smoked Oyster Dip. There is also a Soup of Day offering. The Dinner menu includes choices ranging from Smoked Pork Chops, Pan Seared Scallops, Grilled Fillet of Salmon,…
By The Gastronomes This month we ventured to one of the oldest restaurants in Old Town Alexandria and one of the ones that put Old Town on the restaurant map back in 1969. This iconic restaurant has not only earned its fame from the delicious food but also of the caricatures of local Alexandrians that adorn the walls. Although the restaurant is located in the 200 block of King Street and not in the 100 block which has been turned into a pedestrian mall and has allowed for in the street dining, owner and General Manager Hossein Pishdad took it upon himself to rent the curbside from the city and has built a dining platform along the curb on his own dime. It is the only restaurant in the 200 block that has curbside dining. In colonial times Alexandria was a formidable seaport town along the Potomac River and most of the buildings along King Street were warehouses associated with the commerce of Alexandria and the east coast of America. The Warehouse Restaurant has maintained that legacy by retaining the name. The restaurant opened in 1969 when the many warehouses were converted to shops and eateries. Back then there was a bar upstairs called the Quarterdeck and was popular with the locals like myself. A local guy named John Nugent was our bartender back then, today John owns Nugent Design Build LLC located in Deale, Maryland. Another successful businessman who got his start tending bar in Old Town Alexandria. Through the years of changes, the upstairs bar is no longer there but they do have a bar downstairs as you enter. It is a well-stocked and comfortable bar perfect for an afternoon cocktail or a drink before dinner. Co-owner and Executive Chef Sert Ruamthong has worked at the Warehouse for…
By The Gastronomes Anyone who has walked the streets of Old Town knows how Alexandrian’s love their canine kids and that they like to take them everywhere – including dining out. Much has been written about the many establishments in the area that welcome our furry pals in other local publications – all you have to do is Google “dog friendly” restaurants in Alexandria, VA. After experiencing a couple of “incidents” ourselves while dining out, we thought we would take this opportunity to put out a bit of a refresher course on what a dog owner should take into consideration before heading out to eat with your pooch in tow. We consulted Sharon Gadol, who penned a piece for AARP, and she provided us with the information below. The bulk of it is pure common sense but you know how that eludes some people. Make sure your dog is well-behaved. Experts say the number one priority is to make sure your dog is well-trained and well-behaved. That means no barking, growling or jumping on neighboring diners. Gadol followed the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program to train her dogs, including passing a 10-skills test for politeness in public. You can train your dog yourself, but Tiffany Tupler, a veterinarian at pet site Chewy, recommends dog trainers certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. “Learn to connect with your dog when you’re going out,” says Tupler, who has three dogs at home. “Practice, practice, practice. Slowly add in other distractors and keep training when your dog is at home. Go to a patio seating on a Tuesday when there aren’t a lot of people.” Know your dog. Experts say it’s important to understand your dog’s body language and know the triggers that make them skittish or…
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