Let the sun shine

"Bodo’s knows nothing about ‘coming soon.’" That’s how Chaps’ owner Tony LaBua responded to us when we inquired this summer about his plans to renovate Chaps’ front façade. Of course, LaBua is referring to the now infamous sign (that, in fact, only said "Coming") indicating Bodo’s Bagel Bakery‘s pending expansion to the Corner, which remained […]

We Ate Here

If, like us, you’ve spent any years of your life in northern climes, you will appreciate this privilege of Virginia residence: eating lunch outside at Bizou in November. Not that it was warm (it wasn’t), but it was still eminently possible to enjoy an al fresco meal. What we ate—a hunk of pan-seared salmon over […]

Web masters

I used to be a fan of Slate. Not so much anymore. It’s gotten to the point where I can have a stupid conversation with a friend and end up thinking that, with the right headline, the conversation could become a 3,000-word Slate tirade. "How Patchouli Came to be the Scent of a Subculture," for […]

Critical mass

The second year in the "Monday Night Football" booth has brought a new broadcast partner and continued criticism for Mike Tirico. Recently, the voice of MNF sat down with me to discuss the critics, Jaws and Tony, and his beloved "Boss." "Monday Night Football" is still "Monday Night Football," but new announcer Mike Tirico isn’t […]

To the teeth

Shrimp with a big taste: Il Cane Pazzo’s risotto calls for lemon, fresh herbs and oh so buttery shrimp. Calling all pathological stirrers and hawkeye chefs: If you can’t seem to separate yourself from your wooden spoon as something’s cooking, risotto should be the main staple of your diet. Il Cane Pazzo does it up […]

We Ate Here

Lately, we’ve been shunning dozens of other lunch options around town in favor of repeated visits to the lunch buffet at Indian standby Milan. Anyone with a taste for palak paneer and allo gobhi and the rest of the gang would go once; what keeps us coming back is the sheer convenience of it all. […]

Now boarding

It’s a bit embarrassing for me to admit that sometimes I much prefer reading the Internet to reading a good, old-fashioned book, or even a chapter of a book. I suppose this means I have become what my parents and their friends fear. No doubt I am scary, but in my defense, allow me to […]

Game on

‘Tis the season for food-centered holiday rituals, most of which involve gorging on gravy-flooded, carb-infested, stick-to-your ribs, I-don’t-have-to-worry about-showing-off-my-thighs-for-another-eight-months kind of food. ‘Tis truly a wonderful, guilt-free cultural phenomenon that not even an episode of "The Biggest Loser" could impede. And for many, all of this gluttonous seasonal eating goes oh so well with another […]