While I was walking back to the Metro stop from the Market at Clarendon, I passed the Aegean Taverna; it smelled good out on the street, so I went in for dinner. There was a separate bar and a big dining room, with a group of three men entertaining the diners with Greek music played on two guitars and one bouzouki, occasionally singing. Every now and then some diners would get up and attempt to Greek dance. It was nearing closing time, so I kept dinner simple, ordering roast leg of lamb without even consulting the menu.
When the plate arrived, there were three huge slices of lamb with slices of garlic and a nice lamb gravy, and the lamb was *so* good! Sometimes lamb can be a bit strong out of season, but this was nice. It was accompanied by a half roasted potato, a stack of steamed big carrot coins, and a scoop of a stewed vegetable melange which appeared to be green beans, eggplant, onion, tomato, and spices heavy on the oregano. For dessert I chose a wonderful, warm galaktobouriko, which is a citrus (orange??) flavored egg custard baked in a crispy phyllo dough and then covered with a thick sugar syrup.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Inaugural Balls, Washington, D.C./Arlington, VA
Well, I acquiesced to going to the inaugural balls tonight. I went first, of course, to the Phillip Glass symphony world premiere at the Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center shuttle takes us back to the Metro stop by my apartment, so I hopped on the Metro and headed to the Convention Center where they were holding the Constitution Ball (Oklahoma and a dozen or so other states are lumped into that). For security reasons, no one was allowed to use the most convenient Metro station there at the Center, so we had to use adjacent area stops and walk through what are usually not nighttime "transition" neighborhoods to get to the Convention Center.
Well, let me tell you, the crowds at the balls were absolutely horrendous. From what I could see peeking in doorways, the people were so packed in they had to squeeze by people just to move around....what little moving around they could do. I definitely didn't want to spend $250 for that, especially since I wasn't feeling inclined to stay long. I loitered a bit, but didn't see anybody I knew, so I left that venue to find another party.
This has to be a unique night for sartorial splendor. I do believe that there was a larger percentage of men in tuxedos tonight riding the Metro than at the last opening night I sang at Tulsa Opera! It was also interesting watching the people who were dressed looking down their noses at the people who obviously weren't going to a ball or party, and the non-formally dressed people looking with suspicion and distrust at the dressed up people. I decided to be mischievous and took off my black cashmere overcoat and wore it resting over my shoulders like an opera cape, my white silk scarf visibly hanging down, and then I looked down my nose at those people in tuxedos wearing parkas and tan raincoats over their formal clothes.
It was interesting to note this year's fashions. Furs are very very big! I especially saw a lot of white furs, and it seemed very popular for the dark minks to have scarlet lining. There were way too many men out there in tuxedos and boots! Did you know that people from Ohio can be just as obnoxious as Texans? I'm not so sure what I think about the whole inaugural party thing. The entire affair reminds me of one great big fraternity formal—except the frat boys are geriatric! There was a lot of bad taste at the Constitution Ball. All I can say is I wish some of those married men would have the guts to give their wives an honest answer when they ask "Honey, does this dress make me look fat?"
The American Indian Inaugural Ball was at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Crystal City down in Arlington, VA, just a short Metro ride away, and it only cost $150. They had lots of people there, but they had the foresight to hold their ball in three different ballrooms in the same hotel, so not only was there walking and breathing room, but there were also seats at tables if one wanted to sit down to eat. It was a typical dance/party, though the Indians were not nearly as obnoxiously "frat rat" as the people at the Constitution Ball or the pre-parties I saw last night.
I only saw four people there I knew, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, the Deputy Bureau Director, the DBD's secretary, and a movie star called Adam Beach. Turns out Adam (a Canadian!!) was the honorary chairman of the ball.
They had several featured entertainers, with a couple of stand-up comedians serving as MCs, and several bands....I didn't have any idea who any of them were, but apparently they are well known.
Each of the ballrooms had several small buffets set up all over the ballroom. Each of the corners had a bar, and I was a little surprised given the ticket price that for liquor, it was a cash bar. Lemonade, water, and soft drinks were self-serve and free, though. The food was ok, but nothing spectacular.
I kept getting drawn to the appetizers table for the most wonderful crab and artichoke dip. I could have stood there and eaten it all night! That table also had steamed asparagus with grilled onions and some grilled vegetables which looked to be heavy on the grilled eggplant. The salad tables had big bowls of Caesar salad with sliced grilled chicken breast available as an add-on, some kind of salad they called a frisee, which appeared to be sauteed cabbage and country ham or bacon, and big bowls of curly endive (frissee!) salad.
The entree tables had cedar-planked salmon and a chef carving barons of beef. The dessert tables had great big trays of slices of fresh fruits and innumerable plates of bite-sized, finger-food desserts, like strawberry mousse in a chocolate cup, white chocolate and dark chocolate fondants in miniature pastries, a bunch of different types of miniature Napoleons, lemon puddings, and cheesecakes, and my favorite, a bunch of assorted miniature fresh fruit tartlets.
Tomorrow is a work day, so I only stayed til 11:30. As people left, they were handed a "goodie bag" with a program and a bunch of little souvenir thingies from several of the Indian casinos nationwide. I'm going to have to sleep in the guest bed tonight, since my bed is covered with towels, sweaters, socks, and other things needing a home. And, that's the ball report tonight from D.C.
Well, let me tell you, the crowds at the balls were absolutely horrendous. From what I could see peeking in doorways, the people were so packed in they had to squeeze by people just to move around....what little moving around they could do. I definitely didn't want to spend $250 for that, especially since I wasn't feeling inclined to stay long. I loitered a bit, but didn't see anybody I knew, so I left that venue to find another party.
This has to be a unique night for sartorial splendor. I do believe that there was a larger percentage of men in tuxedos tonight riding the Metro than at the last opening night I sang at Tulsa Opera! It was also interesting watching the people who were dressed looking down their noses at the people who obviously weren't going to a ball or party, and the non-formally dressed people looking with suspicion and distrust at the dressed up people. I decided to be mischievous and took off my black cashmere overcoat and wore it resting over my shoulders like an opera cape, my white silk scarf visibly hanging down, and then I looked down my nose at those people in tuxedos wearing parkas and tan raincoats over their formal clothes.
It was interesting to note this year's fashions. Furs are very very big! I especially saw a lot of white furs, and it seemed very popular for the dark minks to have scarlet lining. There were way too many men out there in tuxedos and boots! Did you know that people from Ohio can be just as obnoxious as Texans? I'm not so sure what I think about the whole inaugural party thing. The entire affair reminds me of one great big fraternity formal—except the frat boys are geriatric! There was a lot of bad taste at the Constitution Ball. All I can say is I wish some of those married men would have the guts to give their wives an honest answer when they ask "Honey, does this dress make me look fat?"
The American Indian Inaugural Ball was at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Crystal City down in Arlington, VA, just a short Metro ride away, and it only cost $150. They had lots of people there, but they had the foresight to hold their ball in three different ballrooms in the same hotel, so not only was there walking and breathing room, but there were also seats at tables if one wanted to sit down to eat. It was a typical dance/party, though the Indians were not nearly as obnoxiously "frat rat" as the people at the Constitution Ball or the pre-parties I saw last night.
I only saw four people there I knew, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, the Deputy Bureau Director, the DBD's secretary, and a movie star called Adam Beach. Turns out Adam (a Canadian!!) was the honorary chairman of the ball.
They had several featured entertainers, with a couple of stand-up comedians serving as MCs, and several bands....I didn't have any idea who any of them were, but apparently they are well known.
Each of the ballrooms had several small buffets set up all over the ballroom. Each of the corners had a bar, and I was a little surprised given the ticket price that for liquor, it was a cash bar. Lemonade, water, and soft drinks were self-serve and free, though. The food was ok, but nothing spectacular.
I kept getting drawn to the appetizers table for the most wonderful crab and artichoke dip. I could have stood there and eaten it all night! That table also had steamed asparagus with grilled onions and some grilled vegetables which looked to be heavy on the grilled eggplant. The salad tables had big bowls of Caesar salad with sliced grilled chicken breast available as an add-on, some kind of salad they called a frisee, which appeared to be sauteed cabbage and country ham or bacon, and big bowls of curly endive (frissee!) salad.
The entree tables had cedar-planked salmon and a chef carving barons of beef. The dessert tables had great big trays of slices of fresh fruits and innumerable plates of bite-sized, finger-food desserts, like strawberry mousse in a chocolate cup, white chocolate and dark chocolate fondants in miniature pastries, a bunch of different types of miniature Napoleons, lemon puddings, and cheesecakes, and my favorite, a bunch of assorted miniature fresh fruit tartlets.
Tomorrow is a work day, so I only stayed til 11:30. As people left, they were handed a "goodie bag" with a program and a bunch of little souvenir thingies from several of the Indian casinos nationwide. I'm going to have to sleep in the guest bed tonight, since my bed is covered with towels, sweaters, socks, and other things needing a home. And, that's the ball report tonight from D.C.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Menu: Inaugural Luncheon
The Washington Post reported on the Presidential luncheon menu for tomorrow. They'll be lunching on scalloped crab and lobster (I have the recipe), roasted Missouri quail, chestnuts, brined root vegetables, and steamed lemon pudding surrounded by apple wild cherry compote (have that recipe, too). So far, my invitation has not arrived, no doubt due to snow problems.
Coggins', Washington, D.C.
Stepped out in the snow today to grab lunch, and found an on-campus eatery in one of the GWU buildings called Coggins where I had a very nice bowl of broccoli cheese soup and a "tunacado" sandwich, which was a grilled tuna and guacamole on sourdough. I liked it, but were I to make my own version, I think I'd use avocado slices instead of guacamole. Also had a huge iced coffee.
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