The Washington Post - 27.03.2020

THE WASHINGTON POST

.

FRIDAy, MARCH 27, 2020

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6

Ask Tom

excerpts from Post Food Critic

Tom Sietsema’s online discussion

Q: A family member was

supposed to have a wedding that

has since been canceled. The

couple is still getting married in

a small ceremony, so I wanted to

send a gift. They live in

Baltimore, so I thought they

might (eventually) enjoy a fancy

night out. Any suggestions? I

don’t know of any food

restrictions, any type of cuisine.

I’d love dinner for two and

maybe a glass or two of wine in

the $150-ish range?

A: Thoughtful gesture on

multiple counts, because the

purchase of a gift card now is

one way to support shuttered

restaurants.

The hardest reservation in

Baltimore before coronavirus hit

was the intimate Le Comptoir

du Vin not far from the train

station. I see they are selling a

few dishes and lots of wine for a

couple hours a day Tuesday

through saturday. You can

secure a gift card anytime online.

Q: I’m curious what your favorite

pandemic takeout/delivery meal

has been.

A: For the past week or so, I’ve

been ordering from different

delivery services and getting a

range of cuisines dropped off. I’ll

be sharing the roundup soon,

likely before actual print

publication in the Magazine next

month. But let me offer a sneak

peek and say ethiopian food

travels well, pizzas not as much

and some of the best deliveries

have featured soups, which

might need just a quick

rewarming before enjoying.

Q: Looking to support our local

small businesses. I walked by

Lapis yesterday and noticed

they’re doing carryout orders.

Having never had Afghani food

before, what do you suggest my

husband and I try? no allergies,

non-vegetarians, enjoy spicy

foods.

A: You’re in luck! I happen to

have taped a few notes into my

phone during my last meal at the

Afghan outpost in Adams

Morgan. steamed dumplings

with ground beef, sabzi spinach

and tomato-sauced eggplant all

get a thumbs up.

Q: Most D.C. restaurants packed

customers in like sardines. Do

you envision fewer tables in

dining rooms after the worst of

the virus is over? Perhaps fewer

tables and higher prices?

A: I think a lot of details are

going to change — including,

sadly, the number of good places

to eat, everywhere. This

pandemic has hit the restaurant

and hospitality industries

incredibly hard.

Q: one of the restaurant

reviewers in the L.A. Times

wrote a piece titled “What does a

restaurant critic do when there

are no restaurants.” Made me

wonder how you have diverted

your focus. Reviewing take out

options? Cooking at home and

re-creating memorable dishes of

the past? Comfort food? other

food/restaurant related stories?

There is certainly plenty to write

about!

A: everyone has had to pivot, for

sure. Most recently, I wrote

about the effect the closing of the

Inn at Little Washington had on

its tiny town — and the chef’s

invitation for anyone to come

visit the bucolic grounds.

Last week, desperate to find

something positive in the

ongoing crisis, I flagged the good

work being done at miriam’s

Kitchen for the homeless

population. And for the past few

weeks, I’ve been mostly checking

out restaurant delivery and

rethinking my spring dining

guide (oy!).

My partner made spaghetti

and meatballs on sunday. That

was cool. Then he doled out extra

containers to friends. Gotta

share/help out where we can!

Q: I just read your review of

everest Kitchen [in sunday’s

Washington Post Magazine] and

absolutely loved it. I’ve always

appreciated your excellent

writing, but this review felt

particularly wistful and nostalgic

in light of the incredible

circumstances in which we find

ourselves. Thanks for continuing

to post your reviews and host

this chat. How are you holding

up?

A: Aw, thanks for asking. so

sweet. I’m fine, although like

everyone else, I miss my routine

and all the stuff I took for

granted just weeks ago.

What saddens me about the

Everest Kitchen review is, the

owner just this week pulled the

plug on carryout and delivery.

so, no great nepalese food from

his small storefront for the

moment. Fingers crossed, the

restaurant reopens, with the

same general manager and chef.

Q: You mentioned Little serow’s

take out last week — I wanted to

flag that Komi has revived

Happy Gyro in takeout format as

well, and it includes to-go access

to some of the excellent wines in

their cellar. I hadn’t gotten to try

the pop-up before, so this was

one silver lining for us!

A: Just seeing the pop-up’s name

makes me happy. And I love that

the owners are opening their

cellar during the pandemic.

see AsK tom on 11

deB LIndSey For THe WaSHIngTon PoST

steamed dumplings with

ground beef from Lapis in

Adams morgan, which is

offering carryout.

N0247 3x10.5

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