RSS FeedDC Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
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Here’s what we were reading last week about neighborhood news in DC.
Penn Quarter – Our good friends at The Triangle point out the liquor license application review at the ANC for Hill Country, the BBQ restaurant which will go into the former Apartment Zero space on 7th Street. Seating for 290…wow! [The (Mount Vernon) Triangle]
Mount Vernon Triangle – Discussion about how the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District should bill its residents for a yearly assessment. [City Paper: City Desk]
14th Street – A humorous review of an article in a local rag describing an ex-Manhattanite’s view of DC. [14th and You]
Mount Vernon Triangle – A target opening date for Buddha Bar is mentioned. [Washington Business Journal: Top Shelf]
Penn Quarter/Judiciary Square – The Police Week web page is up for 2010. [National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund]
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Tackle Box Restaurant Coming To PQ Soon?
Thanks to loyal PQL reader, Cheryl, for sending in the tip that Tackle Box Restuarant is looking to expand into the PQ!
Currently located on M Street in Georgetown, this restaurant felt comfortable enough to announce its planned expansion into the Penn Quarter by printing it on the backside of its menu!
But This Method Doesn’t Work With A Tomato
Growing up in the suburbs we always thought Ginsu knives were the best knifes you could own (they cut through cans!), and well, they’ll always hold a special place in our hearts. But as our culinary skills increased over the years, we needed a better set of knives. In 2003 we received this set of Henckels knives as a gift (superstitions be damned!) and they’ve served us well over the years as we’ve added a couple more knives to our set.
But for more than six years one thing we never had done was a professional knife sharpening. Sure we’d use the sharpening steel every so often, but as Jacques Pepin states in his book Complete Techniques “[steels] give a super finish to an already sharp knife.” His point being that eventually you have to have a knife professionally sharpened, as the steel really works best at fine-tuning a well sharpened blade. Once your knife has dulled, a steel can’t do very much.
When we read in last month’s Wall Street Journal (might require login) this article about mail-order knife sharpening, we knew we had to give one of these a try. We opted for what sounded like the best overall (if more expensive) of the services they tried, The Knife Guy. For $45 you get a box that holds up to five knives (there is also a larger 15 knife set for $72) and includes 3 way FedEx ground shipping (empty box to you, dull knives to him, sharp knives back to you). The knives come back to you in the same box with one additional shipping label. You are now a repeat customer and the total cost is lowered. Save the box & the shipping label and in 6-12 months when you want them sharpened again, just go to the website, pay for the service, and ship your knives.
We sent ours in just days after the article appeared in the WSJ. I guess were lucky because The Knife Guy isn’t taking on new customers now until July 1st, too much good publicity it would seem. A week later and we had our knives back to us, not only sharpened but also polished. The difference in our newly sharpened knives is incredible; so much so we’ve had to relearn how to use our kitchen knives lest we sever a fingertip. Now we can see how much extra pressure we’ve been adding over the years, as our knives became more & more dull, to cut through even the most forgiving fruits & veggies (yes, even the tomato).
If you need your knives sharpened and can wait until July, we highly recommend trying The Knife Guy. Not to say that the other mail-order services mentioned in the WSJ are not worth a try. But for ease of ordering & shipping, we feel like The Knife Guy is worth the wait.
Chinese New Year Celebration Next Sunday
The Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Tiger (4708), is upon us and that means it’s time for the annual DC Chinatown parade between 2 pm and 5 pm on Sunday, February 21, including the lion and dragon dances and the lighting of the five story high firecracker at 3:45 pm. The Chinatown Community Cultural Center at 616 H St NW will be open for a full day of programs for the duration of the parade. The parade route starts at 5th and Eye St NW and winds its way to end at 6th and H St NW where a stage will be set up to greet the paradegoers. A few DC area Year of the Tiger suggestions can also be found in this Washingtonian article. Our experience has been that the best viewing spots get taken quickly so plan accordingly!