http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/books/an-economist-gets-lunch-by-tyler-cowen.html?ref=books
The NYT book review absolutely teed off on his book on Sunday:
The quality of Mr. Cowen’s prose varies wildly. Many of his sentences read as if he composed them before entirely waking from a nap. Here’s an example: “The more fundamental problem is that labels do not encompass the same economywide information that is communicated by the price system in its assessment of competing uses for resources.”
Word-goo of this sort creeps in everywhere. One of his favorite books is assessed this way: “I found his writing compelling and the photos full of striking colors.” Items on one’s plate are “foodstuffs.”
You sense in almost every chapter that he’s stretching thin material. Thus the ponderous detours into much-trampled areas like the history of barbecue, the varieties of Chinese food and how to choose kitchen equipment. Truisms are sprinkled like whatever the opposite of salt is. “Barbecue restaurants often have idiosyncratic names,” he announces, to aliens I suppose. “Like Bubba’s.”
― scream blahula scream (govern yourself accordingly), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:02 (twelve years ago) link
Just listened to that guy on the Kojo Show. Sounded like kind of a bore and definitely not someone I would want to break bread with.
― quincie, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 18:38 (twelve years ago) link
hate cowen many times
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 19:42 (twelve years ago) link
I still look at his restaurant list despite the issues I have with him, just because he writes about some places that the other restaurant critics in the area do not cover. I recently went to a good place in Eden Center that he liked.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 20:36 (twelve years ago) link
Todd Kliman (former City Paper restaurant critic years ago, with the Washingtonian for some time now) was asked in his food chat to list fave places for $5 to $10. Here's his list from the email-
Mangialardo’s, DC, for the G-Man.
Bayou Bakery, Arlington, for the Arm-Drip or the gumbo.
Zorba’s Cafe, DC, for gyros.
Fishnet, College Park, for the fish tacos.
Ravi Kabob I and II, Arlington, for the bone-in chicken with rice and chana masala.
China Bistro, Rockville, for the shrimp-chive and beef-celery DUMPLINGS!.
La Limeña, Rockville, for the tiradito, anticuchos, or ceviche.
Mama Chuy, DC, for the pork sopes.
A&J, Rockville and Falls Church, for noodle bowls and chili-oil wontons.
Saint Michel Bakery, Rockville, for everything.
Taqueria la Placita, Bladensburg, for pork leg tacos and al pastor tacos.
Pho 88, Beltsville, for a regular bowl.
Bon Fresco, Columbia, for the Brie sandwich and London broil sandwich.
Ren’s Ramen, Wheaton, for the miso ramen.
Woodlands, Langley Park, for the masala dosa.
Pimento Grill, DC, for the goat curry roti
Carbon, Rockville, for the asado de tira with black beans and rice.
R&R Taqueria, Elkridge, Md., for the cochinita tacos or the chilaquiles.
Sidebar, Silver Spring, for the Chicago dog.
Mount of Lebanon, Falls Church, for the chicken shawarma.
Shawafel, DC, for the chicken shawarma platter.
Ruan Thai, Wheaton, for the yum watercress.
Sardi’s, Beltsville, for the Pollo Ever—a marinated, chargrilled, spatchcocked chicken.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 21:17 (twelve years ago) link
China Bistro sadly shut down by the health department; I was a frequent customer :(
― quincie, Friday, 13 April 2012 17:01 (twelve years ago) link
I 've heard negative comments about Bayou Bakery in Arlington but have not tried it yet mself
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 14 April 2012 14:07 (twelve years ago) link
not one place on that list in alexandria. i feel overlooked.
― tehresa, Sunday, 15 April 2012 21:45 (twelve years ago) link
Just had my first Ravi kabob experience. Tasty!
― quincie, Sunday, 15 April 2012 21:55 (twelve years ago) link
Ravi Kabob is great.
Just tried Bayou Bakery over the weekend. The gumbo was just ok--not bad but not great. The beignets were tasty though. It turns out that the arm-drip sandwich is only available for lunch
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 00:28 (twelve years ago) link
plz explain this arm-drip sandwich
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 04:16 (twelve years ago) link
I think it is a creamy gravy on roast beef sub and the gravy drips down your arm as you eat it
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 04:26 (twelve years ago) link
SPACE SHUTTLE DAY BITCHES
― I DIED, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 12:26 (twelve years ago) link
Before it settles down, though, you'll have the chance to step outside and wave at the shuttle. It'll fly low over local landmarks -- the National Mall, Reagan National Airport, National Harbor and the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center -- between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. before touching down at Dulles International Airport.
I will likely be stuck in my office though
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 13:10 (twelve years ago) link
Woo hoo! Now that I have a window I was able to see it. Cool.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 14:43 (twelve years ago) link
uuuuugh, just missed it by a few minutes while stuck in an all hands meeting where management laid out their "leadership principles" in a way that spelled out V I R T U E. the whole time i'm thinking "SPACE SHUTTLE DAY, C'MON"
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Tuesday, 17 April 2012 14:46 (twelve years ago) link
Missed it, darn!
― ljubljana, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 14:50 (twelve years ago) link
My husband and his office-mates went to Hayne's Point to watch. I, on the other hand, am stuck on bedrest (actually floor rest, bed too soft) for stupid back. Better be goddamn fixed for my upcoming trip to WOO-HOO FT LAUDERDALE WOO
― quincie, Tuesday, 17 April 2012 16:16 (twelve years ago) link
Hanging out in ZS's local
― ljubljana, Sunday, 22 April 2012 15:37 (twelve years ago) link
whaaaaa? where?
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Sunday, 22 April 2012 15:38 (twelve years ago) link
Big Bear
― ljubljana, Sunday, 22 April 2012 15:46 (twelve years ago) link
I can't not surreptitiously read the to-do list of the woman next to me, which includes 'Whole Foods/Safeway' with 'Safeway' crossed out, 'Personal development', and 'Tweets'.
― ljubljana, Sunday, 22 April 2012 15:54 (twelve years ago) link
lololol
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Sunday, 22 April 2012 20:08 (twelve years ago) link
Berger cookies from Baltimore are yummy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/baltimore-storied-berger-cookies-come-to-washington/2012/04/17/gIQAVMpbTT_allComments.html?ctab=all_comments
By Andrew Reiner, Published: April 19
My wife, Liz, and I had been living near Silver Spring a few months when we attended one of her good friend’s dinner parties last summer in Dupont Circle. Like many of Liz’s friends who live in or near Washington, this woman slams pretty much anything — music, people, stores — that smacks of mainstream American culture. Especially food.
Back in my native Baltimore, where I’ve lived for much of my life, Berger cookies top the guest list at dinner gatherings, ranging from picnic table crab feasts to white-linen fetes. The groom’s cake at my wedding? Berger cookies. But no one at this dinner party featuring crepes drizzled in truffle oil had ever seen a Berger, with its trademark Himalayan mound of chocolate frosting. In all fairness, until very recently, the Berger had been practically synonymous with Baltimore.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 22 April 2012 23:03 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/baltimore-storied-berger-cookies-come-to-washington/2012/04/17/gIQAVMpbTT_story.html
Other link was to the comments
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 22 April 2012 23:04 (twelve years ago) link
haha I think truffle oil is more of a "mainstream American culture" food item than Berger cookies
― I DIED, Monday, 23 April 2012 00:49 (twelve years ago) link
To a city where blue-collar culture and ethos mesh with a thriving underground music scene, this “chocolate helmet” means a cookie with little patience for restraint for restraint’s sake.
oh my god, worst Post culture writer since Monica Hesse
― I DIED, Monday, 23 April 2012 00:50 (twelve years ago) link
hahaha
i hate impatient cookies
― mookieproof, Monday, 23 April 2012 00:53 (twelve years ago) link
He's a guest writer:
Andrew Reiner teaches freshmen writing at Towson University and is presently teaching creative writing and literature, as well, in the Honors College
Berger cookies are not mainstream because of lack of distribution while truffle oil is still mainly at gourmet shops. [does google search for truffle oil and walmart and comes up with hits]. Oops, maybe you're right
― curmudgeon, Monday, 23 April 2012 15:00 (twelve years ago) link
“What they’re doing with their money is not necessarily buying a $40,000 Vuitton bag,” said Aba Bonney Kwawu, president of the Aba Agency, a public relations firm that specializes in high-end retailers. “They’re spending their money on private school tuition and taking the whole family to Greece.’’
That's a relief. That's from the article in the Washington Post the other day on DC area 1 %ers.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 15:08 (twelve years ago) link
spending their money on boring suits and tickets to the Kennedy Center Honors
― raw feel vegan (silby), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 21:39 (twelve years ago) link
the private school only approach sadly helps them isolate themselves from others who may never be able to take advantage of the tax breaks and deductions and such that help rich Washingtonians maintain their status
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 April 2012 14:39 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/lanier-three-violent-attacks-in-northwest-potentially-linked/2012/04/26/gIQAM4w9jT_story.html
Possible link between three random assaults (one fatal) in Petworth this week; police advising residents not to walk around alone. The neighborhood (where I live) is completely crawling with cops tonight.
― scream blahula scream (govern yourself accordingly), Friday, 27 April 2012 04:25 (twelve years ago) link
Friend near petworth asked me to walk her from bus stop first time ever, had wondered what that was abt.
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Wednesday, 2 May 2012 04:15 (eleven years ago) link
Cynthia Connolly photo opening at Civilian Arts Friday 7 to 9 and this at the Hirshhorn:
ilxor Geeta on a panel at the the Hirshhorn friday: A symposium inside the museum Friday will feature Aitken, David Allin, Aaron Betsky, Geeta Dayal, Sasha Frere-Jones, Dean Kuipers, and Zabet Patterson.
Outside will be: this Friday's "Happening"—for which the museum will turn off the soundtrack to the massive installation and allow a handful of Pitchfork and Wired-approved acts to perform—now has a full lineup. Geologist and the pair of Tim McAfee Lewis and Leo Gallo will perform along with High Places, No Age, Oneohtrix Point Never, and Nico Jaar.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2012/05/08/song-1-extended-at-the-hirshhorn-and-geologist-added-to-this-fridays-happening/
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, May 8, 2012 2:59
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 15:01 (eleven years ago) link
x-post-sadly does not look like any police updates re those Petworth incidents
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 15:27 (eleven years ago) link
huh? they arrested a guy pretty quickly. I haven't heard anything since then, so I presume he hasn't been let go.
― how's life, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 15:30 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/michael-davis-held-without-bond-in-petworth-hammer-attacks-5th-victim-comes-forward/2012/04/28/gIQAhFGFoT_story.html
― how's life, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 15:31 (eleven years ago) link
Oh, missed that. Thanks
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 15:36 (eleven years ago) link
Are Taylor's Gourmet's hoagies any good? Obama went there yesterday as part of a small business initiative
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:36 (eleven years ago) link
Chuck Brown news disccussed on other dc music and gogo and obit threads
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:38 (eleven years ago) link
yeah, taylor's real great - get there early before they inevitably run out of bread a couple hours before closing
― scream blahula scream (govern yourself accordingly), Thursday, 17 May 2012 17:37 (eleven years ago) link
new mural up already
http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2012/05/chuck-brown-remembered-in-petworth/
― curmudgeon, Monday, 21 May 2012 13:57 (eleven years ago) link
Sietsema's spring dining guide(he returns to and looks again at 15 fave places of his) is out in the Washington Post magazine http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/best-bets/dining-guide/dining-guide-spring-2012,102675.html
I heard a radio ad for the Washingtonian June Cheap Eats issue on WTOP radio (do not think it is online yet)
― curmudgeon, Monday, 21 May 2012 14:02 (eleven years ago) link
The Cubanos at Fast Gourmet aren't bad, but I do not think I will race back there quickly for another
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 14:10 (eleven years ago) link
have you had the chivito?
― scream blahula scream (govern yourself accordingly), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 16:26 (eleven years ago) link
No. I'm so dumb. The owners are from Uraguay, so that is probably the sandwich to have.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 16:33 (eleven years ago) link
yeah - i thought the cubano was ok, but the chivito was really something else
― scream blahula scream (govern yourself accordingly), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 16:34 (eleven years ago) link
Still haven't read Sietsema's spring guide. City Paper has a new restaurant critic who is focussing on uh, restaurant openings and news, rather than reviews
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 24 May 2012 17:19 (eleven years ago) link
yeah, i dunno how that's going to work out - there are plenty of blogs covering that ground already. she seems to be posting with pretty good frequency already though - it can't be a bad thing for eater dc to have some competition
to continue SANDWICH CHAT i finally swung by the pepe truck today - i don't know if the pollo frito was totally worth $10 but it was fucking delicious
― scream blahula scream (govern yourself accordingly), Thursday, 24 May 2012 18:33 (eleven years ago) link