amanda mcclements

Alexandria's popular Majestic Café has closed its doors for a makeover. In his dining chat today , The Washington Post 's Tom Sietsema confirms the rumors that the restaurant had closed and reports that it will reopen as something "completely different" in about six weeks. The restaurant's web site proclaims that the "new Majestic" will return in the spring with a new chef, new menu and new look. In related news, former Majestic head chef Joe Raffa will have to wait a little longer for his new roost, Oyamel , to open its doors. Construction delays have apparently pushed back the mid-February target opening a little. Stay tuned.

Attention, proud Washingtonians. The city's Convention and Tourism Corporation wants to know what you love about D.C., and they've launched a web site where you can share your thoughts and pictures. The timing is appropriate considering the local reactions to the recent Washington Post story that gave out-of-town journalists the chance to opine on what "Washington" means to them. One gem from Jill Callison in South Dakota: "Though South Dakota is halfway across the United States — flyover country to you — we'd like to be a little farther away from Washington. Because nothing good comes from that piece of former swampland wedged between Virginia and Maryland." Ouch. According to the tourism group, "the site is part of a greater research initiative coordinated by WCTC to determine the city’s position in the mind of those who live here and from travelers around the world – with the ultimate goal of creating a more vibrant experience and generating...

Are you trapped in a relationship in which one party lives for the action of Super Bowl Sunday while the other doesn't give a damn? Never fear, the clever folks of Kimpton hotels have a solution for an amicable (if temporary) split. On Feb. 4, send the football fan to Topaz Bar for an all-American Super Bowl party with "Lovie Dogs" chili dogs with sweet potato fries (two for $9), "Hail Manning" potato skins ($6) and "Dungy Dip" potato chips and French onion dip ($3), among other team-themed snacks and cocktails. Quite a different scene will unfold at Bar Rouge 's Super Bowl spa day, where reruns of "Desperate Housewives" will beat out the game for screen time and from 6-9 p.m., guests can get mini manicures and hand massages ($10 a pop). The bar will be shaking up discounted frilly cocktails, like the Liquid Revival (brandy, bitters, simple syrup and Sprite for $6). A full bar menu will also be available. Both events will run from 3 p.m....

If you haven't already read it, I wanted to draw attention to this week's Washington City Paper cover story, "The Missing Link," which delves into the murky lineage of the half-smoke. It's a great read. The writer even orchestrates a taste test of all the half-smokes he could find in markets, with the help of chef Greggory Hill (of David Greggory and the soon-to-open M'Dawg Haute Dogs ). You'll have to read the story to find out which sausage wins. So where do you get your half-smoke fix? Ben's Chili Bowl (pictured)? Or a spot you'd rather keep secret? Ever bought a pack in a store to grill at home? Dish it in the comment section. (Metrocurean photo.)

Dee at Golden Silence offers Five Bites for this week: 1. Hot and sour soup from Harmony Cafe 2. Pupusas con queso from El Tamarindo 3. Catfish dinner with macaroni and cheese and sweet potatoes from Oohhs and Aahhs 4. Peanut butter on chocolate cupcakes from Love Café (pictured) 5. Green tea ice cream from Mai Thai A big thanks to all who have sent in fabulous lists of Five Bites so far! Five Bites is a weekly opportunity for you to tell Metrocurean readers which dishes you're enjoying around town. Send your list and whether you'd like your name and a pic included to metrocurean@gmail.com. (Photo from cakelove.com .)

According to The Washington Post 's Reliable Source , the owners of the Inn at Little Washington agreed on a settlement Friday in the dissolution of their partnership. Patrick O'Connell bought out former partner Reinhardt Lynch and "is now sole owner of the inn, the company and all of the jointly owned properties, which means he basically owns the entire Virginia town," the Reliable Source reported Sunday. And that means the Inn isn't going anywhere. O'Connell told the Reliable Source that the deal will allow him to continue at the helm of the restaurant "without any alteration or change in its essential character." In case you missed the drama that became public this summer, O'Connell, who heads the prestigious kitchen, sought to fire Lynch and take over the two corporations they owned together. Get all the background here .

Vanessa Ugo, regional director of Snow Queen Vodka, offers this week's Five Bites: 1. Carpaccio di manzo con ruchetta e scaglie di parmigiano reggiano (beef tenderloin carpaccio, with arugula in lemon vinaigrette, topped with parmigiano reggiano) at Café Milano 2. Island Creek and Kusshi oysters at Old Ebbitt Grill 3. Seared foie gras with lychee and veal jus at OYA 4. Grilled chicken cobb salad at Poste Brasserie 5. Lamb roganjash and the black cod at Rasika "... all with a Snow Queen martini, of course!" adds Ugo. Five Bites is a weekly opportunity for you to tell Metrocurean readers which dishes you're enjoying around town. E-mail five of your favorite dishes or drinks and whether you'd like your name and a picture included to metrocurean@gmail.com.

Animal lovers, mark your calendars. Next Tuesday, Jan. 23, is the 5th annual Sugar and Champagne Affair, an event created by Todd and Ellen Gray of Equinox to benefit the Washington Humane Society's Law Enforcement and Humane Education Programs. Animal lovers and the dogs who love them will gather at the Hotel Palomar from 7 to 9 p.m. The humans will be treated to sparkling wines, champagne and desserts from the area’s top pastry chefs. Canines will feast on people-looking treats like carob cake and iced biscuits from Doggie Style Bakery . The event honors the city's animal cops who fight animal abuse, a heart-wrenching and honorable job. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased by calling 202.723.5730 ext. 204. A VIP reception will be held in one of Hotel Palomar’s suites with canapés prepared by Todd Gray and Chef Richard Brandenburg of Urbana . The cost is $200 and includes admission to the event. Need dinner before dessert? Urbana is also offering a two-course di...

Restaurant Week officially ended Sunday (so how was it for you?), but there's plenty of time to get your cheap eat on, thanks to a slew of extensions. Leading the pack, Urbana is extending its $30.07 three-course dinner menu through March 31. Others include: Butterfield 9 through Jan. 21 (lunch and dinner) Cabanas through Jan. 21 (lunch and dinner) Colvin Run Tavern through Jan. 31 (lunch and dinner) Dino through Jan 31 (dinner) IndeBleu through Jan. 17 (dinner) and Jan. 19 (lunch) Nick's Riverside Grille through Jan. 21 (lunch and dinner) OYA through Jan. 31 (lunch and dinner) PS 7's through Jan. 31 (lunch and dinner) Know of others? (The GOG Blog has a few more .) Post them in the comment section.

Metrocurean reader Michael Steel sends in this week's Five Bites: 1. Bone marrow appetizer at Blue Duck Tavern (at right) 2. Cajun fries from Five Guys 3. Chicken liver pâté on toasted bread at BLT Steak 4. Brown stew chicken at The Islander 5. Quattro formaggi pizza at Pizzeria Paradiso (Photo by Len DePas for Blue Duck Tavern.) Five Bites is a weekly opportunity for you to tell Metrocurean readers which dishes you're enjoying around town. E-mail five of your favorite dishes or drinks and whether you'd like your name and a picture included to metrocurean@gmail.com.

I may be coming to the conversation a little late, but I just learned that CakeLove and Busboys and Poets are both slated to open in the Village at Shirlington. CakeLove owner Warren Brown says on his blog that the new location "will be kind of a cross between CakeLove on U St. and Love Cafe. It' about 1,200 square feet which is big enough for a few tables and chairs along with all of our baking equipment. The menu will consist of the whole cakes for pick-up and walk-ins, slices of cakes, cupcakes + our cake-like pastries, coffee and espresso, and a limited selection of sandwiches and salads." And there's big news from Brown for the cold cake critics out there (and you know who you are): "[I]f anyone wants a cupcake with the frosting soft and right out of the mixer, we'll have that too. We're toying with the idea of frosting all the cupcakes per order—just like ice cream is served—so the cake is handed over when it's creamy and fluffy." The...

Loosen your belts, folks. 2007 is shaping up to be a big year for restaurant openings. To start are several spots that just opened, including Axis Bar and Grill on U Street and Hamilton's Bar and Grill on Capitol Hill. Washingtonpost.com's Fritz Hahn has the skinny on both Axis and Hamilton's . Quietly replacing Best Hunan , Banana Leaves (2020 Florida Ave. NW) serves a variety of Asian food and sushi in a black and red dining room. Meanwhile, chef Michel Richard's highly anticipated restaurant Central (1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) opens its doors this week. Metrocurean got a sneak peek this weekend, and the French chef's fried chicken was finger lickin' good (er, would've been had I not been eating with fork and knife). Here's a look at some of the restaurants and bars planned for 2007, listed by neighborhood: Adams Morgan Casa Oaxaca 2106 18th St. NW The owners of Arlington's Guajillo are expected to open this tribute to Oaxacan cooking in Feb...

Rolling us into the New Year of Five Bites is Metrocurean reader Scott Sabiston, who offers this week's list, in no particular order and with comments: 1. The bone marrow appetizer from Montsouris (Veronique, the owner, is SO sweet!) 2. The mussels in white wine and chorizo from Café Saint-Ex (Perfect with a Stella or Chimay.) 3. A Nutella and banana crepe from Café L'Enfant 4. Dessert wine at Buck's Fishing and Camping (the Sulin Casorzo; it's perfect with the ice box cake!) 5. Eggplant salad at Skewers (At only $5, it's the best kept secret in DC.) Five Bites is a weekly opportunity for you to tell Metrocurean readers which dishes you're enjoying around town. E-mail five of your favorite dishes or drinks and whether you'd like your name and a pic included to metrocurean@gmail.com.

Just a quick note to point out a change in the sidebar to the right. Many of you come to Metrocurean seeking restaurant recommendations, and the site isn't really set up to deliver a quick hit list. You'll now find what I think are the best guides for figuring out where to eat in our fair city at the top of the heap of links. I hope you'll find them as useful as I do. Also stay tuned for a list of my own restaurant recommendations that will also live in the sidebar for easy reference.

The Dupont Current is reporting that high rent may force the 40-year-old Childe Harold Restaurant and Saloon to move to a new location. The article quotes owner Hossein Shirvani as saying that the rent and property taxes for the four-level space at 1610 20th St. NW. have gotten too high. But fans of the old saloon shouldn't panic yet. The story also quotes Shirvani as saying, "The Childe Harold will stay in the area." He told The Current that he is considering several spaces nearby, including the building he owns next door at 1608 20th St. NW.

To kick off 2007 with plenty of good luck and fortune, the family cooked the traditional Southern New Year's Day meal, including hoppin' John with fresh black-eyed peas, collards (both pictured below) and cornbread. For a new addition to the repertoire, my dad fried leek rings (pictured above). A sort of take on onion rings — but oh so much better — the leeks were thickly sliced with the centers poked out, dipped in seasoned flour, then buttermilk and egg, and back in the flour before a dunk in hot oil. Fried basil topped it off. Perfectly sized for one bite, the leeks were soft inside with none of the annoying stringiness of onion rings. It's a recipe I'm adding to the "rave reviews" file. Hoppin' John for luck Collard greens for fortune