August 17, 2007
The Weekly Feed: You're at Happy Hour Already Edition
Matchbox Coming to the Hill
As if we needed any more proof that Barracks Row is flexing its muscle in bringing business to the Hill. But, we have it anyway. Last week's TomChat gave us the news that Matchbox, the over-popular Gallery Place pizza and mini-burger heaven, has signed a lease for a second location along Barracks Row—521 8th Street SE to be precise. According to Tom, the owner expects the new place to open in the next 9 or 10 months (under optimal conditions). With Jordans 8 (not related to Michael Jordan's steakhouse; Jordans 8 is owned by the same folks as Tapatinis), a new Italian/Mediterranean place going into the old Ellington's on 8th space, and Locanda joining Row venerables like Belga, Starfish, and Las Placitas; Barracks Row and Eastern Market are really coming into their own as a dining destination.
As far as Matchbox, we're looking forward to some good miniburgers (step it up, Ugly Mug), wood fired pizza, and hopefully a shorter wait. Guess we shouldn't count on that last one, though, right? We'll just go ahead and send someone down to get in line now for a table on Friday, June 27, 2008.
Ceviche Holding Benefit for Peru Quake
We're constantly amazed by the quick response of Washington's restaurant community when people need help. The latest example is Ceviche, which will be donating five percent of its sales at both of its locations (Silver Spring and Glover Park) to relief efforts for victims of the 8.0 magnitude earthquake in Peru. Ceviche's Executive Chef Javier Angeles-Beron was born in Peru, and he has pledged to help his countrymen rebuild. According to latest reports, more than 500 people have perished because of the quake, and tens of thousands have been displaced. The city of Pisco is more than 70% destroyed, according to Peruvian officials.
Both restaurants will also provide donation boxes from the Peruvian Embassy for those interested in dropping off a check. You can also find information about other relief efforts on the Embassy's website.
Photo of Dolcezza's gelato from Samer Farha.
Dr. Granville's Moore's is the Next Plastics
O.K., we've mentioned that the chef at Dr. Moore's is from the The French Laundry (the French Laundry, for God's sake), and now we learn that the beer guy is from Schneider's of Capitol Hill. It's like a perfect storm of eating and drinking. Why aren't you there right now?
It Would Be So Awesome if they Ran on Fry Grease
Washington Biz Journal has an interesting item today about Elevation Burger's owner, Hans Hess, starting his own taxi company with an all-hybrid fleet. Hess aims to operate a "carbon-negative" enterprise, planning to do so by buying carbon offsets from carbonfund.org in Silver Spring. Speaking personally, I think carbon offsets are kind of cheating, but I guess it's better than nothing. And here you thought you couldn't get a more liberal burger than at Busboys and Poets.
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This should spell the end of the Pinnacle of Crappiness that is Ugly Mug. I tried so hard to support his restaurant, but the stunningly bad service was just too much to overcome. The place is filthy half the time, the wait staff is undertrained and unenthusiastic at best (and often there's one waitress for the entire place), and more than once I've seen stunning rudeness from the bar staff.
If Matchbox puts them out of business I'm all for it.
Fugly Mug is a case study in how to chase customers away. Because of the steady lunch crowd from the Navy Yard and the barracks, they really don't have to do much beyond open the door and take their money. And WTF is up with a half-pound of calamari drowing in THREE pounds of revolting sauce?
And unless I'm mistaken, Ugly Mug and Matchbox are under the same management.
Ugly Mug is under different management, but its original chef was Graig Glufling, who came from Matchbox and brought a few Matchbox staples with him but left a few years ago. Ugly Mug never measured up to Matchbox in quality, service or ambience (the slummin' motiff never worked). It's a dive, but not in a good sense.
Hi,
I work for Carbonfund.org. We help individuals and businesses to, "reduce what you can, offset what they (you) can’t™".
Hans Hess' EnviroCABs will use all hybrid vehicles. He then approached us to help him offset EnviroCAB's entire carbon footprint. In this case, Hess was not content with reducing his carbon footprint, he wanted to go completely carbon neutral.
This would be a good article to read for Carbon Offset skeptics: http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=241. Moreover, there are greater pushes to streamline the regulation of carbon offsets.
Best wishes,
Erika Leung
eleung@carbonfund.org
Hi,
I work for DCNightlifeRaw.com. We help indivduals and businesses in DC "reduce their work time, and offset productivity" by offering reading material with the correct use of the pronouns they're, their and there.
Best wishes,
DCNightLifeRaw