DC Metro food holiday

I'm still in Maryland after about two weeks on vacation at my parents' house. I have eaten twice my weight in all kinds of food. The most noteworthy place I've eatren was at The Birch & Barley/Churchkey in DC on 14th Street (Logan Circle). This apparently just opened and is hard to get into and my friends that took me had made previous attempts. The hostess told us it would be an hour and a half so we scooted up to the bar (Churchkey) and got some cask beers. The Cheesecake Factory-style pager went off after about 10 minutes and we got primo seating at the chef's counter. I had an appetizer of tagliatelle with rabbit and an entree of skate. The rabbit was extremely tender and well-seasoned. The skate was actually a little on the salty side for me. Dessert was an apple-filled beignet and multiple sorbets. We also had beer for dessert, of course. Recommended but I wouldn't actually wait an hour and a half for this place. There was a nightclub-style line out the door when we left.

The best meal I've had so far, actually, was at Michael's Noodles in Rockville, about 5 miles from Rockville Pike. This is Taiwanese style food and it is well done. Highly highly recommended. And cheap, which is always good and recommended. If you're ever in the area. We had the tea-smoked duck (crispy and not too greasy served with bao-style buns), salt and hot chili pork chops (this would make me give up fried chicken), and spicy beef noodles (Taiwanese-style pho). Their dumplings are also freshly made and fantastic.

If you are ever in Rockville, please visit Maxim Supermarket (I think it's also called Maxim's Gourmet Oriental Store, or something lame). It used to be really grimy, as all Asian supermarkets traditionally have been. Lately, it's gotten some stiff competition from another Chinese supermarket behind it. They've cleaned up their act big time. There is a cafeteria-style hot bar that does roast duck, crispy pork belly (which they've been doing way before the current pork belly craze), and all kinds of familiar hot Cantonese-style dishes. I always crave the Cantonese goodies that I grew up with - like black bean hopia and rice cakes (I couldn't spell the Cantonese pronunciation of what it is if I tried). I've looked all over Atlanta and the 'burbs and have not found these particular items or other Cantonese delights that I crave every so often. Maxim is close to my parents' place, once again, and almost makes me wanna move back (not really).

More later as I have to leave for my umpteenth dinner out with family...