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The cafeteria in the Museum of the American Indian is great. Lots of variety, organized by region and a variety of price scales. My favorite place in all of DC

Plantation Gardens! Very romantic...my boyfriend and I went there about two years ago and we still talk about it.

I use wordpress for a work blog and blogger for my personal blog. I think blogger is easier for simple posts. But I think after a few months you'll find you want to expand...then I think wordpress might be better, especially when it comes to adding pictures.Though it does cost to stream audio and video in wordpress, I found it easier than in blogger. In short, wordpress might require more time in the beginning, but it's probably a worthwhile investment.

why not try chatting up some of the folks who work at your favorite restaurants...I'm not saying you should invite them over, but maybe getting to know them will lead to friendships with people who appreciate food as much as you do.
And I bet you have some friends who are passionate about some foods...like cakes or cookies or sushi...why not see if you can interest them in making the best (insert their favorite food here) and go from there?
Good luck.

Thanks for the tips!

I went out for lunch and let the phyllo defrost while I was gone...much easier to manipulate and I just saturated the rips with olive oil--thanks marinelm. I'm making spinach pie from the tapas menu in last month's Everyday Food. The eggplant dip is super easy...I'll let you know how the spinach pie turns out!

How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

Cakespy--if we were to hold an epic dessert battle, what would be the criteria? I'm thinking: Flavor, Aesthetics, Portability, Value, and maybe Nostalgia?

Thanks all. Glad I'm not the only one who found the use of "speck" a bit odd. I'm using the recipe that came with the popover pan I bought at the Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park. The first batch didn't turn out so well. The recipe says to increase the temperature from 350 to 425 after 15 minutes and do so without opening the door. This made me think popovers are very sensitive and I screwed something up. I posted pics at www.fiftycenthotdog.com.

Betteirene I'll give your recipe a try too.

L'Osteria del Forno is the best Italian food in North Beach. Expect to wait though. The Nob Hill Cafe always delivers a good meal and is along a cable car line. Head out to the Richmond for dim sum and sushi. If you're here on a Thursday or Saturday, hit up Mission Street Food. If you like street food, head to the Mission at night. Generally speaking, avoid restuarants at Fisherman's Wharf. All overpriced and not the city's best food.