Best of the lot was Fat Canary in Williamsburg. Fantastic appetizers and a market based menu, with great prices on the wine list...a Copain Pinot that we bought from the winery for 50 dollars was 63 on the list. Why can't more restaurants take the European approach to wine pricing? Walking out of the restaurant to a healthy debate between three William and Mary students about religion...each standing on a step ladder!
Also in Williamsburg is Le Yaca which is French, but fairly casual with a 37 dollar 4 course tasting menu. Everything was superbly done except for a "sea bass" which did not seem to be of the Mediterranean variety....those that chose beef as their entrees were very pleased.
Finally, C & O was a last minute replacement for Taste of China (Peter Chang snuck out of town yet again the weekend before we were to eat there). It was generally very good. Here's a link to the latest in the Peter Chang saga
and it appears he may be headed back to Atlanta:
or maybe not:
And an April Fool take on Chef Chang:
Speaking of Atlanta, Chef Kevin Gillespie of Top Chef fame is at Woodfire Grill in Atlanta. We had 3 meals there in the late winter and 2 of the 3 put in the top echelon of fine Atlanta dining (though Atlanta has always had a dearth of top end restaurants...the generally accepted number 1 is Bacchanalia, but its always seemed a bit tired to us. The presentation at Woodfire Grill was sub par, but the flavors were excellent except at the third meal when Chef was out of town. I've since heard of another similar experience, so if you go, confirm that Gillespie is actually at the open kitchen.
If you are visiting Chattanooga the next few weeks, Erik Niel of Easy Bistro has Chesapeake soft shells in...he does them 2 different ways, and they are better than the Alinea version we had this time last year.
It appears that you will soon be able to mail order some of Townhouse Chef Karen Urie Shields creations soon. Hope those olive oil cakes & the onion breakfast tart are available, too.
