Dine in Style: Annapolis Haunt Worth the Trip

Thank you, Grandpop and Granny.

You made this report possible.

A little off topic, but I just have to share a fabulous place discovered this weekend.

The Bean went down to bed Saturday night, then the grownups ate dinner, then DC Celine & H went out for a little Grownup Time.

After a first attempt at a drink at Metropolitan (we should've known, when we called information to get the exact address and all they could find was "Jerry's Seafood at the Metropolitan"), we moved on. It was unfortunate. Very cool space, Miami/South Beach vibe, laid back music, and...pleather menus with gold-type lettering. Totally out of whack.

As it turns out, the original Metropolitan,* which was a modern American restaurant with dishes like Moroccan-spiced monkfish and crab-ricotta ravioli, is no more. Apparently Annapolitans weren't ready for its pricey menu. To quote the bartender, "Let me jump out of my BMW, grab a steak, and the cheapest Bud Light I can." It was bought out by Jerry's Seafood, and renamed "Jerry's Seafood at the Metropolitan." Hence the crab bomb on the menu.

But West Street has so much more to offer.

For example, The Purple Tooth.

Fan-tas-tic wine bar.

The real deal.

Unpredictable choices, quality beers for those non-wine drinkers, 3- and 5-cheese plates (with the option of charcuterie), olives, and truffles. That's it. Simple, unadorned, and absoutely worth the trip to Annapolis. With a couple of friends, you could easily while away an evening over cheese and wine...the way it's supposed to be.

H and I shared the 3-cheese plate with a Dutch-parmesean-like hard cheese, a vegetable-ashed goat, and an English stilton. Mmmmm. Honey, freshest bread, salted, oiled almonds (I couldn't keep my hands off them), and dates finshed out the plate. It all went beautifully with my Hoepler Pinot Blanc and H's tawny port. And the truffles just finished it off...

We had the chance to talk with one of the owners - they're both working the room along with their staff - she's in love with Austrian wines, which wins my heart (I spent a year there as an exchange student, learning to love the Gruener Veltliner and Blaufraenkisch). They have a smart place...we spent the evening trying to figure out how to do the same thing in DC.

In a word - go.

*Don't be fooled by the menu on the website - the old site is still up.

World's Greatest Concentration of Chinos

The Bean and I are taking a weekend jaunt to the Annapolis area (Grandpop and Granny live out this way). So we took an afternoon trip into downtown Annapolis.

I have never, ever, ever seen a greater concentration of chinos, madras, and preppy animal pants than at the Annapolis sailbot show (I'm sure it has some big official name, but I wasn't paying attention).

I suppose it's the appropriate thing to wear when on a sailboat. Especially a really, big, gorgeously outfitted one with fine wood trim and navy accents (a girl can dream, can't she?).

But seriously. Do we all have to wear the exact. same. thing?

I suppose it wears well with the wind- and sunburned faces, too.

But really.

Pick something else. Aren't sailors supposed to wear white? Nary a white linen or cotton trouser was to be seen. Just khaki, chinos, preppy animals, and madras. And more polo shirts than you can shake a stick at.

And this with all of the little hidden boutiques in Annapolis. C'mon ladies. If you're not actually sailing the boat, wear something else!

*Super preppy pants photos courtesy J. Crew.