Girl Meets Food

Last weekend, the soft opening of the newest location of Matchbox in Rockville, Maryland boasted an hour-long wait for over 500 guests eager for a slice of this vintage pizza bistro.

Tonight, I attended the media tasting to see what guests were so hungry for.

The largest Matchbox yet, the cavernous restaurant seats up to 400 people, with two outdoor patios and fire pits, as well as a labyrinth of smaller rooms and bars.

There’s a pizza bar where you can sit and pick your own toppings before it’s flung into one of two brick ovens.  (At 800 fiery degrees,  you don’t want to sit too close.)  The upside of these hand-built infernos is that your pizza comes out sizzling hot, bubbly and crisp, right before your eyes. more after the jump »

There is nothing better than hosting a clambake, steaming up fresh Maine lobsters, or preparing tuna sashimi at home.  i love blue sea sells unadulterated, sustainable seafood that is caught in environmentally-friendly ways.

It’s been featured in The New York Times, TLC, NPR, The Huffington Post, and Mother Jones.

Mark Bittman likes i love blue sea because it’s convenient to order seafood online that’s reasonably priced and environmentally responsible.

See the complete list of sushi-quality fresh seafood products here.

If you like oysters, you can buy oysters like Kumamotos.  They’re rich, smooth, buttery, with a sweet, flavor that’s not very salty. They’re perfect for those who have never tried oysters before, and for those who have.

If you like tuna, try albacore—light in color with a creamy, buttery taste; skipjack is dark, firm and flavorful.  i love blue sea doesn’t offer bluefin tuna due to environmental and health concerns.

If you don’t like seafood, try something simple, like shrimp, albacore, or steelhead trout.  i love blue sea delivers anywhere in the U.S. overnight, in eco-friendly packaging materials. Gift certificates make the perfect gift for the holidays and year-round.

i love blue sea
Based in San Francisco, CA
415.300.0940
Follow them on Facebook or Twitter

New Year's Eve Ball, 1978. | Photo: The New York Times

It’s time to pop the bubbly!  Let’s say goodbye to 2010 and helloooo to a bright new year.

You’ve saved the best night for last, so look sharp, put on your dancing shoes, and come hungry.

Poste Moderne Brasserie is offering 20 Bites for everyone, Firefly has a boozy brunch, Jackson 20 goes back to the Roaring ’20′s, Cuba Libre spins salsa and meringue, and there’s lots more.  Restaurants are listed alphabetically.  Tips to ensure a smooth New Year’s:

• Call ahead to confirm address, service times, menus, and availability.
• Ask if a reservation is required.  Some restaurants need a credit card to hold a reservation.
• Prices quoted below are per person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity, unless noted.
• Prices are subject to change without notice. more after the jump »