Radiation starts in a few days, so the Plate List Tour is on hold until I see how the lasers affect my digestion.

In the meantime, you are cordially invited to share in the Tour's previous outing: Fiola. This contemporary Italian establishment offers à la carte courses and a tasting menu prepared by Chef Fabio Trabocchi. Most of us opted for the tasting menu, but with one crucial exception…

There's a perfectly good school in Russia's capital for English-speaking children of diplomats: The Anglo-American School of Moscow. And it's probably the right establishment for most Foreign Service (FS) families, who move from post to post every few years.

I've been solving crosswords for, oh, decades now. I even have a vivid memory of my parents bringing home the inaugural issue of Games magazine back in the fall of 1977. So I've gotten pretty good at both American and English (or “cryptic”) crosswords. But I've never competed in a crossword tournament… until last weekend.

Two days ago, the Plate List Tour was scheduled to visit Rasika, DC's temple of fine Indian cuisine. Did we partake of pleasing portions of paneer? Taste tangy tidbits of tandoor? Nibble on nourishing nuggets of naan?

We did not. I ate a simple dinner at home that night. And it was delicious.

Hard to believe, but apparently that restaurant is Komi. So no video or slideshow this time around. I can post the menu, although (as with Minibar) the all-too-brief course descriptions don't do the dishes justice: