Next Sunday's review: Brasserie 10 South
I just put Gailor on the plane back to Illinois. Sad. She borrowed a hammer from her dad and took it with her in her carryon luggage. I mean, really. She can't take 3.5 ounces of eye makeup remover with her, but she can take a hammer.
Anyway, it was chance that I turned in my review of Brasserie 10 South about the time we had one of our most interesting series of comments in recent memory -- about that very restaurant. ...
I'm worried that as a result of that discussion some of my review will be inoperative -- for instance, I mention that there were no other customers in the restaurant that evening, and I complain about the misspellings on the menu.
But my basic thesis will still be true: This is a very difficult location for any restaurant. It's across the street from the now-closed Red Tapas, where Jerry Edwards was the chef. Same kind of restaurant, and look what happened to it.
In any case, I sincerely hope I'm wrong, because I had a good meal there.
You can read my review next Sunday in the Arts & Entertainment section or, of course, online.
(Jed Kirschbaum/Sun photographer)
Comments
I'm looking forward to reading your review!
Posted by: Michael Karelis | February 22, 2009 8:18 PM
I'm mildly surprised that a hammer is allowed in carry-on luggage. Spare guitar strings are considered a weapon.
I guess they didn't ask, and she didn't tell. EL
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | February 22, 2009 8:52 PM
The ultimate rule is that the TSA can allow or disallow anything, as they see fit, with no recourse.
My aunt once got pulled aside because they saw a knife in her purse on the x-ray. It turned out to be a butter knife that her son had taken to boarding school accidentally, and had given back to her.
Since this was pre-9-11, they let her take her butter knife home.
Posted by: Lissa | February 22, 2009 9:09 PM
Gailor is lucky she didn't get pulled aside.
I look at TSA's list now and again and their prohibited and permitted list lists hammers as allowed in checked baggage only.
Posted by: PCB Rob | February 23, 2009 8:32 AM
I have found that being right up front with them helps. If they feel like you're trying to slide by, you're more likely to have your whatever confiscated.
I have two mechanical banks that are in the shape of rocket ships... tubes with fins and pointy noses that I brought back from Oklahoma. I pointed out that they were in my bag and told them what they were ahead of being scanned. They did insist on examining them, but appreciated my letting them know before they scanned them.
Posted by: Jon Parker | February 23, 2009 9:30 AM
My sister has gotten through with a corkscrew since 9/11. One of those rabbit things she was bringing to help my mom host a large party where more than one corkscrew would be handy. She says she flirted with the TSA man and flashed a little cleavage and he let her through. Scary!
Posted by: KristinB | February 23, 2009 10:18 AM
Really, the TSA is a bit of a joke. On my last flight in December I forgot to take a canister of pepper spray out of my purse, and even I didn't realize I still had it until I returned home -- so it got through security twice. Can you even imagine if that exploded accidentally?
Posted by: charmcitygal | February 23, 2009 12:28 PM
charmcitygal,
I travel a lot (mostly to and from Charm City) and the level of scrutiny TSA has at different airports is laughable. I use three different airports down here to take advantage of lower airfares.
I read an article in The Atlantic not too long ago about how one of their writers got all kinds of "prohibited" stuff through security.
I have a belt that sets the security thing off only at BWI, and only sometimes. Its not a real big buckle or anything. Go figure.
TSA itself admits that much of this is to promote the traveler's feeling of security.
Posted by: PCB Rob | February 23, 2009 6:23 PM
Security theatre. That's all the TSA is. If you don't stop them well before they get to the airport, you aren't going to stop them.
Posted by: Lissa | February 23, 2009 6:58 PM
I want to know who is screening the birds.
Posted by: Dahlink | February 23, 2009 7:52 PM
Hitchcock screens the birds, Dahlink.
Posted by: Lissa | February 23, 2009 8:09 PM
Dahlink, do you mean on here on in the air?
Posted by: Bucky | February 23, 2009 9:08 PM
I'm going to be mighty interested to read this review! My wife and I work around the corner on Redwood Street and walk by this place all the time. We've been wondering what it's like but for some reason the facade seems somewhat intimidating and the whole "upscale lounge" thing gives us the heebie-jeebies. After all, if you have to SAY you're "upscale," you're probably not!
That being said, it is a terrible location for a restaurant. Right on Calvert street in the banking district with no obvious parking and perpetual roadwork in front of it. It's in one of those places where nobody's ever going to walk by at night (unless they plan a swingin' night of shopping at the Gallery followed by a couple of lap dances on the Block) and is surrounded by a bunch of decrepit looking buildings and an insurance company that looks like it's stuck in a 1962 time warp.
I have a feeling that they may have chosen the location because of Palma (super cheeze-ball meganightclub in the Trust building) across the street and the potential for pre/post-clubbing business. However, based on the Fast-And-The-Furious/Night At The Roxbury types who go to that club, they'd be better off not serving them!
I hope that you have nice things to say about them, EL...and they're open for lunch. Those of us who toil away in that part of town are DESPERATE for some lunch alternatives (other than weigh-and-pay buffets or subs).
Excellent points. Many of which I make in my review. I'm afraid you've scooped me. :-) EL
Posted by: Scarton | February 24, 2009 6:58 AM
Those of us who toil away in that part of town are DESPERATE for some lunch alternatives
Apparently not THAT DESPERATE if you haven't even tried it. Free your mind and your stomach will follow.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy II – I Walk On Gilded Splinters | February 24, 2009 8:20 AM