Michel Richard Citronelle – Washington, DC

Until today, if I had to choose one culinary hero it would be Michel Richard,  I own ‘Happy In the Kitchen.’  I keep up with his new restaurant adventures.  We’ve made a reservation twice before here, and have had to cancel due to something else coming up.  Three months ago I made this reservation for our anniversary dinner of 15 years, and I knew it would either be ‘three time’s a charm’ or ‘three strikes you’re out.’  Great, we made it to today and nothing has gotten in our way yet.  We had plans to drop off Syd at her grandparents’ place on the way in to Georgetown.  The fates were clearly still conspiring against us because we suddenly got a flat tire on the highway not 10 minutes from dropping off Syd.  But we were still early and had time!  SQ miraculously swapped the tire out without so much as a smudge on his dress shirt, and Peepaw came out to meet us and took Syd with him.  The traffic in Georgetown was slow and cumbersome, as every Saturday night is, but we made it right on time.  I took my cookbook, hoping for the best…even though I felt like a ridiculous groupie carrying this giant book into a very upscale restaurant.  I asked if Chef Richard was in, but got a different answer from everyone, which was incredibly irritating.  The staff at the front were very nice, but overall the atmosphere is very stuffy.  We were prepared for expensive, but I still had a little sticker shock from the menu.  Tonight would be a la carte…the tasting menu was off limits for our budget.