342409 Mon Nov 13 20:10:38 -0800 2006 5 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 2018007 After reading all the raves about Ras Doobie. Me and the Mrs. decided to pay him a visit on Saturday. The raves do not do this man justice. Coming from New York, I've been missing Jamaican fare. Just how much, I didn't realize until I tasted Ras's delicious food. Saturday was a buffet which was all right by me. I've got to sample the whole spectrum of cuisine. Francis the hostess/waitress was my guide and what a doll she is. She made so comfortable that kept thinking I was eating in my friend's mom's kitchen. The rice and peas were the perfect consistency. Both the curried goat and chicken were well seasoned and fall off the bone delicious. The jerk chicken is the best I ever had. The cabbage with salt cod was out of this world--I had no idea the pairing of the 2 was legal. Francis came out and gave us some coco bread to eat with the meal which was also the best I ever had. Francis finding out we were first timers had Ras bring out a huge plate of oxtails. OXTAILs folks! One of my absolute favorite dishes in the world elevated to high art by Ras Doobie. Stuffed, but still moving forward. I ordered a bottle of Ting (a balanced tasting grapefruit soda) and homemade sorrel (a Jamaican iced tea made from red hibiscus) to help wash some of the food down. We had to try his deserts. Francis brought out Jack Fruit ice cream and some rum-raisin--both were artisanal. Full-on creamy flavor where you can really taste the dairy as if the cows were grass fed instead of just getting a creamy texture. My wife couldn't get enough of the jack fruit ice cream. She said the jack fruit used tasted fresh like the ones she used to harvest from the trees from her grandma's backyard in Brazil. Francis also brought me out a coconut cream pie which I could not even begin to eat so she kindly offered to wrap up it up to go. All in all a wonderful, caring palate pleasing experience. We departed with a warm hug from Francis and a loving handshake from the legendary Ras Doobie. This is what eating is about. This is what being a chowhound is about. This is why I come to this site. Thanks to all the hounds who recommended Ras Doobie's de Chef Catering and Cafe, especially Brother Ken. If you haven't tried it yet, put it on your to do list. I'm sorry I waited so long. One love. Ras Doobie de Chef Catering and Cafe 213 Penn St. Baltimore, MD 21230 410-752-3896 Call for hours Mon Nov 13 20:10:38 -0800 2006 17880 daeglo 1 2019030 Thanks for providing all this info. I've been meaning to get there on Warthog's repeated recommendations, but now I'm going to have to make a special trip. Tue Nov 14 00:40:11 -0800 2006 2018007 12317 Lowbar 2 2019970 i have been living in their neighborhood for several years and long enjoying this hidden gem...i'm glad to see them finally getting some recognition... Tue Nov 14 10:51:26 -0800 2006 2019030 14689 amykramy 1 2021516 I'm glad you enjoyed it, Daeglo! As with any food, it's up to individual tastes - what's "just right" for one, may be "a bit off the mark" for another. I love Doobie's cooking, but others on Chowhound have disagreed, or been less impressed than I am. To each his own. For me, though, it's not just the food. When I'm at Doobie's, other patrons end up being "friends I hadn't met yet" in a way that doesn't happen often anyplace, let alone at a restaurant. At other places, I'd feel weird talking to people at other tables, and I'd be surprised if they started a conversation with me. At Doobie's, though, it's like being at a family reunion, and meeting relatives that you'd heard about but never seen before. It's like you're all family, and you just didn't know it. And lastly, I simply like Doobie himself. He is one of the most kindly and pleasant souls I've ever met. If he's got a bad side, I've not yet seen it. There a lot of chefs who cook fabulous food, but who may have somewhat prickly personalities. I'm sure we've all met or heard about such persons. In Doobie's case, even if the man couldn't cook worth a darn, he's still been such a gentle and humble person in all my time spent in his company that I'd do what I could to see him succeed at whatever labor he set himself to. I just flat out like the guy, and I want to see him make a decent living for himself doing what he loves. When you think about it, some restaurants get one thing right, whether it's the food, the atmosphere, or having nice people running it. If you're lucky, a place gets two of the three right. When you find a place that "clicks" for you, and they get all three right, you cherish it, and spread the word, but always realizing what scores "three for three" for me or you may not do it for somebody else, and that's OK. If anybody wants to share what *their* favorite "three for three" place is, let's hear it - either on this thread or starting another one. Tue Nov 14 21:02:17 -0800 2006 2018007 11647 Warthog 1 2026288 ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME? Chef Ras Doobie is RID-IC-U-LOUS! His oxtail is a dream plate of food. If served at Charleston, Gourmet Magazine would be taking pictures of this stuff. On the side I ordered sliced roasted yam with orange marmalade on top - called Orange Chips on the menu, and Revolution Cole Slaw - varied shredded veggies that needed some of the Sweet Revenge hot sauce sitting on the table. This was a gorgeous mess of food. Coming from DC, I can tell you there is no place like it where I live. To get food this good, you normally have to go to a dive, but Chef Ras Doobie has a real nice place here - small, funky, but no grunge. Would make for a good first date. Or take the family. Also, I mentioned afterward that 'Ken sent me.' He said 'ah, ya mean Tall Ken?' Having no idea of Ken's stature, I was non-committal. If what I had is indicative of the rest of his food, I'd put this in my top five in the Washington area. Thu Nov 16 12:58:49 -0800 2006 2018007 10156 Steve 1 2032226 Warthog, you're the man. I've always taken your reviews with the utmost consideration and respect. You nailed it on the head. When I ate at Ras Doobie's, it like like I was eating at a friends house--a marvelous friend who's a master chef mind you. May we break bread together in the near future. Sat Nov 18 15:01:19 -0800 2006 2018007 17880 daeglo