But Rafidi still sees room for improvement
he closed Albi for a couple weeks—it reopens today with an elevated look and slightly expanded menu
Rafidi is also leaning into his heritage and now branding the restaurant more specifically as Palestinian rather than Levantine
It was meant to be the food of my youth and the food I grew up eating,” says Rafidi
“Calling it a Middle Eastern restaurant
Levantine restaurant just didn’t feel right.”
The revised a la carte menu includes more of Rafidi’s takes on the traditional Palestinian dishes he grew up eating
which translates to “upside-down” in Arabic
is a crisp-topped rice dish typically made with chicken and vegetables
Rafidi’s version embraces the Mid-Atlantic with Maryland crab and “every spring vegetable you could think of,” he says
Another dish called bazella is traditionally a pea stew that you eat over rice
Albi will serve a classic version of the stew alongside a smoked bone-in beef rib with tomato
and English peas—plus Rafidi’s grandma’s rice
tiny rabbit dumplings baked in the wood-fired oven with a yogurt sauce
then topped with spring onion and chili crisp
Rafidi is looking to personalize the five-course (plus snacks) “sofra” menu—it’s now $165
the kitchen will customize the experience based on what guests want and what seasonal specialty ingredients are on hand
That means two tables right next to each other might end up with different meals on the same night
“The sofra is really welcoming someone to your house
and we’re just cooking for you,” Rafidi says
“Every sofra is a little bit different
we’ll make sure you have more vegetables in your meal
If you don’t want to eat a single vegetable
we’ll make sure you don’t have any vegetables.”
including a greater focus on the anise-flavored spirit arak
The restaurant will offer arak bottle service with a ceremonial-style tableside presentation
sommelier William Simons says they’re refining and expanding the wine list with a storybook-like menu that delves into indigenous grape varietals or profiles of winemakers
The private dining area, which previously housed Rafidi&#8217;s <a href="https://www.yellowthecafe.com/">Yellow</a> cafe
where guests can grab a drink before dinner or pop in for some light bites
The space features embroidered artwork from Palestinian-American artist Jordan Nassar
The bar room has also been revamped with new custom-tiled tables and a mirrored bar back
and the room has been rearranged so no one has their back to the kitchen hearth
more intimate vibe with yell0w floor-to-ceiling curtains and round white oak and walnut tables
The restaurant has always had an open kitchen
Every barrier between the tables and kitchen has been removed
so everything seamlessly flows together in one room
and tables are individually lit to create &#8220;little intimate islands,&#8221; Simons says
They&#8217;ve also upgraded the sound system and tried to improve the acoustics
so you can both hear the music and have a conversation
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.&#8217;s food and drink scene
she was Food Editor and Young &#038; Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper
She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad
Chef Michael Rafidi’s wood-fired marvel resurfaces in Navy Yard with a fresh new look
Five years in, D.C. chef <a href="https://www.albidc.com/team-1">Michael Rafidi</a> — behind growing Levantine cafe <a href="https://www.yellowthecafe.com/">Yellow</a> and hot new rooftop bar <a href="https://www.lashukran.com/">La’ Shukran</a> — says his most personal project yet is finally what he always envisioned it to be
After a two-week break, Rafidi’s critically acclaimed Navy Yard restaurant <a href="https://www.albidc.com/">Albi</a> reopened on Tuesday
April 1 with various menu and design changes — starting with a relocated entrance
Rafidi puts his Palestinian-American heritage on full display like never before
Albi’s ownership no longer identifies as a Levantine restaurant
Albi — which is Arabic for “my heart” — continues to honor Rafidi’s family roots in Ramallah
and his mid-Atlantic upbringing in Maryland to deliver modern interpretations of Arabic cuisine
One is a la carte and the second is the Sofra menu
It’s here where we see the biggest changes: There is no set menu
Based on an Arabic word meaning “a table set for you,” what used to be a somewhat-improvised chef’s tasting dinner is now a fully spontaneous
Each surprise Sofra course showcases the “best ingredients we have in house” from its farms and fishermen
“It depends on how guests want to eat that night — more meat
more meat; or more small bites and a drinking-and-hangout experience,” says Rafidi
Rafidi says the menu is still “85 percent” of what Albi has always been in terms of the core items and the structure
Returning favorites include wood-fired sfeeha
barbecued lamb kebabs cooked in a separate coal-fired oven
and sourdough pita with potato — a prime vessel for various renditions of hummus
The local crustacean also makes an appearance in a tabouli alongside trout steamed in grape leaves
A refined a la carte menu includes new dishes such as long rib bazella
he’s especially excited to finally introduce Palestine’s national dish — crab rice Maqluba
the baked-to-order classic features “every spring vegetable you can think of,” he says
Right now that includes sprouted cauliflower and smashed green tomatillo
Rafidi continues to collaborate with R&amp;D chef Patrick Pervola and chef de cuisine Samuel DeMoya in the kitchen
bar director Alex Bookless draws on regional influences to whip up a vibrant Nana Moneish made with golden arak
and Jordan is also available by glass or bottle
Director of operations and wine Will Simons continues to spotlight a stellar selection of established and rising producers in Lebanon and Palestine
the list is organized by style rather than geography
he highlights winemakers’ profiles under playful categories named for cultural and musical references (think The Godfather and Freddie Mercury)
And beverage pairings for the Sofra meal also take a tailored approach
Albi tapped Los Angeles–based Klein Agency to reimagine the look and flow of the restaurant
which is where Rafidi’s hit all-day cafe Yellow once sat
and tiled coffee tables pay homage to its coffee
guests encounter a newly expanded bar area full of mirrored backsplashes and tiled high-tops before finally entering the sprawling dining room
where two dedicated “hearth” tables offer a front-row view of the show
 Dinner service runs Tuesday to Sunday from 5 p.m
<a href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7/metrics" data-track="click" data-track-action="view metrics" data-track-label="link" rel="nofollow">Metrics details</a>
The recently developed ALBI-Sarcopenia score has demonstrated effectiveness in predicting mortality in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
emerging as a crucial factor in guiding treatment decisions
To assess the utility of the ALBI-Sarcopenia score in predicting the success of HCC treatment
A prospective study involving 262 liver cirrhosis with HCC patients were assigned to various treatment strategies according to Barcelona clinics of liver disease (BCLC) classification
Patients were followed up for 12 months reporting laboratory data
Sarcopenia was prevalent in 43.1% (48.35% males and 31.25% females
Most patients were HCV-positive (88.9%) and classified as CTP A (55.7%) or BCLC B (54.2%)
TACE was the most administered treatment (41.2% at baseline)
followed by a progressive shift toward best supportive care as disease severity increased
Complete response rates declined from 31.7% at 1 month to 21.4% at 12 months
while progressive disease rates increased from 21.8 to 37.8% over the same period
the ALBI-Sarcopenia score demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy for treatment response (AUC:0.69
Logistic regression identified ALBI-Sarcopenia as a significant independent predictor of response at 1 month (OR:1.25
The ALBI-Sarcopenia score is a robust predictor of treatment outcomes in HCC
offering superior prognostic accuracy compared to traditional scoring systems
and enhancing patient stratification for optimized treatment planning
Identifying patients who are more likely to benefit from specific therapeutic approaches is paramount for optimizing outcomes and resource utilization
we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the prognostic value of the Albi-Sarcopenia Score in diverse treatment settings for HCC
This prospective observational study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the Albi-Sarcopenia Score in determining treatment response among patients diagnosed with HCC
It was conducted at the HCC multidisciplinary clinic
This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the National Liver Institute
Egypt (Approval No.: NLI IRB 00014014/FWA00034015
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to study enrollment
Inclusion criteria were based on well-defined parameters
with all patients having a confirmed diagnosis of cirrhosis-related HCC
classified according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system
Patients without cirrhosis were not included
as cirrhosis is a well-established risk factor for HCC
All HCV-positive patients had undergone antiviral treatment as part of Egypt’s national HCV eradication program
making HCV viremia an irrelevant factor in our cohort
Exclusion criteria included patients with acute illnesses
or conditions that could significantly alter muscle mass and sarcopenia assessment
Patients with incomplete follow-up data or missing key clinical variables were also excluded
Baseline demographic and clinical data were collected for each participant
and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage at the time of HCC diagnosis
The baseline was defined as the first evaluation encounter at our dedicated HCC multidisciplinary clinic
This initial assessment was performed prior to the institution of any new therapeutic interventions
ensuring that the baseline data (including laboratory tests
and prognostic scores) reflected the untreated status of the disease
Patients were enrolled consecutively at this first visit
Sarcopenia was dichotomously categorized as present or absent
with a score of 1 assigned for the presence of sarcopenia and 0 for its absence
The final Albi-Sarcopenia Score was the sum of these two components
MELD = 10 * ((0.957 * ln (Creatinine)) + (0.378 * ln (Bilirubin)) + (1.12 * ln (INR) + 6.43<a data-track="click" data-track-action="reference anchor" data-track-label="link" data-test="citation-ref" aria-label="Reference 10" title="Wiesner, R. et al. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and allocation of donor livers. Gastroenterology 124, 91–96 (2003)." href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7#ref-CR10" id="ref-link-section-d1727046e620">10</a>
MELD-sarcopenia = MELD + (10.35 * Sarcopenia)<a data-track="click" data-track-action="reference anchor" data-track-label="link" data-test="citation-ref" aria-label="Reference 11" title="Montano-Loza, A. J. et al. Inclusion of sarcopenia within MELD (MELD-Sarcopenia) and the prediction of mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Clin. Translational Gastroenterol. 6, e102 (2015)." href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7#ref-CR11" id="ref-link-section-d1727046e627">11</a>
ALBI = − 0.085 × (albumin g/L) + 0.66 × log (bilirubin µmol/L)<a data-track="click" data-track-action="reference anchor" data-track-label="link" data-test="citation-ref" aria-label="Reference 12" title="Johnson, P. J. et al. Assessment of liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a new evidence-based approach-the ALBI grade. J. Clin. Oncol. 33, 550–558 (2015)." href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7#ref-CR12" id="ref-link-section-d1727046e634">12</a>
The newly developed score (Albi-Sarcopenia):
For ALBI = 7 for each unit increase in ALBI
Treatment response was assessed using radiological imaging at predetermined intervals according to the respective treatment modalities
</a>Flowchart of patients enrollment and follow-up
The statistical analysis for this study was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). URL: <a href="https://www.ibm.com/products/spss-statistics">https://www.ibm.com/products/spss-statistics</a>
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient characteristics
The association between the Albi-Sarcopenia Score and treatment response was assessed using logistic regression analysis
All statistical analyses were performed using a predetermined significance level of 0.05
and data were analysed using statistical software (SPSS)
Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential variations in the predictive value of the Albi-Sarcopenia Score across different treatment modalities and disease stages
Complete response (CR) rates declined from 31.7% at 1 month to 21.4% at 12 months, while progressive disease (PD) increased from 21.8 to 37.8%, highlighting the challenge of achieving sustained tumor control. Partial response (PR) was observed in 40.8% at 1 month, declining to 29.2% at 12 months. Stable disease (SD) remained around 37% at 12 months (Table <a data-track="click" data-track-label="link" data-track-action="table anchor" href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7#Tab3">3</a>)
At 1 month, the ALBI-Sarcopenia score had the highest predictive accuracy (AUC: 0.628, P = 0.001), outperforming ALBI (AUC: 0.586, P = 0.033) and MELD (AUC: 0.609, P = 0.006). At 12 months, the ALBI-Sarcopenia score maintained the highest predictive accuracy (AUC: 0.69, P = 0.001), significantly outperforming the MELD score (AUC: 0.623, P = 0.003) (Table <a data-track="click" data-track-label="link" data-track-action="table anchor" href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7#Tab4">4</a>)
Sarcopenic patients were significantly less likely to receive curative treatments compared to non-sarcopenic patients: At baseline
only 24.8% of sarcopenic patients were eligible for curative treatment vs
patients with higher grades of sarcopenia had poorer responses: Complete response (CR) was highest in Grade 1 sarcopenia (67.5%) and lowest in Grade 3 (1.2%)
Progressive disease (PD) was significantly more frequent in Grade 3 sarcopenia (14.1%) compared to Grade 0 (10.6%)
Stable disease (SD) was most common in Grade 1 (46.7%) but least in Grade 3 (13.3%) (P = 0.106)
response patterns continued to diverge based on sarcopenia severity: CR remained highest in Grade 1 sarcopenia (68.1%) and lowest in Grade 3 (1.4%)
PD increased in patients with Grade 2 and 3 sarcopenia (46.6% and 7.8%
Stable disease was more frequently observed in Grade 1 patients (67.4%) compared to Grade 3 (6.2%) (P = 0.11)
the effect of sarcopenia on treatment response became more pronounced: CR was highest in Grade 1 (73.1%) and absent in Grade 3 (0%) (P = 0.210)
PD rates surged in patients with Grade 3 sarcopenia (61.2%)
further highlighting the adverse impact of muscle depletion on treatment efficacy
At 12 months, sarcopenia had a strong impact on treatment outcomes: CR was highest in Grade 1 patients (76.8%) but drastically lower in Grade 3 (1.8%) (P = 0.122). PD remained most common in Grade 2 (60.4%) and Grade 3 (7.5%) patients. Stable disease was significantly higher in Grade 1 (81.7%) compared to Grade 3 (0%) (Table <a data-track="click" data-track-label="link" data-track-action="table anchor" href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7#Tab5">5</a>)
Sarcopenic patients had significantly shorter median survival (10.09 months) compared to non-sarcopenic patients (11.72 months, P = 0.001). The 1-year mortality rate was significantly higher in sarcopenic patients (51.3%) than non-sarcopenic patients (10.1%), P = 0.012 (Table <a data-track="click" data-track-label="link" data-track-action="table anchor" href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7#Tab6">6</a>)
The ALBI-Sarcopenia score had the highest AUC at 1 month (0.628, P = 0.001) and 12 months (0.69, P = 0.001), confirming its superior predictive performance over traditional models. The MELD-Sarcopenia score was also predictive at 1 month (AUC: 0.609, P = 0.006), supporting the integration of sarcopenia into prognostic models (Table <a data-track="click" data-track-label="link" data-track-action="table anchor" href="/articles/s41598-025-97295-7#Tab7">7</a>)
</a>Types of treatment among sarcopenic and non sarcopenic groups
Curative Treatment for HCC: Liver transplantation
Ablation therapies (Radiofrequency ablation
Non-Curative Treatment for HCC: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)
The performance of this new score in predicting treatment responses was analysed in the current study
The inclusion of this subgroup reinforces the critical role of systematic surveillance in facilitating timely and potentially curative interventions
In evaluating the distribution of patients based on treatment responses
it was evident that the majority experienced either complete or partial responses at 1
indicating that most patients were diagnosed with HCC at earlier stages permitting better performance of the different therapeutic strategies
a considerable proportion faced disease progression or stability
indicating the clinical heterogeneity of HCC and the challenges associated with achieving sustained treatment success
In contrast to the accepted role of the MELD score in predicting outcomes for HCC patients
the present study’s findings indicated that the MELD score alone may not be statistically significant in predicting early responses to treatment (at 1 month)
it still holds a predictive value in forecasting outcomes at later stages (12 months)
These results might be explained by the dynamic nature of HCC and Treatment Response
and early changes might not be accurately captured by a single assessment
the type and duration of treatment could impact how well the MELD score predicts outcomes
Some treatments might delay liver function
and the MELD score might not fully capture these changes early during treatment
This was the rationale for endorsing sarcopenia with ALBI in a new score
testing its ability to foretell the outcome of HCC patients
While the study sheds light on the promising predictive capability of the ALBI-Sarcopenia score
there are some limitations to be considered
The relatively small sample size and the single-center nature of the study may impact generalizability
Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger
The ALBI-Sarcopenia score’s enhanced predictive accuracy is crucial for tailoring treatment strategies in HCC patients
this score accounts for a critical aspect of patient health that traditional liver function scores may overlook
This comprehensive approach allows for better stratification of patients
ensuring that those at higher risk of poor outcomes receive more intensive monitoring and tailored therapeutic interventions
“The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request”
Elsabaawy, M. et al. Appraisal of a newly developed ALBI-sarcopenia score as a prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 36(7), 924–928. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/MEG.0000000000002776" data-track="click_references" data-track-action="external reference" data-track-value="external reference" data-track-label="10.1097/MEG.0000000000002776">https://doi.org/10.1097/MEG.0000000000002776</a> (2024)
Cruz-Jentoft, A. J. et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing 48(1), 16–31. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169" data-track="click_references" data-track-action="external reference" data-track-value="external reference" data-track-label="10.1093/ageing/afy169">https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169</a> (2019)
Clinical application of Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) score: the current status
Sarcopenia as a predictor of mortality among the critically ill in an intensive care unit: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Skeletal muscle mass influences tolerability and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with lenvatinib
Evaluation and prediction of treatment response for hepatocellular carcinoma
BCLC strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment recommendation: the 2022 update
Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and allocation of donor livers
Inclusion of sarcopenia within MELD (MELD-Sarcopenia) and the prediction of mortality in patients with cirrhosis
Assessment of liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a new evidence-based approach-the ALBI grade
Makary, M. S., Khandpur, U., Cloyd, J. M., Mumtaz, K. &amp; Dowell, J. D. Locoregional therapy approaches for hepatocellular carcinoma: recent advances and management strategies. Cancers (Basel). 12(7), 1914. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12071914" data-track="click_references" data-track-action="external reference" data-track-value="external reference" data-track-label="10.3390/cancers12071914">https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12071914</a> (2020)
New response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) guidelines for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: comparison with original RECIST and impact on assessment of tumor response to targeted therapy
Precision medicine for hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical perspective
Baseline sarcopenia is associated with a lack of response to therapy
and high mortality in hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Yang, Y. et al. Prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in women than in men: a cross-sectional study from a rural area in Eastern China. PeerJ 10, e13678. <a href="https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13678" data-track="click_references" data-track-action="external reference" data-track-value="external reference" data-track-label="10.7717/peerj.13678">https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13678</a> (2022)
Ou, M. Y. et al. Adipose tissue aging: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Cell. Death Dis. 13, 300. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-04752-6" data-track="click_references" data-track-action="external reference" data-track-value="external reference" data-track-label="10.1038/s41419-022-04752-6">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-04752-6</a> (2022)
MELD-Sarcopenia is better than ALBI and MELD score in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting liver transplantation
Albumin-bilirubin score vs model for end-stage liver disease in predicting post-hepatectomy outcomes
Transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma: impact of liver function and vascular invasion
Vogel, A. et al. ALBI score and outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: post hoc analysis of the randomized controlled trial KEYNOTE-240. Ther. Adv. Med. Oncol. 13, 17588359211039928. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359211039928" data-track="click_references" data-track-action="external reference" data-track-value="external reference" data-track-label="10.1177/17588359211039928">https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359211039928</a> (2021)
MELD score is the better predictor for 30-day mortality in patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma treated by trans-arterial embolization
Clinical applications of the model for End-Stage liver disease (MELD) in hepatic medicine
Clinical impact of sarcopenia assessment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing treatments
Value of HCC-MELD score in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplantation
ALBI and PALBI grade predict survival for HCC across treatment modalities and BCLC stages in the MELD era
The ALBI grade provides objective hepatic reserve estimation across each BCLC stage of hepatocellular carcinoma
ALBI score as a novel tool in staging and treatment planning for hepatocellular carcinoma: advantage of ALBI grade for universal assessment of hepatic function
ALBI grade: evidence for an improved model for liver functional estimation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Sarcopenia in hepatocellular carcinoma: current knowledge and future directions
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Open access funding provided by The Science
Technology &amp; Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) in cooperation with The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB)
Hepatology and Gastroenterology Department
Radiodiagnosis and Interventional Radiology Department
The authors declare no competing interests
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants
This study was performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki
Ethics approval: NLI IRB 00014014/FWA00034015 on July 2023
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His wine selection brilliantly complements hearth-fired Levantine dishes
Congratulations to William Simons of One MICHELIN Star <a href="https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/district-of-columbia/washington-dc/restaurant/albi" target="_blank">Albi</a>
presented in partnership with Franciacorta
Albi is inspired by heartfelt flavors originally cooked by Chef Michael Rafidi‘s grandparents
Brilliantly complementing the hearth-fired cuisine
Advanced Sommelier (CMS) William Simons serves as the restaurant's wine director
overseeing a selection filled with fantastic gems.&nbsp;
In his role, Simons balances a sense of education and fun. The menu is sprinkled with historical anecdotes like early winemaking in <a href="https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/michelin-guide-armenian-restaurant-california-glendale-zhengyalov-hatz" target="_blank">Armenia</a>
as well as wine quotes from people like Freddie Mercury
“Sauvignon Blanc can be a bit like George Clooney when he was on The Facts of Life
now you're dealing with George Clooney from Oceans Eleven.”
We spoke with him to learn more about his wine list and his own wine journey
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How were you introduced to the world of wine?My joking answer is that I read too much Jack Kerouac in high school
The first wine I had was Beringer White Zinfandel
I developed a reputation among my friends as the guy that knew about wine
but I felt I had a significant degree of imposter syndrome
I got hooked on the confluence of place and culture and history
A lot of reading and working in restaurants
and then I got thrown into the deep end at a pretty serious wine shop in New York
you get to taste more broadly than you do in most restaurants
because you have to try to be all things to all people
Albi has a reasonably large wine list at around 300 bottles
There's a lot of exposure that comes along with that
I made the move back to restaurants and started working the floor as a sommelier and pursuing some certifications
because I moved cities and my resume didn't mean all that much
what are the flavors that make sense with this cuisine
What are the textures that make sense with this cuisine
If a person goes to a French or Italian restaurant
they tend to have a solid understanding of what they're going to drink
people walk through the door without any real preconceived idea of what they should be drinking
because it's not a cuisine that they're used to thinking of with wine
you have a period of roughly 400 years of de facto prohibition under the Ottomans
and winemaking continued as a personal endeavor
People could make wine for their own consumption
it was largely under the tutelage of the French
so the wine culture that evolved was largely geared toward a French palate and arguably not geared toward the cuisine of the region
This is one of the areas where vitis vinifera originated and certainly where it proliferated under the time of the Phoenicians
yet a disproportionate number of wines are French varieties imported in the late 1800s and early 1900s – cabernet sauvignon
We offer wines from all different producers in Lebanon (where the most are able to be found) of the old guard French varieties and Bordeaux styles
what does an authentic Lebanese wine look like without French influence
When the conversation around natural wine got started
the main focus was on the idea that producers cared about the land
that they took a multigenerational view of their obligation to place
all of the producers that we have on the list at Albi adhere to that idea
I had never tasted anything like them before
It's a chore to try and drink a wine that's fighting you with alcohol and tannin
freshness and elegance and a sense of place have always been things that I've looked for
Once I started to get really interested in wine
Burgundy was the first place that really spoke to me
The combination of complexity and simplicity that it has in that it's “just two grape varieties.” There's still this incredible variation within it
The misconception I worry about most is trust
We talk about servers and captains being guest advocates
but there often is a perception that sommeliers are just there to make the sale
Any good sommelier should be interested first and foremost in pairing wine to the guest at the table and developing that trust in that relationship with the guest
taking my time was something that was viable because it was the older model of the industry
where it was based a little bit more on the idea of an apprenticeship
You don’t take a test that says you’re a sous chef
Find a place that works and make it your own
work other places while you're young and still can
There's a lot of different avenues to get there
Hero image:&nbsp;Hawkeye Johnson /&nbsp;William Simons
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Congratulations to William Simons of One MICHELIN Star <a href=\"https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/district-of-columbia/washington-dc/restaurant/albi\">Albi</a>
Albi is inspired by heartfelt flavors originally cooked by Chef Michael Rafidi\u2018s grandparents
In his role, Simons balances a sense of education and fun. The menu is sprinkled with historical anecdotes like early winemaking in <a href=\"https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/michelin-guide-armenian-restaurant-california-glendale-zhengyalov-hatz\">Armenia</a>
\u201cSauvignon Blanc can be a bit like George Clooney when he was on The Facts of Life
now you're dealing with George Clooney from Oceans Eleven.\u201d
Join our community of travelers and food lovers! <a href=\"https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/restaurantlist#register\">Create a free account</a> to enjoy personalized recommendations
yet a disproportionate number of wines are French varieties imported in the late 1800s and early 1900s \u2013 cabernet sauvignon
The combination of complexity and simplicity that it has in that it's \u201cjust two grape varieties.\u201d There's still this incredible variation within it
You don\u2019t take a test that says you\u2019re a sous chef
ShareSaveComment<a class="isDg-4PG" href="https://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/" data-ga-track="breadcrumb-L2">Lifestyle</a><a class="isDg-4PG _2XNbdi6I" href="https://www.forbes.com/travel/" data-ga-track="breadcrumb-L3">Travel</a>Albi Reopens In Washington, D.C., Emphasizing New Palestinian CookingBy<a class="_4tin10wS YbfXuVMn" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissakravitz/" rel="noreferrer" target="_self">Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner</a>
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
Melissa is a writer based in Brooklyn.Follow AuthorApr 21
05:21pm EDTShareSaveCommentRabbit shish barak at Albi in Washington D.C
following a short hiatus to spruce up and re-envision the lauded eatery
and design rooted in the chef’s Palestinian heritage
“The inspiration is for Albi to express my personal journey with cooking
It’s a way to interpret the experience of growing up eating Palestinian food
but not surrounded by the backdrop of the Arab world,” Rafidi says
enjoying Mid-Atlantic staples like blue crab and sweet corn
he spent most of his career cooking French and New American food
Kibbeh Naya with Shenandoah Lamb at Albi in Washington D.C
“I realized that if I were ever to open my own restaurant
I would need to put something more personal on the plate
a perilous time for any new business to kick off
with a restructured à la carte dinner menu (think coal-roasted oysters in arak butter and wood-fired pita topped with crab and spring veggies)
and an evolved take on the restaurant’s signature $165 Sofra experience: a spontaneous
five-course family-style dinner shaped nightly by seasonality and dialogue with guests
“Some of the dishes are really personal to me,” Rafidi says
“Sfeeha is something that I grew up eating in my grandparents’ kitchen
and I think that every Arab family has deep ties to the idea of sitting around a big plate of Warak Dawali [stuffed grape leaves]
so those are always really important to me
I’m really excited about newer additions where we’re digging deeper into Palestinian cooking traditions: Shish Barak [dumplings]
and Maqluba [an upside down rice] made with crab in our version instead of the traditional chicken)
It&#x27;s not an exaggeration to say that I&#x27;ve been trying to figure out the right way for us to present Maqluba for years
so it&#x27;s really exciting to see it on the menu and on tables now.”
In presenting these traditional dishes created with elevated technique and premium ingredients
Rafidi says he’s hoping to move the conversation on what “cuisine” is and what Levantine food can be
“There’s this automatic assumption that certain styles of cooking fall under the term cuisine and others are relegated to being ethnic food,&quot; he says
“There are a number of really great restaurants in D.C
proving that other cooking traditions are worthy of attention and admiration
and it’s my hope that Albi can always be part of that discussion.&quot;
whose pieces are held in the collections of the Whitney Museum in New York and ICA Boston
The Saha Cocktail Lounge at Albi in Washington D.C
“We want guests to be excited about their experience
maybe even to leave more excited than when they arrived
We’re trying to do things with refinement and with purpose
so we want there to be an element of polish
but we want to keep a certain energy and lightheartedness,” Rafidi says
“We know we’re exposing people to new things
but we don’t ever want people to feel like we’re teaching them
We want to just present things to people in a way that they feel like they’re discovering something
but it&#x27;s another entirely to experience it
more of an &#x27;aha&#x27; kind of thing.”
Even for those who grew up with Levantine cooking
Rafidi sees Albi as a proxy to a distant homeland
via taste memory and collective experience
historical traditions in Palestinian cooking and those traditions are central to a sense of identity
Palestinian culture is rooted in the land and so are its cooking traditions
And when so many people are physically separated from that land
Albi is located at 1346 4th Street SE in Washington, D.C., and is open for dinner service Tuesday through Sunday from 5–10 p.m., with reservations available via <a href="https://resy.com/cities/washington-dc/venues/albi" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://resy.com/cities/washington-dc/venues/albi" aria-label="Resy">Resy</a>
I like all of chef Michael Rafidi’s places—including both locations of Yellow and La’ Shukran—but Albi always fascinated me
but with a Levantine approach—completely different flavors and ingredients
Chef Michael Friedman sources from incredible farms like Pat Valley Farms
He also serves some fantastic vegetable dishes
Think chicory salad with gorgonzola fonduta and maple vinaigrette
and roasted squash hummus topped with smoked chili oil
You can find some really awesome stuff if you just sit down at their wine bar in the back
They might be serving local dairy cow steak or a cool salad with local
Chef Spike Gjerde was the first chef I really connected with when I moved back to D.C
It's great to have somebody focusing on plant-based cooking
are always experimenting with great ingredients
The tlayuda always features something seasonal
and there’s a big vegetable section on the menu
It’s the same over at their other restaurant
but there they’re putting a French spin on ingredients
Cincinnati City Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the city's federal employees and opposing "federal policies that undermine the federal workforce and its services." In other words
Other city councils − Democrat-controlled councils − have passed similar resolutions
now that someone is trying to do something about massive government waste and our nearly $37 trillion national debt
fearmongering by members of Congress in the media
More: <a href=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2025/04/16/doge-checks-elon-musk-5000-dollars-doubt-donald-trump/83113628007/ rel=noreferrer target=_blank>Will we ever get DOGE checks? Elon Musk drastically lowers estimated savings goal</a>
The increasing reports about individuals "keying" Tesla cars across the country seems like bizarre conduct
and dealerships on fire with Molotov cocktails in Oregon
and South Carolina are being prosecuted as acts of domestic terrorism
No mention of any of that in the council’s resolution
as recently reported in the Wall Street Journal (April 11
the federal government has already spent $154 billion more since the 2025 inauguration than during the same period last year
Those increases already amount to more waste than the waste that the “terrible” DOGE is identifying
They involve automatic increases in mandatory social programs and interest on the debt
federal borrowing and spending must be substantially reduced to protect Social Security and Medicare and avoid the country’s bankruptcy
Cincinnati needs to focus on its fiscal challengesCincinnati’s Futures Commission has sounded a similar alarm about the city’s pension liability
which is reportedly about $824 million short of what is needed to cover city retirees by 2045 and will crowd out the city’s general fund spending over time
During council members' remarks supporting the resolution
only Councilwoman Anna Albi chose to harshly criticize Elon Musk during an angry ad hominem attack
She accused Musk of "running around and hurting people" and said that he "gets to go around and cut people’s jobs and harm our residents and community from top to bottom.” She added: "It kills me."
More: <a href=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2024/04/11/cincinati-futures-commission-recommends-selling-assets-raising-taxes/73142716007/ rel=noreferrer target=_blank>Cincinnati Futures Commission: Raise taxes, sell golf courses, impose trash fee</a>
that type of angry rhetoric can incite further violence
Albi stated that she had family members who are federal employees and are also new parents
But her rhetoric as a public official is unacceptable
There are larger considerations and responsibilities concerning the federal workforce
Each department has a plan for the "Continuity of Operations," which includes identifying essential functions and positions
Those personnel and functions are essential for the government to continue and require ongoing review and adjustment to ensure continuity
Let us hope it never gets to such a dire state
but the federal bureaucracy has become dangerously bloated
Postal Service employees were represented at the council meeting
No one wants to see these union members laid off
but the Postal Service lost almost $10 billion in FY 2024
which was $3 billion more than just the year earlier
even with rate increases generating additional revenue
Everyone hopes that Albi’s relatives and our other federal employees in Cincinnati weather this storm
Albi’s vitriol was nothing but "shooting the messenger" and reinforcing the civil unrest in the country
perhaps Albi and City Council should "keep the main thing
concentrate on making sure the city of Cincinnati itself can weather the storm as the federal budget contracts and different spending priorities are established
And they should do so beginning this current budget cycle
Zinser is a Cincinnati native and resides in West Price Hill
He retired as the Inspector General of the U.S
Department of Commerce after 31 years of conducting audits and investigations of federal officials
He remains a certified fraud examiner and sits on the Board of the Charter Committee of Cincinnati
Albi Ndrenika dropped to his knees and slid across the slick glass of Ludwig Field on Aug
Ndrenika was accompanied by his teammates dog piling on top of him
The moment encapsulated a series of emotions experienced by the junior midfielder
He had scored a goal in his first game back on the field for Maryland men’s soccer after a 649-day hiatus
but his score in the 45th minute contributed to an impressive 5-2 win over Detroit and marked the beginning of Maryland’s 12-game unbeaten streak during the regular season.&nbsp;
“I kind of blacked out when I saw the ball come to me because it was surreal
I had to watch the replay and see what I did for the celebration
… I can't even put into words what it meant for me to be back and share that moment with my teammates
ALBI ALBI ALBI!!Scores in his first competitive game in 649 days! Goosebumps <a href="https://t.co/bZ756AKIe2">pic.twitter.com/bZ756AKIe2</a>
Ndrenika missed the entire 2023 season due to a rare ailment — one that
is believed to be tied to an initial malaise that forced him to miss the first 10 games of his 2022 freshman season.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ndrenika added four assists to his 2024 campaign and has become a key contributor for the Terps as they make their 41st NCAA Tournament appearance
Head coach Sasho Cirovski referred to him as a warrior.&nbsp;
“He is as tough as they come,” Cirovski said
“He’s from the state of Maryland and loves the University of Maryland
When he plays with the Maryland uniform on
… Our prayers were answered as far as him getting back to health
But I knew that with his resilience and toughness
he was going to fight until the very end to find a resolution.”
Ndrenika was ready to make his mark with Maryland men’s soccer in his first season with the program
getting a head start by being with the program during the 2022 spring season
The opportunity allowed him to adjust to Division I soccer
as he even started four of Maryland’s five Spring Soccer Cup matches
When it came time for the next school year’s fall semester
he added experience by playing summer ball with Christos FC — a soccer club in Baltimore that competes in the United Soccer League (USL) and Maryland Major Soccer League.&nbsp;
“I really got fit as well and was feeling very good,” Ndrenika said
“I had high expectations coming into my actual freshman season that fall
Ndrenika played through a lower back ache over the summer but never thought much of it because it didn’t slow him down
The freshman took Advil and worked with trainers
his treatment method stopped working.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
He suddenly couldn't run without his back causing immense pain
Multiple MRIs showed he had inflammation in his sacroiliac joint
It was labeled as a stress reaction that wasn't too severe but required two weeks off from any activity.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ndrenika’s time away from the team was longer than a few weeks
he was permitted to initiate progressive overload training
He experienced setbacks and missed the first 10 games of the season
He admitted being sidelined was tough for him as he had high expectations
He thought he failed his first big test and even debated redshirting.&nbsp;
“Our best players don't last four years at Maryland,” Cirovski said
we expect you to get a full three years in
get your degree and then move on to play professionally.’”
Cirovski convinced Ndrenika not to redshirt
The Hall of Fame coach's confidence in his freshman pushed Ndrenika to return better than before
He also credits his teammates and family with adding mental support
Nick Richardson was one of those teammates
Ndrenika spoke with him frequently in the training room and observed how he dealt with his injuries
he never complained and simply did what he needed to do to take the field.&nbsp;
One family member who provided support was Ndrenika’s older brother
He currently plays soccer at Saint Francis but was playing at Wilmington at the time of his younger brother’s injury
There were also a few instances in which Joni made the two-hour drive to Maryland to watch his brother’s games and see him in person.&nbsp;&nbsp;
“I would always bring a couple of guys from Wilmington as well to come to watch Maryland,” Joni said
“Maryland soccer games are pretty fun to watch
On top of obviously wanting to see my brother
Ndrenika returned for the second half of the season
making his debut against Northwestern and later recording starts in each of Maryland’s NCAA Tournament games
He scored in each of those postseason appearances
It looked like he was primed for a colossal breakout heading into next season.&nbsp;
“I felt like I was getting better,” Ndrenika said
“It ultimately showed in the last two games where I got the start and finally felt normal again
That edge of playing in the tournament was big.”
OH MY GOD Albi with his first career goal after a RIDICULOUS pass from Malcolm3-0 <a href="https://t.co/fLiHTWthbR">pic.twitter.com/fLiHTWthbR</a>
The Terps defeated Clemson — the reigning national champions
They also went on a 10-day trip to Portugal
where Ndrenika learned how soccer was played in Europe
He says he felt more mature and comfortable as a player and leader while getting faster
during one of the last two weeks of the spring season
Ndrenika began experiencing slight pain on the left side of his hip and groin
but after experiencing an extended absence last season
he was shut down until the upcoming fall season
He spent his summer on campus working with trainers and rehabbing to be healthy for the upcoming season.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ndrenika felt he was in the best shape of his life
He scored a left-footed goal during one of the Terps’ preseason games
The feat was significant because he was previously prohibited from shooting with his left
as that was the side of his body he was rehabbing
but that all changed after he woke up on a Sunday morning after playing two games in two days against American and ECU.&nbsp;&nbsp;
and then I woke up in the morning with immense pain
Ndrenika felt familiar discomfort in his hip and groin areas
He received treatment following the match but could barely walk the next day
Engen initially thought he had a severe case of dehydration.&nbsp;
which was a considerably long walk to the trainer’s office
he grabbed two Gatorades from a vending machine and chugged them
He then began laying with his feet on the wall in the training room to try to ease the pain
He then got carted to an ice tub to numb his whole body
even picked up medicine from a nearby CVS Pharmacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
but it was how do we get him to be comfortable in any capacity
How do we get him not to feel like his whole body is on fire
How do we support him so they can go to sleep
this was certainly the most alarming and confusing.”
Ndrenika described his lower abdomen and groin area as feeling like a rock
The muscle relaxers helped ease the pain temporarily
and it was thought he might have osteitis pubis — inflammation in the joint between his pubic bones
an MRI revealed that wasn’t the case.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The young soccer star continued to experience unbearable pain for the next month
His team had already begun their 2023 campaign
while Ndrenika was bedridden and unable to do functional everyday tasks
“When he was telling me and my parents that he couldn't get out of bed
I knew that he was constantly talking to doctors
constantly talking to my family about how he was feeling
I knew the whole situation was occupying his mind a lot
instead of trying to talk to him about what was going on with his health and situation
let me just try to get his mind out of it and talk about other things.”&nbsp;
He eventually got blood work done and tested positive for a protein called HLA-B27
The protein is found on the surface of white blood cells
helping the body's immune system distinguish between its cells and harmful substances
HLA-B27 blood tests are used to help diagnose or confirm autoimmune disorders
Doctors then thought he had ankylosing spondylitis (AS) — a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the spine and other joints.&nbsp;
Ndrenika went in for rheumatology for AS treatment
He was subsequently placed on Enbrel — a medication used to treat autoimmune diseases
He administered injections once a week and finally began running and working with a soccer ball in early October
He thought a return to the Terps’ lineup was possible
I'm gonna call that a huge win,’” she said
there wasn’t hard evidence to prove Ndrenika had AS
Coupled with the fact that the medicine he was taking at the time was unhealthy if he didn’t have the condition
He couldn’t walk again without experiencing pain
but he wasn’t feeling better this time after a few weeks.&nbsp;
Doctors told Ndrenika that the medication could take a while to kick in again when one stops and starts consuming it
He spent another two to three months on Enbrel
which took him to January 2024 — the fall season wrapped up in late October
“It was looking like his college career could be done,” Cirovski said
“We talked about him being medically ineligible
staying on getting this degree and becoming a player assistant while we kept working towards a solution.”
the Terps finished 2023 with a 4-8-3 record while going winless in conference play
as a Cirovski-led Terps team hadn’t finished with a losing record since he first became head coach in 1993 (excluding the shortened 2020-21 COVID-19 season)
the Terps had previously never gone winless in the conference under Cirovski.&nbsp;
Although the season didn’t go as anticipated
even though he wasn’t on the field with his team.&nbsp;&nbsp;
“Even though the season was going very bad
and there was a lot of potential for a lot of negative energy
I give a big thanks to my teammates who were always there for me and supporting me,” Ndrenika said
“I have a lot of close friends from that team that I had known for a while just because of the proximity in which we lived
helping me when I needed it and lifting me up
Ndrenika finally started to feel better again
but he made it through his days by taking 6-8 Advil
He switched to another medicine similar to Enbrel — Humira
so he searched for other opinions from doctors.&nbsp;
How are we going to get this under control?”&nbsp;
One of his doctor’s assistants suggested doing a full-body CT scan
They were looking for anything: infections
the doctors spotted an abnormality between his T11 and T12 vertebrae.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
ran it through labs and found a bacterial infection
but the spinal infection was so deep he was on them for 8-10 weeks
Most people are on the same antibiotics for 3-6 weeks.&nbsp;
Ndrenika was prohibited from any sort of physical activity
he was the most down she had seen throughout the entire process.&nbsp;
“I think that’s what killed me the most because at least I was maintaining some sort of fitness
whether it was lifting upper body or doing some light jogging or whatnot,” Ndrenika said
He was cleared to begin physical activity again in mid-June
but the most challenging part of his return to the field had just started
Ndrenika had a short time to prepare for the preseason
and a follow-up look at the bone determined he was infection-free.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ndrenika finally found comfort with his fitness and was set to make his regular-season comeback against Detroit
Maryland’s third regular-season game of 2024
He referred to his comeback date as “God’s timing.” As the season continued
he earned more minutes and increased his fitness.&nbsp;
no doctor has been able to explain what caused his infection
They also can’t prove the two ailments he experienced are related.&nbsp;
“It was unfortunate that you had to wait at least two or three months for that medicine to see if it would actually work," Ndrenika said
"That was the reason why it took so long.”
family and friends kept Ndrenika motivated throughout his unprecedented journey
He got deep in his faith the second time and regards that as one of the significant differences between the two setbacks.&nbsp;
“I think my freshman year injury took more of a toll mentally than the second injury,” Ndrenika said
“Just because the ways I would handle myself this time around were a little better.”
Their proximity allowed them to visit their son frequently
kept him company and provided whatever he needed
Ndrenika and his family imagined how much worse the situation would’ve been if he had been across the country instead of 30 minutes away.&nbsp;
“He handled the situation really well,” Joni said
He was very mature with his emotions and was very understanding with doctors and everybody trying to help him.”
Ndrenika's friends and teammates were also very supportive
Ndrenika’s family insurance took a long time to process a payment to cover some of his medicine
Cirovski found out and was willing to help pay for it.&nbsp;
and we'll find a way to get it paid for that is NCAA compliant,” Cirovski said
“We were not going to let him not get the medicine he needed because of cost
I care for all my kids when they go through difficult times like that
I think it's very important for not only myself but all of us to be there for them and support them.”
Engen was beside Ndrenika throughout his comeback
She provided constant support and observed how he approached his rehab
never complained and maturely handled everything despite his frustration.&nbsp;
She credited the people in his circle for being there for him and applauded Ndrenika's response to everything.&nbsp;
“I don't know if I could adequately put into words how proud I am of him
and then also just the whole network of us around him,” Engen said
“I think everyone has shown the best versions of themselves in caring for him.”
he's always been very aware and very connected with the reality of the situation
but he still would come in with positivity and commitment
I have a handful of athletes I've worked with in my career that I would put on the level of maturity and management of tough situations.”&nbsp;
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<a aria-label="tess-shiras" class data-testid="contributorName" href="/contributor/tess-shiras">Tess Shiras</a>
DC has benefited from a recent boom in new Middle Eastern restaurants, but Albi is hands-down the best one yet. The classics—hummus, kebabs, baba ganoush—are executed perfectly and prepared beautifully, though it’s the  flavor combinations in dishes like sumac carrots with peanut harissa or fried pita stuffed with sunchoke and cheese that keep us coming back whenever we have something special to celebrate. 
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-neighborhoods-georgetown" href="/washington-dc/neighborhoods/georgetown" class="css-1v0cd8t">Georgetown</a>
Yellow is a Levantine café in Georgetown that specializes in light bites
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-cuisines-lebanese" href="/washington-dc/cuisines/lebanese" class="css-1v0cd8t">Lebanese</a>
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-neighborhoods-wharf" href="/washington-dc/neighborhoods/wharf" class="css-1v0cd8t">Wharf</a>
Ilili is one of DC’s most beautiful restaurants
and we like it best for a date night or weekend brunch
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-cuisines-middle-eastern" href="/washington-dc/cuisines/middle-eastern" class="css-1v0cd8t">Middle Eastern</a>
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-neighborhoods-cardozo" href="/washington-dc/neighborhoods/cardozo" class="css-1v0cd8t">Cardozo</a>
Maydan is an excellent Middle Eastern restaurant in Cardozo
An investor has acquired nearly 20,000 square feet of highway retail space in Clifton for $4.4 million
in a deal arranged by Atlantic Coastal Real Estate LLC
the property at 1104 and 1132 Route 46 West includes a 15,640-square-foot center and a restaurant outparcel with 3,962 square feet
The sale by Balmar Realty LLC and Gohawir Realty 1096/1104 LLC follows a recent five-year
5,213-square-foot lease by Leslie Pools and a new 10-year commitment by Olive Bistro
as well as the conclusion late last year of major roadwork on the highway
He noted that the 2.15-acre site is also home to CKO and Liquor Locker
which account for 7,000 square feet and are on month-to-month leases
&#8220;The extension exercised by Leslie Pools and new long-term-year lease entered into by Olive Bistro
provided the perfect balance between stability and a value-add opportunity for the purchaser
accompanied with a sale price that made sense to the sellers,” Conway said
“The roadwork on this part of the Route 46 corridor proved to be an extreme obstacle over the past few years
That thankfully subsided heading into 2024
With approximately 400 feet of frontage and 2.15 acres of land
the purchaser&#8217;s ability to reposition the center as is
made it a viable investment opportunity.&#8221;
has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years
Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state
a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ
He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State
Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group
All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland
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Albi Ndrenika dribbles the ball during Maryland men's soccer's 1-1 tie against UCLA on Oct
— We&#8217;re showing our Love 4 Pets with Tootsie and Albi from Cross My Paws Animal Rescue
as well as Melon and Cooper from two city shelters
You can learn more about Tootsie and Albi in the video above
Here&#8217;s a little more about Melon and Cooper:
Melon is a 5-year-old brown American pit bull terrier mix
affectionate girl who likes people and generally gets along with other dogs
so a meet and greet with your dog would be ideal
Melon is quickly learning how to be a good girl on a leash and has become a volunteer favorite at the Eastside Animal Shelter, where you can visit her (<a href="https://www.cabq.gov/pets/animal-welfare-locations/eastside-animal-shelter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">details</a>)
affectionate pup who is eager for adventure
Cooper is a 4-year-old brown Australian cattle dog mix
He takes treats gently and rides well in the car
He is curious and interested in other dogs so you&#8217;ll want to bring your other dogs if you have them to meet him
With his love for outdoors, Cooper would make an ideal hiking partner. You can find him at the Westside Animal Shelter (<a href="https://www.cabq.gov/pets/animal-welfare-locations/westside-animal-shelter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">details</a>)
Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KOB via our <a href="/contact/" class="text-light">online form</a>or call 505-243-4411.
Washingtonian’s annual 100 Very Best Restaurants list drops tomorrow, but here’s an early scoop: this year, the top spot in our rankings goes to Albi, Michael Rafidi’s Levantine dining room in Navy Yard. 
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFGPYH0xwJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Washingtonian (@washingtonianmag)</a>
which has gotten better and better over the restaurant&#8217;s five year existence
and he trained for years under California chef/restaurateur Michael Mina
He synthesizes all of that life experience here (Albi translates to “My heart”) and channels it into plates that are as visually stunning as they are delicious
the server came to check on us and the many
Albi should be at the top of your own list
if only for its spectacular barbecue lamb kebab
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003
She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens
and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education
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and it's very clear that chef and owner Michael Rafidi has put all of his into this Michelin-starred establishment in Navy Yard
Rafidi sends out plates that double as art and meld local ingredients with Levantine flavors
too&mdash;a departure from some other fine dining restaurants putting food out at this level
which include a hummus plate kissed with Maryland crab
charred cabbage and a hot sauce-esque condiment called tatbili.&nbsp;Try the sweet sumac carrots
which include a skewer of thinly crisped and spiced potaoes
are stars here.&nbsp;Fire touches many of the best dishes at Albi (thank the massive wood-burning hearth in the dining room); a mezze&nbsp;dish of smoky
melt-in-your mouth lamb belly lives in our dreams
and mains include a delicious smoked chicken kabob&nbsp;served with safrron yogurt and radicchio flatbread.&nbsp;End your meal with brown butter knafeh
a nest of shredded phyllo stuffed with sweet cheese and topped with pistachio powder and yogurt ice cream.&nbsp;
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Cincinnati City Councilwoman <a href=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/contributors/2024/07/31/secure-firearm-storage-means-all-guns-are-locked-unloaded/74524496007/>Anna Albi's</a> aide secretly recorded her − a violation of city policy
But instead of disciplining the aide as the city human resources department recommended
the city let her resign with what amounts to a roughly $11,000 taxpayer settlement
No records provided to The Enquirer show why a settlement with Naquia Futel − signed in exchange for Futel agreeing not to sue − was needed. The settlement was signed by <a href=https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/05/18/city-solicitor-values-being-present-and-picking-ba.html>City Solicitor Emily Smart Woerner.</a>
who was Albi's director of community engagement
records provided to The Enquirer via a public records request show Albi did nothing that would prompt the need for a settlement
it was Futel who was found to be in violation of city rules for recording Albi
What was in the settlementThe settlement was signed Sept
granting Futel a combination of vacation time
The settlement is the equivalent of 360 hours of pay
Futel will get 92 hours of sick time worth $2,460; 40 hours of holiday pay worth $1,069; and 142.9 hours of administrative leave worth $3,821.20
to continue her health insurance and pension benefits
City Solicitor Emily Smart Woerner explained the settlement: "Any time the city faces a potential claim of a lawsuit
the Law Department analyzes the cost of defending a lawsuit
Even when the City is confident it would receive a favorable decision from a court
any lawsuit carries the risk of an adverse decision
When the overall cost to the taxpayers by resolving a matter through a release and settlement agreement is less than the cost to defend a lawsuit
What Anna Albi saidAlbi described the separation with Futel like this:
this is a situation where a former employee wasn’t a good fit
Though I worked closely with HR for six months to coach and provide feedback for this employee
ultimately when this employee broke my trust and violated city policy by secretly recording our private conversations without my knowledge or consent
I decided to provide her a compassionate exit from my office."
Futel wouldn't comment on why she went to human resources and sent a statement
She wrote: "I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Council Member Anna Albi
I learned so much and had many great experiences along the way
This position gave me the opportunity to engage with my community in very meaningful and impactful ways
I am even more excited to have time to prepare for my growing family."
asked Futel to engage with community leaders and other politicians
schedule Albi to attend events where Albi would meet citizens and work a 38.5-hour workweek
which is typical for city council members and their staff
Albi was elected last November and started Jan. 2, along with Futel, who applied for the job after working last year for the <a href=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2023/11/07/issue-22-city-votes-on-selling-cincinnati-southern-railway/71421018007/>campaign to sell the city's railroad.</a> By April
Albi said two were not 'in sync'Albi placed Futel on a performance improvement plan and emails show some conversation about expectations
The emails were courteous and professional
Futel told Albi she needed time off for medical reasons
prompting Albi to direct Futel to the city's human resources department
the first a routine planning session and the second which chronicles Albi saying she didn't think the two were "in sync" and that would help Futel find a new job in the city or elsewhere
was that Futel violated the city's recording devices policy by twice secretly recording Albi
Council aides serve at the will of council members
The city's recording devices policy states:
“Employees are not permitted to create audio or video recordings of proceedings including
and conferences without the express prior approval from the human resources director or all the parties present at the time
or video recordings in violation of this policy may be subject to corrective action.”
she created recordings of the conversations and at no time did Council MemberAlbi provide consent," the investigation found
"Council aides are in a position of high trust between themselves and their council member
Any recorded conversation that does not have consent could create significant adverse impact for the council member or potential severe confidentiality concerns."
human resources finds the violation of the recording devices policy is substantiated and
The investigation mentions no wrongdoing by Albi
After numerous reactions to his viral statement
Albi Lushi has decided to clarify that everything was "just a joke" and that he does not really believe that women "become easy" after consuming alcohol
In a new statement to "Pa Manual" by Andale
"I don't believe you're one of those girls who has to drink alcohol to become tough or easy
I don't believe there are tough or easy girls or boys
I believe there are girls and boys who feel or don't feel
People who know me well know that I play with the bat."
the comment that caused this whole debate was simply a spur-of-the-moment joke in a table conversation
without knowing that he was being recorded
It's not the first time that such statements have been "explained" later as jokes
this is a familiar formula: say something problematic
the dilemma is: does the fact that he did not know he was being recorded really change the meaning of the statement
if this was an opinion that he shared in a narrow circle
The truth is that a joke is not always innocent
in a context where abuse and emotional manipulation are real problems
is not something that can be dismissed with a &ldquo;you misunderstood.&rdquo; After all
humor cannot work without a sense of responsibility
Created by <a href="https://www.mediadesk.al"></a>
Verallia France has completed the renovation and restart of furnace No
2 at the Verrerie Ouvrière d'Albi glass facility
The investment allows VOA to strengthen its regional presence and sustain its business serving the wine and spirits markets
2 was shut in July 2024 for a partial renovation midway through its operational life
This renovation is part of a desire to maintain the furnace's performance and extend its lifespan by an additional seven years
This operation thus improves energy efficiency and continues Verallia's commitment to a local and sustainable production model
said the furnace had a daily production capacity of 315 tons
and produces Feuille Morte and Cinnamon coloured glass incorporating more than 90% recycled cullet
“This renovation strengthens our ability to meet the expectations of our customers
Founded in 1896 with the support of Jean Jaurès
the VOA in Albi has been perpetuating exceptional glassmaking expertise for 127 years
Equipped with two furnaces—one dedicated to extra white tinting
the other to cinnamon or dead leaf tinting—the glassworks has established itself in the production of high-end bottles and small and medium-sized production runs
With 300 employees and 300 million bottles produced each year
the VOA actively contributes to local economic vitality and the influence of the French glass industry
To meet the challenges of tomorrow while preserving its expertise
VOA will need to rely on public support to increase its electrical capacity and invest in low-carbon furnaces that use more electricity to reduce its environmental footprint
Greg Morris has been editor of Glass International and organiser of the Glassman conferences since 2012
Prior to this he spent five years working in newspaper journalism
According to <a href="https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/article/rivulet-kitchen-boerne-closed-20252442.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MySA</a>
the restaurateurs behind Albi&#8217;s Vite Italian Kitchen are debuting a new concept
the eatery will land near establishments such as Demo&#8217;s Greek Food
and the hamburger restaurant Tycoon Flats N St Marys
&#8220;The location is right across from the river; it&#8217;s a beautiful view
We&#8217;re going to have an outdoor patio that oversees the river and the city&#8230;
a signature cocktail list; we&#8217;re going to have some classics
For readers who are unfamiliar with Albi&#8217;s, the eatery offers a brief introduction on its <a href="https://www.albisvite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>: &#8220;Our story begins in the Mediterranean
where we grew up making these Italian meals daily
we decided that our authentic style should be shared with the world; thus
Acquiring a degree in business from UT Austin
Albi leads the operations of the family-owned restaurant
making sure every aspect is pristine.&#8221;
There are currently two Albi&#8217;s locations in the San Antonio area
When asked about a slated opening date for Sunny&#8217;s All-Day Brunch &amp; Bar
From new restaurant openings to exciting retail launches and real estate insights
be the first to know what’s happening in San Antonio
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
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<a aria-label="omnia-saed" class data-testid="contributorName" href="/contributor/omnia-saed"> Omnia Saed</a>
District of Columbia 20024">.css-56eu0z{width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;line-height:1em;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray100);vertical-align:middle;fill:currentColor;}1330 Maryland Ave SW Washington
Verdict: The newest restaurant from Kwame Onwuachi, the chef behind Kith/Kin and Infatuation NYC’s highest-rated restaurant, <a target="_blank" class="styles_anchor__uQfOt" href="https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/reviews/tatiana">Tatiana</a>
is tucked in the lobby of the Salamander hotel on the Southwest Waterfront
The Afro-Caribbean menu starts at very good (a smoky
charred wagyu short rib with a sweet red stew jam) and dips into incredible (the peppery
tangy BBQ Greens with slivers of beef bacon)
Reservations are almost entirely theoretical at the moment
but they do hold a few bar seats for walk-ins
How to get into Dōgon.css-a52oel{min-height:auto;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-4);}.css-orc1vi{font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-standard);font-weight:400;margin:var(--chakra-space-0);padding:var(--chakra-space-0);font-size:0.9375rem;line-height:1.6;font-style:normal;margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-6);}Reservations are tough to secure
but you can score a walk-in seat and full menu service at the compact bar for up to two guests in a party
<a class="chakra-linkbox__overlay css-udn306" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="/washington-dc/reviews/minibar-by-jose-andres">Minibar By José Andrés</a><a class="css-pxzodq" aria-disabled="false" data-testid="venue-googleMapUrl" target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&amp;query=Minibar%20By%20Jos%C3%A9%20Andr%C3%A9s+855 E St NW Washington
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-cuisines-experimental" href="/washington-dc/cuisines/experimental" class="css-1v0cd8t">Experimental</a>
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-neighborhoods-penn-quarter" href="/washington-dc/neighborhoods/penn-quarter" class="css-1v0cd8t">Penn Quarter</a>
Verdict: It doesn’t matter that you have the biggest presentation of your life happening at the exact moment reservations open up
Stroll in a few minutes late with your Minibar By José Andrés spot booked
But we’d gladly spend our own money (or anyone else’s) to be one of a dozen people sitting around the kitchen table here
especially for an anniversary or birthday dinner that gets talked about for years to come
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-neighborhoods-navy-yard" href="/washington-dc/neighborhoods/navy-yard" class="css-1v0cd8t">Navy Yard</a>
Verdict: Scoring a table at Albi&#x27;s is like winning the DC lottery. With dishes like build-it-yourself lettuce wraps with carrot and tuna filling and the city’s best pita, the Middle Eastern spot dishes out some of the most delicious food in <a target="_blank" class="styles_anchor__uQfOt" href="https://www.theinfatuation.com/washington-dc/guides/nats-park-navy-yard-restaurants-bars">Navy Yard</a>
The restaurant’s glass enclosed dining room is great for a weeknight date night or dinner with the parents (or anyone you’re looking to impress with food and not your personal resume)
How to get into AlbiReservations open a month in advance
and that&#x27;s when you should book if you want to avoid the early bird 5pm dinner slot
Albi does offer walk-in seating at the bar
but you’ll miss all the action in the dining room and open kitchen
8.9<a class="chakra-linkbox__overlay css-udn306" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="/washington-dc/reviews/carusos-grocery">Caruso’s Grocery</a><a class="css-pxzodq" aria-disabled="false" data-testid="venue-googleMapUrl" target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&amp;query=Caruso%E2%80%99s%20Grocery+914 14th St SE Washington
District of Columbia 20003">914 14th St SE Washington
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-cuisines-italian" href="/washington-dc/cuisines/italian" class="css-1v0cd8t">Italian</a>
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-neighborhoods-capitol-hill" href="/washington-dc/neighborhoods/capitol-hill" class="css-1v0cd8t">Capitol Hill</a>
Verdict: You can get day-of reservations at Caruso’s
The Capitol Hill spot serves all of the expected classics
including a pasta alfredo that’s smothered in a creamy truffle butter and a blood orange creme-brulee that might be one of our favorite desserts in the city
It&#x27;s so good you&#x27;ll find yourself dreaming about it for days afterward
<a class="chakra-linkbox__overlay css-udn306" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="/washington-dc/reviews/maydan">Maydan</a><a class="css-pxzodq" aria-disabled="false" data-testid="venue-googleMapUrl" target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&amp;query=Maydan+1346 Florida Ave NW Washington
Verdict: Maydan is easily one of the city&#x27;s best <a target="_blank" class="styles_anchor__uQfOt" href="https://www.theinfatuation.com/washington-dc/guides/best-mediterranean-restaurants-dc">Mediterranean restaurants</a>
Grab a bunch of friends—it&#x27;ll make scoring a table easier and sharing their delicious family-style menu even more fun
Stuff yourself on freshly-made warm pita bread from the restaurant&#x27;s open hearth
How to get into MaydanReservations are released 21 days in advance at 10am
they do release a limited number of tables a few hours before opening
away from the warmth of the restaurant’s open-fire hearth
7.3<a class="chakra-linkbox__overlay css-udn306" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="/washington-dc/reviews/pineapple-and-pearls">Pineapple &amp; Pearls</a><a class="css-pxzodq" aria-disabled="false" data-testid="venue-googleMapUrl" target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&amp;query=Pineapple%20%26%20Pearls+715 8th St SE Washington
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-cuisines-american" href="/washington-dc/cuisines/american" class="css-1v0cd8t">American</a>
Verdict: Pineapple &amp; Pearls is so hit-or-miss that it&#x27;s not worth potentially spending $500 on a night when the staff seems as enthusiastic about explaining the funky cheese course as you are when the mechanic lists all the sudden repairs your car needs
The food at sister restaurant Rose&#x27;s Luxury serves food that&#x27;s just as good and you won&#x27;t ever be disappointed with the mood
How to get into Pineapple &amp; PearlsIf you want to secure Friday night or weekend reservations at Pineapple &amp; Pearls
book as soon as reservations open at noon the first of the preceding month
Reserving slots for later days is possible
but booking in advance ensures the best outcome
<a class="chakra-linkbox__overlay css-udn306" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="/washington-dc/reviews/medina">Medina</a><a class="css-pxzodq" aria-disabled="false" data-testid="venue-googleMapUrl" target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&amp;query=Medina+1328 Florida Ave NW Washington
District of Columbia 20009">1328 Florida Ave NW Washington
<a data-testid="tag-tagLink-washington-dc-neighborhoods-logan-circle" href="/washington-dc/neighborhoods/logan-circle" class="css-1v0cd8t">Logan Circle</a>
Verdict: When you’re sitting on a fluffy couch in a nook set off to the side of the bedouin tented bar
you’ll know why you booked your table three weeks early
You’ll have plenty of space to lounge around as you stuff yourself with kefta hummus full of juicy meatballs and beautiful specialty cocktails like the smoky Medusa
How to get into MedinaReservations open 21 days in advance at 10am
but the majority of seating at Medina is held for walk-ins
but there&#x27;s still a chance to spontaneously swing by without fearing your night will be cut short
Your guide to the best new restaurants in Chocolate City
Pineapple &amp; Pearls is supposed to be a party—but sometimes it&#x27;s just dinner
<a href="/articles/s41598-025-93716-9/metrics" data-track="click" data-track-action="view metrics" data-track-label="link" rel="nofollow">Metrics details</a>
This research intends to assess the variance between EZ-ALBI and PALBI in forecasting recurrence following the resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
A retrospective analysis was conducted using clinical data from 522 HCC patients across two medical institutions
The study analyzed albumin-bilirubin values (ALBI)
along with the Easy albumin-bilirubin values (EZ-ALBI) and the Platelet-albumin-bilirubin values(PALBI)
while assessing the clinical traits of patients across various grades
The analysis focused on the connections between ALBI
as well as their variations in predicting the recurrence of HCC following surgical procedures
the clinical characteristics of patients exhibiting varying levels of PALBI differed from those categorized under ALBI and EZ-ALBI; however
the ALBI grade shared similar characteristics with the EZ-ALBI category
A strong correlation was found between ALBI and EZ-ALBI
with a coefficient of 0.862 (95% CI: 0.838–0.882
whereas ALBI and PALBI yielded a coefficient of 0.760 (95% CI: 0.838–0.882
The correlation coefficient between PALBI and EZ-ALBI was recorded at 0.571 (95% CI: 0.510–0.626
There was a notable difference in survival outcomes among HCC patients classified with ALBI/EZ-ALBI/PALBI grade 1 compared to those with grade 2 or 3
Cox regression analysis identified that maximum tumor diameter (MTD)
were tied to a decline in progression-free survival (PFS)
The area under the curve (AUC) for the ALBI model at the 1
the AUC of the EZ-ALBI model during the same time intervals was 0.708
and PALBI served as predictive indicators for the recurrence of HCC in patients after surgery
EZ-ALBI offers greater convenience in forecasting the prognosis of HCC patients
whereas PALBI demonstrates more accuracy than ALBI in predicting their prognosis
the prompt identification of risk factors linked to postoperative recurrence is vital to enhancing the long-term oncological prognosis for HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy
This study’s objective was to assess the efficacy of the Easy albumin-bilirubin index (EZ-ALBI) and the Platelet-albumin-bilirubin index (PALBI) in forecasting postoperative recurrence in HCC patients
A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 522 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 2016 to 2019
The criteria for inclusion were as follows: the China Liver Cancer (CNLC) staging system advocates for surgery as the primary treatment option; all patients underwent R0 curative hepatectomy; no recorded history of gastrointestinal bleeding; and all patients had reliable laboratory data available
Exclusion criteria included any of the following conditions occurring during follow-up: recurrence of HCC; ruptured HCC; preoperative antitumor therapies; esophagogastric variceal bleeding; discovery of other malignant tumors; and other life-threatening illnesses
926 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were identified
Based on the established inclusion and exclusion criteria
31 cases were determined to be outside the indications for CNLC surgery
26 cases did not meet the criteria for radical resection
and 11 cases involved ruptured liver cancer that required surgical intervention
75 patients had a history of gastrointestinal bleeding either prior to or during follow-up
49 patients underwent antitumor therapy before surgery
and 13 patients developed other life-threatening conditions during follow-up
522 patients were included in the analysis
The study received approval from the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (no
Due to the retrospective nature of the study
the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University waived the need to obtain informed consent
All procedures involving human participants adhered to ethical standards set forth in the Helsinki Declaration (6th revision
The case of the newly diagnosed HCC patient was presented to a multidisciplinary committee in alignment with current guidelines prior to surgery
and the diagnosis was confirmed through postoperative pathological examination
The assessment focused on the first recurrence following the surgical procedure
recurrence was characterized by the appearance of a tumor on imaging after surgical resection
Based on the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)
the initial recurrence post-surgery was identified as the presence of viable tumors detected after a period of 3 months
If a residual tumor was noted during the early postoperative phase
it was deemed a failure of the radical surgical approach
such cases were omitted from this comparative analysis
Patients underwent follow-up examinations every 3 to 6 months until they either passed away or opted out of continued follow-up
The maximum duration of follow-up recorded was 60 months
Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0 and GraphPad Prism version 10.1.2
Continuous variables were represented as mean ± standard deviation
either the t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was employed
Categorical variables were shown as counts and proportions
with comparisons between the two groups conducted via the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test
A two-sided P value below 0.05 was deemed statistically significant
while the Log-rank test was applied for survival analysis; significant factors were subsequently included in the Cox regression model for multivariate analysis
Nomograms were constructed based on the multivariable Cox regression analysis utilizing R version 4.1.2 software
the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the model was generated
was calculated to evaluate the predictive efficiency of recurrence across different models
The characteristics at baseline for patients involved in this research are detailed in Table <a data-track="click" data-track-label="link" data-track-action="table anchor" href="/articles/s41598-025-93716-9#Tab1">1</a>
A total of 522 individuals participated in the study
462 had chronic infections due to hepatitis B and (or) C; this included 422 instances of HBV infection
and 2 cases of co-infection with both HBV and HCV
The mean largest tumor diameter was measured at 6.09 ± 4.14 cm
Microvascular invasion was absent in 346 patients
Using the Edmondson-Steiner classification
there were 12 patients classified as grade 1
The mean total bilirubin level recorded was 14.31 ± 15.95 µmol/L
and the average albumin level was 40.02 ± 4.67 g/L
The average Aspartate aminotransferase level was noted at 43.59 ± 50.63 U/L
while the mean platelet count registered at 143.58 ± 64.16* 10^9/L
An average APRI of 0.98 ± 1.39 was observed
with 178 patients showing AFP levels exceeding 400 ng/mL
340 patients were classified as ALBI grade 1
323 patients were classified as EZ-ALBI grade 1
370 patients were classified as PALBI grade 1
We also analyzed patient characteristics according to ALBI, EZ-ALBI, and PALBI grade. Table <a data-track="click" data-track-label="link" data-track-action="table anchor" href="/articles/s41598-025-93716-9#Tab2">2</a> presents the relationships between the ALBI
The majority of patients in this cohort were categorized as grade 1 and grade 2
No significant differences were noted in sex
or AFP levels across the varying grades of ALBI and EZ-ALBI (P &gt; 0.05)
significant differences were observed in age
and APRI when comparing patients with different ALBI and EZ-ALBI grades (P &lt; 0.05)
patients exhibited significant variances in MTD
and APRI across the different PALBI grades (P &lt; 0.05)
no significant differences were found in sex
or AFP across the varying PALBI grades (P &gt; 0.05)
</a>Scatter plot representations for the three scoring systems alongside the recurrence-free survival curve for the full cohort
(a) Scatter plot comparisons between the EZ-ALBI and ALBI scores
(b) Scatter plot comparisons of the PALBI and ALBI scores
(c) Scatter plot comparisons between EZ-ALBI and PALBI scores
Figure <a data-track="click" data-track-label="link" data-track-action="figure anchor" href="/articles/s41598-025-93716-9#Fig2">2</a>D presents the survival curves for this patient cohort free from recurrence
and a total of 423 individuals experienced recurrence
The survival rates free from recurrence at 1 year
The average duration of follow-up recorded was 16.01 months
</a>The analysis of survival distribution among patients across various grades in the three scoring systems was conducted
(a) Survival distribution corresponds to the different ALBI grades
(b) Survival distribution relating to the various EZ-ALBI grades
(c) Survival distribution for the different PALBI grades
(d) The recurrence-free survival curve for the full cohort
The outcomes were consistent across the three models
The C-index for the PALBI model was recorded at 0.675 (95% CI 0.647–0.703)
</a>The nomogram plot was built based on ALBI.
</a>The nomogram plot was built based on EZ-ALBI.
</a>The nomogram plot was built based on PALBI
</a>The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves along with their respective area under the curve (AUC) for progression-free survival (PFS) at 1
are derived from the three different scoring systems
(a) ROC curves together with the AUC for PFS calculated using the ALBI scoring system
(b) ROC curves and AUC pertaining to PFS based on the EZ-ALBI system
(c) ROC curves and AUC related to PFS were determined by the PALBI scoring method
The EZ-ALBI scoring method is straightforward and practical for evaluating liver reserve capacity and effectively differentiates between the survival rates of patients with early-stage and advanced HCC
Could such findings be observed in a group of patients with HCC who are undergoing curative surgical procedures
In our bi-center analysis involving 522 HCC patients who received curative resection
it was noted that the characteristics of the cohort were comparable among patients with varying ALBI and EZ-ALBI classifications
while PALBI demonstrated discrepancies when compared to the two aforementioned grading systems
A detailed analysis of the traits of cases categorized by different ALBI and EZ-ALBI ratings indicated no significant differences with respect to gender
notable differences were identified in terms of age
We conducted a correlation analysis of ALBI
and PALBI and found that ALBI was highly consistent with EZ-ALBI
while EZ-ALBI was poorly consistent with PALBI
Given the favorable consistency of EZ-ALBI with ALBI
can EZ-ALBI serve as a substitute for ALBI in postoperative HCC patients
A comparison of the predictive power of the two may give us the answer
The rates of recurrence-free survival after 1
the recurrence-free survival percentages at 1
The ALBI grade and EZ-ALBI grade share similar prognostic characteristics
The Normogram shows the prognostic prediction models based on ALBI
among the models based on ALBI and EZ-ALBI
and pathological degree are not significantly different
In the evaluation of model prediction efficiency
The area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.705
Their Predictive effectiveness was similar at 1
Despite some differences in sensitivity and specificity
we believe that there is high consistency between the ALBI and EZ-ALBI grading systems in distinguishing clinical and prognostic characteristics of patients
Considering the simple calculation method of EZ-ALBI
EZ-ALBI can replace ALBI in predicting the prognosis of postoperative HCC patients
The area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.748
which were greater than that of the ALBI model and EZ-ALBI
respectively and the specificity for these years was 0.900
Although its sensitivity and specificity did not show an overwhelming advantage over ALBI and EZ-ALBI
the PALBI model always had the largest Jorden index
which suggests its relatively good predictive power
PALBI offers a superior predictive value for the recurrence of HCC following surgery
The EZ-ALBI grading system serves as an effective counterpart to the ALBI grading system in forecasting the postoperative recurrence of HCC patients
While PALBI requires more intricate calculations
it offers greater precision in predicting the outcomes for patients following liver cancer surgery
a significant proportion of the patients had a background of viral hepatitis
since this investigation was conducted at a large hospital as a bi-center study
further external validation of the EZ-ALBI and PALBI classifications is still necessary
and PALBI have all been identified as predictors for postoperative recurrence in individuals with HCC
A recurrence model that incorporates these factors offers enhanced predictive capabilities for HCC patients following surgical intervention
When it comes to forecasting the prognosis of HCC patients post-surgery
EZ-ALBI is considered more convenient than ALBI
whereas PALBI demonstrates greater accuracy than ALBI
both the EZ-ALBI and PALBI scoring systems may serve as viable alternatives to the ALBI score in clinical applications
The research data that support this publication can be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request
Updates in characteristics and survival rates of cirrhosis in a nationwide cohort of real-world U.S
Singh challenges in liver cancer and possible treatment approaches biochimica et biophysica acta
Challenges related to clinical decision-making in hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence post-liver transplantation: is there a hope
Predictors of early and late hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence
Preoperative predictors of early recurrence after resection for hepatocellular carcinoma
ALBI grade: evidence for an improved model for liver functional Estimation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Influence of Child-Pugh B7 and B8/9 cirrhosis on laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study
Modified Albumin-Bilirubin grade and Alpha-Fetoprotein score (mALF score) for predicting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy
Systematic review and meta-analysis of validated prognostic models for resected hepatocellular carcinoma patients
ALBI score combined with FIB-4 index to predict post-hepatectomy liver failure in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatobiliary scintigraphy and liver function changes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with 166Ho-radioembolization: HBS in HCC treated with holmium-166
Predictive model of in-hospital mortality in liver cirrhosis patients with hyponatremia: an artificial neural network approach
Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR)-Based nomogram model to predict tumor recurrence of AFP-Negative hepatocellular carcinoma
Johnson the ALBI score: from liver function in patients with HCC to a general measure of liver function
Modified albumin-bilirubin predicted survival of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with immunotherapy
Easy albumin-bilirubin score as a new prognostic predictor in hepatocellular carcinoma
Validation and prognostic value of EZ-ALBI score in patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma treated with trans-arterial chemoembolization
MELD 3.0 in prognostic prediction for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with renal insufficiency
Machine learning-based model for predicting tumor recurrence after interventional therapy in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients with low preoperative platelet-albumin-bilirubin score
Prognostic significance of postoperative change of PALBI grade for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy
Prognostic value of Platelet-Albumin-Bilirubin grade in Child-Pugh A and B patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis
Albumin-bilirubin index and platelet-albumin-bilirubin index contribute to identifying survival benefit candidates in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Pugh grade A undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with Sorafenib treatment
Comparison of platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI)
and child-pugh (CP) score for predicting of survival in advanced Hcc patients receiving radiotherapy (RT)
Wu Albumin-bilirubin grade as a predictor of survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with thrombocytopenia
Optimizing prognostic precision in hepatocellular carcinoma: integrating PWR with ALBI and PALPI scores
Nomogram based on Platelet-Albumin-Bilirubin for predicting tumor recurrence after surgery in Alpha-Fetoprotein-Negative hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Prognostic prediction for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and ascites: role of Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) grade and easy (EZ)-ALBI grade Cancers (Basel) 15
<a data-track="click" data-track-action="download citation references" data-track-label="link" rel="nofollow" href="https://citation-needed.springer.com/v2/references/10.1038/s41598-025-93716-9?format=refman&amp;flavour=references">Download references</a>
This research was funded by several grants
including the Medical Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province (LHGJ20230186)
the Science and Technology Project of Henan Province (182102310143)
and the 2023 Provincial Natural Science Foundation Youth Fund Project of Henan Province (232300420249)
Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery
The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University
Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine)
The study was designed by Tao Sun and Xinguang Qiu
while the data analysis was conducted by Tao Sun and Xiangkun Wang
Clinical data collection and oversight of the entire study process were carried out by Tao Sun
and the manuscript was both written and revised by Tao Sun
<a data-test="citation-link" data-track="click" data-track-action="download article citation" data-track-label="link" data-track-external="" rel="nofollow" href="https://citation-needed.springer.com/v2/references/10.1038/s41598-025-93716-9?format=refman&amp;flavour=citation">Download citation</a>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93716-9
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Bjarne Thiesen dribbles the ball during Maryland men’s soccer’s 2-1 loss against Indiana on Oct
ALBI and Carcassonne will fight it out for pole position in their rescheduled match on Wednesday after overcoming St Gaudens and Pia
In what should have been the final round of the regular season – before the weather put paid to last week’s clash between the top two – Albi travelled to St Gaudens and came away with a hard-won 36-22 victory after the sides had been locked at 12-12 at the break
And in an extraordinary match at Stade Albert Domec
scored by Canaries’ loose-forward Bastien Canet following a drive by Jowasa Drodrolagi
did not come until the 57th minute as both defences held impressively
After intense pressure on the Carcassonne line
Pia’s Hakim Miloudi found a gap out wide to go over with two minutes left
Carcassonne and Albi will have home semi-finals
Pia and Limoux are in contention for third
who face already-eliminated St Gaudens in their rearranged match on Wednesday
Maxime Grésèque’s men remained in contention with a 34-26 win at Avignon
with secondrow Romain Pourret and hooker Yacin Atba both crossing in their last game for the club and Fabien Jullien also touching down
pulling back to 18-10 with tries from Romain Puso and Quentin Crunel
and then took control in the second half as Puso and Crunel both added a second try
Bastien Ader also struck twice and Zac Santo chimed in with another
Sofiane Ghanem scored a late try for Avignon and Pourret fittingly had the last word with his second try of the game
already assured of the sixth and last play-off spot
Hamza Bachoukh touching down twice and Jack Aiken also crossing
with Toa Mata’afa and Paul Momirovski scoring the decisive tries in their 28-22 victory
Wail Skoundri scored Toulouse’s only try as they went in at 8-8 at half-time
after which Villefranche winger Kamaldine Sebea completed his hat-trick in a dominant second-half display
Surgeon General have declared gun violence a public health crisis
we wake up to news of a recent shooting across the city
state and the nation − each shooting leaving behind a deep-seated trauma for those impacted and the entire community
And while mass shootings and homicides tend to grab the headlines
there are many facets to the gun violence crisis that often go unseen
including firearm suicides and unintended shootings by children
More: <a href=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2023/06/08/we-are-all-to-blame-mayor-chief-lay-out-plan-to-address-gun-violence/70301977007/ target=_blank>'We are all to blame.' City officials lay out plan to address gun violence</a>
Across America, there are <a href=https://besmartforkids.org/>4.6 million homes</a> with at least one gun loaded and unlocked. That’s 4.6 million opportunities for tragedy to strike. In fact, access to a gun increases the <a href=https://www.everytown.org/issues/gun-suicide/>likelihood of suicide</a> by three times and firearm suicides make up nearly two-thirds of gun deaths
Safe and secure firearm storage is vital to preventing these tragedies
Responsible gun ownership means locking up your guns
especially when children are around or a loved one is struggling with their mental health
Secure firearm storage means all guns are locked and unloaded
I am proud that my office has partnered with the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library
and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office to offer free gun locks at all library locations both within city limits and countywide
Any adult can pick up a free gun lock − no questions asked − at any library branch
More: <a href=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/crime/2024/07/03/shootings-in-cincinnati-down-in-2024-compared-to-previous-year/74281985007/ target=_blank>Despite 2 mass shootings, fewer people have been shot in Cincinnati this year</a>
In addition to picking up a free gun lock at the library, we encourage all gun owners to <a href=https://besmartforkids.org/>Be SMART</a>:
Anna Albi is a Cincinnati City Council member
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Chefs Masako Morishita and Michael Rafidi win top industry accolades
The James Beard Foundation <a href="https://www.eater.com/24109165/james-beard-restaurant-and-chef-awards-livestream">announced the winners</a> of its 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards during a glitzy Monday night gala at the Lyric Opera of Chicago
A coast-to-coast cast of well-dressed chefs
and other hospitality professionals were awarded dozens of coveted medals in what is largely considered the Oscars of the food world
Navy Yard diners can go a la carte or opt for a $145-per-person tasting menu
Wearing a keffiyeh wrapped around his black suit jacket, Rafidi thanked his Palestinian grandparents and mom, “who paved the way for me to be here tonight.” He sported a similar scarf on the Chicago red carpet when he was up for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic last June, which was just months before the <a href="https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2023/10/24/23930269/israel-hamas-gaza-palestine-occupation-zionism-displacement">Israel-Hamas war</a> erupted
He dedicated his 2024 award to “all” Palestinian people both near and far
“This couldn’t be more timely,” noted Iranian-born commentator (and Food &amp; Wine’s former editor-in-chief) Nilou Motamed from backstage
Small towns not too far from D.C. also enjoyed big wins last night. That included Harley Peet of <a href="https://dc.eater.com/2023/4/21/23688015/how-the-tiny-maryland-town-of-easton-grew-into-a-culinary-hotbed">Easton, Maryland’s Viennese fine dining sensation Bas Rouge</a>
chef Kevin Tien (as well as Tony Conte of Darnestown
Maryland’s Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana) for the regional Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category
And Paul Smith clinched the Best Chef: Southeast title for 1010 Bridge — marking the first major honor for a West Virginia restaurant (the state did
Meanwhile, other local <a href="https://dc.eater.com/2024/4/3/24119925/2024-james-beard-awards-restaurant-chef-finalists-dc">finalists</a> ultimately didn’t take home a 2024 medal
who was up for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker; Hollis Wells Silverman (The Duck &amp; The Peach
The Wells and others) for Outstanding Restaurateur; Tail Up Goat (Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program); and Baltimore’s Clavel Mezcaleria (Outstanding Bar)
and Marcus Samuelsson presided over the lavish ceremony
which was followed by a Champagne-fueled afterparty at Chicago’s Beaux-Arts train station
<a href="https://www.eater.com/24173865/james-beard-foundation-awards-2024-media-winners-cookbooks-journalism">The Media Awards took place on Saturday, June 8 — read the full winners list here</a>
Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards
Eater is partnering with the James Beard Foundation to livestream the awards in 2024
All editorial content is produced independently of the James Beard Foundation
UK Athletics has today announced a full team of 12 athletes selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 2025 IAU World 24 Hour Championships in Albi
will see the world’s top ultra-distance athletes compete to cover the greatest distance possible within a 24-hour period on a looped course
The women’s team includes Sarah Webster (Lewes AC
a World bronze medallist over 50km and 100km
who brings a strong championship record and marathon experience from the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Joanna Zakrzewski (Durham/Dumfries) is a European and World 100km bronze medallist and currently holds the British 24-hour record with a mark of 247.984km
who finished 19th at the 2023 World Championships and ranks seventh on the UK all-time list with 235.739km
winner of the 2024 Crawley 24hr with 231.820km
a regular GB &amp; NI performer with a PB of 224.534km
who brings further major championship experience and a best of 227.715km
current British 24-hour record holder Matthew Field (Bad Boy Running Club
who set the mark of 281.303km at Gloucester in 2024
He is joined by former British record holder and 2015 World bronze medallist Robbie Britton (North Norfolk Beach Runners
the 2016 European Champion with a lifetime best of 273.003km
Christopher Kelly (Vegan Runners) was the winner of the 24 heures d’Albi with a PB of 273.375km
one of the top British performances of recent years
who finished 24th at the last World Championships and seventh at the 2022 European edition
who won the 2023 Self-Transcendence 24hr with 245.425km
Developed by <a href="http://goodformgroup.co.uk" target="_blank"></a>
He is the author and food photographer for the blog The Real Recipes
where he shares recipes inspired by his experience working for food magazines and professional test kitchens
Prepare to be amazed as you enter this remarkable cathedral in the Tarn département
Southern Gothic exterior that makes it look more like a fortress than a spiritual site
but the richly decorated interior is altogether different
Built during the late 13th-century at the instigation of Bishop of Albi, Bernard de Castanet (1240-1317), the red brick cathedral was designed not only for religious purposes, but also to send a clear signal of authority from the Catholic Church. This followed the ruthless suppression of the heretical Cathars in the <a href="https://francetoday.com/travel/languedoc-for-nature-lovers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Languedoc</a> (known as the Albigensian Crusade)
culminating in the siege of Montségur (1243-44) where an estimated 200 of them were burnt at the stake
Today, following extensive development of the exterior and interior over the centuries, the cathedral is the core attraction in the Episcopal City of Albi, a <a href="https://francetoday.com/travel/travel-features/four-favourite-unesco-world-heritage-sites-in-france/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO world heritage site</a> offering ‘exceptional’ cultural/architectural interest
you’re immediately confronted by the fabulously ornate decoration which includes dazzling geometric/trompe l’oeil patterns and extends to practically every square inch (18,500 m² to be more exact) of the walls and ceilings
Sainte-Cécile claims to have ‘the most painted’ interior of any cathedral in Europe
Look up to the vaulting and you’ll be struck by the vibrant colours of indigo (representing the sky) and gold
highlighting the breathtakingly beautiful embellishment
This is all testament to the skills of Italian fresco painters from the Renaissance who took just 3 years (1509-12) to complete the work
The grandiose theme continues with a vast (and remarkably well preserved) mural of the Last Judgment spanning the nave’s western wall
the painting depicts the hellishly horrific consequences of sin in a style that is strongly reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch
it shows the righteous ascending to Heaven too
as well as the religious hierarchy of angels
apostles and other blessed (but more worldly) beings
the central portion containing Christ and the sin of avarice was removed in the 16th-century to make way for a new chapel
Above the mural sits the cathedral’s classical organ which dates from the 18th-century and is considered to be one of the finest in France
At the opposite end of the nave you’ll find the (15th-century) rood screen
prefigured by the ‘baldequin’ entrance to the cathedral
To get the full experience of the interior
it’s well worth paying the modest fee to explore the area beyond this which includes the Great Choir (Grand Choeur) and Treasury (Trésor)
you’ll discover further splendid stonework
as well as a (recently restored) polychrome statue of Sainte-Cécile
In the surrounding corridor (ambulatory) there are many more statues
is divided into two spaces and holds a number of fascinating exhibits including a facsimile of the Mappa Mundi
one of the ‘two oldest known representations of the inhabited world as it was perceived in the 8th-century’ (the other is in the Vatican)
You’ll also find a remarkable 14th-century painted wooden panel/polyptych of the Madonna and Child
and relics of various saints including Sainte-Cécile
If you have time, there is much more of interest inside the cathedral and the bonus is you can visit the Berbie Palace (former bishops’ palace) and <a href="https://francetoday.com/travel/travel-features/city-focus-albi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toulouse-Lautrec museum</a> which are right next door
just 10 minutes&#8217; walk towards the centre of town are the gardens (jardin du Cloître) of the collégiale Saint-Salvi
a delightfully tranquil spot to reflect on your tour
not least the magnificent interior of the cathedral
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The historic Pont-Vieux in the heart of Albi (Tarn) is closed to road traffic for several months
The bridge – first constructed in the 11th century
and one of the oldest surviving in Europe – has been sporadically closed to vehicles in recent weeks as workers put up the necessary scaffolding and safety features for works to begin
It was fully closed to road traffic on Monday (September 16)
Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use it
as the local authorities pledged to keep it partially open for locals whilst the renovations were carried out
The two roads leading up to the bridge on either side – rue Rinaldi and rue Porta – will temporarily be open to two-way traffic
Drivers are advised to use an alternative bridge
to cross the Tarn river running through the historic city centre
Access to this bridge is usually closed for vehicles during summer to allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross but has been reopened due to the temporary closure of the Pont-Vieux
Read more: <a href="https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/paris-ring-road-region-to-oppose-october-speed-cut-to-50-km/h/677898">Paris ring road: region to oppose October speed cut to 50 km/h</a>
There are new boxes in the address and personal details page of the 2025 online declaration (for 2024 income)
The geographical spread of Canadian nationals follows a similar pattern to Americans
Her body was found outside initial search area by a walker over the weekend