beachgirl54

Where did you get it? Would like to get some to bring to snobby family on Thanksgiving trek. Thanks.

I went to Fuego last night with a group of friends to belatedly celebrate my birthday (thanks, Sandy). Sat in the bar area. I had two tacos, shrimp and chorizo - both very good. Then went overboard and got the duck flautas, also good, and they came with a somewhat spicy mole sauce.

I also had two margaritas - I'm very picky about my margaritas and despise sour mix. According to the waiter, they make their own agave and there is no sour mix in the blend. I thought they were quite tasty and would have had a third but knew I needed to be focused today.

Friends enjoyed their tacos & enchilada - the friend who had the enchilada said the food exceeded her expectations.

We all agreed we liked the space, the food and the drinks and that we would be back.

Thought you'd like to know the final result, which was good -

1. Broken tail light and no glasses citations dismissed.

2. Fine but no points for moving violation.

3. Attorney I found (nice guy) only charged $75 for consult, $100 to appear with her at traffic court, extending a professional courtesy to me.

All's well that ends well . . .

I was at Great Wall supermarket in Merrifield today and, oddly, they had young ginger.

Used a Groupon/some deal at Gaithersburg location last week - didn't have any demands for staff but they were friendly. And the most important thing - my burger was cooked to the temp that I like and almost never get - medium rare. Plus, I love their soda machine contraption - I rarely drink soda but liked that they had root beer.

Thanks to all the suggestions - found someone through the mom group I'm a member of, who charged a very nominal amount for the consultation. Now it's up to the nanny to decide what to do. It all should be fine - it's just the intimidation factor for her, a non-native English speaker. Who, by the way, drives like a grandmother.

Appreciate all the help!

Thanks KT, I did receive it, will get in touch with them. Escoffier, I don't know any Falls Church cab drivers but that's a novel idea.

Anyone ever been? It's this weekend at Sandy Point State Park, kid events look fun, ticket prices go up after today. I didn't recognize most of the food vendors but not familiar with that area. Thanks.

Ocean City

Headed to Ocean City, NJ for a few days, courtesy of a friend who rented a house facing the beach (I'm so excited!) Will have my 3 year old with me - just wondering if there is anything I shouldn't miss or must avoid? I know it's a pretty quiet town but I hope to eat at least one decent slice of pizza . . .

I too took advantage of Dean's generosity last night and dined out with a group of girlfriends on the extended RW menu. I'm a bit hung over but can say that everything we had exceeded expectations - friends enjoyed the summer vegetable risotto, calamari, squash blossoms for appetizers - I had banh mi.

Entrees, with cleaned plates at the end were the duck breast, duck pasta (me - yum) and the lamb shank.

Dessert - gelato afffogato for coffee addict friend, and the nico (I think that's what it was called) for the other two. I had baked peaches - Pat is right, they are a winner.

Meredith was our server. She rocks.

Thanks to Dean for a wonderful night.

I love this place and don't go often enough. There's a Groupon deal for it right now - when I bought it, said that there were over 1000 purchased, so they should be crowded for a while .. .

Just spent my annual week with family in Keene Valley and the one kinda nice place there closed - and it wasn't even that good. Not a lot of choices up there so I'd recommend taking what you can get. Have fun!

Java Shack & Buzz in Arlington too.

Met a friend for lunch here today (I miss La Flor de la Canela - location was closer to my office) and had a lovely meal. She had avocado stuffed with crabmeat + plaintains (kind of a veggie) and I had yucca stuffed with crabmeat and eye round with polenta - couldn't finish it despite the fact that it tasted so good. Shared panna cotta for dessert after discussion with Juan (part-owner? Wasn't clear) about lucama. We asked if they had anything with cheri moya (sp?) and the panna cotta filled the bill. It was delicious but I need a nap now.

I also asked Juan about the fried rice dish they had at La Flor - it's not on their menu here but he had the kitchen make some for us to take home - I can't exactly recall the name but it's something like chufra. Really liked it at La Flor.

Good choice if you're in Rockville. Service was a little slow but everyone there is very accomodating.

I live in N. Arlington, close to 50/Target and (shamefully) for the first time ventured into Great Wall in Merrifield. Went nuts buying crazy mushrooms, baby bok choy and fish. I know there are others near by. Which ones do you like for variety, cleanliness and prices? Particularly interested in veggies/fruits, fresh fish and funky desserts - I got some taro root ice pops at Great Wall that I liked.

Thanks - Nancy

When it was Chez Mo, it was Moroccan. This iteration of Fettoush was by one of the former employees who bought, in some fashion, the restaurant name from the former owner of the one in Georgetown. Spoke with him when he first opened - went to Pupatella tonight and there were two guys sitting on a bench outside Pupatella working on what seemed like plans for the space.

I live close by and wonder, every time I go, why I don't eat here more often. It's so good . . . . Oh, that's right - I have a 3 year old. But they catered to him nicely - mango juice and pasta. And he was taken by the decor - I find it charming inside.

Friend and I had the same eggplant dish as KMango - nothing left on the plate. Hummus and kibbe to start, both delicious. Friend had wine (didn't ask her how it was but it was gone) and I had the Lebanese beer Alhamra (sp?), a pilsner, which I tend to always like.

We used a Groupon but the bill was really reasonable for the quality of the food.

Gatorade. And real Coke, not diet - will help with nausea. Feel better.

Asking for a friend of mine - she thinks I know a lot about food (not really - I just really like food) but I really don't know caterers except what I've had and liked. Thanks - Nancy

"Is there is a caterer you would recommend? Husband turns 40 in July and wants to do a party at the house. I want to hire someone to take care of everything but I also want fun, creative, yummy food. I am open to varying level of fancy. Any suggestions?"

They never last - seem to be unable to sustain high temps without breaking. Grrrr.

Does your pizza stone break too? What am I doing wrong? I store it in the oven - maybe that's wrong (read that somewhere).

Or maybe I've been buying the wrong ones.

Please advise. Thanks.

I posted this somewhere else on dr.com but I like Panda Cafe at the intersection of Wilson & George Mason Drive. I get delivery from them about 2 times a month and always get the eggplant in garlic sauce. I don't know their MSG policy but you can ask. It's good basic Chinese, like all the delivery places I grew up with in NYC. I asked them once where the cuisine is from and they said Fu Shin (excuse my butchering of the spelling).

I don't think there's anything on this place here but, for Chinese delivery/take out, like what I grew up with in NYC, I like Panda Cafe across from Pupatella on Wilson. Good basic Chinese - I always get the eggplant in garlic sauce and I've had their veggie moo shu (sp?) and liked it. We're not talking Joe's Noodle House kind of Chinese - just basic, easy and good. Pretty inexpensive too.

Avoid Two Chefs at all costs. Bad food (literally - it went bad and they served it).

Thanks to everyone for the help - I'm going to drive because it saves time and I need to be there by 10:30 am. From Google maps (thanks Don), looks like the Towers lot will work best for me (think business attire and high heels).

Congressman Stokes and many others are sure to be there - my boss was previously his Chief of Staff and probably had something to do with funding the library he's named after. Should be a grand event befitting a grand man.

I have a memorial service next Friday at Howard (see my previous post in "To Whom Are You Drinking" - very sad). I'm not familiar with the area - is there a parking lot near the Louis Stokes Library? Gladly will pay to park - just want it to be easy so I don't have to think that day. Thanks, Nancy