JPW

I think that where there are negative effects from these bans they tend to be border issues. For places in, say, Rockville, I don't think the ban hurt too much because it's a long drive to get to a county/state where you can smoke. For places in downtown SS where both the district and PG county are 5 minutes away there may be more of a loss. One interesting note -- I remember reading in the SS Gazette that membership at the fraternal lodges (Elk, Moose, etc) has gone way up. Private club = smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Last night's dinner was at JPW's Thai Home Eatery Pork larb - absolutely exquisite. The chef has really perfected this dish Cucumber salad with salty sweet lime dressing - not bad but nothing special Chix stir fry with chinese broccoli and bamboo shoots - nicely done and just the right amount of heat. Could have used a little bit more sauce as the bamboo shoots are thirsty little bastards.

Not always. For one, occasionally the MoCo stores have great sales. I only go to a couple places in the district, but, for example, the Magruder's regular price on Maker's Mark is much higher than MoCo regular price .

Did some quick research - SALES tax on liquor DC - 8% VA - 4% MD - 5% BUT, this does not include any of the excise tax or other accounting tricks that VA ABC puts into its liquor prices. DC and MD have close to the same excise taxes on beer and wine, VA is MUCH higher (basically triple). Overall pricing will require more testing. Not to mention to start comparing non-Montgomery County parts of MD.

Chix quesadillas with Monday night's leftovers.

In today's weekly dish, Sietsema covers Jonathan Krinn doing a bistro/bar menu. One item mentioned "succulent baby cheeseburgers (two for $14)". NOOOOOO!!!!!!! PS - Gotta add that the terrace sounds like a great place to hang out and the other couple of items mentioned sounded interesting. See here

I think we all agree that Congress is unlikely to act on this. Change will likely only happen at the state level, such as NJ which rescinded intra-state shipping as they saw this decision coming down the pike. Now that I finally read the front page of the Post today, I actually know some of the situation around our area VA - Allows shipment of 1 case per month DC - Allows shipment of 1 bottle per month MD - Shit out of luck My personal plan is to continue to support Free The Grapes in their efforts to get these jurisdictions (esp. MD ) to open up to wine shipments.

Great minds think alike.

Nope. Experienced Clyde's enough to avoid it going forward.

Balsamic glazed chicken with rice and grilled endive. edit to add -- forgot steamed asparagus

The neighborhood rumor mill has it that opening day will be May 27. Did a drive by this weekend and they appear to have everything almost ready to go. They just need to stock the shelves.

Prompted by Rissa's mentioning that she had a "New Mexico sparkling wine", which I guessed correctly was Gruet, I ask the following -- Is Gruet the new mini-burger? I first had it about 2 years ago at Grapeseed in Bethesda. Since then I have seen it many places, although I haven't kept track of exactly where. I know that they carry it at Adega in SS. Ubiqitous hipster food that gets sold because it is "unusual" or something worth while?

Seeing as this has become our multiauthored food blog... Friday - Hamburgers on the grill Saturday - friend's wedding. typical country club food. Lobster bisque with a pastry crust on top (OK once I added a fair amount of pepper), filet (overcooked) with steamed veggies, wedding cake. Sunday -- By the time I cam home from dropping the babysitter off Saturday night it was way too late for me. As a result, instead of pork larb and a chicken with chinese broccoli and bamboo shoot stir fry, we had the aforementioned leftover pizza with leftover hamburger.

Is Gruet now as ubiquitous as the miniburger? Do I have to put this on my "death to hipster foods" list?

I don't know. Yeah, but would any such state laws still run up against the inter-state trade amendment? Last I looked a Constitutional Amendment trumps any law subsequently passed by Congress. Yeah, a few wineries.

The bastards!

Didn't miss all that much? Nonsense. With a child that is hitting a phase where I will no longer be able to take her out for multi-course meals (not to mention all of the money she has started sucking from my pocket) info on the Ugly Mug and pho is all that much more important to me. IMO one can never have too much discussion about pho. Not to mention knowing never to get grilled cheese at the Capitol Grill. However, you are correct that your Sunday meal was of no great interest to me. Especially since I was watching Desparate Housewives and eating leftover Armand's pizza that our babysitter had ordered Saturday night.

The only thing for us Free State residents is what our lovely state legislature and Gov. Bobby will do. The opinion only states that the states can't discriminate. The states could still ban all (intra- and inter-) state shipping. Add in the idiocy that is the Montgomery County Liquor Board, and it is not at all clear if we will be able to get wine shipped.

Ooops, sorry! Wrong site. Seriously, didn't anybody eat anything this weekend? Nobody has any food related thoughts today? C'mon! With Peanut around, I have to mainly live vicariously through the good folks on this board.

I had a sample of a greenhouse regular size tom on Sunday and it was better than nothing. But I think that I will hold out until the real ones start coming in.

Amusing piece in Friday's City Paper about the hassles she is getting for trying to change the sign on the building. Some yahoos claim that the 20 year old neon sign for the old pizza shop is "historic"

Takoma's starting to pick up a little. Got some greenhouse grown grape tomatoes, some very nice asparagus, some basil and some cheese. Can't wait for real tomatoes.

Very slim possibility that I could do Sunday. Need to check with my boss.

So there I was on the beltway this morning listening to WTOP. Every Thursday Sietsema has a little piece. Today he was talking about Merkado and its "fusion" cuisine. -- "Sometimes it seems more like CONfusion food." Hmmmm... where have I heard that line before?

Peanut's papa is playing hooky to help care for the little one recovering from pink eye Peanut had peas for lunch, papa was too lazy to cook and wanted to go somewhere nearby. But what did he want? Peanut wasn't much help in deciding but he knew by the gleam in her eye. That she was thinking, "today is a perfect day to have some pizza pie". "Where to go?", pondered papa as he wiped her face clean of peas. "It's got to be someplace close. Someplace we can get to with ease" Most of the places in Silver Spring are junk filled with grease! A lightbulb went on over his head, he fell upon his knees. By Jove I think that I've got it! We'll go to 2 Amys! Down East-West Highway thinking of cheese before Wisconsin. In and out of traffic that little Honda moved faster than Ben Johnson. There it is! There it is! Ready to stuff his face. Exclaiming further, "Now I just need a fucking parking place." Carrying Peanut through the door with a belabored pace. Sit down. Iced Tea. Temporarily out of the rat race. "Bresaola and arugula white pie that should do me right." It came out quick and, oh my, what a sight. The crust was a little too salty but it was perfectly chewy and light. Papa almost forgot Peanut was there, satiated and face aglow with delight. Then some fussing it did begin as Peanut was a little ill at ease. "Check if you could kind waitress and hurry if you please!" Run out the door, to the car, fall down upon his knees. In the passenger seat, the changing pad laid out neat Peanut's well-fed papa changed a diaper full of poop made green by her peas.