bookluvingbabe

Jennifer Frey, former WaPo reporter. I always loved her stuff and missed her when she left the Post. Only 47 and survivors include her 17 year old daughter. Damn...

Don, I didn't say it was better. I said it was in-law friendly. There is a difference as many of us trying to keep our spouse's parents happy while dining out will attest! For my in-laws, Coastal Flats is too loud. Cooper Canyon is much quieter and the food is bland and benign.

Yes. New Carrollton no longer has overnight parking otherwise I'd be all over it.

Is it any different, foodwise, from their other venture, Cooper Canyon? Because in the pursuit of in-law friendly food, Cooper Canyon is now winning by a mile. Even over the otherwise popular Coastal Flats.

I have started taking Amtrak out of BWI instead of Union Station because of the parking. It isn't a solution for people in Virginia but if you live in Maryland, it may make sense for you.

I almost always pick the wrong reality show contestant to root for (I think my exceptions were Richard Blais on All-Stars and The Beekman Boys on Amazing Race) but I just looked at a map to see if we could drive to New Orleans for spring break to eat at Isaac's restaurant. (For the record, not practical.) Mr. BLB whimpered when he realized Kwame was gone. He was also not pleased that I kept saying Carl was gone. I like Marjorie on the show but the menu at Ripple always looks underwhelming to me.

Isn't it actual Truman Show-like architecture? Didn't the same firm design the Kentlands that did Seaside (Truman Show setting)?

We have been stopping at Chubby's following visits to Liberty for the last several winters. Today was the first disappointing visit we've had. No corned beef, no pastrami, no pork belly today. All fine since there are other good choices. The mild wings were served in a puddle of sauce. A pool. There were ants on the table. Not a single stray ant. Several ants. Every time I would kill one, another would appear... The burger and pork loin were fine (although I was initially told that pork loin is a summer only item but the server was mistaken....) And then, despite being listed on the menu and on the specials board, there was no gooey butter cake. Which BL-3rd grader had been looking forward to for a year. When I pointed out that it as still listed on the specials board as we left, our server said, "yes. It can be misconstrued." I don't know what that means but I think it is lazy to have a specials board and not to update it if you don't have something. Especially when it is a white board and can be updated with a wet napkin. Sigh...

No idea but now I'm hungry...

Pork shoulder is in the crockpot but got a late start. Back up plan for dinner is Cincinnati style chili. Breakfast was bacon and a package of Trader Joe's biscuits. Everyone foraged for lunch--Mr. BLB made BL-3rd grader an omelette, reducing the number of eggs in the house to 13. I had leftover meat sauce and Mr. BLB had cold cuts. Last night's final indulgence was hot chocolate made with heavy cream and a good dose of vanilla extract. Everyone got a very small portion and mine was heavily dosed with kahlua.

I think it is probably a good thing for my waistline and pocketbook that I rarely drive down that part of Connecticut Avenue anymore and that when I do, it is even rarer to find a parking space. Happily, in my attempt to get a few treats pre-blizzard I found a space yesterday. The triple chocolate cookie is a thing of beauty. When I was fresh out of college and living in a group house in upper NW, I regularly made a double chocolate cookie recipe that I got from Hershey. They were amazing and I lost the recipe and I've never found anything that comes close to my memory of those cookies. Bread Furst is like a perfect version of those cookies. And they seem to have them whenever I go. My pre-blizzard indulgence was a small lemon meringue pie--which probably was meant to be at least 2 or 3 servings. I enjoyed it immensely all myself though. They were pretty full at lunch time yesterday and the ordering/paying system was as chaotic and confusing as ever.

We did mac and cheese for lunch. Breakfast was mini quiches and breakfast brie from Wegmans. Our dryer vent is pretty much ground level--it melts a pretty good path around it. It is also the only part of my lawn that stays green year round... I have coolers at the ready to stick in the snow when the power goes out. Hoping to make a ground turkey pineapple skillet for dinner tonight with some rice. But right now I'm enjoying one of BreadFurst's triple chocolate cookies and another cup of decaf while I warm up from our first outing to playing the snow.

School has a two hour delay so we will venture out by 9:15... Montgomery County roads don't seem to be too bad... Fingers crossed!

Sad to see they have changed the rewards program. I've used my points (which I hoard...)for dinners I could otherwise not bring myself to pay for. (CityZen, twice...)Sigh...

I should post the picture I took of my grocery cart after Nimoy's death. It was chocolate, wine and more chocolate.

You are my people. Visiting my in-laws when I saw the Kelly obit and my gasp of sadness was met with, "Who???" from everyone. Sigh...

We've stayed off-site and I was so crossed-eyed tired that driving back after was just not a good plan. So staying on-site works for us. We really like to do early EMH and then hop elsewhere. Don, my own young companion is desperate to do all 4 parks in one day. Perhaps this summer I'll come up with a plan for him to do it.

We stayed at Coronado December 18-26th and we did a Beach Club trip in August. We heard fireworks at both resorts every night. The December fireworks were the worst because I would be awakened at 11 pm or midnight for the Star Wars ones every single night. Mr. BLB and BL-3rd grader never stirred. I actually found the Beach Club pool noises to be more of an issue than the fireworks when we stayed there--of course we had "splurged" on a pool view. Never again! Booked our next trip for an old fashioned standard view. We did a grocery delivery from WeGoShop of cold cuts, yogurts and water so we did breakfast in the room or I would throw a ziplock bag of deli meat in my bag and we'd eat while waiting for the bus. It made taking advantage of the 7 am park openings so much easier! (BL-3rd grader is up at 6 am no matter what...) Our dining highlights and lowlights: The Plaza: The Club Sandwich was a winner for me. No one else liked their meal though (tuna salad and brisket burger) and I don't think we'll be going back. The Rose and Crown: Excellent all around. Perfectly fried fish and chips for the youngster. Mr. BLB and I shared a pork pie, corned beef and a shepherds pie. Hollywood and Vine (Minnie's Holiday Dinner): I don't like buffets at Disney. And I really don't like them at dinner. But I was surprised at how fresh everything was, everything was kept at an appropriate temperature and the dessert variety was impressive. California Grill: Once again, our best meal was here. They make an impressive cocktail, the service is excellent, the view is amazing and the food is always on point. Mr. BLB had the bison steak. I think I had the pork two ways. BL-3rd grader had the kid's salmon and the rice krispy treat sushi for dessert. Whispering Canyon: We went because I needed to see the Wilderness Lodge holiday decorations. BL-3rd grader and I shared the all you care to eat skillet and Mr. BLB ordered something he didn't like but I can't remember what it was. I liked most of the skillet but had no room for any more. The setting is beautiful and it is a nice option if you want to see the resort without paying Artists Point prices. Liberty Tree Tavern: We did lunch and it was another grand success. Fish and chips (again) for BL-3rd grader who may have exceeded his fish ration for week now that I think about it, a Salmon salad for me and something unmemorable for Mr. BLB. The ooey-goeey toffee cake was a perfect end note. Places we could skip next time: Cinderella's Royal Table (average but super expensive), Beaches and Cream, Mama Melrose, The Pepper Market.

Yes. I keep telling myself we won't go back but BL-3rdgrader loves it.

Of that ilk but neither of those.

It is lemon on the lower right. The chicken was very overcooked and it was NYE so it was probably hurriedly assembled.

Where did I dine?

I haven't made them in forever--going paleo does that to you. I prefer organic, fair traden soy-free chocolate chips when I do make them. If I'm going all out, I will chop up an unsweetened bar and add it.

:-) I don't think there are clear borders--it is really driven by the postal zip codes. The Harris Teeter has a Potomac zip code. So does the Brooklyn Deli in the same plaza. Tower Oaks Lodge is a Rockville zip code. Hell, White Flint was considered Kensington by the post office... I agree that it all makes little sense...

Isn't that area considered Potomac? I was in yesterday and the selections are pretty, expensive and pretty narrow at this point.