bookluvingbabe

Blue Dimaond was a college favorite and the only alternative to Dominos late at night. They had the best greasy fried rice....

I get them from City Lights too... Indulged just last night...

It's in a strip mall so there is quite a bit of space out front. I also suspect we'll have a higher than normal percentage of people either car-pooling or taking Metro in order to drink more wine. I know I'll be taking Metro. Jennifer

I attended a privte dinner at the Willard recently and was suprised at how nice it was. It's such a magnificant space and the food was quite nice. The sea scallops with avocados was just a lovely taste of the sea.

Is it the usual $9?I was tempted the other night....

18 month wedding anniversery; dinner at Palena on Wednesday night. We both had the gnocchi and the duck raviolini. Both were great. I really, really like this preperation of the gnocchi. I actually skipped the pumpkin goat chese cake in anticipation of Thanksgiving and had the chocolate mousse cake instead. Very nice and not too rich. A good addition to the menu. We came out to light flurries--almost made me wish it was Christmas Eve instead of Thanksgiving Eve. Jennifer

Exhaustion. But it's a good, warm fuzzy exhaustion. Overall I think it went well. I thought the turkey was a little dry but I've certainly had worse. The brussel sprouts were good, not great. Mr. BLB did try them at least. The root vegetable weren't done when everything else was so I've designated them for dinner tomorrow night. We're going to digest and then have the pies. Thanks for all the suggestions! Happy Thanksgiving! Jennifer

What about an early reservation at Firefly or Corduroy? They'll probably have a special menu but they are so solid you'll be safe and you'll have a nice dinner before the whole staff loses their minds over the crowds. That said, we stay in on NYE. We'll go out on the 30th. We stay in on Valentine's Day and go out the 13th or the 15th. Jennifer

Then I'm very glad I bought backup gravy!Sigh... Jennifer

3 trips to the store... One 9 pound turkey in the fridge... A slightly irrational fear that the olive oil is going to run out between now and Wednesday... One delicious smelling but decidely ugly apple pie. It's starting to feel a lot like Thanksgiving. Now if they would just stop playing Christmas Carols on the radio so I could remember what holiday I'm celebrating, I'd be set! Sigh... Jennifer

Starbucks-Tenley Town--this afternoon. Tried TWICE to order a chantico. First visit, the clerk ignored me for two minutes while I stood there holding my money and trying to make eye contact. Second visit, after picking up Thursday's Dinner, there was no clerk. A line but no clerk. Clearly, if there is a god, she is telling me I shouldn't have a chantico today....

Pumpkin pie #1 is in the oven. (I expect a second pie will be needed at some point this weekend...) Revised stock plan--not enough turkey parts available at WF. Guess everyone else read the same WP recipe and wanted to try it. Will make the recipe from Gourmet on Thursday with the simmering on the stove... (Bought wild mushroom gravy as backup just in case...) Trying to decide if I should hit Kotobuki for lunch since I'm home for a change before I tackle the apple pie. I also discovered that I own ONE mixing bowl. Not sure that it matters or that I'm going to need to be mixing two things at the same time but... Mr. BLB would probably prefer if I stayed away from Linens & Things today. The stores weren't bad--I got out of TJ by 9:45 and WF by 10:45. The pie smells yummy already. Jennifer

I'm not a fan of the back room of Palena. I am a fan of having the back room menu in the front room. It's crazy but I just seem to enjoy the menu better when I know I could bail out and get the cheeseburger...

I love my office. When I announced I needed to take today off to get ready for Thanksgiving, no one blinked. Anyone care to make side bets on how many trips I'm going to make to the store today? Mr. BLB has already predicted 2 which is the minimum I have planned. (Defined as how many times the car leaves our parking garage.) My plan--early morning shopping at Target, Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Come home to make stock, apple pie and pumpkin pie. Finish cleaning out the fridge. Late afternoon--second trip to Whole Foods just to pick up turkey. Barbara-- I am going cream the brussell sprouts as a surprise for Mr. BLB. We'll see if his love of creamed veggies outweighes his inherent dislike of the sprouts. Jennifer

I'm going to try to do that whe I go back in January. I was juggling to much to try to do that this time.I ended up with a lovely breakfast at Balthazar--yummy eggs norwegian. Late lunch at the Shake Shack that I then had to walk up to Midtown to work off. One mediocre cupcake at Buttercup Bakery. (With rude-ish service.) A terrific dinner at Maria Pia on 51st between 9th and 10th. Great pastas; good fish and a calamari special that was breathtaking. A pretty good dinner at the Knickerbocker with some of the most inept but cheerful service that we ended up tipping 30%. The poor waiter clearly needed to go back and start the day over. But we had no other plans for the evening, my gimlet was good and the food was as solid as ever. The chocolate souffle makes up for almost anything. I had walked down from Times Square though so I was too tired to hit either Pegu or Magnolia as planned after dinner. Had a final dinner at West Bank Cafe in the theater district. Nice solid meal as well. Had a terrific duck with a parsnip mash. Went down to Billy's Bakery to snag cupcakes for breakfast and that was the extent of my NY dining this time. As I said, I'll be back in January and will hopefully be able to make better choices with fewer things to juggle. I was running between Times Square, Midtown East and the tip of the island for work so alas, food got the short end of the priorities this time. Sigh... Jennifer

Thanks! That's what I was looking for. Put together a bag and will some extra stuff when I'm out tomorrow.

cincinatti three-way though I prefer making it home from their spice mixes. (I make it with TVP and turkey. )

I like Original Pancake House. There is also a Booymongers on 410 just to the right of the Bethesda Metro if you are facing north on Wisconsin Avenue. Both provided breakfasts the weekend of my wedding. OPH was good basic food and the Booymongers had lovely greasy bacon. (I like my bacon undercooked and floppy, as I recall it was perfect...) Jennifer

Does anyone know if the food bank drive that usually occurs the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at the Old Post Office Pavillion is taking place again this year? I haven't heard anything and I can't remember who sponsors it... Thanks! Jennifer

Ditto! Jennifer

What store? Or am I simply blind? Jennifer

I'm thinking of heading over shortly...

I thought that Sutton Place changed the name to Balducci's to take advantage of name recognition but was still basically Sutton Place. (Sort of like Nations Bank taking over Bank of America but using the Bank of America name because it was better known.)On topic: I've had great luck with Costco platters....

The Mashed Potatoes are a must with Mr. BLB. Plus he can make them so that's one less thing for me to worry about. It would be easy enough to do a variety of roasted veggies--he'd like that and so would I. Will have to see what's at the Dupont Market on Sunday. Thanks!

Deep breath. I can do this. I'm a good cook...not great but solidly good. I'm not going to try to do it all and I have no problem about calling in the experts (Whole Foods et al) when I need help. Turkey--must order from WF tonight Recipe--TBD, Mr. BLB has rejected the maple bourbon glazed one I suggested. Will continue to review the literature. Stuffing--prepackaged from WF, will add celery, onions and mushrooms. I make it with stock and cider instead of water. Gravy--will make my own following the Guidelines from Dean Gold posted here recently. Will buy backup just in case. Rolls--Will buy and freeze Challah rolls from Marvelous Market on Friday. Roasted carrots--just olive oil and salt Brussel sprouts--ditto Mashed potatoes--I'm a Yukon gold fan and will have to pick up soon. Will get some cream or half and half. Crazy thought--creamed onions but that would require a trip to Costco. Maybe not... That's probably enough veggies for two people though I am tempted by the roasted cauliflower but that shows up reguarly on our table so it isn't special. I feel a little bad that sweet potatoes didn't make the cut but there is always Christmas. Dessert: Mr. BLB wants apple pie. I want pumpkin pie. I've never made a pie beyond taking it out of the Mrs. Smith box. But I'd like to. I'm thinking of taking Tuesday off to shop and bake and leave the rest of everything for Thursday. Am I crazy? What am I missing? Jennifer