bookluvingbabe

I think I have to go chronologically: January--Hearth, NY April--Noodle Pudding, Brooklyn May--Buddakan, Philadelphia Citronelle, DC July--Dino, DC (opening week) July--Firefly, DC August--The Church, Stratford (three times) October--Palena, DC November--Firefly Palena December--Palena

Is Firefly participating? I thought they had stopped a year or two ago.

I recently bought a soft noodle package called Myojo Udon. One serving per package; 250 calories; 1 gram of fat, 5 points?

I don't think I've seen fish regularly on the Cafe menu in the winter. There is often a ceasar salad with a nice hunk of seared fish.

It's a chain but McCormick and Schmick's isn't too bad. The Bethesda location in particular seems to try hard.Hank's? Or is there nothing for the kids there? What about Al Tiramisu? I've always had great fish there. Good luck! Jennifer

Avoca had just opened when we were there in August. It didn't seem especially Irish so we skipped it. The Globe looked interesting but we didn't go in. Garlic's got a mixed review from our innkeeper so we passed. 38 has a very tiny little menu, smaller even than Bijou's so it's a gamble if you are a picky eater. I would really strongly suggest the Church for brunch if you don't want to do the pre-fixe. (I will also confess that in August we ate there 4 times--once for the Caberet with the Belfry menu, once for brunch and twice for dinner. We saved our pennies like crazy.) If you go for dinner, ask to sit with Robert. He is wonderful and will take perfect care of you. We had several lovely lunches at Boomer's this last trip. Fast, easy and tasty. Overall, I thought the last two trips that the quality was going downhill at a few places, notably Pazzo, Fellin's and the Boars Head. We haven't made our plans yet--waiting for more of the casting to be fleshed out , hopefully soon! Good luck!

Not in Vancouevr, but I will almost never book a place that doesn't use Opentable these days. Why spend all that time on the phone when I can do it at 11 pm or 8 am when I think of it?

I had decent chili at the Cincinnati airport a few weeks back. Bought it at Terminal B (I think) and then shuttled over to Terminal C which was a barren wasteland. This was after I had a well-done burger at LGA at the Fox Sports place--the only way they would cook it. Yuck! Buffalo has a decent "weck" sandwich at one of the bars on the Southwest side of the airport. Jennifer

Ditto!!!! I have the 3 1/2 quart and just bought the 5 1/2 quart. The 3 1/2 quart saute is the single most used pan in my household. I added the 5 1/2 to have more space to cook with and since Mr. BLB doesn't always get the dishes done right after I cook....

I lept into the fray with a chili stew concoction for lunch today. I used stew meat, onions, garlic, fire roasted tomatoes, chipoltes in adobo sauce, a little cumin, a little paprika and a little chili powder plus several slugs of vinager. Served with cornbread, cheddar cheese and sour cream. It was a little spicy for my taste -- I'm usually a Cincinnatti chili girl but I had two servings and hubby had two as well. I browned the meat and then simmered it for about 3 hours. The meat didn't get as tender as I had hoped. Oh well. There's always next time!

This post gave me such hope that I specfically stopped in the cookie aisle at Harris Teeter last night. Alas the partially hydrogenated fats were still there in the Lido cookies... Jennifer

I can't stand them but we buy them by the kilo when visiting Canada for friends who adore them...

Lido cookies. Mom used to put them in my lunch box....

I remember when lines were out the door at the CT and NEB Ave location. At some point, in my early 30s, we stopped buying bread there. It was too much effort to chew and my jaws always hurt after I was done. The pastries and muffins were always good but very oily. The foodstuffs were always overpriced. Still I would find myself there around the holidays, seeking a special sweet or something. The challah was always nice, especially the challah rolls. I haven't tried them recently so I don't know if there has been a change. All in alll...Sigh.... Jennifer

The Mira mesa location will close in a few days and the La Jolla locations is sold to somebody else who will keep the name but it is not sure what will happen to the food. ←

Im sorry to say that all the Fins location except Mira Mesa and La Jolla have closed down. ← I just need the La Jolla location to stay open til Feb. Very sad to hear about the Mission Valley location as that was very convienent to downtown and the Gas Lamp. Mr. BLB had his first shrimp burrito there...Jennifer

That's the beauty of Costco--return it!

I'm a bit geographically challenged as well but I swear by Fin's. www.fins.net for the best shrimp burrito on earth. Seriously. Arranged my upcoming trip to LA and Hawaii to arrive in San Diego just to get a fix and am then driving up to LA.... Jennifer

Anyone know if Mark Burnett or INXS has an interest in Little Penguin wines? It keep showing up on Rock Star: INXS. Personal interest? Product placement? Thanks!

You can't go wrong with any of the soups. I think the charred tomato will take your breath away. Had the Northern Neck Corn soup last night--lovely... I've never heard anyone say a negative word about the soups. Enjoy! Jennifer

I don't seed or peel tomatoes!

How were the portions at Bijou? It's been off our list for a few years due to the tiny, tiny portions... Thanks!

I would suspect quite the opposite to be true. If I had had such tight restrictions in my youth, I would opt for the most *trefah and permissable of options ...Ham and oysters and all types of shrimp .. cheeseburgers, etc. all of which I had missed in my upbringing. but I may be completely off-base in my assumptions ... * Forbidden food is called trefah ← But they may substitute something differently rigid into their lives--no salt; no fat; nothing non-organic; no carbs.... That type of thing....

There was rhubarb in my husband's creme brulee in Canada last week. (Not listed on the menu and not in mine...) Talk about scary!

TenPehn, DC Coast and Ceiba usually make all the entrees available but only a handful of so-so apps and desserts. Stick with places like Corduroy, Vidalia, Tosca and others that really do make the whole menu available... Jennifer