Terminal D at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport is relatively new, opening in 2005, and so much resembles a huge stainless steel-and-glass shopping mall with modern artwork that the airport gates seem almost an afterthought.
On the return leg of my trip to Austin, I had a long layover at DFW so I got the chance to eat at Cousin's Barbecue, a small Ft. Worth chain that's opened up an outlet at Gate D28.
Both the food and the service were far better than what you usually get in an airport.
About Cousin's
Not only has Cousin's been named to Texas Monthly's list of the Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas, but over the holidays a journalist flew from airport to airport simply to eat at the different restaurants. The over-gorged reporter declared that the DFW location of Cousin's was one of the best airport eateries he tried.
I had also read that the location in Terminal D was better than the one in Terminal B, so that's where I went.
The Food
Cousin's is best known for their brisket, so I tried a two-meat platter that included beef brisket and German sausage. Given a choice of two sides, I selected the mashed potatoes with gravy and macaroni salad.
The brisket was carved in thin, tender slices from a huge slab. I saw fatty portions on the slab but all of the meat I got was lean though still tender. It was very good brisket but I didn't get enough of the burnt crispy parts that I love in barbecue.
The sausage was similar, though not quite spicy enough for my taste. But perhaps more spice would have conflicted with the very sharp, piquant taste of the barbecue sauce, which I requested be supplied on the side. The sauce was very good and a perfect complement to the meats, but masked the very smoky flavor of the brisket.
The sides were pretty good too, with the surprise being the strong black pepper taste of the mashed potatoes (in the potatoes themselves, I believe, rather than the gravy).
The Service and The Weather
The service at Cousin's was friendly in a polite, competent way, which wouldn't be remarkable except for the fast food counter format and the airport location. The next time I go through DFW I'll try Cousin's again and perhaps pick up a bottle of the sauce.
It felt a little strange to be eating barbecue at 9 am but I justified it since a) my body's internal clock was really on East Coast time and b) the airline had awakened me at 4 am to reschedule my cancelled flight out of Austin. By the time I got to DFW I was pretty hungry, not having had the chance to grab breakfast as I hurried to make an early flight.
The winter storms that hit Texas this week had left DFW with a sheet of ice, so much so that they had to tow our plane to the gate and our outbound plane took about an hour to break out of the ice that encased it.
Airport or Shopping Mall
I had never been in Terminal D before and as I said, it is both huge and filled with stores and restaurants. (An advertising poster said something like "A place the size of Manhattan needs plenty of places to shop and eat.")
I took the new SkyLink monorail to Terminal D since I had time to kill and wanted to try it. It wasn't particularly fast and there are times it would be quicker to walk, especially if you need to cut through the middle of the airport, but it was clean and modern.
I found it interesting that the airport had invested so heavily in large pieces of artwork. Right next to Cousin's was a structure that looked like a warped skyscraper city-scape:
I liked this mosaic in the floor:
I never figured out this circular blue glass work (Circling by Christopher Janney), even after reading the (confusing) riddling instructions embedded in the middle. (I mean, which way is north?) There was a kind of crystal tone sound in the structure, but it didn't seem to change when I walked through it. I think it only works if you walk in the correct pattern.
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Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Salt Lick Barbecue & Chuy's Tex-Mex in Austin, TX
I flew quickly in and out of Austin, TX this week, where I had a chance to try a couple of local restaurants: a new location of The Salt Lick, a well-known pit barbecue establishment, and Chuy's, an Austin-based Tex-Mex chain with about a dozen locations in Texas. Both are worth trying if you want to get a little local Texas flavor.
Since I was in the north part of town, I went to the Round Rock locations for each.
The Salt Lick: Pit Barbecue
For many years, if you wanted to eat at the The Salt Lick, you had to be motivated to do it. The original location in Driftwood, TX is in the Texas Hill Country southwest of Austin, about 20 miles outside of Austin in a very rural area.
Family patriarch Thurman Roberts Sr. decided to open a barbecue restaurant in 1969 to bring in income, and dug a barbecue pit on the family farm in Driftwood. His Hawaiian-born wife Hisako helped create a somewhat unique sauce with a hint of Asian influence and The Salt Lick eventually began to attract customers who would drive a good distance to eat there.
In recent years they opened locations in Las Vegas, Austin's Bergstrom Airport (now closed) and, last fall, in Round Rock.
The Round Rock restaurant is in a corner of the parking lot for Dell Diamond, the minor league stadium named for the city's major employer, Dell Computer. The Salt Lick's building has an upscale pseudo-rancher style.
The Barbecue
I got the combination platter in order to sample the ribs, sausage, and beef brisket. The sausage was the best -- tender to the bite and with enough spices to make it worth eating even without the sauce -- while the brisket and ribs were good but not extraordinary. The sauce was unusual, with the original brown sauce tasting a bit like a teriyaki on top of a vinegar base and the spicier yellow sauce having something of a mustard flavor.
Surprisingly, I really liked the bread they served which had a pillowy, slightly sweet, fresh potato roll character, and was glad to accept when they offered me seconds. I also liked the blueberry cobbler a la mode, which was very country in style and was loaded with large plump, juicy blueberries.
The other sides -- barbecue beans, potato salad, and cole slaw -- were just average. They were neither bad, nor good enough to rave about.
Chuy's Tex-Mex
Chuy's is a small chain that started in Austin, and they have a quirky character that extends to their food. Most Mexican restaurant chains are pretty similar, but the food at Chuy's has an unusual bias toward very strong flavors, which may not appeal to everyone.
I forgot to take pictures of the food, but this trend of bold tastes started with the salsa, which was more like a very spicy pico de gallo with fresh tomatoes and very heavy use of lime juice.
The entrees were served in very large portions and I found my blue corn tortilla chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce to be very flavorful. The tortillas were thick, very good, and had a strong corn flavor, while the tomatillo sauce used fresh cilantro and had a nice bite to it without being overwhelmingly spicy.
I also got a steak Taco al Carbon on the side, which was fajita meat and grilled onions served in a fluffy flour tortilla. The tortilla was soft and fresh, while the grilled meat was nicely marinated if a little dry.
Unusually for Texas, they also served a lot of dishes with green chiles and also offered a pretty broad range of sauces in addition to the tomatillo, ranging from a red chile sauce with ground sirloin (what they called Tex-Mex) to a fire-roasted green chile sauce.
Finally, the decor was an eclectic fusion of a 1950's styling with strong, warm oranges and reds. There was an Elvis theme to the menu, which puzzled my dining party.
(It turns out that the original Chuy's was decorated with the $20 in the pocket of one of the owners. He returned with some black velvet paintings of Elvis and Stevie Wonder and Elvis fans began bringing in their own memorabilia.)
The Verdict
I've always found the areas around Austin and San Antonio to have excellent food, much better than around Houston and Dallas, with an often distinctly local character. These cities and the Hill Country around them somehow seem to breed places that serve great barbecue, Texas favorites such as chicken fried steak, and Tex-Mex.
The Tex-Mex in particular here at the intersection of the Anglo and Hispanic cultures is my idea of the ideal Mexican cuisine: a combination of strong flavors, fresh high-quality ingredients, and just enough spiciness to give the food some bite without overwhelming your palate with the heat.
The Mexican food in the rest of the US (even in much of Texas) is somewhat homogenized in comparison, and I just don't like "authentic" Mexican which seems lacking in flavor and tends to use what I consider lower quality meat, cheese, and tortillas.
Though I liked both restaurants, there's so much choice here that the next time in the area I'll probably sample other places. But I wouldn't be surprised if I returned to either Chuy's or The Salt Lick either. The service at both locations was simultaneously very efficient and very friendly.
As an aside, I'd also like to visit some of the local dancehalls in the surrounding Texas Hill Country, less for the dancing than because it has a remarkably high concentration of legendary country music venues such as Gruene Hall, Coupland Inn, Luckenbach Dance Hall, Floore's Country Store, and Club 21 of Uhland, TX. For dancing it looks like I'd be better off going to Graham Central Station (Pflugerville) or Midnight Rodeo in either Austin or San Antonio.
The Travel
Travel in January can be interesting. I knew enough to prepare for the worst in Austin, which coming from Maryland wasn't too hard. The temperature plummeted while we were there and Austin got socked by a nasty ice storm on the day we left (in fact, my original flight was cancelled). It's very flat through Texas all the way north through the Great Plains and into Canada, so you can get very sudden and drastic weather changes there.
I had hoped to eat at Cousin's Barbecue in DFW Airport on my way to Austin (I finally caught it on the way home), but barely had time to catch my connecting flight after the plane's nose gear on my inbound flight didn't extend during the first approach.
The pilot aborted landing and on the second try he got on the PA to explain all of this, and tell us that this would be the reason we might notice the emergency vehicles they had requested on the runway. When the flight attendants advised us to review the emergency procedures (I was sitting in an exit row), it was the first time I've ever read them with the idea that I might need to actually use them in the next 30 minutes.
Since I was in the north part of town, I went to the Round Rock locations for each.
The Salt Lick: Pit Barbecue
For many years, if you wanted to eat at the The Salt Lick, you had to be motivated to do it. The original location in Driftwood, TX is in the Texas Hill Country southwest of Austin, about 20 miles outside of Austin in a very rural area.
Family patriarch Thurman Roberts Sr. decided to open a barbecue restaurant in 1969 to bring in income, and dug a barbecue pit on the family farm in Driftwood. His Hawaiian-born wife Hisako helped create a somewhat unique sauce with a hint of Asian influence and The Salt Lick eventually began to attract customers who would drive a good distance to eat there.
In recent years they opened locations in Las Vegas, Austin's Bergstrom Airport (now closed) and, last fall, in Round Rock.
The Round Rock restaurant is in a corner of the parking lot for Dell Diamond, the minor league stadium named for the city's major employer, Dell Computer. The Salt Lick's building has an upscale pseudo-rancher style.
The Barbecue
I got the combination platter in order to sample the ribs, sausage, and beef brisket. The sausage was the best -- tender to the bite and with enough spices to make it worth eating even without the sauce -- while the brisket and ribs were good but not extraordinary. The sauce was unusual, with the original brown sauce tasting a bit like a teriyaki on top of a vinegar base and the spicier yellow sauce having something of a mustard flavor.
Surprisingly, I really liked the bread they served which had a pillowy, slightly sweet, fresh potato roll character, and was glad to accept when they offered me seconds. I also liked the blueberry cobbler a la mode, which was very country in style and was loaded with large plump, juicy blueberries.
The other sides -- barbecue beans, potato salad, and cole slaw -- were just average. They were neither bad, nor good enough to rave about.
Chuy's Tex-Mex
Chuy's is a small chain that started in Austin, and they have a quirky character that extends to their food. Most Mexican restaurant chains are pretty similar, but the food at Chuy's has an unusual bias toward very strong flavors, which may not appeal to everyone.
I forgot to take pictures of the food, but this trend of bold tastes started with the salsa, which was more like a very spicy pico de gallo with fresh tomatoes and very heavy use of lime juice.
The entrees were served in very large portions and I found my blue corn tortilla chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce to be very flavorful. The tortillas were thick, very good, and had a strong corn flavor, while the tomatillo sauce used fresh cilantro and had a nice bite to it without being overwhelmingly spicy.
I also got a steak Taco al Carbon on the side, which was fajita meat and grilled onions served in a fluffy flour tortilla. The tortilla was soft and fresh, while the grilled meat was nicely marinated if a little dry.
Unusually for Texas, they also served a lot of dishes with green chiles and also offered a pretty broad range of sauces in addition to the tomatillo, ranging from a red chile sauce with ground sirloin (what they called Tex-Mex) to a fire-roasted green chile sauce.
Finally, the decor was an eclectic fusion of a 1950's styling with strong, warm oranges and reds. There was an Elvis theme to the menu, which puzzled my dining party.
(It turns out that the original Chuy's was decorated with the $20 in the pocket of one of the owners. He returned with some black velvet paintings of Elvis and Stevie Wonder and Elvis fans began bringing in their own memorabilia.)
The Verdict
I've always found the areas around Austin and San Antonio to have excellent food, much better than around Houston and Dallas, with an often distinctly local character. These cities and the Hill Country around them somehow seem to breed places that serve great barbecue, Texas favorites such as chicken fried steak, and Tex-Mex.
The Tex-Mex in particular here at the intersection of the Anglo and Hispanic cultures is my idea of the ideal Mexican cuisine: a combination of strong flavors, fresh high-quality ingredients, and just enough spiciness to give the food some bite without overwhelming your palate with the heat.
The Mexican food in the rest of the US (even in much of Texas) is somewhat homogenized in comparison, and I just don't like "authentic" Mexican which seems lacking in flavor and tends to use what I consider lower quality meat, cheese, and tortillas.
Though I liked both restaurants, there's so much choice here that the next time in the area I'll probably sample other places. But I wouldn't be surprised if I returned to either Chuy's or The Salt Lick either. The service at both locations was simultaneously very efficient and very friendly.
As an aside, I'd also like to visit some of the local dancehalls in the surrounding Texas Hill Country, less for the dancing than because it has a remarkably high concentration of legendary country music venues such as Gruene Hall, Coupland Inn, Luckenbach Dance Hall, Floore's Country Store, and Club 21 of Uhland, TX. For dancing it looks like I'd be better off going to Graham Central Station (Pflugerville) or Midnight Rodeo in either Austin or San Antonio.
The Travel
Travel in January can be interesting. I knew enough to prepare for the worst in Austin, which coming from Maryland wasn't too hard. The temperature plummeted while we were there and Austin got socked by a nasty ice storm on the day we left (in fact, my original flight was cancelled). It's very flat through Texas all the way north through the Great Plains and into Canada, so you can get very sudden and drastic weather changes there.
I had hoped to eat at Cousin's Barbecue in DFW Airport on my way to Austin (I finally caught it on the way home), but barely had time to catch my connecting flight after the plane's nose gear on my inbound flight didn't extend during the first approach.
The pilot aborted landing and on the second try he got on the PA to explain all of this, and tell us that this would be the reason we might notice the emergency vehicles they had requested on the runway. When the flight attendants advised us to review the emergency procedures (I was sitting in an exit row), it was the first time I've ever read them with the idea that I might need to actually use them in the next 30 minutes.
We landed smoothly and the passengers spontaneously applauded, which just goes to show how a little perceived danger really focuses the mind.
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Supreme Court Justice Stevens at The Newseum
I was excited to see that I have a seat for an event next month at The Newseum in Washington, DC, a "conversation" with Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens about Marbury vs. Madison on February 26th.
I mean, to me it's just incredibly cool to be in a live audience watching one of the nine US Supreme Court Justices discuss the 1803 decision that established the Court's role in interpreting the Constitution, and made it a viable part of the checks-and-balances envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
Marbury vs Madison
Prior to the case, the Court had been a minor player in the federal government with a murkily-defined function, but in one fell swoop Chief Justice John Marshall neatly upheld a lame-duck appointment (of William Marbury to the federal judiciary) made by the outgoing John Adams administration in 1801 -- and then voided the ruling by stating that the Congressional law giving the Supreme Court jurisdiction was unconstitutional.
The specific result was far less important than the principle of judicial review that it established, whereby the courts could review and oversee the actions of the executive and legislative branches of government. It also firmly established the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in interpreting the US Constitution, a principle taken for granted today in America.
Events At The Newseum
When I bought an annual pass at The Newseum, I was motivated mainly because I was supportive of their mission and I hoped to return to tour the museum at my leisure. I saw that they offered special members' events but paid little heed, assuming they'd be mostly aimed at kids and families.
I forgot that this is Washington DC.
Within a day I started receiving newsletters, where I found that most of the events are presentations by well-known scholars or journalists, or tapings of discussions for airing on the major networks or pubic television. With the announcement that Justice Stevens would be discussing The Great Decision (a book about Marbury vs. Madison that will be released in March) I felt I had to take advantage of the opportunity.
I don't know how large the audience will be, though I assume it will be in one of the Knight Conference Center theaters that holds a few hundred, but this seems like a great opportunity to finish touring The Newseum and to see how these events are staged. If I enjoy this event I'll consider going to others that cover topics I'm interested in.
If nothing else, this is a chance to gain some insight into the thinking of a man who since 1975 has routinely played a role in deciding some of the most important issues in our country.
Update (2/27/09): Marbury vs. Madison and The US Supreme Court
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Washington DC
Friday, January 23, 2009
Money In Your Pocket: FSAs
I talked two people into opening up Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) this week, which as far as I'm concerned are money in your pocket. Normally our Open Season (when you can start or change contributions to an FSA) ends in early December, but for some reason they've extended the deadline to the end of this month.
FSAs were established in a federal law that allows your employer the option of setting up a tax-privileged account for you, which you fund with pre-tax payroll deductions for health and dependent-care expenses.
How FSAs Work
Because the money is pre-tax, you don't pay federal (and usually state) income taxes on it, which means most people save between 20% and 40% depending on their tax bracket.
The catch is that you have to fund it with regular contributions from your paycheck and it's use-it-or-lose-it for each year -- anything you don't spend in a given year is forfeited (I'm guessing to pay administrative costs). So if you miscalculate and put in too much, as I did this year, you can end up with a big balance at the end of the year.
For example, let's say you put in the maximum of $5000 (not unreasonable for a family with kids) and spend it all. If you're in the 30% tax bracket you would save around $1500 on your taxes (which is not chump change).
The health care plans can be used to pay for anything not covered by your medical insurance, ranging from co-pays to elective surgery, and even including over-the-counter medicines such as vitamins. If your insurance has a cooperative arrangement with your FSA, you may not even have to file the claim (it might get handled automatically for you).
The dependent care plan is even better, as it's usually a lot easier to predict the cost of daycare or geriatric care.
There are other variations known as Health Savings Accounts; Health Reimbursement Accounts; and Medical Savings Accounts.
Spending It Down
As happened to me 2 years ago, I got busy and didn't schedule a couple of dental and doctor's appointments, so I didn't spend much of my account this year.
Rather than simply forfeit the money, I got an eye exam and then got some new prescription glasses (though I still have enough left that I might get a spare pair). I have a grace period through early March to tap last year's account.
As an aside, I had LASIK laser eye surgery over 10 years ago from TLC's Dr. Mark Whitten, who subsequently became best known for performing the surgery on Tiger Woods and some prominent Washington-area athletes including then-Redskins QB Gus Frerotte and former Georgetown Hoya Patrick Ewing.
Unfortunately my guarantee lapsed because I missed a yearly check-up in the fourth year and I'm becoming slightly near-sighted again. But it's still the best thing I've ever done and had my FSA existed then, it would have saved me large amounts of money.
The Bottom Line
Since everyone has at least some predictable expenses such as dental appointments, an FSA is a terrific benefit for virtually anyone because unlike taking a deduction it doesn't have to cross the threshold of 7.5% of your income. If you qualify, the benefit is immediate.
(My plan even allows me to claim expenses that exceed my plan balance early in the year, if my annual allocation via payroll deduction will eventually cover it.)
Further, in a year where you know you'll have large expenses not covered by a plan, such as braces (or Invisalign) the savings are very clear-cut.
The flip side is it may push you to pay for services you might not have gotten otherwise if you badly misjudge the amount you need, but as long as I'm at least breaking even, I figure it's worth it. The services are usually ones I need anyway.
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Sunday, January 18, 2009
Lyme Disease in Maryland
10 years ago I'd never heard of Lyme Disease. But in the past couple of years, at least 10 people I know have been diagnosed with the potentially life-threatening illness.
Marylanders are particularly susceptible to Lyme Disease because as the disease has spread down the Northeast Corridor, deer ticks that are the primary carrier have found a ready host in the exploding deer population in the state, which lives in close proximity to people here.
Lyme Disease, originally associated with the area around Lyme, CT, is frequently misdiagnosed because the symptoms are often similar to many other illnesses, and if left untreated it can cause serious and chronic conditions to include cognitive issues.
Maryland and Lyme Disease
One of the things I like about Maryland is that although it's densely populated and has been settled for almost 400 years, it still has large heavily-wooded areas. I live in Howard County, which is the start of the piedmont region (the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains), and it's common here to have suburban subdivisions tucked into expanses of trees.
Without natural predators, the deer population surged out of control in Maryland after hunting protections were established. According to the state of Maryland:
The number of deer now exceeds 25 animals per square mile in rural areas and 15 deer per square mile in suburban areas.
It's not uncommon to see deer in backyards or neighborhoods, and a couple of people I know have hit deer on the road. (Not a simple matter, as the large animals are severely injured and cause a lot of damage to the cars.)
Deer SWAT Teams
The consequences of a large human population and an overpopulation of deer has led to problems ranging from nuisances (gardens and shrubbery being consumed by deer) to troublesome (the growth of the deer is stunted by overgrazing), with Lyme Disease probably the most serious issue.
Maryland periodically tries to cull the herd, to include bow hunting seasons, but a recent incident where a hunter accidentally shot out the window of a daycare center in Columbia, MD highlights the difficulty of controlling deer in a densely-populated state. Howard and other jurisdictions even have sharpshooters whose job is to eliminate deer who have become chronic pests in neighborhoods.
The Problem With Lyme Disease
Part of the difficulty with Lyme Disease is that the most obvious symptom, a characteristic "bullseye" rash around a tick bite, often goes unnoticed or never occurs in the first place.
Here's a picture from Wikipedia since I (fortunately) have never seen it in person:
One family of four whose backyard deck sits next to woods has all been diagnosed with Lyme, but only one ever saw the rash. (Or more precisely, since it was on the elder daughter's head, her mother saw it.) The rest of the family was tested after encountering mysterious symptoms ranging from unusual tiredness to aches and pains and even dizziness. They're currently undergoing treatment.
Another couple diagnosed with Lyme Disease is a pair of professional salsa instructors, and the illness made dancing tough because of fatigue and pain in their joints. They seem to have recovered now.
The problem with Lyme disease is that most doctors aren't trained to look for it and the symptoms often resemble something else. It can attack the nervous system with severe and permanent effects if it isn't caught early enough, and sometimes the antibiotics don't work.
Some of the complications from late treatment seem to arise when the bacteria cross the blood-brain barrier, making it hard to treat. The worst cases lead to chronic fatigue and joint pain, attack the heart and nervous system, and even affect a person's ability to think coherently.
Since most people don't remember being bitten, I could easily see myself missing the signs till it's too late, especially since I'm accustomed to ignoring small aches and pains when I get busy.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
It might be worth testing for Lyme Disease if you have unexplained symptoms that persist, even if you haven't seen a rash, to include:
Some web sites with useful information:
Read the Full Post
Marylanders are particularly susceptible to Lyme Disease because as the disease has spread down the Northeast Corridor, deer ticks that are the primary carrier have found a ready host in the exploding deer population in the state, which lives in close proximity to people here.
Lyme Disease, originally associated with the area around Lyme, CT, is frequently misdiagnosed because the symptoms are often similar to many other illnesses, and if left untreated it can cause serious and chronic conditions to include cognitive issues.
Maryland and Lyme Disease
One of the things I like about Maryland is that although it's densely populated and has been settled for almost 400 years, it still has large heavily-wooded areas. I live in Howard County, which is the start of the piedmont region (the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains), and it's common here to have suburban subdivisions tucked into expanses of trees.
Without natural predators, the deer population surged out of control in Maryland after hunting protections were established. According to the state of Maryland:
White-tailed deer are more numerous today than prior to European settlement of North America. In pre-colonial times, they were prey for wolves and mountain lions. Native Americans hunted white-tailed deer all year round. Today, man is the only predator of white-tailed deer in Maryland.
Hunted nearly to extinction around 1900, by the early 1990's the Maryland deer population was estimated to be around 160,000 animals increasing to 269,000 in 2005-2006 despite a harvest of about 90,000 deer.
The number of deer now exceeds 25 animals per square mile in rural areas and 15 deer per square mile in suburban areas.
It's not uncommon to see deer in backyards or neighborhoods, and a couple of people I know have hit deer on the road. (Not a simple matter, as the large animals are severely injured and cause a lot of damage to the cars.)
Deer SWAT Teams
The consequences of a large human population and an overpopulation of deer has led to problems ranging from nuisances (gardens and shrubbery being consumed by deer) to troublesome (the growth of the deer is stunted by overgrazing), with Lyme Disease probably the most serious issue.
Maryland periodically tries to cull the herd, to include bow hunting seasons, but a recent incident where a hunter accidentally shot out the window of a daycare center in Columbia, MD highlights the difficulty of controlling deer in a densely-populated state. Howard and other jurisdictions even have sharpshooters whose job is to eliminate deer who have become chronic pests in neighborhoods.
The Problem With Lyme Disease
Part of the difficulty with Lyme Disease is that the most obvious symptom, a characteristic "bullseye" rash around a tick bite, often goes unnoticed or never occurs in the first place.
Here's a picture from Wikipedia since I (fortunately) have never seen it in person:
One family of four whose backyard deck sits next to woods has all been diagnosed with Lyme, but only one ever saw the rash. (Or more precisely, since it was on the elder daughter's head, her mother saw it.) The rest of the family was tested after encountering mysterious symptoms ranging from unusual tiredness to aches and pains and even dizziness. They're currently undergoing treatment.
Another couple diagnosed with Lyme Disease is a pair of professional salsa instructors, and the illness made dancing tough because of fatigue and pain in their joints. They seem to have recovered now.
The problem with Lyme disease is that most doctors aren't trained to look for it and the symptoms often resemble something else. It can attack the nervous system with severe and permanent effects if it isn't caught early enough, and sometimes the antibiotics don't work.
Some of the complications from late treatment seem to arise when the bacteria cross the blood-brain barrier, making it hard to treat. The worst cases lead to chronic fatigue and joint pain, attack the heart and nervous system, and even affect a person's ability to think coherently.
Since most people don't remember being bitten, I could easily see myself missing the signs till it's too late, especially since I'm accustomed to ignoring small aches and pains when I get busy.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
It might be worth testing for Lyme Disease if you have unexplained symptoms that persist, even if you haven't seen a rash, to include:
- Red skin rash
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle Pain
- Stiff Neck
- Swelling of knees and other large joints
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Sore throat
- Swollen glands
- Ringing in the ears
Some web sites with useful information:
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Bistro Blanc in Glenelg, MD
I was intrigued when I read that Mark Dixon, the chef at the new restaurant Bistro Blanc in the "wilds" of Glenelg, MD, had previously been chef at two well-regarded Columbia establishments, Iron Bridge Wine Company and Cafe de Paris.
I stopped at Bistro Blanc for lunch last week, and despite a few minor misses there were enough sparks of excellence that I went back for dinner. I ordered a little less conventionally the second time -- and was rewarded with highly creative fare prepared with a deft touch.
About Bistro Blanc
Glenelg is only a few minutes away from the population centers of Howard County, Columbia and Ellicott City, but due to zoning restrictions the landscape changes suddenly from suburban tract homes to farms and very large houses, though it's not actually rural.
Like Iron Bridge, Bistro Blanc has a wine bar (and liquor store) component, but the trendy modern interior is larger and offers a full menu of contemporary New American dishes.
More Than Just Soup
At most restaurants I get the soup primarily to take the edge off of my hunger, but at Bistro Blanc it's a revelation. It was the velvety smooth Mushroom Leek soup with crispy shreds of leek and a drizzling of truffle oil that convinced me to give the restaurant a second try, as usually there's nothing memorable about this first course.
I deliberately chose the Carrot Ginger soup instead on my next visit to see if it could uphold this standard and it did. The soup again had a velvety texture and was enhanced by the small dollops of flavorful crab meat dropped into the center.
Minor Misses
The Citrus Grilled Shrimp and Chicken Sous Vide on my first visit were respectable and well-plated, but both had somewhat mixed success. While the shrimp was slightly too salty it was the bed of sauteed Swiss chard that it rested on that was far too briny.
I stopped at Bistro Blanc for lunch last week, and despite a few minor misses there were enough sparks of excellence that I went back for dinner. I ordered a little less conventionally the second time -- and was rewarded with highly creative fare prepared with a deft touch.
About Bistro Blanc
Glenelg is only a few minutes away from the population centers of Howard County, Columbia and Ellicott City, but due to zoning restrictions the landscape changes suddenly from suburban tract homes to farms and very large houses, though it's not actually rural.
Like Iron Bridge, Bistro Blanc has a wine bar (and liquor store) component, but the trendy modern interior is larger and offers a full menu of contemporary New American dishes.
More Than Just Soup
At most restaurants I get the soup primarily to take the edge off of my hunger, but at Bistro Blanc it's a revelation. It was the velvety smooth Mushroom Leek soup with crispy shreds of leek and a drizzling of truffle oil that convinced me to give the restaurant a second try, as usually there's nothing memorable about this first course.
I deliberately chose the Carrot Ginger soup instead on my next visit to see if it could uphold this standard and it did. The soup again had a velvety texture and was enhanced by the small dollops of flavorful crab meat dropped into the center.
Minor Misses
The Citrus Grilled Shrimp and Chicken Sous Vide on my first visit were respectable and well-plated, but both had somewhat mixed success. While the shrimp was slightly too salty it was the bed of sauteed Swiss chard that it rested on that was far too briny.
But the cheddar grits surrounding them were surprisingly good, with a delicate sweet flavor and firm yet moist consistency that nicely complemented the sherry vinaigrette sauce and chunks of chorizo.
Similarly the Chicken Sous Vide -- prepared at low temperatures in an airtight bag that supposedly locks in flavors and improves texture -- may have been a bit bland, but the dish was saved by the potato gnocchi in sweet pumpkin and truffle jus that accompanied it.
The Second Round
On my return trip I ordered the Roasted Mushroom Flatbread and the Venison entree. The flatbread was more like a pizza than I expected, but in an interesting way. The edges were a touch over cooked (you might even say burnt) but the crust had a light thinly crispy crunch and was a terrific platform for the roasted portobello, carmelized onions, gruyere cheese, and truffle aioli (the last zig-zagged artistically over the top).
The venison was cooked perfectly, with firm yet tender medallions over a bed of grits, green beans, and a sweet sauce. The meat was distinctively different from beef but without the gamy flavor that venison can have if poorly prepared.
Just Desserts
I found the chocolate ganache of my first visit to be well-prepared but unexciting, being a little too close to a high-end brownie. So I ordered the Banana Dark Chocolate Soup the second time, and once again going away from the conventional choice was rewarded.
Banana pieces sporting a thin carmelized cap rested over banana nut bread and blueberries, and a small demitasse of chocolate sauce lay waiting on the side to be poured over everything else. The dessert was both unusual and delectable.
The Verdict
Bistro Blanc's innovative take on good dining is well worth sampling (and somewhat unusual in the central Maryland suburbs). They've created a casual yet upscale restaurant anchored by a fine kitchen, and seem to be working hard to tweak the formula with live chamber music on the weekends and soon, a new bar.
Getting There
Bistro Blanc is just off MD32 on Ten Oaks Road, a mile or two south of the I-70 interchange. From Columbia take MD32 west/north to the Ten Oaks Road exit, cross over MD32 to the west side, and follow the traffic circle around to go back south on Ten Oaks Road. Bistro Blanc is on the right.
Bistro Blanc
3800 Ten Oaks Rd
Glenelg, MD 21737
(410) 489-5440
Related:
Read the Full Post
Similarly the Chicken Sous Vide -- prepared at low temperatures in an airtight bag that supposedly locks in flavors and improves texture -- may have been a bit bland, but the dish was saved by the potato gnocchi in sweet pumpkin and truffle jus that accompanied it.
The Second Round
On my return trip I ordered the Roasted Mushroom Flatbread and the Venison entree. The flatbread was more like a pizza than I expected, but in an interesting way. The edges were a touch over cooked (you might even say burnt) but the crust had a light thinly crispy crunch and was a terrific platform for the roasted portobello, carmelized onions, gruyere cheese, and truffle aioli (the last zig-zagged artistically over the top).
The venison was cooked perfectly, with firm yet tender medallions over a bed of grits, green beans, and a sweet sauce. The meat was distinctively different from beef but without the gamy flavor that venison can have if poorly prepared.
Just Desserts
I found the chocolate ganache of my first visit to be well-prepared but unexciting, being a little too close to a high-end brownie. So I ordered the Banana Dark Chocolate Soup the second time, and once again going away from the conventional choice was rewarded.
Banana pieces sporting a thin carmelized cap rested over banana nut bread and blueberries, and a small demitasse of chocolate sauce lay waiting on the side to be poured over everything else. The dessert was both unusual and delectable.
The Verdict
Bistro Blanc's innovative take on good dining is well worth sampling (and somewhat unusual in the central Maryland suburbs). They've created a casual yet upscale restaurant anchored by a fine kitchen, and seem to be working hard to tweak the formula with live chamber music on the weekends and soon, a new bar.
Getting There
Bistro Blanc is just off MD32 on Ten Oaks Road, a mile or two south of the I-70 interchange. From Columbia take MD32 west/north to the Ten Oaks Road exit, cross over MD32 to the west side, and follow the traffic circle around to go back south on Ten Oaks Road. Bistro Blanc is on the right.
Bistro Blanc
3800 Ten Oaks Rd
Glenelg, MD 21737
(410) 489-5440
Related:
- Howard County Restaurant Week: Bistro Blanc in Glenelg, MD (3/3/09)
- Bistro Blanc News and Views (blog from the restaurant)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Maiwand Kabob Opens at Arundel Preserve, MD
The third location of Maiwand Kabob, an Afghan kabob restaurant, opened this weekend near Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, MD, just south of BWI Airport. They were supposed to start up in August but were delayed by changes requested by the county and the fire marshall.
I think people have been waiting for this place to open, as even without any advertising it was packed with a steady stream of customers all night. Service was slow since they mostly make the kabobs to order, and it took me about 30 minutes to get my food. (This has gotten a lot better -- see update below.)
But it was worth it. This is by far the best food near Arundel Mills, though the Five Guys next door can be good if you get their burgers with grilled onions and mushrooms.
The Food
I've eaten at the Columbia and Linthicum (BWI) locations so I knew what to expect, and they didn't disappoint.
I ordered the lamb and chicken combo with a side of aushak (a kind of very thin ravioli filled with scallions and topped with yogurt mint and garlic sauce and ground beef).
The aushak came out first and was very good, with a strong meat flavor to the sauce. As with all of Maiwand Kabob's food, the ingredients were of the highest quality.
The well-seasoned lamb and chicken kabobs are served with rice, a chopped salad, and tandoori bread. The kabobs, tomatoes, and onions were grilled a little more than ones I've had in the past (which I liked; I'm a sucker for a little charring on the outside as long as the meat is tender and juicy inside, and the onions sometimes seem a little raw).
I seldom eat the green sauce, so maybe I should ask them not to give it to me.
The tandoori bread was piping hot, and though this style of flatbread is a little dry by nature, it was still very satisfying and a good way to sop up the sauce on the aushak. You can watch them making the bread next to the counter and then lifting it out of the tandoori oven with tongs. I forgot to take a picture so here it is at the Columbia location:
I've also had the pan-fried pumpkin (which might be a little too sweet), the bowlani (pastry shells with potatoes and scallions), and the samosas (fried pastries filled with potatoes, green peas and spices). While they're all tasty I like the aushak the best.
Update (2/2/09): Here's the Chow Pan (grilled lamb chops), probably my favorite of the grilled meats. They've fixed the worst of their service issues and the wait time is now under 15 minutes (with appetizers coming out much more quickly).
The Location
This location of Maiwand Kabob has a trendy look with dark oranges and earth tones, and was a little chilly. They haven't quite worked out the traffic flow as it's not clear whether the line should form to the left or the middle.
I think it's going to be a huge success as there's a crying need for interesting, non-chain or -fast food restaurants in the area.
One of the things slowing down the service was that a number of customers were unfamiliar with this type of food, and were asking many questions as they ordered.
Getting There
Maiwand Kabob is in the Shops at Arundel Preserve, a small new retail center immediately on the left at the light (Dorchester Blvd) as you exit MD295 (the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) onto Arundel Mills Blvd. Maiwand is next to the Starbucks. (The mall is a good bit further down the road.)
Although Linthicum is technically closer to BWI, it has limited hours (weekdays only, until 7 pm), so Arundel Preserve is a better choice for dinner in the area.
Maiwand Kabob - Arundel Preserve
7698 Dorchester Blvd
Hanover, MD 21076
(443) 755-0461
Read the Full Post
I think people have been waiting for this place to open, as even without any advertising it was packed with a steady stream of customers all night. Service was slow since they mostly make the kabobs to order, and it took me about 30 minutes to get my food. (This has gotten a lot better -- see update below.)
But it was worth it. This is by far the best food near Arundel Mills, though the Five Guys next door can be good if you get their burgers with grilled onions and mushrooms.
The Food
I've eaten at the Columbia and Linthicum (BWI) locations so I knew what to expect, and they didn't disappoint.
I ordered the lamb and chicken combo with a side of aushak (a kind of very thin ravioli filled with scallions and topped with yogurt mint and garlic sauce and ground beef).
The aushak came out first and was very good, with a strong meat flavor to the sauce. As with all of Maiwand Kabob's food, the ingredients were of the highest quality.
The well-seasoned lamb and chicken kabobs are served with rice, a chopped salad, and tandoori bread. The kabobs, tomatoes, and onions were grilled a little more than ones I've had in the past (which I liked; I'm a sucker for a little charring on the outside as long as the meat is tender and juicy inside, and the onions sometimes seem a little raw).
I seldom eat the green sauce, so maybe I should ask them not to give it to me.
The tandoori bread was piping hot, and though this style of flatbread is a little dry by nature, it was still very satisfying and a good way to sop up the sauce on the aushak. You can watch them making the bread next to the counter and then lifting it out of the tandoori oven with tongs. I forgot to take a picture so here it is at the Columbia location:
I've also had the pan-fried pumpkin (which might be a little too sweet), the bowlani (pastry shells with potatoes and scallions), and the samosas (fried pastries filled with potatoes, green peas and spices). While they're all tasty I like the aushak the best.
Update (2/2/09): Here's the Chow Pan (grilled lamb chops), probably my favorite of the grilled meats. They've fixed the worst of their service issues and the wait time is now under 15 minutes (with appetizers coming out much more quickly).
The Location
This location of Maiwand Kabob has a trendy look with dark oranges and earth tones, and was a little chilly. They haven't quite worked out the traffic flow as it's not clear whether the line should form to the left or the middle.
I think it's going to be a huge success as there's a crying need for interesting, non-chain or -fast food restaurants in the area.
One of the things slowing down the service was that a number of customers were unfamiliar with this type of food, and were asking many questions as they ordered.
Getting There
Maiwand Kabob is in the Shops at Arundel Preserve, a small new retail center immediately on the left at the light (Dorchester Blvd) as you exit MD295 (the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) onto Arundel Mills Blvd. Maiwand is next to the Starbucks. (The mall is a good bit further down the road.)
Although Linthicum is technically closer to BWI, it has limited hours (weekdays only, until 7 pm), so Arundel Preserve is a better choice for dinner in the area.
Maiwand Kabob - Arundel Preserve
7698 Dorchester Blvd
Hanover, MD 21076
(443) 755-0461
Read the Full Post
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