Starting 2011 Safely

The security of the home is something that is very important to us here at FW&D, and New Years is a great time to get more involved in educating our friends in Northern Virginia about the many choices and tips available for increasing home safety. When you leave for work, play, or extended vacation, you should be able to do so with absolutely no worries whatsoever.

Here is an inexpensive option for your consideration:

This is known as a security bar. In conjunction with other devices, and a little common sense, you can increase safety and peace of mind for your entryways.

Internet sleuthing for home security resulted in a printable Home Security Checklist from a Security Bar Company. Here are some of the questions listed under "DOORS":

1. Have you re-keyed your locks since you moved in?
2. Do your doors have a wide-angle peephole viewer?
3. Are entrance doors equipped with 1” good quality dead bolts?
4. Is glass in outside doors at least 40” from the lock?
5. Is the glass in outside doors shatter resistant?
6. Do you have a patio door bar fastened into both the frame and the door to securely lock the door?
7. Have you inserted screws into the top track of your patio door to prevent it from being lifted up and removed?
8. Do you have decals on your patio door indicating that you use an alarm system even if you don’t?

For the full list, please click here. You may want to review some of these questions when considering door safety.

FW&D is committed to the safety of our clients and our neighborhood. Should you have any questions about safety for our doors, any of the products we offer, feel free to contact our office, and we will be more than happy to go over that information with you.

This blog article is from FW&D.

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, Doors, and more.

Call us at 703-933-8900
or click here to visit our site and learn more about us!

FW&D lists top 50 on Facebook's Networked Blogs in Arlington

Perhaps, in the slow hours between your remodeling projects, you have a blog. Perhaps you want that blog to get exposure so that it can advertise your company. And perhaps you post it on Facebook so that your friends and clients may more easily find it. 

Well, Facebook has a freeture (see definition below) available to those who take the time to get on board and use it. For those of us who have succumbed to peer pressure and created a Facebook account, we have the option to Network our blogs through the Networked Blogs App.

FW&D did just that. And unbeknownst to us, we became FAMOUS... well, sort of. 

You never know what you are going to find on Facebook. 

Freeture [free-cher]  

noun, verb, -tured, -tur·ing.- a feature that you may have access to for no monetary charge. 

Word Origin: About 2 minutes ago by Tiffany Monique

This blog article is from FW&D.

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, Doors, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us!

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

Dashing through the snow... with FW&D...

FW&D was out in Arlington on a Replacement window project yesterday.

We started work as usual.

By the time we finished installing 11 Excalibur Double Hung Windows for our client in their idyllic Arlington neighborhood, the snow had finished falling as well.

BEFORE

AFTER

Working during the first snow of the season was well, COLD!

But beautiful.

This blog article is from FW&D.

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, Doors, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us!

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

Santa Claus is coming to town...

Tis' the season for heavy coats, warm drinks, lit fireplaces, Christmas Trees and of course, SANTA!



FW&D spent some time with the jolly man in red, singing carols, taking pictures, and bringing huge grins to ecstatic children (and those still young at heart).

Perhaps he needed to perform a last minute check on our local traffic patterns prior to the big night. Nevertheless, Santa took time out of his busy December schedule to come to Northern Virginia, and FW&D was there to greet him and show him around.

Some of our friends were surprised to see him so far South this close to Christmas, but Santa was confident that things were well in order for the deliveries he would soon be making.

FW&D would like to wish you all the Merriest of Merry Christmases and the Happiest of Happy New Years!

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

Just in time for Thanksgiving- FW&D's Restaurant Review!

If you like traditional Salvadoran food, Restaurante Abi Aztec Grill & Bar is a local restaurant on Columbia Pike that is sure to give you just what you are looking for. No reservations, no ties; you can watch the game, and it is open seven days a week, even offering discounts to Military Personnel 11-2 Monday thru Friday. The food is good, from time-honored Salvadoran and Mexican recipes, and quite easy on the wallet for such savory fare. Opened in 1986, and named after the wife of the owner, nicknamed “Doña Abi”. She began taking orders and making pupusas from her Arlington home. The rest, as they say is history. We were given the tip to try this restaurant by one of our clients.


The restaurant is located on Columbia Pike near the Cinema and Drafthouse. The entrance faces the drive-thru of McDonalds, not the street, so be careful of your directions. Their hours of Operation are Monday – Thursday from 11:00 am - 10:00 pm; Friday from 11:00 am – Midnight; Saturday from 10:00 am – Midnight; and Sunday from 10:00 am - 10:00 pm. Nachos and salsa are ready as you are seated.


FW&D started with platanos fritos, served with Abi beans and sour cream. The combination was subtle, but well meshed. The beans were well cooked, with just the right amount of garlic, and salt. The consistency of the beans, sour cream, and fried plantains altogether is a real treat, and highly recommended if you are unsure about an appetizer.


The sampler plate, one of the “Abi Especiales” has more than enough flavor for a discerning palate, and more than enough food to please. This sampler comes with a pupusa (a flour tortilla, stuffed with your choice of pork, cheese, beans, loroco, or all of them), nachos with cheese, shredded cabbage and carrots with a soft lemon under-flavor, rolled crisp tacos with minced meat and vegetables, and a quesadillas. This is a great platter for watching the game on their multiple televisions.


There were at least 40 items to choose from for the main courses, steak, chicken, pork, shrimp, scallops, and other more exotic meats to savor. FW&D kept it relatively conservative with the dinner order, and we were not disappointed with any of the dishes chosen. For those who care to try, there is green hot sauce that is worth trying. It has a definite kick, but not for the extreme spice-lover.


The first plate to arrive was the Arroz con Pollo, a garlic and white wine chicken and rice plate. The chicken was tender and juicy, and all the vegetables were fresh. The white wine sauce did not overpower the dish, but added a subtle flip to the flavoring.


Fajitas del Mar is a classic, succulent dish of sautéed tail on shrimp and scallops in a garlic sauce. They serve them piping hot and on a bed of sliced green peppers and onions with flour tortillas for serving. You may not even use the tortillas.


The New York steak (cooked to order) with shrimp and scallops, called Especial de la Abuela was flavorful. The shrimp and scallops had a smooth sauce, almost creamy, with sliced peppers, onions, and white rice with vegetables that were well prepared and nicely combined.


Any New York steak lover is going to appreciate the Carne Asada, cooked to order. Carne asada can be prepared with a marinade, but this one was not. It was served with chimol, a fresh salsa made with lemon juice and diced vegetables such as cilantro, radish, and onion. Served with tortillas, Abi beans, and rice, this dish is simply prepared and quite delicious.


For dessert, we chose to order Nuegados, which is fried yucca (cassava). It is a typical Salvadoran treat made the traditional way. The root itself is not sweet, but the honey drizzled on top makes up for that. They are quite tasty.


The staff gave impeccable service, with wonderful attitudes. They were more than happy to answer questions and were more than accommodating. For the size of the meal, we were pleased overall with the service, atmosphere, the food, and pleasantly surprised with the price. When you are ready to try Salvadoran for the first time, or already know, and need dynamic Salvadoran for a snack or a meal, FW&D is here to tell ya, this is the place to go.

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

11//11/2010 Veteran's Day at FW&D

Yes, we are here at work. We started the day hoisting a flag at the home office. FW&D crews are out working on projects in Potomac Falls, Arlington, and Fairlington (we have a couple projects going on in Fairlington) and elsewhere in Northern Virginia.



Roofing, bathroom remodeling, painting, rotten wood replacement, and the office is of course open and setting appointments.

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

FW&D in DC Examiner Article about Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization ( also known as SEO) is a necessity for any artist with a website. Read more here...

Storm Doors and Buildouts

For those of you who don’t know, a build out must be done to accommodate doors that don’t fit in the original shape or size of the frame. FW&D went to Springfield to do just that. The original frame of the door was not the correct size to add the Storm Door that the client wanted.

Once the project was completed, the clients were quite pleased with the results. Their ProVia Model 397 Full View Storm Door was completed with a Townsend Satin Nickel Handle.

The clients also had other doors installed during this project, and had this to say- “We will pass your name along as often as possible!  When we have future projects, there is no one else we would contact other than you!”

We here at FW&D thank Ms. Schellin for both her for her business and kind words. They truly mean a lot.

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

November Restaurant Review

Are you looking for a dining experience that is nearby, but will make you feel like you’ve been to the other side of the world? Don’t worry, FW&D found it! Just off the corner of King Street and South Peyton in Alexandria. The name is just as fitting as it can be- Casablanca.
When you walk in, the foyer is inviting, and makes you curious about the actual dining area. You can be sure it will not disappoint. The colors, the patterns, and the lighting- the entire restaurant décor will take your breath away. Rather than sit in the center of the restaurant where we would be better able to see the Belly Dancer (which they have every night), we chose to sit in one of the booths near the wall. You can really enjoy the view of the restaurant. The couches (called divans) were comfortable with striking upholstery and pillows, and round metal tables from which to eat. Be careful though, the tables are knee-high, and cause bruises.

At the beginning of the meal, we were brought a washing basin and, one by one, we washed our hands in the water poured from the pitcher. Our server was extremely pleasant and funny as he handed each of us a towel for both drying and to use during the meal.

He soon brought us the first dish in our feast. Each dish would be served family style on the round metal table, with one plate holding the servings for the four of us to share. It’s hard to believe we didn’t get the largest meal on the menu, as hungry as we all professed to be, but there was still more than enough food and variety of flavors for us to take on, starting with the salads. There were four!
The green bean salad was the favorite, shared on the serving platter by the cucumber, eggplant, and carrot salads, with homemade serving bread (in Moroccan tradition, you eat with your right thumb and first two fingers). We enjoyed every bite. The Green bean salad was, as we said, the best, but the cucumber salad was crisp and light, the eggplant salad was rich, but not overbearing, and the carrot salad had a hint of curry that was a very nice touch.

Did I mention the homemade bread was wonderful? When you bit into it, there was a tiny bit of magic. No butter or additional spice, just a pleasant aromatic flavor. That was a good thing, considering we were using the bread as our eating utensils (they did have forks for us, but we were attempting full immersion into the traditional eating method).

On to the next truly exotic course, Bastilla. When I read the item on the menu it sounded promising. Well, I’m here to tell ya folks. It delivers. It was sweet, spicy, rich, but strange in a wonderfully flavorful way. Tender chicken and egg, mixed with almonds, onions, and parsley in phyllo dough (the really flaky stuff), but the strange comes when we get to the cinnamon and powdered sugar topping. There is nothing I have tasted that will ever make sense the way that Bastilla did.

As our first main dish, we chose the Salmon with Sharmoula sauce. In a word- perfection. The salmon was exquisitely prepared, and that sauce was not only amazing, but also well proportioned to the size of the serving. I am happy that he brought us forks for this dish. We tore into it with abandon, and you will too. There was nothing left of the fish, and even though we tried, we still left over half the rice, carrots, peas, and garnish that were piled like a mountain on the plate.

The final dish in our feast came, and we were all so full we had to fight to make room. Chicken with olives and lemon that was succulent, but not greasy. The olives were fresh and ripe, and went well to the lemon flavor that an interesting juiciness that did not disappoint. With or without forks, you will want to be sure that when you get to this dish you have your towel on your lap to catch rogue olives as they danced about the plate.

We simply couldn’t eat another bite. But we kept on, because it was just so good. At the end of the meal, our hilarious server brought each of us a glass of warm Mint Tea and a few of their homemade pastries made almond sugar and flour. Despite our fullness, we ate them. You will too.

While we relaxed on the divan, the belly dancer began her performance. It was awesome, exotic, fun, and a nice end to a marvelous dining experience.

Casablanca’s “brass and fabrics have been hand carried from Morocco to create the ambiance that we hope you will enjoy. So when we say you are the honored guest in our traditional Moroccan home, we truly mean just that. We have imported our home here to you.”

Casablanca Restaurant
1504 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2717
(703) 549-6464
moroccanrestaurant.com

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

A NEW MEMBER TO THE TEAM!

FW&D is pleased to announce that we have a new office person. Tiffany is new the the area, and came on board in early September. She is now handling the office projects, web updates, and marketing. Tiffany is excited about the different type of remodeling experience that FW&D offers and looks forward to helping customers have a wonderful experience from the very first phone call! Her work in the office will help ensure that the On-Time Guarantee is met, and that customers always have a place to turn for their

service needs.

“I live in Virginia, but I am California Girl”, says Tiffany, who loves her East Coast heritage, specifically the Fall Leaves and Virginia’s beautiful landscapes. When you call in for your Remodeling needs, chances are you will be hearing Tiffany’s cheerful voice. Did she mention she was once in a band that performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

A million years ago in another land...

In her free time, Tiffany continues to perform in the area, and is a Graduate School student & freelance writer. You have already read some of her work in our newsletters. We are definitely excited to see a restaurant review from her in our FW&D Newsletters! Welcome Tiffany!

It is sad to say that with the welcome addition of a new Office Manager, it means saying goodbye to our previous OM, Elizabeth, who is devoting her time to school. She has enjoyed her time with FW&D and promises to remain in touch.

Once again, let’s welcome Tiffany to the family!

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

We Support Marshall Heights Bison, LLC

With fall right around the corner, the excitement of a new football season begins. Marshall Heights Bison, Inc., a youth football team in Southeast DC, needed donations for football gear such as uniforms, balls, shoes, and everything else that will assist them in having a great season. Founded in 1992, this organization administers mini-camps for our athletes-to-be (generally around 8-9 years old), but still has young football players of all ages. This group is very adamant that all children be made to feel like an important a part of the group. FW&D was happy to promote such a wonderful group of individuals by making a charitable donation toward their requirements.

“The goal of our organization is to provide a safe and productive environment that enables children to learn and apply the principles of teamwork, discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship. We facilitate the development of strength and character in every child that participates. Participation in our organization is open to all boys and girls in the DC Metropolitan Area.We welcome all children, regardless of race, creed or national origin.”

They even won their league’s Super Bowl in Orlando in 2007!

We are happy to support this team, and hope their 2010 season is filled with winning games and fun. Of course we have a special kinship with one of the coaches, who is Maintenance Supervisor for Fairlington Villages.

If you are interested in finding out about this organization, or signing up your young ones, you may contact them via their website. Just click here.

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

FW&D’S OCTOBER RESTAURANT REVIEW!

In the Del Ray section of Alexandria, FW&D found a pearl of a place for your October Restaurant Review. The area is nice to begin with, but La Strada Restaurant gives it that special something extra. Nestled in a location facing Mount Vernon Avenue (lovingly referred to as “the Ave”), friends and patrons may easily access the osteria (Italian for bar) and enoteca (which literally means “wine repository”) for post-work dinner and drinks. As relatively new clientele, we were surprised by the quality of the food and service, in the best possible ways. Along with us for this review was Photographer Eric G Brown, and Dan O'Brien of Axon Solutions.

The first of the many things that blew us away was the wall mural in the patio area. The image is so peaceful and serene, you can’t help but want to find a tree somewhere and just take in the view for a while. There was no question as to where we were going to sit for our meal. The mural alone set an expectation of friendliness, and bountiful peace- a perfect realization of an al fresco dining experience.

As the sun set, the patio lights began to glow softly, and all of a sudden, there was a magical sense of relaxation and well being. We hadn’t even ordered the food yet.

We enjoyed the bread and oil set before us prior to our ordering. There was a savory pungent flavor in the foccacia they served, and the bread was pleasingly fresh- a nice compliment to the herb-fused olive oil. A lot of restaurants put whole vegetables in the oil for flavor, but La Strada chops up their fresh herbs and spices before adding them to the olive oil in the bottle. This not only flavors the olive oil superbly, but it also allows the herbs to pour directly on the bread. Don’t forget to shake the bottle of oil (hopefully without spilling). The presentation of the bread, oil, and water was so quaint you had to sigh a little bit. That is, unless you were hungry, and we were!

This brings us to our delectable appetizers. The menu choices were plentiful, and we debated a few dishes. We ordered Shrimp Finocchio (I think someone ordered it because it made them think of Pinocchio, but don’t quote me), Tomato Summer Salad, and Asparagus Salad. For good measure we ordered Polpetta (a serving of three Meatballs made of Veal, sausage, and pork). Everything was tasty, fresh, and light. The Tomatoes in the Summer Salad were served on a bed of Mozzarella cheese (House made no less) with a light brushing of Champagne Vinegar and a bit of parsley, not only for effect but for a subtle shift of taste colors. The Shrimp Finnochio swam in a sea of Pernod with chili peppers and fennel, and the picture does not adequately show the size and meatiness of each shrimp. Paired with the fennel it was a nice coupling of flavors. The Polpetta Meatballs were a great mixture of three meats (beef, veal, and pork), with no one flavor overpowering the other, and the sauce was so good we wouldn’t give it back to the waiter once the meatballs were done (it made great dipping for the bread).

Just so you know the appetizer showstopper was the asparagus salad. The way it tasted was so unexpected (in the best way), we all looked at each other in surprise! The chopped asparagus was teeming with diced pancetta (a dry, cured meat) and shaved pecorino cheese, lightly glazed with lemon vinaigrette dressing. The other dishes were wonderful, to be sure, but that asparagus salad was something we would have to say just stole the show. I’m telling you, you simply have to try it! You’ll thank me later!

And don’t feel bad for the rest of the appetizers, we made short order of all the dishes.

Presenting a well rounded wine list, with information available from the ready wait staff, we chose Caparzo Sangiovese, a rather fruit forward, though light in body red that complimented all of our various dishes nicely.

When the main dishes came, we were pleased with the portions, which were a little on the large side, but not so gargantuan that we were not able to appreciate the flavoring of each dish. Chef Stephen Scott should be as proud of his culinary skills as we were happy to eat our menu choices. La Strada features authentic Italian cuisine that is locally sourced with seasonally sustainable ingredients. They make their own bread, pastas, and cheeses in-house, and the freshness gives a glow to each selection.

We dug into our choices with gusto.

First was the Saltimbocca alla Romana, a Veal scaloppini layered with sage and prosciutto with a white wine butter sauce marinade, and sides of spinach and polenta. The texture of the meat was good, not overly tough, and the sage was a wonderfully aromatic, but not overly powerful.

We also sampled the Tenderloin di Maiale. This Pancetta wrapped Pork Tenderloin served withharicot vert (French for Green Beans), mashed potato and an Amaretto sauce. The pork was butter-tender under the cooked top, and the green beans were amazingly fresh. Mashed potatoes were wonderfully thick while still maintaining the creamy flavor and consistency that can only be described as inspiring.

Roughly the full size of the plate, the Parmigiana di Pollo did not disappoint. With the Fontina cheese graciously melting all over the breaded chicken breast scaloppine covered in marinara sauce with roasted pepper (with a large slice of prosciutto under the breaded chicken). This doesn’t even touch the added flavor of the accompanying capers and anchovy salad. The piquant mixture of flavors was simply blissful.

Last, but certainly not least, the understated Spaghetti alla Aglio with chicken. La Strada’s own simple dish of homemade pasta with garlic and extra virgin olive oil was terrific. The chicken was fresh and light, the garlic was obvious but not obnoxiously so. At no point was any flavor out of tune with any other. It was simple, classic, and absolutely delectable. This scrumptious choice would be good for a less adventurous stomach. Not too exotic, not too bold. It tasted excellent and needed nothing more.

Well fed, but enjoying ourselves, we ordered dessert.

Don’t know how we were going to make room for it, but make room we did. Here was another surprise. The Tiramisu was light, creamy, and everything you would want it to be, as was the Canoli, but here we found that another showstopper in La Strada’s menu.

Of course, it was Ned’s Chocolate Mousse.

But this chocolate decadence came with a twist. It wasn’t sugary! The chocolate flavor was aromatic and rich, and the texture was pleasing. Though I didn’t expect to like it, being a Tiramisu fan, it turned out to be my favorite!

Meal completed from appetizer to dessert, we relaxed in the patio feeling warm, comfortable, and serene.

The location was nice, the food was wonderful (especially the asparagus salad), and the wall mural really made us feel like we were on a patio in Tuscany. Their service was very accommodating (even going so far as giving all new silverware due to a food allergy from one of the guests).

I know for a fact that we are going to make repeat visits.

1905 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301(703) 548-2542Bus: Mt Vernon Ave & Bellefonte Ave
Go directly to La Strada’s Website
Open Mon-Thu and Sun 11:30am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIAL FOR FW&D SERVICE

There are customers and who are truly one of a kind. Mr. Kelly is no exception. According to his message on our machine, he thinks we are too. After previous satisfaction with FW&D when we took care of his Window Installation project, he called again to have us do another remodeling project at the same location. This time, he wanted the bathroom in his Arlington rental property completely renovated.

From the ceiling to the floor, there wasn't a thing FW&D didn't replace or install. New toilet, new shower, new wall fixtures… We took the bathroom from quaint to contemporary, and Mr. Kelly couldn't have been happier. “I went right to Ned, he said, “they gave a good estimate… stayed on budget, and they did the job in an A+ manner.” What more can be said? FW&D prides itself on customer satisfaction and family oriented business.

This blog article is from FW&D. 

We do Kitchen Remodeling, Bathrooms, Roofing, and more.

Click here to visit our site and learn more about us! 

Or call us at 703-933-8900.

Another New Face in the Neighborhood

FW&D Remodeling is excited to welcome another new member to our team! Elizabeth Stevenson, longtime Virginian, is joining FW&D as Office Manager. Elizabeth has over 5 years of Publishing and Marketing experience and brings her cheery spirit to the office of FW&D. She is excited about the different type of remodeling experience that FW&D offers and looks forward to helping customers have a wonderful experience from the very first phone call! Her work, away from the job site, will help ensure that the On-Time Guarantee is met as well, and that customers always have a place to turn for help or questions.

In her free time, Elizabeth loves to cook, read, and write. She even has a Greek Food Site that she publishes. Check it out – you might find some recipes you want to try at home! We are definitely excited to see a restaurant review from her in a future FW&D Newsletter! Welcome to the team, Elizabeth!

Sadly, with the welcome addition of a new Office Manager, it means saying goodbye to our previous OM, Mary, who is moving back to Texas. Mary has enjoyed her time with FW&D and will miss everyone.