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Mrs. G and the Infinity Windows- FW&D

Just off King Street in Arlington sits a house owned by Mr. and Mrs. G. Ms. G didn't want the typical vinyl window replacements with interior grids. She wanted a window that kept the old world charm of her original wood window, yet aesthetically recreated a true divided light window profile...



Once Mrs. G's Homeowner's Association approved the project choices, FW&D was ready to install her eight new windows. Needless to say, she was very pleased.

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!

Happy New Review!!!

Those who know the Northern Virginia eating area are not surprised to hear about the many wonderful restaurants on the Little River Turnpike corridor. FW&D was given a tip about an Afghan Restaurant hidden away on Rt 236 (in the shopping center with Total Wine & More) that would easily rival any Gourmet Afghan restaurant in the area. With the help of one of our clients, who was actually born and raised in Zabul (a province in the south) Afghanistan, we were treated to excellent fare, with charming little anecdotes about the culture and traditions about the food preparation.

To walk into Maizbon is to enter another world. The walls are adorned with stripes, tambourines, mirrors, traditional clothing, a horse statue, lanterns, rocks, etc. One would think that all the different details would not blend well, but the eclectic infusion in the décor flows nicely from area to area, with each different room standing alone while still blending into the overall feel of the atmosphere.


You must try the Chai tea. The richness of the cardamom and mint definitely shine through, but in a way that is distinctly Afghan. The waitress was quite clear, “this is not American Chai.” The service saucer was quaint, and with an asymmetrical saucer, you need not worry about where to put your spoon, when it’s not resting on top of the teacup that is. Also available are their Yogurt Mint drinks called Dogh, a bold coffee called Qahwa, and Black Chai tea.


There are some appetizers that are also served in larger portions as an entrée. There were great choices on the menu; from eggplant to pumpkin, Afghan fries and meat dishes, and of course naan, which is a leavened, oven-baked flatbread. Depending on the area in the Middle East, the size and thickness of naan varies, but it always tastes wonderful. Afghan naan is served large and flat, and you will really enjoy it, especially with the various juices and sauces available. FW&D took their time enjoying reading the menu, and listening to the anecdotes about Afghan food and culture, as well as making our choices for what to eat.


Ned ordered the fries. How "American".

You may chuckle at the idea of Afghan fries, but they were seasoned lightly and served with a spicy sauce that is better than ketchup. The medallion cuts are not crispy fried as most American fries are, but they were soft and hot, with the spices well meshed throughout the meat of the potato. You almost don’t need the sauce, but it is too good to leave untouched.


Burtaa is dish made of eggplant, “grilled, peeled, mashed, [and] spiced, with herbs and light tomato sauce added and then mixed with garlic yogurt sauce.” It is light, heady, rich and savory, but with subtle undertones that really bring out the blend of spices. Scooped up on the naan, you will more than likely lean back, close you eyes, and sigh while you take your first bites.


Many people say that Afghan food is full of meat, even the vegetarian dishes. The Salata-e-Watani is an Afghan country salad that remains true to its vegetarian roots. Chopped cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, parsley and some cilantro, are marinated in lemon mint vinaigrette. Resting on lettuce, this salad is a tad piquant. There is no one overpowering flavor, and considering the vegetables and spices used, this is no small feat.


You will really enjoy the Roumi Panir. Most of the entrees offer this or Garden Salad as a side compliment. You must try the Roumi Panir, if only once. The tomato medallion is nicely portioned, and crisp. The toppings; feta cheese, mozzarella, roasted peppers, roasted tomatoes, and fresh mint, are served on top a bed of balsamic vinegar and lightly covered in olive oil. The presentation alone is premier, but the flavor and texture is a additional benefit.


The Mantu was so good as an appetizer that you can feel free to enjoy it as a main dish, as we did. The minced meat dumpling spiced with onion and topped with meat sauce and yogurt was an instant favorite, and had to be enjoyed a second time as an entree.


Kabobs are a well known item, and you will not be disappointed with Maizbon's. The chicken is marinated overnight to ensure full flavor before it is cooked. The portion for a dinner is quite large, so be sure that you save room.


According to our guest, most Afghan dishes have lamb. This explains why you will absolutely love the Lamb dishes. FW&D started with the Mahicha Palau, which is a bone-in lamb shank dish, where the lamb is slow cooked in a broth of caramelized onion broth. Served with brown rice, this lamb was so tender; you could eat both it and the rice with a spoon.


Du Piaza is an Afghan dish normally cooked in a teapot. The marinated onions and split peas are simply excellent, and served on a bed of naan. This lamb has a subtly different flavor than the Mahicha Palau, but it is still juicy, tender, and succulent. The onions were well-cooked but not wilted, and the split-peas were spicy without losing their flavor. The naan did not disappoint, and was a welcome addition to the presentation of the food and the dish itself.


FW&D's dish of the night was a sautéed pumpkin dish called Kadu. The firmness of the pumpkin, the mixed flavors of olive oil, turmeric, dry mint, yogurt paprika, and an elegant but spicy exotic sauce will surprise you. The pumpkins sweetness remains, but colored with the spice mixture, it is an excellent appetizer or main dish, and tastes even better as leftovers.


This is the first time FW&D stuffed ourselves to the point where we had no desire for dessert. Firni, an Afghan pudding made with rose fragrance, pistachios, and milk, Vanilla Saffron Ice Cream, Baklava, or Maizbon’s own Ice Cream with dates almonds and pecans, are available. If you come to Maizbon and have the dessert, please tell us what you think!

Maizbon has a lunch buffet seven days a week catering to the professional on the go, and private events are available. “Maizbon Afghan Grill is open 7 days a week between 11:30am to 2:30pm. Dinner is served between 4pm to 10pm.” The flavoring of each dish, coupled with the portions and affordability, makes us here at FW&D believe that you will enjoy it at least as much as we did. Chef/Owner, Waheed Afzali, has definitely outdone himself with “the unique tastes of traditional Afghan delicacies”, and FW&D will definitely be back.


Maizbon Afghan Grill
6244-K Little River Turnpike
Alexandria, VA 22312
703.914.1700
703.914.1701 fax
info@maizbon.com
www.Maizbon.com

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!

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.