FRENCH-STYLE SLIDING PATIO DOOR

FRENCH-STYLE SLIDING PATIO DOOR

FW&D announces a new style in sliding patio doors. Alside, a leading manufacturer of windows, introduces the Promenade™ French-Style Sliding Patio Door. The new premium patio door is designed to function flawlessly, protecting homes from inclement weather and reducing energy loss without taking up the space of traditional in-swing French doors. The patio doors also allow an abundance of natural sunlight into the home – what many homeowners desire when choosing a patio door.



“French-style doors are a popular design choice for many consumers,” said Robert Schindler, senior vice president of marketing for Associated Materials, Inc., Alside’s parent company. “The challenge is that they require a considerable amount of space to operate. With this new patio door design, Alside has made it easy for homeowners to capture that same elegant appearance in a space-saving sliding door design.”

The doors’ 5" top, 7" bottom and 3" side rails feature mortised joints that help to achieve the traditional “French door” character and charm. For easy, quiet operation of the door panel, these patio doors are developed with a steel tandem roller system with nylon-encased steel wheels. Promenade patio doors require little maintenance; will never need painting; and are made with premium vinyl that won’t chip, peel, crack or warp.

Designed with energy efficiency in mind, dual internal and external weatherstripping on the patio doors provide improved energy-efficiency performance. Alside also offers ENERGY STAR® qualified ClimaTech® insulated glass package options that help reduce the transfer of heat and cold, leading to improved energy savings year round.

Promenade French-Style Sliding Patio Doors are available in 2-, 3- or 4-panel configurations. Homeowners can choose from a white or beige door and a collection of decorative glass options. For added visual appeal, cut or polished V-grooved glass patterns and six elegant handle styles also are available.

For additional information on Promenade French-Style Sliding Patio Doors or other Alside products, please contact FW&D or visit www.alside.com.

Starting in mid March, Fairlington Window & Door is proud to begin a new ad campaign throughout Northern Virginia which includes, but is not limited to the Watergate at Landmark, All Fairlington Bulletin, Daventry and more. As some of you will see the ad in black and white, we want to share with you the color version and at the same time, thank our friend Carlos Durkin of DesignSomething for the excellent work in putting this together for us. Tell us what you think?

Super Satisfied!

At Fairlington Windows and Doors (FW&D), we always do our very best to meet and exceed our customer's expectations. Our customers deserve it and that's what they pay us for! Therefore, when we get feedback like the one below, it reminds us that we're doing what we're meant to do and makes us very happy that our actions are producing these results. See letter below:

To whom it may concern:

Recently, I had a basement renovation, and follow-on repair to a stairway wall, completed by Fairlington Window & Door LLC of Arlington, VA. Their craftmanship and results were superb. I would hire FW&D again and I would recommend FW&D to my friends. In fact, a friend recommended FW&D to me because she was pleased with their work. Their great reputation was well deserved.

For the renovation of my basement, FW&D gutted and replaced most of the ceiling, walls and floors. The old “popcorn” style ceiling and dated light fixtures were replaced with a modern flat surface ceiling and multiple recessed lights. Sheet rock, drywall and fresh paint replaced the old, painted over, wood paneled walls. Multiple new electrical sockets and cable connections were added to the walls. In one room downstairs, a bookshelf and cabinet combination turned a dull basement room into a comfortable library. Last, but not least, the craftsmanship in the new tile floor throughout the basement was outstanding. This was true particularly at two angled steps leading to an exterior stairway. The tile fits together precisely at angles that required expert cuts. The renovation was more than a home improvement; it turned my basement into art.

After the renovation was done, I had a mishap with furniture that was too tight for the interior stairway. Damage was done. I called FW&D for help and withing a short period of time all repairs were made. Again, the work was perfect. I remain pleased with FW&D. The community should be proud to have such a fine company of experts available to improve its homes.

Sincerely,

Marc J. Thomas

FW&D AT RESTAURANT SUPPORTING TORNADO VICTIMS

FW&D's very own Ned Overton is probably going to have Southern BBQ tonight. He'll be at Ramparts Tavern on Fern enjoying some great food for a great cause.

Ramparts Tavern is donating 20% of today's proceeds to the Joplin Missouri Tornado Relief Effort.



Join Ned at Ramparts to participate in the fundraising event.

Ramparts Tavern & Grill
1700 Fern Street
Alexandria VA 22303
703.998.6616
703.778.2940(fax)

This blog article is from FW&D
We do Kitchens, Bathrooms, Roofing,
Windows, Doors, and more!

Call us at 703-933-8900

or visit us at

www.fairwd.com

RESTAURANT REVIEW TIME!

The night ended with four full stomachs, and great conversation enjoyed by all. FW&D will definitely be back, and soon. Read our review here!

House Dynasty
7550 Telegraph Road
Alexandria, VA 22315
703-922-5210

Should you have an idea for a restaurant review, submit it here. If it is chosen, perhaps you can join us for the review!

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!

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.

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.

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.