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.

4th of July

The annual Fourth of July parade in Fairlington this year was fun and educational. Besides eating hot dogs and ice cream, another highlight was seeing people dressed in colonial period costumes playing their instruments. Sponsored by the Fairlington Citizens Association (FCA), the parade stepped off at 9:45 am at the Fairlington Fire Station #7. The history of Fairlington is an interesting one. Fairlington was originally constructed as a housing development for defense workers and their families during World War II. We found that the spot in which we were standing was right where the Battery Garesche from the Civil War previously stood. As longtime Arlington and Fairlington residents, the Fourth of July was even more special surrounded by our customers, neighbors, and friends. We are lucky to live in such a close knit community that is able to host such a celebration, and look forward to another parade next year. Check out the fife and drum playing the armed services medley, or a video of the entire parade.

New Face in the Neighborhood!

FW&D Remodeling is excited to welcome a new team member! Ron Bateman, longtime Virginian, is joining FW&D as a Project Manager. Ron has over 35 years of Construction Management experience and brings his wealth of knowledge to the FW&D remodeling experience. He is excited about the family-oriented aspects of FW&D Remodeling and looks forward to working with customers throughout the entire remodeling process, ensuring that high expectations are met and that our unique On-Time Guarantee is upheld. In his free time, Ron is an avid outdoor sportsman, and enjoys the beautiful wildlife of Virginia – he even has bears that come to his bird feeder! Welcome to the team, Ron!

Pizzaiolo Cafe on Fern

Looking for a place to relax on these gorgeous summer evenings while enjoying some absolutely delicious food? Looking for a laidback restaurant that you can bring your friends, your kids, or Fido? Craving some authentic Italian food in Alexandria?

Well, look no further – Café on Fern, a member of the Pizzaiolo family of restaurants, is serving up all of the above! While this place might not look like the most impressive Italian restaurant, it serves up big flavor while making you feel like a part of a big Italian family (let’s be honest – it’s a pretty appealing idea…)

Café on Fern is located precisely where the name implies, and is so easily accessible. There is plenty of sitting room inside, but the beautiful weather, finally starting to warm, prompted us to choose the outdoor seating area. There’s nothing better than a beautiful night, a gorgeous sunset, and a bottle of wine.

Pizzaiolo’s menu gives options for various moods – there’s classic pasta dishes, pizza, antipasto – even true Italian subs – warning – those subs may become your new favorite lunch. The wine list, rightly stocked with Italian wines, complemented the food impeccably. We decided to get some classic Italian appetizers – both were so perfect for our outdoor summer meal. First up was the Antipasto Platter:

This was exceptional. All three meats were so flavorful, and the smoked mozzarella and provolone were fresh and creamy. The greens and peppers were made spectacular with a light balsamic vinaigrette. This is a sizable appetizer, and could be split easily, although I wouldn’t count on wanting to share!

We also tried the Bruschetta Platter.

The plate came out with three different bruschettas, all very light and fresh. There was the classic Tomato Caprese, a Pesto version with incredibly fresh mozzarella pearls, and a third with roasted red and yellow peppers. As with the whole experience that night, everything was aesthetically pleasing, with nothing added that didn’t need to be there.

We were now ready for the main portion of our meal, the White Pizza, which our waitress had confided was not only her favorite, but what she was taking home for dinner herself that night!

We quickly understood why – this pizza was nothing short of perfect. The traditional mozzarella (again, so fresh) was given a rich depth with the addition of smoked mozzarella and parmesan, then immediately lightened with dollops of ricotta. Combined with garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil (all instant winners in my book) and topped off with spinach, this pizza had layers of flavor in every bite, down to the thin crust. There were the rich flavors without the heaviness that is too often present. It was truly an experience.

After we finished up, we decided to check out the inside of the establishment, having glimpsed through the window at what appeared to be an impressive espresso and wine bar.

Yes, you are seeing correctly. That is indeed a gelato counter as well. Truly, a good gelato is reason enough to go anywhere. The girls behind the counter were kind enough to let us try several flavors before we settled on our choices. I, of course, chose the Chocolate Hazelnut. I am a firm believer in “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” (really, you can’t go wrong in choosing Nutella), but they gave theirs a surprising edge by having actual flecks of hazelnut, as opposed to just the flavor. Some of their other flavors were close runners-up. The Toasted Almond was an unexpected delight, and they had both more common flavors (chocolate, mint chocolate chip) and the more unexpected (pistachio, lemon). Who knows, maybe in a couple times, I might get something else. Miracles do happen.

Overall, this was a delightful establishment, perfect for a nice sit-down meal and equally as appealing for a quick sub at lunch. In addition, everything at Pizzaiolo’s Café on Fern is available for pickup or carryout – including their beer and wine selections. Whether you’re enjoying on the patio ,watching the sunset, inside at the cool bar, or in the comfort of your own home, this is a place that is sure to please.

Pizzaiolo Café on Fern

1623 Fern Street

Alexandria VA, 22302

703.717.9324

www.cafepizzaiolo.com

For A Beautiful Basement...

Is your basement just a place where you store boxes? Wouldn’t it be great if it could be part of your living space – an area you really want to hang out in with the family? See how you can turn your dark, damp, uninviting basement into a beautiful addition to your home.

Oftentimes, basements don’t have a separation between the usable space and the unsightly necessities, like this furnace and hot water heater. Also, the W/D and fridge, while a nice thing to have in the basement, aren’t exactly things you want to sit by and relax.

So the first thing we suggest is separating your usable space from that basement clutter! Here, we added framing around those areas. They do need to be accessible, obviously, but you’ll see more of that in later pictures.

Adding these walls not only separates these home appliances from the space, it also creates sections to a large area, allowing you to designate different corners to different uses. For example, this couple wanted to have all their exercise equipment in the basement, but didn’t want it to be a solely “workout zone.”

Once the walls were up, they were free to create a living area on one side of the basement:

And turn the opposite into a beautiful home gym!

The different flooring not only help separate the spaces, but are more conducive to a workout area.

Remember those unsightly home appliances? Now they are easily accessible, but hidden away, creating a fresh, inviting space.

Sometimes the pile of laundry gets a little high, we understand. How nice to be able to close the laundry room door and relax in your newest home space for a bit – the laundry can wait til tomorrow!