Where is everyone?

 Ok, Kate, I'll post.  Over the last two weekends, I had visitors, so
 I used my Entertainment card quite a bit.  Here are a couple of
 my experiences.

 One Saturday, four of us went to the Carlton.  We each got an appetizer
 and then all shared them.  They were wonderful--chicken and lobster
 ravioli, cajun shrimp, crab cakes and stuffed mushrooms.  If I ever go
 back there, I will ask for the ravioli as an entree.  Our main courses
 were good, but not as good as the appetizers.  One thing that
 disappointed me was that they were out of specials even though our
 dinner reservations were for 8:00.  They had beef wellington as a
 special, and I was all set to have that, and by the time I ordered, they
 were out.  So I got veal and lobster with a smoked tomato sauce and
 basil gnocchi, only when my dinner was served, the gnocchi had been
 replaced by chive mashed potatoes.  I was kind of surprised that I
 hadn't been informed of this previous to being served and was a little
 peeved that I didn't get the special I wanted in addition to not getting
 the gnocchi.  Oh, well, I was there to have fun, and everyone else's
 dinner was good, so I didn't say much about it.

 By the way, the dinner ended on a good note.  They had a cappachino
 mouse cake with a layer of chocolate granache and a pecan crust which
 was easily the best chocolate dessert I have ever had.

 Then last weekend, a friend and I tried Roland's in the strip.  Great
 raw bar (although I'm usually afraid to try raw shellfish this far
 inland) and wonderful Maryland crab chowder.  I was looking for
 something spicy and was not disappointed.  I had mixed seafood in
 marinara sauce over linguini and my friend had the shrimp jambalaya
 special.  After the soup, we thought the jambalaya would be good and
 spicy, but alas, it was not.  Oh, well.  All in all a good experience,
 especially the price, which was only 43.00 after the discount (including
 beers and espressos).

 Only the end of November and already I have gotten back twice my money
 for the Entertainment book.  What a deal!

 Terri

 Wow, 2 days with nothing from this group.  I guess I'll
 have to dust off my keyboard and post something.  I guess
 I should make it controversial so that it will get lots of
 replies. ;-)  Let's see now . . .

 If you want to see something fun take a very large party
 of at least 6 people to La Fiesta.  The waiter brings out
 all the plates lined up along his arm.  He even has this
 cool "oven mitt" thingy that goes all the way up his arm
 to protect him from the hot plates.  (Wonder where I can
 get a pair of them to wear with my formal, strapless apron
 when I'm having a fancy dinner party?)  Anway, we
 broken out into spontaneous applause at the sight of
 this magnificent feat of "leger de cuisine" (or should that
 be "cuisine de main"?)

 The first time I went to La Fiesta I wasn't too impressed
 with the food but this time I ordered the carnitas and
 they were excellent - well-done and crispy on the outside
 without being to dry on the inside.  Quite succulent.
 I'm still not that crazy about their tamales - mine are
 so much better.  And their salsa is mediocre.  But I'd go
 back for the carnitas.

 Kate