That's cool! I love Kensington, lived there as a kid. Still have to have a Continental steak and cheese every few months or I go into withdrawals.
Really nice color on the beef, Boatbum - I'm just up Connecticut Ave. in Kensington.
Chowdah recipe looks killer, too.
I agree on the shrimp - I CANNOT get anything but dirty tasting
stock from, well, Asian shrimp.
Nice write up!