Where can I get a good salt lick? (on food and random photos)

I read somewhere that when you get older, your taste buds get duller and you start to crave more intense flavors.

Maybe that explains why I've been devouring hot & sour soup and running low on my salt lick.

Or why I need to make such rich chocolate milk:

Making a chocolate milk treat in my cubicle at work

What?? I'm just following directions. The label says "heaping tablespoon" -- anything less would be blasphemous!

So, speaking of food, do you live in Maryland? I had the most amazing seafood stew at Rustico in Stevensville (across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge).

Seafood stew at Rustico, an awesome
Zagat-rated Italian restaurant & wine bar.
(Stevensville, MD)

It's worth the drive.

Before the stew, I nearly had an out-of-body experience when I tasted their bruschetta. (Yes, I just discovered bruschetta. Never had it before.) I thought I loved salsa but when you meet your soul food mate, you know it in your bones. (Or maybe I should say buds.)

Bruschetta is like salsa except not spicy -- no jalapenos. And basil instead of cilantro. I ate it straight with a spoon. Bread only dilutes it. It was so damn good that on the way home, I picked up half a pound of tomatoes and made a huge batch immediately upon walking in the door.

me outside Rustico (a couple weeks ago).

Some other random photos:

I spent this past Saturday night hulking over a fancy crystal bowl of marinated shrimp hoping no one noticed that I ate about 7 pounds worth.

S threw an amazing party and prepared all the food herself
(including said addictive shrimp) (Oh! And rum balls!)

Her kitty approved!

What's your favorite food or treat? Is it different this time of year than usual? Most importantly, what do you think of FRUITCAKE??