The flu has struck TNT Diner. Not sure if I have H1N1 or another kind, but it’s really no fun being sick. I’ve put myself on quarantine until I’m no longer contagious. I’ll be back next week (in theory) with restaurant reports.

Today is the first day I’ve felt like eating anything. A takeout order of Jungle Pork from Chili Thai in Puyallup is helping me unstuff right now. The fragrant, spicy-sweet sauce was laden with thinly sliced rings of lemongrass, and heavily flecked with red pepper flakes. A side of green curry with pork also did the …

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I know of four restaurants offering freebies to veterans and active duty military members today. Do you know of any giveaways to salute current or retired military? If so, please comment here.

Please tell your favorite veteran about these events:

Famous Dave’s BBQ: All active and retired veterans with military ID cards can get a free meal from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. today. According to Famous Dave’s, “All active or retired Veterans, (with Military ID card), will receive a FREE meal from our “Select Menu” at any of the 5 Western Washington Famous Dave’s (Puyallup, Tacoma, Silverdale, Everett and …

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I’m in a hurry. I need lunch. I don’t want drive-through, and standing in a long line is not an option. My solution: take-out soup. It’s not exactly portable food, but a much more nutritious lunch than hitting your local fast-food joint.
I can think of three places in Tacoma that do take-out soup well: Infinite Soups, Marlene’s Market & Deli and Metropolitan Market. Where’s your favorite place for take-out soup? Comment here.

Click “more” to read about soups at Infinite Soups, Marlene’s and Metropolitan Market.

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TNT PoliBuzz blogger Peter Callaghan and Tacoma blogger Kevin Freitas report this morning that Hello, Cupcake had a light post smash through the front window earlier today during a construction mishap. The cupcake shop is expected to have the problem fixed this morning, according to the posts.

Question from reader in my email yesterday: “Could you do an article of corned beef and pastrami in Tacoma?” -Steve

Dear Steve: I’d love to. Problem is I’m at a loss for what to write. The best pastrami I’ve had was homemade at a friend’s house. I can’t send readers there. She wouldn’t like that much.

Question for readers: Where should I go to find good pastrami? Corned beef? Anyone?

If you do want to drive to Olympia, you can find corned beef at Temple Beth Hatfiloh starting Sunday at the temple’s Delifest. Our sister paper The Olympian …

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Blink and you might miss it, but tucked into a U-Haul lot at 142nd and Meridian in South Hill is a new mobile food trailer. Out-n-About Burgers opened Wednesday Oct. 28 in the gravel lot off the always busy Meridian Avenue East.

I dropped in and casually chatted up Bob, who said he was the owner. He said it took about 18 months of L&I and health department permitting to open the mobile food trailer (both permits are on display). I looked inside and saw five people cooking and taking orders inside a pristine, but tiny kitchen. I’ll be curious to see how it looks after a few months of use. As for the food….

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Here’s a thread where you- diners and readers- can sound off about restaurant and dining topics. Come out of lurk mode and add to the conversation.

The rules: No personal attacks, no all caps, no unsubstantiated information or wild accusations. Stay on topic. If it’s not about restaurants, dining or has some value in those arenas, the comment will be deleted.

Feel free to: Promote your favorite restaurant, tell everyone about your chef son, and wax poetically about your daughter, the best server in town. Or, tell us where you’ve eaten lately that you liked, or …

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