oliva

Lotte has nice fresh fish and crabs and some nice veggies. It is not too big though. (There is a Lotte in Fairfaz too I believe) If you are looking for big, there is a Korean/Oriental Market which I forgot to add to the list: called Korean Corner, and that too is in Maryland, but I forget the area's name. If you are on Randolph Avenue (off of Rockville Pike), you keep going straight till you hit a strip Mall on your left where Korean Corner is, I believe it is called Veirs Mill Road. They have all sorts of goodies like lotus leaves and garlic flowers, much like Lotte but a larger variety and on a larger scale. They even have a small cafe where you can eat excellent chap chae or spicy squid (it's not too fancy though and some may find it a bit 'messy').

Please let me know your thoughts on the Med Bakery if you venture out there!

Suvir if you want good Fetoosh you should go to some of the Lebanese restaurants in Washington DC- Fetoush being one of them! (sp. may be diferent), Lebanese Taverna and Neyla. The trick is to add the crisped pita bread at the end as it gets really soggy otherwise.

SteveKlc, Thank you for raising this issue. Being a food lover, I thought it was assumed that: "the same high quality products can be found here as in higher priced markets or sources." I love and enjoy looking for specialty high quality products at lower prices because I just don't see any need to spend, for example, $2 at Fresh Fields on a packet of fresh mint when I can get the same, for 50c at Yekta Irani market which is, in addition, even fresher and more fragrant. Quality reigns supreme, but do we really have to pay extortionate prices to get the product we want? The list I provided is for people who want to spend less, buy more specialised goods and not compromise on quality. Another example- I buy my shiitake and oyster mushrooms at Lotte (Korean Market) as well as my lemongrass. Again, cheaper than Fresh Fields and quality is perfect. In answer to your question on the buffalo milk mozarella from Via Reggio: I bought the same product made by the same producer in Campania from Sutton Place at a lower price. No compromise on quality. As for the Med Bakery, please make a trip there, I think you will really like it if you like the Lebanese Taverna. They have, in my view, the best olive selection. I keep Greek Kalamatas and the small bitter Lebanese olives in my pantry at all times which I buy from there. All my Arab friends shop there religiously, in fact, even the ones who live in Arlington and have easy access to the Taverna (The Bakery is slightly bigger than the Taverna). They have excellent halva, fatayer and lahmajeen. They have excellent fresh lebneh as well. I do not know about making fresh phyllo dough. Their spice selection too, is excellent. I bought za'atar and sumac from there for a fraction of the cost Dean and Deluca was charging me for a special order. And again, quality is perfect. You will like it. International House- the Indian/Pakistani store- I would not buy my spices from anywhere else except maybe the Indian Spices store in Arlington. I would never buy a garam masala for example, made by Fresh Fields, it just isn't authentic. I have not been to the Italian Store in Arlington but have frequented Via Reggio and Vace. Sometimes you can special order some things for example, I ordered a bottle of Mirto, What specific goods do you buy there? A lot of people look for mortadella (apparently quite good at the Med Bakery, too) and prosciutto, but since I don't eat pork, I am not interested in these products. I buy fresh pasta (sometimes) from Via Reggio. I used to buy my favourite San Pelligrino Limonata from there as well but now I have found it for less at Trader Joe's. I buy my olive oil from Dean and Deluca, not from Via Reggio- I use Ravida, which I did not find at Via Reggio. I would like to know what everyone likes to buy from Vace or the Italian Store specifically. I hope this helps.

Suvir, This is basically it to make fettoosh.

Tea with fresh ginger.

Jodi- Ovaltine and Milo my faves from prep school days! The best rice that I have had in the US is at an Afghani restaurant on 9th Avenue. The rice was long and thin, I have never ever had anything quite like it. At the Afghani restaurant they serve it with butter and sumac, it is exquisite. The name of the restaurant is Afghan Kebab House (9th Avenue, 51st Street) if anyone wants to do some rice research and find out where is was imported from. It is really worth it....and if you find out, please let all of us know!

Suvir, I think you are being too magnanimous. A caped chef could have articulated his thoughts better than just lashing out without an explanation. This website is supposed to have a "fun factor" in it, no, for all of us who come home after a day's work, be it as a chef or an economist??? From A caped chef's comment it seems I was mistaken, this is an "elitist" website for professional chefs only, I am sorry, I thought it was for food lovers as well. These are the sort of mean comments which make people never want to log onto egullet again....I for one will not be checking this thread again....

Chicken Broth from a can, (I feel verrrrry guilty about this), esp. when I use it for adding to a lovely asparagus soup or a risotto I am making. Sour shrimp paste (for Tom Yum soup, but I make my own thai curry pastes, so I guess that outweighs the "cheating")

Broil anything for more than one minute! I have burnt two beautiful gratins already!

BettyK, I will post the recipes for kheer and firni soon, things have been hectic. Again, I am awful when it comes to providing exact measurements, so please don't expect super fancy recipes! I think that is the beauty of this type of food!

I have not been to the Italian Store in Arlington but have been to Vace. I find the prices to be quite higher than the other specialty stores in Washington. For example, the Sun of Italy brands, for example, are found in even a local Giant food store now- in comparison the prices at Vace are much higher. The buffalo milk mozarella from Campania that Vace carries can be found at Sutton Place Gourmet and is cheaper there. The San Pellegrino drinks (Limonata, for eg.) can be found at Trader Joe's for a lower price as well. The fresh pasta at Vace is good I must say. I went to Two Amy's pizzeria last night and will not be returning there again. The pizza at Pizza Paradiso is much better. We first ordered a vesuvio which was supposed to be prosecco with grapefruit juice. Seemed to be the appropriate drink for a humid Washingon evening. We sat outside, which was the only redeeming feature of the place. The interior had black and white bathroom style tiles....When the drinks arrived, much to the disappointment of my Mediterranean friends, the grapefruit juice was not fresh, but straight out of a can. In addition, the effervescence from the prosecco was non existent. When the pizza arrived the edges were too "puffy", the crust a bit too thin and soggy and the toppings were scattered sparsely. It did not seem to have the same chewiness that the pizza at Pizza Paradiso has. The best part of the meal was the escarole salad!! I wish they still had the panna cotta on the menu, unfortunately they didn't.

I thought it would be helpful to post the names of some specialty food stores (which are quite reasonably priced) in the Washington area for everyone, as I know how valuable it is to have this sort of information. I hope others can offer some tips as well. (I have been looking for a Thai grocery/spice store but have been unsuccessful.) Lebanese/ Mediterranean Mediterranean Bakery- South Picket Street , VA., near Landmark Mall Assadour- Off Rockville Pike, Randolph Street, MD. Irani and Mediterranean Yekta- Rockville Pike, MD. Indian/Pakistani International House- Rockville Pike, MD. (all the spices and sweets you can think of, and extremely cheap. A friend of mine runs the place, she is a Burmese lady.) Italian Via Reggio- Connecticut Avenue (I still find Sutton Place to be cheaper, eg. buffalo's milk mozarella there vs. at Via Reggio, as well as the Mediterranean stores, where the olives and cheese selection is wider and cheaper). Korean and other South Asian specialties Lotte- Nicholson Lane, Rockville, MD. (excellent fresh fish) Chinese and other South Asian Specialties Maxim's- Rockville Pike, MD. Oriental Market- Rockville Pike, MD. (good duck, reasonably priced)

Crisco is excellent for crisping up flatbreads, especially the ones from Pakistan/ North India, for example parathas and cornmeal based ones.

A slice of warm toast with slices of brie and the best and thickest raspberry jam there is. And a cup of cardamom infused tea. Heaven.