foodgeek

Saturday morning I bought at the Farmer's Mkt: snap peas early glow strawberries asparagus rhubard pie yellow summer squash peach butter roses (not for eating)

I believe the beta carotene in carrots gets activated by cooking as well...making them more nutritious. Reminds me of a chapter in Steingarten's book The Man Who Ate Everything: Salad, The Silent Killer.

Ambience wise....I once sat at Old Devil Moon (www.olddevilmoon.com) in NYC (Manhattan) under the moosehead, right next to the mounted turrantula. Cuisine wise....Tangra Masala in Queens NYC, a Halal Indian Chinese place. They were ethnic chinese who lived for generations in India. Basically Chinese cooking methods with Indian spicing. And its REALLY good. I've been in Chinese restaurants in NYC that had crispy fried intestines, frog, duck tongues, jellyfish, sea cucumber, pork kidneys, etc... Plus a tiawanese place in Queens where the only non offal appetizer was stinky tofu. Oh, and then there is streetfood: The guy who grills baby octopus outside a restaurant in Flushing, Queens (NYC). Its really good.

Olives. You don't want to eat them raw, but once brined they are edible (and tasty).

I was at Churreria Madrid last night in Adams Morgan and saw the flier for this. Unfortunately I can't make it, but thought I'f give you the info. XIV Feria De Sevilla Centro Espanol of Washington, DC Spain's Folk Music Dances Art and FOOD Sunday, June 6, 2004 Noon to 600:00 p.m. Fort Reno Park Chesepeake St. NW (Between Nebraska Ave. and 40th Street) Behind Fresh Fields. Nearby Metro Station: Tenleytown.

How many people were picking? Was it orderly? When we did it last year there must have been 2-3 dozen people, and when we went out to the asparagus patch and let loose, it was like a gold rush, or Oklahoma land claim when everyone ran to find their "plot of green!" It was picked for us, so I can't answer your questions, but it was the best asparagus I've had, including farmer's markets. I even ate some raw. Yes, i know, I'm strange. When we go to the blackberry fest and great grape fest (which has apple picking) I'll try and take a break from being a vendor, and pick for myself. Ok, ok, at least at the blackberry fest. :) I did get some asparagus from the Courthouse farmers mkt today, so we'll see how that compares.

I love blues, but this weekend I'll be at Viva Vienna. There is a guy there with good Chilean empanadas, so I'm excited. :) Also...check out www.tarara.com. It is a winery in Leesburg. we just went to their Winds & Wine Festival, and had a blast. We're also going to their Blackberry festival (August), and Great Grape Festival (September), but can't make the Apple Festival (October). The U-pick asparagus from Tarara was really good. Some of their wines were good, and we came home w/2 bottles. There will be blackberry picking at the next fest, and apple picking at Great Grape and the apple fest. Is there any good food at the Arlington County fair in August? Oh, my error. Viva Vienna is memorial day weekend. This weekend I have other plans.

I love blues, but this weekend I'll be at Viva Vienna. There is a guy there with good Chilean empanadas, so I'm excited. :) Also...check out www.tarara.com. It is a winery in Leesburg. we just went to their Winds & Wine Festival, and had a blast. We're also going to their Blackberry festival (August), and Great Grape Festival (September), but can't make the Apple Festival (October). The U-pick asparagus from Tarara was really good. Some of their wines were good, and we came home w/2 bottles. There will be blackberry picking at the next fest, and apple picking at Great Grape and the apple fest. Is there any good food at the Arlington County fair in August?

Sounds great, but we are wearing ourselves out with all the weekend craft fairs we have been doing (the g/f is a crafter/vendor) and can't really add another road trip on right now. We did have fun at the Tarara winery Winds and Wine fest last weekend. :) Enough fun that we'll probably do their blackberry fest (august) and great grape fest (september). Some of their wines were good, and the u-pick asparagus was great! Sounds like youll have a great time!

You mean Tasca (Spanish Tapas bar), not Tosca (Italian?), right? I've been to La Tasca in Clarendon. Good drinks and desserts, mediocre tapas.

Cafe Tirolo btw is only open for dinner mon-thurs (and lunch mon-fri), and is Ballston metro, not courthouse. It may be divier than u wnat, btw. u bus your own tables.

I like teh ambience at the Arlington greenberries. Nice sized tables, not too close together. pretty mugs for sale. Plenty of nice lookign baked goods. I'm split on the ambience at Common Grounds. Really odd service and policies...but its a big place,a nd nobody bothers you...so you can hangout forever, and do things like play chess or boardgames. Java Shack....is kind of too claustrophobic.

my favs cafes (both in Arlington) are: Arax (Armenian coffeehouse) in Westover. they even have armenian coffee..which is similar to turkish coffee...but with cardimum. Greenberries in between courthouse and rosslyn.

Did you have dessert? The rice pudding, flan, and Crema Catalan Cake were all good. Yes, i know, crema catalan isnt supposed to be a cake.....or like cheesecake but it was good.

i dont like marias bubble tea, although IMHO its better than all aboard express (also rockville). I prefer tenren and Tea Neck Court (Montgomery mall). The eden center bubble drinks are good...but i really want a bubble tea place like Tenren (or Saint's Alp, or Sago) around here (NVA).

Been to the Clarendon location several times. Great sangria and desserts, good service, nice decor, packed with young people, mediocre tapas. We like it for what it is...but I cant see why any1 goes to the one in DC...since its near Jaleo (which is great.)

Tenren has good tea, but I haven't tried their bubble variety. Do people actually like it? I've tried it once and found it revolting, but maybe I'm just not used to chunks in my drinks. i love bubble tea. In this area...i like tenren in rockville and teaneck ct in the monthgomery mall.

Are these places on the level of Wok n Roll's bubble tea? (ick) They need to put a Tenren (yes i know, there is one in Rockville) in DC.

IMHO, the Italian Store in Arlington makes good NY pizza. :) I'm from nyc, btw. Anyway...somethings are better in nyc....and some things (ethiopian, vietnamese, chilli) are better here. *shrug*

I've been getting overcooked meat for years now, both here and in NYC. I like medium well but not anything more than that...so I order medium....and it usually comes medium well. If it actually turns out medium...thats fine too, since I prefer that to well. *shrug*

Tapas are Spanish, not Italian.

We had bad sushi at Nouveau East once and never returned. Matsutake and Matuba are better.

Something about the raw egg mizture having to be kept lukewarm.....so it isn't the safest thing to eat.

NO, NO, NO, a thousand times NO! Papa Georgi (Uncle George) may be the oldest Greek restaurant in NYC, but it has so deteriorated in terms of the quality of food and service and has so rested on its laurels I cannot recommend it at all. The last 2 times I had been there were an utter disappointment -- it was good 20 years ago, but it isn't now. Check out Stamatis, or Christos-Hasapa Taverna. I like Christos as well. Uncle Georges has deteriorated so far...that it is not worth eating there. The food is terrible, the service bad, the place is crowded, etc.... It is a waste of time. It is especially bad off hours.

Nor stop me from occasionally ordering mussels. :)