Tanpopo Ramen House

Posted on 2014/08/09 by .

Tanpopo Ramen House, web site, 4316 Markham St, Annandale, VA, 703-354-4938 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Google | Washingtonian | NoVA Mag | Don Rockwell | Ylp]

Tanpopo ramen

Tanpopo ramen

I’m not such a one to judge ramen places because that food, outside of Japan itself, almost always bores me. That said, this place exceeded my expectations and I thought the pork belly ramen was pretty damned good. Not great, but good enough to visit again. The sushi is OK enough but not a reason to come here. I would also describe this place as part of the growing “Asian food for Asian-Americans” genre, without being designed for the Japanese palate per se. It’s a cool place, good décor, not so many people know about it yet, worth a try for the curious though I think it helps if you go with my low expectations.

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Posted in Annandale, Japanese, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Saba

Posted on 2014/08/03 by .

Saba, Yemeni restaurant, 3900 A Pickett Road, Fairfax, VA, 703-425-1130 (or 252-347-2016) (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Don Rockwell | Ylp]

Wow, a real Yemeni place and an authentic one at that. Where Sheba (Ethiopian) used to be, and right next to Wild Chicken. I’ve tried I think seven of their dishes and all are excellent. The lentil soup and the breakfast dish clay oven bread mashed with honey and dates stand out as my two favorites. If you order the sambusas, make sure you ask for the dipping sauce, makes a big difference. In general ask if the breakfast dishes are available, often they are. I am told they have a lunch buffet but only Monday through Wednesday.

Saba Yogurt Soup

Saba Yogurt Soup

The photo is of a quite good yogurt soup, note some of the portions here are quite large, not a complaint but plan accordingly. Good for people-watching as well. Everyone who enjoys ethnic food should visit this place, it counts as a new favorite. The desserts look and sound remarkable, although I am not eating much dessert these days.

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Posted in Current Favorites, Fairfax, Virginia, Yemeni | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thai Taste by Kob

Posted on 2014/07/31 by .

Thai Taste by Kob, FB, 11315 Fern Street, Wheaton, MD, 301-942-0288 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Zagat | Washingtonian | Don Rockwell | Ylp]

Whole fish in chili sauce

Whole fish in chili sauce

A Thai street food place, excellent quality. The whole fish in chili sauce is a must. The soups are very good, try the first one with various kinds of pork, make sure you stir in the condiments (ask for help if need be), the minty stuff, the bean sprouts, the full deal, to get the most out of this dish. The Thai sausage in the Nam Kao is first-rate. The mussamun beef curry and the Chieng Mai noodles with chicken are also very very good dishes, get them.

Three happy Thai Taste diners - Tyler, Nathan, and Gary

Three happy Thai Taste diners

The menu here is huge and I don’t pretend to know it very well, but this is one of the five best Thai places around and on that list it is not the fifth. Definitely recommended for anyone wishing to explore authentic and quality Thai food at extremely reasonable prices.

Massaman beef curry

Massaman beef curry

Chiang Mai noodles with chicken

Chiang Mai noodles with chicken

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Jose Andres America Eats

Posted on 2014/07/27 by .

Jose Andres America Eats, web site, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA (in the Ritz-Carlton, free valet parking with validation) 703-506-4300 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | Washingtonian | City Paper | NoVA Mag | Don Rockwell | Ylp | Gayot]

American and mostly southern dishes, this is based on a pop-up restaurant that Andres tried in DC for a few months a few years ago. It has the best hush puppies I have ever sampled. Excellent peanut soup. Brunch for breakfast and a good place for a business breakfast proper. Quality salmon but the portion is too small. Good egg dishes for breakfast. The fried chicken is tempting, though I did not try it. Overall a very good entry but somewhat overpriced, as befitting the Ritz location. Some of you should definitely visit this one, however.

What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam? at the National Archives

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Posted in American, Southern (see also Barbecue), Vienna/Tysons, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

China fact of the day, or why Chinese food will decline in quality (and rise in safety)

Posted on 2014/07/27 by .

In the United States, at least 70 percent of all the food we eat each year passes through a cold chain. By contrast, in China, less than a quarter of the country’s meat supply is slaughtered, transported, stored or sold under refrigeration. The equivalent number for fruit and vegetables is just 5 percent.

The article has other points of interest, an excellent piece by Nicola Twilley.

Originally posted on Marginal Revolution – click to see comments and suggestions.

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Bawarchi

Posted on 2014/07/13 by .

Bawarchi, web site, 13949 Metrotech Drive, Chantilly, VA, next to Lotte Plaza, formerly the home of Karaikudi, 703-378-9100, they don’t always answer their phone. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window)

Chettinad food, very regional. Get the chilies in curry sauce (mirchi), various forms of fish, eggplant curry, utthapam, the goat dishes, and they claim the specialty is biryani (I haven’t had it there yet). The Chettinad chicken is also very tasty.

Tyler's father-in-law at Bawarchi

I would not put this forward as an all-purpose Indian restaurant for the casual Indian diner, but if you are tired of the usual this is one of the handful of Indian places I most want to eat at these days. Everything tastes real, the food is properly spiced, and the average quality is quite high.

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How has the restaurant experience changed in the last ten years?

Posted on 2014/07/13 by .

This is from a New York Craigslist post, from a restaurant owner who apparently viewed tapes of customers from 2004 and 2014, here is part of his account of the more recent behavior:

2014

Customers walk in.

Customers get seated and is given menus, out of 45 customers 18 requested to be seated elsewhere.

Before even opening the menu they take their phones out, some are taking photos while others are simply doing something else on their phone (sorry we have no clue what they are doing and do not monitor customer WIFI activity).

7 out of the 45 customers had waiters come over right away, they showed them something on their phone and spent an average of 5 minutes of the waiter’s time. Given this is recent footage, we asked the waiters about this and they explained those customers had a problem connecting to the WIFI and demanded the waiters try to help them.

Finally the waiters are walking over to the table to see what the customers would like to order. The majority have not even opened the menu and ask the waiter to wait a bit.

Customer opens the menu, places their hands holding their phones on top of it and continue doing whatever on their phone.

There is more here, interesting throughout, and for the pointer I thank Jacqueline Mason.

Originally posted on Marginal Revolution – click to see comments and suggestions.

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Fiola Mare

Posted on 2014/06/21 by .

Fiola Mare, web site, 3050 K Street NW, Washington, DC (Enter at 31st St NW & Waterfront), 202-628-0065 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Google | WaPo | Washingtonian | Ylp | Don Rockwell | Zagat]

Here’s a restaurant that breaks virtually every Tyler Cowen rule of good dining. It is in Georgetown (ugh). It offers riverfront views (ugh). The staff is well-trained and has a pleasant and cloying manner (ugh). I could go on.

But – here’s the thing – it is really good. The food tastes really good. To be sure, there is a catch. For lunch my small piece of fish, while superb, cost $40, and that is before tax and tip. (I did by the way try a bunch of other dishes.)

I wouldn’t spend my own money here. And that also means I won’t be going back enough to see if/when the quality declines. But if you have the chance to eat here at someone else’s expense, by all means take advantage of the opportunity rather than fighting it.

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Charcoal Chicken

Posted on 2014/06/20 by .

Charcoal Chicken, web site, 13969 Metrotech Dr., Chantilly, VA, 703-953-3707 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Google | zabihah]

The number one Pakistani place in Virginia, better than the competitors. Get the karahi chicken and the lamb with spinach. They have knock out bread and green sauce, make sure you dip *something* in the green sauce. Everything else seems pretty consistent. The fried fish is good too. Let the spices and juices from everything soak into the bread, and then the best part of the meal has arrived.

Superb, I hope you get there.

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Posted in Chicken, Current Favorites, Herndon/Reston/Ashburn/Chantilly / Dulles Airport, Pakistani, Virginia | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Charcoal Chicken

Montreal bleg

Posted on 2014/06/20 by .

Where should I eat there? And what is the best place for vegetarian or Indian food? I thank you all in advance for whatever aid you can offer.

Originally posted on Marginal Revolution – click to see comments and suggestions.

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