Taste of Arlington, May 18 dinner

Though Taste of Arlington’s official end time was 7:30, I wasn’t surprised to find slim pickings when I arrived at half past six. My targets—Talulla, Willow, and Hank’s Oyster Bar—were long departed. In fact, so little remained that the longest line was at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center Dining Room tent. They were serving Sunrise Santa Fe Chicken Wraps and Parmesan Tuscan Chicken Wraps. One ticket got you two (tickets were $2 each)…what a deal! I still decided to hold off on Sunrise until I visit Grandma next month at the Mt. Vernon NY Sunrise facility. I’m always enticed by the daily dessert special posted on the menu by the entrance. One day the special will be “brownies.” The next? “Peaches in syrup.” Such innovations! Ah, I digress.

So I passed on the Sunrise wraps and headed for Carlyle, starting my evening off with a breaded, tasty crab cake sandwich. Hard Times Café dished me up a bowl of sweet Cincinnati Chili with a spoonful of cheese and chopped onions on top. Two ways, Ohioans? Rockland’s BBQ piled their pulled pork sandwich high, perhaps compensating for the fact that they ran out of buns by providing extra meat. Good deal!

I finished things off at Sangam. The independent Indian restaurant played well the part of Best of the Best of the festival, a prize they had been awarded that day for the third year running. Perhaps the fare they had since run out of was more noteworthy, because the timid channa masala I sampled at the end of the festival was far from award winning. Or perhaps they win the hearts of festival goers with charm before food. Their owner stood by their tent, microphone in hand, decked out in suit and tie, waving his award, and giving his thanks to everyone for choosing his restaurant as the winner…over and over again.

But the proud papa was barely audible, partly due to the accent and mumbling, and partly due to the amped up music on the festival stage, which made his speech all the more futile, and amusing. Local cover band Gonzo’s Nose was rocking out for an eclectic end of the day crowd. A cute trio of 30-somethings grooved at the front of the stage. A tattoo chested rico suave worked in to dance with them, as did a long bearded gentleman, delighted for the chance to take one by the hand and turn them under his arm. Another guy was content to play his air guitar through every song…strumming with his left hand. Very unique style! The dancing was entertaining. Then I noticed the sign announcing that the festival benefits Community Residences, a non-profit that “enables individuals with a wide range of disabilities to live as independently as possible.” Then I felt touched. Own that inverted air guitar!

La Tasca took second place. I didn’t see what they were serving, but it was probably the garlic shrimp on a tortilla chip they can’t seem to show up without. Caribbean Breeze, purveyor of Nuevo Latin cuisine, took third with a crispy suckling pig dish. Carlyle was the proud People’s Choice winner. That’ll happen when you serve $2 crab cakes in these parts.

Taste of Wheaton, May 18 lunch

A chunk of Peruvian rotisserie chicken with yucca from Crisp & Juicy. I guess this would be the 1/8 chicken meal—a deal at $1. The moist, flavorful bird could more than stand up to my local fave El Pollo Rico.

The Royal Mile Pub ladled out a rich shrimp bisque, perfect for the rainy day. However, the bits of shrimp, perhaps from being pre-frozen then overboiled, were crumbly.

Got my meat-on-a-stick fix at Saigonese, along with a plate of lemongrass chicken. The fiery red broth the chicken sat in didn’t translate into an interesting dish. It was bland. And though they had a sign proclaiming they made the best grilled beef, pork, and chicken around, my beef skewer tasted, well, probably just about the same as most any other vendor’s meat beef on a stick would taste.

Got my Mexican fix with a beef fajita from Umberto’s. Passed on all of the Salvadorian tents. Some food works at a fair. Some items, like pupusas, are better bought hot off the griddle than pre-cooked and warming in the tin foil. And with an everyday price of around $1.50, getting a reheated one at the festival price of $1 would be no bargain.

Lucia’s kept a long line throughout the day, though that may just have been because the two women working the tent moved slowly and were using a microwave to warm it everything up instead of keeping their dishes over heat. They still produced a perfect meatball with a couple of bread slices to sop up the marinara remaining in my bowl.

I didn’t want to bother standing in the Supporn Thai line, always the longest at Taste of Wheaton. They may be the most highly regarded restaurant participating and these days, everyone now loves Thai food, and their piles of Pad Thai, spring rolls, and white pepper chicken wings were inviting. I took the express route, waltzing to the end of the line to pick up a cloyingly sweet [in a good way] cup of Thai iced tea, brick red in color.

Saint Sophia's Greek Festival

The people watching was grand. The music and dancing had had your big fat Greek wedding written all over it. And the Saturday weather was perfect. But the sun also meant that the lines were unbearable and the grub was more fast food quality than home-style cooking. On Saturday evening there was a 45-minute wait [at least] to get your dinner. Though the smells were irresistible, the meal surely was not worth the line. The meat on my gyro sandwich was tasty but instead of being in the form of long, inch wide strips, it was in small pieces as it crumbled under the knife that cut it off the spit. The few morsels that there were sat buried under the handful of lettuce, tomatoes, feta, and tzatziki on the slightly warmed and not homemade pita. The whole thing was worth far less than the $9 charged for it. With this many people, the festival is doing its best too feed the masses. But festivals (including this one in perhaps more relaxed years past) often feature the skills of the church’s members bringing the tastes of their mother’s kitchens from the old world to their church’s front lawn. Not so this time—at least not for my gyro.

There weren’t any $20 lamb dinners to be had that evening; the whole lambs—six in all— were done for the day. But the whole trip was worth it for the pictures I got of them prepping a whole new set for the Sunday spits. The whole process (and the subsequent pictures) are not for vegetarians or the squeamish. But unsurprisingly, roasting a whole lamb is a pretty involved process, and that’s before it gets anywhere near the fire. What would you need to know to get on the “Lamb on a Spit Crew?”

The animal sure is fresh. The head makes you realize that the carcass in front of you was a living creature yesterday. And it’s really gory! The lamb also gets a garlic and herb rub down.

The spit goes in the rear, through the body and neck, and back out through the mouth. Ouch!

Assembly needed…bring out the tools! Securing the lamb on the rod requires a power drill, nuts and bolts, wires, pliers…

…and a needle and thread. Throw in some more garlic and spices, add a few halved lemons, and sew that sucker back up like a busted hem line!

Check out my Contributing Witer Post on DCist!

I was recently invited to become a contributing writer on DCist to the Food & Drink section. And today my first piece was posted. I took on the job of writing The Weekly Feed this Friday. It focuses on a compilation of all the awesome food festivals going on in the area this weekend along with some small bites (the standard format).

For the article and the roasting lamb picture, head over to www.DCist.com. But the text is also below.

May 16, 2008The Weekly Feed: Meat on a Stick Edition
Written by DCist contributor Josh Novikoff

Dish of the Week:Whole Roasted Lamb
For many Washingtonians, the bloom of the cherry blossoms signals the changing of the seasons. But for outdoor food fans, nothing says spring quite like a weekend full of outdoor food festivals. The whiff of grilled pork, charcoal, and butane filling the air, styrofoam plates piled high with pad thai, pupusas, and eggplant parmesan; you can walk, eat, and drink your way clear into next week.

Taste of Arlington expects to see 12,000 people descend on Ballston this Sunday to sample dishes from 45 restaurants. Advance ticket sales ended today, but you can buy tickets for $2 a pop at the festival. Chains and corporate eateries will abound, but be sure to catch local gems like Willow, Tallula, the new Alexandria outpost of Hank’s Oyster Bar, and last year’s "Best of the Best" winner, Sangam Restaurant.

Also Sunday, Taste of Wheaton promises a more likely venue to get your meat on a stick fix. The festival celebrates the bounty of bargain ethnic joints that have found a home in Wheaton, where the portion sizes are generous and cost a mere $1 each. Salvadoran restaurants dominate the landscape, with a healthy amount of Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian, American, and Thai spots peppered in. Start off in Wheaton, where the festival runs from 11-5 p.m., then roll yourself down to Arlington where a 7:30 p.m. end time gives your eyes and stomach plenty of time to recover and find dinner.

And if you’re not such a fan of meat on a stick, how about lamb on a spit? The annual Greek Festival at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral runs from noon - 9 p.m. all weekend. You can get your fill of souvlaki, feta burgers, loukoumades, baklava, and more starting today. But whole roasted lamb is Saturday and Sunday only.

Those looking for “an American craft beer & food experience” can try to get in to SAVOR, taking place this weekend downtown at the Mellon Auditorium. But tickets were only available in advance and all 700 tickets per session are sold out. Check craig to try to score last minute tickets. But if scalped tickets and neighborhood festivals aren’t your thing, tickets are still available for the Food & Wine Festival going on all weekend at the National Harbor. A weekend long clambake, an opening demonstration by Michel Richard, and an open flame cast-iron cook-off headline the event, which also features presenting chefs, restaurants, and lecturers, expert panels, and wine tastings galore.

And finally, those out of town this weekend need not miss out on all the fun. Celebrating ten years in the neighborhood, the Verizon Center hosts its Taste of Ten Luncheon on Wednesday from 12 - 2 p.m. A $10 entrance donation will allow you to taste six of the 29 participating establishments. Proceeds benefit the Washington Sports & Entertainment Charities. Can’t afford a meal at The Source? Here’s a chance to taste what Scott Drewno is cooking up in the Newseum - for $1.66! At that price, it may be worth using a few of your tickets for samples from Wolfgang’s new eatery. Just save room for Jaleo, Matchbox, Morton’s, and Zaytinya.

Small Bites

Musical Coffeehouse Chairs
Cozy coffee shop 14U is shuttered with a sign on their door “awaiting new management.” But 14th And You is suspicious whether they're ever reopening. Filling the void just one block south is Café Collage, an Ethiopian coffee house in a residential space on T Street, which had temporarily closed. Lucky for java fans! Unlucky for T Street residents? Eastern market coffee fans may be happy to know that the former Murky space won't be straying too far from the family. Former Murky manager Ryan Jensen has acquired the lease for the storefront and plans to reopen under the name Peregrine Espresso.

Sushi and Tatertots
Ever had a hankering for sushi with a side of tater tots (with special tot sauce). No? Well, Sticky Rice DC is betting they can make you come around. The American/Pan-Asian eatery promises a “charming atmosphere and bad attitude”—and inexpensive prices to boot. They will be the latest business to set up shop on H Street NE when they open—reportedly on Tuesday, May 20. Vegetarians can dine on Tofu Max, The Hot Hippy, and G.I. Jane. Frozen Tropics has more info, pictures, and specials.

Death by Chocolate
Co Co. Sala, D.C.’s boldest entry yet in the world of dessert dining, is now open for business in Penn Quarter. It’s a chocolate lounge and, while twelve savory small bites top the menu, the experience is really about the Monde Du Chocolat. Nisha Sidhu, formerly of 2941 in Falls Church, has created four sets of chocolate tasting menus, each with elixir pairings. And don’t forget the hot and frozen chocolate flights.

Food Festivals and Luncheon's Galore

Food festivals I plan on checking out this weekend:

Greek Festival at Saint Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church for lunch on Saturday...

Taste of Wheaton for lunch on Sunday...

and Taste of Arlington for dinner!

And if feasting all weekend wasn't enough, another food festival for lunch on Wednesday at the Verizon Center! It's unclear whether or not the "Taste of Ten" luncheon will take place in the arena or on Abe Pollin Way (7th and F Street NW). But what is clear is that for $10, you get to choose 6 participating restaurants to grab a nosh from, and the cream of the crop of Penn Quarter is on the list! Info isn't posted well anywhere. I got the info from an e-mail as a Capitals and Wizards ticket buyer. So here's the 411 below. I put my projected Pick 6 in bold!

Verizon Center "Taste of Ten" Luncheon Featuring 29 Area Restaurants & Local Celebrities

Verizon Center - F Street Entrance

Wednesday, May 21 from 12noon - 2pm

Tickets for the Luncheon are $10* with proceeds benefiting Washington Sports & Entertainment charitites.

Verizon Center is capping-off its 10th anniversary campaign with a "Taste of Ten" luncheon at the Verizon Center on Wednesday, May 21 from 12noon – 2:00 p.m.

The "Taste of Ten" luncheon will take place on the main concourse of Verizon Center. Local celebrities will be in attendance as 29 area restaurants will be serving lunch on the main concourse of Verizon Center including District Chop House, Legal Seafood, Tony Chang's, Matchbox, Morton's, Clyde's, The Greene Turtle, and Zola, as well as arena concessionaires Aramark and Levy Restaurants. All members of the community are invited to celebrate ten great years of sports and entertainment in the heart of downtown Washington with music, food and fun on Abe Pollin Way. Tickets for the luncheon are $10* with proceeds benefiting Washington Sports & Entertainment charities.

Participating Restaurants: Aramark, B. Smith's, Capital Q, Chipotle, Chop't, Clyde's, Coca-Cola, Dunkin' Donuts, Gifford's Ice Cream, Greene Turtle, Hard Rock Cafe, Jaleo, Legal Sea Foods, Levy Restaurants, Lucky Stike, Mamma Lucia, Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro, McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, McDonald's, Morton's, Rosa Mexicano, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Crown Food, The Source, District Chophouse & Brewery, Tony Cheng's Seafood Restaurant and Mongolian Barbecue, Zayinya, Zola. *$10 Ticket Includes a sampling of up to 6 restaurants