food and friends
Wow. I just had falafel from the famous cart. Now I Understand.
ETA, later: I have been iniated into the Falafel Mysteries, and now all my wondering and bewilderment is at an end. This morning, I wondered, 'How will I find one cart out of so many on every street corner?' That seems a foolish question now. As Mali promised, I knew it was the right cart; I could smell it a block away. Green leafy plants poked out from the side shelf and the drink bin, and rows upon rows of garlic heads arrayed themselves on every other flat surface. chlomar and I waited in line for 40 minutes, and when our turn came, we received crazy Greek opinions on food and HUGE, STUFFED PITA SANDWICHES.
There was intense garlic sauce, falafel, peppers, greens (including, awesomely, kale), the Ingredient of the Day (as it turned out, apple), and wood-grilled chicken (for me). It was incredibly messy and everything that I'd been promised.
Last night I went to Mali's apartment, to help her eat lots of Italian Market food before she does some traveling. While green chiles roasted, we began with Red Dragon cheese I'd bought at Trader Joe's (a Welsh cheddar with mustard seeds and ale), basil leaves, and peanuts. We talked about adjusting our plans for the future and feeling less interesting after college; it must have sounded silly and angsty, but it was earnest and companionable. Then, she made chile rellenos (green chiles stuffed with mozzarella and cooked in egg), black beans with garlic/rosemary/lemon (tasty spices for the beans), a simple avocado mash, and slices of orange-yellow heirloom tomato with basil leaves and balsamic vinegar. We finished with Chocovic's Unique Origin Ocumare chocolate from Venezuela via TJ's. ;) It was all tasty and delicious, and Cameron joined us soon after we'd finished for more drink, food, and conversation. I liked the bottle of Pyramid Hefe Weizen I had post-dessert better than the Hoegaarden white I'd drunk with the cheese, because the Pyramid flavor was hoppier but also heartier.
Between these two meals, I shouldn't need to eat for the rest of the week. ;)
ETA, later: I have been iniated into the Falafel Mysteries, and now all my wondering and bewilderment is at an end. This morning, I wondered, 'How will I find one cart out of so many on every street corner?' That seems a foolish question now. As Mali promised, I knew it was the right cart; I could smell it a block away. Green leafy plants poked out from the side shelf and the drink bin, and rows upon rows of garlic heads arrayed themselves on every other flat surface. chlomar and I waited in line for 40 minutes, and when our turn came, we received crazy Greek opinions on food and HUGE, STUFFED PITA SANDWICHES.
There was intense garlic sauce, falafel, peppers, greens (including, awesomely, kale), the Ingredient of the Day (as it turned out, apple), and wood-grilled chicken (for me). It was incredibly messy and everything that I'd been promised.
Last night I went to Mali's apartment, to help her eat lots of Italian Market food before she does some traveling. While green chiles roasted, we began with Red Dragon cheese I'd bought at Trader Joe's (a Welsh cheddar with mustard seeds and ale), basil leaves, and peanuts. We talked about adjusting our plans for the future and feeling less interesting after college; it must have sounded silly and angsty, but it was earnest and companionable. Then, she made chile rellenos (green chiles stuffed with mozzarella and cooked in egg), black beans with garlic/rosemary/lemon (tasty spices for the beans), a simple avocado mash, and slices of orange-yellow heirloom tomato with basil leaves and balsamic vinegar. We finished with Chocovic's Unique Origin Ocumare chocolate from Venezuela via TJ's. ;) It was all tasty and delicious, and Cameron joined us soon after we'd finished for more drink, food, and conversation. I liked the bottle of Pyramid Hefe Weizen I had post-dessert better than the Hoegaarden white I'd drunk with the cheese, because the Pyramid flavor was hoppier but also heartier.
Between these two meals, I shouldn't need to eat for the rest of the week. ;)