Just What I Expected

Tuesday night, after returning home from performing a rather unpleasant civic duty that Anthony won't let me talk about (it involves needles and the Red Cross and donating... stuff), i was hungry and lazy and in need of cheap food. And thus, we found ourselves at TNR Cafe (Tea Noodles Rice) on Wilson, just across from the Courthouse Metro.

TNR got a decent review in the DC issue of The Onion, but I don't think I've seen or heard any other opinions on the tiny, 15-table eat in/take out joint. True to the name, TNR has just that-- a decent assortment of teas, bubble and otherwise; various rice-based and rice-topping dishes; and your basic noodle soups and stirfries. Nothing particularly exciting, but decently inclusive.

Anthony ordered the spring rolls, which were just as one expects cheap spring rolls to be: greasy, crunchy, cabbagy, and rolled. Good times. He followed with the beef with scallions over rice, which was again, just that. My kung pao tofu was tasty, although a little too sweet for me, and definitely lacking in veggies. I suppose if you ask for tofu thats what you get, but fried tofu smatterred with peanuts does not a dinner (for me) make.

After a bit of confusion over the bill (we got the wrong one, which was $5 higher), we paid and were on our way. I was satisfied, if not particularly impressed. Give it a shot, see what you think.

TNR Cafe (TNR doesn't have a working website)
2049 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 703-875-0428

With Jose, it's always a festival

Below is a press release from Jose Andres' people about a new festival featuring pintxo, a "small bite" tapas from the Basque region of Spain. It looks like a great opportunity to get some really good food for a really good price. Enjoy!



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Good Things Come in Small Bites with Jaleo’s Pintxo Festival
Featuring Patxi Bergara from Bar Bergara in San Sebastián

Washington, D.C. (August 28, 2007) — From October 9th through the 23rd, Chef José Andrés brings a favorite treat from Spain’s culinary capital San Sebastián to Washington during Jaleo’s Pintxo Festival. A pintxo (PEEN-cho) is a “small bite” tapa from the Basque region of northern Spain typically served on a palillo (toothpick) or a slice of bread. During this two week celebration, Jaleo will feature special pintxos inspired by guest chef Patxi Bergara of the award-winning Bar Bergara in San Sebastián, plus a “Pintxo Hour” featuring $1 pintxos and demonstrations at FRESHFARM Markets in Dupont Circle and Penn Quarter.

Jaleo’s Pintxo Festival will begin with a kickoff party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9th, featuring complimentary pintxos. Guests will be transported to San Sebastián with the recreation of an authentic pintxos bar scene at the Jaleo Crystal City. Everyone is welcome.

During the entire festival, Jaleo will feature a changing assortment of 10 pintxos of the day offering Washingtonians the opportunity to sample a wide variety of these unique small bites. Pintxos, inspired by Bar Bergara’s recipes and priced from $1.50 to $3, will be available throughout the day.

Special $1 pintxos will be available during “Pintxo Hour” from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at all three Jaleo locations (dates available posted below). During “Pintxo Hour” pintxos will be presented at the bar for guests to enjoy on the honor system with the bartender counting toothpicks to determine the bill just as it is done in San Sebastián. Guests can also wash down these tasty bites with a zurito, a small glass of beer that traditionally accompanies pintxos, or with a glass of txakoli (chah-koh-LEE), a slightly sparkling white wine from the Basque country. Jaleo will also offer a txakoli sangria during the celebration

Jaleo chefs will demonstrate classic and modern pintxo recipes at FRESHFARM markets, Sunday, October 7th at the Dupont Circle Farmer’s Market at 11 p.m. and at the Penn Quarter Farmer’s Market on October 11th at 5 p.m.

Guest chef Paxti Bergara owns and operates the legendary Bar Bergara in San Sebastián, which has been in the family for over 50 years. Under the direction of Patxi and his wife, Blanca Ameztoy, Bar Bergara evolved to become the first modern pintxo bar with more sophisticated, refined and elaborate offerings including a tasting menu. Accolades include “Best Pintxos Selection” at the Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía conference in San Sebastián, and an honorary member of the cofradia del pintxo (Pintxo Association) and the cofradia de anchoas (Anchovy Association).

With its rich gastronomic heritage, the coastal city of San Sebastián, or Donostia in the Basque language, is Spain’s undisputed culinary capital. The city and its environs are home to restaurants by some of the best chefs in Europe like Arzak, Berasategui and Mugaritz. Good food isn’t just left to the professionals. San Sebastián is also home to numerous gastronomic societies, private organizations whose members get together at their tkoko or club to cook together.

Pintxo Hour for Jaleo, at all three locations, takes place on these dates from 5 to 6 p.m.:

Wednesday, October 10

Thursday, October 11

Monday, October 15

Tuesday, October 16

Wednesday, October 17

Thursday, October 18

Monday, October 22

Under the direction of Chef José Andrés, Jaleo is an award-winning tapas bar with three locations in the Washington metro area. Jaleo is located at 480 7th Street NW in Washington, DC, (202) 628-7949; at 7271 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland, (301) 913-0003 and at 2250-A Crystal Drive in Arlington, Virginia, (703) 413-8181. For more information please visit the website, www.jaleo.com.

EAT MY FOOD OR DIE!!!

I love this article from Drudge about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Not only is he a holocaust denier and a complete nut, he's evidently really handy in the kitchen.



In a state controlled TV interview he said, "Before (I became president) I used to do the grocery shopping. Now sometimes I help in the kitchen and I know how to make all the Iranian food."

The idea of the man who is trying to obtain nuclear weapons to destroy Israel trying to obtain arugula to liven up his salad is simply hilarious.

Congratulatons America - You're Fat!

Friends of mine often joke that I have the eating habits of a fourteen year old girl. Sure, sometimes I'll splurge and have a second cup full of carrots...or two fried dough dishes within twenty four hours, but I generally eat pretty healthy.



Well who's laughing now? Probably not the people of Mississippi, where 30% of the adult population is classified as obese. A report released today by the Trust for America's Health, states that following Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee, all have 27% or above of their adult population dangerously overweight.

But what about the children; they are our future after all. Well, if they really are, it's going to be a pretty overweight future. Washington D.C. leads the nation with almost 23% of children considered obese, again, followed by primarily southern states: West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennesee, and North Carolina.

Surely there has to be some healthy people, right? Well surprise, surprise, they mainly live in some fairly wealthy states and states not in the south. Colorado, Massachusetts, Vermont, Hawaii and Connecticut have the healthiest adults; while Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho have the healthiest children.

This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. People grabbing that double cheeseburger because it's the only thing they can afford, and southerners eating their local fare which just happens to include sugar laden sweet tea and fried pork fat are going to be heavier than urbanites who can buy healthy at Whole Foods.

The actual report is 120 pages - read it. It's enough to make you pass up on that second helping of fried dough.

I guess Cathal Armstrong was busy that night

Following in the steps of Roberto Donna, Jose Andres, and Morou, Agraria chef Ricky Moore will be leaping into the arena at Kitchen Stadium in Iron Chef America - coming soon to a boob tube near you!



Upon hearing this I was honestly surprised. Why Agraria? I can think of a hundred better places in the city to eat...hell, Washingtonian thought of a hundred better restaurants. Perhaps if the list was the 101 top restaurants in Washington he could have made it, but surely an "Iron Chef" can put out better food more consistantly than say...Butterfield 9.

The real reason I feel that Chef Moore was chosen is because of the idea of the restaurant. Organic, sustainable, straight from the farm to your plate. We're down with that - but Iron Chef, if you wanted a good sustainable chef who'd look good on TV, how about giving Barton Seaver a call?