the arugula files

Waste Not, Want Not: Kitchen Sink Strata

At the end of the week, I always have an odd assortment of food in my fridge on the verge of expiration. It usually makes me feel guilty.  Terribly guilty.  Like if I planned better, or something, then I wouldn't have extra cilantro struggling to stay alive in my crisper.  And what is up with having an extra 1/2 loaf of delicious farmer's market bread left over?  What am I in the zone?  In addition to stale bread, veggies are frequent victims: oh my dear lovely shallots, don't feel neglected there, alone in my veggie bowl; it's not you, it's me.

Usually this situation is a clear indicator that I abandoned cooking the meals I originally planned for the week, and went out to eat more than I should have. Yeah, probably. 

Atwater's Kalamata Olive Bread: Best. Bread. Ever.

Atwater's, a Baltimore-based bakery that sells bread and other carbolicious items at Dupont Circle Farmer's Market and many other markets around the Washington region, makes the best. bread. ever.  Right now you are thinking, thanks, tell me something I don't know.  As a side note, that phrase was my signature expression when I was a teenager.  Wow, did I have an attitude problem. 

Anyway, I'm going to tell you something you might not know, so pay attention.  Ready?  The Kalamata olive bread is Atwater's best bread.  There you have it.  You can thank me later. (My Mom's favorite expression from when I was a teenager; it usually followed her telling me to do exactly what she said, for example, "I know you hate doing your homework, but you'll thank me later."

"America is the Best Country in the World" and Himalayan Heritage

In my quest for trying all of the restaurants on the Washingtonian Cheap Eats List, Marcus and I landed at Himalayan Heritage on Saturday night.  The restaurant is only a short walk from our apartment, and we would have missed it had it not been for Amelia at Gradually Greener, who mentioned it in a comment on my cheap eats post. 

So, we ventured up the hill for a taste of Nepal and India, and were promptly greeted with perfectly spiced edamame and ginger.  Our waiter at Himalayan Heritage provided the best service I've had in a long time, maybe the best service ever.  Water glasses were filled to the rim, he described each of our plates with caring detail, and happily shared that he thought "America was the best country in the world," a refreshing statement from a Nepalese immigrant, who I'm guessing was in his early twenties, and reportedly had been in the U.S. for about a year in a half. 

How had we missed this place? (Careful you could miss it too: the signage isn't that great).  Everything was so enjoyable--the service, the soft Nepalese music in the background, and a nice reminder about feeling lucky to live in the U.S. (as opposed to, say, Iran). 

Chef Artley's Strawberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette

I'm always on the hunt for tasty vinaigrette recipes.  It was only a few years ago that I stopped buying bottled dressing.  That simple move dramatically changed my opinion of salad.  Not only does bottled dressing taste mediocre, it's expensive. 

Today I was walking through the Dupont Farmer's Market and was happy to see Chef Will Artley (and helpers) from the Evening Star Cafe dishing out beef carpaccio with "black" heirloom tomatoes and salad drizzled with strawberry-balsamic vinaigrette.  And, damn, that sample was tasty.

Apparently, this week was the last week for strawberries. Sigh.  I didn't make it to Butler's Orchard because of rain and tedious chores.  I guess I'll have to aim for blueberry picking, which, according to Butler's website, are almost ready to harvest.

Blog-o-riffic Summer Salads

I haven't had much time for cooking lately.  I'm surviving on a few mainstays: turkey sausage sandwiches, peanut butter crackers, pasta with cheese, and Amy's frozen pizzas.  Not exactly blog-o-riffic.  So, I offer you three summer salads from the archives: coleslaw (hold the mayo), pasta salad (hold the mayo), and corn, pepper, and feta salad (hold the mayo). Do you see a theme here?  If you have a recipe for a summer salad that does not include mayo, please post a link in the comments section. 

Hungry for Change?

"Imagine what it would be if, as a national policy, the idea would be to have such nutritionally dense food that people actually felt better, had more energy, and weren't sick as much.  Now see, that's a noble goal." ~Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm

"Food Inc. made me want to be a better eater person.  Starting now." 
~arugulafiles.com

Favorite on Washingtonian's Cheap Eats List?

For the past few years I've been on a mission to eat at as many restaurants on the Washingtonian's Cheap Eats List as humanly possible.  I would say that I've been to about one-third of the restaurants on the list.  Some I've written about and others I enjoyed prior to starting this blog.  I have a few favorites, namely Nava Thai, Pete's Apizza, Etete, and Domku.  Other places I thought were great, like Ray's Hell Burger, the Tackle Box, and the Lebanese Butcher, are a must try if you are in the neighborhood.  Speaking of neighborhoods, there's only one cheap eat in mine: Zorba's.  

Of course, there are quite a few on the list that I haven't tried yet, including Taylor Gourmet, Honey Pig, and La Limena. 

What's your favorite place on the Washingtonian's Cheap Eats List?

A few of my favorite things: pesto

I have lots of favorite things, and many are associated with different seasons.  During spring, I love walking home through Dupont Circle and seeing everyone sitting on the edge of the fountain, some with their feet dunked in water.   Each year I look forward to picking blueberries from a local farm.  And for the first few weeks during spring that it's comfortable, I love having drinks at outdoor cafes (DC has a seven day window for this activity; then it turns sweaty and I grow irritable).  I'm even willing to venture to Fox and Hounds for jalapeno poppers and bad wine (who am I kidding, I love jalapeno poppers; not bad wine, though).

I have a new thing to add to my list: rogue mint and basil growing all over town.  I was walking past Zorba's the other day and I noticed that the ENTIRE sidewalk had basil plants growing along side of it.  This is not an isolated herb growing incident.  Larry's on 18th has mint growing out of its planters.  And on 16th Street, Local 16 has a fresh herb garden that people are free to pick from.  All of this makes me think that Mayor Fenty should plant herb gardens across the city.  Imagine a world where free herbs were sprouting everywhere.  All these sidewalk herbs, remind me of another thing I love: pesto.  Salty, garlicky, fresh, hearty, and yummy.  For the best pesto recipe I turn to a cook who provides endless tasty recipes that always work.