Menu items

Had dinner at Zaytinya last night. Review at my regular LJ. Cool thing? On the regular menu, the items are listed in English and in Arabic script. Enjoyed sounding the words out.

Koko Market on Eastern

I've driven by Koko Market on Eastern Avenue a hundred times at least, but never paid attention. Stopped at the light today, I realized that the Arabic spelling is a direct transliteration of the words "Koko Market" rather than a translation. I was on the wrong side of the light, so I couldn't read any of the products that were written in Arabic, but when the light changed and I accelerated, I caught the first word, which I believe was "lehem" meaning meat. Beef or lamb, not chicken.

Must check the hours of operation next time I go by. I'm not sure if it is a market that specializes in Middle Eastern products or what, although I assume that's likely. I'm kind of surprised by its location, though, because I hadn't realized there was a significant Arabic population in Dundalk. If asked, I would assume that neighborhood was mostly native Baltimoron (mix of race and ethnicity) with some Latino immigrants.

Avos & chocolate chips

I have such mixed feelings about Whole Foods. On one hand, it is the closest upscale grocery near my home; on the other, passages from Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma echo in my mind as I shop there -- how healthy and organic is what I'm buying? Would I be better off finding a local farm that is committed to sustainable agriculture? Probably, but when I searched online, the closest one was 20+ miles away and limited hours for the public to peruse and purchase their produce.

This morning I decided I wanted an avocado and one of the Belgian waffles from the bakery department, and a Brown Cow cream top yoghurt. Yep, lots of fat in that breakfast. And I forgot the cardinal rule: don't grocery shop when hungry. I returned home with an odd mix of purchases, including a minicake that I didn't need; cherries; fruit salad; sweet potato chips; and more. But the tastiest purchase: chocolate tortilla chips. The ingredients are natural -- no chemical names I can't pronounce. And they have a dark chocolate taste. Went well with the avo and banana for breakfast.

On the avo note, I ate a sandwich last week that was average but transformed to excellent by the combination of avo and bacon. Not a combo I've tried before. The salt and crisp of the bacon plus the buttery fruit-vegetable along with crisp romaine and sliced turkey breast? Delicious.

Lots of things going on

I received an email from one of my college Russian profs -- my favorite instructor, Alla Aleksandrovna Bluykher -- is retiring, and I'm invited to her retirement celebration. Alla specifically asked for me, which is flattering (it's been 10 years!) and a bit guilt-inducing (since I've let my Russian lapse so badly). But I'm off to Red Square at the Belvedere one evening this week to celebrate her 25 years of teaching Russian to bumbling English speakers.

The Jerusalem Fund is offering a workshop on the art of Arabic calligraphy later this month. I just signed up, along with a couple of my classmates.

And I'm back from Cleveland, where I went to attend "trAnsfoRmaTionS," a conference on Arts Education. According to Drew Carey, Cleveland Rocks! I'm not sure I would go that far, but the conference was excellent.

Food note: had most excellent meat loaf at Pickwick & Frolic's, a restaurant near the hotel that seems to have a history as some sort of burlesque venue. The meat load was angus beef mixed with chorizo. Mmmm. Accompanied by garlic mashed and a glorious corn pudding.

An excellent sammich

I had an excellent, excellent sammich the other day. Had tickets to a taping of The Colbert Report, so we went to New York for a couple of days. Wandered around Midtown and Central Park. Found this little soup and sandwich place on either 54th or 53rd just at the right time -- we were starving after wandering around all day. The Biochemist had a bowl of the Thai coconut curry, which was good, and a half a smoked Irish salmon sammich. Sounds like a gross combo, but it was consumed with great relish. I had chicken and rice curry, which was good enough, and an amazing sammich -- avocado, cheddar, whole grain bread and some kind of herbed mayo. Yum.

Nothing to report on the Arabic front, because I missed class. And I'm kind of feeling lazy and not doing my homework.