Ethnic Food Discoveries

[emilycat]

One of my greatest pleasures in life is trying new things, and recently I've been thinking about the abundance of ethnic restaurants in my area that I want to find my way to (and the guy I started seeing is fascinated with ethnic and gourmet food, so that's very date-convenient http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ) .

Anyway, this past Saturday we went running, then decided to go get lunch, but we didn't want sandwiches and I don't eat fast food in any form (blech), so we headed to this Persian restaurant called Persepolis (Susann, it was as great as you said!)in spandex and sweatpants -- we were definitely out of place, but they were kind and humorous and accepted our money http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif.

It was so delicious; they center their cuisine around a variety of herbs...we actually made dinner later that night with pureed basil, mint and tarragon...and kebabs.

Okay, so I'm giving the long introduction, but I'm really just wondering about any new ethnic food discoveries any of you have made that you might want to share...I'm all up for new ideas!

Emily

[Tiger]

Emily- I see you've been busy! Could this date be a new guy?!! Glad to see you're back out there!!!!!

[Beth Y]

Ah, Persian food. You are bringing back memories from a trip to a persian restaurant we found it Boston -Lala Rokh. So many different new flavors. I can't wait to go back.

[Wendy w]

Good for you Emilycat! I just knew that you would be out and about in no time! The men don't stand a chance with a bright adventurous person such as yourself!

Persian food is really good as is Cuban, Mexican, Peruvian, Korean, Japanese some Vietnamese and Thai.

That's great that you have a lot of ethnic restaurants, some parts of the country aren't so lucky. I just recently saw a friend (a vegetarian) who lives in Ohio and can't find any decent food in his area (Bowling Green). One of the fun things about living in southern CA is that we have every type of restaurant under the sun!

Have fun!

[BethH]

Emilycat,

I'm so thrilled you are seeing someone new and exciting! I've been thinking about you since I read the post about your wanting to move west because you no longer have any romantic attachments keeping you to Atlanta! Yea for you!

Its kind of funny how much I care about all you BBers. Take care everyone and have a super week!

[Joyce]

My husband and I wander the aisles of ethnic groceries. Most of them have their own type of "prepared food section" and many times we will look to see what everyone is buying and then try it ourselves. Last month we were in an oriental supermarket and everyone was buying something in a cup out of the refrigerator. The woman behind the counter was very nice and explained it was a chinese dessert layered with red beans, tapioca, coconut milk and other things. She told us to mix it with a spoon and eat it right away cold. She even gave us a plastic spoon!! Things like this are so much fun and can be done even on a tight budget.

[BarrieCov]

I've been on a tamale craze. I've been scouring NYC for the best ones. So far, the best I've found have been from a woman who has a cart near my office. Her mother cooks them fresh, and she sells them until they are gone. She does great pasteles too. I've never been big on Mexican food until I discovered these!

[Gina O]

Emily- Yea about the new guy... and a runner too! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif As far as interesting ethnic foods besides the usual Thai or Indian places is several years ago I sought out a Nepalese restaurant in Boulder, Colorado. My husband at the time was just about to leave for a 4 month trip to Nepal and we found this place on a trip to Colorado. We went back after he returned, and he felt it was quite authentic. I wonder if it is still there. If so, I would highly recommend it. Gina

[SandyM]

Probably my favorite so far here in metro Detroit, and also very, very abundant, is Middle Eastern (babaganoush, fatoush, hummous); there's also Vietnamese, Thai, Ethiopian, Indian - virtually any ethnic food you want. I've made it a point to try the Vietnamese and Ethiopian restaurants this year, the only 2 I haven't.

[This message has been edited by SandyM (edited 01-11-2001).]

[lsdesign]

Beth Y, where is this restaurant in Boston?
Thanks in advance.

[SandyM]

.....and.....um.......Em? You go girl! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Mousie29]

Emilycat,
In Atlanta, we love the Thai restaurants in VA/Hi area, Vietnamese on Buford Highway (some are good, not sure which), Ethiopean on Buford (forgot name, yummy though), "Penang" Malaysian on Buford (NICE and yummy, it's a chain out of NYC), for Tex Mex all I hear is raves for Nuevo Laredo in Howell Mill area and Taqueria Del Sol is very hip and yummy in Midtown with a gorgeous skyline view. In Atlanta mag, they said "Tofu 88" is an amazing Korean tofu/soup place. We just ate great veggie hummus/tabouli/stuffed grape leaves/greek salad at "Mediterranean Grill" near emory.

[hhcowgirl]

Thai food--yum!! That's my favorite, and here in Nashvile The Orchid is the best. Congrats, Emily, on scoring the date! Hope it went well.

[MPHenderson]

I have recently become a maki FANATIC! Maki is a Japanese roll that usually consists of with rice, a seaweed wrapper, and a small piece of seafood and other items. There are all sorts of combinations. You can get maki at sushi bars.

My favorites are tuna, salmon and unagi (smoked eel).

I would have NEVER guessed that I like maki until I tried it. In fact, I tried it under pressure. And, now, I am HOOKED. It's so delicious...and low-cal/low-fat. Plus, the salmon and tuna maki are good source of your good fats.

[mb]

re: Thai restaurants in Atlanta...
During our short stay in Atlanta (we only lived there 5 months before moving) we also tried Thai One On in the Emory (i think it was on clairmont). very inexpensive, yet tasty. we enjoyed it more than Thai Chili (also in the Emory area). We're only sorry we didn't get to try more restaurants while we were there. But the farmer's markets were really great - all kinds of 'ethnic' items we'd never seen or heard of before.

There seems to be quite a variety of ethnic restaurants in the Atlanta area, so it looks like you'll be in for a lot of tastebud-fun if you keep seeing this new guy!

[BarrieCov]

MPHenderson - I'm also a maki lover.

Try smoked salmon and avocado - a great combo. That and spicy tuna are my faves.

[venus]

BarrieCov--have you tried Blockhead's Mexican diner? They have 5 or 6 locations in Manhattan. I don't remember if they have tamales but they have the very best quesadillas ever.

Emily--when are you going to come out of hiding and tell me if this really was a date????

[acorreia]

My vote is also for Japanese food.

I love sushi bars and order the same thing every time:

6 pieces of raw squid sashimi
6 pieces of octopus sashimi
maybe 3 pieces of the red tuna (NOT toro)
extra icicle radish
extra mint leaves
extra wasabi
smelt on the side
sliced lemons

I write this down and give it to the wait staff every time. At my favorite sushi bar, they are even trying to make this into the "Angie special" and put it on their menu so that I do not have to keep writing it down! Too funny.

[emilycat]

Oh, how exciting that everyone's interested in my love life...I feel so flattered!

Mmm, venus..it was very much a date...
On the first one we went to this great little Thai place (called Mali in Va-Hi for all you Atlantans) and the second one was that day-long helter skelter description I gave above. Our goal now is to find a really good Indian restaurant, and he even wants to go to the Farmer's Market with me! (I'll let you know what's wrong with him as soon as I find out http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif )

I'm having so much fun! And he listened to my Joni Mitchell CD without making any faces!

Emily

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 01-11-2001).]

[Susann]

As far as I am concerned, any man who has such good taste to listen to Joni is definitely a keeper!

Can you imagine if he knew about this post???? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[BethH]

Exactly! Don't mention this BB to him--he might find this post all about him! Eeeks! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[kwormann]

When I was visiting my cousins in Atlanta they took me to a Jamaican restaurant in Five Points....black beans and rice and Red Stripe....YUM! I also LOVE Indian food and, like any good self respecting Texan (even a transplant), I love Mexican!


There was an Ethiopian restaurant here, but it closed before I could try it....anyone had it? Also, there is a Moroccan restaurant I want to try....is it like Middle Eastern places?

Kim

[LGBurns]

You go, Emilycat! Any Joni aficianado is a keeper. My husband and I first bonded over a Joni CD.

I had Ethiopian when I lived in New York. I really like it, but I know others that don't (my brother for one). I think the key is to try to keep to the more vegetarian entrees -- the meats can be pretty heavy. My favorite part about Ethiopian is that you eat with your hands! And the bread (which is what you use to scoop up the food) is yummy. Sort of a cross between pancake and pita.

[Lauren]

I'm having cravings for sushi. My husband won't touch the stuff! I'll have to find some friends to go out with. Hey Sandy M, you forgot about Greek town in Detroit. I grew up in MI and really miss the wonderful Greek restaurants.

I'm sure some of you can appreciate this. My brother-in-law and also an old friend of my husband, are both 40 and never married. I had this long discussion with them about this. Don't you think most people wonder what is wrong with a man if he hasn't found someone to spend his life with by age 40? Also, I suggested that maybe they should consider divorced women, who may have children. I have several friends around that age who happen to be divorced with kids. My brother-in-law would definately be able to deal with that, while our friend won't. I think at his age he is still looking for a gorgeous, smart, and young babe! Good luck!!!

Sorry. Emily, I hope you find nothing wrong with your new man!!!

[This message has been edited by Lauren (edited 01-11-2001).]

[Beth]

You would have all loved my last trip to the oriental grocery: As a 6-foot tall, fair-skinned blond, I am a bit obvious there. I had a number of smaller orientals looking into my chart, watching me select produce and such. I would get a curious look, a nod of approval. One woman gave me commentary through half of the store. "Ah, ginger very good. Good with chicken." "Good snow peas" "I so proud of you American girls, trying new things." It was a fun trip, got a restaurant review, and relived it as I told DH about it later.

[Susann]

Emily-I am glad you enjoyed Persopolis. I am also glad that you seem to be over the Ben and Jerrys phase! Enjoy yourself!!!

Now, speaking of good Thai restaurants in Atlanta, I would also recommend Thai One On in the Emory area. I haven't been there in awhile, but they used to have very good and very inexpensive food.

Also, my favorite Italian-ish restaurant is Pastabilities. Yum!!!!