Gosh - I have been meaning to eat here for a long time. But you have made this a must eat destination!

Thanks for the great recap!!

Thanks - sounds wonderful!

I am a huge fan of the Lenten soups served at the Byzantine Church in Annandale every Friday through Lent. They are all non-meat (mostly Eastern European soups - with a smattering of more American soups). Only through Lent. $4 for a pint of home made soup. You never know what they will serve and there is always a choice of two soups. I love the green bean with a little sour cream, borscht, sauerkraut mushroom, mushroom barley, and the salmon asparagus soups. Haven't had one I haven't enjoyed!

Epiphany of our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church
3410 Woodburn Road
Annandale, VA 22003

I am a big fan of Karaikudi. I have only been for the lunch buffet. But i have been several times and almost nothing on the buffet was a repeat. All are interestingly and uniquely spiced. Really wonderful and different food!

This is in the shopping center on Rt 50 where the Shopper's used to be (and an Aldi is coming).

It is called Taste @ Hong Kong

Did not eat there - found it after lunch. But I went in to check it out. They were serving some great looking noodle dishes. The menu has good looking noodle soups and BBQ as well as other good eats.

I plan to try it soon, but thought maybe some people were like me and unaware that it opened a week or so ago!

www.tasteathongkong.com

I love 5 guys - and I loved Smashburger. Haven't been to Shake Shack. I know I like thinner burgers than the big thick ones, though,

Went for lunch today - it was packed with a line out the door. Very good service. We enjoyed the BBQ bacon burger and the avocado club burger. The regular was big enough for us - but the big would probably be many people's choice (and you can make any size burger a double). They have interesting buns - more of a choice than most places. Good toppings. The shakes looked good, but I didn't try them. The veggie frites (green beans and carrots) were tasty. The onion straws were good - but I could have had more of them. I thought the price was fine for what I got, though.

We ate outside and really enjoyed our meal!

I didn't know there was a Sterling version - and certainly not a "secret" menu. Wow.

I love Thai by Thai in Fairfax - now I have things to look for!!

I think of that often when I go to a restaurant that won't accomadate a simple request. I have been tempted to quote this to them!

I started with the potato pancakes and they were great! I had the kielbasi with saurkraut. Both the meat and the sauerkraut were amazing. I asked what all they put in the kraut - it was rich!

I took home an apricot rolll (I have previosly gotten the nut and the poppy seed rolls). It was great, but the nut roll might be the best! I also got frozen pierogies for home - the cabbage variety. It was lovely for the festival and I wish I could have eaten more. All was so good!

Love to know of other great ethnic festivals.

I would not be able to. But after reading Robin Cook's novel "Toxin" - I had a similar reaction.

After watching, I agree! I will make it. At first I wondered why mom and auntie were there. But I loved them and their tips and demands.

I had never seen this movie and really enjoyed it. Takes food to get me interested, I guess.

We got some chile to roast ourselves - but they were roasting outside as well. Said they would do this through the weekend.

Being from NM - smells like autumn to me.

I thank them for doing this!

I am excited that I will be able to get to this festival this year. I went several years ago and just stuffed myself. Everything was great - for me the grilled kolbasi and the fried potato pancakes were the best. I wanted to buy a nut roll (I saw an article in the Washington Post years ago about the ladies of the church making them) - but the line was too long for me.

I copied this from their website: http://www.epiphanyofourlord.org/cale...

Epiphany of Our Lord Church Byzantine Catholic Church
39th Annual Slavic American Festival
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Rain or Shine -- Noon to 6:30 pm
Click here for flyer

Featuring: Traditional Slavic foods: holupki, pirohi, kolbasi, haluski, potato pancakes; Joe Shelko and His Band; Children's events; Religious art & crafts sale; Handmade Slavic art & crafts sale; Bake sale; Nutrolls; Icon display & sale; Rummage sale; Bingo; Raffles; Cold refreshments; Football on TV.

Liturgy: Saturday, Sept. 8th - 5 pm & Sunday, Sept. 9th - 8 & 10:30 am
New Church Tours: 12:30, 2:30 , 3:30, and 4:30 pm
Byzantine Sacred Music Concert by Slava Men's Chorus: 1:30 pm

Free admission -- Free shuttle parking -- No pets please Events & times may vary -- Quantities while they last -- Proceeds benefit the Building Fund

I was so intrigued by this that I ordered the DVD for Bend It Like Beckham. Can't wait to see it and then make Aloo Gobi! Thanks

HONG KONG STYLE WONTON SOUP

I am a soup lover.

I went last Thursday (which was the original opening day) and enjoyed the ramen on a soft opening menu. I had the miso, my husband had the shoyu. For us, the shoyu was better than the miso. Not my expectation.

They didn't have the sushi available yet. Since we love natto, we were looking forward to that.

So - is the sushi bar up yet? Thanks for the report!

Thanks. The menu looks good. What did you eat?

I emailed them and got this reply "The Tanpopo Ramen will be open next Thursday 8/23.
We are having 20% off for the month of August."

I really enjoy Temari as well. I will have to try their curry.

I hope to try them next week. I am not an experienced ramen eater - and they only list 4 varieties, though you can add extras.

I'd love to hear opinions as to which I should try first!

http://tanpoporamenhouse.com/

Thanks - sounds like a good place. Do you think reservations for a Friday lunch are needed?

Has anyone been to Firestone's Culinary Tavern in Frederick MD? I looked at their website and it looked interesting.

Our 43rd anniversary is on a Friday and we both took the day off. A small road trip for lunch sounded fun. Volt seemed too much - but maybe it is right. But Firestone's menu seemed to be fun but not over the top.

Love to hear if anyone has been. Or other recommendations!

When I first came here, I loved the white corn. Tender and sweet. But now I crave the lustier yellow corn often. I trade off. And it depends if I am eating it on the cob or in recipes.

Both are great! I love corn in the summer.

That is good news. I'll be anxious to try it! Thanks for the report.

The report says sushi too, and the price range starts at $4. I loved to know that Tampopo and Tanpopo mean the same thing (dandilon?). I will be interested to see the menu and prices.

Thanks, Lori D for the info!

Yes, there was a movie with that name. I don't know about the DC restaurant, though.

I am just excited to have ramen without going so far away.

A friend told me that there is a ramen house coming in early August in Annandale. I will be in the same little shopping area as A&J. I haven't been able to find out anything about it except for what was posted on annandale.patch.com. Quote below.

I hope it is wonderful - I look forward to more local ramen!

"Tanpopo Ramen House will be located at 4316 Markham St., next to A&J Restaurant. Tanpopo means “dandelion” in Japanese.

The restaurant, which is family-owned and operated, will specialize in ramen soup and also include a sushi bar."

http://annandale.patch.com/articles/n...

I am curious as to what you found at 5 Below!

Is this related to the place in Vienna?

It sounds very good, thanks!