Sea Side Crab Shack at Eden Center

We had carry out crawfish and grilled oysters from here this past Saturday night. Not cheap exactly, but I thought the quality was very high, especially those oysters. Crawfish seem to me to be a lot of work to eat, but still a treat. I though these were particularly flavorful. I like the Viet Namese take on them. I guess I am pretty enthusiastic about this place. Nice to have a place stretch out a bit with something a little different. Also, I really like that Eden City vibe. Parking lot or no, seemed like they were doing a good business with customers that were liking the food, and who sure had plenty of choices all around them, if they didn't.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Same ole' Attmann's??

In the past 6 months or so, I have been to Baltimore about 4 times and have gone by Attman's to pick up about $100 worth of Jewish deli each time. One time the corned beef seemed a little less than fantastic. One other time the pastrami did. Not that either was bad, it just was not quite as good as usual. Otherwise the food has been incredible. Went by yesterday and everything, especially the corned beef, seemed better than ever. The rye bread has been perfect each time. I really cannot speak to the rolls. The half done pickles are as good as they come. The hot dogs are good. The liverwurst is a revelation. The tongue was good, although expensive. I used to go to Attman's 30 years ago when I lived in B-more. I wd not say they are slipping by my memory. Weiss' is good, too I have not been to Lenny's for a long time so I cannot vouch for it.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Navigating Fu Mei Cafe (at Great Wall - Falls Church)

See my other posts on this place for more detail. I love the food. My biggest problem has been how often they are out of it.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

searching for good carolina bbq, NoVA or DC

So did you ever track down any true Carolina q anywhere near the DC area? I have never seen any around here, and it sure is my favorite. I love much of the rest, too, especially, Texas brisket, but most of it is a very different dish that true Carolina port bbq with vinegar and red pepper sauce.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Carryout in Great Wall Grocery Rt 50 and Gallows

I am really going to have to try Kam Sam and Thenkam Sam.

I still very impressed with the quality of food at the GW carry out (steam and "cold" table; not the bakery stuff, never was particularly drawn to the bakery stuff there myself, either, and have not really tried it; the roast stuff seems fine, but not outstanding in any direction). Truly I have had little there that I did not like. I like pretty oddball stuff, though. Spicy soft tofu was pretty accessible though and pretty darn good. I then had a hot green pepper, firm tofu shreds, and little shreds of pork dish that was the hottest thing I have ever eaten, which is truly going some. Excellent, however. Earthy, complex, and frigging atomic. None of the "ma la" dishes at the Great Wall Szechuan on 14th Street that I have had has anything this dish when it comes to pure heat.

However, the variety and reliable availability at Great Wall in Merrifield, especially during the week days seems to be lacking and getting worse. I do not know about the "turnover." I suspect that they cook up one batch of particular things and when they run out, they are "out" for rest of the day. Not sure I would bother to go by after 2:30 pm or so, at least on weekdays. Also, they tell me that some things--apparently lots of things--they will be doing only weekends, incuding the cold beef tendon and tripe that are particular favorites of mine.

I have had lots of things from Maxim in Rockville, now. I am very impressed with the variety, price, freshness, and consistent availability. However, the preparations seem pretty consistently bland, compared to Great Wall, anyway. I suppose bland is not that huge a dis. Still pretty good and a bargain.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Great Wall Szechuan House, 1527 14th Street

Thanks for the tips. I am truly on a tripe kick, and spicey tripe and kidneys sounds great. Glad to know this stuff really is authentic. I love it. My wife hates it. It is not only the spiciness, but the earthiness, and the other intense flavors and aromas, including sort of a floral--to me--aroma, that is often present. Very complex and deep flavors.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Carryout in Great Wall Grocery Rt 50 and Gallows

I finally got by Maxim's steamtable. Thanks for the tip. Excellent variety and the prices seem better--actually much bettter--than Great Wall. Certainly cleaner/tidier looking. The cooking seems very bland compared to the Great Wall, though. The beef tendon and the tripe at Great Wall, which along with the cabbage (especially the cabbage), sprouts, greens, and other such vegetables are my favorites there by far, are nicely spicey. That is spicey "hot" with a sprinkling of hot green peppers--nothing complicated like Indian or Szechuen would be. Maxim seemed perfectly bland. I prefer spicey and really do not mind the funk.

I find the roast pig, pork, duck, chicken, at all of these places--Maxim, Great Wall, Mark's--to be all about the same, quality, price, whatever. Sometimes better than other times. Not very reliable. To me, Mark's is a bad as any, although I am a huge fan of Mark's overall.

I am a little annoyed with the carryout at Great Wall these days anyway. If you go there late in the day at all, they are frequently out of things, and, although supposedly open until 8:00 pm, they seems to close any old time they feel like it. They are handing out a new menu though, that claims they will be open until 11:00 pm. Menu seemed interesting. They claim to be Taiwanesse, which is interesting in and of itself.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Arlington-Falls Church Rotisserie Chicken

I probably had the best ever at Pio Pio, but I agree it is rather wildly inconsistent, and can be kind of salty, stale, and poorly seasoned. Consistently great beans, though. Decent yucca. Their green sauce is great. I do have the sense that if they had more business their product would be more consistent and better.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Frozen passionfruit pulp?

BelAir Produce/Watermark Foods near Columbia, Maryland has frozen Ravifruit brand passion fruit puree for about $11.00 a kilo. If it is anything like Ravifruit's white peach it should be of excellent quality.

http://belairproduce.com/specialty-products.htm

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Carryout in Great Wall Grocery Rt 50 and Gallows

Thanks for the clarification. I completely agree on the rest about GW. The selection and presentation on the produce is just outstanding. Fun store to just walk around in. I should try the seafood. The selection there is kind of overwhelming and as I think about I think I'm being kind of a wimp for not buying. Great comments. Thanks again.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Trader Joe's Caramels?

I want to try the real French item for comparison purposes. Dean and Deluca sounds good. LIke I said, I thought TJ's were good, but not all that exciting in any respect. In the real thing is the salt really pronounced? It was definitely there in the TJ version, and I think I would have notices if I ate a caramel at random, but it was not all that pronounced.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Carryout in Great Wall Grocery Rt 50 and Gallows

Not sure I get the Maxim's reference. Which Maxim? If this is a reference to dirty appearing, not to me. Seems well-lit and relatively clean to me. Every have a close look at the carpet or really any flat surface in Mark's? No dis against Mark's in any respect though. I think the roast meats and poultry at Mark's, and all the other interesting things Mark's sells by the pound, are excellent and a bargain, although I would agree, not 100% consistent. I would not got out to GW to save a $1/lb. I would not drive from Merrifield to Seven Corners with the hope of better quality. I do not think the $1/lb would enter into it. I'll take your word there was a difference.

I have not done anything with the more typical looking, clear plastic in-cased desserts. I would work my way through more unusual things first. Maybe I just had not noticed that tofu dessert before, but I do not remember seeing it around.

Anyway, to me the steam table stuff--remember not all of it is heated, some is chilled--is very plainly presented, but seems hygenic, and I am not sure why simple would be a negative. If you were going to eat there, I will give you that it takes plain to a whole other level, and it is not like they have constant bussing of the tables, or crates or whatever they are. Too tidy and it would not seem authentic super cheap, but really good, Chinese to me.

GW did have a sushi section open for awhile. I sure would not eat sushi from GW. Not from Lotte or any place like that either. I do want my sushi to be from a pristine environment and there is not authentic about sushi from a less than pristine environment. Yuck.

I am with you. I have no idea while anyone would buy wine or beer there. I tried some of the beers they have that I had not seen elsewhere. They were fine, but nothing to go out of the way for, and there is no reason to pay a premium there. I never see anyone in the wine and beer section or buying anything from that section.

Re GW in general: I agree that the produce and fish keep them afloat, but I do not think I would buy fish from there. At least I haven't been tempted. The produce seems good and cheap, if you know what you are looking at and/or need something a little out of the ordinary, say galanga, or a big bundle or lemon grass or Thai/holy basil. But you can get that stuff at Lotte or Eden Center or any number of places. I am not so impressed with their fruit. They do have cheap, fragrent soap and good Vietnamese coffee and Longevity brand sweetened condensed milk, large diameter straws for bubble tea.

It is a huge store and interesting to walk around, but I would not generally bother except for that carry out. I guess I am saying, don't let looks deceive. If you like this kind of odd ball stuff, it is outstanding. Thanks for responding.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Sashimi grade fish?

Hinata Japanese Grocery and Carryout, 4947 St. Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD, sells sushi grade fish by the pound. I have not bought in bulk there myself, but if it is as good as the sushi, and I am sure it is, it should be great. Great tuna, great toro, great yellow tail. I would pass on the uni. I miss Makado's grocery on Wisconsin Ave after all of these years.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Where I can buy some sushi grade fish around Silver Spring??

I love River Falls in Potomac and Whole Foods does a good job, but I have to agree, I do not think you are really talking about sushi grade fish, unless River Falls has something really special. And I frankly would not buy fish for sushi at Lotte. Hinata Grocery and Carryout, 4947 St. Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD, has a small sushi counter and sells sushi quality fish by the pound, too. I have never bought their fish in bulk, but I assume it is the same quality as their sushi, which is is outstanding, especially their tuna, especially their toro, and especially their yellow tail.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Dimsum

We had dim sum at New Fortune in G-burg recently. Thought it was pretty good. Not up to San Francisco standards. Not as good as Tung Bor used to be, but pretty satisfying all and in.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Trader Joe's Caramels?

I have tried them, if you mean the TJ Fleur de Sel caramels. They seem very good to me. The salt is definitely there, but is not overwhelming to me. Seems like because of the salt they are toward a more adult taste from typical caramels. They do not seem to have discernable individual salt grains. Can't say that I love any caramels though. I may be the one to comment on these.

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Carryout in Great Wall Grocery Rt 50 and Gallows

I am seeing relatively little comment on this board on the Chinese food carry out located in the Great Wall grocery store located on Gallows Road between Route 50 and Lee Highway in Merrifield.

I love the place. Fantastic bargains on very authentic appearing stuff, They have the usual roasted meats and poultry hanging in a plexiglass case that many places have, say, Marks Duck House. No better, no worse, no cheaper, no more expensive. In other words, excellent and a bargain.

It is the steam table and room temperature stuff that blows me away. Spicy but slightly cooled tripe. Similar spicy beef tendon. Pigs ears. If you like any of this type of thing from A&Js, you will like it here, and may like it better, and the quantity for the price is so much better. (I love A&Js, too.) Tofu in lots of ways I have never seen it, all tasty. Soy beans mixed with greens and firm tofu bits, with some kind of oil. Tastes like lawn clippings at first, but there is complexity behind the green taste that is addictive.

I do not know how they do their cabbage, but it is revelatory. Earthy and sweet, but completely accessible.

Also completely accessible: Meats wrapped in tofu skins in an intense sauce. Bean sprouts. Pork cubes as flavorable as can be imagined. Sometimes crispy fried split whole fish. Delicate, white, fresh flesh, covered in crunch. Not a fishy smell or taste about it.

Desserts I have barely begun to explore, but thread-like tofu that comes in a round plastic container that you pour a sweet (honey?) sauce into. So mild at first, but then it grows on you.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this place?

cstrother in Washington DC & Baltimore Area