Hi friends! This post is a celebration of two delicious discoveries in our area for Afghan cuisine and gourmet Mediterranean baked goods and groceries. Northern Virginia is such a fabulous crossroads of diverse food traditions...there is always something new and wonderful to discover!
Case in point: the recently opened Maizbon Afghan restaurant, where we've enjoyed excellent, homestyle meals cooked with great finesse and care. On a blustery, chilly day with an icy blue sky, can anything offer more warming comfort than sweet-savory squash, Afghan-style or a hot cup of cardamom tea?
House specialty Keccheri Quroot: mung bean, dill and rice risotto with meatballs...made with delicacy and care and memorably good!
Sinfully delicious squash with cinnamon-butter bread triangles...
Lovely comfort food
Amazing eggplant with yogurt and roasted tomato
Jamison's snap of a pretty lamp
Next we went to nearby Mediterranean Bakery and Cafe, an emporium of homemade breads and filled pastries with an extravagant selection of prepared salads, cheese, olives, preserves, spices and other treats...
Pistachio pastries
Friday's bento is an easy no-cook affair with goodies from the Mediterranean Bakery:
Cheese and meat pastry over lemony tabbouleh, pink radish pickles, spinach pie triangle, Greek yogurt and asparagus and Armenian-style eggplant salad.
Have a fun and relaxing weekend!
20 comments:
Beautiful and yummy bento.
I enjoy reading your review for the restaurants, Jenn *salivate*
That meatball risotto looks AMAZING! And of course all the rest of the food as well, and your lovely gorgeous bento too! Thank you for the smile on my face now :)
Oh that bento looks so delicious! The dishes at the Afghan restaurant also look nice and inspirational!
*Ena*
Your bento always look so colourful naturally, wonder when I can reach that skill :)
The restaurant looks really cozy, love it!
Hello Journal Mommy Yenny, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed this one!
Hi sherimiya! Yep, this dish was really yummy with subtle hint of dill and perfect textures. Comfort food made with art and care is a real gift!
Thanks for your sweet comments and have a wonderful weekend :D
Thanks Ena! See you at your blog and good weekend:D!
Hi Ai Ping, thanks for your kind comments! Your bentos are soooo colorful already, love them :D
Oh wow, this post is making me sooo hungry! What amazing finds! I would love to have a store like the Mediterranean Bakery and Cafe near me. Those radish pickles are gorgeous.
How lovely! I've never tried Afghan food, but you've certainly inspired me to seek it out!
Hey there SB! Thanks a bunch...loved that bright pink radish shade, so bento-able! Have a great weekend!
Hi Megg! I think you'd love its mellow richness, hope there's a good Afghan place in your area to check out. Winter comfort food par excellence :D!
Gorgeous bento and all of the food pics look so delicious! :)
Aw thanks Susan, you are so nice!!
Wow the colors of the food and the restaurant are so vibrant. I can only guess the taste is the same. Sadly no Afghan eateries in my neck of the woods. However, it is so wonderful to think of culture as opposed to war. To think of what brings us together. Food is always a good place to meet with kindness.
Beautiful bento (and easy, excellent!) The food from the restaurant looks so delicious, and I really love that funky cup! Was that tea in there?
Hello Judy! Savoring your wise and elegant words: "Food is always a good place to meet with kindness." Wonderful, thank you.
Hi Carol! Easy was the word for this bento! Lovely cardamom tea in these interesting cups, wonderful, warming scent :D
Oh,dear. I should have gone to bed. Now I am hungry....
Hi Kay! Hope you are having a great week...
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