Pandemic Project

Week ONE

Trying to be a good neighbor within my own uncertain means, I have taken to patronizing a different local restaurant for take-out on Sunday afternoons.  The first place was Tony Villa's on New Hampshire Avenue at University Boulevard in Takoma Park, Maryland.  They make a mighty fine Italian Cold Cut Sub!  And if you like a bit a kick, and I do, ask for the works, including the hot peppers!

Tony's has been around for longer that I have lived in the area (almost 27 years).  It is a one off family owned business.  The staff is mostly older men who take what they do seriously.  They also offer delivery services.  Everyone there bi-lingual to a point, and although I think I'm pretty good at sussing out accents, I did have trouble once over the phone.  The service is quick and walk ins (with masks) are welcome.

Week TWO

Sardis Pollo A La Brasa is a relatively new local chain of restaurants featuring Peruvian BBQ'ed Chicken.  They have 12 locations in Maryland about Metro DC, one in Virginia, and one that recently opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Their focus in on the food.  They choose savvy locations, but don't build them.  You often find them strip malls or a repurposed Pizza Hut, Chili's or Boston Market.  They make a delicious crispy chicken sandwich that they dress with their signature creamy picante salsa verde and thick cut dill pickles.  It comes with a side and the choices are not your usual fare: fried Yucca, Arroz Chaufa, sweet fried Plantains, and Brussels Sprouts and Carrots and among the 15 options.  The Chicken sandwich with Yucca and extra Salsa Verde hit the spot.  The Takoma Park location is walking distance from Tony Villa's.

Week THREE (today)

On the recommendation of a member of an online cooking group that I co-administer, I tried Max's Kosher Cafe in Wheaton, Maryland.  For as long as I have lived in the area, I've wondered about it.  Gone so far as to peruse it's menu online.  Zack, who now lives in Hawaii, asked me about it and raved about its Falafel.  I like a good Falafel as much as the next Anglo.    Last night, he asked me about it again, and so I set my sights on lunch from Max's Cafe.

I phoned in my order and was told that they were busy, it would take 20 minutes or so.  I said, that was fine, I lived about 20 minutes from their location.  I dilly dallied a little to give them an extra buffer, and off to Wheaton down University Boulevard I went.  I arrived about 25 minutes after placing the order.  Figuring out the lay of the land, I went to the area where you place your order and pay and told them that I had placed an order under my name.  They nice young man recognized my order and brought a bag to the counter and then took my payment.  He then told me that they had been so busy, they hadn't gotten to making my order yet.  I asked him what was in the bag.  He replied, "You side of Cole Slaw."  and added, "I'll let the manager know."  There was a line of about 6 customers on the other side of the space waiting there their at the deli counter where a single man was preparing the orders.  I said, "Okay, I'll just wait over here." 

First time there, I felt like a guest more than a customer.  The young man got the manager and I could here him explaining that I phone in my order 30 minutes ago and it wasn't ready.  The manager asked what the order was.  The young man said Falafel Pita.  The manager asked was it a whole or half.  The young man said whole.  I thought, um, no.  I only ordered a half.  I checked the receipt.  I also only paid for a half.  Simultaneously, the manager asked the young guy again, "A whole or a half".  And he emphatically repeated, "A whole".  Normally, moments like this are very conflicting to me.  My impulse is immediately correct the situation.  But then I thought:  Hey, the kid's just rang me up.  He knows full well what I ordered and what I paid for.  He had a second chance to correct his mistake and didn't.  Who am I to embarrass him in front of his boss.  For all I know this is just a little Mikvah, and who am I to rob him of the joy he is experiencing from this good deed?

Four minutes later the manager came out with the Falafel Pita (again with the works), and off I went home.  Zack was spot on.  The BEST Falafel I have ever had.  Light not greasy.  Soft with a little crunch.  So flavorful with just the right amount of picante zing on the back side.  The Pita was perfection: held it's form even after a 15 minute ride home, soft dough inner lining with a dry exterior.  The Falafel were generously nestled in bed of veggies: cucumbers, red cabbage, tomatoes, red onions, parsley and dill, yogurt-tahini sauce on the sides and a spicy Harissa sauce in the middle.  AMAZING.  Even the Coleslaw was perfect.  Not TOO sweet!  Fresh, simple, the right side for this amazing sandwich.