I-81 | Veggin' Out And About

Issei Noodle, Carlisle, PA

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Apr 22, 2013 in Asian, Carlisle, PA, Fusion, I-81, Japanese | 0 comments

Issei Noodle restaurant is a unique merging of cultures, authentic Japanese udon and ramen noodles side by side with Vietnamese Pho. The restaurant comes by it honestly as owners Robert Pham, is Vietnamese and his spouse and partner, Naomi Pham, is Japanese. Their two daughters, Chané and Tash create a perfect fusion of the two. This is a first generation family owned business.

Rich and I ate at Issei Noodle about a year ago when passing through Carlisle, Pennsylvania and have not forgotten the experience. It was reminiscent of our years in Japan where we often took a train to Tokyo just to slurp down a hot bowl of ramen noodles or udon with fresh vegetables. Imagine our delight to find an authentic Asian noodle restaurant right in the heart of Carlisle! This year as we made our annual trip to Central NY to visit family we made it a point to revisit Carlisle and to visit Issei Noodle. It did not disappoint. We even witnessed a young Asian man holding his bowl to his mouth and drinking the broth directly from the bowl in true Japanese fashion and other Asian customers sucking down noodles from heavily laden chopsticks making slurping noises which would have made our parents grimace. It was truly an authentically Asian experience though the restaurant was filled to capacity with western diners as well. Not all dishes are vegan, there are plenty of options for your carnivorous friends as well. (more…)

Excellent Table’s Spicy Red Lentils (Serves 2)

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Mar 8, 2013 in Blacksburg, VA, Ethiopian, I-81 | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

This was a very entertaining conversation with Haregewin Bekele. I was never able to divine exact proportions of ingredients from her, however, I’ve listed the ingredients and have prepared this delicious dish following Haregewin’s directions. The amount of berbere spice you choose to use is a personal choice. I like it quite spicy, you may not. The proportions of ingredients of berbere vary but, essentially, it includes cumin seeds, cardamom seeds, cloves, black pepper, allspice, dried hot red chili powder (cayenne is fine), fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds, ginger, turmeric, paprika and salt.

Ingredients

1 medium sized red onion (Shred it into a pulp, similar to the texture of apple sauce)

dash powdered garlic

dash powdered ginger

1- 3 teaspoons Berbere spice (These can be found on line in many locations. Amazon carries several varieties.)

salt to taste (more…)

Excellent Table Ethiopian Restaurant, Blacksburg, VA

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Mar 8, 2013 in Blacksburg, VA, Ethiopian, I-81 | 0 comments

By Danielle Bussone

Excellent Table, located in Blacksburg, VA, is an authentic Ethiopian restaurant we visited en-route to D.C. It was our first stop in our short Ethiopian tour of Interstate 81 from Abingdon, VA to the Washington, D.C. area. Excellent table is a small restaurant squeezed in among others. It is almost exclusively a take-out restaurant, though there is one table for four and a bar with a row of chairs facing the window, which is where we ate.

The food was very good. Excellent Table is a little more expensive than other Ethiopian restaurants we have visited but is still not over the top. The higher prices may have to do with the fact that the owner/chef uses fresh, mostly organic ingredients. She finds organic produce from many sources but prefers to depend on the local Farmer’s Market, which is literally right outside her door. She uses conventional only when organic is not available. The tofu and lentils are organic as well. She uses canola oil in her cooking as well as the occasional use of olive oil and grape seed oil for special dishes. Excellent Table is the only Ethiopian restaurant we found within nearly a 150 mile radius of Blacksburg, VA. (more…)

Ethiopian Cuisine In and Around Our Nation’s Capital

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Nov 25, 2012 in -Cuisine, Ethiopian, I-495, I-81 | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Ethiopian Cuisine is a sure-fire way to find healthy vegan foods on the road. There are 180 religious days of fasting in Ethiopia, in which no animal products of any kind can be eaten, and many personal fasting days relating to prayer and the death of loved ones means that some Ethiopians will fast up to 300 days in a year. The cuisine lends itself beautifully to a whole foods plant-based diet. It consists of a variety of vegetable stews imbued with a unique savory blend of Ethiopian spices called Berberé. The flavors range from highly spiced red lentils to a dish of very mild carrots and cabbage stewed just to the point that the natural sweetness of the vegetables shine, contrasting with and at the same time complimenting the flavors of the surrounding dishes.

The stews, or Wat, arrive arranged in a circle on a platter topped with injera, a slightly sour spongy flat bread which is a staple in Ethiopia. Injera is made of an African whole grain called Teff, which is high in iron and other nutrients. In the US there seems to be some problem getting the traditional mixture to rise properly and form the little holes, or “eyes,” in the thin pancake which give it its spongy texture. Therefore, Teff is mixed with other grains such as buckwheat and spelt to give it the texture of authentic Ethiopian injera without the loss of flavor or nutrition. Another piece of injera, usually rolled up in a kind of tubular shape, is served on the side. Utensils are not a part of the Ethiopian dining experience. To eat the stews, one must tear off a piece of the injera, place it over a portion of the stew and pinch the stew within the bread. Then just pop it into your mouth. What a liberating experience! When the side of injera is completed, then you begin eating the injera on your plate. Permeated with the juices of the stew it is often considered the best part of the meal.

Samboussa

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New Apna Bazaar, Kingsport, TN (This market has moved to a new location in Johnson City, TN and is now called Spice World. Review pending.)

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Jul 6, 2012 in Grocers, I-81, Indian, Kingsport, TN | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

New Apna Bazaar in Kingsport, TN, is the Tri-Cities area only Indian market. Fortunately, you can find almost anything you are looking for here. From fresh exotic vegetables to Indian cooking utensils to grains and spices, you’ll find items you’ll be hard pressed to find at your local market.

The owner, Chirag Patel, speaks excellent English and can help you find whatever you’re looking for and will look for unusual foodstuffs in his weekly trek to Atlanta for exotic produce. He is an excellent resource for cooking information and actually taught me how to cook Dohkla, a spicy chickpea cake, and several Indian vegetable dishes.

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Abingdon Farmers’ Market, Abingdon, VA

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Jun 18, 2012 in Abingdon, VA, Farmers' Markets, I-81 | 0 comments

This is my favorite local market. It meets twice a week, Saturday mornings from 7 am to noon and Tuesday afternoons from 3 pm to 6 pm. You can find plenty of fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs, seedlings for your garden, fresh breads and pastries, jams, salsas, coffees, homemade soaps, jewelry, flowers, and sometimes art. Many of the vendors offer organic fare and Saturdays usually feature some sort of entertainment. Arrive early for the best of the best. Parking is no problem.