Photo by pelican.Dish of the Week: Chickpeas
Where: Tasty Kabob, Ravi Kabob
When it comes to eating legumes, it seems like hummus gets all the love. But chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans, are more than just some faddish health food (though they are awfully good for you). Simmered with tumeric and cumin until velvety and tender, stewed chickpeas are a vegetarian powerhouse, satisfying enough to please even die-hard meat lovers.
Ironically, one of the best places to get this excellent vegetarian dish is at a kabob restaurant. Despite specializing in grilled meats, Pakistani kabob joints are no slouches when it comes to the humble bean. You can get it as side dish or make a meal of chickpea stew over rice or mopped up with a piece of naan. The earthy spices, comforting texture, and high protein content make it a hearty alternative to meat. Cult favorite Ravi Kabob (305 N Glebe Rd) is worth a trip into the wilds of Arlington for their deeply flavored, almost smoky-tasting chickpeas. The roaming fleet of Tasty Kabob trucks can also satiate a chickpea craving. A generously portioned side order is only $3, or you can order it as a platter over rice. Try them drizzled with a mix of hot sauce and dill sauce for an extra dimension of flavor and heat.
Do you have a favorite place to enjoy chickpeas? Let us know in the comments.
Small Bites
Austerity Measures at Elisir
Italian fine dining establishment Elisir (427 11th St NW) is getting with our newly sequestered times by transforming into the more budget-friendly Osteria Elisir. The restaurant will close on Monday for renovations and a revamp of the menu. Chef Enzo Fargione tells WaPo’s Tom Sietsema that diners can look forward to more casual fare like “meatballs, baby chicken, grilled lamb steak and grilled octopus steak” priced at $23 to $29 an entree.
Tea: It Cures What Ails You
If you’re in need of a little detox, the forthcoming District Tea Lodge might be for you. The teahouse, located below Yoga District’s Foggy Bottom studio (1922 I St NW), will serve a variety of herbal teas, kombucha on draft, and kava-kava (a root with sedative properties) cocktails. District Tea Lodge opens this month.
We All Scream for Free Ice Cream
Sprinkles (3015 M St NW) will be celebrating their two year anniversary this Sunday with, what else, free food. Alas, there won’t be any free cupcakes, but the first 200 customers can grab a gratis scoop of red velvet ice cream.
Ballston is for bivalves
Robert Wiedmaier (of Brabo, Brasserie Beck, Marcel’s, among others) will be expanding his restaurant empire to Ballston with a third location of Mussel Bar and Grille. Like the its sister location in Bethesda, the menu will feature moules, frites, and plenty of Belgian beer but in a more spacious setting. The restaurant, located at 800 N. Glebe Road in Arlington, is scheduled for a summer opening.
