Blue Olive Cafe - A lot of flavor for a little dough

Looking for the next great happy hour deal in our new home of Portland, I ended up at the Blue Olive Cafe. I was in the mood for a late lunch, so I hopped on the bike and rode a few minutes to Alberta Street, sure I would have a million options to choose from.  However, I didn't take the time of day into account.  I got there at 3:30, and much to my chagrin, discovered that many of the restaurants on Alberta don't start happy hour until 4:00!  While I possess may virtues, patience is not one of them, especially when I'm hungry.  The fact that Blue Olive Cafe's happy hour starts at 3:30 is the main factor that got me in the door. That, plus I love falafel. 

Atmosphere:
The cafe is a rather simple establishment, and is not particularly noticeable from the outside.  It's on a less heavily trafficked part of Alberta Street, farther towards the eastern end.  The inside of the cafe is more inviting, with colorful local artwork adorning the walls and adding to the general cheerful feel of the place.  I was the only customer there, and two people were working, a cook and a girl at the counter.  It has a very clean feel, and in addition to a lot of tables, there are counters up front that face the windows so you can people watch along Alberta. There are also a few picnic tables outside to enjoy those rare sunny days.

Food:
I was ravenously hungry when I walked in, and after a quick look at the happy hour menu, I chose the $4.00 falafel mezze and the $3.00 hummus dip.  To wash it down, I chose a winter ale from Deschutes Brewery, for $2.75.

Falafel - One of my favorite Mediterranean dishes when it's done well, falafel is something I could probably eat every day.  Fortunately, the Blue Olive knows how to cook their balls.  The dish consists of 5 falafel balls and a small cup of tahini for dipping, along with some fresh tomato.  The falafel balls themselves were great, perfectly crunchy, soft on the inside and nicely seasoned.  They were a nice consistency when dipped in the tahini, and the fresh tomato is a nice complement to the savory flavors of the deep fried chickpeas.

Hummus - Another classic Mediterranean staple, the Blue Olive knows how to whip up some hummus.  Theirs is especially creamy and light, and not overpowering in any one of its flavors.  They serve it with a basket of grilled pita bread, and they have a gluten free option available, but it costs $1.50 extra.  

Overall, the food was very tasty.  Despite the fact that I was starving when I arrived, I couldn't finish it all and had enough left over to take with me and eat for lunch the next day.

Service and Cost:
Like a lot of the places we've tried so far, the Blue Olive Cafe doesn't have typical table service.  You order at the counter, take your drink with you, and someone brings brings your food to you when it's ready.  Then it's up to you to bus your own dishes when you're finished.  The girl at the counter was very nice and friendly, as was the guy working the kitchen, and at one point while I was there the owner came in, and she was super friendly as well.  For the food, the beer, and a little tip for the friendly and accommodating staff I got out of there for around $12.00 and I had enough food for lunch the next day as well.

3 Mmmms

Blue Olive Cafe - 2712 NE Alberta Street Portland, OR 97212
503.206.6168
blueolivepdx.com/cafe/

King of Falafel Does it Again!

After an awesome video shoot last night for We Heart Astoria, together with graffiti artist, Louie KRONE Gasparro, I was totally hungry and in the mood to devour something good.  Having falafel and shawarma on my mind since last week, I headed over to the one, the only King of Falafel and Shawarma cart.

Atmosphere:
Freddy's cart was busy and bumpin' on this random Tuesday eve at 8 o'clock, but what else is new? You can't compete with greatness!  I got in line, which was about 10 people long, but everyone was in a good mood, including Freddy and his staff of course, infecting us with their endless positivity and cheeriness.  As they sometimes do, we got first dibs on some free falafel, which made the wait go even faster, the staff dishing out free smiles and jokes to boot.  Overall, it's always a pleasure to be surrounded by such great people, which makes me appreciate how much pride these guys have in what they do.

Food:
Since I was pretty ravenous on this evening (and knew Dan would be too), I opted for full meal options for both the falafel and the shawarma.  Anticipating us splitting both, that's exactly what we did when we got home, and even had leftovers for the next day.

Falafel Platter - Filled to the rim of the container, the falafel platter includes four big pieces of fresh falafel that are perfectly crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.  Resting on a bed of yellow rice and veggies such as jalapenos, tomatoes and lettuce, this platter is an explosion of flavors.  The falafel is quite hefty and nice to split into halves so you can stretch it further.

Shawarma Platter - Similar to the falafel platter, except for the protein of course, the chicken shawarma is also delicious.  Loving the expert way in which the chicken was cooked, it's all kinds of tender and flavorful, marinated in a carefully prepared mix of herbs and spices.  I chose to go with more creaminess on top through a generous helping of white sauce and tahini that rounded out the dish.

Service and Cost:

As I already hinted above, the service at the King of Falafel is second to none.  Every customer is treated with respect and is made to feel like they're important, which goes a long way, especially after a full day's work.  

Costs are super affordable, and since the portions are quite large, you're able to stretch the dollar.  The above mentioned meals set me back just $14 in total.  I can't wait to go back!

3 Mmmms

King of Falafel - 29-18 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.838.8029
N/Q Train to Broadway
thekingfalafel.com

Tasty Impromptu Dinner at Mezze Place

Tonight, I attended a lovely party at Mackenzi's brand new, Lockwood Shop, which is an evolution of her original Site.  The party was fantastic and gave me a chance to reconnect with folks in the community that I haven't seen this summer.  Meg was there of course, and the two of us decided to grab a quick dinner after the party at nearby, Mezze Place.  We felt like having something light, and since Mezze is also close to the train, it couldn't be more convenient.

We shared a few apps, including the Labaneh dip, bureke, falafel and the red lentil kofte.  While everything was really tasty and satiated us for the night, my two stand-outs were the bureke and the falafel, pictured above.

Bureke - Not reading the description carefully, what I thought this would be was a meat filled dish, however what arrived was something purely vegetarian.  I didn't mind, and in fact it worked out better, as the flaky pastry crust married so well with the spinach, feta and leek filling.  I liked that it was a little bit indulgent, but that the richness was cut with the fresh tomato coulis, which came as a side.

Falafel - I remember the falafel being good the first time around, but it particularly shined tonight.  The outside was crispy and nicely browned whereas the inside was almost bright green, slightly chunky and wonderfully garlicky.  It didn't need much in terms of a dipping sauce, but we couldn't help ourselves with the Labaneh, which was also a nice complement to all that hearty goodness.

Service and Cost:
We experienced really nice, attentive service tonight.  I liked that our waiter was easy going, but we never felt that he forgot about us, and our food came out in the perfect amount of time.  We hung around for a little bit to chat, and weren't in the least bit rushed to leave.

Costs remain wallet friendly, and for the above mentioned meal, we paid a total of $17 each including tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Mezze Place – 31-18 Broadway #E, Astoria NY 11106
718. 777.2829
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.mezzeplace.com

Dan's Homemade Falafel

It was a very happy day in our household today, as Dan experimented with making falafel.  I had the idea of creating our own falafel balls, ever since we had the yummy ones last week at Crave Astoria, but Dan really took the initiative to create them.

Overall, he did a fantastic job (as you can see here), producing a lovely brown exterior on the balls and the interior was soft, creamy and rich.  I liked how light they were, as Dan didn't use tahini that sometimes gives this dish a certain heaviness.  Loving the way that he put all of it together, he layered the falafel on top of fresh arugula and then further topped it with hummus.  Toasting a few pieces of pita, we had fun creating our own little falafel sandwiches, and I loved how nourishing and filling they were.  The whole process took about a half hour, from preparation to cooking, and Dan used the below easy recipe from about.com.

Easy Falafel recipe, courtesy of about.com

What's your personal spin on making falafel?  

Tasty Falafel Bites at Crave Astoria

Dan and I were coming back from our We Heart Astoria party the other night and still needed a little nibble.  We were so busy chatting it up with folks that we left a little hungry.  Since I've been really into using my Scoutmob coupons lately, I looked around to see what I can dig up and found one for Crave Astoria, which Dan has already tried and said was good.

Atmosphere:
Crave is a very casual eatery, across the street from the popular Avenue Cafe near 30th Avenue.  Overall, it's very laid back, and folks usually stop there for a quick bite, instead of for a formal sit down experience (although they do have table service).  Dan has tried it several times, as I mentioned but just for take-out with his bro friends.
As we approached, we noticed that it wasn't very crowded.  Choosing to sit inside, we opted for table service, which was nice and casual - and since we were the only people in there, it was quick too.  

Food:
Our attention immediately focused on the falafel balls which we ordered along with a Cuban sandwich.  The latter wasn't a highlight for me, so I'm only going to mention the falafel at this time.

Falafel Balls - Yummy little poppable balls of goodness, we both loved the falafel, as they were crunchy on the outside and really tender and flavorful on the inside.  Overall, they were pretty mild and I loved the option of choosing a sauce to pair with it, which ended up being their BBQ sauce.  Preferring the tanginess of the BBQ sauce instead of the traditional tahini sauce, we devoured the generous portion to the last bite.

Service and Cost:
We were waited on by a lovely British woman who was attentive and helpful.  The service was pretty casual but still left a nice impression, and I'd be happy to come back here for an impromptu bite.

Our tasty pitstop, which included a sandwich the falafel balls and a beer set us back just $10 with our Scoutmob coupon.  You can't beat that!

2.5 Mmmms

Crave Astoria - 28-55 36th Street, Astoria 11105
718.726.4976
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.craveastoria.com

Duzan - Refining Greatness

Last week, I mentioned that I got together with my friends from the Queens Supper Club, as we took advantage of all the after-sundown activities in Little Egypt, centered around Ramadan.  All 25 of us feasted on an incredibly flavorful meal at Duzan on Steinway Street, near Astoria Blvd.

Atmosphere:
Casual and vibrant, Duzan is a great place to visit whether you just want to grab something quick or if you'd like to stick around and dine in.  I like the bright orange and green color scheme, inside and out, which makes the space approachable and cheery.  Sitting in the dining room is really pleasant too, whether you're with a large group like we were, or just with a few friends, as they have a few 4 person booths as well as a large communal table.  Because the space isn't very large, I'd recommend making a reservation if you're with a big group.

Food:
Even though you can definitely dine in, there's no table service and you have to go up to the counter to order, which was totally fine with us.  While the menu is simple, it's filled with all your Middle Eastern faves such as shawarma, falafel, hummus, kababs and more.  We got a little bit of everything and shared it, which was super fun.

Chicken Shawarma Platter - Though the most basic of Middle Eastern dishes, you can't go wrong with it and Duzan's version was amazing.  The meat was perfectly seasoned and so juicy.  Nice char marks decorated the chicken and gave it more flavor, as did the amazing homemade curry sauce that we put on it continuously.  Also really impressed by the sides such as the long grained white rice, seasoned with cayenne pepper and parsley, and crunchy red and white cabbage slaw, we devoured the large portion almost to the last bite.  Since the portion is so huge, it's great to share with at least one other person.

Falafel Platter - Another oldie but goodie, I couldn't believe how exceptional the falafel actually was.  Boasting a perfectly crispy outside and the softest, lightest inside, each falafel ball was a stroke of culinary genius.  Even though they didn't need it, as they were moist on their own, putting the garlicky green house sauce you see above, on top of the falafel made them even more irresistible.  The sides remained the same as on the shawarma platter, except for the fries, which were just OK, and not something I'd reorder. 

Jerusalem Hummus - The hummus is a general standout at Duzan and sometimes the reason people come here.  Formed into a natural bowl, the creamy hummus surrounded its beautiful topping of hot fava beans and fresh herbs, that turned up the volume on any ordinary hummus.  Meg commented that she never thought another variety of hummus can be creamier than Sabra, but Duzan's definitely achieves that wish - and then some.  The other standout of this dish is the fluffy pita bread they serve alongside it, which is wonderfully fresh, piping hot, and the ideal way to house this creamy bean concoction.

Salads - We ordered two salads, including the Fattoush and the Arabia.  The former was the clear standout, as it had a hint of spice to it, and some wonderful crunch from the fried pita bread that served as a crouton of sorts.  Aside from that, all the veggies were incredibly fresh and the portion quite generous.  I must add that it was quite enjoyable to make a little pita sandwich out of the hummus and then the salad on top.

Baba ghanough - Taking this side dish for the road rather, I got to enjoy it as a yummy left over.  Spreading it on pita or even just regular bread, it was nice and garlicky and a little tangy-sharp from the eggplant.  Just like the hummus, it was perfectly spreadable, once again a testament to its expert preparation.

Service and Cost:
While the service was a tad slow, that's no doubt a factor of the large group we were with.  And despite a little delay, the staff was cordial and totally compensated us by giving us a few items such as an extra hummus and baba ghanough on the house, which was very appreciated.  On top of that, we loved talking to the staff, as they revealed the unique story of how Duzan got started and its inspiration, which came from their unique Palestinian heritage.

Costs are very wallet friendly, and for the shawarma, falafel and hummus dishes (plus drinks), we only paid about $21 total.  Incredible!

3 loud Mmmms

Duzan - 24-11 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.204,7488
N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd
www.orderduzanqueens.com 

The New Truck on the Block - Moshe's Falafel

Moshe's Falafel - b/w 27th & 28th on Park, New York NY 10016
6 Train to 28th Street

I only had a few dollars in my wallet and no packed lunch, so I figured my best bet would be to stop by a food truck--preferably for falafel--during my lunch break. I had noticed a week or so ago that Moshe's Falafel was a new rolling establishment in the area, so I decided to give it a shot. Moshe's is already a recognized, and reputable, entity around the city, so my expectations were kind of high.

Experience

Stopping at the truck was actually pretty fun. The guys working there were so friendly and seemed like they were having a good time serving the lunch crowd. They were even offering free falafel samples to some loiterers and really anyone who stopped to ask for one.

Food

I wasn't too hungry, so I went with a half pita, filled with about 3 falafel balls, lettuce, tomato, tahini, a little bit of hot sauce, and a spicy pickle on top. This may have been half a pita, but it was pretty filling. Though I have to say, I was kind of disappointed with the falafel. It was definitely fresh and crispy on the outside, but it was lacking the flavoring and spice that I was hoping for. And, unfortunately the pita itself was drenched with tahini, which I wasn't too fond of. Overall, it was fresh, kind of sloppy, and maybe a little bland for me. But the price was definitely right--you can't beat a $3.25 lunch.

Moshe's Falafel truck has a few other food options to offer, including fries, which I think I will definitely sample at some point over the summer. The service at the truck is so great, I have faith that another go around might prove more satisfying!

Oh, and for those readers who might be interested, I'm pretty sure Moshe's is strictly parve. If I'm wrong on that, let me know.

2 Mmmms

Maoz - Yummy and Healthy Falafel Chain

Dan and I needed to escape the sub-polar weather this week, so we headed to Boca Raton Florida for some needed R&R. Part of my relaxation included a lovely massage and a light lunch in Boca's Town Center Mall. While I'm usually disgusted by mall food, I found a stupendous falafel joint that served fresh, healthy and inexpensive grub.

The falafel place was called Maoz and only later did I find out that they also have locations in NYC--in Union Square and near NYU. Maoz originated in Holland and now has six locations in Europe and five (soon to be six) in the U.S. So now I have something to look forward to when I come home.

Maoz' menu was limited, but it made my choice real easy. I ordered the original Maoz sandwich, which included four plump falafel balls on a warm whole wheat pita. I didn't know the procedure of ordering and was surprised when I was asked which toppings I wanted from the hefty salad bar. My server said that I could add any topping that I wanted--there were many and they looked great. I chose the grilled cauliflower, cucumbers, chickpeas, tomato and onion salad as well two sauces, yogurt and garlic.

To say that I was excited to bite into this thing was to say the least. As soon as I sunk my teeth into this baby, I was hooked. The toppings were hearty and fresh--a nice prequel to the soft falafel balls. Once I bit into those, the sandwich got even better. They were flavorful and crunchy on the outside and didn't taste greasy. I found out that they're fried in zero trans-fat Canola oil--another point in my book. Overall, it was a great sandwich that filled me up but wasn't heavy. I'd recommend it for a casual, healthy and inexpensive (under $6) lunch.

Maoz Vegetarian - Town Center at Boca Raton - 6000 Glades Road #1176, Boca Raton, FL 33431
561.393.6269
www.maozveg.com