September

September is such a wonderful month. Temperatures begin to cool and NFL football begins. However, September brings back other memories, of places I once lived. This day reminds me of the quaint town of Ipsheim, Germany. The day is rainy yet still a mild temperature. The air smells clean and you smell autumn faintly on the horizon. Germany is known for her overcast skies and daily sprinkles of fine rain. It didn't matter what time or day of the week you would go for a walk, expect rain. No need for a weatherman. I don't remember many thunderstorms but rainbows were always present. Practically every evening, the clouds would separate to let you  enjoy the setting sun and pan the skies for that day's rainbow. September not only brought visually pleasing atmosphere, it also brought the Octoberfest!

Every September rang in the season for beer! Every local Bavarian town would set up a biergarten and have its own little Octoberfest. Almost every weekend in the month of September there is not a town you could drive through that was not having a celebration. Kiddie rides, oompah bands, lederhosen, currywurst, grilled nurnberg wurst mit brotchen, and yes, BEER! Not just any kind of beer but some of the best beer in the world.

German beer is not the same as what we perceive in the U.S. It is fresh, pure and without preservatives. It has a shelf life like that of bread. It is delivered to your house like Dominoes pizza. It is varied by region, brewery and consumed on a daily basis. So many variations to choose. I am familiar with several variations like weizen, pils, and bocks. One of my favorites is a cocktail called a Raddler which is made from about 80% Hefeweizen and 20% citrus soda. This concoction is considered the "lady's beer". It is light, refreshing and a little less on the "hefe"!  

So, getting back on topic of Octoberfest, Ipsheim was no Munich but the spirit was still the same. There was never a local fest I would attend that did not have all the necessary elements. Meat, bread, music and BEER! I know many of you are familiar with the Octoberfest beer mugs but they are massive. At the time, that mug was 5DM (as you can see it's been since the Euro took over the deutchmark). For the rest of the festival, you could  get a refill of your selected brew for five more marks. At the end of the festival, you are tempted to turn in your mug and receive a redemption or could keep it for a souvenir, your choice. How sweet is that?!

September  is more than the kids going back to school and the close of summer. Remember it is Octoberfest, so get out your lederhosen, try a new brew and kick back to a nice oompa band. Heck! Do the Chicken Dance!

Soup Night!

 A few weeks ago, I found myself at an Asian grocery store in Northern Virginia glancing over the multitude of unusual and exotic products. I have been trying to expand my culinary skills and Asia grocers are an amazing place to start. If you ever wonder where to get those odd food items and surprisingly inexpensive produce, check out ethnic markets. Perusing through the aisles I have to admit can be intimidating. Luckily, most of the food packages have either directions in English or step by step picture instructions.
One of my favorite things to do is to recreate dishes from restaurants. I tend to go through phases various cuisines. Lately, I have been obsessing about Thai and Indian cuisine.  The different curries and side dishes are endless!
This day, I was in the mood to try something new. To be honest, I have never had tamarind. It looks weird and I've seen the tamarind drinks at the health food store (all I think is... bean juice.. really?!?) Not a clue what it tasted like. I've heard it is used to create savory sour dishes and sweets. So, I picked up a packet of tamarind soup base and figured what the heck! For $1.49, I'll give it a go. I added a pack of fresh baby bok choy, shitake mushrooms, green onions, mung bean sprouts and a package of udon noodles. I had some baby scallops and shrimp at the house and decided to add my soup. My grocery bill was well under $10 and was quite satisfied with my purchase.
When I got home, I threw together the ingredients, got the family to the table and served it up with a dash of Sriracha sauce. The package called for ten cups of water, making a huge batch of soup. I have one word to say about tamarind... SOUR!! What a surprise! Although all the elements of the shellfish and combinations of vegetables and noodles made everything come together well. I believe I've tasted this flavor once before and didn't realize it. Its sourness is likened to hot and sour soup.
My kids liked the soup. However, they didn't finish the broth. Maybe it was a bit too sour for them. It's worth trying again. Maybe a different brand or find a traditional recipe. It's low calorie, sodium and yes SOUR!                

Tavel

Today I visited a Civil War reenactment in Luray, Va. My son loves participating in these events. He says it's about  the brotherhood and reliving the period . He takes the time to represent one of the most trying times in our nation's history. There is a special bond between these folks (Union, Confederate, black, white, men or women) and I believe there are much worse things my child could be doing than living history events. On this important day of 9-11, one must remember the sacrifices our soldiers make past and present. No matter what side of the political fence you stand, right or wrong, our young men and women in uniform are the bravest in the world. They are sacrificing their blood! Winners or losers...we are American!

Treated My Son to Lunch

Ok.. Seriously... Front Royal, VA is not famous for many things but its gorgeous setting is the Blue Ridge mountains. It's a small community of people to include the White House Crashers, the locals are not too keen on these folks. Anyway, I stopped by the local burger joint named 3 Brothers Burgers (3BB, for short). I asked my son if he'd split a burger with me, my treat. I heard their burgers were "big" but this is a misnomer.  Their menu lists a mind boggling half pound burger. I mean, come on now. The menu looked like my kid nephew designed it. My waitress had a Skittles worth of hair colors. The atmosphere was appropriate. They are going for the Rockabilly theme. Perfect for burgers! The food made up for the odd interior decoration and sparse parking (a challenge for any new restaurant). We ordered their signature burger "Three Brother's Burger" for 7.99. I knew my fancy taste buds were up for the challenge! This burger was grilled to perfection traditional straw fries and a pickle spear. That yummy burger was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, taking full advantage of Mailard Reaction. It was stacked high with bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and mozzarella cheese. Hold up! Wait a minute!!! There's more!!!! They decided they needed to put the "ham" in hamburger. So, with all their wisdom.,  they heaped a pile of deli ham on that burger, too. OH NO!! Hold onto your seats, ladies and gentlemen! These fine young men decided to throw a fried egg right on top of all that deliciousness. For the love of all that is good and holy, I have not had a burger quite like this. I suggest when you go on you autumn jot to Skyline Drive, hit this place up!

Yesterday, I had a fun filled day! Went to a concert to see the 80's hair band KIX at JAXX Nightclub in Springfield, VA. Stopped for dinner at a neat restaurant in Haymarket named 55's. I'm assuming the name is from their location on highway 55. I wasn't that hungry. So,  my wonderful husband and I decided to share a meal and ordered the Fish n' Chips. Am I glad for that decision. The portions were gigantic!! For $10.95, the plate contained two huge batter fried fish fillets and hand-cut boardwalk fries. I couldn't finish it all!!  I will definitely go back.Dear Jeff and Jody Heflin (owners of 55's...keep up the awesome work!

  after splitting the order

Suzy biting it!

My First Blog

Hello everyone. Thank you for reading my blog. I will be sharing information about my travels and the various cuisines and restaurants I have experienced. I'm a little quirky and silly. I hope you are too!