Exotic Foods - Entomophagy - Chapulines - in Mexico City....

(All Photos by Tavarua)

Eating insects are very common in the most parts around the world.

Chapulines (grasshoppers)are hatching in early May until late summer in the region of Oaxaca.  Toasted on a clay cooking surface with garlic, lime juice and salt -  it is a great snack with cold beer. 

I mix them with roasted garlic, peanuts and some guacamole in a corn tortilla.

Where Will Life Take You? Well, at the moment - Monterrey, Mexico...

(Photos by Tavarua)

Located in Northeast Mexico at the foothills of Sierra Madre Oriental it is here I have the most famous and delicious Cabrito.

 Cabrito Asado Al Pastor - have a look of game animal more than goat.

These young baby goats retains their milky hew.

In the kitchen...

... were the famous Cabrito asado al pastor is prepared. 

Baby goat slowly grilled  over firewood for hours after been marinated in a mixture of lime juice, onions, garlic, pepper, and sugar.

  

The dishes in Monterrey still have an influence from the jewish, Spanish and Pre-Hispanic cultures.

Wild Game Recipe - White Tail - Back Strap at The Traveler's Nest...

 Tonight - White Tail Deer Back Strap with Boar Sausages and Game Sauce...

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience".

- James Beard

Ice House Cafe & Oyster Bar...

A Penguin meets you at the entrance...

"Tavarua" recommends; 

Ice House Cafe & Oyster Bar

Ice House Cafe was once an ice storage it is located in the historic Herndon, Virginia and has been there since 1979...the atmosphere has a cozy pleasing warm feel to it...

I had to pop in for some stout,oysters and seared tuna...Excellent

A few Appetizers from the Menu:

Calamari Athena

Oyster Rockefellar

Oyster Oscar

Smoked Duckling Quesadilla Con Carnitas

Spiced Shrimp

Steamed Clams

Chesapeake - Oysters on the half-shell with a glas of Stout...

The eastern oyster is definitely one of the most famous of the aquatic species to be found in the Chesapeake Bay area.

A few Entrees on the Menu:

Ostrich Steak de Milan

Duck Oriental 

Lamb Shank Provencal

Ice House Crab Cakes

Ahi Tuna Au Poivre

Black and White Sesame Crusted Tuna over a bed of mixed greens; drizzeled with a ginger garlic cilantro miso dressing.

It has several small dining rooms

Pop in for Drinks and Jazz Nights on Friday and Saturdays

Blues to contemporary sounds

Kuwait - Arabian Gulf Crabs - a Necklace

(All Photos by Tavarua)

The Gulf Crab Necklace...

It is hot - 114 F today... 

woke up at 03:30 to fetch some fresh Crabs at the Fish Market...

Arabian Gulf Crabs as a Necklace...

Time to Cook...

20 minutes later ready to be served...

in its simplicity...

Crab shells ...

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

-Anais Nin

Our Tastes are Traditional, Old and Simple...

Année 1811

You asked me the other day for some advise on rare bottles - my knowledge is limited but may I suggest the exceptional quality of year 1811 ...

Année 1811

Année 1840

Année 1895

And if you are a connoisseur - 1928 and 1948 Hine Grande Champagne Vintage Cognac for those special evenings.

and why not - a bottle of Laphroaig - Année 1887

and for Port a bottle of Tuke Holdsworth 1912 or 1920...