Hello friends,
Lots to share, lots to do. Let’s go!
Cheese: Little Chardy from Birch Run Hills in Pennsylvania is a bloomy rind that knows how to have fun. There’s no funk here, but a pleasant subtle tang, despite being made from just cow’s milk. It’s not gooey or fall apart-y though, instead, the sturdy paste is smooth with a hint of welcome chalkiness. While this would be happy on a cheese plate, this feels like a solo cheese, a “me time” cheese, a “I got done with my week and leave me alone” cheese. It’s most similar to a camembert, but I’d say it’s a camembert that’s broken curfew a few times, but is still a really good kid.
Book: A Tale of Time Being by Ruth Ozeki is one of the best books I’ve read in the past several years. I liked it enough that I didn’t even mind the elements of magical realism that pushed the plot forward—and I normally hate magical realism. Ruth, a woman living on a remote Canadian island, finds a Japanese diary washed up ashore, along with some other items. The book switches perspectives between Ruth and Nao, the author of the diary. Their lives intertwine despite the varying timelines of when the diary was written and when Ruth discovered it. The stories touch on a lot of heavy material: World War II, September 11, suicide, intense bullying, sexual assault. But the book is ultimately not a tragedy; it celebrates several important figures in both Ruth and Nao’s lives. This is an ambitious novel; It’s a triumph for Ozeki to take on time shifts, multiple narrators, major historical events, the day-to-day of two marriages. The book came out in 2013 and feels just as fresh in 2025.
Restaurant: In the past month, I’ve had four fantastic meals in Northern Virginia:
Yunnan by Potomac Noodle House (Pentagon City): This is one of the only Yunnanese restaurants in the DMV area. They recently moved from Alexandria to Pentagon City (right by the Costco there, so not the cutest of neighborhoods…) to a sleek, minimalist space. Go here for the excellent lunch bento box deal, where you can choose 6 different options for $27. It’s a huge amount of food, and a varied one—choose from 3 small plates (get the twice-fried potatoes), one mixian (my fave is the Liang Mixian salad, which is more of a soup filled with bright vegetables and chicken, plus a tea egg and chili oil), bao or dumplings, and a cheesecake custard for dessert.
Thompson Italian (Falls Church, but also has a location in Alexandria): This is very good Italian food, with a neighborhood restaurant feel. I love how intentional the kids menu is: quality, well-portioned bowls of pasta (the bolognese is fantastic) served with both carrots and french fries. And for the adults, the menu is a list of many familiar options, but all done well, from crispy brussel sprouts to orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe. Their agnolotti is always a stand-out, and the olive oil cake, a standard-bearer. It’s hard to nail it every time, and they do.
Marib (Springfield, but we were farther afield in the Fredericksburg location): The fahsah & saltah, a traditional stew with vegetables and lamb, is a great flavor introduction to Yemeni cuisine. It’s intensely savory, and tastes like something straight out of a grandmother’s kitchen. Order the qishr, a drink made with ground, unroasted coffee husks and powdered ginger. It’s decaffeinated, and tastes like a light tea with a floral honey… though it contains neither of those things. I’m still thinking about it weeks later.
Charga Grill (two locations in Arlington): Inside the very bare-bones and nondescript Langston Blvd. location is some ridiculously good chicken and chickpeas. The Pakistani-inspired charga (which means “chicken”), which is steamed and flash-fried, boasts an incredible spice blend. As does the sajji, a brined and densely spiced rotisserie chicken which, if the charga is the valedictorian, then the sajji is a very deserving salutatorian. I’m quite confident the curried chickpeas are the best I’ve ever had.
PS If you find yourself in Guatemala (less than a 4 hour flight from DC! Recommend!!), three quick recs:
Guatemala City: any of the raw fish options at Mercado 24
Antigua: Fonda de la Calle Royal for a traditional restaurant that’s been around since 1975, Doña Gavi for vegan ice cream, and Quiltro for a creative tasting menu featuring local products.
Thing:
Keya’s Snacks Bombay Spice potato chips are fantastic—think a Cape Cod-style chip with a savory Indian spice blend. Keya’s chips are made with single-origin Indian spices: turmeric, coriander, garlic, ginger, dry mango, onion, fenugreek, garam masala, tomato powder, and pomegranate powder. Based on this ingredient list, it doesn’t sound like a potato chip could get any more maximalist. But the flavor itself is wonderful, complex, and nuanced. It’s not at all aggressive or overwhelming. I haven’t tried the Black Salt chips yet, but not sure how they could possibly top Bombay Spice. The small business is based in Richmond so the chips are available at several DMV retailers, but are also available for purchase online.
See you soon.
-c