Chef Moye G Eats at Spice Merchants

Chef Moye G Eats
at Spice Merchants in Fairfax

Spice Merchants is located in the heart of Fairfax City, in Northern Virginia right on Main Street. This little shop is big on quality and quantity and bold on the aromas. Spice Merchants has all your needs when it comes to spices, spice blends and teas. I was first exposed to their spices at a farmers market in Fairfax and I must say that the impact it had on me drove me to go and check out the store.
This adventure turned out to be more than I had expected, the aromas of the spices had me dreaming of dishes to prepare with each spice. The spices and teas that they have are fresh and high in quality. With so many spices to choose from it is very easy to be confused on what to get. Relax! Breathe! I understand; I wanted to go home and clear out all my spices to make room for theirs. The staff is there and they are more than willing to help you choose the spice, blend or tea that you need.

They have any spice or herb that you need or want, always fresh and full of flavor and taste. Whether it is sweet, zesty, savory or spicy, the flavor will be pronounced in your dish. The blends are a beautiful masterpiece of spices and herbs married together to produce a taste that is out of this world. There are different blends for meat, poultry, vegetable and seafood, but it does not stop there. They also have blends that are for dips, dressings, baking, beverages, barbeque and even blends that are internationally influenced and many more. The teas are no less intriguing, from basic flavors to more complex flavors, every cup will be a taste of heaven.

No matter what you are looking for in flavor you can find it here. With the friendly and helpful staff and recipes on their website, you can rediscover an old favorite dish or create a new one. So spice up your life and stop in at Spice Merchants in Fairfax.

 

Spice Merchants

10376 Main Street

Fairfax, VA 22030

 

703-359-2425

www.facebook.com/spicemerchants-fairfax

 

Shilla Bakery & Cafe

Chef Moye G. Eat's

at Shilla Bakery & Café

Shilla Bakery & Cafe in Fairfax, Virginia has captured me with their gorgeous display cases full of delicious delectable. If you're looking for sweets, treats and good eats, than Shilla Bakery is the places to feed that need.  Shilla has everything you need from a bakery and then some.  This bakery has infused Asian and European flavors together in their breads and pastries creating a twist on age old recipes.  With six different locations within the metropolitan Washington D.C. area you bound to find one that will fix your cravings.  Those locations includes: Rockville, Ellicott City, Annandale, Centreville, and two in Fairfax (on Old Lee Highway and Fairfax Blvd).  Whichever location you visit your taste-buds
will thank you.

Have you ate breakfast yet?  Well, they have that covered with an assortment of breads and pastries. If that's not enough, then try the breakfast plate which includes: sausage, bacon, ham, eggs, hash browns and your choice of bread; white, honey wheat or an English muffin.  My favorite choice is the Shilla omelette, which has tomato, green pepper and mushroom.  Thirsty? They have regular and flavored coffee, or if you dare there are four different tea lattes.  I am a big fan of the black-milk tea latte.  If you are stopping in for lunch, dinner or just simply hungry, they have sandwiches, hot Panini's (served with fresh chip and a pickle) and wraps. If you feel like something more filling they also have special plates which include  yakisoba, chicken or Salmon Teriyaki.  Each special plate is served with rice, potato salad and a mixed salad.


If you are looking for something refreshing to drink then try the Boba (bubble Tea) or the Bingsoo (Korean shaved ice). Boba comes in an assortment of flavors, from Korean traditional flavors to fruit, coffee and tea flavors.  Bingsoo also has an assortment of flavors as well including caramel, chocs, teas, coffee, different fruits and even red bean.  They also serve ice cream and yogurt.

Now we are going to get into the good stuff!  Breads, pastries, pies, cakes and tarts.  Shilla's had an idea that they have been true since the beginning, which is a fusion of Asian and European baked goods that gives you the best of both worlds.  Shilla's uses butter cream and not sugar base in their bread and pastries, this gives you that melt in you mouth butter goodness.  Any special event that you can think of Shilla's has it covered, with creations that will blow you mind.  Don't worry they have the classic desserts as well.  Maybe you don't need a reason to celebrate, maybe it is a party of two, just you and your sweet tooth.  There are many different mini items to satisfy your appetite.  Chef Moye G's must tries are the mini fruit tart, Tiramisu, and the Mango or Strawberry Mousse.

Shilla Bakery & Café

10940 Fairfax Blvd. Suite E-F

Fairfax, Va 22030

703-691-1171

www.shillabakeryusa.com

King Street Blues

Chef Moye G Eats
at King Street Blues

King Street Blues, located in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is a must stop if you are in the area, it is right off of King Street on North Saint Asaph Street.  King Street Blues is a very interesting three level restaurant with a fun decor of paper mache characters hanging on the wall and from the ceiling. But do not let that scare you!  It definitely adds to the laid back atmosphere of the restaurant.  This place has all the comfort's that you have been looking for plus more.

The comfort's that I am speaking of, span from the great food to the good old southern hospitality, and the "more" part, is the barbecue!  With everything made in house from scratch, you know you are going to have some good eats.  I hope you brought you appetite, cause you are going to need it.  There are so many delicious items to try on the menu that your eyes can get bigger than your stomach.  The po'boys were definitely of interest, with four different ones on the menu to choose from. I of course, had to go with the French Quarter Po'boy, which is not just any po'boy. It had Chicken, Shrimp and Andouille sausage with Cajun spices, lettuce, peppers,

onions, and topped with a tomato ranch sauce.  With the first bite, I thought  "Oh My God!" I have died and gone to Cajun heaven.  Each one of its meat trio were definitely pronounced through-out this sandwich. It also came with the choice of either hand cut fries or homemade potato chip.  I went with the homemade chips and it was an excellent choice on my part.


If I had to choose something else on the menu, it would have been one of two things, the Elwood or the All American Classic. The Elwood is a smoked pulled pork barbecue sandwich served with coleslaw and either house-made potato chips or hand cut fries.  In the spirit of being a true American, it would be an act of treason if I didn't get the All American Classic. This dish comes with a quarter rack of pork back ribs, pulled pork BBQ and served with "Carter's cool beans," red bliss potato salad and cornbread. Truly a patriotic meal.  But don't

stop there! With so many good southern comfort foods to choose from you can't go wrong. They also have gluten free and a kids menu as well.  You must indulge in the desserts, my recommendation is the "Old Dixie Bread Pudding"  a warm serving of southern bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with bourbon sauce,whipped cream then sprinkled with cinnamon and powder sugar.  

Besides the welcoming at home feel and the comforting meal, King Street Blues has live music on Friday and Saturday nights, so that you will also have something to feed the soul as you are kicking back at the bar or sitting back in your booth enjoying your meal. This is definitely a spot that you will want to return to again and again!  

112 North Saint Asaph Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 836-8800

http://www.kingstreetblues.com/