Fresh From Iran, and Fun At Bandolero

This is how I distracted myself during the tense moments of the Redskins-Bears game. I nibbled on incredible pistachios that arrived fresh from Iran, courtesy of my neighbor Roz. Rather than being salted during or after cooking, they are marinated in salt before the cooking process. It makes such a difference - a subtler salt taste, and almost sweet.

Roz's lost her father the night of the durecho, when his home and car were hit by falling trees and burning power lines. He ran out of his house to try to figure it out and, stepping in a pool of water, got electrified. Roz's mother also ran out of the house and, seeing the peril her husband was in, tried to pull him away from danger. She got third degree burns.

Roz returned to Teheran this week for a memorial service for her father. At the same time as the service in Teheran, there was also one in Washington. I'd see her father from time to time, coming to visit his daughter and grandsons, but unfortunately I never met him. I did visit her mother at the Washington Hospital Center, where she endured many skin graft surgeries. But the good news is she's now recovering at home. 

Roz flew back to DC with so many native delicacies: a variety of dates, salt marinated pistachios (see photo above) and, as I hoped, caviar. Caviar is cheap in Iran for nationals, and so Roz loaded up. However, she had Lufthanza keep the tins in their onboard fridge and there they stayed. Roz reported the missing caviar and hopes it will return, but if not, so be it. Neither one of us lives for the stuff, but we will stop what we're doing, whatever we're dong, to pay respect to its excellence...now unaffordable in the West unless you are a lottery winner. For caviar lovers, Iranian caviar is king and queen.

Interesting to hear Roz talk about her homeland after living in the U.S. for more than a decade. It's not her Iran anymore, but it is her blood, and that makes it emotionally charged. She's married now and raising children here in the US. She's a doctor and a lawyer.

 On the way to Teheran, through Paris, the flight had a wreck with another airliner, on the ground, producing an afternoon of red tape that detained Roz for hours, making the trek from DC to Teheran take 30 hours.

Advice: you never know. So, love the one you're with and love them well.

ON TO BANDOLERO

SAM HARRINGTON, AKA "DR SAM" AND CJ AT BANDOLERO

Tonight I met my friends Sam Harrington and Debbie Weil @bandolerodc for pitchers of margaritas and the food to go with them. Fun. Total fun. I can't believe they went on to a movie. (I wouldda needed toothpicks for my eyelids). I came home to watch the Redskins game, and the Nats, which while not altogether satisying has been interesting and a lesson. For the 'Skins, a necessary tutorial and perfect for the preseason. For the Nats, a minor set back.

DEBBIE WEIL, AKA "MRS SAM"

Debbie had the Bandolero Margarita, made with blood orange juice, which she loved. We also got a pitcher of Classic Margaritas, which Sam and I enjoyed. The food was very good, as usual. We sat upstairs next to the window with a good view of M Street. I also like the downstairs window tables, though on a busy day it can crowded anywhere near the front door and bar. Clearly this place is a Georgetown hit, which is sweet.