The 'Hood

Our new neighborhood is a funny place. We're half a mile or less from million + dollar old Alexandria houses and half a mile or less from Central America or San Salvador (and I write that with all fondness and respect for Central America, have never been to Salvador...) That contrast and mix is precisely what I like about it. Seriously, my Spanish would probably improve tenfold if I removed my iPod from my ears just one morning a week on the bus. I have experienced my moments of where in the world are we, like at Foodway Supermarket Saturday, where there were men in full Bolivian (??) cowboy attire and flies swarming around a tank of hungry tilapia and a basket of live crabs. We ran in to grab milk, potato chips and wine, and I daresay that's about all I'd buy there, but it did save us from going a couple miles out of our way to Giant. And the store appeared to be run by Koreans, just to make it an even more global experience.

We figured that with all the Latin markets (tiendas Latinas to impress with that Spanish of mine) and food vendors within a stones' throw we'd have no problems finding yummy yummy pastries a la quesito or pastel de guayaba, but we haven't succeeded yet. We haven't given it a fair shot though, so I'm not giving up yet, and in reading this article
(http://www.mybakerycafe.com/AlexandriaTimes.PDF), it appears that I need to give the one establishment we tried a second chance. I found my cheese empanada not all that satisfying, but really just couldn't get over the fact that "My Bakery & Cafe, Inc." doubled as a night club and lounge. That seriously struck my humor, as I really can't imagine calling Massi, say, and suggesting "hey, let's meet up at My Bakery at 11 for Mojitos and take it from there..." But the Alexandria Times gave it props a year ago, and the owner did go to my high school, so again, we'll give it that second chance the seafood section at Foodway will not be getting any time soon.