Fourth of July Festivities

We’re heading to an Independence Day parade in my hometown and pool party with friends later in the day, but if I were organizing a gathering of friends and family, it might look a little like this:

Slurping is always a good review. 👌

Drinking Food – Surf and Turf Extravaganza

This has been quite the week. First crawfish, then came the lobsters. What crustacean comes next?  Apparently Claude, the Tasmanian Monster Crab. Seriously, folks.

Last night we met some friends at Eden Center, once again, club slash restaurant slash karaoke bar slash bar V3 Lounge. Known as the “Gem of Virginia” according to one web search. Interesting. They don’t seem to separate their many identities, regardless the time of day or day of week. The appropriate invitation to dinner may be: Yo shawty, let’s go to da club and our grub on. Thursday night is all of the above, but they also have $10 lobsters.

V3 is a great spot for đồ ăn nhậu, or (loosely translated) drinking food or literally (according to Google Translate) it is “drink, food“. These are dishes that may not make a great meal all at once, but are served while drinking over a long period of time that you pick at with a group of friends. Think football games, warm days on the deck and long nights under the stars. These are some of my favorite foods.

These aren’t sad, wimpy Lobsterfest lobsters. They’re pretty hefty week after week. Meet our first course buddies: these bad boys were grilled and topped with Scallion Oil, or Mỡ Hành.

We also started with these amazing grilled clams, topped with the same Scallion Oil, fried scallions and peanuts.