Crossroads Cuisine Crawl Sampling a world of nearby tastes
Story and Photos by Julie Wiatt
About 40 people toured the Takoma Langley crossroads July 28, and ate their way across a couple of continents of cuisine, sampling Cameroonian, Ethiopian and Salvadoran delicacies from the Congress, Walia, and Mogotillo Restaurants (with a sweet from the Casa Blanca bakery).
Ryan O’Donnell, Ross Marguilles and David Moon, coworkers at Fair Vote in Takoma Park, thought up this idea of a “cuisine crawl” during lunches at all these spots, and more. O’Donnell said they are concerned that the Takoma Langley Crossroads and Old Town Takoma are a “Tale of Two Cities” —many people are familiar with Old Town Takoma, but unaware of the great resources in other parts of town.“We need to invest our time, energy, and appetites here,” added O’Donnell.
Delegate Heather Mizeur said, “The New Hampshire Avenue corridor is the gateway to Eastern Montgomery County. These restaurants and small businesses are hidden treasures, and we don’t want to keep them secret any longer.”
“We all recognize the fundamental value for our community of this wonderful diversity, this patchwork of Ethiopian, Cameroonian, Salvadorian culture. Come, bring your friends and your wallets here,” Mizeur said.
Erwin Macke, whom Mizeur called “the face of Takoma Crossroads, a warrior for local businesses,” named the crossroads, where two counties and a city come together. As we tasted today, the Crossroads is also where cuisines and cultures of many countries come together.
Walter Villatoro (above), owner of Mogotillo, offered vegetable quesadillas as well as chicken tacos (below) to the team of tasters(at right).
Restaurants on the Cuisine Crawl:
• Congress African Cuisine
Cameroon / West African— 6834 New Hampshire Ave., 301-270-2307 • Walia
Ethiopian—6846 New Hampshire Ave., 301-270-4545 • Mogotillo
Mexican / Salvadoran—7635 New Hampshire Ave., 301-434-4272 • Casa Blanca Bakery
Salvadoran—7988 New Hampshire Ave., 301-445-3001
Congress’ assistant manager Roger Wandgi invites Maryland Delegate Heather Mizeur (D-20) and Ryan O’Donnell to sample Achu, a traditional Cameroonian dish of tripe and cowskin with coco yam, and a golden palm oil gravy.
A whole Tilapia, on a bed of plantains, was another Cameroonian delicacy.
Authentic Ethiopian cuisine served at Walia (below) included Doro wat (above), a chicken and egg dish with rich spicy dark red sauce, which is sopped up with injera, the traditional spongy bread.
For more ethnic restaurants and food markets in Takoma Park, see the booklet Eat Takoma 2007, published by the City of Takoma Park. www.takomaparkmd.gov, 301-891-7119, 7500 Maple Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
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