Top three things about this Memorial Day weekend:
1. Seeing “Grindhouse” with friends at Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse.
2. Walking along the C&O Canal in Great Falls, VA.
3. Reading this year’s Washingtonian’s “Cheap Eats” issue 2 a.m.
Many of our favorite places are written up year after year, which always warms the heart; it’s like seeing a friend win an award for being just a really awesome person every single year. And naturally, it brings me and the Washingtonian closer together (seems we’re always on the same page, pun completely intended.) But of course, some new places are heavily touted, and after I’ve buried my head in the pages of this annual bible, I get the fever to run and taste my favorite tastes.
This year one of the editors’ new favorites was Eamonn’s: A Dublin Chipper in Old Town, Alexandria (our hood), a small chip shop started about a year ago by the owners/operators of the famous Restaurant Eve, also in Old Town. These Irish proprietors fry up some serious batter-smothered hunks of cod and skate, which you can dip into several of their house-made sauces (classic tartar, marie rose, chili, etc.). Then there are the crispy but soft on in the inside chips: battered and fried. Burgers and sausage: battered and fried. Candy bars: battered and fried. Folks, this is what heaven is like.
But the editors of the Washingtonian made an egregious omission: no mention of the fried banana. Zip, nada. The candy bars are good, and certainly you can get your Cadbury fix there, as well, but no other sweet treat at Eamonn’s compares to the taste and texture of the state-fair junk-food-esque wonderfulness of the battered and deep-fried banana.
Judging by the super fresh banana taste of the finished product, the fry cooks must grab these bananas right after the last hint of green has faded from the husk so they are hardy enough to withstand the heavy batter and oil. Still, the darn thing arrives mushy and coated with a delightful and satisfying fried batter coating dusted with sugar and cinnamon. This is not a snack to have after church in your Sunday best, rather put on the shirt and sweats from that last day of painting you did. It's a mess to eat. But it's one of those things that when I start to eat it, I don't remember the actual act of chewing and swallowing; I can only recall the euphoric feelings the pleasure centers in my brain are producing after having devoured it in 7.3 seconds. And that fresh banana taste.
For a fried banana, followed up by a generous piece of fried cod, of course, go to Eamonn’s:
728 King Street
Alexandria, VA
(703) 299-8384
Also, don’t forget to pick up your Washingtonian “Cheap Eats” issue.
—AKC
