Halloumi

Amidst the busy and sometimes-productive bustle of Capitol Hill in D.C. sits a small Greek restaurant by the name of Cava which  serves up on its dinner menu, among other things, a grilled cheese salad.  Before you throw up at the thought of grilled cheese salad, know that it’s not ‘grilled cheese’ as in grilled cheese sandwich, but actual slices of cheese that have been grilled then served warm with bread and fresh mint.  Enter Halloumi  (ha-loom-ee).

Halloumi as found at Whole Foods Market

Halloumi as found grilled, from stolen internet photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloumi is a salty, unripe cheese from Cyprus made from goat and sheep’s milk with a high melting point, making it ideal for grilling, frying, or roasting.  It’s similar in texture to mozzarella and in taste to the salty feta.

Among Cava’s other cheese offerings are Saganaki (fried cheese), Paperdelle Mac and Cheese, and Goat Cheese Fritters, the latter two of which I have tried and went temporarily blind from how delicious they were.

And while on the subject of Cava, I think it’s important to note that sometimes they think it’s appropriate to douse their Saganaki Cheese in alcohol and set fire to them while at your table, unannounced, as seen below.

Cava Saganaki flame burst (also effective for killing R.O.U.S.’s)

Some important congressman, no doubt on his lunch break

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the next time you’re in DC wondering where to eat amid the Greek knock offs, give the real thing a try at Cava, or go here.  Or here.  Or here.  Or here.  Or here.

“Also try one of Cava’s martinis.  Go Nats!” – Marlon Brando