Arlington County Government, VA / Food For Thought

One small sandwich shop on Wilson Boulevard has been serving Arlington's best sandwiches, soups and salads since 2005. It's not only the fresh roasted turkey and ham, but the unique homemade menu that makes Earl's Sandwiches simply the best in the area. Want to see what goes into an amazing delicatessen, then lets head on into Earls and find out.

Here in Ballston you may not expect to find some of the most authentic pizza from Italy, but thanks to Pupatella, that's exactly what you'll find. Owner Enzo Algarme hails from Naples, and has always had a burning passion for the perfect Neapolitan pizza. Ingredients imported directly from Italy and firing the pizzas in an oven built from ash of mount Vesuvius will make you feel like you're in Italy with every bite.

Here in Courthouse on Wilson Blvd, sits Afghan Kabob House. An authentic middle eastern restaurant that features a hot and cold bar, a vast hookah selection, huge portions and some amazing kabobs. Lucky for us, that's just the beginning.

Last season we came to Shirlington to try the Best Buns on the block. This year we're back, and for something just as GREAT. We're here at Carlyle, and american style bistro that
serves up innovative and award winning cuisines for Lunch, dinner and our favorite, brunch. Part of the great american restaurants, Carlyle's high energy atmosphere has been the focal point
of Shirlington Row since 1986.

In Crystal City sits Tagolio, a pizzeria that uses a unique and special ingredient to perfect their pies. Coal. Yup, sounds weird, but this coal, anthracite, comes from abandoned mines, produces no smell or no pollution, and actually burns cleaner than wood or gas. And did I mention it makes the pizza here amazing? Alright, enough with the science lesson, time to eat.

One thing we love on our show is Pizza, so when we heard there was a new kid on the block with a wood fire oven, we just had to try it for ourselves. Fireworks Pizza in Courthouse will not only boasts about their unique and fresh ingredients, but they carry a full selection of Belgian beers, an amazing atmosphere and an all around great time. We end Season 1 of Food For Thought by trying a little bit of everything Fireworks has to offer.

Home cooking, original recipes, and the best soul food in the area, Margaret's is a small place with huge flavor here in South Arlington. You may remember them from our trip to the fair, we sure do, and we've come back for seconds. There is no way we could pass up more, so cozy on up Arlington, you're in for a treat.

Down in Crystal City, if you're looking for a night to pass around the plates and try some of the best Spanish food in the area, then you've got to come here to Jaleo. Opened by renowned chef José Andrés, Jaleo serves modern interpretations of the traditional cuisine of Spain, Tapas, small plates meant to be shared among the group. Time to pass the plate, and share the wealth.

If you are anything like us, you'll flip through a cook book, a magazine, or watch a cooking show and think to yourself "that looks amazing," and so you try to recreate it. What you quickly learn is that your food looks nothing like their result, and a big part of that is because their food has been styled. I'm not talking a new pair of jeans, but painted, glazed and whole slew of other techniques that make it look amazing. Today, we're sitting down with the area's most sought after food stylist, Lisa Cherkasky, an Arlington resident who's been touching up food for over 25 years.

Here we are on Shirlington row, surrounded by some of the best restaurants in Arlington, seriously, you can't turn your head without seeing something that looks amazing. But today, we're not here to try everything on the block, no, we're here to find out one thing, who's got the Best Buns. The answer may just be more obvious than you think.

There is one place, one time, where everyone can feel like a kid again. That place, the Arlington County Fair. With tons of rides, games, fun and of course...food, you know we had to come by this year and get our deep fried taste buds moving. The smell is in the air, and we're on the move...

Whether you need a espresso pick me up in the morning, or want to settle down with a glass of wine at the end of the day, one place in Clarendon has got you covered. Northside Social is in its first year of operation, and already has created a warm, friendly atmosphere for the surrounding community. Come by, grab a seat, and be social on the Northside of Arlington...

Every Thursday in Ballston, you can find some of the best sights, sounds, and smells the area has to offer. Travel down to (cross streets) just across from the metro and you find the Ballston Farmers Market, one of 7 farmers markets in Arlington alone. Fresh baked breads, exotic teas, hand picked produce...that's just the beginning...

A new shop opened up on Columbia Pike, and it has already sparked the interest of many Arlingtonians. Here at Twisted Vines Bottle Shop and Bistro, you can sit back and relax with a glass of wine, in a fantastic atmosphere. A quaint and elegant setting gives the perfect environment for tasting anything from bold reds to subtle whites, and even enjoying a bite to eat. My palate is clean and ready, I hope yours is too

Did you know that Columbia Pike is celebrating 200 years this year? Well, here at Food for Thought, weve decided to spend this whole episode on some of your favorite places on the Pike. An overwhelming amount of you wrote in about our first place. Abis Azteca Bar and Grill, known for its traditional Salvadorian and Mexican dishes, has been serving Columbia pike since it opened in 1986, and based on your emails, it doesnt get any more authentic than this

Located at the east end of Columbia Pike is Dama Restaurant and Bakery, which many of you have said is the best Ethiopian restaurant in the dc metro area. A small family business thats been here for over 15 years, Dama features traditional foods from different regions in Ethiopia, and also boasts a full bakery.

Less than a block away from Liberty Tavern, sits another gem in ClarendonEventide Restaurant. A place that is passionate about the quality of their ingredients, and a deep appreciation for regional cuisine and local products. With an elegant dining room, a rooftop terrace, and a hot spot lounge, Eventide continues to rise above in food and décor. With so many restaurants to choose from, this should be one that atop of your list

Drive down Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon and youll see there is no shortage of great restaurants. Today, were at this historic building which is home to the Liberty Tavern. This split level restaurant features modern American cuisine upstairs, and a comfortable and diverse bar downstairs. As soon as you enter The Liberty Tavern, youll smell the amazing aroma from two wood-burning ovens, and quickly notice the handcrafted preparation of breads, pastas, sausages, ice creams, desserts and so much more

When you hear the term upgrade, you dont always think of food. Well, two fraternity brothers set out to change the way you look at traditional foods, and quickly were voted best pizza in Virginia. Here at Faccia Luna, youll find quality ingredients with an upscale and urban interior. A first date destination, a sentimental favorite, and a neighborhood hang out here in Clarendon; Faccia Luna quickly has gained a place in my heart, bite by bite.

Believe it or not, Virginia is considered the south, and one thing the south is known for is barbeque, and I'm not talking cooking on a grill, but real barbeque. Head down Washington Blvd in Ballston and you can't miss Rocklands Barbeque, making barbeque the old fashioned way, over real wood and in the pit. It's Barbeque you can smell from miles away

Since 1985, the Lost Dog Café has been serving up the some of the areas best pizza, sandwiches and beers from around the world. Founded by area locals, this restaurant began by serving more than just the people who came in. Since the beginning, its been about compassion, helping to have placed almost 2000 animals per year into permanent, loving homes through their Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. Its a restaurant that has more than just amazing food, but a healthy heart

In this episode, we head to Crystal City to look at Restaurant Kora, which blends contemporary Italian food, with a modern elegance. Kora was created by acclaimed chef Morou Ouattara, who has been nominated for best chef in the metro area by the Washington metropolitan restaurant association two years in a row. Let's take a taste of Kora.

Today we head to the area's leading organic restaurant, Toscana Grill in Courthouse. Known for cooking "fusion style Italian," and just steps away from the metro, Toscana is changing the way you eat. Healthy principals, a great atmosphere and only the best ingredients have made it one of the most popular places in the area. We'll take a look in the kitchen to see how some of their most popular dishes are made, and give it our own taste test.

Take a look into some of the best places to eat in Arlington VA. From restaurants, to farmers markets and culinary schools, we'll explore every tasty bit and ask for seconds.

For the first episode, we'll head over to Whole Foods in Clarendon for the kick off of Local Foods, Local Chefs where we'll enjoy some tastings and get a chance to meet local farmers to learn more about the benefits of local foods.