Dinner…
Sahara Lebanese Market & Cafe
46950 Community Plaza #108
Sterling, VA 20164
www.saharamarketcafe.com
I walked in, hungry and ready to eat. It was one of those occasions where I was actually very happy with a large serving size. The Baba Ghannouge came highly recommended, but I went with the Fatayer B’jibne, a freshly made fried pastry with a blend of zesty cheeses inside.
For me, I don’t walk into a new restaurant looking for the same thing I’ve had before. I passed up the tempting gyros, and instead tried out the Meat Shawarma Platter—and extremely healthy helping of shaved beef, marinated and served with onions, a special dipping sauce, hummus, several pieces of pita bread and a small side salad. The downside of trying something new is that you’re never quite sure the intended method of eating the meal. After taking it all in, I began feeding myself rolled pita with the ingredients inside (a bit like fahitas), and was pleasantly surprised at how satisfying the meal can be.
I finished up the meal, leisurely sipping on a cup of Arabic Coffee (very strong–don’t drink the bottom– and spicy) and a slice of the Baklava. The desert wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, but it was certainly tasty and worth a second trip.
It seemed a bit unusual for a western café, but Sahara also has a miniature market annexing the dining area. Stocked with imported brands and delicacies, I suppose the industrious diner could then go home and try to recreate the dinner itself. More than that, I spotted several regular diners who stopped in for some of their native food.
Price Range: Dinner $7-14
And A Show…
Funny People (R)
Summary: A struggling young comedian (Seth Rogan) begins working for a veteran comedic star (Adam Sandler). The pair begin an unlikely friendship as the novice helps his employer deal with a life-threatening illness and a reunion with the love of his life.
Review:
One of the comforting things about going to a Judd Apatow movie or an Adam Sandler movie is that you have a pretty good idea what you’re in for—it will be funny and a little gross. There will likely be some interesting, heartfelt moments, but it won’t overwhelm the humor.
Sometimes, trying to move past other people’s expectations of you is a good thing. Sometimes, it results in an unsure, trainwreck of a movie—like “Funny People.”
To be fair—it’s really two movies: one dealing with Sandler’s illness and the other dealing with his ex-girlfriend’s family. Neither is remarkably funny. The unfortunate part is that the drama of the piece is carried off very well. Sandler particularly carries the tired, world-weary part with real believability. However, because the script is so scattered in scope and intent, the overall movie suffers. If they filmmakers had abandoned the forced comedy, then they might have had a truly great drama. Instead, the comedy simply gets in the way, almost creating an apology for movie itself.
Sandler and Director Apatow were apparently roommates during their lean years and perhaps that contributed to the earnestness of the movie in general where it succeeds. Unfortunately, sometimes friends don’t make the best co-workers.
“Funny People” also highlights another problem with movies lately—the desire to make more and more movies about Hollywood and the movie industry. In Europe, if you’d like to add a sense of gravity to eccentric people, you write something about royalty. In the U.S., you write about Hollywood.
Rating: 2 ½
John Geddie is suspicious of people who call themselves funny.
Extra Online: The Collector (R)
Next Week: Julie & Julia (PG-13)
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