The Associated Press published a fascinating story about a Lakewood soldier, a dedicated foodist, stationed in Afghanistan.

From the article: “U.S. Army Sgt. Abel Aceituno, 42, relies on the memories of food he has eaten, and the dream of opening a restaurant in the future. It’s his way of burrowing into private yearnings when comforts and safety are scarce.

For Aceituno, eating is more than refueling. The soldier, who serves with the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, talks about food as both fun and sacred. Taste buds quiver.”

When the soldier returns home to Lakewood, he …

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Two restaurants are raising money to help local families. Here are the details:

Marcia’s Silver Spoon will take donations for the Hilltop family that lost their home to fire Tuesday. The incident was featured in this News Tribune article. From Marcia’s Facebook page, “We are accepting donations for the family whose home burned down yesterday and lost everything they owned. Three children, ages 4, 8, and 11, and their mom and dad, and the caregiver. They need clothes, blankets, and other necessities, and we are also taking cash donations so they can find a new home.”
Marcia’s …

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A visit to the Freighthouse Square food court always seems to bring something new. But that also means something has gone missing. Right now, that’s Fam’s Southern Fried Chicken. The southern restaurant that was next door to Mediterranean Palace has closed. In its place is R.J.’s Burger Joint, a walk-up restaurant that serves flame-grilled burgers and inexpensive sandwiches in the $5-$7 range. The restaurant opened last week. Read more »

This Saturday May 22 is the Greek Taverna — the smaller spring version of the fall Saint Nicholas Greek Festival – the annual event featuring three days of grazing on Greek nibbles at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The Greek Taverna is an abbreviated one-day version featuring Greek food, dancing and a lot more at the Tacoma church.

Last October, we bit into the festival and wrote a guide for navigating the event. Read the entire review and guide here from last October’s event.

Our picks from last fall’s festival and on the menu again for the …

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Don’t think of tandoori as only that brightly colored red chicken on a typical Indian buffet. Tandoori is not just a dish – it’s a cooking method. Delve deeper into the cooking style to find a world of grilled meats beyond chicken tandoori. Lamb, fish and shellfish are all popular dishes at local Indian restaurants.
Tandoors, the clay ovens that create tandoori, cook meat and bread at very high heat in a short amount of time. Internal oven temperatures can reach as high as 800 degrees. At home, a traditional tandoor might be powered by hot coals, but in South Sound restaurants, the tandoor is fueled by gas. Gas heats the clay walls of the oven and lava rocks in the bottom radiate intense heat that quickly cooks meat and bread, such as naan. Read more »

It’s sunny, warm. I actually got a sunburn while out this afternoon checking out a new restaurant (more on that next week).

And this is what I like to call Taco Truck Season.

It’s that time of year when we don’t have to wait in front of the taco bus hunched under our umbrellas, or scurry to our cars, taking cover from the rain while waiting for that order of carnitas tacos.

And just in time for Taco Truck Season is a new mobile taqueria: Taqueria Las Torres on Sixth Avenue. It opened two months ago in the parking lot of an old check cashing place (next to Gateway to India). The taco truck has a bonus – indoor seating for when the rainy weather does return (and we all know it will, despite our current stretch of sunny delight). Read more »

A few things from my reporter’s notebook this week: The deck at Masa is now open, the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival announced its 2010 dates and helloooo, bargain! Marcia’s Silver Spoon serves dollar eats at a car show this weekend. Click “more” to read about it. Read more »

The Star Star Chefs on Broadway, a fundraiser dinner hosted by the Broadway Center for Performing Arts, is May 23. The event, which starts at 5 p.m., features nibbles from Pacific Grill, Brix 25, El Gaucho, Affairs and several other South Sound restaurants. The charity event raises money for arts education programs. Click “more” to see a copy of the menu.

For tickets, which are $175 each, click here.

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