We asked ambassadors where they eat when they’re homesick. We did not expect Taco Bell and Ikea. - my favorite dish in the restaurant essay

In our Stateless Capital, everyone deals with homesickness in a different way.
Most of us haveme-home go-
Whether we have a transplant from Texas, Thailand, Ohio or Oman.
Even diplomats.
We asked dozens of local ambassadors what they ate when they were homesick.
Some people gave us very broad answers.
For example, the seafood pasta of Faisal Guya in Tunisia, or the outdoor aperitif of Armando Varricchio in Italy --
While others refuse to offer advice because they are relatively fresh to Washington (
Fitsum Argos in Ethiopia). And one (
Elway Dennis, Haiti)
Tell us he never misses home.
But many of them shared with us the dishes and restaurants they wanted to be reminded to go home.
Their answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Azerbaijan: Elin sulemanov, the ambassador since 2011, "tea is almost a religion, a belief for us.
But it's hard to find the whole leaf, loose leaf tea in Washington. C.
I went to the Blue Duck Tavern at the Park Hyatt, where the tea was excellent and I got a kettle.
I always bring someone.
Even though it's a chain, I still like the lentils soup in the Lebanese pub.
Made of spinach and lemon, exactly the same as Azerbaijan's.
I got the whole embassy involved and they told me they liked it and I hope it's true not just because I'm an ambassador.
Argentina: Fernando Orris de Roa, ambassador since 2018 and ambassador to the calf liver and onion in La Chaumiere.
We have two in Argentina.
5 cows per person.
We had a lot of beef.
People were afraid of polio when I was a child, so my mom fed me a lot of liver and kept me strong.
I know the liver is not for everyone but for me it reminds me of the love of my mother.
Australia: Joe Hockey, who has served as ambassador since 2016, "started with a flat white --
Have a real cup of coffee in Lanshi Lane
Avocado and a poached egg.
For dinner, Joe's Seafood includes crab, oysters, grilled shrimp and a bottle of Samsel or New Zealand lovesickness.
I come from Sydney and have many beaches and sea.
Joe's a lot easier than the other D. C. spots.
There is a spirit of warmth and generosity.
This is a happy place, a good group of people.
I don't want home. it's more like a feeling.
Colombia: Francisco Santos, ambassador since 2018, "My staff made me sad, but I am a monster for Taco Bell.
I went to Union Station because it was near the embassy. I chow down.
I got the #1 combo: Burrito Supreme and hard-
Red envelopes for Pepsi and salsa-
Apparently fire.
I went to college at the University of Texas in Austin and started eating Taco Bell there.
Now, it reminds me that when my life started, everything was new and full of ideas because I had more memories than ideas.
I also had the best fajitas beef in the world at Cactus Cantina because it reminded me of a place Jorge's from Austin.
Bahrain: Since 2017, Ambassador Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid al-Khalifa "olive askelan has served in Asaji osterria in McLean.
It is olive stuffed with veal, wrapped with bread, and then fried perfectly.
It reminds me of the finger food I loved when I grew up in Bahrain and reminds me of the carefree activities and leisurely time of my childhood.
General life.
Today, when I was having dinner with my family, I loved ascolane because I saw my children with the same carefree smile on their faces as they waited for the main course to arrive.
China: Cui Tiankai, ambassador, since 2013, "although I live and work in Washington, I have maintained a clear Chinese stomach.
I often like simple dishes: mapo tofu.
It is reminiscent of the history of the Chinese people.
In the past, our resources were limited.
Many staff will stir a bowl of rice with mapo tofu.
Although we have a better life, mapo tofu is still a staple on many Chinese tables.
Georgia: since 2016, Ambassador David barracze "has had a Saturday brunch at Supra with family and friends, just as close as you experience a traditional Georgian meal at the D. restaurantC.
When I missed the cooking that came home, I ordered a bread cheese boat khachapuri to share with my children.
It's delicious. it's too difficult to cook at home.
Everything about me.
TIME's favorite is pkhali's appetizer with a variety of chopped vegetables such as eggplant, spinach, green beans, beets and walnut sauce.
Republic of dorepublic: José Thomas Perez, ambassador since 2015.
I love going there and can even ask me to take sancocho home.
Dominican soup made of seven kinds of meat].
I also like to order a dish that we call the "Dominican flag" because it is a dish on the table at lunch time for almost all Dominican people: rice, beans and meat.
I prefer beef.
Salad and avocado are a dish.
El Salvador: Ambassador Claudia canjuela de Centro Renault has said since 2016: "Of course, my favorite dish is a puppet.
There are different varieties, but my favorite is the refrigerated beans filled with cheese.
There are many restaurants in the area that serve this dish, most of which are managed by Salvadorans who maintain the traditional recipes and quality of our country.
It should be eaten with Curry, a spicy cabbage salad.
Ireland: Daniel Moorhall, ambassador since 2017, "I met my wife, who is Australian, when we all live in India.
So in honor of the early days of our courtship and marriage, we went to Rasika.
I'll give her some chicken, prawns.
We love cucumber raita and fall in love again.
For the right bar, I'm on S Street, so I love walking distance: Across the pond or James Hoban, named after the Irish White House architect.
Walking is a good appetizer.
A hearty Irish breakfast with full keywords, so during the rugby and Six Nations tournaments I have only one time a year, maybe seven or eight.
In the Irish crowd, you give in to the comfort of the food.
Maybe Martin has cooked bacon and cabbage in his tavern.
I grew up in Watford and worked in a sausage factory in the summer.
That's why I'm back.
After that, I will go to Kramerbooks to browse.
Books are desserts for Irish people.
Ghana: AJE-
Barwuah, ambassador since 2017, "I love spinach stewed white rice and fried plantains for the taste of home.
We call it Black Star since we were young.
This is a dish we didn't joke about.
We really enjoyed it.
I also like the peanut butter soup with lamb rice.
Try Bukom Internet cafe.
I prefer black on a relaxing Sunday night
Stewed eyes and peas cooked in front of the car.
Once in a while I enjoy the blessings with light soup, dried fish and lamb.
Appioo did a good job.
Other foods I like include plantain and yam, eggs and stewed eggs.
Or something simple: eto, it's a mature plantain mud mixed with palm oil.
India: Harsh Vardhan Shringla, ambassador since 2019 "palak chaat in the West End of Rasika is one of my favorites.
But I like their beng fish curry rice very much. It tastes delicious and very light.
This reminds me of my hometown of West Bengal in India.
Come here if you want authentic South Indian food. I like the Woodlands vegetarian restaurant.
At Woodlands, one of my favorite is condensed rice, which is mixed with rice and yogurt and seasoned with coriander.
Mongolia: Since 2018, Ambassador Otgonbayar Yondon said, "The Mongolian barbecue you know is not the same in Mongolia. So not that.
Thai restaurants, owned by Mongols, offer menus only for Mongols. It’s weird.
They have Mongolian steamed dumplings.
We have these in the lunar new year.
Especially on rainy or cold days, they are great.
But you can eat at any time in Washington, because the cold weather in Washington is not so cold for the Mongols.
Japan: Japan
Since 2018, Ambassador Sugiyama "in the days of enjoying personal time in a relaxed atmosphere away from daily busy life, I asked the chef of the embassy to do some simple and classic Japanese cuisine, such as onigiri, yakisoba and Japanese curry beef.
I feel at ease when I can eat these foods that I have become familiar with since I was a child. ” (
While holding a reception at his residence, his assistant reported that the ambassador often asked for sushi from Xiaochuan, Tako Grill or Yosaku. )
Portugal: Dominguez fezaz has been an important ambassador since 2015, "my wife Isabel and I often go to Belgian restaurants, and so on!
, And order the casserole to Mr. les with the pommes French fries.
We lived in Brussels for 16 years and one of my sons was born there.
Mexico: Martha balsena, ambassador since 2018. C.
But I have tried different Mexican restaurants because you always need to know where you can count on when you are a little homesick.
Mi Vida at the pier is a charming place because you can see the beauty of Potomac and I have always enjoyed seeing water since I was born in the coastal town of Veracruz.
My favorite dish is pescado from la veracruzana.
I love the richness and liveliness of Oyamel as it does take you to some typical restaurants in Mexico.
My favorite dish is smoked fish.
Another great discovery has fried bean paste cheese.
While this is the staple food for every Mexican family, Oyamel manages to add an enhanced flavor to it.
Urbano 116 in old town of Alexandria is a very special place because the chef is from Mexico City and I also like the restaurant he has there so it conveys a very special Mexico City there
My favorite Urbano dish is definitely a black mole roast chicken.
Philippines: José Manuel "Beibei" del Gallego romuadi, ambassador since 2017 and "Shanghai" at Bistro 1521 in Arlington
The Port of Lumpi Shanghai is a popular and ubiquitous appetizer in the Philippines, and without it, any social activities are incomplete.
Together with pancit [considered party food]noodles].
Sweden: Ambassador Karin Olofsdotter said since 2017, "Mikko has shrimp sandwich or mushroom salad, but that's Finnish.
I eat sushi every day, so I eat a lot.
Can I Tell You a Secret?
The sushi and Whole Foods at Safeway are delicious.
I got all the fish there.
As part of fredagsmys [cozy Fridays]
In Sweden, we have [taco night]
So I often go to Cactus on Friday, even though I eat chicken instead of tortillas.
Do you know the candy wall of Ikea?
The Swedes have [Saturday candy];
Saturday is the day to eat candy.
At my house, we eat 2 pounds candy every Saturday.
This is a normal amount for a family of four.
I would say that Swedish fish in the US is better than Swedish, but I eat more like jelly.
I started eating in my 30 s.
Sometimes people say you have to choose candy or healthy food. This or that. No.
I'm two people.
Korea: Zhou on-
Je, has served as ambassador since 2017.
What would summer look like without this dish?
There are chewy noodles in the soup. the soup is very strong and a little sweet;
There is nothing more refreshing than this in the hot weather, especially when it comes with an Asian pear.
Zhang Chengze and Xu gae.
It may not be one of the most famous soups in Korea, but I always eat it when I was a student.
Ground beef and vegetables make it both nutritious and delicious, and the broth is so spicy that you can't stop eating to avoid the heat catching up and overwhelming you.
In the summer, Koreans like to say that you should "put out fire with fire" and few soups are more suitable for this task than yuk gae jang.
Spain: Santiago cabanas, ambassador since 2018
The old maritime tradition is the reason why I like Jaleo of Jose Andres and Del of March, because they prepare fish dishes brought from Spain every day, as we enjoy at home
I also like Taberna del arabadero, the oldest Spanish restaurant in the city, a real institution.
They prepared delicious rice and seafood, but my personal favorite was their arroz negro.
Vietnam: Ambassador Harkin Ngok has been fresh since 2018 (nem cuon)or fried (nem ran).
"Many kinds of leaves in the garden can be used to wrap rolls, such as guava leaves, flower-free leaves, lettuce, etc.
The ingredients together make up a unique and interesting dish, "the ambassador's wife, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lien, wrote in her fresh spring roll recipe shared with The Washington Post.