Restaurant Review - Lotus Vegetarian, Chantilly, VA

So it's kind of exciting when a new veg restaurant opens up in the suburbs. Now if we had a full-fledged vegan bakery, I'd pretty much be all set!

Lotus Vegetarian is located in Chantilly, near the intersection of Routes 50 and 28, in the same plaza as K-Mart and Lowe's (Sully Place). (13872 Metrotech Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151, 703-378-6888.) It's a small but pleasant space, very casual with plenty of booths. You order at a counter - I believe for eat in or takeout. (I think they might have waitress service if you eat in, but I was doing takeout, so I'm not sure.)

I've read online that the owners worked at Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant (located in Vienna and Seven Corners) and the menu is very similar, although less extensive. It's Asian-inspired, with lots of faux meat dishes, some salads, veggie items, soups, "burgers" and sandwiches, rice and noodles, smoothies and juices. The menu is mostly vegan, with dishes containing egg and dairy clearly marked. Unfortunately their desserts all contain egg.

I wanted to try a few things to get a sense of the quality, so I ordered Summer Rolls, Avocado Roll and Vege-Chicken with Cashews.

The Summer Rolls (rice paper wrapped with vege-ham, basil, jicama, carrots, lettuce and dry spiced tofu) were nice, but a little smaller than I am used to. Usually the summer rolls I've purchased and made are more plump - so I was a little disappointed at their skimpiness. The dipping sauce was soy-sauce based, rather than the peanut sauce common with Vietnamese rolls. I probably wouldn't order them again...but they aren't bad.

The Avocado Roll (avocado, vege-crab meat, cucumber, black and white sesame seeds in nori sheet) were good, but I could have used some more wasabi. The roll itself was a very generous serving, though. They also have a Rainbow Roll (vege-ham, tofu skin, organic carrots, pickled radish, asparagus, cucumber and soy protein strips) which I definitely want to try next time. Overall, a good vegetarian way to satisfy a sushi fix.

The Vege-Chicken with Cashews (diced soy protein sauteed with sugar peas, zucchini, organic carrots, jicama, while mushrooms and cashew nuts in brown sauce) was excellent. I really liked the flavor and the texture of the protein. I would have liked a few more nuts, but I'm just whining. The jicama was a nice, crunchy addition. The brown rice accompanying the dish was cooked right. (My husband went without me and tried the Vege-Beef with Snow Peas [marinated soy beef sauteed with snow peas, organic carrots, jicama and lotus root in brown sauce] and said it was also excellent.)

The take-out packaging needs a little work. Things leaked and got shifted around. Just beware...

Overall I was very pleased and look forward to visiting often and dining in-house. I think it's so important to support local veg establishments, to ensure that more people get to try vegetarian foods and that the public sees establishments thriving.

Upcoming review: Mei's Asian Bistro, Arlington, VA

Sparrows con't

So it turns out that out of five hatchlings in the Sparrow's nest near my home, only one fledgling survived. I found a dead hatchling in the nest the day after there had been two, but saw a lone survivor the same day in a tree right above the nest. I have to admit it's kind of shocking that the hatchling was alive and vibrant one day and dead the next.

I also found the high mortality rate a bit alarming. And I'm not even sure that the one that made it out will live long term.

Doing a bit of research online, it appears the cause is probably one of three things: lack of available insects for feeding, disease or environmental pollutants. The hatchlings need an abundant source of insects in their first days of life to survive, and it's possible that, due to pesticide use, there just aren't enough insects to support the population. Also, when people like me put out seed, it's possible that the hatchlings were fed too much of that, and not enough insects. So I feel like I could be contributing to the problem!

After this experience, I have to admit that I'm amazed there remains any urban wildlife at all. They are under constant assault from so many directions. This week has been a real eye opener.

There's a new Sparrow in town

It's been a Sparrow kind of spring.

Like most of the country, House Sparrows are an abundant species in my neighborhood. Technically they aren't really sparrows at all, but actually Old World Weaver Finches. They were introduced to North America from England in the 1850's in order to help reduce crop pests. Unfortunately, they didn't plan for their amazing adaptive and reproductive abilities that resulted in damaged crops and fruit trees in addition to their habit of taking over native birds' nesting sites.

Their population has been declining though and they aren't protected - meaning they can be killed by anyone, at any time, for any reason. I have to admit that when a Cooper's Hawk visits for a meal, I hope it's a House Sparrow he gets, and not a Cardinal. There's just more of them!

Actually, I find them to be very clever and they have varied and beautiful songs. There are also stories of them figuring out ways to open the automatic doors at Home Depot, where they tend to make permanent homes. That's a bird that earns your respect.

Last month we noticed some House Sparrows had set up house right next to our front door in a topiary. It wasn't a great place, as they freaked out every time we came in and out of the house - which my husband does a lot, working out of the house and his car. It was fun though to see the 4 light blue eggs in the small nest so close to the house, and we tried to do our best not to disturb them.

One day I went to grab the garden hose beneath the topiary, and noticed two broken eggs on the ground. I immediately looked up and saw lots of feathers around the nest - which was now empty - and figured that a fight had ensued for the eggs and that the parents had lost. I pulled out the nest, which was so beautifully crafted and intricate, and felt a pang for the parents that had worked so hard only to lose their offspring. I hoped they had at least escaped the predator and could try again in another location.

A few days later, I noticed a sparrow going to another bush not far from the topiary. So I went to investigate and sure enough, 5 little beaks where popping up out of a nest. I've never seen parents feeding more than 2 offspring, so I anticipated that all 5 wouldn't survive. When I peeked the other day, there were only 3. And they filled up the nest so much that it looked like one bird blob with three heads attached. I'm curious now if they will only be left with 2...

[UPDATE: I checked the nest this morning and there were only 2 birds left. :>( ]

In the midst of all this, I noticed a single bird in my back yard hanging out one day on a chair. What caught my eye was his striking head pattern of alternating black and white stripes. On occasion I get an unfamiliar bird at the feeders and I can't tell you how exciting it is when that happens. His back was to me, but he turned around eventually and I was able to get a good look at him. I started flipping frantically through my bird book and it turns out he was a White Crowned Sparrow, a bird I had never heard of or seen before.

I've noticed him a few times since, but I have a feeling he won't be a permanent guest. Not if the House Sparrows have anything to do with it.