We Love Ethnic Mom & Pop Restaurants-Today We Tried Mayta’s Peruvian Cuisine

**Proud owners and operators of their dream restaurant business, the Velasquez’s posed for a picture for us.**

AmericanPressTravelNews-June 5th, Frederick, MD.–Bob & Barb “On the Road Again” & “Stopping to Smell the Roses & Cuisine, this time in Frederick, MD. We met Jorge at the door of his restaurant opened in 2015. Mayta’s Peruvian Cuisine is his and his wife Melissa’s dream come true. Jorge came to the USA from Peru 16-years ago to cook and chef his way to success at a few different restaurants, finally he made the break and with his savings he opened his own restaurant. He came in legally and has created a fine and tasty niche restaurant that locals and visitors alike head to for large portions of dishes that are authentic (no sharing charges, said Jorge) real-world Peruvian specialties. The various ingredients found in the Peruvian hills and glades are used, the spices and flavorings are quite unique to stateside foodies and the dinner and lunch crowd as well. Outdoors there is a fine diminutive outdoor patio and Mayta’s delivers too! Give a call to 301-732-4441/www.maytacuisine.com They love to do parties and all manner of catering as well! Located across from Crispy Cream at 5010 Buckeystown Pike.

Passion Fruit juice, the real thing too! I hadn’t tasted this delight since I was in Tanganyika. Barb knows that between the banana chips, authentic dips, and that starter passion fruit juice, that I wasn’t going to be happy until I took this image, before I would be at the “tasting.”

Marinated steak Kabobs, authentic Peruvian sweet potato and mountain giant kernel corn. A delightful mustard based seasoned sauce covered the meat and we devoured this balanced and tasty dish in short order.

**Our charming waitress. We spoke Spanish together, Barb asked me to translate for her lunch.**

**Shrimp in garlic with rice and stewed potato’s–loved it!!**

Kostas Family Restaurant in Dillsboro, N.C.

**Best Calamari to start our meal, ever! Delicious and properly fried! Finished the plate between us. Usually don’t as too much breading and so-so sauce. Not at Kostas, promise they are first rate!!**

**Baklava is a perfect Greek dessert! Sweet and a great topping off of a great meal!**

**Barb was much pleased with her chicken dish, so was I, I finished it the next day. So much food, so good that why not take it home too!**

**A Basa fish specialty! All Greek to me!**

American Press Travel News–May 1st, Dillsboro, N.C. at Kostas Family Restaurant. Just heading into this little “burg” there are two terrific restaurants. First up-Kostas Family Restaurant. The staff was spectacular! From the tall-glass-of-water-owner to the wait staff and even the register gal, you felt that their name was apropos-Kostas “Family” Restaurant. Every diner who has visited a Greek owners restaurant knows about the Greek Salad. We both had one as part of our main dish platters. Decent amount of Greek Olives, tomatoes, greens and onions. The salad dressing was Mediterranean delicious. Grilled Basa fish topped with Feta Cheese, Spinach, onions and tomatoes with rice Pilaf. Together with fresh, hot Pita Pocket breads-WOW! Besides all the actual Greek specialties the restaurant had Italian dishes and all American ribs and meats too! Barb opted for a pasta dish with grilled chicken Parmesan, covered in real mozzarella, and oven baked with spaghetti. We finished off our meal with honey, nutty-stuffed Baklava and mom’s rice pudding! When you get over Dillsboro or Silva, N.C. way give a call, no reservations necessary most of the time: 828-631-0777 Visit them at: www.kostasdillsboro.com

Cuisine of India At Nawab, Roanoke, Virginia A Lunch Buffet Extraordinaire

AmericanPressTravelNews-June 25th, Roanoke, VA.–Bob and Barb “On the Road Again” and “Stopping to Smell the Roses.” As we walked along Campbell Street past the street vendors and towards the building on Campbell St. tht housed the Pinball Museum, fresh and saltwater live fish display and much much more, we passed the Nawab Restaurant. Well, Barb is not a fan of spicy stuff, I am if its incredibly good and the aromas emanating from the opened door as diners entered, lifted my olfactory factory production facility to new heights. I couldn’t resist, and promised Barb there are non -spicy items in their buffet. We met the owner, and he invited us to taste his family’s recipes. Zowwie!!! The cherry bread, garlic flat breads, and unreal other bakery table pieces were all, on their own, a fine meal with the various oils and mezzes laid out on the table. With the likes of Lamb, mushroom coconut curry, Punjabi Chicken Tikka, Konkoni Prawn curry, all kinds of incredible dips and sauces (go online to see them all at nawabrestaurant.com) The tastes of curry, spices with tumeric, and baby onions, garlic and rosemary-the veggies, that alone would make a great meal, and all things by way of a taste of India were so savory!! Nawab is located at 118-A Campbell Ave., SE Roanoke, VA phone: 540345-5150 email: [email protected]