Spinach and Mushroom Dip

Ingredients

Spinach and mushroom dip

4 cups chopped spinach
1 cup mushrooms (diced)
2 garlic pods (diced)
1 cup cream cheese
1 tablespoon mayo
2 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
Olive Oil
Chilli flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1: Saute the mushrooms and garlic in olive oil. Add the spinach and cook slightly.

Step 2: Add the mayo, cream cheese, and mozarella cheese and mix well on a very low flame. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Add parmesan cheese and bake at 350F for 20 minutes until the cheese turns brown.
Serve hot with pita bread. 

Casual Dining

Kabab over rice

Havabite Eatery,
10416, Main Street, 
Fairfax, VA 22030
This is an old favorite from my student days in Fairfax. Havabite is a small, family-run American Greek establishment which serves the best food of that type in the area. It excels at the execution of fairly simple dishes. Recent favorites include the shrimp sandorini, spanakopita, chicken over rice and gyros. Reasonable prices.

Chicken Friand

La Madelaine, Country French Cafe
5861, Crossroads Cir
Bailey's Crossroads, VA
We tried this cafe for breakfast. Both the food and ambiance read as authentic, though I cannot claim to be an expert on traditional french cafes. Their menu is widespread and they offer a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options. For breakfast, we had their chicken friand, a pastry served with mushroom sauce on top. The sauce masked the taste of the pastry but the combination was delightful. We also tried their cinnamon french toast made with raisin bread - served with fresh fruit and a dash of honey. Their benedict with fried bacon and ham wasn't extraordinary but edible nonetheless.

I would be curious to see if their lunch or dinner menus are as satisfying but I can recommend La Madelaine if you are looking for a breakfast or a brunch option in the Northern Virginia region.