<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=10978" rel="attachment wp-att-10978"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-10978" title="600_143510722" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/600_143510722-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>My friend and his wife formed <strong><a href="http://www.meetup.com/East-Valley-Ethnic-Food-Club/" target="_blank">The East Valley Ethnic Food Club on Meetup.com</a> </strong>not too long ago.  They've been inviting me to show up ever since.  Sometimes I've been legitimately busy.  Other times, I've been "meh".

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Ethiopian?  Been there, done that.  Meh.

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Vietnamese?  <a href="http://www.azeats.com/cyclo/default.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Justina's Vietnamese food</strong></a> is the best.  Why would I go anywhere else?  Meh.

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Aussie Food?  There's such a thing?  Seriously?  I'll go!  (As long as I don't have to eat kangaroo.)

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Aussie Night was rescheduled.  Hmph.  (And yes, it turns out that they serve Little Roo.  Ewwww.)

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Afghan food?  I have no idea what Afghan food consists of.  I'll go!

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I schlepped all the way to the East, East, East Valley with an open mind and a curious palate.  From my house, the restaurant seemed as far away as Afghanistan which made the experience feel more authentic somehow.

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Approximately 25 people descended on the tiny restaurant to make new friends and try something new.  Everyone was extraordinarily friendly.  Conversation and orders of hummus flowed freely.

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The hummus was yum.

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And so was this carbolicious delight that I ordered.

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[caption id="attachment_10979" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=10979" rel="attachment wp-att-10979"><img class="size-medium wp-image-10979  " title="IMG00217-20120728-1423" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG00217-20120728-1423-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> I didn't record the name of this dish, but it was stuffed with potatoes and some other veg and spices. It was accompanied by a lovely creamy dill sauce.[/caption]

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Other people opted to not eat like a child and ordered a more balanced meal.

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[caption id="attachment_10980" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=10980" rel="attachment wp-att-10980"><img class="size-medium wp-image-10980 " title="600_143511392" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/600_143511392-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Chicken, rice, greens, etc. Yes, I should have written down the name in case I couldn't find a menu online. :-o[/caption]

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Nice as these peeps were, I was somewhat taken aback (and horrified, really) when EVERYONE passed on dessert.

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I practically tackled the waitress as she drifted away from the table to sneak in an order of chai.

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[caption id="attachment_10981" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=10981" rel="attachment wp-att-10981"><img class="size-medium wp-image-10981 " title="IMG00219-20120728-1510" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG00219-20120728-1510-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Some sort of magical chai potion that tasted faintly of rosewater but nostalgically resembled Strawberry Quick.[/caption]

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My Review of <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/dining/articles/20120613ariana-kabob-amp-gyros-mesa-offers-taste-afghanistan.html" target="_blank"><strong>Ariana Kabob &amp; Gyros</strong></a>?

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Warm and accomodating staff.  (The waitress, bless her, asked us if we wanted separate bills.)

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Delish and nutrish food.

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Bonus:  Clever and creative Meetup hosts and guests.

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #ff00ff;"><strong>2 enthusiastic thumbs up!  </strong></span>

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(Or should it be forks up? Or hummus-drenched pitas up?)

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As for the Meetup Group, I'll be back for the rescheduled Aussie night.  I will pass on Little Roo.

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<span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Have you ever eaten Afghan food?</span></strong></span>

<span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></span>

<span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">How "ethnic" will you go when it comes to your food?</span></strong></span>

<span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></span>

<span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Is Little Roo safe in your world???</span></strong></span>

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Please share in the comment section below.

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Afghan rug and balanced meal photos courtesy of Official East Valley Ethnic Food Group Photographer Extraordinaire, Rose Meyers.

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Hazy carbolicious dish and rosewater-chai-resembling-Strawberry-Quick photos taken with my ancient Crackberry.  Yes, I STILL do not have an iPhone.

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