Island Earth Farmers Market = Broke-Ass Food Porn

Momo is a Nepalese delicacy. Or so the sign said.

Calling Island Earth a farmers market is a bit of a misnomer.  It should really be called “heaven”.  Ok, I’m exaggerating, but really it’s a lot closer to being the best food court in the world, than it is to being a farmers market.

Basically, the people who run the Metreon did something amazing.  They took all the empty space that was left when Sony moved it’s stores out of the complex, and instead filled it with great, affordable food from all over the world.  Among others, you can find food from: Nepal, Malaysia, India, Argentina, Iran, Afghanistan, and Africa (yeah I know…they didn’t say where in Africa).  Not only is all the food tasty and inexpensive, many of the vendors give out FREE SAMPLES!!!!  Jesus Christ, in an ideal world I’d live off free samples alone.

Delicious spreads for the Afghani Bolani

I first noticed the place a few months ago when my lady and I went to see a late night movie at the Metreon theatre.  The “farmers market” was closed, but peeking in the window made me salivate.  I mean, is wanting to eat food from a different country every day of the week too much to ask for?  I think not!  That’s why I’m declaring Island Earth as my new favorite restaurant…even if it’s really an amalgamation of many eateries.

Iranian pomegranate walnut pate = awesome!

After going around and tasting a sample of Afghani spinach Bolani that was slathered in gorgeous chutney like spreads (courtesy of East & West Gourmet Afghan Food), I moseyed on over to a place selling Iranian food.  The nice lady there let me try a little of almost everything including the divine pomegranate herb walnut pate.

I got all this for $7. I wear it was a lot more than it looks like.

I eventually settled on the Malaysian food vender where, for $7 I got: two kinds of stewed meat, rice, broccoli, a soft boiled egg, pineapple, a drink, AND a dessert!  Yeah, it was pretty awesome.

I can’t wait to go again!