Have you ever fallen out of love with a favourite food because you ate it too frequently? Many years ago, middle school Matt spent these kinds of sweltering summer afternoons at the pool with friends, swimming, playing and collecting quarters to cash in for treats at the snack bar. A Snickers ice cream bar was my go-to, with that irresistible combination of chocolate, caramel, crunchy peanuts and cool vanilla ice cream. It was pure decadence on the pool deck.
But after about two months of enjoying one every few days, I couldn’t bear to look at one. This happened again in early 2023, this time with a salad. I’ll admit I had never heard of Tatte until outposts of the Boston-based cafe started popping up all over the D.
C. area a few years ago, but the prospect of a new, walkable-from-the-office takeout lunch option was worth checking out. And one menu item in particular caught my eye: the Crunchy Halloumi Salad.
It promised roasted carrots, radish and apples - all things I enjoy - but the siren call of squeaky halloumi cheese, creamy tahini vinaigrette and a crunchy, nutty topping was what got me. I ordered the salad, and it was delicious. It was sweet and salty, tart and earthy, chewy and crunchy, all at once.
The next week, I picked up another. The next week, yet another. Several years ago, Post Food and dining editor Joe Yonan featured a lentil soup recipe championed by a nurse who loved it so much that he ate it nearly every workday for 17 years.
I could never do this. I.