MScribe's Profile
Jerk Chicken
Mmmm.... you're making me hungrier as I contemplate what to cook today.
So you really like the big green egg? I'll have to look into that. It does sound like it's pretty versatile from your description and holds a large quantity (e.g. turkey). Don't even mention outdoor gas grills to me. I don't see the point of them. To me, you might as well cook on the grill inside.
victoria gastro pub
Pimms cup, lobster grilled cheese, poutine, and chocolate praline cake...a lunch that would make a cardiologist cringe but oh was it good!
Where has poutine been all my life?
Jerk Chicken
So how'd your jerk turn out?
I'm tempted to buy a smoker myself. I'm just not sure I want the work and clean up. Besides, Just Jerk is too close buy to make it worth my while - for jerk anyway.
Jerk Chicken
I'm glad the trip was worth your while. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by several Caribbean eateries in this area. I just drove past Just Jerk this morning and was trying to figure out where the jerk pit must be. Based on the smoke that was pouring from the chimney, the smoker must be in the kitchen on the left side of the building.
The muffins are indeed very good at Muffin Man. I'm thinking about giving them another try, but Just Jerk has won my loyalty when it comes to all things jerk. The Just Jerk patties were very good too.
Perhaps I'll give the Muffin Man oxtail stew a try. I just hope they have real rice for the prices they're charging. I think I recall them being on the pricey side for Caribbean food in this area.
Jerk Chicken
Hi Steve! I'm not sure the other photos of my Just Jerk dinner were uploaded successfully, so I am going to try this again. I wanted you to see just how good their jerk is. I am pleased with the consistency of the quality on my second trip.
Jerk Chicken
Hey sekelmaan! I went back to Just Jerk for dinner last night. I tried the festival and enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation. It tasted like a cross between a churro, cake donut, and cornbread.
Jerk Chicken
Thanks! I'm sure I'll be having it at least once this week.
This is the first time I've ever had a real craving for jerk chicken besides my own. Admittedly, my oven version cannot compare to the wonderful grilled deliciousness that I had from Just Jerk last week.
Chaps Pit Beef - Not Impressed
I'm game. On your suggestion, I'll make the hike to Catonsville one day and try Canopy. I promise that I'll eat the sandwich on/at the spot.
Jerk Chicken
I just went the the Pimento Grill website and now I am drooling. Gotta get there!
Jerk Chicken
A two hour round trip between you and your Just Jerk meal - I guess you were feeling tortured. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I need to find out about this fried cornbread of which you speak. That sounds like it would be good there. If you recall the name, please post it so I'll know what to order on my next trip.
I have to admit to being to chicken (oops, there goes a pun) to order the spicy jerk. They put the shanga (?) on the side for me. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the creamy hot sauce. Although hot, it was very tasty.
Jerk Chicken
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll try to check out Pimento Grill. BTW - I think I noticed seafood on Just Jerk's menu as well.
Help explain the big deal with pit beef..
Maybe I'll try Pioneer or Chaps. If I had received a sandwich that look anything remotely close to those pictured on the sites referenced here, I would've been more likely to have enjoyed my first pit beef experience:
http://www.skilletdoux.com/2007/11/pit-beef-prolog.html
http://thisisgonnabegood.blogspot.com/2007/11/chaps-pit-beef.html
What I got looked much more like beef jerky and you cannot convince me that it transformed that much from the restaurant kitchen to my home.
Jerk Chicken
I hope you get a chance to try it. Make sure you tell us about your experience at Just Jerk. I'm tempted to go back there for lunch today.
Chaps Pit Beef - Not Impressed
I guarantee you that my opinion would have been the same if they had invited me into the kitchen to eat the slices as they shaved them off the roast. Besides, if meat sitting between two pieces of moist bread can dry out that much and expire on the short trip home, how good can it really be?
As for toppings, I would've had a ratio of 1:1 if I had added any more horseradish and BBQ sauce to give the meat some flavor and moisture. And, if I had to do again, I'd order the turkey before I'd chance another dry, bland roast beef sandwich. I think a corn dog would be an even safer bet.
Who knows? Perhaps I caught them on a bad day. If they had offered, I would've definitely ordered medium rare. I just wasn't aware that I had the option when I ordered that first sandwich. If I happen to be in the vicinity of another pit beef place, maybe I'll give it another try. Otherwise, pit beef will be a Baltimore treasure that this Marylander will gladly continue to live without.
Jerk Chicken
As far as I can tell, they must have a jerk pit in the back somewhere because the meat is definitely grilled/ BBQ'd. It was freshly made and juicy; not sitting around for hours under a heat lamp.
Jerk Chicken
Before today, I didn't get the whole fascination with jerk chicken and I measured good Caribbean food by the rice and peas. I just went to Just Jerk (Lanham, MD) for the first time and I am very impressed. That was some of the best and most authentic Caribbean food I have had in this area. I can't believe I've lived less than 3 miles from this place for the last 10 years and I never bothered to go there; probably because of it's awkward location. It is worth every U turn you have to make to get there and back.
I tried the Jerk Pit once, but it was a while ago and apparently not memorable enough for me to travel back given all the Caribbean places that are closer to my home. I was never impressed with Negril. It always seemed bland for Caribbean food to me. I've tried Muffin Man and was never impressed by anything on their menu besides the muffins. Muffin Man lost me with their rice and peas which seemed to be made of instant rice; a no no in my book. Weekness for Sweetness in Greenbelt was really good, but Just Jerk just knocked them out of the running for me if I ever get a craving for jerk chicken again. Just Jerk has obviously mastered their limited menu. To add to my experience, the Just Jerk staff was friendly and despite the roadside dive feel, the place looked clean.
Help explain the big deal with pit beef..
I made the following comments yesterday. And fellow chowhound, Dennis S was kind enough to direct me to this more current thread. So I thought I would re-post my first experience with pit beef here:
I've lived in Maryland all my life and had never heard of pit beef until I saw Guy Fieri's coverage of Chaps. Go figure. Before making the trek up to B'more to try it, I wanted to get the truth from the Chow Hounds. After reading the reviews, I instead drove up to Expressway today. I was really hopeful between these reviews and the recommendations on Yelp.
I have to say, I was disappointed and I'm not likely to make the 30 minute drive again for it. I ordered both the beef and the turkey for comparison's sake. Both needed some serious doctoring. The beef was incredibly dry and the turkey was reminiscent of the luncheon meat I can get from the prepackaged deli meats section of the grocery store. I was never asked how done I would like my beef and I forgot I had read here that I had a choice. I would've preferred their version of rare as opposed to what I brought all the way back home. I wanted so much to like this place. On a positive note, the staff was very friendly and I enjoyed the corn nuggets.
I'm a Marylander who wants to know, what is the hype about pit beef? Can anyone offer a clue?
NOTE: Thanks to this thread I think I'll pass on the pit beef. I can roast a more tender, flavorful, and moist piece of round at home in my oven. I challenge the pit beef experts to change my mind if I am wrong.
Chaps Pit Beef - Not Impressed
Thanks Dennis S. It's comforting to see that I'm not alone in wondering what the big deal is.
Chaps Pit Beef - Not Impressed
I've lived in Maryland all my life and had never heard of pit beef until I saw Guy Fieri's coverage of Chaps. Go figure. Before making the trek up to B'more to try it, I wanted to get the truth from the Chow Hounds. After reading the reviews, I instead drove up to Expressway today. I was really hopeful between these reviews and the recommendations on Yelp.
I have to say, I was disappointed and I'm not likely to make the 30 minute drive again for it. I ordered both the beef and the turkey for comparison's sake. Both needed some serious doctoring. The beef was incredibly dry and the turkey was reminiscent of the luncheon meat I can get from the prepackaged deli meats section of the grocery store. I was never asked how done I would like my beef and I forgot I had read here that I had a choice. I would've preferred their version of rare as opposed to what I brought all the way back home. I wanted so much to like this place. On a positive note, the staff was very friendly and I enjoyed the corn nuggets.
I'm a Marylander who wants to know, what is the hype about pit beef? Can anyone offer a clue?
victoria gastro pub
You're fortunate then. I don't know of any Chinese restaurants in my area doing asparagus fries and most definitely not with aioli of any kind. There's a pretty decent Japanese fusion place nearby, but no asparagus tempura to speak of there.
Perhaps going to Victoria's during off-peak hours has been key in my experiences. Who knows? I've just really enjoyed my visits there. I will look into Jack's Bistro myself. From the web site, it looks like my kind of dining.
victoria gastro pub
It is so good to find foodies out there who share my high regards for Victoria. I have had some awesome experiences here with the food and service. I was disturbed by the many less than favorable reviews that I was seeing on the net. I am convinced that many of the reviewers just didn't get it.
I am so appreciative of the thought and preparation that were apparent in each dish. I also was inclined to give the waiter a little extra in his tip on my last trip because he left me alone to experience the food in all its fantastic glory. I would've been mad if he was in my face every two minutes while I was savoring the incredible flavors and texture of the biscuits, pork belly, asparagus fries, and the chocolate praline cake. Afterward, the waiter and I had a pleasant discussion about the meal and the restaurant.
I am so glad this place caters to the foodie. As for those who were complaining about the wait staff not be friendly or attentive, I truly wonder if they should first check themselves. I have found them to be very attuned to the diner and the food. They're not intrusive, but once I've shown myself ready to be opened to them, they've absolutely been open to talking about the food and its merits. I believe Victoria and its staff is to be commended for delivering product and service that makes every bit of my 40 minute trip there worth it.
