crackers's Profile
Casual Rests. near Baltimore Aquarium?
Miss Shirley's is the lunch ticket near the Aquarium. http://www.missshirleys.com/menu/ Alternatively, a short walk into Little Italy for lunch or early dinner (your five year old is likely to be exhausted by dinner) at my favorite casual place there - Piedigrotta Bakery - they love little kids! http://www.piedigrottabakery.com/subpages/products_dinner.html
Moving to downtown Silver Spring - a summary, please
Ray's The Classics (and Hellburgers at the bar)
Jackie's
Jackie's Sidebar
Addis Ababa
8407 Kitchen Bar
Ghar-E-Kabab
Mandalay
Crisfield
Moorenko's Ice Cream
up the road in Wheaton:
New Kam Fong
Ren's Ramen - bring cash
Nava Thai
Max's Kosher Cafe for shawarma and falafel, etc.
Hollywood East for dim sum
Best Crabs in Annapolis
Seems like this question gets asked a lot. And more often than not the rare report back says they ended up going to Buddy's Crabs and Ribs (not Buddies) anyway. It's the only restaurant in Historic Annapolis serving up hard shell blue crabs that I know of. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/642193#4932661 I'm not sure that Mike's or Cantler's hard crabs will be qualitatively better this early in the year since they're all getting shipped up from southern waters. To me, crabs are a summer and early fall treat, not mid-April. And I prefer Mike's over Cantler's, which is overrun with tourist and tour buses in the summer.
near Reagan airport
Depends how far you're able to travel. Metro will make it fairly easy to get to a number of places.
For Indian:
Bombay Curry Company in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria (about 2.5 miles from the airport by cab) serves up some very good North Indian http://www.bombaycurrycompany.com/contactinfo.php try the chicken wings and butter chicken
Here's the website for Kohinor Dhaba, which is in Crystal City: http://www.kohinoordhaba.com/menu/
For Ethiopian:
Harar Mesob, also in Crystal City http://www.harar-mesob.com/index.html Not the best in the region, but probably a darn site better than in most other parts of the country.
Thai:
Neramitra in Crystal City (again, there are better places, but it's close to the airport) http://www.neramitra.com/Neramitra.htm
Middle Eastern:
Afghan Kabob House near Courthouse Metro stop in Arlington http://www.afghankabobhouse.org/
Kabob Palace in Crystal City, already mentioned
Me Jana (Lebanese) also near Courthouse Metro http://www.me-jana.com/
NYC Hounds in DC!
With a two year old in tow, I'd avoid almost all the above, esp. Eve, Komi, Fiola, and Citronelle. Blue Duck Tavern will be fine. Check out Bibiana, Estadio, and Mintwood Place (all three are busy, lots of hustle and bustle, especially the latter two) and New Heights. Mintwood is a little less veg than the others. Rays the Steaks and Rays to the Third are kid friendly, and do have veg options, and there's 2Amys (extremely kid friendy) for that brunch you're thinking about (pizza and fresh doughnuts, that's brunch, right?) http://www.2amyspizza.com/ . Komi will do a veg menu, but getting reservations is really difficult, and limited to tables of four.
Since you're staying in the west end, check out
* Greek Deli on 19th between L and M http://www.greekdelidc.com/
* District Commons in Foggy Bottom http://www.districtcommonsdc.com/
* District Kitchen (yeah, confusing) on Connecticut Ave near the Woodley Park Metro http://www.districtkitchen.com/
Group Meal Downtown/Penn Quarter
Not surprisingly, it turns out Todd Kliman of Washingtonian Magazine got the scoop on this way back in October of 2010! An 18-seat three-story Minibar. And now maybe I can get a seat.
Group Meal Downtown/Penn Quarter
Very curious where / how you learned that America Eats will become an expanded Minibar? [that would make it a Maxibar, I suppose]. That would indeed be big news.
Best Annapolis area weekend lunch picks?
For Italian, the pizzas at Italian Market (by the slice or whole) are surprisingly high quality. It is on 450 close to the Home Depot/Best Buy. And the salads and pastas are good too.
Giolitti's (mentioned above with different spelling) across from Whole Foods, has a good selection of deli-type sandwiches on fantastic breads, as well as an assortment of hot meals. We buy our breads there often. We also often bring home a refrigerator case container of meatballs in red sauce because, frankly, they're better than my home made and a bargain to boot.
Some of the other places I'd head are already mentioned: Regina's on Annapolis Street in the West Annapolis shopping area has wonderful breakfasts and lunches, and most tourists don't know about it. And Boat Yard Grill in Eastport, which is often crowded, but tables turn over pretty quickly and there's a large bar area for waiting. They do superior fried oysters there, and I love the crab melt sandwich.
On a nice day, the protected back courtyard at the Ram's Head on inner West St. is a perfect place for a burger and fresh air.
And if you are looking for a stellar crab cake, head to Edgewater Restaurant on Mayo Rd. - they are open for lunch only on the weekends, starting at noon, There's also a small dining room area at the Annapolis Seafood Market in Edgewater. Never eaten there, but that's where I head for my fresh fish and seafood for home consumption.
Personally I would avoid Mexican Cafe which is just sad, sad Americanized stuff, and Joss, which has slid way down hill on quality control.
You are sure to know about Chick and Ruth's for NY deli-style lunches, but they're worth a shout-out anyway. Best old-fashioned chocolate milkshakes in town. And the only matzoh ball soup that I have seen around here.
Philly hound needs Baltimore suggestions
mooshka, like you, I will be at the ACC show on Friday. After walking what will no doubt be several miles of aisles, I plan to head to dinner with friends either to B&O, which is very walkable, or Cinghiale (catch a free Orange Circulator bus right in front of the Convention Center - East). Both places have good bar menu options too, if you want something more casual. Either option should satisfy you, assuming you have any moolah left after the show. Avoid Shula's - sub-par chain hotel steak and burgers.
Ground venison?
Well, I do know a lucky hunter, and my freezer contains many venison cuts (mostly back straps and roasts), as well as a lot of ground venison and smoked summer sausage. The ground stuff makes great chili, vachos (venison nachos), meatballs, etc. but other fat needs to be added since wild venison has virtually none of its own. Still, you're not going to find wild venison in any stores - it is not legal to retail it.
Thousand Kabobs - new Pakistani kabobs and more at 218 N. Liberty in Baltimore
I had the Chicken Jalfrezi with rice today ($8.99 - comes with rice or naan). It was wonderful - very flavorful and loaded with red and green peppers and a complex mildly spicy (for me) sauce - ginger, tumeric, cumin, coriander. The huge serving of long grain rice came topped with carmelized onions and chopped cilantro. And there was a small container of raita included.
A narrow counter runs along the outside wall with four bar stools for anybody who wants to eat there - but it looked like it was used more for people who were waiting for them to prepare the dishes to go.
The take out menu has evolved since I first went. In fact, it is now on its fourth printing, this time in a more ambitious glossy color flier. I am hoping this bodes well for its staying power. I was told that several items, such as the haleem, were inadvertently left off the latest menu. I can attest that the haleem is still available nonetheless.
Philly hound needs Baltimore suggestions
It would help if you could narrow down your request a little. Lunch? Dinner? Price point? Kind of food? Your definition of "walking distance"? Hint: just saying "I'm open to just about anything" isn't helpfuL
Ground venison?
Just curious what you're planning to make with it. I have never seen venison (ground or otherwise) in any Maryland stores.
CHOWDOWNS in metro area
The four dishes are mentioned here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/520156#7130728
However, these are NOT new dishes on the menu. These were four dishes created by Chef Li specially for our Lunar New Year celebration dinner.
I see absolutely no reason why they couldn't be requested as part of a lunch menu - but the requestor would need to talk with Chef Li to see if he would be willing to recreate the dish again.
And KWagle - the restaurant is not in Catonsville, it is in Odenton. This is both a Washington DC and a Baltimore board, and there are lots of chowhounds who are able to go there for lunch. If you'd prefer to organize a dinner there, just post the date and I'm sure you'll get takers!
Grace Garden - Chinese in Odenton
The lamb came out alongside several other delicious dishes on the table, so it didn't get my full undivided attention, but the sauce was mild with some garlic in it I think.
The taro in the duck dish was slices of whole taro, not a thickener. The slices absorbed the flavors of the duck gravy very nicely.
Chowhounder Road Trip to Richmond!
not just about Chef Chang - also about our own John B! Richmond is a long haul for me, but I am still haunted by my meals from his TemptAsian days (OMG - those fish rolls in chili oil!...) and hope he is still there this summer.
Grace Garden - Chinese in Odenton
A group of about 30 chowhounds, friends and families gathered recently to enjoy a Lunar New Year celebration at Grace Garden. Among the twelve courses (plus rice, tea, and a fruit platter dessert) were some new dishes worth mentioning, and worth requesting - or pleading for - which Chef Li might be willing to replicate:
The first was a stellar stuffed rock fish - stuffed with pork sausage in a mild brown sauce. Chef Li clearly appreciates seafood and enjoys trying new ideas - this was a beautiful idea.
Next was an ethereal tofu dish - it apparently was made by blending tofu and the fish that he uses in the fish noodles, pouring into a pie dish, (perhaps steamed?) and then topping with a crunchy blend of ground beans, chili peppers and other spices. Great combo.
I'm not sure if duck with taro is on the menu - I suspect not - but it too was a great surprise and worth pre-ordering. There was also a fabulous rack of lamb.
There was at least one chowhounding food blogger in our midst, so I'm sure better descriptions will follow.
Good Eats in Cozumel
El Turix is no more. After walking all the way there from the central square area, Rafael told us that they are converting the building to condos. He recommended a place just a couple of blocks away, on Ave. 30 on the east side and a couple blocks down: Tortuga. Nice enough - we had a few of red snapper variations, of which the one with almonds was the best.
Arlington -- Retro Ray's???
Yes, it opened Thursday evening. Right next to Ray's the Steaks - sign on the awning says "Bistro Entrance." For now.
Baltimore restaurants with fireplaces?
Bertha's - I have a vague recollection that there's a fireplace in the front dining room. Can anybody confirm?
Need Current Info re: Best Crabcake
It's not a question of need, it's a question of want. I would never presume to tell somebody what should (or should not) taste good to them. That's why these things are offered in small plastic cups - so if you want to add them, you can. And if you don't want to, you don't have it forced on you.
And to answer Dennis S, yes, there are James River oysters. It is the southernmost river emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. Like a lot of other oyster beds near the Bay, they have been decimated by pollution and disease.
Need Current Info re: Best Crabcake
c'mon Steve, I've never known you to shy away from exotic new tastes! But before rejecting it out of hand, you might want to try dipping some lumps in a little clarified butter and then into some Old Bay...or vinegar then butter. *Then* reject it. ;)
Need Current Info re: Best Crabcake
I don't know about Baltimore,(do they still haul in crabs anywhere in Baltimore City?) but a small plastic cup of melted butter is a staple with crabs in Southern Maryland (southern Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles Co.), along with vinegar and Old Bay. But this is mostly at family feasts, crab festivals, fundraisers etc. for locals, not tourists. And no mallets, just knives.
Where to all the Chesapeake crabs go?
Cantler's near Annapolis catches their own too - but I think they supplement with non-Chesapeake Bay crabs to keep up with the demand.
Large group for lunch in Annapolis
Although not "chow worthy" - the only place I can think of that could handle that many kids at one time would be Buddy's right down at the foot of Main Street at City Dock - . The kids will love the all-you-can-eat buffet for $8 and not notice the lackluster quality of the seafood. http://www.buddysannap.com/mainsite/menu.html Website has coupons etc.
Thousand Kabobs - new Pakistani kabobs and more at 218 N. Liberty in Baltimore
I don't recall seeing tables, but I wasn't really looking. I wouldn't recommend trying to eat there. There's an indoor food court area in the retail space next to the Fresh Greens supermarket (used to be a Super Fresh) where you could probably sit and eat.
Venison Sausage & Fat (help)
You'll probably have more luck posting on the cooking forums than here. We use pork fat for our venison summer sausage
, but here are some other suggestions: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?/topic/135967-venison-beef-juicy-sausage/
Hank Shaw knows what he's doing - here's his recipe: http://honest-food.net/wild-game/venison-recipes/ground-meat-dishes/venison-sausage-with-sage-and-juniper/
You didn't say what kind of sausage you're making (smoked? fresh? cured?)
best crab cake baltimore
Have to respectfully disagree about OEG. The happy hour oysters in my last two visits have been abysmal. And yes, they were in season. The fault lay with the so-called shucker (more a bungling mangler than a shucker) and not the shucked. But I digress...back to the fascinating if unending discussion of the crab meat sourcing of G&M and Phillips...
Chicken Fried Steak
In DC, District Commons has CFS as their Wednesday night "family meal" special starting at 10 pm.
http://www.districtcommonsdc.com/downloads/clientuploads/district-menu_14_284141741.pdf
It's also on the menu at American City Diner up near Chevy Chase circle. No fried okra though. http://www.americancitydiner.com/
