zebcook's Profile
Will a Gujarati thali place work in the Baltimore area?
Personally, I love chaats and would be happy to go to one, but Columbia/Ellicott is too far away for me. I'd need something more central/north.
Friday Lunch near Flower Show?
First off, want to thank everyone for their helpful suggestions. There were a lot of options and it was a good thing because, like so many things, the day did not go quite as planned. Due to car issues, we didn't get there until post-lunch, so the idea of taking our time and having a leisurely lunch went right out the window. Instead, we decided to take our slightly-frustrated mood someplace where we could get a decent meal and a beer quickly. Fortunately, I remembered the Molly Malloy's discussion and since RTM was right there, it won.
To the poster who many had not discovered Molly's, I'd add that many have. It was packed after 1:00. We managed to squeeze a couple of bar seats, though. Being in a hurry we just split a steak sandwich and had beers. The sandwich was good, not astounding, but filled us up. The beer selection was good. The staff was really friendly and helpful (even suggesting we split an order instead of getting two dishes). I'd like to come back when it is less crowded and explore more.
After some time at the show, we decided to try for an late afternoon snack/early dinner. I remembered that 13th St was closest, so we went down there. After poking around, we decided to land at Zavino.That proved to be a real winner. We were pre-dinner, so things were pretty quiet. The wine selection was good, not too pretentious. We had a few small dishes -- grilled peppers with salt and oil and burrata with a bit of fig jam and bread. Again the staff was friendly -- my wife started trading recipes with the the pasta maker behind the bar.
From there we roamed to Di Bruno's for cheese. One the way back to the car we made one last stop at Jamonera just to check it out. We tried a small plate of the ham croquettes (so small I wonder if they shorted the order). They lacked the pronounced flavor I was hoping for so I'm not sure I'd order that again.
By the end, we had a enjoyable enough time to realize that we should come up to Philadelphia more often. Thanks again for everyone's help!
Friday Lunch near Flower Show?
Two of us are coming up from B'more to the Flower Show on Friday and were looking for a good place for lunch that's reasonably in the area. Particulars are:
- Yes, I've searched the board but not knowing the city layout it's hard for me to sort out best suggestions.
-- We don't mind walking especially if the weather is good and there's interesting things to see on the way.
-- A place with good food, beer, and wine. We're fond of brewpubs, quirky places, local, spicy, charcuterie, low key, bistros, and so forth. Maybe not Mexican (because I lived in the SW too long) or standard bar food unless, of course, it's above standard.
-- We'll be hiking the flower show, so someplace comfortable and friendly is good. Formal places probably not so good. If there's a good bar we may linger.
-- Price is not an decider, though I have nothing against saving money.
A friend recommended Dandelion. The menu looks promising. Is it a good choice and are there other suggestions?
Thanks,
Zeb
Saturday lunch spot needed - Baltimore area
I'd agree that Dogwood is a good choice. Gertrude's has the advantage of location if the weather is good.
Good Caribbean-style hot sauce?
Sounds like what you want is Lotties Hot Pepper Sauce. Made in Barbados -- mustard, scotch bonnets, tumeric, onions, vinegar, garlic. You can find it online or in a well-stocked hot sauce shop (usually).
Top ten favorite things to eat (and where to get them) in Baltimore
The Rustic Gourmet is a storefront for the folks (same name) you find serving Indian dishes at the farmer's markets around town.
Baltimore next Friday (9/16) - Best food we can find?
Golden West = not a destination place. In Hampden, you might try The Corner instead, if you can survive their service. Plus Hampden is very Baltimore-y (to some folks).
If you want to do Woodberry and keep it more reasonable, see if you can get a seat at the bar. They've got a good selection of cocktails and small plates. We were just there with friends and had a really good beef tartare. They have inexpensive flatbreads (i.e. pizzas) with interesting toppings that change frequently. I think one was listed with cheeses and peaches (better than it sounds). Plus if you chat up the bartenders, they sometimes come up with unusual concoctions (got a sample of bacon bourbon they had made once).
You may be less impressed by Grace Garden than folks here. My experience living in Boston and NorCal was that good unique Chinese food wasn't that hard to find in either place. I've had outstanding Chinese feasts in Boston with Chowhounds (an all vegetarian banquet, a whole roast pork meal and more) . Here, our Chinese options are generally so bad Grace Garden, which is quite good, really stands out.
Brewer's Art does have great beer and I've had some very good meals there, and again you can get good choices on a budget. The front bar is a great place to sit and people watch.
Alewife has an immense beer selection and above the cut bar food. Never felt the area was particularly dicey, especially since you can usually find parking on Eutaw right in front of the place.
Can't speak to Wine Market since I was only there once and not overwhelmed.
I've had good reports on Clementine, but have only had some of their charcuterie that shows up in a few stores.
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Brewer's Art
1106 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Golden West Cafe
1105 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD
Grace Garden
1690 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD
Wine Market
921 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230
Usinger's sausages in DC/NoVA/MD
As an ex-Wisconsinite, ordering online with them is actually a pretty good deal. They offer a much bigger selection of wurst than you could find of theirs locally. Plus they're very good about shipping -- generally reluctant to do so in the hot months, pack off fresh brats well, etc.
Dining near Johns Hopkins?
As a Hampdenite there are a bunch of reasonably cheap options:
King's Pizza -- Go for the middle eastern food, particularly the pita. Very hot and fresh. No alcohol served.
Holy Frijoles -- still open, still bad Tex Mex, but filling.
Golden West -- somewhat New Mex and filling.
Grano's (actually, go to "little" Grano's on the Ave) -- if he can cook pasta (as in equipment, not skill), getting their sauces to go is not a bad idea.
Angelo's -- "World's largest slice." If that's not a pitch to a starving student, I don't know what is.
Daniela's -- This is a new little place next to the BOA. Italian pastries, carry out foccacia, pastas and coffee. Daniela used to do meals at Sotto Sopra. Pastries are very good!
Baltimore Burger Bar (Puffs & Pastries) -- an expensive burger, but good with very interesting topping choices.
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Golden West Cafe
1105 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD
Sotto Sopra Restaurant
405 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Holy Frijoles
908 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD 21211
King's Pizza
215 W Potomac St, Brunswick, MD 21716
Top ten favorite things to eat (and where to get them) in Baltimore
No order here:
Fresh pita at King's Kabob
Govt Mule at Woodberry Kitchen
Burger at McCabes
Cubano at Havana Cafe
Puttanesca sauce at (Little) Grano
Tortillas de Puerco at Tortilleria Sinola
Smoked bluefish from Neopol Smokery
Fish noodles from Grace Garden
Biscuit sandwiches from Blacksauce Kitchen (various farmer's mkts)
Cajun fries from Annabelle Lee Tavern
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Grace Garden
1690 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD
Woodberry Kitchen
2010 Clipper Park Rd # 126, Baltimore, MD
McCabes
3845 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD 21211
Baltimore restaurant suggestions for a soon-to-be bride?
Gertrudes at the BMA is another good choice, especially if the weather is good and you can sit outside overlooking the sculpture garden.
Please Help I Need Restaurant Reqs For The Baltimore Area
If you're looking for a somewhat simpler burger and beer option, I'd throw in The Brewer's Art. Plus their full menu has some good meat choices, but since it changes I don't know what's on it right now.
JFX Farmer's Market 2011!
I think they have nothing to sell yet. They were mostly orchard fruits which aren't producing yet.
Baltimore - Vegeterian
Cazbar would be a good choice. Turkish with a large selection of veg mezzes. On the Circulator route, a longish walk, or a short cab ride from your hotel.
Pollo in or near Hunt Valley?
There's a Salvadoran place -- Tropical Cafe (I think) in the Cranbrook Shopping Center on Cranbrook Road. It's a little hole in the wall place, but I had a great fresh pupusa there. It a little confusing to find because I think the sign outside still says Maria de Las Angeles. Worth a visit.
Maria de Los Angeles: Salvadorian in Cockeysville
Today was one of those days of nine-hour meetings and dentist appointments, a day that leaves you questioning your ability to survive. And I might not have, until I pulled into the Cranbrook Shopping Center in the off chance I could find something for lunch. This little shopping center is on Cranbrook a mile or so off York, a kind of neighborhood mall, anchored by a health club on one end and god knows what on the other. I vaguely remembered seeing something that might have been a Mexican place after my last dentist visit and given my day I was willing to take the chance.
It turned out my memory was good, but wrong. Tucked into the middle of the strip was a little restaurant named Maria de Los Angeles (although the take out menu had a different name). Not Mexican, but Salvadorian. It's a clean little place with a half-dozen small tables, a counter/cold case with drinks and deserts, taped up pictures of the menu, and whiteboard with specials. The menu had a pretty extensive listing of choices -- pupusas with various fillings, tamales, soups, tortas, yuca, and a variety of meat and fish dishes. Since I wanted to try a couple of things I ordered a cheese pupusa and a baleada, a tortilla served with avocado, crema, and egg. Although I was the only one there, it took time to come from the kitchen, but when it came out everything was fresh and hot. The pupusa was griddle-charred, moist and chewy with fresh masa and white cheese. The baleada was a thick tortilla, freshly made and folded around big chunks of avocado and eggs slathered with crema. It easily filled a small plate, bigger than the standard empananda (more like a pasty in dimensions). Along with everything came a small side of curtido, vinegary cabbage slaw with a mildly spicy sauce. The whole meal came to just over $7 and was perfect for lunch.
I definitely plan on going back, if only to try the chilate con nuegado that was listed as a special. Plus the fried yuca and plantains, and the tamale de elote, and the tortas, and a whole lot more.
Important first date in Baltimore...Please help!
Gertrude's a nice choice but the pricing might be a bit tough. Mr. Rain's is certainly fun and whimsical with a good location, but I wouldn't call the room romantic (although it's not awful). If you combine it with stroll through the museum -- and the gift shop, which is fun in itself -- it could be quite a good time for the right couple.
Truly great coffee in Harford or Baltimore Counties?
Never been to their cafe, but their Seattle Roast is all we drink at home. Common Ground in Hampden carries their beans.
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Common Ground
819 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD 21211
Dried corn, posole, chicos... Help me understand the difference & how to use them
Omg, I miss tepary beans from when I used to live in Arizona!
Alchemy
They just opened last Tuesday. We hope to get there sometime in the next few days. Will give a report when we do.
Head-On Shrimp in North Baltimore
Can't help with head-on shrimp, but a trick I learned from a Creole cook was to add a whole package of little dried shrimp (like you can get at Asian and Hispanic markets) to the pot. They'll melt with the long cooking and add shrimp intensity.
Dried shrimp you should be able to get at the asian market on York Rd.
Reservations Necessary for Weekday Lunch at Jaleo or Rasika?
My wife and I had a weekday lunch a Rasika last month. While we had reservations and it was busy it seemed like they were able to handle the walk-in crowd without much wait. Plus, you can eat in the bar there.
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Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Chilis; a little perspective, please
Piquins are a small chile, usually dried, about the size of a kernel of corn. They tend to have a sharp and fierce up-front heat but not the fruity flavor of something like an ancho. Officially they are ranked about 7 times hotter than jalapenos on the Scoville scale. They are very good for adding bite to more flavorful chiles, plus the plant is very easy to grow (IMO).
Baltimore - late dinner in the Inner Harbor?
Annabel Lee Tavern in Canton is a short drive from Inner Harbor. They are a little neighborhood bar with an upscale late-night menu. Chipotle crab bisque, duck fat fries, simple well made sandwiches. It's was a very good late-night stop for us following a show at Creative Alliance.Open until 1:00.
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Chipotle
14925 Shady Grove Rd Unit L, Rockville, MD 20850
Annabel Lee Tavern
601 S Clinton St, Baltimore, MD 21224
Help! broke and "need" to buy EV olive oil
The last time was at Prima Foods. Distinctly cheaper.
Romantic Lunch(!) in DC?
Thank you everyone for your help! We went to Rakisa for a late lunch after a visit to the American Indian museum (it didn't exist when I last lived here) and had a wonderful time. Yes, the room was noisy as warned, but it looked nice, our service was excellent and the selection of small plates made for a perfect lunch. We had just chatty enough waiter to makes things pleasant without being annoying. Although he pushed the "signature" dish, spinach palak, we opted for small plates, starting with the banana-avocado chaat -- a mold of avocado and tamarind-date chutney with a couple of slices of fried banana. Flavor was very good -- tart-sweet with a little heat and the creaminess of the avocado. After that came the asparagus uttapam -- a light rice pancake coated with thin slices of asparagus and mint chutney. The asparagus was well-suited to the sour of the uttapam and was one of the three best things we had. The moongphali tikka -- chicken kabob pieces with a spicy peanut marinade wasn't as successful. I was expecting something with a creamier sauce but instead it was dry chicken chunks with a peanut marinade. On the other hand, the chili spiced scallops were perfectly cooked, moist on the inside and ready to fall apart. The other big hits were the naan stuffed with goat cheese (combined with the mint chutney we could probably have lived on this stuff) and the lychee-mint-rose water sorbet. The rose water comes on strong, followed by the mint, but the more delicate lychee flavor forms the foundation. Plus the fresh strawberry garnish didn't hurt.
We didn't make it to POV, so we'll have to save toasting the snipers for another day.
Help! broke and "need" to buy EV olive oil
You're on a budget, so what are you using the extra virgin olive oil for? If it's for general cooking -- frying, etc., -- then I'd go with the advice I got from a Lebanese deli owner. Don't by Extra virgin oil. Use pomace or regular olive oil instead. The flavors of what you're cooking are going to overpower everything anyway and you'll save a lot of money. Use extra virgin oil for uncooked dishes where you want the flavor of the olive oil to come through -- salads, dips, etc. Plus I think pomace oil has a higher smoke point (not sure on that) which would make it better for frying, A big can of pomace oil can usually be got for less than $20. Then save some money and get a small bottle of extra virgin for when you need it.
