pomme de terre's Profile
Louisville on a budget
I'll be passing through Louisville and wanted to know what I can't miss on the cheaper end of the scale. (Most of the L'ville posts seem focused on fine dining.) I'm from the East Coast and would love some local favorites. No strong dislikes to avoid.
I have a $50 per diem. I'm willing to scrimp on one meal to splurge on another, but $50 just isn't that splurge-y, you know?
I'll be staying a little North of the UL campus.
Boston/Providence trips
I had dinner at La Laiterie, and it was AMAZING. Thanks for the rec!
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La Laiterie
184-188 Wayland Avenue, Providence, RI 02906
Boston/Providence trips
I have a three-day trip to the greater Boston area coming up next week, and I don't want to spend it eating fast food! I'm on a budget and I won't have a car, so I need good stuff that's accessible via train. In Boston, I'll be in the following neighborhoods:
-- Hotel near JFK/UMass station
-- Brookline/BU
-- Somerville/Tufts
I should have at least two evenings relatively free, though, so anything I can get to (and get back to my hotel from) via the T is a must. I have a princely $50 per diem, although I'm very willing to skimp on lunch to have a nicer dinner, or vice versa.
I'm also going to have an afternoon free in Providence, near Brown. Any blowout lunch suggestions would be much appreciated!
I really do like fish and am not from New England, so bonus points for good places to get local stuff! I know this request is a bit all over the place, but I would appreciate input from fellow chowhounders.
Minersville lunch and Pottsville breakfast
We went to Frank'n'burger for lunch. While the food was kind of blah, the people in the restaurant couldn't be nicer. The extremely nice and personable lady behind the counter got a visit from her son and adorable granddaughter, and two little old ladies having coffee were super-interested in hearing all the details of the wedding we were going to. When some local wedding guests asked us where we went to lunch, they laughed at us and were sort of embarrassed, as Frank N Burger is apparently the late night drunken snack place of choice in downtown Minersville. We had a fine old time, though!
The wedding dinner was at the Schuykill Country Club, and while the food wasn't anything to write home about, the bartenders were great and the patio had gorgeous views.
For Sunday breakfast, we went to the Pottsville Diner which was an unmitigated disaster. Not clean. Bad food.
We SO wanted to do the Yuengling Tour, but it was an afternoon wedding on a Saturday and the tour doesn't go on Sunday. Le sigh.
In a way, I'm glad to hear the area's something of a chow desert. If it had turned out there was some darling bakery where we could have eaten breakfast, I think I'd cry. :)
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Pottsville Diner
Mill Creek Ave, Pottsville, PA 17901
Minersville lunch and Pottsville breakfast
I'm going to a wedding in Minersville this weekend, and staying in a hotel in Pottsville.
We'll need somewhere in Minersville proper (don't want to wander too far since I don't know the area) to have lunch. Bonus points if the place has a semi-decent bathroom where we can swap out our road trip clothes for wedding clothes.
The next day we'll want to get a good breakfast near Pottsville. Can wander a little further afield here, although we'd prefer to wander south (back where we're coming from) than north.
Caveat: my date keeps kosher, so I'll need somewhere he can find something that suits his diet.
ift certificate for incoming Goucher College freshman
What a nice idea! Pasta Mista is a good choice. There are also about a million sushi restaurants in Towson, which can be veggie-friendly if your freshman likes it. I like Kyodai, because it has one of those floating boat rotating bar things.
There's also the Orchid Cafe, which is Persian and very vegetarian friendly. I haven't been myself yet, but the menu always looks mouthwatering!
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Pasta Mista
822 Dulaney Valley Rd, Towson, MD 21204
24 hours in Baltimore
For sweets, visit Glarus Chocolatier, which is a few blocks from your hotel, or Vaccarro's of LIttle Italy, which is a bit farther walk but tasty (if a little pricey). Also, Berger Cookies, which are locally made and sparingly available in DC.
If you have time in the AM on the second day, it might be worth trying to get a seat at the Blue Moon Cafe in Fell's Point which is maybe a 10 minute walk from your hotel. Amazing breakfast food in a tiiiiny space, totally kid friendly in that it's super loud. There's also Miss Shirley's near the Inner Harbor, which I hear has a great breakfast.
And I haven't been to Captain James in forever, but you should know that it's shaped like a boat, which a two-year-old might appreciate.
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Blue Moon Cafe
1621 Aliceanna St, Baltimore, MD 21231
Miss Shirley's
750 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Indian or Italian in Mt. Vernon
Have a friend coming up from DC on the MARC train who wants to try Italian or Indian in Mt. Vernon. Anyone have anything good to say about Sammy's Trattoria? Mughal Gardens? Any other spots?
Looking for a great gluten-free cookbook
Bought two Gluten Free Gourmet books and they were a hit! Thanks much!
Boston Chowhound needs recommendation near (ish) to BWI
Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed it, pariss! CG is definitely a good example of a restaurant that knows what it wants to do (good, fresh seafood in unfussy preparations) and executes it well. Hope your trip overall went well!
Looking for a great gluten-free cookbook
Is there a gold standard in the gluten-free cookbook world? My roommate's fiance has celiac disease, recently diagnosed, and I'd like to get them a great gluten-free cookbook as a wedding present. Hopefully something that's a little fun with delicious recipes. Thanks in advance!
Pizza in Baltimore
Vito's is not bad! And it's always full of Loyola students, which is probably a sign that it has the stamp of approval of NY and NJ transplants.
Boston Chowhound needs recommendation near (ish) to BWI
The Wine Market is an excellent choice, but I'll throw another suggestion out there for seafood: Catonsville Gourmet, which is about 15 minutes from BWI. Excellent seafood for excellent prices. It's BYOB, but there's a liquor store directly across the street. Definitely a lot of fish and shellfish, but the non-fish options are quite good. So are the desserts, and I am usually not a dessert person.
My only complaint is that it's pretty loud when it's full. It's really not a bad drive into the city from where you're staying, but if the traffic report is bad, Catonsville Gourmet is a great option in the 'burbs.
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Catonsville Gourmet
829 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, MD 21228
Wine Market
921 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230
Hopkins graduation 5/26&27
Woodberry Kitchen has a rustic but elegant setting, and great food. I think vegetarians would be happy there. It's not too far from the Homewood campus, if that's where you'll be.
I don't know if Spanish tapas is too exotic for your traditionalists (it might be for some of my conservative relatives!), but Pazo near Fells Point is great and festive and has stuff to keep the veggies happy. They also have some group packages (dinner for 6, dinner for 12, etc) so you might be able to order in advance and see if they can make the selection more veggie friendly than it usually is.
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Woodberry Kitchen
2010 Clipper Park Rd # 126, Baltimore, MD
Pazo Restaurant
1425 Aliceanna St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Pizza in Baltimore
I think the best pizza in town is Joe Squared. Thin crust, great ingredients.
Funky, budget Friendly near Inner Harbor Baltimore
I'm guessing the BYOB sushi place was Asahi Sushi? If not...it's a great BYOB sushi place in Fell's Point and you should try it.
Ra Sushi in Inner Harbor East is part of a (mostly West Coast) chain, but it's a fun atmosphere (if loud) and has a ton of daily specials at happy hour. Definitely funky! There's also Edo Sushi in the Inner Harbor, which has some seats on the outside deck, overlooking the Harbor itself. It's been a while since I've eaten there but I do remember liking the service and the view.
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Asahi Sushi
13919 Baltimore Avenue Suite 4, Laurel, MD
Edo Sushi
53 E Padonia Rd, Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093
Ra Sushi
701 S Eden St, Baltimore, MD 21231
Wedding at DC Hotel for foodies - St. Regis, Hay Adams, The Williard or The Madison?
Oh man, Susan Gage! I used to work for a company that had all its many events done by SG and it was all sooooo good. Mmm, delicious flashbacks...
Wedding at DC Hotel for foodies - St. Regis, Hay Adams, The Williard or The Madison?
I've never been to a wedding at the Willard, but I went to a very formal Christmas party there and the food was divine. (After the party, we went down the street to see Les Miz at the National Theater, and we got cast albums as a party favor. Ahhh, lobbyists! Did I mention this was for a major American auto manufacturer on the day they announced massive layoffs?)
And the venue is beyond gorgeous, and soooo DC.
Restaurant for graduation - have specific requirements
Guajillo is a great choice on the Mexican side. On the Greek side, would you consider Zaytinya? It might skew a little pricey, but has a really fun atmosphere and doesn't necessarily have to cost a ton, and is great for groups with the sharing of the mezze. I wonder if they'd have group rates where you could order a bunch of things in advance to keep costs reasonable.
Wedding at DC Hotel for foodies - St. Regis, Hay Adams, The Williard or The Madison?
I had to plan a formal work event at the St. Regis -- granted, about 4 or 5 years ago -- but the food was divine. Baby lamb chops, mmmm. And as I recall, the event pricing was pretty reasonable.
BYOB
Of that list, Asahi Sushi is probably the only one walkable from Harbor East. It's a very cute and affordable sushi restaurant, but I don't know if it will knock the socks off out-of-towners.
As for gastro pubs, I think the closest would be Peter's Inn, which regularly gets rave reviews on these boards (although I can't personally vouch). It's more in Fell's Point than Harbor East though.
In Harbor East proper, my favorite mid-range place is Lebanese Taverna. It's a pretty setting with reasonably priced Middle Eastern food, and an insanely cheap late-night happy hour (maybe not every night? I can't remember) if you're a night owl.
Cooking Lessons in DC Area
Late to the party, but I had an excellent experience with Arlington County Parks and Rec, which is located right by the Clarendon Metro. I took an Indian cooking class that was, I think, $125 for six weeks (which included six dinners that the class prepared together). I think they have more basic knife skills classes, but I thought the foreign food classes seemed most interesting, since I had nooooo background in them. The class was really nice and unpretentious -- the teacher was this cute little Indian grandma who told us about these obscure stores where we could buy cardamom for cheap. :)
Affordable Italian in Baltimore?
I have a friend coming into town who wants to go out for Italian. Cinghale is a bit out of our price range -- can you give us some good options at a lower price point? Good food and a fun atmosphere is all we need, not necessarily white tablecloths and white truffles.
We'd like to stay in the city proper, but can be flexible on the neighborhood.
Hartford to Salisbury, CT, and any Chowish points in between
I have to take a quick trip to CT. I'm flying into the Hartford airport and then driving to Salisbury, all in a day. Are there any must-see spots either in Salisbury or on the road (mainly Route 44) in between the two cities?
I'm an adventurous eater on a modest budget (about $50) who will try just about anything. I'm not from New England, so any local fare would be much appreciated.
Champagne tours in Reims
Sounds magnifique! Crayeres is out of our price range, but Brasserie Flo looks right up our alley. Near the hotel, too!
Champagne tours in Reims
Thanks so much! I just put the books on hold at the library, and Pommery is definitely on our list. Hooray! Vive la France!
Champagne tours in Reims
A friend and I are going to Reims for two days and of course we're looking to do one (or two?) of the tours of the local champagne houses. Can anyone recommend one over the other? Better price, better tour, better bubbly? It's so hard to tell which is the best.
And of course any other must-see-eat-drink in Reims would be welcome advice as well. Merci!
Mocktails in Baltimore
I have a pregnant friend who's missing cocktail hour something fierce. Can the 'hounds recommend places that have either interesting nonalcoholic beverages (I've heard Woodberry has some unique sodas) OR top-notch barkeepers that might be up for the challenge of whipping up something delicious for an expectant mother?
Breakfast options in Catonsville/Arbutus/Halethorpe?
I'll double up on the Double T. Classic diner food. If you want to stay closer to the Glen Burnie MVA, there's the HoneyBee Diner on Ritchie Highway. I've never been to that one myself, but I have good secondhand reports.
I've also heard delicious things about Dusenberg's on Mellor Avenue in Catonsville.
bistro in Rennes?
Just replying to bump this up to the top -- I'm headed there myself at the end of the month. Food suggestions for Rennes itself and Mont Saint Michel would be much appreciated. Any kind, but we are travelers on a budget.
