I figured that people would respond to Lee Biars' post about restaurants, and Sarah led several people who added their two cents to Lee's observations from the other side of the check. I did not expect 20 great comments about liquor stores last month and was shocked that a tiny post about Sonic would trigger excitement from Danita, emkenton, Simon and others. I'm suspicious because of the hype about Fatburger, which Craig F says still doesn't deliver. What makes people love Sonic so much? Mrs. HowChow says the limeade. What else should excite us for the future Sonic in Ellicott City? Anyone know where the Sonic will open?If HowChow had a single great mission, it would be proselytizing about takeout tacos. MaybeKathy loved the chicharronnes tacos at Lily's Mexican Market, and the new joint -- R&R Deli in Elkridge -- got compliments on several posts from Southern Skies, dzoey and bboyneko and from Michelle and fultie. (Okay, maybe our great mission is ridiculing the area west of Rte 29 that the post office calls Laurel. Fultie joined that mission as well with a link that shows the crazy zip codes around there.)
The funniest comment was only funny because The Minx was correcting my mistake. I had gone on in the Hunan Taste post about "ox lung" and how I would know if it was good lung. Turns out that "ox lung" actually refers to a combination of beef tripe, tendon and tongue. Whoops. My mistake, although I still don't know that I'm rushing to order. And then there were comments galore:
- Mrs. HowChow talked up carryoutmenu.com for the next time that you're trapped inside.
- Does anyone know about an Indian market called Curry N Spice? Anonymous asked me, and I had seen references when I started the blog. I have never been to the market.
- Katana Sushi fans reported about the changes at the two Katana locations. Sounds like the Elkridge Katana got new management, which tried a new menu. Josh K says Katana went back to its old sushi menu early this month.
- Other sushi fans -- including Steven, BeerGuy, jamfreak, and others -- talked up their favorites at Sushi Sono. Ho.co.po argues for Nichi Bei Kai, which she says has improved after some issues under new management but which I haven't tried yet. [Whoops on the original pronoun!]
- KAL recommends two places in Laurel -- Mangos Grill and Tampico. Baltimore Beer Guy and Brandon each recommended a place in Columbia for buffalo wings.
- Stephanie T has me planning a trip to Odenton for beef patties at Caribbean & Soul Food Carry Out.
- Alberto A. Flores -- the original R&R tipster -- and Sofia reported that the cookies at Chick'N Pollo are called alfajores. If that puts you in the mood for sweets, anonymous talked up the "cake truffles" at Oh, What A Cake! in Columbia and another anonymous loves the Old Bay chocolates at Sweet Cascades.
- If you're going savory, Monay talked up the chorizo enchiladas at Frisco Grille, Kristi recommends the kabobs and the potatoes and peas side dish at Mimi's Kabob, and Kevin loved the Rockfish Angaar at House of India. Fultie likes the sandwiches at Sidamo in Fulton. Several people love the ground chuck at Laurel Meat Market, including Alex who says he can substitute it in sauces for triple-ground. The chicken at Chick'N Pollo gets mixed reviews from dzoey, Samit and others, although I'm still a fan.
- Morty Abzug reports that Maiwand Kabob will replace the salad and rice with small portions of two other sides. That's spectacular. The side dishes are my favorite part and all better than salad and rice.
- Sbiese suggests that Dog House Pub's Web site for listings of the weekly specials and bands.
- People continue to comment about Portalli's in Ellicott City and Coal Fire Pizza on Rte 108. Anonymous liked the dim sum at Asian Bistro in Ellicott City. Another anonymous did not like Parsa Kabob in Elkridge.
- Billz wondered whether any local restaurants offer good dumplings. You can cook your own, but he thought a dumpling restaurant would go well in a world of tapas and small plates.
- MaybeKathy and dzoey each suggested alternative locations to buy bird food.
- People continue to join HowChow's campaign for Bon Fresco -- talking up the sandwiches and the personal service at the Columbia sandwich joint, although they're also unhappy when Bon Fresco closes early and turns them away.
- And finally, MJRaker emailed me months ago about the cooking classes at Cafe de Paris. I had meant to actually take one of the classes, but I haven't gotten there yet. MJRaker says their great fun and run by the chef of Cafe de Paris himself:
I've taken 2 cooking classes recently at Cafe de Paris and enjoyed them very much. I haven't had a meal there since Laurent came on board yet which is why I asked if you had -- I wondered what you thought. I plan to but just haven't gotten around to it yet. I can tell you that Laurent conducts the cooking classes, it's hands-on so the students help prepare the meal, you make 3 courses, and you get to eat what you make which they pair with different wines.
Both times I thought the appetizers we made were excellent, there has been a protein course each time (one time I liked it the other time not so much) and a dessert course which were great. I am not in any way affiliated with the restaurant would be happy to post something once I've dined there. I would recommend a class if you're in to that kind of thing. It's fun to actually prepare food in a commercial kitchen which is something I had never done before.
7 comments:
Curry N Spice was a take-out storefront located in the strip behind Rocky Run back when Lily's Mexican Market was there, too. When they consolidated all those stores to put in the mega Champion Billards and Barstools (which then closed), Cuury N Spice closed...
...and reopened a year later as Mirchi Wok. To my understanding, it was always owned/run by the Mango Grove people. I guess that Wok 175 or whatever it was called went out next to MG so there was an opening and they decided to open a non-veg Indian place. We loved going to Curry N Spice because it was their high level of quality at bare bones takeout prices-- although you could even eat in the store, with plastic plates and cutlery. I think the Channa Masala was $5.95 or something unbelievable like that.
We are diehard Mirchi Wok fans because of our first experience with that little storefront, but we do still yearn for those bargain-basement prices!
So all of this begs the question: did they reopen the market/restaurant somewhere??
Another question: Are there any 24-hour restaurants in Howard County? We're in Highland, but might be willing to drive 30 minutes or so if the place is good.
I personally don't know of any 24 hour dining places in HoCo.
Its hard enough finding places serving food past say, 10.
Dog Pub serves until 1 PM or so, Victoria the same but from a more limited bar menu.
I went to a Sonic in Alabama. It was eh. Don't know what all the hype is about.
For Sonic, it's all about the limeade and the cheesy tots. The limeade is good. The cheesy tots, eh...
Question - Is there anywhere in HoCo to get good falafel? I'm tired of driving to Annapolis or Silver Spring for Lebanese Taverna!
Thanks for the shout-out :o). Just a couple of clarifications:
-- Nichi Bei Kai's new management has improved over itself, not over the old management. Anyone who had stopped going in frustration over the food quality or other general confusion after the takeover can feel safe to return now. [And those who haven't tried it yet can feel safe to go ;o). Fri/Sat/Sun dinner is best if you're doing the sushi bar.]
-- As for me, there's an "s" missing from my gender ;o)... but you had no way to know that.
Good to see something from BillZ — I haven't been getting any RSS from his blogs.
For 24-hour food I'd recommend Honey Bee in Glen Burnie... but if Highland is where I think it is, that's quite a hike. You may be better off looking in MoCo. They sure do roll up the sidewalks here in HoCo...
(What county is the Laurel IHOP in? Is it still 24 hrs on weekends?)
I'd like to thank you, HowChow, for proselytizing about takeout tacos. The mister and I finally went to the Shell Station today and had those gas station tacos. YUM! Not sure I've ever had better lamb soup, and the tacos, mmmmm, the tacos ...
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