HowChow

ToreOre Fried Chicken At H Mart

2012-01-30T06:20:00.114-05:00

Fried chicken from ToreOre

While we're waiting for Bon Chon to open, it's time to check out the other Korean fried chicken options nearby.

H Mart has a stand in the back corner where they sell ToreOre chicken -- a variation on the Korean friend chicken of made-to-order, double-fried birds with spicy, sweet sauces. We split a medium box on out way back from the greatest furniture store ever in Catonsville.

The box comes with a red ribbon. Seriously. It's the coolest fast food box that we have ever seen.

The box pops open to reveal fried chicken coated in ToreOre's sauce. We went sweet and spicy (#2), and there was spice there. Enough that I appreciated that the ToreOre woman shook us away from the really spicy sauce. They're frying it special, so it takes 20 minutes to cook.

Hot fried chicken is delicious. We tore through the entire package. It's moist meat with a crunchy coating. They pour on a bunch of sauce, so get a pile of napkins. The bird is chopped into more pieces than just "leg, wing and breast," so you'll get a mix of white and dark. It's piping hot, and we pulled meat off the bone, laughing and talking about what food we were going to buy.

Honestly, the chicken at Tian Chinese Cuisine still rates best. The coating there is super thin and crispy, and the sauce has a fresher, less-sugary flavor that makes the unique Korean fried chicken experience. ToreOre is more like a good casual lunch. This is thick crust, not the brittle edge at Tian. That makes this more like Harvest Fried Chicken in Woodbine -- with, of course, the sauce on top.

My suggestion is that you split some chicken and then shop at H Mart. To order, you go to the ToreOre counter in the back right corner. Ask there for someone to take your order. You pay at the main register, pick up at the counter, then eat at the little restaurant next to the produce section. (To wash the sauce off your hands, go to the bathrooms next to the produce section.)

ToreOre Chicken & Joy

inside H Mart

800 N. Rolling Road

Catonsville, MD 21228

NEAR: The H Mart is on Rte 40 at Rolling Road in Catonsville. It's easy to reach from Ellicott City -- just head east on Rte 40. You turn right into the H Mart shopping center. There is a Starbucks on the end. The ToreOre counter is in the back right corner.

What's Your "Best Night" Restaurant? I Have Let Barbi Down, And I Hope She'll Get Another Night

2012-01-29T14:31:00.002-05:00

Oh, no! I have let Barbi down! This morning Mrs. HowChow found a comment from days ago where Barbi asked for a "best night" restaurant -- price and cuisine no concern.

I missed it! Stacy and RHFoodie both chimed in, but I wish that I had seen this to post earlier. Let's hope Barbi gets another night. Dinner out with husband and friends. Where should she go?

I have to say the private room at Sushi Sono. Our dinner for six was delicious and extra special because you're cocooned up with your conversation. But I could think of other suggestions as well -- Victoria Gastro Pub and pizza at Facci Ristorante. I tend towards the casual and being able to try lots of different food, so I'd love to fill the large table at Grace Garden, which I know wouldn't please many folks out for a date night.

Obviously, I need to read the comments more. You should as well. Folks post and send me emails with great ideas, and I like sharing those as well:

Adam emailed me about an April 27, 2012 event that raise money for the Howard County Community College Educational Foundation. The Vino Scholastico will have wine, light food, desserts and music. They're teamed up with the Black Ankle winery. Check out the official site.
Pestel asked if anyone knows about Korean cooking classes. They want a private class in the Columbia area.
BWoodbine and a bunch of others suggested places to eat in western Howard County. They pushed places from Eldersburg to Mt. Airy to Woodbine and beyond.
Anonymous recommends the larb appetizer at Asian Palace Fusion in Columbia.
Dbiz suggests the sausage breakfast sandwich and the Orinoco Coffee at Boarman's.
Anonymous talked up the new Turkish Family Market in Ellicott City. Not as big as Caspian Market, but Turkish goods.
Gayadnu noted that construction has rushed along where the old Mango Grove was demolished to make room for a drive-through Starbucks. That will hold three businesses, if I remember correctly.
Several anonymous folks wrote about the cupcakes at Cooks n' Cakes in Ellicott City. Some lows, some highs.
Greg and Wondergirl added more thoughts to the discussion about Groupon and similar coupon sites. Check out the entire post and their comments.
Carotte, Alex and others chimed in on the bread puddings at Kloby's. I'm all for them pushing past one-note flavors. I love the tasting flight because you can go back and forth.
Anonymous says the yellowtail at Katana in Elkridge is the best he/she has ever had. Great fish from nice people, the post says.

Anonymous posts are fine if they're friendly. But I do want to recommend your own unique name. You can type in anything you want in the comment block. Pick something that keeps you anonymous, but lets me follow your comments. I really appreciate them.

Howard County Restaurant Weeks Runs To Jan 30

2012-01-27T07:25:00.000-05:00

We are in the middle of the winter Howard County Restaurant Weeks, and restaurants are offering all kinds of specials through January 30.

Check out the official Web site to find the specials. I kept wanting to go out and come back with a great restaurant weeks post, but it's been a rough week of HowChow House coughing and aching. I'd love reports or recommendations from anyone else!

Link: Kloby's Smokehouse In The WPost

2012-01-27T07:18:00.001-05:00

The WPost wrote a short review of Kloby's Smokehouse this week with compliments on the pulled pork, the smoked turkey and the baby back ribs.

Rina Rapuano makes some detailed points in a talented way. She notes that takeout fries went soggy immediately and that Kloby's designed its current mac and cheese with kids in mind. But she highlights the food that she enjoyed and got a bunch of information in a short piece.

That's a skill that I certainly appreciate -- even though it means Rapuano doesn't cover recent innovations at Kloby's -- "jarbecue" and the flight of bread pudding!

Thanks to Dave for the email with the link.

Maple Cotton Candy At Whole Foods

2012-01-26T07:15:00.022-05:00

When I say that I have tried a lot of cotton candy, I mean that I have carried a stick of the stuff home to my wife from a hockey game.

Hockey games, frou-frou restaurants, Korean markets, the kosher-for-Passover display at Giant. I have grabbed cotton candy almost everywhere that I have found it -- in no small part because Mrs. HowChow loves to the stuff.

That's how I know that Jed's Maple Cotton Candy has broken the plastic tub barrier. Before this, all tub candy tasted like tub candy -- wiry and a whiff of chemical. Don't get me wrong: I ate all of it except one kosher container that had hardened, but they didn't have the airy texture of fresh candy or the real flavor of something from a restaurant.

Jed's does. The candy feels cloud light, then melts in your mouth into a maple flavor. It's gone in a flash, and my hand reaches back in the tub for more. I don't know how they do it. The ingredients say it's just regular sugar and maple sugar, and the sell-by date is three months in the future. One day, we'll have our own Whole Foods in Howard County. But for now, this is one of the new items to fill the cart when we trek past one.

Italian Caramels At Facci - Wait, Those Aren't Caramels! What Do They Mean Balsamic Action?

2012-01-24T07:44:00.004-05:00

I have been sick for the past several days, and Mrs. HowChow fortified my recovery with tea, fruit and takeout pizza from Facci Ristorante.

That is really delicious pizza. Even after a ride home in a box, the charred crust makes it one of my favorites around.

In the takeout area, Facci stocks the walls with Italian packaged goods. I had thought they were decorations, but Mrs. HowChow realized that they were for sale. As a special treat, she bought me some candies. She roughly translated the Italian label to be caramels.

Turned out to be cough drops. Sugar free, but "filled with balsamic syrup." Balsamic? We had a good laugh, and it turns out that I need these more than candy anyway.

Has anyone bought other Italian goods from the display in Facci's takeout section?

Bread Pudding Flight At Kloby's

2012-01-20T06:20:00.008-05:00

The local tasting scene has expanded with the off-menu offer of a "flight" of bread puddings at Kloby's Smokehouse on Johns Hopkins Road.

In the style of flights of bourbon or beer, the barbecue restaurant offers four tiny glasses, each with its own bread pudding. The menu has several flavors, plus several specials each day. We had chocolate-covered banana, cookie dough, Butterfinger, and raisin. The raisin came with a bourbon sauce.

That's what Mrs. HowChow is talking about.

She will take bread puddings over cake every day, and she picked chocolate-covered banana as her favorite. They're all different, which made for a fun dessert splitting them. The bourbon sauce really tasted like liquor. As far as we can tell, they're microwaved in the glasses, which probably disqualifies them from Top Chef Just Desserts. But it's cool to see a casual place try something different.

The Columbia Foodies Are Looking For Members

2012-01-19T20:41:00.000-05:00

The Columbia Foodies are a small group of singles and couples who get together over food. Some cooking, some themed meals, and other outings. They're getting together on Sunday afternoon at Donna's in Columbia. They emailed me to invite people to join.

If you're interested, call George at 410- 290-8380 or e-mail columbiafoodiesgroup at gmail. He can give you the details for Sunday.

Cool Posts On The Wegmans Facebook Page, Including Great Breads Made By Monks (Monks!)

2012-01-19T20:11:00.001-05:00

If you want to hear some more cheering for the coming Wegmans, check out the posts by Myles Gray on the I Want The Columbia Wegmans page. Myles is posting reasons to shop at Wegmans. He is on #4 so far.

The bonus is Janice's comment on Myles' post about bread. Janice says you can great bread at the Shrine of St. Anthony. Bread made by monks? Why hasn't someone mentioned this before?

Janice Maketa Orlik If you live in the Columbia area and like homemade bread..(rye included-with seeds) the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City sells bread made by the monks..awesome!!The Maple/Cinnamon is great !

12 hours ago ·

(Update: Marcia actually saw the Facebook comment and heard back from the Shrine. They confirmed that they have been selling bread made by Trappist monks since November. The bread is shipped from New York State. They're $5 each or three for $12. There are varieties, including white, whole wheat, maple cinnamon, sunflower, and Genesee rye. They also sell jam. The gift shop is open 7 days a week from 9am - 4pm.)

Link: The Future Of The Mall On TOTC

2012-01-17T07:23:00.000-05:00

Wordbones posts today to try to explain what GGP will propose tonight for the Columbia Mall and basically predicts LL Bean moving to a smaller space and the owners building new construction towards the lakefront.

Real estate isn't HowChow's normal beat, but the downtown development -- with the possibility of Whole Foods -- could have a lot to do with food and restaurants. Wordbones writes about the history of the mall with photos.

Any Advice For The Lunar New Year?

2012-01-17T07:12:00.001-05:00

Coscto in Elkridge is selling pineapple cakes from a renowned Taiwanese bakery, reports Min who emailed me the photo above. She assumes the Isabelle cakes are a seasonal item for the lunar or "Chinese New Year" that arrives next week:

Though it's generally called a "cake," this sweet treat tastes more like a soft, buttery shortbread with sweet, thick jam-like fillings. It's commonly found in bakeries everywhere in Taiwan, and like this article says, they are often nicely wrapped and packed in nice boxes for gift giving. We usually bring back about 4 boxes (of 12 cakes) for stocking up and for gifting.

Are there any other seasonal finds that people would suggest? Specials at local bakeries like Bon Appetit on Rte 40? Anything special on restaurant menus around town? I'd appreciate any advice for fun over the next week.

Coupon Sites II: The Restaurant View Of Groupon

2012-01-14T18:08:00.002-05:00

This morning, I posted my question about how people use Groupon, Living Social and other coupon sites in a way that makes the experience fun.

I had been soured by fine print that surprised me. I was wondering what people thought. You should probably start with that post and the comments. I learned a fact and two strategies from the comments. Fact: You can redeem some coupons for your purchase price even after the promotional piece expires. I didn't know. First strategy: Buy a bunch of coupons and just expect that you'll have some great dinners and some not-so-great. Second strategy: Think of these deals as exchanging money for flexibility.

I also got an email from Lee Biars, one of the owners of Portalli's and the Diamondback Tavern in Ellicott City. He said he started a comment and it expanded into the longest thing that he has written in probably 10 years. He explains the coupon sites and the thoughts from the restaurant's point of view:

A great topic and some great comments here. As a restaurant owner, I'd like to shed some light on our side of things and why certain things are the way they are with these deals. I am part owner of both The Diamondback Tavern and Portalli's, both in historic Ellicott City. We immediately recognized the marketing value these deals provided our places and we got in on the ground floor and ran features on Groupon within a couple months of them bringing their deals to the Baltimore area. For that reason, they've been very loyal to us, as we are to them, and we've probably run more Groupon deals than any restaurant in HoCo and possibly Maryland. Having said that, there are definite drawbacks to these deals and a restaurant needs to be very careful that they don't shoot themselves in the foot (most will the first time they run one of these features).

You have to understand, it takes a big leap of faith for a business to sell a gift a certificate to their establishment for 25% of face value. That's essentially what we're doing with these deals because we split the revenue with Groupon for each deal sold. So if you buy a $40 for $20, the restaurant usually only gets $10. Since most restaurants try to run at a 25-35% food cost, you're looking at a break even scenario AT BEST for anything that the deal covers. So the success of these deals hinges on the establishment being able to 1) Sell additional items at full price, or 2) Turning the guest into a repeat customer that comes back and pays full price. If neither of these two things occur, the restaurant is shooting itself in the foot. Five years ago, if you would've asked a restaurateur if they would be willing to sell their gift certificates to you at 75% off you probably would have been removed from the premises. But with a cluttered marketplace and struggling economy, businesses are forced to get creative and figure out different ways to get guests in the door.

On top of all that, restaurants generally get slammed for the first two weeks after a feature runs. This means we're completely booked on Friday and Saturday, and probably most other days as well. So when customer A calls and makes a reservation for 4 and they have a Groupon, we put it in the books. When customer B with no Groupon calls later and wants to make a reservation but we don't have a spot open for them, we have to turn away business at full price in order to accommodate a guest that's eating at 75% off. We understand this sacrifice and it's one we're willing to make, but when you see certain conditions on a deal such as 'weekdays only' or 'dinner only' (we choose NOT to implement these conditions on our deals), it's because the restaurant is making an attempt to funnel the business to where it makes the most sense for them. Jim makes a great point above where he says that nitpicking over the fine print contradicts the reason a business would run such a deal.

On top of that, you will have many deal purchasers that will only come in if they have a Groupon, and only spend the bare minimum that the deal covers (meaning nothing at full price). This is certainly fine and expected when you run a deal, but understand that the restaurant is not making any money off these guests besides the word of mouth marketing that occurs if they enjoy themselves. While that is certainly important, if you walked into any restaurant in the country and said 'I'd like to get my meal at your cost and in return I'll tell 5 of my friends if I have a good time', they would politely (or not so politely) decline this proposal.

Let's now focus on the positives from the restaurant end:

1) Marketing: as the director of marketing for both of our places, I can honestly say Groupon has worked out very well for us. While many people who live in HoCo know about one or both of our restaurants, many people in Baltimore, Towson, DC, etc..., would never cross paths with our name. So when Groupon sends out their blast email to hundreds of thousands (maybe millions?) of MD residents with our name and a description of our place, this is huge for us. Do you know how much money you'd need to spend on radio or TV ads to reach this type of audience? So our feeling is that even if people see the deal and don't buy it, we still get something out of it in terms of getting our name out there just like we would with a TV or radio ad.

2) Gives us a chance to prove ourselves: Most diners would be willing to return to a place where they enjoyed everything, regardless of whether they have a coupon or not. This means if the restaurant executes, they have a good chance at winning repeat business. If we sell 1000 deals (meaning 1000 new parties over the next year), and just 10% become repeat customers, we just earned ourselves 100 new tables (300 or so diners) in the future that wouldn't have come in otherwise. Obviously we hope to earn a higher percentage, but even a number as low as 10% would qualify as a success.

3) Any Groupons that go unredeemed are essentially free money: pretty self-explanatory. I like that they now say businesses need to honor at least the purchase price, since it's technically illegal in many states for gift certificates to expire (and that's technically what's being purchased), the purchaser should at least be entitled to the amount they originally spent in credit. We usually offer a grace period of a month after the expiration where guests can get the full value on their Groupon, we just need a manager to ok it to the server.

There are other positives, but these are the three biggees. As a side note, while restaurant.com operates in a similar fashion on the consumer side of it, it's VASTLY different from the restaurant's perspective. First and foremost, the restaurant gets nothing from the sale of a rest.com certificate. Zero. On top of that, they will often sell vouchers at ridiculously low rates like $1-$4 for a $30 certificate. Why wouldn't they? It's all profit to them and they don't have to offer a good or service in return. So not only are they not sharing the revenue, they also are devaluing our product by giving it away for next to nothing. If you buy two similar watches, one for $100 and one for $2, which are you going to take better care of? We ran on rest.com for the first 6 months of our opening at Diamondback but stopped when we realized it wasn't working out for us financially. We still honored rest.com certificates 6 months after their expiration so there wouldn't be any ill will from people that had bought them. After that point we had to stop honoring them; we just can't let them go on forever. Every now and then we have one come through the doors, but they're over 3 years old at this point and most people will understand we can no longer honor them.

So anyway, this concludes my dissertation on daily deals from our side of things. I love getting feedback and reading comments about this stuff because it helps give us ideas as to how we can tweak these deals to a point where it makes sense for both us and our guests. We're happy to offer them when Groupon will allow us, and hopefully someone reads this and gives us a shot if they see our feature running (hint- early February). Lastly, here's an insider tip: it's wise to wait a couple weeks after purchase to redeem a deal. The restaurant will be a lot less crowded, better staffed, will have adjusted to the parameters of the deal, and your exprience will most likely be improved.

Are You Enjoying Groupon and Living Social?

2012-01-14T06:20:00.006-05:00

Has anyone figured out a strategy to use coupon sites and enjoy the experience?

I loved the idea of Groupon, Living Social and their ilk, and I have mentioned some of local coupons on the blog. But they haven't paid off that often. We did splurge for a Venegas dinner that we probably wouldn't have done before, but we also lost our money at Hunan Taste when the coupon expired before it could inspire a drive to Catonsville.

That put me on the fence. I passed a few because I wasn't certain that we would use them. Saving $10 or $15 seems great. But I don't know if it justified paying $10-15 up front for a dinner that I might never enjoy.

Then we suffered a second failure last week at Tersiguel's. I wanted the coupon so that I could take Mrs. HowChow to a fancy lunch after she got off a month on call at the hospital. I didn't have $100 in the budget for a dinner, so I focused on the lunch that people have called a great way to enjoy Howard County's most famous restaurant.

Tersiguel's rejected the coupon. It says "$40 for Dinner," and they mean just dinner. Not lunch. The waitress handled us politely and perfectly, but it's not fun to have to read a gift certificate like a legal contract. The companies snuck one past me. I can't really complain -- especially because Mrs. HowChow said she wasn't surprised that "for dinner" was a limitation.

But I'm not going back. My coupon days are over unless I see something obvious -- or unless someone can explain how you make sure these are worth your investment. My work days are full of people trying to sneak fine print past me. When I go to a restaurant, I want to enjoy the kitchen's work, not deal with its attorney.

(Update #1: Check out the comments below. People are saying very reasonably to read the fine print, although the restrictions were strong yet variable enough that they were what made me ask the question in the first place. By 9:30 am, there were at least one fact and two more strategies that seemed to make a difference to me.

Fact: You can redeem some coupons for your purchase price even after the promotional piece expires. I didn't know. First strategy: Buy a bunch of coupons and just expect that you'll have some great dinner and some not-so-great. Brent The Brewer says "Roll the dice." Second strategy: Think of these deals as exchanging money for flexibility. Both may seem obvious, but I was using a "single night" mindset that may be why I wasn't so mixed on my coupons. We eat out far less than some people think, but I may just plan on buying five coupons as a personal package!)

(Update #2: Check out the later post by one of the owners of Portalli's and Diamondback Tavern, who wrote about restaurants' view of coupon sites and how you can get the most from your experience.)

(Update #3: I should be explicit that DineHowardCounty.com sponsors HowChow. I'm very appreciative of their support. I absolutely recommend that people check out the site. Click the ad. They sell discount coupons too. I didn't really think that I was criticizing DineHowardCounty's competitors above. But I should mention the connection.)

Mango Grove Still Building; New Turkish On Rte 40; And Where Do You Eat In WeHoCo?

2012-01-13T06:20:00.100-05:00

Mango Grove is still renovating its new space. We're desperate for a dosa, desperate enough that we were staring in the window last weekend. They're building. Anyone know a timetable?

In the same line of news, there appears to be a new halal butcher and Turkish grocery in Ellicott City. That's Turkish Family Grocery at Rte 40 and Normandy Woods Drive, reported Sarah Says on Twitter. I need to check it out.

Larriland tomatoes

Now, a question: Where are the good places to eat in Western Howard County? Dave emailed me that he and his wife are thinking about buying a house in Woodbine. They're Columbia people. They need some advice:

Everything in western Howard County is sort of foreign to us. We've never gone beyond Clarksville, other than Bistro Blanc. Are there any good dining spots out there? What about farm-fresh food? Seems to be a lot of farms near the house we're looking at. I know of Larriland Farm, wasn't sure if there were other produce or meat farms out there to get some quality ingredients.

If you have advice for Dave, please comment below. Check the comments on all the HowChow posts. People jump in. This week, a bunch of people gave their feedback -- positive and not-so-positive -- about Asian Palace Fusion. In the same way, people jumped in with comments about the macarons at Linda's Bakery. And there was more:

Annie Rie and Anonymous added their votes for local caterers.
Sweetcakes and Kupcake & Co. got raves in the continuing comments about cupcakes.
Katherine talked up the crepes and the fish with blood oranges at Tersiguel's.
Lydia and Jeff -- the owners of Lovebirds -- posted a comment with their contact information. They are baking their sweets in Laurel.
On Facebook, check out the Rumor Mill's plan for special local oyster dinners on January 20 and 21. They're teaming up Sapidus Farms to provide the oysters.

Bloom In Laurel To Become Food Lion

2012-01-12T21:09:00.000-05:00

The Bloom on Rte 216 in Laurel will become a Food Lion, according to a story in Washington Post.

Apparently, the corporate parent of both chains will abandon the Bloom chain and convert most of them to Food Lions. Several Bloom stores in Virginia are being closed, but the Laurel store isn't on the closing list linked from the Post.

Link: Wilde Lake Village Center Recap By Patch

2012-01-12T07:20:00.001-05:00

The Wilde Lake village center has been the subject of redevelopment plans -- and operating pretty close to where Wegmans will open this summer.

Cindy Stacy recaps the situation, including interviews with both the Bagel Bin and Today's Catch owners, in a Columbia Patch article. I'm not the right audience for the Columbia rhetoric about saving the holy relics of James Rouse, but I like checking out the Wilde Lake food spots, including David's Natural Market, and definitely make special trips to the fish market.

McCraw's Taffy At Sweet Elizabeth Jane

2012-01-11T06:20:00.062-05:00

McCraw's Taffy at Sweet Elizabeth Jane

Keep your eye out for treats. They hide in the most unusual of places.

Sweet Elizabeth Jane is a housewares store on Main Street in Ellicott City. For Main Street, the store is unusual in itself for being airy and bright and for having a touch of fun scattered around.

Fun for shoppers like cool soaps and arty match boxes. Fun for HowChow like candy! Candy like the paper-thin taffy from Hammonds in Colorado. Their McCraw's Taffy has fruit flavors in a ribbon like a multi-colorful ruler. The flavors trend sour. The taffy dissolves on your tongue, and you can share a piece .

Snap up some candy if you're walking Main Street. It's great fun, especially to share, especially if you want to keep a few kids -- or any non-shoppers -- happy while you're looking to browse.

Sweet Elizabeth Jane
8125 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-465-6400

NEAR: Sweeet Elizabeth Jane is on Main Street in downtown Ellicott City. It's on the run of shops running uphill from the river.

The Pork Sandwich At Tersiguel's

2012-01-10T06:20:00.061-05:00

The "croque monsieur" at Tersiguel's

Four ingredients -- one great sandwich.

The proof of Tersiguel's talents are in its variation of the croque monsieur where my brain was surprised that there was no barbecue sauce at all.

The sandwich -- a variation because it isn't the grilled, cheesy version most restaurants would serve -- comes at lunch with slow-cooked pork, creamed cabbage and an alioli. Four ingredients if you add the bread, almost plain-looking for a $12 plate.

But those ingredients sing. Moist pork with a subtle, but strong flavor that paid perfectly with the fresh taste of cabbage. I don't normally want creaminess in slaw, but I loved it on the Tersiguel's sandwich. And the bread. The bread! Tersiguel's bakes beautiful bread -- a crisp crust, an airy interior -- for both your bread basket and for the sandwich. The roll was soft, yet held up to the moist fillings even as I ate slowly to savor our fancy lunch.

My brain expected meat so moist and flavorful to be covered in sauce. Tersiguel's has basically created a pulled pork sandwich, but they have the skill to bring everything out of the pork with just the simplest support. That's the fun of a pro kitchen.

Lunch at Tersiguel's is a less-expensive way to try Howard County's most famous restaurant. I chose between the sandwich and several crepes that looked equally delicious. If you can catch a pretty afternoon, it's perfect to eat and then window shop along Main Street or walk downhill for a coffee at the Bean Hollow.

Tersiguel's
8293 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-465-4004

NEAR: Tersiguel's is in downtown Ellicott City. It's on Main Street right next to the large public parking lot. That's just up the hill from the light at Old Columbia Pike.

Bon Chon Update: Fried Chicken In Late February Or Early March -- After A Month Of Training

2012-01-09T23:01:00.001-05:00

Ellicott City will get its Bon Chon franchise in mid-winter -- after the new owner gets a month of training up in New York City.

That's the report in a comment on last month's post about the new Korean fried chicken spot scheduled to open next to Serafino on Plum Tree Road. John Kim wrote in the comment that he is training now in NYC and aiming to open his Bon Chon in late February or early March with a full menu and full liquor license.

Check out that prior post for links about Tian Chinese Cuisine -- where you can get the double-fried-style now -- and about Bon Chon.

Asian Palace Fusion in Columbia

2012-01-09T06:20:00.090-05:00

Roti canai at Asian Palace Fusion

I'm the last guy who should be writing, "We were shocked to find such an interesting restaurant in a shopping center," but I have to admit that it's the truth.

Asian Palace Fusion is a new restaurant tucked into an office building near Howard County Hospital. It's a stretch to say "city restaurant," but it's a sleek and modern layout with a sushi bar, cascading water, and the sparkly look of neon, metallic cloths and cool lights.

It's not exactly a fusion restaurant. They're not rethinking one cuisine in light of another. Instead, they're creating the pan-Asian menu that seems more and more popular these days -- sushi, Chinese, and a touch of southeast Asia. In this case, the touch seems heavily Thai.

Asian Palace played to the HowChow by offering an appetizer that we had never seen before -- roti canai, a Malaysian or Indonesian flatbread with Indian influences. The flaky, fried bread was interesting, but the curry dipping sauce made this a must-try. Maybe coconut? It's a rich, strong flavor, and I wouldn't let them clear the bowl. I poured another serving on white rice with the main courses.

Our main courses were split like the menu -- one sushi roll and one Thai stirfry.

On the Thai side, we tried the Bangkok basil with chicken. It's a winner. Long slices of white meat served with a strong taste of basil and tender vegetables. Thick slices of onion, zucchini, and pepper weren't popped frozen from some food service pack. They're fresh vegetables cooked through, but still crunchy. A thin brown sauce brought the dish together. I have no idea if this is authentic somewhere, but it's delicious.

On the sushi side, we went with the naruto roll. We're fans of big multi-ingredient rolls, and Asian Palace enticed us by wrapping three kinds of fish and avocado in slices of cucumber. It's pricey at $13 for five pieces, but it's beautiful and unique. The cucumber is an integral part of the roll, slices thin enough to bend but thick enough to crunch. They balanced the fish, and they gave a contrasting texture -- a crispness like tempura but fresh and light instead of fried.

In the end, Asian Palace is worth a drive even past your local Chinese joint. Asian Palace aspires to be more than a neighborhood place, and it has the decor and the menu to be something special like Jesse Wong's Asean Bistro. I'm eager to try some of the Thai dishes like penang or green curry. There are also dozens of sushi rolls ranging from basics through multi-ingredient monsters.

Asian Palace is especially worth a drive for a group of people who want different foods. A bunch of you could split sushi while the outlier enjoys a Thai dish.

Has anyone tried the lunches? Asian Palace is just south of the hospital and Rte 175. This is pretty convenient for people who work near the hospital or the Columbia Mall.

Asian Palace Fusion
10801 Hickory Ridge Rd
Columbia, MD 21044
410-772-8888

NEAR: Asian Palace is in the first floor of a commercial building at Hickory Ridge Road and Cedar Lane. We get there by turning off Cedar Lane. It's the same building as Mad City Coffee.

Wegmans Won't Sell Liquor, But There Will Still Be Wine And Beer (Almost) In The Columbia Store

2012-01-06T19:55:00.001-05:00

The new Columbia Wegmans won't have its own liquor license, but it turns out that you'll be able to buy beer and wine (almost) in the store.

"Almost" because the liquor store on the site will actually be an independent third-party store adjacent to the Wegmans. That's the report from the Wegman Twitter's account earlier tonight. Thanks for the update Wegmans!

There is a followup to the prior post about how Wegmans won't have its own liquor license.

Hokkaido Has Opened For Sushi In Elkridge

2012-01-06T12:19:00.000-05:00

A new Hokkaido Restaurant has opened in Elkridge, and T.J. Mayotte reviewed the sushi and other items for the Elkridge Patch.

T.J. liked the decor and the food, although he said that the rolls weren't outstanding. Most importantly, he revealed himself to have water-slurping proclivities similar to my own:

I have two basic benchmarks any restaurant must pass to be considered for a repeat visit. Does my water glass remain filled, and (perhaps related) is the bathroom up to snuff? At Hokkaido, I never saw the bottom of my glass, and the marble-tiled bathroom was a clean little oasis of calm.

Anyone else been to Hokkaido? There is a nice comment on T.J.'s review from Wendy about her meal there.

Hokkaido Restaurant
6325 Washington Boulevard (U.S. 1)
Elkridge, MD 21075

NEAR: Hokkaido is on U.S. 1 north of Rte 100. It is just bit south of Montgomery Road, which means that it is pretty convenient if you're north of Rte 100 even west of I-95.

Vittorio Opens In Glenwood (Former Pasta Blitz)

2012-01-06T11:56:00.000-05:00

The new Vittorio restaurant opened in Glenwood on Wednesday. This is the former Pasta Blitz, which changed names like several of that small chain.

I haven't been to Vittorio, but I'm happy for every opening, grand opening or re-opening. The Vittorio folks have a Facebook page. I'm unclear whether people are commenting in Spanish or whether my weak Spanish actually lets me read more Italian than I'd expect.

Anyone tried the food yet?

Vittorio
2490 Route 97
Glenwood, MD 21738
410-489-5800

NEAR: Vittorio is on Rte 97 south of Rte 144 and U.S. 70. It is close to, but south of, the Glenwood Library.

Columbia Wegmans Won't Sell Liquor [Updated]

2012-01-05T06:20:00.006-05:00

Does anyone know if the Wegmans in Columbia will sell liquor? [Update -- See the answer below.]

I know that grocery stores don't sell beer or wine around here. I understand that there are a bunch of laws designed to protect small liquor stores. I had assumed Wegmans wouldn't sell liquor either.

But people on the I Want The Columbia Md. Wegmans Facebook page have said other Wegmans employees are saying that Columbia will sell liquor. Anthony posted Tuesday that customer service in Bel Air said that the Columbia store had applied for a license and would have a wine store.

Anyone know? Anyone know how to search liquor license applications in Howard County?

[Update -- Lisa Rossi on the Columbia Patch confirmed that Wegmans won't get a liquor license. However, Wegmans tweeted that there will be a third-party liquor store adjacent to the grocery.]

Invite your friend to join the I Want The Columbia Md. Wegmans Facebook page. There are 916 members now. Any current member can approve their friends' requests to join.

Growing Up In A Korean Kitchen By Hi Soo Shin Hepinstall: A Cookbook To Teach You Korean

2012-01-04T06:20:00.088-05:00

Sautéed cucumber, steamed eggplant

In many ways, there is nothing I'd like more than bringing a little Korean into the house.

It's easy to eat Korean food around Howard County, but it was a challenge to learn to cook the stuff. After test-driving a bunch of cookbooks, Growing Up In A Korean Kitchen is my recommendation for someone inspired by Shin Chon Garden.

Korean recipes are pretty easy and wonderfully healthy as well. Lots of vegetables. Some easy pickles. Some soups and stews. Some grilled meat. You could enjoy Hi Soo Shin Hepinstall's cookbook just for side dishes and main courses to incorporate into your regular meals -- a cucumber salad, steamed eggplant, braised spicy chicken, a ginseng chicken soup.

Mostly, that's what I have done. I used the clam cake recipe when I overbought seafood. I made hot pepper sauce that ended up in everything from eggs to pasta sauce. The steamed eggplant has become a staple technique that I can alter with different flavors.

Korean peppers

But Hepinstall opens the door to an entire cuisine. Most Korean meals include a main course and an array of small dishes called panchan. When I had time for a project, I had great fun making the hot sauce, several side dishes, and pancakes filled with summer squash and shrimp. Many dishes can be made ahead, so I cooked a little over several nights and ended up with a feast.

Among all the cookbooks that I tried, Hepinstall stood out because the food seems authentic, but the book is absolutely written for an American cook. The recipes are clear and detailed in all the right places. There's a nice chapter on foods and equipment. All of the ingredients and techniques are described in ways I recognize, which separated Growing Up from other titles where a recipe might call for "1 pound beef." What kind?

In contrast, many Growing Up's ingredients are available at any supermarket. All of them are available at the Asian markets like H Mart, Lotte and Super Grand.

Growing Up certainly opened the H Mart to me. With prior excursions into Chinese or Thai cuisine, I have spent hours trying to figure out if H Mart stocked some obscure ingredient that neither I nor the Korean employee could recognize. So it's a revelation to look for Korean ingredients. They're all there. Sil koch'u? Check. Daikon radishes. Check. Fernbracken, kelp and bellflower root. All in the same aisle.

That's fun that can be as simple as picking something new from the entire aisle of teas at those markets. Next trip, I'm going to find "candied yuja." Hepinstall simmers the citrus for a tea that she garnishes with pine nuts.

The book is an inspiration to try other new ingredients that Hepinstall uses in home-style dishes that could come together on a weeknight -- noodles in chilled soybean milk or chilled buckwheat noodles, with chicken, Asian pear, cucumber and kimchi. I must admit that I haven't even tried to make kimchi. It seemed easy to buy the pickled cabbage from the refrigerated section and invest my time trying out something unique.

I recommend Growing Up In A Korean Kitchen for anyone from the dabbler to someone who wants to go deep into Korean cuisine. It might be cool if you grew up with Korean food, but don't know the family recipes. It might be a hit if you have Korean in-laws who would appreciate the gesture of a table of panchan. Some of the dishes live up to Korea's reputation for spicy fare, but much of the book would be great even for people who don't want fiery at all. You just need to want something cool.

The Howard County library has five copies of Growing Up In A Korean Kitchen. Definitely take it out for a test drive. Or buy it through the links above to Amazon, which gives me a cut. Click here for all my cookbook reviews.

Seasoned Eggplant

Ch'ongju

This has become my new way to eat eggplant. Steam them, then mix with flavor. Start with the Korean ones, but it's flexible. You can buy the ch'ongju and the sil koch'u at H Mart in Catonsville. Ch'ongju comes in small bottles in the liquor section. I kept it on the refrigerator door and used it in recipes that call for white wine. Sil koch'u is a dried hot pepper in the aisle with other hot pepper powders.

4 Asian eggplants, each about seven inches long
2 TBL Soy sauce
1TBL ch'ongju or vermouth
1 clove garlic, crushed and finely chopped
1 green onion, which and pale green parts finely minced
1 TBL sesame oil
1 TBL toasted sesame seeds
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
1 tsp sil koch'u (hot red pepper threads)

1) Slice each eggplant lengthwide into quarters. In a steamer, bring 1 cup of water to boil and steam the eggplants for about seven minutes.

2) Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggplant and let them cool. Tear each peice into bite-size strips. Wrap the eggplant in a paper town and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

3) Mix the remaining ingredients. Then mix in the eggplant. Serve at the center of the table with other side dishes.

Is There New Indian Coming To Maple Lawn?

2012-01-03T06:21:00.000-05:00

Has anyone heard about a new Indian restaurant coming to Maple Lawn in Fulton?

There is talk that an Indian place might be looking to build in the undeveloped area just off Johns Hopkins Road near the bank and the medical building. The talk was that it's a branch of an Indian place from Baltimore. But you know there is more talk than building.

"Jarbecue" At Kloby's: Surprisingly Delicious

2012-01-02T06:20:00.097-05:00

Jarbecue at Kloby's: Pork, cole slaw and beans

For the record, I opposed ordering the "jarbecue," which made it ironic that the late crew found me digging pork from the mason jar when they arrived.

A group of friends grabbed drinks Friday night at Kloby's Smokehouse, and we augmented a little beer and bourbon with a little barbecue. Kloby's wings are my absolute favorite. I got two orders -- including my regular "dirty and old" -- and guys were dropping bare bones on the bar in seconds.

But the hungry among us went back to the menu.

As part of a larger menu expansion (more salads!), Kloby's added the "jarbecue." That's a mason jar layered with pulled pork, cole slaw, and beans. You eat with a fork like the ultimate "no carbs" version of a barbecue sandwich.

The '34 Act Gourmet actually ordered the "jarbecue" over my objection. I had a taste for the blog, and I kept going back for more. Kloby's pork is meaty and smoked, and the mixture gives contrast, not muddling, with slightly-sweet beans and crisp cole slaw. Bread has always been a weak link, which is why I usually pass barbecue sandwich for ribs or wings. (I advocate Kloby's bulk pork as takeout and tarting it up with your own toasted buns and homemade oven fries.)

I recommend the "jarbecue" with a flight of beers. For $10, you get four five-ounce pours, and Kloby's has a fun, rotating list of craft beers heavy on flavor. The bartender did a great job picking four based on my comments about hoppy beers, Guinness and a thirst for variety. I already drunk most of the flight when the mason jar arrived, so you might want to get a head start as well.

Anyone Know If Estrellita Market Closed?

2011-12-31T10:50:00.000-05:00

Has anyone noticed if Estrellita Market in Jessup is open?

This is the small Mexican market over R&R Taqueria in the Shell station at U.S. 1 and Rte 175. I loved the candied fruit there. Sylvia left a comment saying Estrellita has closed. I haven't been able to drive past to confirm.

Cooks 'N Cakes Wants Feedback; People Share About Cupcakes, Caterers and Shrimp Heads

2011-12-30T16:09:00.002-05:00

The comments here are always a way for you to give people your opinion about local restaurants and markets. The new Cooks 'N Cakes bakery in Ellicott City even solicited more -- posting their email and asking people for feedback, especially from folks who weren't charmed at first bite:

As a new store, we want to make sure our customers are pleased with our products. We would love it if those of you that thought it was dry would expand on it a little for us. We tend to get comments that the cupcakes are good, moist, but not dry and want to know what makes them dry to you.

It's very nice to hear from the professionals. I always appreciate owners, waiters, chefs, etc. to chime into the comments. I'd appreciate if you would disclose your connection if you're talking about your own place.

But the amateurs have been commenting as well. My big concern is Bmorecupcake's report that Red Pearl said the dan dan noodles only came with meat. I know we ate them with vegetarians. It certainly tasted like a chopped fermented vegetables on top. I'm still checking that out. And there was more advice in the comments:

Chang and Josh K both recommended places for Vietnamese coffee and Thai ice tea, although we still need Cuban coffee to expand.
Elizabeth, Anita and others went around about the local cupcake joints. Everyone seems to get a few votes as the favorite place. Rose commented on another post to push salted caramel cupcakes at Kupcake & Co.
Columbia Scientist/Foodie talked up the new Nari Sushi in Kings Contrivance. They're liking the sushi and other Japanese food.
Anonymous and Beth recommended some menu items at the Thomas Waffle truck in Clarksville -- nutella banana and dipped in chocolate.
Brandon, Brandi and JP -- who had never told me about the awesome Dave's BBQ in Savage -- all chimed in after the post to say that they have loved Dave's food and catering. Why hadn't you told me?
RDAdoc, Megan and many other people shared their choices for local caterers.
Kevin recommended the horse mackeral and the deep-fried shrimp heads if you're eating at Sushi Sono.

Mechanical Bull At Union Jack's In Columbia

2011-12-28T07:21:00.000-05:00

Bored by the holidays? Union Jack's in Columbia has trucked in a mechanical bull for tonight. They're talking it up on Facebook. Go if you're looking for a little mid-week bar scene!

The Woman Who Had No Wedding Cake And The Cupcakes That Seduced Her To Bethesda

2011-12-28T06:20:00.051-05:00

Let's start with two facts: No one promotes local food more than this blog, and no one has been able to get Mrs. HowChow to like cake.

Okay, there were a few exceptions. Sweet Street Desserts in Pennsylvania ships a carrot cake so moist that Mrs. HowChow will eat it any time. But most cakes make her say "dry" and look around for a bread pudding or another dessert that suits her fancy. At our wedding, I vetoed cake and had them surprise her with a giant rice krispie treat instead.

Georgetown Cupcakes has won over Mrs. HowChow and set a standard that all of the local cupcake bakeries should be proud to emulate. The cupcakes are tiny and expensive. They're also incredibly delicious. Light, moist cake. Big, interesting flavors. They all taste different, and they all taste fresh without fronting just sugar.

My favorite has been a salted caramel cupcake. There others were great -- coconut, red velvet, chocolate, etc. But the caramel made the cake even-moister with a flavor that would have been at home in a restaurant dessert. Even the frostings are delicious and vary by variety -- and none of the super-stiff frosting that many places put on cupcakes. They're small, but I get everything I want in dessert from a single cupcake. I only ate the second and third out of my responsibility to the blog.

Our local bakeries don't need to ape Georgetown cupcakes, and I'm dubious around the hype of any product that takes its cute founding story onto reality television and QVC. But the bottom line is that the woman who detoured me to buy a dozen cupcakes earlier this month would normally be buying merengues, cookies or fruit tarts. These cupcakes have her hooked.

So what cupcakes do you recommend in Howard County? We have a new rush of joints so you could find cupcakes at places like Linda's Bakery, Touche Touchet, Cooks 'n Cakes, Oh What A Cake!, Kupcakes & Co., and Sweetcakes. Where do you go? What do you order?

Georgetown Cupcakes
3834 Bethesda Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-907-8900

NEAR: This is in the downtown Bethesda shopping area off Wisconsin Avenue. It's a long drive just for cupcakes, but that area has fun too. If you're willing to drive a long way on Wisconsin Avenue, you could stop at the new Rockville Whole Foods on the way home -- or Penzeys for spices or any of the ethnic markets along the road.

Bon Chon Korean Fried Chicken Coming To Ellicott City - Crunch Arrives As Soon As January

2011-12-27T19:22:00.002-05:00

Bon Chon Korean fried chicken is coming to Ellicott CIty -- opening as early as January.

The news appears on a Facebook page that says the Bon Chon will open in "approximately" January 2012. It's coming thanks to John Kim, who also brought Tutti Frutti to Rte 40. The address says 3419 Plum Tree Toad. That's also the address of Serafino's Italian Market. Anyone know how this will work?

Tian Chinese Cuisine brought Korean fried chicken to Howard County earlier this year. You can go there now for the double-fried crispness and the spicy sauces. But people drive all the way to Annandale for the Bon Chon for the chain that helped start the craze. There is room for all these options with chicken this much fun.

I posted a review of Bon Chon this summer after eating takeout from there in New York. Check that out for the link to Henry Hong's review as well. Thanks to Kimi for posting the news on my prior post.

Rosemary Lemon Bread At Bonaparte Bakery

2011-12-27T06:20:00.001-05:00

Rosemary lemon bread at Bonaparte

With all the sweets bakeries opening, it just doubles the impressiveness of Bonaparte Bread in Savage, which turns out French pastries and some of the best bread around.

Imagine rosemary lemon bread done perfectly. A flavor so strong that you can smell herbs and lemon when you slice into the loaf, but gentle enough that the bread goes well with vegetable soup.

That's talent. That's bread that I couldn't bake at home. It's a bread that I might have been dubious about if I'd known the lemon and rosemary would bubble out so strongly. But it was exceptional and would pair with all kinds of foods. Worth every penny of almost $5.

The Bonaparte bakery is a fun little place in the Savage Mill development. Go for breads. Go for pastries like coconut macaroons. They had a yule log that looked like fun for Christmas. Go for a lunch of quiche or sandwiches.

Why Don't Restaurants Make Cafe Con Leche?

2011-12-26T06:20:00.002-05:00

Cafe con leche at the Miami airport

Why don't restaurants offer cafe con leche when they serve breakfast or dessert?

I lived in Miami during the years when Starbucks absorbed America. So I learned to drink Cuban coffee before I ever met a barista. The regular stuff is sweet jet fuel like espresso. For a little more, you get the coffee mixed with warm mix as a cafe con leche.

This is a great stuff. You can charge a fortune for coffee these days. I was sitting this month in the Miami airport asking myself why I can't get cafe con leche generally around here. And while we're at it, why don't a few restaurants offer Vietnamese style coffee with condensed milk and those cool "on the table" brewing filters?

Forget restaurants. Why not one of the new bakeries popping up like Linda's or Cook n' Cakes? Easy way to create a unique spot.

I know I can get Vietnamese coffe at An Loi in Columbia and get my cafe con leche fix at Cuba de Ayer in Burtonsville. But it seems like most restaurants already have the equipment -- or could get some Vietnamese filters for a few bucks -- and could offer something unique.

(Update: See the post from Southern Skies Coffee Roasters about Cuban coffee.)

Congrats to Sushi Sono, Red Pearl -- Neighbors Make The Washingtonian's 100 Very Best List

2011-12-24T20:17:00.001-05:00

The January Washingtonian is on the newsstands, and two Howard County spots make the "100 Very Best Restaurants" list -- next-door neighbors Sushi Sono and Red Pearl.

Todd Kliman and other reviewers highlighted a bunch of dishes at Red Pearl that we have enjoyed and an entire list at Sushi Sono that are new to us. I need to try the horse mackerel next time. You can find both these places on the lake in Columbia. I can't find the link to the "Very Best" list yet, but this is Washingtonian's Web site.

Bonus view on Sushi Sono: Check out the review on the Thirty-Something Lindy blog.

Boarman's: Report From The XMas Front Line

2011-12-24T12:22:00.002-05:00

Boarman's Meat Market in Highland was jumping this morning with people picking up and ordering meat, fish and turkeys for the weekend.

The pick-up line for pre-orders was against the produce. New orders snaked up a central aisle. Boarman's had a crew working so that waits were reasonable, and people loaded up on steaks, hams, turkeys, and the house-made sausages. Guy in front of me ordered three big steaks and picked up his Maple Lawn turkey.

They were sold out of flank steak, so I grabbed a pound of Maryland crab meat to use this weekend. I need to cook because Mrs. HowChow is working the entire weekend so we can't return to the Red Pearl for a Christmas Day dim sum.

Then I had a last-second inspiration and asked for clams. Boarman's has them in the back for 50 cents each. Mrs. HowChow talked about thick clam chowder earlier this week, so I picked up onions and potatoes to work on that tonight. Plus a sausage to flavor either the chowder or pasta.

Bonus item at the cash register: Boarman's stocks the breads and pies from the Lovebirds bakery that I had seen before at Roots and Gorman Farm. Lovebirds apparently bakes in Howard County.

Links: News On Redevelopment And Blog Posts About Beer & Cookies, More Beer & Cookies

2011-12-24T06:20:00.043-05:00

It's a slow time of year, but there is still news that touches on Howard County food.

There is a new plan for Wilde Lake village center, home of David's Natural Market and Today's Catch, as reported by David Greisman on Explore Howard. Similarly, the CA has started talking about revamping the Columbia waterfront, as noted by the Sarah Says blog, which has links to the news.

While you're poking around on those, take a break with other local blogs. The new AnnieRie Unplugged blog has fun posts about eating local, and other local blogs seemed focused recently on beer and cookies:

There is a new beer map posted by the BW Food and Drink blog. He names bars and restaurants, and he links to Web pages. I'd love to hear his reviews -- or your reviews in his comments -- on those places.
The Baltimore Beer Guy posted a short piece about how Frisco Tap House has dedicated a tap to the memory of a regular.
Try the recipe for "chocolate chip" cookies made with crumbled JoJos from Trader Joes on the P90 Noir blog. Or the recipe for Mantecaditos shortbread cookies on La Casa de Sweets.
If you want a cookie and a deeper meaning, check out the 2 Dudes Who Love Food post about a local effort to bake cookies for Howard County's homeless.

Tomorrow, Go Get A Fresh Waffle -- Sweet Or Savory -- At Thomas Waffles In Clarksville

2011-12-23T06:20:00.003-05:00

Start your weekend with a real treat by grabbing a fresh waffle in the parking lot of Kendall Hardware.

That's where you'll find the Thomas Waffles truck -- profiled last month by Explore Howard -- offering fresh waffles and a few other dishes on Saturday mornings. They run about $3. That's an easy splurge to chow down on hot, handmade food for breakfast.

They sell two kinds of sweet waffles with variations on sugar, fruit toppings, Nutella, and maple syrup. They also sell other items like pre-baked quiches and "waffle pops" where they dipped a waffle into chocolate.

Even with those choices, I went savory last weekend. For $3, I got a small breakfast sandwich. Two warm, slightly-sweet waffles holding in an egg and a few thin strips of bacon.

"Did they offer Lipitor with that?" joked Mrs. HowChow when I came home.

But she is wrong. The thin bacon pieces were just a salty jolt to the sweet waffles. This wasn't the grease-dripping "sausage in a sliced donut" sandwich that the Fractured Prune used to offer. The waffles are warm and light. This is a unique little item, made by folks with real talent.

Start your holiday weekend with a trip for a waffle. Thomas had a sign saying they'd be open 8 am to noon on December 24.

Thomas Waffles -- open Saturdays
in the parking lot of Kendall Hardware
12260 Clarksville Pike (Rte 108)
Clarksville, MD 21029

NEAR: This is on Rte 108 just north of Rte 32. The Thomas Waffle truck sits in the parking lot of Kendall Hardware, which is a great store on its own. Definitely worth walking in if you need home improvement items and someone with the experience to answer your questions thoroughly. Plus, great for canning supplies.

First To Film R&R Taqueria -- YouTube Video Beats Food Network With A Short Video

2011-12-22T22:57:00.000-05:00

We're still waiting for the Food Network to broadcast their show about R&R Taqueria in Elkridge, but the Destination Guide has posted a short video with shots of the Mexican food and a nice interview with Rodrigo.

Matt Boyle posted a link on the HowChow Facebook page. I don't know the Destination Guide, but it's fun to see.

Falafel at La Mia In Laurel

2011-12-22T06:20:00.000-05:00

Falafel at La Mia in Laurel

Hot falafel falls among the perfect street foods -- piping chick pea fritters wrapped in pita bread and augmented with some shredded salad, a touch of hot sauce, and a creamy sauce to bring it all together.

The new La Mia restaurant on Main Street in Laurel kicks out a nice falafel sandwich. It's certainly the rival of anything that I have found inside Howard County, so it's worth a quick drive into Laurel, especially if you want to nose around the Aladdin Food Market next door or pick up something from the Laurel Meat Market.

La Mia is a new takeout following the trend of serving pizza and an ethnic food. At La Mia, the ethnic food is mostly Middle Eastern, including a few special-order items like masakhan, ka'ik, and maoul that looked new to me and that Wikipedia says are Palestinian dishes.

I want La Mia to be terrific because they're really nice. For now, I recommend the falafel sandwich. The falafel comes out hot and flavorful -- right in that "Goldilocks" moistness where it isn't too greasy and it isn't too dry. The sandwich had lettuce, mildly hot peppers, some hot sauce and a really nice sauce. I suggest that you request pita bread because they wrapped mine once in a tortilla, which was all kinds of "American fusion" wonderful but not nearly as delicious.

I'm going to go back and try the schwarma again. We ordered it with high hopes because La Mia has real meat turning on a spit in the open kitchen. But our order didn't work. The restaurant was freezing cold, and we got an aluminum takeout tray with lettuce and a few ounces of shaved, unremarkable meat. They were so nice, and we were too cold to argue. I'm going to try again.

Where do you go for falafel or schwarma? I don't have a place in Howard County, maybe because I have a few amazing sandwiches in my memory that set the standard. I don't want just a pile of lettuce, a pita from the bag, and the main item dumped on top. A few people have mentioned Turkshish Kebap in Columbia.

La Mia
310 Main Street
Laurel, MD 20707
301-725-9600

NEAR: This is on Main Street in Laurel a few doors west of U.S. 1. You can park on Main Street anywhere between U.S. 1 and Laurel Meat Market. The Aladdin market next to La Mia sells Middle Eastern groceries and breads. Laurel Meat Market butchers its own steaks, ground beef and sausage.

Link: New Food Writing On AnnieRie Unplugged

2011-12-21T21:44:00.001-05:00

New blog -- and a new blog about food -- from Annie who has retired and has been writing about cooking and local ingredients. The recent posts on AnnieRie Unplugged have been about CSAs, including a winter CSA that started this week.

Check out Annie's list of local resources for food -- from vegetables to cheeses to flour.

While you're reading, check out the 2 Dudes Who Love Food blog for a review of the new Jason's Deli in Columbia.

Macarons Have Come To Howard County -- Spotted At The New Linda's Bakery In Columbia

2011-12-21T06:20:00.034-05:00

Macarons from Linda's Bakery

We're getting on trend now in Howard County with French-style macarons offered up in Columbia even as these bakeries pop in places like DC and Bethesda.

The new Linda's Bakery that opened on Snowden River Parkway this month offers several flavors of macarons. These are basically sandwich cookies made with meringues connected with a cream or other filing.

They're light, often fruity sweets. Perfect as a tiny treat. Beautiful on dessert plate. They're also a current post-cupcake trend among pastry shops and cookbooks. The Sugar Baby cookbook caught Mrs. HowChow's eye because she had searched out macarons when we visited Manhattan.

Mrs. HowChow hasn't worked up to the complex recipe yet, but Linda's pops out macarons with raspberry, almond, coffee, and chocolate chip. They're not the perfectly uniform pastries from New York's Macaron Cafe. A few were so brittle that they shattered or had air spaces inside. But they're light with the burst of intense flavor that makes macarons so special.

This is the kind of experimentation that makes me glad to see all the new bakeries. Linda's could create a niche for this kind of pastry, which I haven't seen closer than Bethesda until now.

Spectacular Roadside BBQ From Dave In Savage

2011-12-20T06:20:00.135-05:00

Pulled pork sandwich and a piece of crackling

Grab a roll of paper towels and make plans for an early lunch on the side of the road.

Right outside the entrance to the Savage MARC station is a guy with a pull-behind barbecue serving up delicious meats at roadside prices.

I ate pulled pork Monday after being clued in by George Berkheimer of the The Business Monthly. David Welch had platters of meat cooking, and he pulled the pork off the bone to build an enormous sandwich for me. Then he left me to doctor it up with spicy sauce and his personal spice mixture.

This is moist, firm meat coming right off the heat. It is a rich smokey flavor, but it's truly just pork. You really want to add spice and sauces -- maybe sauce in the bottom of the container -- so that you can dip and alternate flavors. My $6 sandwich was so large that I couldn't finish it off. I ate until full, then shredded the leftovers into soup last night.

Terrible photo. Sorry.

Dave runs a weekly rotation -- pulled pork Mondays, beef brisket Tuesdays, big pork chops Wednesdays, ribs Thursdays, and chicken Fridays. Six bucks for each except the $9-19 ribs. He also sells kielbasa, half smokes and sodas. He worked originally in upscale hotel kitchens, then started a hot dog stand and moved onto the current deal where he works this lunch crowd and does catering through Dave's BBQ and Catering out of Laurel.

Dave was a generous host, searing a piece of skin into crackling. He talked about his competitive barbecue wins, including a 2006 Maryland state championship. The other customers talked up the brisket and a once-a-month special of jambalaya. Dave starts selling at 9 am. I assume he gets business from the truckers who start their days early between the wholesale markets in Jessup down through all the business parks along U.S. 1. Some days, he is sold out before noon.

This is a perfect spot if you work somewhere near Fort Meade, and it's off-and-on Rte 32 so it's doable from anywhere in Columbia. I'm going back as soon as I can figure out how to be home on a different weekday. Expect posts on brisket, chops and ribs over time! The catering -- which includes sides, utensils, etc. -- seems like a deal starting at $11/13-a-head if you pick it up and running to $21/23-a-head with all-you-can-eat spreads run by a catering crew.

The one flaw in my plan was that I didn't get a napkin from Dave. I ate in a parking lot before my next errand, and I was glad to find a clean rag after chomping through juicy meat that had soaked through the light roll. So get those paper towels and start driving.

Thanks again to George for mentioning Dave to me. How did I go this long without someone sending me an email? Roadside meats are right up the HowChow alley! This looks like it's right up Strobist's as well.

Dave's BBQ and Catering
just outside the Savage MARC train station
Dorsey Run Road just south of Rte 32
Savage, MD
240-535-6785

Near: Dave parks on Dorsey Run Road just south of Rte 32. From Columbia, you take Rte 32 over I-95 and U.S. 1. Take the Dorsey Run Road exit, then turn right at the light. From Fort Meade, you take that exit and turn left back over Rte 32. Dave is the guy with the barbecue set up before you reach the MARC parking lots. Park on the side of the road.

Link: Aida Bistro Updated On Explore Howard

2011-12-19T14:07:00.000-05:00

Aida Bistro gets something between a review and an update from Explore Howard. Donna Ellis recommends everything from the meatballs to a seafood pasta dish. This is a great Columbia restaurant that we have enjoyed, but I never got the photos to knock off an entire post.

180 Days To Columbia Wegmans: Signs Are Up

2011-12-19T06:21:00.011-05:00

It's 180 days to the scheduled opening of the Columbia Wegmans -- June 17, 2012.

You can see the sign above on Snowden River Parkway. They have similar ones along McGaw Road as well.

Check back for all the HowChow posts about Wegmans. Or join the Facebook group I Want The Columbia, Md. Wegmans. People post pictures and news there, and any group member can add anyone to the group. So feel free.

Pub Dog In Columbia -- Pizza, Beers And All The Drinks Come In Pairs; Is This How Bars Work Now?

2011-12-19T06:20:00.057-05:00

Bars are so much better now than when I was a regular in younger days -- no smoke, better beer and much better food.

We re-engaged with bar life last weekend with dinner at Pub Dog in Columbia. They brew their own beers, and they serve a limited menu that plays to their strengths. By limited, I mean pizza. They serve pizzas, a few appetizers like hot pretzels, and a few salads as well.

That's good pizza. It's a thin crust with terrific toppings. We had a "Fox & Hound" that came with mozzarella and smoked gouda, then sliced red pepper, sausage, and mushrooms. No one scrimped on ingredients. Smoked gouda gave a unique flavor, and everything else had the taste and look of fresh food.

The pizzas run $8-10 for 10-inch pies. We actually split our pizza and an order of hot pretzels. Most people could probably finish off their own. I saw several that looked terrific -- two white pizzas, several with barbecued or grilled chicken, and the "Spinach Pizza" that sounds healthy but pairs the green stuff with mushrooms and bacon. Personally, I prefer the crust cooked crisp (even charred like Facci), but Pub Dog has a soft-crust style that works.

I also liked the beer. I laughed at myself when our waitress arrived with two beers. That would have seemed awesome in my volume-drinking days, but my first reaction was "Why?" Honestly, they're small mugs. A happy hour bargain at $3.50. But it's not two pints. Even I cheerfully drained two mugs of the hoppy IPA. Not the bitter revelation of my favorite Flying Dog Raging Bitch, but a refreshing craft beer that matched nicely with pizza and pretzels.

Pub Dog qualifies as a bar because of how it limits its menu and how it picks and dresses the waitresses. But this is a fun place to eat. The pizza is worth a drive. There is an entire run of booths, and they have outdoor seating -- which is dog friendly to go with the name. On a Friday night, I didn't see kids, but I assume it's fine to drop in for pizza with little ones earlier in the day. Even on a weekend evening, this was a placid, adult crowd.

Pub Dog isn't connected with the short-lived Dog House Pub & Grill that operated in Long Reach village center. The original location is actually on Federal Hill in Baltimore.

Pug Dog
8865 Stanford Boulevard
Columbia, MD 21045
410-872-0364

NEAR: Pub Dog is in a shopping center just off Dobbin Road south of Rte 175. This is the center with Noodles Corner and Hanamura Sushi. Mango Grove is renovating space a few doors down. From Rte 175, turn south on Dobbin Road. Turn left on Stanford Boulevard, then right into the shopping center.

ISO: A Brunch Caterer In Howard County

2011-12-18T09:06:00.002-05:00

My friends need to hire a caterer for a baby naming. They're thinking 75-100 people for the ceremony and brunch foods. Anyone have a suggestion?

Gift Idea: Local Southern Skies Coffee

2011-12-18T09:00:00.001-05:00

A cloudy Sunday morning should be all you need to remember the value of a great cup of coffee.

If you're still looking for presents -- or just looking for caffeine -- consider ordering a few pounds of coffee from Southern Skies Coffee Roasters.

Southern Skies is Jeff Givens, who roasts the coffee personally just across the line in Carroll County. Jeff has commented occasionally on HowChow, and we met in person watching the Travel Channel film R&R Taqueria last month.

Jeff gave me a pound of coffee that day, and this is delicious coffee. I say "delicious" because I'm still new to coffee whose flavor I liked. Until a few years ago, I larded Starbucks with milk and sugar, thinking that dark, bitter roast meant quality. A brush with Hawaiian coffee made me change my ideas, and Southern Skies coffee has the strong flavor that I like without any of the burnt taste.

The revelation with Southern Skies was that Jeff roasts coffee when it is in season. Coffee is always in season somewhere, but the plants mature differently in different parts of the world. Somehow, I hadn't thought about that in the past. Jeff posts about the flavors and sources of his rotating varieties with the detail and enthusiasm of a legitimate geek. For the coffee geek in your life, this could be a fun gift to goose up next Sunday morning.

Check out the Southern Skies Web site. He has three varieties now. Coffee runs $14 a pound now. That's in line with the coffee that I have been buying from Sidamo's in Fulton.

Bistro Blanc Opening Chef's Table & Private Dining, Plus Mirocjo News And Hot Dog Stand

2011-12-18T06:20:00.024-05:00

The "cellar" room at Bistro Blanc

One bit of news for local diners -- Bistro Blanc in Glenelg is opening a new "cellar" room next week for private dining and a chef table looking into the kitchen.

This is a standard these days in city restaurants. But I don't know another "chef table" in Howard County (although I admit that most of my meals aren't spent in high-end places). Rajneesh emailed me about the new space, which they have renovated and will soon outfit with a custom chef table.

(Update: See Mary's comment below. Aida Bistro has a chef table for two to four, and that would be a great place to eat as well.)

The new space is on the same level as the main dining room, but renovated out like a stone cellar. Rajneesh says they will be able to accomodate 18 for private dining and eight for the chef table looking into the kitchen. We actually chose Bistro Blanc for my birthday, and I'm months late to write an update post.

(The open kitchen made me remember again Marc Maron's great interview with Anthony Bourdain and the snippet where Bourdain talked about missing the days of closed kitchen when he could scratch himself anywhere without diners watching. If you like podcasts, check out Maron's adult interviews of comedians and other entertainers -- 50 free on iTunes and 150+ more through his app.)

Others news, questions and comments from the past week:

Does anyone know about an ice cream shop / hot dog cart opening in downtown Ellicott City, asked s5.
What about tamales? Ted emailed me asking if I knew anywhere to buy tamales. He remembers a Columbia Flier article about a local woman who makes thousands of tamales at the holiday season. Ted wants tamales.
And what about Nora's Kabob? Kevin emailed to say he has seen a sign on the shopping center on Rte 40. But he couldn't find the restaurant.
There will be a new restaurant in Gateway Plaza in Columbia called Rudy's Mediterranean Grill, reports Junior Barnes. He said last week that it looked like it might be opening soon.

Egg crepe at Wong Gee in Wheaton

Several folks posted about the Frostberry frozen yogurt place on Rte 40 in Ellicott City, including Brian in EC. Unclear if it is actually open. This is the spot that used to be called Iceberry. Kmmalloyzz said the manager said last fall that the name changed because of their bubble tea recipes.
Min emailed me that Micocjo in Ellicott City was renovated this fall and recently reopened. That was Korean restaurant with a generalist / barbecue menu. Has anyone been to the new place? Min went outside HoCo for her recommendation -- egg crepes with durian cream on the Sunday dim sum menu at Wong Gee in Wheaton. Another place I need to try.

Pasta Blitz Keep Changing - Welcome To The New Anthony's In Clarksville And Vittorio in Glenwood

2011-12-17T09:48:00.004-05:00

The local Pasta Blitz chain always seemed like a group that shared a name, but not a coherent identity and apparently not a single set of owners.

The one on Johns Hopkins Road became Facci Ristorante. This week, the Clarksville location has changed its name to Anthony's -- as shown in the photo that Dave sent me. Now Gianni has left a comment raving about the Italian wines at Facci and saying that the hostess there said the Pasta Blitz in Glenwood will take on a new menu and name as Vittorio.

The Private Room At Sushi Sono: A Special Place To Gather Friends For A Night Of Fish And Fun

2011-12-15T06:20:00.023-05:00

Some of the best things in life are free -- like the private room at Sushi Sono.

The paper-walled room at the Columbia sushi restaurant can be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. At its single table, you get personal attention in a beautiful setting, screened off from the other diners and enjoying your friends and platters of fish.

We went last weekend with four friends and had one of our favorite meals of the year. For two hours, we worked from miso soup through several rounds of sushi rolls and other delicacies. It's cozy. You can sit cross-legged. You can laugh loud. You don't have to be self-conscious about the quantity of fish that you're popping in your mouth.

Monkfish liver

I assume that an authentic Japanese table would rest close to the ground with everyone sitting cross-legged around it. At Sushi Sono -- and at Sushi King in Columbia where they have similar rooms -- the raised floor of the room doubles as a bench because the floor is lower under the table. So you're sitting Western-style with your legs comfortably hanging down. The whole experience was comfortable. Our waitress read us perfectly, making sure that we had enough food, but leaving us alone to talk and relax.

We hear that Sushi Sono prefers a $200 minimum for parties in the room. No one mentioned that to us when we made the reservation or when we ate. We actually just hit the number with six people having one round of drinks and splitting an indulgent meal. So it's perfect for six or eight people to enjoy a special night out.

You're already getting the best sushi in Baltimore and one of the best restaurants in Howard County. If it's new for you, check out all the posts about Sushi Sono and its unique rolls. Our recommendations start with the No. 12 and No. 14 rolls, but you won't go wrong. People swear by house inventions like the "bridal veil" and the "sushi nuggets." They also love the orthodox sashimi and hand rolls. Watch the specials too. We tried a monkfish liver, which was close enough to pate to split the crowd into fans and skeptics. We also ate grilled yellowtail cheek, a cooked plate of fish where you lift pieces of moist meat from the jaw of a fish.

Miso soup and warm sake

And it's not just the room that you can get at no extra charge. Ask for the green tea as well. They pour exceptional, flavorful tea into calming pottery mugs, and, at Sushi Sono, it's gratis.

For another eating adventure, consider cooking your own bulgogi and pork belly with a grill table packed with friends at Shin Chon Garden in Ellicott City. The feasts at Shin Chon create the same kind of fun that we had at Sushi Sono.

Link: Iron Bridge On BW Food And Drive

2011-12-14T20:34:00.001-05:00

New blog BW Food and Drink hit up the Iron Bridge Wine Company in Columbia and posted a strong recommendation -- cheese plate, sirloin, and dessert.

Welcome to the new bloggers!

Link: Java City Cafeteria in Columbia

2011-12-14T19:16:00.000-05:00

Wordbones found a cafeteria in the Micros building in Columbia Gateway, and he wrote up a short review on Tales of Two Cities. The Java City cafeteria served up a sandwich and shrimp etouffe for Wordbone and his friend.

Fortune Star Buffet Has Closed, And I'm Catching Up On Comments And Emails You Should Read

2011-12-12T06:20:00.126-05:00

Fortune Star Buffet in Jessup has closed -- apparently a while ago. There was talk of a temporary closing in June, but they're still papered over.

Fortune Star was one of the first places that drew many comments on HowChow. It was a quantity joint. You can get better Chinese at Red Pearl in Columbia or Grace Garden in Odenton. But no closing makes Howard County a better place to eat.

Thanks for all the comments. They're definitely worth something checking out -- for news, for ideas, and for opinions other than some blogger. Remember that I love guest posts. All they require is a cell phone photo and a few paragraphs of description (along with a disclosure of any connection that you have to the place).

Here's a collection of recent news, reports, recommendations, and questions -- along with some detailed emails after the jump:

Kmmalloyzz wrote that Iceberry in Ellicott City appears to have closed again.
Anonymous asked if anyone has tried the taco truck normally parked in Oakland Mills on White Acre Road. Anyone?
Anonymous read the new Chinese page on Hunan Manor's Web site. The report is that it's a new font, but no new dishes. Anonymous listed out the dishes there if you want to try.
EGKate described a great vegetarian lunch of mushroom soondooboo at Lighthouse Tofu in Ellicott City. Perrik recommends the tofu pockets at Grace Garden in Odenton.
Mike, Laura and other recommended local chefs who offer cooking lessons to civilians, including Alba Carbonaro-Johnson, Mark Waitsman, and Michelle Sapp. (Guest post idea: "I'm a chef who gives local cooking lessons. Three paragraphs about where I shop for ingredients." Hint. Hint.)
Robin posted detail about the brunch at Second Chance Saloon -- burgers, an omelet and drinks. He also lead a group of people who suggested favorite dishes at Bangkok Garden 9. In the same way, Kritikal and Anonymous posted about the new Tino's Italian Bistro. So did Kathy and Jim in Thunderhill.
Anonymous talked up the fun of packing lunches in bento boxes -- with recommendations about places to shop.

More great comments and emails:

L Yao recommended the ribs and dark meat chicken at one of the outdoor grill trucks that parks in Columbia. Anyone know if they're out at this time of year? If they aren't, AlPal3 recommended the country pork ribs at Laurel Meat Market so you could make your own.
Christine posted a comment with the contact information for Sweetcakes, a bakery that I had noticed on Twitter. She is the owner.
P90 Noir recommended lunch at Cafe de Paris' Crepe Cafe and at Hanamura. Barbi and Angie both liked their pizza at the Pudgies in Clarksville. David G, HowICook and many others sing about the lunch buffet at Royal Taj in Columbia.
Jade's Mama recommended the new regime at Turkshish Kabob House in Columbia -- a spot that has changed hands a few times recently. I'm looking for good falafel, so I need to check it out. Deborah gave a thumbs up to the falafel at Whatchamacallit in Savage Mill.
Joy314 didn't love the homemade ice cream at Seibel's in Burtsonville. But Betsy pushed the idea of Indian kulfi pops as an ice cream alternative.
TheLtlrdhdgr critiqued the food and service at Azul 17, but HoCo Connect says they have the best Cuban sandwich around.
TheMinx and Mirka were both disappointed by the tea smoked duck at Red Pearl. But Chrissypt and MortyAbzug both enjoyed the new Asian Palace in Columbia. (Morty and Laura each volunteered five "must eat" foods in response to HoCo Rising.)
Kiran emailed me about the new Katana Hibachi Steakhouse in Columbia, and he puts it up in some high-end company:

On Saturday, my girlfriend and I were shopping at Feet First Sports in Hickory Ridge Village Center and we happened to stumble upon the new Katana Hibachi Steakhouse. The food was a step above what I normally get at hibachi grills and the service was definitely the best I've had in a long time. (Reminded me of Stanford Grill or when Victoria's first opened.) It's a bit pricey, except the weekday lunch menu - which looks like a steal.

Interesting comparison - we were eating at King's Contrivance on Sunday. While the food was great, we were both thinking the shrimp and scallops were cooked much better at Katana. So perhaps that puts some perspective on the price.

Dana emailed me so long ago that I'm embarrassed, but her thoughts about Milita's Tacos are just as fresh today. This is a taco truck at U.S. 1 and Rte 103. Not one that I have tried, but Dana and her co-workers went over the summer after seeing the lines:

Two friends and I got tacos (al pastor, shrimp, and carne asada) and a chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla was presented to me with sour cream, tomatoes, and lettuce on top, and being the picky eater I am, I asked them to remove it when they placed it in a to-go box (which they did not give it to me in to begin with). I have no idea how they did it, but there was no trace of the extra items on the quesadilla when I opened it at work.

The quesadilla itself tasted fine, but was a bit bland. I'm a Texas girl and would have preferred for the chicken to have some spice.The tacos were beautiful! Simple corn tortillas with garnishes of cilantro, radish and lime. They also tasted perfectly fine (the al pastor was the best), but I think part of our problem was we love R&R Taqueria so much, all we did the entire time was compare them to the gas station tacos we have loved from day one!

So, it was fun to try (none of us had ever been to a taco truck!), but we'll be sticking with what we know and love.

And finally, Marcia emailed about coffee. I'm a fan of Sidamo in Fulton. Marcia suggested Charter Deli for a cup and some breakfast -- plus a plug for local spots:

Charter Deli makes quite a good cup of coffee, at least the cup I had yesterday when
they first opened was very good. I had to drop off my brother-in-law for an early morning
medical procedure so thought I'd get a quick breakfast at Charter Deli. I was their first
customer at 7 am and got a cup from a very fresh pot. I was pleasantly surprised. Not watery, not bitter. I got an excellent egg/cheese/bacon sandwich on rye bread, too.

Here's another great thing about local businesses. While I was in the deli eating, the owner
was setting up a table with the newspaper & milk. He told me he had a regular customer due in shortly. Sure enough, in comes a woman who sits at the table he's prepared. As soon as she is seated, a hot cup of tea arrives at her table. How cool is that? Let's see McDonald's prepare a table for you before you get there!

Cooks N' Cakes Has Opened In Ellicott City

2011-12-11T10:49:00.001-05:00

The new Cooks n' Cakes bakery has opened on Rte 40 in Ellicott City and has cupcakes for sale today, according to their Web site and the guy who just answered the phone.

That makes this a big weekend for new sweets because Linda's Bakery opened yesterday as well.

Cooks n' Cakes is a cupcake specialist spot opened by two former public school principals. They took over the space vacated on Rte 40 when The Breadery moved to Catonsville.

We haven't stopped by Cooks n' Cakes yet. I'd take any reports below on early cupcakes. As I just wrote in the Linda's post, these new folks join a raft of nice sweets bakeries, including Oh What A Cake and Touche Touchet in Columbia, Bonaparte Bread in Savage, and Kupcake & Co. in Elkridge.

Cooks n' Cakes
9251 Baltimore National Pike (Rte 40)
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-480-2253

NEAR: Cooks n' Cakes is on the south side of Rte 40 west of Rte 29. It's the shopping center with a Starbucks facing Rte 40. The stores are actually perpendicular to the road. Turn at the Starbucks and then look a few doors down.

Linda's Bakery Has Opened In Columbia

2011-12-11T10:30:00.003-05:00

Linda's Bakery opened yesterday on Snowden River Parkway, and you should make an excuse to go try another spot for sweets in Howard County.

Our first taste: A chocolate chip meringue as perfect as I have ever tasted. Crisp on the outside. Light and airy, but a touch of chewiness inside. And delicious chocolate chunks throughout.

Meringues are basically egg whites and sugar, so they are easy to make tooth-achingly sweet. Linda's come in sweet, but they're skillfully kept on the tasty side -- especially with the exceptional chocolate inside. Go get one, and tell them that you saw Linda's in HowChow!

Linda's covers the spectrum for sweets -- from cookies and brownies through eclairs and croissants to custom cakes in dozens of varieties of cake, icing and fillings. Owner Linda Cheng has been selling custom cakes for a while, so the retail spot expands the opportunities.

We also bought a cupcake, although only a single variety because we already had a dozen cupcakes in the house. (Long story.) When we sliced that up among some friends, people rated the Linda's cupcake in the same sphere as the locals like Oh What A Cake and Touche Touchet in Columbia.

Sweets bakeries keep popping up around Howard County. (Update: Cooks n' Cakes opened yesterday as well in Ellicott City.) In addition to the Columbia bakeries, you can find interesting stuff at Bonaparte Bread in Savage and cupcakes at Kupcakes & Co. in Elkridge. Only Bonaparte does bread and sweets. For bread, I always recommend the organic markets and Bon Fresco Sandwich Bakery.

Linda's Bakery
9350-G Snowden River Parkway
Columbia, MD 21045
410-381-4390

NEAR: Linda's is in the same shopping center as House of India and New York Deli. It is accessible from southbound Snowden River Parkway south of the Home Depot.

Link: Cool Story On Crab Meat In The Sun

2011-12-10T06:20:00.012-05:00

If you're interested in Maryland food, check out Richard Gorelick's story about jumbo lump crab meat and how the recent demand has changed the way restaurants buy crab.

Bottom line: People have come to demand jumbo lump so much that most restaurants buy Venezuelan or Indonesian crab rather than serve a local product. Gorelick talks to people who prefer the Maryland crab. Then he followed up with two blog posts about how he thinks the "jumbo lump" craze started and a Maryland company that sells packages that contain meat from the whole crab.

I certainly think that I can tell the difference. I buy Maryland crab at Laurel Meat Market because the sweet flavor makes special meals. I pass on the Venezuelan packages because I'd rather cook something else. Bland crab cakes are still bland.

The package of story and blog posts is a great example of how newspapers could take advantage of the Web. They can have the main story and then niche blog bites with the real information that only comes from effort and reporting. It's too bad that the Sun's Web site is so cluttered and crazy.

Howard Magazine's Best Of 2011: A Reader's Choice List Of Local Business And The Best Blog

2011-12-09T14:29:00.001-05:00

If you're looking for new places to buy or eat in Howard County, check out the readers' votes in Howard Magazine's Best of Howard County 2011.

The annual poll includes advice about where to find the best bakeries (Touche Touchet), place to buy seafood (Today's Catch), place to buy alcohol (Decanter Fine Wine), and more. They even named a top blog -- HoCo Rising. Thanks to the folks who voted HowChow into honorable mention!

Hunan Manor Has A NEW Chinese Menu

2011-12-09T13:55:00.002-05:00

Hunan Manor in Columbia appears to have a new menu in Chinese -- this time a page on their Web site that Kiran brought to my attention.

Two years ago, I had a great time when Wai translated Hunan Legend's Chinese menu into English. People got a chance to try authentic dishes that the restaurant owners didn't seem to recognize would interest some slice of the non-Chinese crowd.

Hunan Manor had a Chinese menu, but they translated it. Now Kiran found a different document on the Hunan Manor Web site. Neither of us can read Chinese, but it looks like a menu. There might be some cool adventures on the page.

Is this a menu? Has anyone ordered off it? Any recommendations? Any help translating a line or the page? For Hunan Taste, Wai printed the menu and then hand-wrote English translations. She sent me a scan. Even that simple work was invaluable. Post comments below or email translations HowChowBlog at Gmail.

(Update: See below that Anonymous has read the menu and says it is a new font, but no new dishes. He or she provided a list of the dishes.)

For now, you can find the new Chinese menu on the Hunan Manor Web site. I also imbedded a larger JPG version after the jump.

This comes from the Hunan Manor Web page. Is it a menu? Have you ordered off it? Any recommendations? Any help translating a line or the page?

New Maiwand Kabob Coming To Rte 175?

2011-12-07T07:25:00.001-05:00

Anyone know details about a new Maiwand Kabob maybe opening in January next to Pier 1 in the shopping center at Rte 175 and Dobbin Road?

I posted about talk in June, and Reed emailed me a few days ago that people at the original Afghan restaurant in Columbia were talking about the new location. He said they were talking about opening in January. (Update: See the comment below that points out Maiwand Kabob has advertised a new Columbia Crossing location on Twitter and its Web page.)

I think they're talking about the empty space down from Pier 1, but I haven't been there recently to look inside.

Has Anyone Else Noticed Chowhound Drying Up?

2011-12-07T06:20:00.020-05:00

Am I the only person who feels like Chowhound has been drying up over the past few years?

When I started HowChow three years ago, I read Chowhound daily. The DC-Baltimore board had dozens of posts a day, and people would pass a topic back and forth with great suggestions about where to eat and shop.

In recent months, there are days with fewer than 10 posts in a day. I go weeks between checks, often because there isn't much to entice me back.

I blame Yelp. Reed and I were recently emailing, and he said that he had put the first review of the new Nari Sushi on Yelp. I wonder if people post single-restaurant reviews these days instead of posting questions and answers on Chowhound.

Don't get me wrong. I post on Yelp. You can track local writers like Reed or Yaka K. to see what they think of local places. But Chowhound and DonRockwell's Baltimore board serve a different role. Instead of just asking "How is Restaurant X?," you could ask where to watch a Ravens game in Howard County or where to find the best deli for catering. I never would have looked up Grace Garden on Yelp because I didn't know it existed, but I found the spectacular 2008 chain and basically ordered right from the suggestions.

When I first explored Howard County, writers like Jason1, Warthog, Little Audrey, Elgringoviejo and DiningwithDoc were generous with their knowledge, and I learned from Chowhound -- especially from topics that were broader than a single restaurant. One person would offer an idea. Others would chime in. It's fun to answer questions and share ideas. I don't really know what changed.

Anyone know what is happening on Chowhound? Is this another place that people left because they spend so much time on Facebook? Anyone have questions that they want answered?

Pizza With Clams, And It's Not A Joke; Facci Ristorante Has Created Something Special

2011-12-06T06:20:00.124-05:00

The weird part about Facci Ristorante is that I didn't go to a restaurant that I really enjoyed for the better part of a year.

Facci opened in early 2010 on Johns Hopkins Road, and the crowds immediately packed the place for casual Italian and wood-fired pizza that stood a notch above most places around. It became so crowded -- and the hostesses were trained to be so uninviting -- that we stopped even thinking about the place.

They won us back this year with expansion. More seating, longer menu. We tried carry out from the dedicated entrance. We walked in a few nights. If anything, the food has gotten even better, and we love a place where you're guaranteed a special night.

Imagine a pizza with clams on top. Littlenecks in their shells. Honestly, it sounded like a gimmick, but it tasted superb. Sweet shrimp and parsley, then a few dozen clams. I pulled those off by hand, and they were plump and salty even though the fire had cooked them through.

Facci's kitchen gets a head start with all the pizza because it starts with their spectacular charred crust. But then they assemble just a few toppings -- mozzarella and basil, mushrooms and speck, pistachios, ricotta, red onion slivers and rosemary. The ingredients are special. Cheese and sausage and meatballs, each a little better than I'd expect at a regular Italian restaurant. Then they pair up the flavors in a way that I wouldn't think to do at home.

As I wrote almost two years ago, one of the stars is the fresh house-made pastas. The ravioli and gnocchi are Mrs. HowChow's favorites, although she loved the mushroom risotto that offered a stunningly-rich flavor and far more cheese than I use at home. She was ecstatic.

You can work the entire menu picking great dishes from $12-20. We have worked through several salads, once creating an entree by adding a piece of salmon that was perfectly cooked. None of well-done fish that my nervous hands grill up at home. Facci got that perfect interior that's not raw, but still jewel-colored and moist.

The restaurant is beautiful inside, a full step above most casual joints in a shopping center. You get stone-tiled walls and an open kitchen with the pizza oven on full display. With the expansion, there are great tables along the perimeter and a high-tech system to dispense wine by the glass, and you can enjoy good weather on the small patio that they have landscaped out front.

People go to Facci for fun. It's an adult crowd, even at the bar. It's kid-friendly. It's just expensive enough that you get more gray hairs than car seats, more Moms-night-out than first dates. But people are there for fun. Enough fun apparently, that, during our most-recent visit, a woman walked out of the stall in the mens room. A very moms-night-out woman who found three guys using and waiting for the urinal and said something like "I think I'm in the wrong bathroom." Yes, ma'am, but you're in the right restaurant.

Click here for all the posts about Facci, including the cannoli that I love. Remember Richard Gorelick's list of the Best Restaurants in Howard County, where Facci came in 14th. My only complaint -- as you can see above -- is that the lighting is too dark for cell phone photography. If you ever find Facci full, walk down to Kloby's for casual barbecue and great beers. Or try any of the restaurants in that shopping center -- Mexican, Japanese, Indian, etc. They're all busy enough to warrant checking out.

Facci Ristorante
7530 Montpelier Road
Laurel, MD 20723
301-604-5555

NEAR: The key fact is that Facci isn't in Laurel. It's in a shopping center on Johns Hopkins Road just west of Rte 29. This is the same shopping center as Kloby's Smokehouse for BBQ or La Palapa Too for Mexican, so expect the lot to be full at prime dining times. Often they have valet parking. This sliver of land is south of Columbia and north of Fulton and Scaggsville, but it certainly isn't Laurel.

Candy Cane Joe-Joes At Trader Joe's

2011-12-05T06:20:00.010-05:00

Better than Oreos.

There, I've said it. I will start with the heresy. Trader Joe's has created a sandwich cookies for Christmas that isn't just a good knock-off. It's better than the original.

Not that you should go to the Columbia Trader Joe's and buy the Candy Cane Joe-Joes. Mrs. HowChow wants you to leave them alone so that there are more for her to buy and sock away for winter.

The Peppermint Joe-Joes are absolutely terrific. Crisp chocolate cookies with a cream inside. Except this filling is more creamy, less grainy that even the Oreo original. Plus, it is laced with shards of peppermint candy. This is a "sealed box" type of cookies -- as in "you need to keep the box closed or you'll eat them all."

Trader Joe's sells a separate product where they have dipped the Candy Cane Joe-Joes in chocolate. That's great too. It's good chocolate and the right ratio of coating to cookies. But it is an extra that isn't worth getting only 10 cookies in a box. The original Joe-Joes -- or at least the original knock-off of the Oreo -- is all you need.

Update: What's Coming To Howard County

2011-12-04T09:15:00.006-05:00

To me, it feels like the drumbeat of new restaurants and bakeries has picked up in the past six weeks. People often leave comments here, and I try to track them. Here are a few reasons to keep your appetite up:

Mango Grove / Mirchi Wok is renovating space off Dobbin Road in the same Columbia shopping center with Pub Dog and Noodles Corner. Its former spot at Dobbin and Rte 175 was demolished to make way for a drive-in Starbucks. Last month, I ran into the Mango Grove owner, who said he was hoping to open by Christmas.
YogiCup is another tart frozen yogurt shop to the Columbia landscape. It's the same shopping center as Mango Grove. A comment this weekend says they're aiming to open in December.
Nari Sushi is coming to the Kings Contrivance village center in Columbia. Last time I walked past, they looked close. (Update: See the comments that Nari is open.)
Linda's Bakery in Columbia and Cooks N' Cakes in Ellicott City were both looking to open this fall, but their Web sites suggest that the timers are still counting down. They're both sweet bakeries -- cakes, cupcakes, etc. Linda's is working on space next to House of India on Snowden River Parkway, and Cooks N' Cakes is filling the Rte 40 spot vacated by The Breadery.
A new joint La Mia opened in downtown Laurel serving pizza and subs along with schwarma and falafel. I had a falafel sandwich there yesterday and can't stop trying to adjust my Sunday chores to justify a return trip for the schwarma, which was still cooking on its spit when I hustled through.
Another hybrid -- this time pizza and Indian food -- has opened in the Long Reach village center in Columbia, reports Diane Z. She emailed me the menu. The place appears to be called Long Reach. Diane gives a thumbs up to the chicken tikka masala.
Wegmans has announced that the Columbia store will open June 17, 2012. The company has opened an employment center for people who want to apply for a job. But there is a comment on the I Want The Columbia Md. Wegmans Facebook page that says the storefront may not open until January 3.

And, of course, there is the report -- still not officially confirmed or denied -- that Whole Foods is negotiating to open its first Howard County store in the former Rouse Company headquarters. That would put them right on the lake across from the mall.

Anyone know anything else that is new or coming soon? (Update: See the comments below for more news.)

Report: Wegmans Has Opened An Employment Center

2011-12-01T19:02:00.000-05:00

Wegmans has opened an employment center at 10211 Wincopin Circle, according to Janice Maketa Orlik on the "I Want The Columbia, Md. Wegmans" Facebook page.

The countdown clock tonight says 197 days to the Wegmans opens.

Link: Sun Profiles Food Trucks In Howard County

2011-11-30T07:18:00.001-05:00

Explore Howard has posted a run-down on food trucks across Howard County, including pit beef, tacos and bulgogi.

Amanda Yeagar also profiled the family that sells waffles from a truck every Saturday in the parking lot of Kendall Hardware in Clarksville. It's headlined by a high school senior saving money for college and his pastry chef father. Definitely something to check out.

I'm trying to capture posts about food trucks with the "Trucks" label below. But you should also check the right column for labels on each truck individually.

Italian Volcano Lemon Juice At Mom's

2011-11-30T06:20:00.027-05:00

Simple things, great flavor, especially when you're low on everything else.

I'm becoming a fan of expensive lemon juice as a way to keep things cheap when I want something easy. A dash in a glass of water. A few tablespoons in a recipe. The stuff lasts forever in the fridge, which makes it easy to keep a bottle for everything that I need.

Mom's Organic Market in Jessup sells a brand called Italian Volcano. Roots in Clarksville sells Santa Cruz. They're both pricey by the bottle, but cheap if you avoid buying lemons or get to make dinner when you don't have fruit on hand.

Mouth-puckering straight, the juice punches up anything. I made red beans with lemons from Mark Bittman's cookbook this weekend. You could make salad dressing with a dash of juice and olive oil or make pasta with nothing more than juice, parsley and parmesan. Easy buy -- give them a grab.

If you go to Mom's, check out the watermelon radishes in the produce aisle. They're expensive at $5 a pound, but they're delicious.

Clam Chowder a la Today's Catch -- The Secret Ingredient Is Clams That They Freeze In House

2011-11-29T06:20:00.056-05:00

Okay, the secret ingredient in clam chowder can't actually be clams, but who knew that Today's Catch gets Chesapeake clams that it freezes in house?

I only ended up in Today's Catch's freezer because I couldn't find large clams at the local seafood markets. I had a recipe that called for six pounds of clams and steaming them to start.

Why bother? The market in Wilde Lake village center sells $10 containers of enormous clams -- shucked and raw, ready to make whatever interests you, and ready to store a bit in your freezer if you take them straight home. They buy them fresh, then package and freeze them in the Columbia shop.

Last weekend, I had a car full of chowder ingredients like cream, bacon and potatoes, but no clams at Frank's Seafood Market in Jessup. I had to take a risk, and it paid off in a flavor strong with salt water and clams. No grit. No fishiness. I augmented with a can of Chincoteague sea clam juice, and I adapted a recipe from The New Best Recipes. Basically, I cooked the clams in a tiny pot, then followed most of the recipe along the way.

Today's Catch is really worth your drive to Wilde Lake. It's a small place with a focused selection. But the fish is superb, and the folks there can really answer your questions. It's the fishy version of Laurel Meat Market. If you want to make a different kind of seafood soup, check out the trimmings that they sell for $10 a pound -- cubes of salmon, rockfish or whatever else they're butchering, ready to make into soup.

Call ahead if you have a chance to talk to someone. I bought two clam packages Sunday. They may not have restocked yet. They said clams are a standard product that they can get most of the year.

Clam Chowder a la Today's Catch
Adapted from The New Best Recipes

1 container of frozen clams from Today's Catch, defrosted
4 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 TBL flour
13-14 oz Chincoteague sea clam juice (or a similar clam juice)
1 pound new potatoes, chopped
1/2 tsp (or more) dried basil or thyme
2 TBL chopped parsley
1/2 c. heavy cream (and maybe a dash more)

1) Heat a heavy pot or dutch oven and saute the bacon over medium heat until the fat renders and the bacon crisps. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon. Pour off all but a few tablespoons of bacon grease.

2) Put the clams and two cups of water in a small pot. Heat the water gradually until the clams are cooked. They'll become opaque and firm. The water will become milky and taste of clam. Remove the claims with a slotted spoon and chop them. Reserve the milky water.

3) While the clams cook, add the onions to the heavy pot and saute them in the bacon grease until they soften. Add the flour and stir for a minute or so until the color darkens slightly.

3) Add the sea clam juice and one cup of the milky water to the heavy pot. Add the potatoes, the crisp bacon, and the dried herbs. Cook about 10 minutes until the potatoes become tender.

4) Add the chopped clams and the cream to the soup. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5) If you want a slightly thicker soup, add a little more cream. If you want thinner, you should have a cup of milky water that you can add as well.

6) Add the chopped parsley and serve immediately.

Korean Fried Chicken At Tian Has Brought The Crunch -- And The Spice -- To Ellicott City

2011-11-28T06:20:00.011-05:00

The Korean fried chicken at Tian Chinese Cuisine brings a unique crunch and some serious heat if you're looking for that high-cholesterol, high-flavor treat that you can't make at home.

Tian now offers chicken from a Mad for Chicken franchise inside the Ellicott City restaurant known before for its Korean-Chinese menu and especially for the house-made noodles.

The crunch comes from the Mad for Chicken coating that has a unique crispness. It's a thin, almost-brittle layer over moist chicken underneath. The meat isn't particularly spicy, but the glaze on the outside delivers all the flavor that you'd want -- salty/sweet for the regular and mouth-numbing for the spicy.

Seriously, the spice was almost too much for me, and Mrs. HowChow happily traded hot pieces for the regular when we ordered a mixed set.

The magic of Korean fried chicken is that the glaze delivers that flavor without soaking down the crisp coating. It's a delicious dinner, definitely worth a drive to the Lotte shopping center on Rte 40 and definitely a worthy alternative to Chick 'n Friends in Columbia or Harvest Fried Chicken in Woodbine.

My advice is that two people split an order of chicken and an order of the black beans with noodles -- jjajangmyun or #1 on Tian's menu. Personally, I'd order the wings or white meat. The ratio of crunch to meat was perfect in the wings.

If you want more on Korean fried chicken, start with Henry Hong's review of a Virginia Bon Chon franchise. Such the right description that I link often for fear that I'm unwittingly plagiarizing Hong's language.

Thanks To Everyone

2011-11-22T20:23:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who voted for HowChow in the Mobbies! I'm a bit belated here, but I want to thank everyone who voted and pushed the blog to the top of the food category.

To me, the biggest point of the 2011 Mobbies was that they added "county by county" categories. 53 Beers On Tap won the Howard County section, and he had by far the most competition. Other counties had 3-5 entries, which the HoCoBlogs crowd more than doubled. Howard County goes to 11.

Blogging will start again after Thanksgiving.

Green Valley Supermarket Opens In Elkridge; The Local Blog Scene Has The Opening Covered

2011-11-16T08:56:00.001-05:00

The new Green Valley supermarket opened in Elkridge less than two hours ago, but the Swim Write Run blog has already posted a description and photos. This market replaces the SuperFresh, and Mo has a quick price check and some musings on what people do with the giant scissors after the ribbon cutting.

Mo -- So sorry about the insomnia.

Worth A Drive: Mr. Rain's Fun House

2011-11-16T07:14:00.002-05:00

Last month, we celebrated our anniversary at Mr. Rain's Fun House in Baltimore, and I walked away with a strong line to start the review.

Mr. Rain's is a terrific restaurant at the top of the American Visionary Arts Museum. We had wonderful food. Fun stuff like a twist on Hawaiian poke where a circle of raw tuna was topped with an avocado ice cream instead of missed with diced avocado. Perfectly cooked stuff like scallops. Delicious stuff like a plate where the meat, the vegetables and the sauces were each something special and nothing that I could make myself.

I had the idea to say that Mr. Rain's is the best restaurant that I never hear anyone talk about. No one walks past. No one could stumble on it. But it's absolutely worth the drive from Howard County. For some reason, that hadn't yet coalesced into a post for me, which is why you should go read what the professional thinks. Richard Gorelick reviewed Mr. Rain's in the Sun and captured everything that I would have wanted to say -- plus writing with the cleverness of Mr. Rain's. This is my favorite section:

This is an excellent restaurant that manages to be both part of a progressive culinary movement and its very own thing. The experienced staff members aren't shy about their sense of fashion, and Buszinski's kitchen isn't afraid of displaying flourishes of wit, just not at the expense of flavor.

Don't get me wrong. I love those wood-and-fire restaurants, where the spirits of the cow and the chicken hover over the plate. But Mr. Rain's is a chance to get out of your flannels, put on a puffy shirt and dine in a sophisticated and serene room where the predominant colors are orange and purple.

Consider stretching your evening by looking through the American Visionary Arts Museum. It's a weird space, but it's fun art. The museum gift shop is worth its own 45 minutes with books, art, and lots of crazy little items like colorful hats that we wore to answer the door on Halloween. The one downside is that the museum closes early enough that our anniversary dinner was almost an early bird special. So I could see going for dinner at a normal hour instead.

Sugar Baby by Gesine Bullock-Prado

2011-11-15T06:20:00.169-05:00

Peanut brittle

You cannot give someone a better gift than Gesine Bullock-Prado's cookbook Sugar Baby.

Trust me. If you're generous to the cook in your life, then you could be eating taffy and marshmallows as well. You could be comparing different batches of caramels, suggesting different nut mixes for crunchy brittles.

Sugar Baby is a cookbook of desserts that aren't cookies and cake. It's candies, fudge, toffee and even lollipops. Mrs. HowChow saw Gesine make macarons on the Today Show, and I bought the book because I saw good things happening.

Hard candies

Cooking isn't generally Mrs. HowChow's fun. But cooking with sugar has turned out to be an inspiration. She made taffy. She made marshmallows. She made caramels and peanut brittle.

I'm eating them all. This is spectacular.

Sugar Baby works because Mrs. HowChow has had a ball learning to make candy. New skills -- mostly variations on boiling sugar, then stretching, pulling and moving it around. You can get burnt, but the photos and descriptions walk you through the steps. Mrs. HowChow says it's like chemistry lab, but with much better payoff at the end.

But the book stands out because Mrs. HowChow reads it for fun. Gesine's stories of childhood. Her jokes in the recipes. Mrs. HowChow even went on the Sugar Baby Facebook page to post questions, and Gesine wrote back. That has inspired experiments like lavender marshmallows, rose-flavored hard candies, and a brittle with pumpkin seeds for Halloween.

Here's the secret: Candy is fun, and it can actually be easy. Brittle and marshmallow are basically heat, mix and pour out to cool. The hot sugars get complex, but a caramel that stayed soft became ice cream topping. If you mess up a batch, you'll run to Harris Teeter where you'll learn that people's food shopping habits are so weird so no one even asks why you need a gallon of corn syrup at 10 pm.

If you buy Sugar Baby, consider a candy thermometer as well. If your sweet tooth catches the bug, you can work through other gifts like sugar gloves, a marble slab or more. Check out the natural flavors at Silver Cloud Estates in Halethorpe.

Antichuchos at Chick'n Pollo in Columbia

2011-11-14T06:20:00.006-05:00

If you just want to try some tasty grilled beef, you need to check out the special antichuchos on the menu at Chick'n Pollo in Columbia.

The restaurant in the Hickory Ridge village center does most of its business in Peruvian roast chicken, and I'm a fan of the chicken, sweet plantains and yuca fries.

But the new find is another Peruvian speciality, the antichuchos. You get a plate with thin slices of marinated beef grilled on skewers. It's a slightly chewy texture, but a rich beef flavor, a bit salty from the marinade and perfectly paired with the spicy tomato salsa served on the side.

The skewers come with a boiled potato that Chick'n Pollo drops in the flyer when you order. The potato halves come out crisp, but not greasy. Ask for an extra little container of the green sauce that they serve with the chicken. That creamy, spicy sauce goes great with the potato.

That's it. Go try the antichuchos. You'll be happy.

If you want to know more, then you need to read more. But do you?

That's grilled heart, baby. Peruvian grilled heart on a skewer. Don't let the organ meat scare you off. Heart looks like cut-up steak. You get a strong beef flavor. You get a little more chew than you'd get from filet, but way more flavor. Chick'n Pollo puts a minor char on the meat.

The first time that I ate antichuchos was as a high school exchange student. My vocabulary didn't match my appetite. After my host father asked which appetizer I liked best, I said the beef. He asked if I knew what it was. I didn't. Everyone chuckled. He asked if I knew what "corazon" meant. I didn't. Everyone chuckled again. He tried a few more words. Then he finally put his fist on his chest and went "thump, thump, thump."

I got the point. I still ate the antichuchos. I'm not rushing out for tender or intestine, but heart somehow falls on the side of the line with tongue.

Thanks to Alberto Flores and his wife who suggested the antichuchos. They're the folks who first turned me onto R&R Taqueria. So figure that the Food Network will get to Chick'n Pollo in two years.

Restaurant Association Is Raffling Off An Audi

2011-11-12T06:20:00.001-05:00

The Restaurant Association is raffling off an Audi A3 as part of its annual big-ticket raffle -- where you get a chance at a car, plus gift certificates to a bunch of restaurants.

I don't generally post about giveaways, but restaurants are the lifeblood for HowChow. They're only selling 325 tickets at $300 each. For that, you get a shot at the car. Plus, you get a $25 gift certificate at a bunch of Maryland restaurants, including locals at Iron Bridge Wine Co., Victoria Gastro Pub, Second Chance Saloon and the Melting Pot.

The raffle raises money to support education, including a high school culinary curriculum that requires students to work in the industry. If you're interested, check out their Web site.

Links: More Pizza And A Thought On East Moon

2011-11-11T16:16:00.003-05:00

There are lots of good voices about food in Howard County. If you're looking around, remember the reviews on Patch, where Jackie Gonzalez-Feezer just reviewed the new East Moon Asian Bistro on Rte 108 in Ellicott City. And, of course, there are blogs -- like zachpund who was talking up Coal Fire and asking for favorite pizzas weeks before I got on the same kick!

As always, check HowChow's right column for blogs and Twitter feeds with local food content. You'll find different opinions, like the 2 Dudes Who Love Food. That young collective of reviewers just hit by Chevy's in Arundel Mills and Tutti Frutti in Ellicott City. (If you're the one paying for these reviews, you better watch out when the boys want to go back for "by the ounce" frozen yogurt. My brother and I could have broken a credit card socking away brownie-covered ice cream.)

While you're looking around, check out Jackie's La Casa de Sweets blog and its effort to raise money to fight famine in Africa.

Please email me with new blogs or Twitter feeds. Sometimes, I can link to a blog if it uses tags to group the food posts.)

Get A Great Taco - With A Shot At Getting On TV

2011-11-11T16:03:00.005-05:00

UPDATE: The Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins schedule changed. Sorry about that. I deleted the original post. Go get a taco at R&R anyway.

Thanks to Jeff for the emails. For newcomers, R&R is in the Shell station at U.S. 1 and Rte 175 right on the Elkridge/Jessup line. Click here for all the R&R posts.

Mango Grove Aiming For December Opening -- Including An Open Kitchen To Watch Dosa Making

2011-11-09T06:20:00.013-05:00

Mango Grove and Mirchi Wok are re-opening off Dobbin Road in Columbia, and the owner says that they're aiming to fire up the Indian food by Christmas.

I stopped by the shopping center because La Casa De Sweets tweeted about a menu on the door of the former Mongolian Grill. Rohit mistook me for someone coming to work on the space, and he came out to talk to me. My cardinal rule is that I'm not a reporter, but I had to ask Rohit when I was going to get to eat a Mango Grove dosa again. The giant crepes filled with vegetables make this one of my favorite kitchens in Howard County.

The new Mango Grove will be about the size of the combined restaurants from their old location, which was bulldozed to make way for a drive-through Starbucks. They're building out two kitchens -- one vegetarian for the Mango Grove menu heavy on southern Indian items and one meat for Mirchi Wok's Indo-Chinese selections.

The veg section will include an open kitchen right at the entrance. It's the space where Mongolian's chefs cooked the food, and it will let you watch the dosas as they crisp up.

Mango Grove & Mirchi Wok (aiming to open December 2011)
8865 Stanford Boulevard
Columbia, MD

NEAR: This is the shopping center that faces Dobbin ROad south of Rte 29. You enter by turning from Dobbin onto Standard Boulevard. This has Pub Dog, Hanamura, Riverside Coffee and Noodles Corner.

The Food Network Came To Elkridge, And All I Got Was Two Hours Enjoying The Sunshine

2011-11-08T13:00:00.003-05:00

The stars of the show -- Chef Rodrigo and family

Guy Fieri and a team filming his Food Network show are working around Baltimore this week, and the star spent much of this morning at R&R Taqueria in Elkridge.

R&R had to close today and November 14 to accommodate the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives crew, but the owner Rodrigo Albarran-Torres was allowed to invite a few people to appear as customers. I was honored to get the nod, and I had a great time even though I had to leave while the cameras were still working inside with Rodrigo, Fieri and his guest Joe Theismann.

This was fun like I had fun on a fishing trip where we caught nothing. The sun was beautiful. I talked to the folks behind the Strobist blog and Southern Skies Coffee Roasters. I also chatted with Alberto Flores, who left the first comment about R&R two years ago. (Alberto and his wife recommended a new dish at another spot for me to try -- which set Rodrigo teasing them that they were helping the competition.)

We watched Fieri and Theismann film a little piece with the show's signature Camaro at the Shell station's pumps. My favorite moment was watching the two celebrities pose together so that they could each have someone snap a photo with their personal cell phones. Then we stood around talking until I had to go back to work. The crew is subtle enough people had no idea they were filming a show. People kept trying to walk into the restaurant, and a guy had to walk over and explain why the doors were locked.

Let me know when anyone hears when DD&D will air the R&R episode. I'd love to update. This couldn't happen to a nicer guy -- or for better food. This wasn't a PR event. It was bunch of people standing outside because they really like Rodrigo and R&R. Click here for all the posts about R&R and its delicious tacos, ceviche, agua fresco, etc.

Trattoria E Pizzeria de Enrico in Columbia

2011-11-08T06:20:00.118-05:00

I'm still looking for pizza, so I went for a new look at an old favorite around Columbia, the pizza joint in King's Contrivance.

Trattoria E Pizzeria de Enrico is a casual institution around here. It's part of a small group of Italian spots, and it was one of the first places that people recommended when they started to comment on HowChow.

Last week, we ordered a whole pizza because fresh always seems better than the slices that they sell individually. Way too much for two -- especially because we split a calzone beforehand. This is pizza with the basics -- cheese, sausage, and thin-sliced mushrooms. We dug in.

No grease spots. That's how you can tell Trattoria kicks out pizzas with more ambition than the chains. Even cooling, the cheese stays delicious. The crust stays crisp, but still chewy with a thick sauce and the right balance of all the ingredients. With the calzone, you get an extra cup of sauce for dunking. Trattoria doesn't sell new jack pies like Coal Fire or Facci, but I plowed through at least one slice too many because that made a great dinner.

Oddly, it made a totally different leftover. After a day in the fridge, the dough flattens. Reheated, it crisped into something thin and more like Coal Fire. Delicious in round two as well.

What is your pizza place? I can't enough pies to tour the entire county. Amazing to think that I ate pizza five days a week through college. I am shocked that I survived two in a week now. I'm convinced that Facci and Coal Fire sell the gourmet pizza around here. Trattoria does the best standard pies that I know. Where else?

Trattoria E Pizzeria Da Enrico
8630 Guilford Rd
Columbia, MD 21046
410-381-1255

NEAR: This is in the King's Contrivance Village Center. This is south of Rte 32 and east of Rte 29. King's Contrivance has the new Harris Teeter, a Bagel Bin, and a CVS. Take the Eden Brook Drive / Shaker Drive exit from Rte 32. Follow the signs south to Eden Brook Drive, which goes right past King's Contrivance.

Pistachio Pizza At Facci Ristorante

2011-11-07T06:20:00.041-05:00

Facci on Johns Hopkins Road has expanded the menu along with the space inside, and it just gets better.

The new find: pistachio pizza. That's Facci regular pie topped with great ricotta cheese and the flavors of the charred crust, paper-thin red onion, pistachios and rosemary. It's unique, and it's delicious -- even after it's driven home.

As takeout, the pizza and an arugula salad made a great dinner. They'll just be better when we can eat at the restaurant next time, ready to try risotto and the pastas that we hadn't seen on the menu before. For some reason, Mrs. HowChow got in a pattern of house-made ravioli with pesto, so she hadn't looked for new items when she went with friends.

Has anyone tried the other new pizzas? There is one listed with clams and other seafood? And another topped with fries? Really, fries?

Mongolian Grill Closes In Columbia; The Spot Appears To Be Taken Over By Mango Grove

2011-11-06T06:20:00.005-05:00

The Mongolian Grill has closed in the Columbia shopping center off Dobbin Road, and they told people that they lost their lease.

As far as I can tell, the spot is going to become the new home for Mango Grove and Mirchi Wok, which closed this fall.

Does anyone know more about Mango Grove's timeline? Does anyone know if there is another place like Mongolian Grill? It wasn't my joint, but Reed emailed to see if anyone knows where to find a similar buffet:

I loved the lunch buffet where you could get as much anything as you liked including steak, chicken and pork with a large variety of vegetables, noodles, sauces and seasonings. They also had a delicious salad bar. If I had know they were closing I would have eaten there a lot more often. Do you know of any other Mongolian grill restaurants near by?

Thanks to all the people who emailed me about Mongolian Grill! Sorry for the delay in posting.

R&R Taqueria Will Be On The Food Network

2011-11-05T10:33:00.002-04:00

Our tacos at the gas station are ready for their closeup.

The Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has selected R&R Taqueria as a spot to film on their current trip to Baltimore.

I'm personally excited because I lobbied for R&R (along with some other joints) when the show's production company talked to me a few weeks ago as they were scouting. I said the food was delicious and that they were guaranteed great video because people eat their tacos looking over the gas pumps. Then Tom Sietsema named R&R in his Fall Dining Guide, which let me say that they didn't have to rely on a blogger about the delicious part.

I hadn't mentioned anything because I didn't want the show to think R&R was trumpeting the event too early. But Matt posted an R&R flyer on the HowChow Facebook page that announces the filming and notes that R&R will need to close for much of Nov. 8 and Nov. 14.

(Update: See below Cara's comment that she emailed DD&D about R&R months ago. People look out for R&R.)

In far away news, R&R's Web site has photos of new location in the White Marsh Mall.

Link: Columbia Wegmans To Open June 17, 2012

2011-11-05T10:15:00.002-04:00

The new Wegmans in Columbia will open on June 17, 2012, reports the Columbia Patch and Explore Howard.

Explore Howard also reports that the new supermarket in the Long Reach village center will be called Family Foods.

Howard County To Get First Whole Foods In Gehry-Designed Headquarters: TOTC Blog

2011-11-04T06:30:00.003-04:00

Howard County may gets its first Whole Foods, reports the Tales of Two Cities blog, which posted this morning about negotiations to turn the former Rouse Company headquarters into a ritzy grocer.

Wordbones works in commercial real estate so I take his word that Whole Foods is in the final stages of negotiating to convert the first floor of the Frank-Gehry-designed building. This is the current Howard Hughes building at 10271 Little Patuxent Parkway, right across from the mall in Town Center.

Go to Tales of Two Cities for that news (and if you're a journalist, credit him for getting this first).

Then come back here for some thoughts on the food.

I wouldn't be a food blogger if Howard County had had a Whole Foods in 2005.

A photo from Waymarking

When I was lured here by Mrs. HowChow, it was a challenge to find cool food because I couldn't find a single place -- either in real life or on the Web -- for all kinds of shopping. I nosed around Roots and Mom's Organic Market. I found a fish market, stumbled in Lily's Mexican Market, blundered into the old Sizar's.

The gradual finds lent themselves to a blog, and it has been great fun to explore the local food scene and write up little ideas. That landscape will be dramatically altered if Columbia gets a Wegmans in 2012 and a Whole Foods soon after.

Honestly, we have been talking about the rumor for a few weeks now. Long enough to get greedy. "I hope this is a Rockville Whole Foods and not a Baltimore Whole Foods," said Mrs. HowChow last night. The new Rockville store has way more space, way more cheese and prepared foods, a crazy bulk food section with unusual dried beans and multiple varieties of honey.

The Columbia spot has the opportunity to be an amazing experience. Who else has a grocery store designed by a world-famous architect? The plot has parking now. They also have a lakeside location. A Whole Foods is a mini-restaurant along with a grocery, so I could imagine people carrying food out to a view of the water. I assume Howard Hughes loves the Whole Foods idea because it can make an entire neighborhood seem more attractive.

But we want our cake and our local butcher too. I will love the option of Whole Foods, but still want the option of Laurel Meat Market's ground chuck and Boarman's housemade sausages. Stay tuned for more news about the possible renovation -- and about all the delicious food that you'll get from the places that made this a nice food scene long before Wegmans and Whole Foods wanted to join us.

Google Maps can give you a birds eye view of the Rouse Company building so you can see is parking and the connections to the rest of the area. Check out this Web site for more about Gehry's buildings in Columbia. Or check out a Baltimore Magazine story about Gehry's Columbia.

Link: First Thoughts On Corner Stable

2011-11-02T06:20:00.001-04:00

Corner Stable has opened in the Kings Contrivance village center, and it was packed last week when we went past.

The P90Noir blog has an early review, and their table liked the crab cakes and the ribs. Not so positive on the sides and aware of some chaos in a new place. Sounds like the ribs are the Mrs. HowChow style -- fall off the bone. We continue to have a divide over "tender" versus "toothsome and smokey."

Please Vote For HowChow In The Mobbies

2011-11-01T07:06:00.000-04:00

The Baltimore Sun has brought back its Mobbies contest, so I would love if you could click on their site to vote for HowChow under "Best Food" and "Best Howard County."

The Mobbies is the Sun's "vote-each-day" contest where people can pick the local blogs that they read. They added the "Best Howard County" category this year. You have to sign on the Sun's site, then vote. After that, you can vote for the grand prize "Best Overall."

Vote early and often through Nov. 10. (Especially you Mom!)

Garam Masala Wings At Tandoor Grill

2011-11-01T06:20:00.000-04:00

The folks at Tandoor Grill have converted a sandwich shop into a nice Indian restaurant / takeout, but they have kept much of old menu -- with some spiced up improvements.

The shop on Johns Hopkins Road near Rte 29 sells coffee, salads and sandwiches -- presumably to the APL crowd at lunch -- but it has pushed its own fusion taste into the chicken wings.

Garam masala chicken wings come six or eight to an order. They're meaty with a mild spice and a real flavor of lemon. Last Friday was "Girls Night Out" around here, so I ended up a friend's house where three of watched their kids and held a "Boys Wing Contest."

The Tandoor Grill wings held their own with my local favorite Kloby's Smokehouse. They're equally delicious and interesting with the Indian spices standing up to Kloby's smoke and sauces. It's definitely worth a head-to-head if you're buying some wings to take back to the office or home. I suggest "gram masala" versus "dirty and old." You'll have to have Kloby's explain that to you.

The Indian food at Tandoor Grill has actually been quite good. I need to go again to get myself an inspired post.

Tandoor Grill

7500 Montpelier Road

Laurel, MD 20723

301-362-4222

Near: Tandoor Grill is in the shopping center with Kloby's Smokehouse, La Palapa Too, Facci and a bunch of other restaurants. It is on Johns Hopkins Road just west of Rte 29. The post office calls that area Laurel. In the only political statement on the HowChow blog, we keep pointing out that's not Laurel.

Howard Magazine Publishes Its Best Restaurants

2011-10-27T07:10:00.026-04:00

Howard Magazine's 2011 dining edition hit the stands this week, and you should check out the full package with a feature, the "best of" list, and some suggestions from some talkers.

The Howard Magazine lists are sort of an "anti-blog." I always stress that HowChow -- and especially my best restaurants list -- is just personal opinions, but the magazine folks collect votes from readers across the county. Their Best of Dining 2011 list runs dozens of of topics including takeout, margaritas, Chinese and wine lists.

To round it out, the magazine also asked for thoughts from me, their dining columnist Donna Ellis and Sun reviewer Richard Gorelick. Their suggestions are terrific. But you should definitely check out the entire package for the photos as well. The main feature describes six "giant" meals that you can order in Howard County. They highlight burgers, a burriro and a sandwich, but it was the double-decker "Smash Dog pizzas" at Pug Dog in Columbia that reminded me that I need to check out those (regular) pizzas.

Signs Of Cupcakes, Reports On The Second Sunday Market, And Talk Of A New R&R Location

2011-10-26T07:23:00.000-04:00

I'm hearings lots of reports about new bakeries and restaurants across the county. There seem to be a rush of new dessert bakeries, but also new food so that you can get dinner before dessert:

The new Cooks 'N Cakes bakery has a sign up on Rte 40 in Ellicott City, reports Kate. This will be a cupcake bakery in the former site of the Breadery. Sara Toth wrote a profile of the owners in Explore Howard and says they're planning to open at the end of October or beginning of November. (This seems about the same timing as the new Linda's Bakery in Columbia.)
The Second Sunday market in Ellicott City went off a few weeks ago. I keep having conflicts, but the downtown Ellicott City happening is a great way to spend an afternoon and pick up some food and vegetables. Katy picked up celery root and bread from the Little French Market and posted about them on the Peaceful Plate blog.
The owner of R&R Taqueria is working to get another location off the ground, says Southern Skies Coffee Roasters in a comment from earlier this month.
East Moon Asian Bistro has opened in the Shipley's Grant development on Rte 108 in Elkridge. Eric and others reported the opening. Anyone been for the food?
And Mike Crosen tweeted me to recommend Sharp's at Waterford Farm, a farm with hayrides, pumpkin and local honey just west of Glenelg off Rte 97. I haven't been, but it opens on weekends for those rides, farm animal visits, a country store and nature trails where you can just walk outside. This is Sharp's Web site.

The Local Delicacy That Got Away -- Chartering A Boat To Chase Rockfish On The Chesapeake

2011-10-25T06:20:00.024-04:00

PoppaChow and Chris Diehl on the Teaser

This was supposed to be a post about catching your own dinner, but those were the ones who got away.

Fishing trips were a tradition in my family in the 1960s and 1970s, and I restarted the idea last weekend with a trip on the Chesapeake for my father's birthday. He and my brother crashed at our house in Howard County. Then we drove to meet Chris Diehl on his boat the Teaser at 6:30 am in Dundalk.

Fall rockfish season -- as I learned on the Teaser -- is about younger fish. We were looking for fish longer than 18 inches. We could only take home two fish each. It's a tough limit.

But it turned out to be tougher to catch a fish. We tried a stop soon after we entered the bay. We stopped near the bay bridge. We ran across to the Eastern Shore and circled until I lost my sense of direction. At mid-day, we hadn't had even a bite, and we were grateful for the excitement when the weights got caught on the bottom. (My brother caught a burlap bag. For a while, we thought that might be the highlight.)

I can't recommend the Teaser enough. When you aren't catching fish, you do see how hard a captain works. Chris trolled and trolled. He switched bait. He worked the phone. Fish have been scarce since the big storms this summer, Chris said as we circled with another half dozen boats. He and the other captains were calling each other with reports. Only a fish or two above the bridge. No fish below.

Nemo

But we had what we had come to enjoy. We were there to hang out and talk. A dozen donuts in honor of my grandfather. Sandwiches that Mrs. HowChow had outfitted with rye from Roots and deli meat from Harris Teeter.

It's a rush when the engines kick in, and the boat leaps up to run across the bay. Our weather was beautiful, chilly at dawn and then warming as the sun got up. We were happy, although Chris was professionally frustrated with the lack of hits. He pushed late into the afternoon, a stop in the middle of the bay and then trolling off Sparrows Point.

That's where we caught Nemo.

A rockfish is an apex predator of the Chesapeake. These are killing machines. Nemo hit the bait like a torpedo. I'm sure he was shocked to find my family staring at him when we pulled him out. We were shocked to see him, that's for sure. Maybe 12 inches. Chris said he was 14 inches, but I think that was stretching the truth. We got our photo and threw him back.

Rockfish is good eating when it is the legal size. Last year, I discovered the wild ones at Laurel Meat Market. We're thinking about going back next spring for the trophy fish season. Chris fishes then from Chesapeake Beach The mature rockfish run south from the spawning grounds back out to the ocean.

Would I like to catch legal fish next time? Absolutely. Could I have a better day than this weekend? Probably not. And as for Nemo . . . we'll find him again.

I can't recommend Chris and the Teaser enough. The boat holds six people, which makes trips possible for smaller groups. We had been looking for a "guy" even where the boys could hang out. This was way better than a football game, and Chris would be a fine host for guys, gals or kid. He has spent his life on the water and his career as a Baltimore firefighter, so you can't be in safer hands.

Chris doesn't use a mate with the smaller groups, so a group of four pays just the $380 rental fee. Trophy season runs from April to May. Then the regular season runs through the rest of the year. Check out Chris' Web site.

Grind Your Personal Burger Blend -- Or "Mix The Meat And Bacon At The Laurel Meat Market"

2011-10-24T06:20:00.002-04:00

A true scientist knows that the best way to experiment is to change just one variable at a time.

But I had two inspirations since I last made hamburgers, so I ended up trying two innovations at once when I went back to the grill this month. First up: kimchi. On the menu at Mr. Rain's Fun House, we had seen a burger topped by kimchi and thought that sounded interesting. Second innovation: bacon.

You wouldn't think bacon was a burger innovation. But this wasn't bacon on top. This was raw bacon ground into the chuck. Laurel Meat Market ground me a special blend after Matt emailed me about how how the butchers there would make personal grinds. Matt explained how he had figured that out:

My two go-to burger books are are "The Gourmet Burger" and "The Cook's Illustrated Guide To Grilling and Barbecue." I can't remember which one mentions it, but one of the books talks about using a chuck/sirloin/boneless short ribs blend. The Laurel Meat Market doesn't have short ribs, so I just go with bacon. I think it's three parts chuck, two parts sirloin, and one part bacon. Then I'll take it home and add onions or whatever else I feel like putting in.

"The Gourmet Burger" talks about grinding your meat fresh and how to do it. It claims that supermarket ground beef (or any ground beef that's been sitting around for a while) is pretty bland in flavor compared to grinding it fresh. You can find articles about different grinding ratios like this one. You can also find threads on Chowhound, although I'm more of a DonRockwell guy myself.

So when I go into Laurel Meat Market, I'll select the meat using that ratio of chuck, sirloin and bacon. I'm not sure what made me ask them at Laurel Meat Market if they'd grind it for me, but I am glad I did!! They'll cut it up into little pieces, mix the pieces together, and then feed it through grinder right in front of you.

Don't be shy. I once asked them if people regularly request meet ground to order, and the person said yes. So I assume it's quite common. I used to just buy the meat whole, and then take it home and spend a while putting it through the grinder attachment on my Kitchen Aid. They'll do it for any quantity that you want and for anything they sell. I'll usually just buy enough for what I'm cooking for that day (burgers, meatloaf, etc.).

I still can't get my burgers to come out as good as the ones I've had at Palena (in DC), but I've noticed that I get invited to a lot more cookouts since I started doing it this way :)

I can see why Matt gets those invitations. Last week, I had a really basic mix of already-ground extra lean chuck and bacon. It made delicious burgers. Juicy even though we cooked them a touch past medium. A hint of bacon flavor through and through. I thought it was particularly great with a layer on kimchi on top. Just jarred cabbage that I had bought at Super Grand in Laurel. The spicy, pickled flavor cut nicely against the fat in the meat.

I will definitely try both of these variables again. More kimchi and more special grinds. I'll ask next time to grind all three meats like Matt suggested and maybe buy enough that I'll feel right asking to grind it all from full cuts. (Last week, I didn't ask. I'm still shy about asking for special treatment, mostly because I know so little about meat that I worry about looking foolish.)

Link: Beer Taking Over A Wine Spot On Monday

2011-10-21T07:35:00.001-04:00

Bistro Blanc has made its name with food and wine, but you can join the beer crowd for an upscale dinner on Monday, highlighted by the Baltimore Beer Guy.

The Glenelg restaurant is hosting a four-course dinner with the Lagunitas brewery. We ate at Bistro Blanc recently after a long time away (post coming), and I agree witht the BBG that the food is delicious and fun. Definitely the kind of kitchen that could creatively play with beer pairings. They're offering the four courses and four beers for $55 a person. The BBG has the full menu and a description of how to sign up.

Oh, What A Cake Of Cupcakes! HowChow Uses Child Labor To Taste Test Local Desserts

2011-10-21T06:20:00.005-04:00

We're not cake people at Casa de HowChow, going more for pies and cookies, rice pudding or gelato. To test the local bakeries, we needed to hire experts. Luckily, RDAdoc brought in a team of tasters, and they're so young that they work for cheap. Her first test -- Oh What a Cake! in Columbia:

A couple months ago I was at a fourth birthday party and saw the coolest cake
from Oh What a Cake! It was a cake made up entirely of cupcakes. I thought this idea was brilliant and knew I would order my son’s cake from there this year!

My three-year-old son loves cake, but he always gets frustrated when he tries to pick up the piece with his hands and it falls apart. There is usually crying involved, and it’s a sad situation to watch. At his 2nd birthday party, the big cake crisis came when someone took the cake away to slice it, and he didn’t understand that he was going to get a piece. For this year's party, I didn’t want any cake drama!

My son’s birthday party was a farm theme, and I ordered adorable farm invites and decorations and had the party at Clarks Elioak Farm. I emailed Oh What a Cake! to ask if they could make a farm-themed cake. The owner emailed me a picture of another farm cake she had made, and, although it was adorable, it wasn’t what I envisioned. I emailed her back with a picture of what I wanted, and she was able to make it. She made my son a fabulous cake that consisted of butter, chocolate and red velvet cupcakes. (Another advantage of the cupcake cake: You can choose several flavors).

The cupcake cake was a huge hit with my so and all his friends. And there were no tears!! (The cupcakes also made quite a hit with the adults -- especially the red velvet ones. The cake was moist and the icing wasn’t too rich. I had multiple people ask me at the party and afterwards where I got the cake. I raved to them about the great customer service.)

Thanks to Oh What a Cake! for making this year’s birthday celebration tear free.

If you want more desserts, check out all the HowChow posts about sweets.

Food Finds: Best Cooking Ingredients 2011

2011-10-20T06:20:00.000-04:00

Estrellita Market

When you want to make great food at home, Howard County offers you way more than the standard supermarkets. Until Wegmans opens in 2012 (or the Whole Foods comes in my dreams), you'll need to cobble together good cooking at ethnic, organic and other markets.

The 2010 list was pretty good. So I scrapped all of those and offer 10 new simple things:

Frank's Seafood

Make a dessert plate with a box of good cookies jazzed up with the candied fruit from Estrellita Market in Elkridge.
Stock up on bulk coffee at Sidamo in Fulton. They roast delicious coffee (and make great sandwiches that they should advertise more).
Grab smoked trout at the Town Grill in Lisbon. (Last year, I pushed the smoked salmon.) It's a great stop on the way to or from Larriland Farms. Grab the house-smoked salmon and use it for pasta or other recipes.
Pick a skirt steak at Laurel Meat Market. You also can't beat the ground chuck. Ideal for hamburgers, the ground chuck would also work wonderfully for meat balls or pasta sauces. This is real meat, ground in the shop. The only kind that I want to eat these days.
Grill some oysters from Frank's Seafood in Jessup. They'll sell you delicious bivalves, along with the oyster knife and Kelchner's cocktail sauce.
Grab the guacamole at Roots Market. It's second to Mrs. HowChow's recipe with the chipotles, but Roots makes fresh dip that makes an easy dinner.
Sweeten your vegetable buying by also picking up a bottle of Gorman Farm's honey. The bees work the fields, then their honey ends up in the stand with the tomatoes, peppers, greens and other produce.
Purchase a turkey from Maple Lawn in Fulton. Go beyond a Thanksgiving beast and consider buying their smoked turkey, ground turkey or their dark-meat "saddles" for stock.
Start checking out the Asian grocery stores like H Mart and Lotte. An easy start: the udon, soba and somen noodles that could make a dish right out of your pantry.
Spice up your cooking by driving to Penzeys in Rockville. That's a run from Howard County, but you can buy so many different spices and mixes. It's an inspiration to spend $30 on small packages and throw away all those dried out herbs that have lived for yours in your drawer.

This week, I'm posting a series of "best of" posts starting with best restaurants and best food experiences. Then some posts about finds at stores -- the best grab and go items and the best ingredients for cooks. You can click for all the "best of" posts.

Food Experiences: Best of Howard County 2011

2011-10-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

Laurel Tavern Donuts

Most of my favorite food doesn't reduce to my list of the best restaurants in Howard County -- even after I supplemented with a second list of food finds at special groceries.

So, like in 2009, I'm taking Elizabeth Large's inspiration for a list of "great experiences" to create a separate list of ways that you can enjoy great food in Howard County. I arbitrary replaced half the items the 2010 list (and almost everything from the 2009 list). Please add comments with your favorite Howard County food experiences -- places to shop, places to eat, etc.

Pack a picnic, then eat a peach right off the tree at Larriland Farm in Woodbine. From berries in early summer through apples and pumpkins in fall, nothing beats the flavor of the first peach that we split driving away from the farm stand. Picnic option: fried chicken from Harvest Fried Chicken in Woodbine.

Buy a hot pretzel, then walk around the Dutch Country Farmers Market in Laurel. Start with a hot pretzel, then circle the relocated market to check out Amish salads, butchers, candies, baked goods, etc.

Pair a cookbook from the Howard County library with a market that you would like to try. Steven Raichlen's grilling cookbook has options for almost any cuisine. Or try a Rick Bayless book with Lily's Mexican Market.

Shop along U.S. 1 on the Jessup/Elkridge line. Tacos and agua fresca at R&R Taqueria. Stop at Mom's Organic Market. Maybe buy fish or oysters at Frank's Seafood. Then grab a goat milk lollipop at El Patio for the ride home.

Stop for a milkshake at the Duchess. The Ellicott City spot makes thick shakes from ice cream. It's the ultimate local spot and everything you'd want in a treat.

Try ground lamb at one of the local halal butchers like Nazar Market. They'll grind it for you, and you can make delicious kabobs. Start with Steven Raichlen's recipe.

Run a fried chicken taste test. American at Harvest Fried Chicken. Import at the Mad for Chicken franchise inside Tian Chinese Cuisine in Ellicott City.

Go try Ethiopian food at Soretti's Ethiopian in Burtonsville -- start with sambusas, which are like samosas, and one of the meat or vegetarian mixes.

Dim sum at Red Pearl or Asian Court. Both joints do weekday dim sum from a menu, but take a group for weekend brunch when you can pick from a card and sample both the standards like shumai or steamed buns along with exotic items like chicken feet and savory cakes.

Go try Korean food. Howard County's unique cuisine is the Korean options along Rte 40. You can get everything from barbecue to soup to tofu. You could read an overview post. Or just start at Shin Chon Garden and order dolset bi bim bop and a table where you can grill some bulgogi. Try the little dishes they bring -- along with the miso soup and the steamed egg.

Sample craft beers and spicy burritos at Frisco Tap House in Columbia. If I drank more, I would spend more time at the bar sampling the best beers and eating the Southwest cuisine. They moved to a new location and added even more beer.

Pick strawberries at Gorman Farms. It's an easy drive from anywhere from Fulton to Ellicott City. It's a short walk to the field. Great to take kids.

Hot soup on a cold night. The tofu stews at Lighthouse Tofu BBQ make for a terrific, casual weeknight dinner.

Take someone for a donut at Laurel Tavern Donuts. They're soft and puffy right out of the oil, and even the cake donuts are light. The U.S. 1 spot will make some memories for you.

Buy authentic Mexican ingredients at Lily's Mexican Market in Columbia. Start with shepherd's tacos from Steve Raichlen's cookbook or anything from Rick Bayless' Mexican Everyday. Lily's has all the spices, the canned peppers, even fresh cactus. And Lily's makes fresh corn tortillas.

Sample beer and a burger at Victoria Gastropub in Columbia. Five half-pours and the best burger in Howard County. Even better if you can enjoy the "parking lot cafe" and eat watching your car.

Red Pearl

Shop for kitchenware in the Hanoori Home Mart. The Asian kitchen store near the H Mart sells decorate items like tea cups and chop sticks, along with knives, steamers, bento boxes, and rolling pins that you won't see a Williams Sonoma. You can buy all the supplies that you'd need for Andrea Nguyen's Asian Dumplings recipes.

What would you add?

(Update: Read the comments for some great ideas. I should have remembered Tea on the Tiber. Mrs. HowChow went once with RDAdoc, and they had a great time. I don't know why I never posted. Probably because they didn't take a photo!)

If you're looking for more, check out two prior series of posts -- a "tour of Howard County" describing restaurants and markets in specific areas or my guide to what I've learned about Howard County from "best Chinese" and "best takeout" to "best BBQ" and "best burgers."

Link: Lisa B. Joined The Beet Party At Larriland

2011-10-18T22:40:00.002-04:00

The Lisa B., Mrs. S blog made the ride to Larriland Farm for pumpkins, apples and beets. Check out the photos of the produce and the canned beets!

Meet The Folks Behind Corner Stable -- They're Here To Save Us From Being "Restaurant Poor"

2011-10-18T22:06:00.001-04:00

The new Corner Stable restaurant should open on October 24 in King's Contrivance in Columbia, according to Sara Toth's article on Explore Howard.

The article quotes the owners and talks up baby back ribs that they bring in from Denmark and cook for three days.

The new folks sound nice, although I can't say that I agree that "Howard County is 'restaurant poor' and has 'a scarcity of locally owned and operated restaurants.'" Maybe they just need to read more local blogs. (Smiles.)

(Update: See the comment below. I can't wait to try mini corn dog appetizers!!)

Restaurants: Best of Howard County 2011

2011-10-18T06:20:00.000-04:00

Grace Garden

The best restaurants are the ones that make you happy -- the places that you want to return for your old favorites or for new discoveries.

So this is my best restaurants. I can guarantee that you can get great food in (or just outside) Howard County. These are the places that I'd tell you to start if you want something delicious.

Frankly, I don't eat out enough to change my "best" list that often. I'm always finding new "favorite things." So this is a post to spark a little conversation and to help people start out when they find HowChow for the first time.

I don't know if your best restaurants are on my list. That's why you can write comments! Tell me the three places that you would recommend to someone who just moved to Howard County.

This is an update from my July 2008 post, my October 2009 post and my October 2010 post about the best restaurants. Later this week, I'll follow up with a list of great food experiences and great shopping finds to supplement these.

A Few Of My (Current) Favorite Things:

I love great food, and great items appear at some places that aren't great restaurants. For example, R&R Taqueria is a takeout joint, but you can't beat lunch at the counter overlooking the gas pumps. I arbitrarily forced myself not to repeat anything from my 2009 list or my 2010 list.

Soretti's Ethiopian

House-made noodles in black bean sauce at Tian Chinese Cuisine in Ellicott City.
The cheese and meat plate at Pure Wine Cafe in Ellicott City.
Nepalese momos at Gateway Pizza in Elkridge.
Chicken curry puffs and choo-chee goong curry at Bangkok Garden 9 in Columbia.
The "dirty" wings at Kloby's Smokehouse on Johns Hopkins Road.
Tournedos of Filet at Venegas Prime Filet in Fulton.
Steamed pork buns in the dim sum at Red Pearl in Columbia.
Pesto-covered ravioli at Facci Ristorante on Johns Hopkins Road.
Happy Together roll at Sushi King in Columbia
All-teff injera with stews at Soretti's Ethiopian in Burtonsville

My Top Restaurants in Howard County:

Not claiming to be "The Ten Best." This is an alphabetical array of recommendations to anyone moving to Howard County. My list tilts to flavorful and affordable, and it changes over time. Plus, it omits places like Tersiguel's and Aida Bistro that I haven't tried recently enough to post about.

Sushi Sono

Bistro Blanc in Glenelg for imaginative, upscale American food (that exceeded even the worst in service)
Bon Fresco in Columbia for sandwiches -- and for takeout bread
Iron Bridge Wine Company in Columbia for tapas and wine
Grace Garden in Odenton for authentic Chinese (almost in the county) -- with Mrs. HowChow still voting for Jesse Wong's Ase an Bistro in Columbia, especially if you can get it delivered
House of India in Columbia for northern Indian
Maiwand Kabob in Columbia for Afghan
Mango Grove in Columbia for southern Indian (relocating)
R&R Taqueria in Elkridge for delicious Mexican inside a gas station
Shin Chon Garden in Ellicott City for Korean
Sushi Sono in Columbia for sushi

Others that make the list: Facci in Laurel for pizza and that house-made pasta, Aida Bistro in Columbia for superb Italian food and wine, and Victoria Gastropub in Columbia especially for burgers. And if you just want a professional list, remember that we reverse-engineered Richard Gorelick's Howard County favorites as well.

Five Places On My List To Try:

My favorite part of HowChow is that it is my excuse to try new places. These are joints on my list to try for the first time or to try again so that I could post:

Tersiguels in Ellicott City for French
Aida Bistro in Columbia for Italian
Han Joong Kwan in Ellicott City, especially for hand-torn noodle soups
El Hidalgo in Elkridge for Mexican and Colombian
Mount Airy Inn in Mt. Airy

This week, I'm posting a series of "best of" posts starting with best restaurants and best food experiences. Then some posts about finds at stores. You can click for all the "best of posts" going back.

If you're looking for more, check out two prior series of posts -- a "tour of Howard County" describing restaurants and markets in specific areas or my 2009 guide to what I've learned about Howard County from "best Chinese" and "best takeout" to "best BBQ" and "best burgers." I'll update that soon.

"International" Grocery Coming To Long Reach

2011-10-17T21:41:00.000-04:00

The Safeway in Long Reach will be replaced by an "international" grocery store with a cafe, reports David Greisman on Explore Howard.

I'm not sure what the International Food Market will sell.

Most of the grocery stores around here that cater to an "international" market have a Korean focus with a range of American, Asian, Hispanic and other items. But the only mention of International Food Market that I found tonight is a Russian market in Baltimore.

Anyone know what the Long Reach store will carry? Greisman has an interview with the shopping center owner, who says a pizzeria and a Caribbean restaurant will open over the next month.

(Update: Greisman tweeted that the market isn't the Russian folks from Baltimore. The village center owner said it's folks who have markets in Virginia. Greisman may go back to interview the market people for more details.)