Coming Soon: Mission BBQ in Columbia, Farmers Market in Fulton; Maple Lawn Gets Veggies

Mission BBQ is coming to Columbia in the former home of Chicken Out just off Rte 175 and Dobbin Road.

(Update, it looks like Mission BBQ is aiming to open in July 2014 -- suggested by the fact that the company retweeted Kerry's tweet with that date.)

This is another restaurant into the development with Target and Dick's Sporting Goods.  This is right off Dobbin.  I first mentioned Mission BBQ in February based on a reliable source.  Last weekend, the sign was up, but it looked construction continues.  James and several other people emailed me while I was laid up.  Folks are pretty excited for the meats.

Down south, folks are excited for the vegetables at a new Saturday farmers market planned this summer in the Maple Lawn development.  Folks from Love Dove Farm in Woodbine came to the Maple Lawn community meeting earlier this month to announce that they'll offer vegetables, bread, cheese and more on Saturday mornings starting at 8:30 am.

I thought this was one of the county-run markets, but their Web site shows three markets on Wednesdays (Miller Library), Thursdays (Howard County General) and Sunday (Oakland Mills).  The reports from the Maple Lawn meeting said the farmers planned to have music, events, and sweets from a bakery, maybe called Stone House Bakery.

I have been out of commission for weeks with travel and illness. I'm trying to start up again, and I'll do a bunch of short posts about news that happened when I was home. This way, people will be able to find the posts if they're looking for a specific restaurant. Check them all out by clicking on Reset May 2014.

BricknFire Pizza Is Firing In Oella, Says Adam; Enjoy A Cool Walk To Great Food Off Main Street

BricknFire Pizza from opening day

On my list for this summer is an afternoon walk up a shady trail from Main Street to brick oven pizza.

The new BricknFire Pizza is operating from the parking lot of the Breadery in Oella.  The bakery is worth a walk on its own, but BricknFire is running a portable pizza oven that takes the place up a notch.  It all sits next to the Trolley Line #9 trail that runs up a shaded hill from downtown Ellicott City up into Oella.

When I wanted to try last weekend, BricknFire was out at winery.  But friend of the blog Adam checked out some pies at the early May opening, and he sent me a thoughtful piece that talked up the good:

The char

There’s a lot to like about BricknFire Pizza, but there are still some elements to work out. Set outside the rustic façade of the Breadery and adjacent to the Trolley Trail, Brick’n Fire has a pastoral ambiance which bolsters the ethos of rustic, Neapolitan style pizza. Based on my initial tasting, they’re not far from it.

The opening day menu consisted of three pizzas; Cheese ($9), Margherita ($10), and Soppressata ($10). A brochure promises various “Chef Creation” pizzas at “market price” for the future, although specifics weren’t enumerated on.

Strawberry Season Arrives, And You Can Get CrunchDaddy With Your Fruit At Gorman

Strawberry season has arrived, and you can get all kinds of treats at local farms.

My local spots are Gorman Farm in Laurel and Larriland Farm in Woodbine.  Larriland is the big player and very worth the drive out Rte 70, but Gorman is a stone's throw from Columbia so it's really easy to get into the fields.

Gorman opened last weekend, and they seem to be picking this week -- overcoming last week's hail storm.  Larriland seems to be opening this Saturday.

As a special bonus, you should check out CrunchDaddy popcorn for sale at Gorman.  I love that stuff.  It's made in Howard County, and it's a great match of local businesses to have CrunchDaddy at Gorman.  They're trying to stock eight varieties, including two new ones -- Smokey Cheddar Crunch and Chesapeake Peanut Crunch.

If you want to pick strawberries, definitely check the farms' Web sites because they open and close as they have ripe fruit -- Gorman Farms and Larriland Farms.

I have been out of commission for weeks with travel and illness. I'm trying to start up again, and I'll do a bunch of short posts about news that happened when I was home. This way, people will be able to find the posts if they're looking for a specific restaurant. Check them all out by clicking on Reset May 2014.

Cafe Mezcla Opened In Hickory Ridge With Waffles And Crepes, Sweet And Savory

A new cafe opened in the Hickory Ridge village center in Columbia -- bringing a menu of crepes, waffles and more to Columbia, reported several people who commented over the past week.

Cafe Mezcla opened last weekend next to Meadows Custard, according to reports from folks including Elizabeth of the Bare Midriff blog was the early reporter.  This sounds like a place for meals or dessert. They do crepes with goat cheese and mushrooms and waffles with bananas Foster.

I have been out of commission for weeks with travel and illness. I'm trying to start up again, and I'll do a bunch of short posts about news that happened when I was home. This way, people will be able to find the posts if they're looking for a specific restaurant. Check them all out by clicking on Reset May 2014.

Saturdays Call You To Main Street; Mobile Pizza Co. Installing Kitchen, Taking Over Ice Cream

The new weekly market off Main Street should call you on Saturdays to walk through downtown Ellicott City.

For several years, there was a monthly market with food stalls, vegetables stands, and some vendors selling olives, pickles, jams and other items.

But the market has gone weekly now.  It's every Saturday in the parking lot behind Tersiguel's and in the parking lot next to the Wine Bin.  Last weekend, Katie discovered news and reported in her CupcakeRN blog -- including the fact that the folks behind River Hill Pizza Co. and its mobile ovens are taking over space on Tonge Row to install a kitchen.  They're also taking over the ScoopAHHdeedoo ice cream shop in the same row.

I have been out of commission for weeks with travel and illness. I'm trying to start up again, and I'll do a bunch of short posts about news that happened when I was home. This way, people will be able to find the posts if they're looking for a specific restaurant. Check them all out by clicking on Reset May 2014.

Buffalo Wild Wings Has Opened In Columbia

Buffalo Wild Wings has opened in Columbia.  I went past Sunday on a run to Target, and they were filling the parking lot by the time that I drove home.

This is an outbuilding across from the Target on Rte 175.  Buffalo Wild Wings is next to Famous Dave's, which was flying some beer company banners in competition.

I hear good things about these wings, although I haven't actually eaten there.  Has anyone tried it yet?

I have been out of commission for weeks with travel and illness.  I'm trying to start up again, and I'll do a bunch of short posts about news that happened when I was home.  This way, people will be able to find the posts if they're looking for a specific restaurant.  Check them all out by clicking on Reset May 2014.