Link: An Loi On The Baltimore Snacker

The city folks keep coming to Columbia for culture -- at least a play and a Vietnamese dinner for the Baltimore Snacker.

The Snacker posted about An Loi where he and friends ate pho, pork with vermicelli and salty lemon soda.     An interesting find: He discovered that An Loi makes its own fish sauce.

I have written before about An Loi, which is on Snowden River Parkway.  The pho makes wonderful takeout because they package the broth, noodles, and vegetables separately.  When you get home, you assemble it as fresh as you would have it in the store.  And the salted plum and lemon sodas were one of my original finds for HowChow.  I recommend those and the Vietnamese coffee.

Cazbar Kepab House in Columbia

Good food often comes without waiters in Howard County, and the new Cazbar Kabob continues the trend with casual Turkish that makes a great lunch or takeout in Columbia.

(Update: Cazbar appears to have been replaced in Fall 2010 with Turkshish Kebap.  New name.  New menu.)

Cazbar opened a few blocks east of Howard Community College and the hospital, offering a streamlined version of the original Baltimore location's menu.  This is hearty Turkish specialities like sour cherry soda and lahmacun (pizza with ground beef).  But much of the basics will please anyone who likes Maiwand Kabob -- grilled meats, vegetables and interesting bread.

Cazbar follows the Maiwand and Bon Fresco model -- casual counter service and fresh food, some unique ethnic items but accessible to almost anyone.  The basics are meat.  Kabobs of grilled meat.  Doner of seasoned sliced and pressed meat similar to gyros.  There are variations of chicken, lamb and beef.  Wrapped in thin bread as sandwiches.  Served with a yogurt sauce.  Paired with salad or fries.

After our lunch, we recommend the doner over the kabobs.  The lamb doner was tasty without being greasy.   The kabobs were moist, but not that flavorful.  Maiwand Kabob and Mimi's Kabob in Clarksville both marinate the chicken more, and the meat comes out more interesting.  Next time, Mrs. HowChow will try the chicken doner.  And go salad, not fries.  The fries were average.  The salad was crisp and interesting with a nice dressing on top.

Obviously, the difference between Turkish and Afghan cuisines is 2,200 miles.  Cazbar brings Turkish items like boat-shaped pizza called pide and a salad with tomatoes, pomegranate and peppers called acili ezme.  I'm ready to try every appetizer, from the hummus to the salad of feta and parsley.  The fresh salads are a revelation.  My favorite parts of the Afghan joints are cooked vegetable side dishes like pumpkin.  In contrast, Cazbar served up those fresh vegetables -- in the salad and in the sandwiches -- that really brought the meal alive.

Although I keep talking about meat, Cazbar is vegetarian friendly.  You could mix and match appetizers, or you could go with falafel instead of meat.  Also check out the drink options.  We really liked the Tamek sour cherry nectar -- basically an uncarbonated soft drink with a lightly sour taste.  (Also available at Nazar Market in Columbia.)  They import Turkish waters and a "carbonated coffee" that I'll get next time.


One cool touch at Cazbar:  Free hot tea in modern little cups.  To the left of the soda dispenser is a tea pot sitting on top of a hot water dispenser.  You use of the strainers to pour tea from the pot into your small cup -- but leave a little space.  The strainer will catch the loose tea.  If the brew has gotten too dark for you, you use the extra space to hot water.  Add sugar to taste.

Cazbar Kebap House
10840 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
410-730-7900

NEAR: This is on the north side of Little Patuxent Parkway just east of Howard Community College.  From Rte 29, take Rte 175 west and pass the mall.  Keep going straight and look for Cazbar on the right just after the white building with the sign for Patuxent Publishing.  It is next to a bank in a shopping center that sits perpendicular to the road.

Sidamo Going To Be Up And Roasting

Sidamo Coffee & Tea will soon be roasting their beans in the Fulton store -- in the bright red machine delivered there late last week.

On Saturday, people did not know when the roasting would start.  Sidamo now roasts at the original Washington location.  For summer, the blended tea lattes are a great treat, but I'm a traditionalist buying Sidamo's whole beans.

All three of the Ethiopian varieties are wonderful -- strong and flavorful, but not as bitter as Starbucks.  These are delicious coffee.  I'm alternating between the Sidamo and Yhrgacheffee blends.

Sidamo sells coffee, breakfast and lunch in the Maple Lawn development on Rte 216 just west of Rte 29.

Red Pearl's Sichuan Menu - Already Translated

Another door has opened for people who want to try authentic Chinese food in Howard County -- Red Pearl's Sichuan menu is on the Web thanks to an email from Jeff.

Red Pearl opened last month in the Columbia lakefront spot between Sushi Sono and Clyde's.  I haven't been yet, but people have been leaving some reviews on a prior post.  Jeff's party filled a table with dishes, including some items off the Sichuan menu.  He recommended some American-style items like General Tso's, along with some others including chow foon noodles, cho san shein (sp?).

Jeff also emailed that the Red Pearl folks talked about opening an outdoor section.  They were apparently waiting for a landlord to approve planters.  Great view!

When I get to Red Pearl, I would love any recommendations.  For now, I'm hyped up on an anoymous comment that recommends a smoked duck and fish.

We tried the tea smoked duck that ben informed us was the best seller, as well it should be. It was delightful, full of smokey flavor and a crunchy skin. We also tried some of the new szechuan dished that was recently incorporated into the menu.We had the beef tendon and tripe in the spicy sauce for an appetizer. Let me tell you, this new szechuan menu, although it is limited, is very authentic. The spiciness numbs the mouth, which is how real szechuan cuisine should be. For an entree from the szechuan menu, we had the popular szechuan cuisine of water boiled fish, or fish fillet on top of a bed of vegetables and marinated in a very hot and spicy sauce that smothers the items to make the perfect combination.

(Update: If you want real Sichuan food, I suggest that you emphasize that to your waiter.  Emphasize that you like spicy food.  Maybe even tell the manager.  I suggest this at any Chinese restaurant because restaurant owners appear wary about serving serve authentic food and having Americans complain.  For example, we haven't eaten Chinese food in Howard County in more than a year because Hunan Legend served us glop -- even though I know through people like Warthog that the same kitchen serves terrific food.  There are lots of positive comments about Red Peal (including some so positive that I worry if they're real), but I'm also getting private emails from people who got Americanized, not-so-spicy dishes.  They're politely trying to figure out how to get the good stuff.  My only advice: Be assertive.  I'd love any other techniques people have tried.)

Red Pearl gives the menu to everyone.  But I posted a copy of the Red Pearl's Sichuan menu on the Don Rockwell site because Blogger doesn't let me attach PDFs.  Don Rockwell is a great place to check out DC restaurants and food.  He is trying for Baltimore and Howard County, but it's tough to reach critical mass.

(Update II: Thanks for the photo Kyle.  Everyone: I love cell phone photos if you're sending me emails about a place.  Great to post.)

I'm trying to check back on some Chinese places.  For now, I can vouch for the authentic menus at Hunan Taste in Catonsville and Grace Garden in Odenton.  People swear by the Chinest menu -- including Malaysian items -- at Hunan Legend in Columbia.  You can read a bunch of posts and detailed comments about Hunan Legend's Chinese menu, but I had to admit that my first meal there was so bad that I am still working on coaxing the team for another visit.  I want to try the Hunan Legend, Red Pearl, and Noodles Corner, which apparently has Taiwanese dishes.

Link: Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament

If you like Top Chef, you should check out the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament, where you can be part of the competition.

I had meant to post weeks ago about this brilliant little competition where local chefs are competing over the summer at the Belvedere in Baltimore.  It slipped my mind until I saw a post on Minx Eats.  You can buy tickets -- including special judging tickets -- that get you dinner, a seat to watch the competition, and (for $20 extra) a taste of the competitors' food.

Howard County has joined the fray.  On Tuesday, Michael Ledesma of Leelyns in Columbia is one of the competitors.  There are dates all summer, including Marc Dixon of Bistro Blanc in Glenelg competing on August 3.  Minx has the basics, and you can also check out the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament Web site.

Meadows Custard in Columbia

Rita's has some competition now that Meadows Custard has opened in the Hickory Ridge village center in Columbia.

The little chain opened Saturday with its take on Italian ice, custard, frozen yogurt, and other treats.  I probably don't have to tell you.  The employees were talking about serving 2,000 people for the free cone promotion on opening day, according to Morty Abzug.

If you weren't in those crowds, then you should definitely stop by.  Meadows sells custard and Italian ice, and they swirl it a thousand ways -- sundaes, banana splits, and shakes.  They even sell espresso, and they have several variations where they pour coffee over custard or swirl them together.

Even with the coffee, it's pretty much like Rita's.  We tried a gelati -- the Rita's-style creation with layers of ice and custard.  They're both delicious -- good flavor, smooth texture.  With all this summer heat, it's just a fun to sit outside and eat something cold.  Mrs. HowChow and I probably prefer Rita's black cherry ice, and we love the King's Contrivance fountain.  But the desserts are close enough that I'm not sure that I'd drive past Meadows to get that black cherry. The Meadows custard will taste delicious on the benches there.

There is a great dinner to be had at the Harper's Choice village center.  You eat dinner at Maiwand Kabob and then walk across the parking lot to Rita's.  Meadows just went into a shopping center with a bunch of restaurants.  Where would you eat before walking over to Meadows?

Meadows Custard
Hickory Ridge Village Center
6470 Freetown Road
Columbia, MD 21044

NEAR: This is in the Hickory Ridge center near the Giant.  It's off Cedar Lane north of Rte 32 and south of Howard County Hospital.

Link: Soft Stuff on Kevin & Ann Eat Everything

With all this heat and the new Meadows Custard, it is time for me to revise and re-post my suggestion about where to eat ice cream outside on a summer night.

But until I get that done, go read Kevin's love for Soft Stuff in Ellicott City -- at the bottom of a post that also talks up Catonsville Gourmet. That should get you off the couch and onto a picnic bench to make your own summer memories.

Kevin & Ann Eat Everything is a great blog for people who want to read about food around here. Kevin eats well, and he writes with the humor and positive tone to which I aspire -- although I wouldn't have survived dubbing my wife "Mrs. Rheelyfat."

You can check out my 2009 version of Ice Cream on a Summer night. I do need to revise and repost.

Mango's Grill in Laurel

I want a Mexican restaurant with the uncompromising spirit of Grace Garden.

For now, I'm enjoying Mango's Grill in Laurel, a spot on U.S. 1 that pulls off casual Mexican with a little flair.  The flair is in the food.  The decor is super plain -- plastic table cloths, ingredients in sight of the tables, view of traffic.

But I was sold when our first plate arrived filled with fried yucca and chicharron.  That's little chunks of pork, juicy and flavorful.  Mango's tops it off with pickled cabbage, which tasted fresh and bright on a heavy plate.  I say "heavy" with love.  Fried yucca beats even french fries, and chicharron are delicious.  Mrs. HowChow stopped after a few, but I speared pork and yucca until our main courses arrived.

I went for tacos al carbon.  Mrs. HowChow went light with chicken tamales.  She still dreams of tamales from an LA farmers market, but she said Mango Grill's had good corn flavor -- a strong B+.  My steak was my favorite from any of the local Mexican joints.  Charred and slightly salty, it came with avocado and went great with the salsa that Mango's serves with warm chips.

Mango's Grill has prices so low that many other reviews compare them to Chipotle and Don Pablo's.  Those chains are no competition even though Mango's lunch specials start at $7, and you can eat dinner for less than $10.  Frankly, I don't think you'll actually stay that low.  If nothing else, you want an appetizer because they're interesting -- either that yucca, the tamales, or the pupusas that I have my eye on for our next visit.  And then there is horchata, a delicious Mexican soft drink.  And desserts.

So why do I pine for Grace Garden where every dish pops with flavor?  It's Mango's rice and beans.  They're fine.  The beans are firm, red pintos.  I ate them all.  But the rice was bland.  My steak was so much better than anything else on the plate.  The tortilla tasted like it came from my fridge.  That's not a crime, but why can't there be a Mexican place where everything comes with a zip?  I'll take basic food.  I'll take a small menu.  I'd just love everything as delicious as the cabbage or the horchata.

For future visits, I'm going to lean towards the more unusual items where they're obviously putting a focus.  We should have ordered the ceviche that the Mixed Stew blog highlighted.  Chrysalis recommended the grilled salmon as well.  The high points rank Mango's Grill above La Palapa Too.  Maybe at the same level as El Azteca.  I need to try a few other places and redo my Mexican rankings.

Click here for my 2009 take on the best Mexican food.  Pound for pound, nothing beats R&R Deli's takeout tacos and lamb soup.  

Mango's Grill  (The restaurant moved south on U.S. 1 in 2012.  Look for newer posts.)
600 Washington Boulevard
Laurel, MD 20707
301-776-8834

NEAR:  This is on U.S. 1 at Rte 198.  From Howard County, you take U.S. 1 south from either Rte 32 or Main Street.  Mango's Grove is on the left just before the turnoff from westbound Rte 198.

Dehydrated Food (And More) Coming to Columbia

REI will open a new store this fall to sell dehydrated camping food in Columbia, reports Columbia Talk.

Apparently the store will offer REI's full line of outdoor equipment, bike repairs, and even equipment rentals at the Columbia Crossing center near Rte 175 and Dobbin.  But let's concentrate on the food.  This should be the best place in Howard County to buy dehydrated strawberries, which still have the magic of "space food" from the first time that I ate them.

Check out Columbia Talk for all the REI details.  I can't figure out exactly where the REI will be.  Is this the former Expo Design / golf store behind the Target?  (Update: In a comment below, Jess guesses that it is the old CompUSA.)

(Update II: Sarah points out below that REI also sells cherry-flavored energy goo.  Also food!  We could almost view this as an ethnic grocery.)

Salazon Salted Chocolate At Roots, Mom's, David's

If you tried the Lindt salted chocolate at Target, you should grab a Salazon chocolate bar at one of the local organic markets.

Salazon is a local company that makes chocolates in Pennsylvania.  They're adult bars.  Dark chocolate bar with salt on the outside.  Larger crystals and dusted in a layer across the bottom, not mixed into the chocolate like the sea salt Lindt.

The flavor depends on how you pop it in your mouth -- chocolate then salt, salt then chocolate, depending on which side you put on your tongue.  It's fun.  It's expensive, but it's a deep chocolate taste with a salty contrast.

Salazon is based in Eldersburg, MD.  They sell through Roots in Clarksville, Mom's Organic Market in Jessup, and David's Natural Market in Columbia.  Roots had all three varieties -- the salt, a version with salt and pepper, and a version with salt and turbinado sugar.

Meadows Custard May Open Saturday

Meadows Frozen Custard may open in the Hickory Ridge village center may open this Saturday, according to an anonymous comment from someone who met the owner yesterday.

(Update: It's open, and it's worth a visit.  Please comment on that post.)

Trolling: Diet Busters Like Potato Salad, Deviled Eggs, And Breakfast At The Forest Diner

Marcia offers up diet busters for this week's Trolling post.  She found Boarman's through Chowhound, which is a great resource for people who want to hear about local food.  I have been to Boarman's for the sausage and crab cakes, but she found homemade side dishes that sound perfect for summer picnics.  Then, she suggests a place for lunch and a place for breakfast.

I've been driving by Boarman's grocery on Rt. 108 in Highland for a few years now and thought I'd stop in after reading on Chowhound that they have good potato salad. What a spot - they have a little of everything crammed into a very tight store. In the back is a small meat counter and deli both doing a brisk Friday afternoon business. They probably had 4 different potato salads, tuna salad, a good-looking seafood salad (not too much mayo) and DEVILED EGGS!!! I tried the potato salad with egg, a Red Bliss version (very little mayo) and the German potato salad. When I mentioned that I'd read that their potato salad was good, the woman said she had just finished making the one with the egg. All were yummy, as was the tuna salad. Not sure if these were all homemade, I am going to stop again and chat when it's less busy. The meats over on that side looked very good.  Worth checking out if you are out that way !

Another favorite of ours is Nora Cafe in the Normandy Shopping Center in Ellicott City.  Breakfast is nothing special, but we really enjoy their lunch sandwiches. I love their panini. Service is fast, and sandwiches are tasty.

Another spot we like, after NOT being impressed a few years ago: The breakfast at Forest Diner in Ellicott City. The home fries are really yummy, I believe I overheard the cashier say they are made in a pressure cooker? Not sure. They have a bit of spice on them, not hot. I like fried eggs over easy - the cook gets them just right. We always joke that the Ellicott City cognizenti (sp?) seem to breakfast there on weekends, and I keep my ears peeled for the local news. The last time we were there, a group of us got into a discussion about Honey Pig after overhearing someone ask the cashier about it. If you haven't been there in a few years, as was the case with us, the Forest Diner another try!! I've never had Henny Penny fried chicken, but I saw signs that it is served there, FYI.  [Forest Diner sold its property and has a five-year lease now to operate there.]

Trolling on Tuesday is my attempt at a series where readers would share three things with other HowChow readers -- favorite restaurant dishes, food to buy, food experiences, etc.  Click here for all the Trolling posts.  Click here for the explanation and the rules.  Anyone can submit.  

Catching Up On The News And Comments

I have been out-of-town and busy here, so I fell behind in trying new places and sharing comments.

Cazbar Kebop House opened in Columbia, and several people have emailed me with thoughts.  Misha liked a pomegranate relish-type mezze ("fragrant and with a little kick").  John liked the baklava and the vertical spit-broilers.  And Stacy got a chicken doner off one of those vertical broilers.  I'm definitely going for a doner sandwich.  Cazbar is in the Columbia Professional Center on Little Patuxent Parkway near Howard Community College.  Wordbones wrote that the owners have licensed the menu from Cazbar in Baltimore, but it will be a scaled down version.

Meadows Frozen Custard was supposed to open in mid-June in the Hickory Ridge village center in Columbia.  Has anyone seen it?  Jeremy peeked at the end of last week and said it looked days or weeks away.  He sent the photo of a sign promising free custard on opening day.  That sounds good. (Update: They may open June 26, acc'd to comment below.)

In the same vein, a Moby Dick's kabob place is supposed to open off Dobbin Road in Columbia.  I haven't heard the exact address.  Marcia saw no Moby Dick signs when she looked last week.

Many of the recent comments were about other new places that I still haven't tried.  Talk about Smokin' Hot in Glenwood split on whether portions are large, but the casual barbecue and even crab cakes get recommended.  Reviews for Red Pearl, the new Chinese place on the lake in Columbia, ranged from disappointed to elated.  Dzoey, Clayton and others suggest specific items to order.  Similarly, people wrote about the Stanford Grill that opened in Columbia overlooking Rte 175.  Dzoey has been eating out these days, placing the new join between T-Bonz and Greystone Grill.

That's just the tip of the comments.  I appreciate them all, and I collect some here so that you can see what other people have been saying:

• Lee suggested summer drinks on the decks at Cacoa Lane in Ellicott City.  AlPal3 suggested the beef bourguignon and the espresso mousse at Pure Wine Cafe.    Matt Boyle thought Pure Wine was overpriced, but suggests the fig and blue flat bread.
• Chrysalis suggested the Salvadoran dishes like salmon a la parilla at Mango's Grill in Laurel.
• Babbleme and Morty Abzug both report that  Venegas Prime Filet has improved their service and food since they opened.  Babbleme loved the filet and ribeye and wants the recipe for a chocolate dessert.  Morty went last week and thought the food was delicious and the service had really improved.
• Christina is looking for any Korean restaurants other than Shin Chon Garden that serve barbecue with the rice noodle wrappers instead of lettuce.  Anyone know?
• Does anyone have a report about the expansion -- and apparently produce -- coming to the Ellicott City Target?  Anonymous posted a building permit and wondered if it was becoming a Super Target.
• Anonymous and StephenC suggested their favorites at Mimi's Kabob in Clarksville.  The gyro fits my expectations, but I need to go back for a reuben.
• Two anonymouses talked about Coal Fire's pizza.  It does seem to vary with the pizzamaker, and the general manager Steve gets a thumbs up.  I'm still hoping someone can recommend when he is likely to be there.
• Shawna C. gave a thumbs down to the beef patties at Golden Krust in Catonsville.  Steve actually recommended a place called "Caribbean [Something] on Rte 197 for outstanding patties with a homemade crust.  Anyone know the name?
• Sarah recommended a greens and beef dish to make with those dried lemons that you can get at Middle Eastern markets.
• Anonymous recommended the coffee and the tuna sandwich at Sidamo's in Fulton.  But he/she wants a coffee shop open at night to read and chat after dinner.
• Sillil talked up a snowball stand on U.S. 1 in Elkridge near the Super Fresh.
• David P had the best description of pismaniye -- "like baklava cotton candy."  It's definitely worth 99 cents if you stop at Middle Eastern market.
• Bboyneko raved aboutthe authenticity of the chicken at Pollo Fuego in Jessup and to the plantains.  But Anonymous didn't like it at all.
• Kevin recommends the royal crab roll at Sushi Sono.   He says it has become his "go to" roll.
• Someone who posts with a Chinese name -- like in Chinese characters -- talks up the apple tarts and cranberry scones from Bon Fresco.  If you want them, you can call and order them ahead.  LeLe wrote lovingly about a sandwich from Bon Fresco, but liked it so much that I can't exactly tell what sandwich she ate.  Something with brie.
• Anonymous and Brandon talked about a Mexican BBQ truck on Rte 1 in Jessup just south of Guilford Road between an Amoco and Comfort Inn.  Anonymous says they're there on the weekend and offer even more food than I got at the place on Rte 175.
• Mark suggests the roast beef with swiss on white at the Duchess in Ellicott City.  It's an old school place -- serving the same sandwiches and great milkshakes for decades.
• People continue to give great suggestions about Honey Pig in Ellicott City.  This is a new Korean BBQ place, and Eric, AlPal3 and others suggested dishes to order.
• Similarly, people continue to talk about Facci's pizza and its "no takeout" policy.  The parking lot remains jammed though Cathy reported last month that she only waited 15 minutes in prime time on a Saturday night.  Maybe it is time to try to go back.
• Finally, R&R Taqueria continues to win converts.  Matt and Edward both loved the place -- one for chicken burritos and the other for tacos and soup.  That lamb soup is delicious -- although watch out because they serve it so hot that I burned my tongue.  Part of Edward's comment:

It is literally a hole in the wall. There are two tiny counters with 2 bar stools each for sitting. Sooooo not really a place to dine-in unless you are by yourself. . . 

I ended up ordering two "tacos al pastor" and the wife got two "tacos de carne asada." I also got their soup of the day since they offer two tacos plus soup for only $5. The soup was lamb. Delicious! Broth was savory with tiny onions and cilantro. There was rice and plenty of lamb meat. Soup was served with a lime wedge on the side.

My tacos were incredible. Tacos al Pastor is "pork marinated with a blend of different chili peppers, spices, and herbs." Their tacos are served in a soft corn tortilla. Both of my tacos kinda fell apart as I was eating them. It was like the shells weren't strong enough to hold all the moist meaty goodness. That's probably my only negative of the food. Big pluses: the food is served with a couple of lime wedges and a spicy salsa verde that is delicious!

First Thoughts On Twist & Turn Tavern

Highland got a new restaurant when the Twist & Turn Tavern opened, promising a neighborhood pub.  I haven't visited yet, but Amber emailed with some first thoughts.  She went Tuesday night for half-priced burgers, which sounds right for a neighborhood pub.  Of course, one of the burgers was bison:

I went to Twist and Turn Tavern with my boyfriend and his sister for half-price burger night.  First of all, the burgers were really good. I had the mushroom and swiss Angus burger, ordered medium, and it actually CAME medium!  I was so pleasantly surprised, as that rarely happens. My boyfriend tried the bison burger, which he loved, and his sister seemed to like her turkey burger as well. The onion rings are obviously made there and definitely have a lot of beer flavor in the batter. Not so sure the sweet potato fries were fresh, but they were good.

Now the bad: the restaurant is obviously new. The table next to us ordered five burgers, but the server only put in the order for four. The guy without food ended up leaving without eating, and they brought out his food in a to-go box later. Here's hoping they comped it, too. Two of our meals came with the sides reversed, which the server acknowledged but made no effort to fix, so we awkwardly picked up our burgers and shuffled plates. It was no big deal, but I was surprised that he didn't offer to take it back to the kitchen to fix.

The place was packed by the time we got our food. It's not super big inside, and the tables are very close together and cramped. Many people came in and ate at the bar since they couldn't get a table. Unfortunately there isn't really any place to stand and wait for a table without being uncomfortably close to someone eating. I think the restaurant would benefit from a vestibule being built on the outside, as some tables are pretty close to the door and I can see it getting really cold in the winter. The restaurant was also VERY noisy--it's all wood inside, so there aren't any sound dampeners. It was nearly impossible to hear our own table for conversation.  The service was also very, very slow, but that's to be expected during the first week of service.

We're uncertain if sides are charged or free with burgers--we got two with sweet potato fries and one with onion rings, and only one of the fries was charged ($2). We didn't ask because we were in a rush to get out of there (and, honestly, didn't want to have to pay a few bucks more if they were mistakenly left off the bill. We are bad people.).

That said, the food was pretty great, and for $5.50 a burger on Tuesday nights, I will definitely be back.

Looking forward to hearing others' opinions!

And so am I.

Twist & Turn Tavern
13380 Clarksville Pike (Rte 108)
Highland, MD  20777
301-854-2170

NEAR: This is on Rte 108 just north of Rte 216.  It's an easy ride from Laurel, Fulton, Clarksville or points west.  And easy enough from Columbia.  If you go to Highland, check out Boarman's Meat Market at the corner of Rte 108 and Rte 216.  They make their own sausage and crab cakes.

Meals On Wheels Benefits When You Eat Classy

The Meals on Wheels that covers Howard County will get a donation from every prix fixe lunch and dinner served this month at Tersiguel's in Ellicott City.

I meant to post this weeks ago, but you shouldn't wait to try Tersiguel's June menu that features dishes frm southern France, including crispy cod and potato cake and a stew of bacon, black olives and beef.

Meals on Wheels gets 10% of every prix fixe meal.  Lunch is $21.95.  Dinner is $30.95.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter At Giant / HTeeter

No one should spend $5 on a jar of peanut butter, but your sweet tooth might push the purchase of Peanut Butter & Co.’s natural varieties.

In theory, I’m a fan of fresh peanut butter.  In reality, I never loved the taste or the endless stirring of oil that floats to the top of the jar.  Peanut Butter & Co. offers a middle ground where the peanut butter tastes delicious and comes without industrial ingredients like hydrogenated oil.

Not that this is health food.  PB & Co’s palm oil will clog an artery, and PB & Co. adds sugar and chocolate as well.  These are thick, sweet spreads – standing out more as a adult ingredient than beating Jif crunchy in a PB&J sandwich.  A heaping spoonful of Cinnamon Raisin Swirl or the Dark Chocolate Dreams turns sliced apple into dessert.  You could jazz up oatmeal or bake great cookies.

In the end, peanut butter isn’t a deep-thought food.  We really like this stuff.  We really like the texture of the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl.  It tastes more homemade – or at least it did until I just tasted it again for this post and wondered whether the texture is actually crystals of sugar.  We don’t want to know.

See the comments below.  Peanut Butter & Co.’s varieties are available in Harris Teeter and at Giant.  They’re also available at Whole Foods.

Link: Coal Fire On Daily Goods

Coal Fire Pizza's margarita gets the thumbs up from Ashley on the Daily Goods blog.  She liked the light cheese and the thin crust.

I'm a fan of Coal Fire on Rte 108 in Ellicott City, although I have noticed that the pizza really varies.  The Pizzablogger says these hot ovens take real skill, and Coal Fire's pizzas seem to vary based on the person wielding the peel.  Vivek emailed me saying that he was trying to figure out what days/times Coal Fire's owner makes pizzas.  Does anyone know?

Trolling: Snowballs, Burgers and Pulled Pork

K8teebug -- who comments often and blogs at Ramblings of A Former -- provided a perfect list of deep summer eating -- snowball, burger and barbecue.  I'm a huge fan of both meat sandwiches, and we need to make a pilgrimage out to Woodstock because people love the Snowball Stand out there.

Egg Custard Snowball with marshmallow from the Snowball Stand in Woodstock:  I have lived in Maryland all my life, and these are the best snowballs I've ever tasted.  They don't dilute the syrup here, and put just the right amount over the ice.  They don't hold back on the marshmallow here, either.  A perfect warm weather treat.

The burger with blue cheese at Victoria Gastropub.  I've been blogging about burgers I've eaten for a few years now.  This one is in the top five of those I've tried all over the country.  A tasty burger on a brioche roll, with a zesty spread.  It doesn't get much better than this.

The pulled pork sandwich at Kloby's Smokehouse in Fulton.  Sure, most of the crowd is headed towards Facci for their delightful pizzas.  But, if you're annoyed with the wait, might I suggest walking a few doors down for one of the best pulled pork sandwiches you'll ever eat?  It's cheap, topped with fantastic coleslaw, and you can even order an ice cold beer served in a mason jar!  This BBQ rivals them all, even those in North Carolina.

Trolling on Tuesday is my attempt at a series where readers would share three things with other HowChow readers -- favorite restaurant dishes, food to buy, food experiences, etc.  Click here for all the Trolling posts.  Click here for the explanation and the rules.  Anyone can submit.  

Link: Watching The World Cup In Howard County

Wordbones posted about places to watch the World Cup on Tales of Two Cities -- specifically Looney's in Fulton that is showing every game and Trattoria Amore in Columbia that hosts World Cup viewing parties.  Looney's is even opening for the early games and serving breakfast.

I bet that you could have real fun watching a South Korean game over beer and fried chicken at Rainpia on Rte 40 in Ellicott City.  Or maybe barbecue at Shin Chon Garden.  Both joints show Korean television in their dining rooms, so I assume they'll show South Korean games.

Any other suggestions?  Feel free to promote your local.

Link: Asian Court On The 97mph Blog

Asian Court's dim sum went head-to-head with a Washington favorite Oriental East in a review yesterday on the 97mph blog.

The KitchenGeek says the food was similarly delicious and authentic at both places.  (I agree.)  They particularly liked Asian Court's sticky rice wrapped in taro leaves and a flat noodles with beef and scallops.  They also liked a pork and peanut dumpling that I have never noticed before.

But the real find was a clams in black bean sauce that just put Asian Court back on my "need to visit soon" list.  Those sound terrific.

Photo pulled right off the 97mph blog.  The KitchenGeek also writes the Kitchen Geeking blog.


If you're interested in dim sum, check out my original post about Asian Court and remember that you can order any dim sum off the menu for weekday lunches.  If you're going to be near Silver Spring, both Kitchen Geeking and I recommend Oriental East.