Anyone Know About The La Pearl Waffle Truck?

Anyone know about the La Pearl Waffle Truck?  Lisa posted on the HowChow Facebook page that she saw an ad about a waffle truck coming this summer.  She gave a link to a Web site that looks interesting, but doesn't have any details.

You Want Local Food? HoCo Connect, Sarah and Soffritto Get The Freshest Mustard Greens

Mustard greens (photo from Sarah Says)

Great fun on the local blogs -- harvest your own greens and help save Howard County from invasive plants.

HoCo Connect posted last week about mustard greens and how the Columbia Association wants people to pull the plant wherever they see it.  That inspired Sarah Says to post the classic food blog item -- photos of mustard greens pulled from her own yard and then a recipe suggesting how to saute a little to accompany trout from Frank's Seafood in Jessup.  They're both behind The Soffritto blog where Victoria was pickling the greens last week!

I just got my vegetable seeds planted out Sunday.  I should have done lettuce and chard two months ago.  Somehow, I let things get away from me.

HoCo Grocery Store Selling Beer And Wine -- You Know Everyone's Going Out Of Business Now

Despite the Maryland liquor laws, a Howard County grocery store is selling beer and wine!  They will sell you produce, slice your deli meats, and offer you a full butcher shop.

Who is this juggernaut?  Boarman's Market in Highland.  Rte 216's answer to one-stop shopping.  Check out the video.  Definitely check it out for the butcher, the house-made sausage, the crab cakes and more.

Hat tip to Kyle for the link.  Kyle and I don't think Boarman's has the impact of Wegmans.  We just figure people could use a light moment before the liquor board's May 1 hearing about Upstairs Wine & Beer. 


Check out these comments for a long discussion about Wegmans, Perfect Pour and more.  I appreciate people have kept it clean and professional.  And join the "I Want The Columbia Md. Wegmans Facebook page.  Ten more, and we break 1000 members.

Red Mango Coming To River Hill In Clarksville?

Anyone seen construction of a frozen yogurt shop in Clarksville?

A week ago, Alicyn posted about Red Mango coming to the River Hill village center.  That's a lot of yogurt for the south county when it's paired with the Tutti Frutti coming to Maple Lawn.  Apparently, they're both replacing Maggie Moo's franchises.

Any signs?  Any construction in River Hill?

Link: Halal Meat In Catonsville on 2Dudes

The 2 Dudes hit up Halal Meat in Catonsville and bought chickens, spices, cherry juice and more, according to their post from Sunday.

That sounds like a nice grocery if it has all the packaged goods, plus produce.  They're selling Indian sodas and Turkish cherry juice, so it sounds a mix of the Nazar Market in Columbia that tends towards Turkish goods and the Columbia Halal Meat in Elkridge that tends Pakistani.  Nazar is a bit larger with more packaged goods.

I love the 2 Dudes' story about getting offered Limcas by a fellow customer.  Those bottles were part of some of my sweetest memories of a trip to India 20+ years ago.  I buy them on and off just for the fun of it.

The dudes also hit up Thai Aroma in Ellicott City for egg rolls, fried rice, and parent-approved panang curry.  We share the same spirit -- check some place out because it looks interesting, get something to eat, write about it.

New Liquor Store Above Wegmans Will Be Large, But Apparently Still Facing Local Opposition

Unless I have the geekiest prankster in the world posting, the owner of the new liquor store above Wegmans has written a long description of his store on the I Want The Columbia Wegmans Facebook page.

Mike Smith writes that he is a lawyer who has advised Wegmans in the past.  He is also a home brewer.  I missed this post when it went up over the weekend, but a bunch of people have already commented.  He says the liquor store will be more than 10,000 square feet.

Smith invites people to attend his May 1, 2012 liquor license hearing.  I don't claim to understand local liquor politics.  He says he expects opposition.

Gourmet In Glenwood, CrunchDaddy Reviews, Cheesesteaks Cont'd, Dinner at Tino's, & More

Balsamic and olive oil at Casual Gourmet in Glenwood

Four years in, there are still new food places that I haven't even visited -- either because I haven't had time or because they're opening new.

Lisa of the Lisa B, Mrs. S blog emailed me recently about the Casual Gourmet on Rte 97 in Glenwood.  New to me, and Lisa talks up sandwiches, crepes, and the deli case amid a food and gifts store.  She sent an email about the refillable set-up to sell bulk balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

I love people's comments, and I'm linking a few that you may want to check again.  Elizabeth, Matt B., AnnieRie, and others provided details about the Columbia community gardens that I didn't know.  Alicyn took an educated guess about where the folks behind Milton Inn will open the Highland Inn in Clarksville.  Sierra talked up Sharp's Waterford Farm.

And there's more, including some questions that you might be able to answer:

• Linda's Bakery in Columbia is definitely a nice addition to the scene.  JP, CJK and S all talked up items that they have tried.  But Bmorecupcake came in with some detailed analysis -- favorites like the banana bread and the fact that they'll say what was baked today, not-so-positives like her view on the macarons and the Napoleon cream.
• CJK, Dzoey, Steffi, KiMD and others reported about their dinners at Tino's Italian in Columbia.  On the same post, Kat also recommended the Salute Ristorante on Main Street in Laurel.
• People are still adding suggestions for local cheesesteaks.  I need to check these out.  Local Taryn Silbert talked up her fiance's new cheesesteak place Hot Corner Lee's on Federal Hill.
• On the meat beat, BJS and Morty Abzug talked about the doner at Rudy's Mediterranean in Columbia.
• EastCoastMatt asked if any Indian restaurants serve phall (or phaal)?  I assume he is talking about the British-Indian curry that has a notoriety (on Wikipedia) as one of the hottest dishes around.
• Bobo asked the smart question:  What do shoppers get for using a Wegmans club card?
• Kevin, Rob, Stephanie and others reported about the CrunchDaddy popcorn that they ordered.  I'm still a huge fan of the caramel versions like Sesame and Ginger Crunch and Honey and Cinnamon Crunch.
• Jimmy, Deb, Rebecca and others talked about their meals at the reopened Mango Grove in Columbia.  Fischfry reported a less-successful takeout order from Flavors of India.
• Anonymous boiled down the fresh waffles at Thomas Waffles, which parks in Clarksville on Saturday mornings.
• Check out the Walk In My Shoes art exhibit at the Columbia Art Center with some art from K8teebug.  Then grab fried chicken from Chick 'N Friends.
• Annie, Tamara and others gave directions and suggestions about the monk-baked bread sold at St. Anthony's shrine near Clarksville.
• Anonymous recommends the chicken katsu, miso soup, oshinko rolls and other items at Hanamura in Columbia.

LaLa's Hot Dog Cart In Owen Brown (& More)

The LaLa's hot dog

The new LaLa's Ice Cream & Hot Dogs is still coming to downtown Ellicott City, but Rob hit up their hot dog stand in Owen Brown in Columbia.

As you already know, the hot dog cart is owned by Brendan Flannery who is opening LaLa's Ice Cream & Hot Dogs in Ellicott City.  Due to local ordinances, no one may put a food cart on the street in Ellicott City unless they also have an established business.

LaLa's hot dog cart

Therefore, Brendan decided to get the business going by opening his first cart in Owen Brown.  After the brick-and-mortar place is open on Main Street, Brendan plans to put one of his carts on Main Street as well.  Friday, the cart was manned by Justin McCabe, but they have a crew of people who will work it in combination. 

Of course, I had to get a hot dog, for the picture mind you, and Brendan made me a custom beauty.  I hate him for it, but I ate it anyway.  Brendan made me a dog not from the menu -- 1/4 lb beef caseless dog, with tomato sauce, pickled onions, bbq sauce, mustard, ketchup, on a sesame seed bun.   

It was great.  You have two choices: KEEP the wrapper on the dog and eat it while making a mess and having a great time; or rush home and eat it with a fork and knife, but that probably violates the spirit of the hot dog eating universe.  One thing is certain - if you pick the dog up off the wrapper and think you are going to use the bun as a vessel, you will quickly learn that those things that make you dog taste so good have also caused the vessel to spring serious leaks!

The first cart is open noon to 8 pm seven days a week at the Owen Brown village center on Cradlerock Way just off Broken Land Parkway.   Brendan told Rob that they're aiming to open a second cart this week just off Route 100 at the Route 103 exit in the park at the intersection of Long Gate Parkway and Meadowbrook Lane.  For more photos, check out Rob's Picasa page.

Are You Watching Strawberries For Me?

Gorman Produce Farm says the strawberries are coming -- and they're early.  Please let me know when you see the sign change to "They're Here" or when you hear that Larriland is letting people pick their own.

The Early Bird Gets The Smoked Pig At Kloby's

Chef Kloby pulls pig for the sliders

The early birds got the smoked pig at Kloby's Smokehouse.  I came back from the library just after 5 pm, and they had just started carving.  For $2 each you got slider rolls that the chef filled with meat that he pulled off the whole smoked pig they did as part of their fourth anniversary celebration.

They'd been cooking for 10 hours, and the pork was delicious.  Moist and flavorful, a perfect match to Kloby's Carolina sauce, which I went back to reload midway through my three sliders.  I got pieces of loin, shoulder, and belly with increasing amounts of fat to them.  It was a Goldilocks night where that middle cut was just right for me.

Great fun.  A delicious DuClaw's HellRazer IPA and some fun talking to the Baltimore Beer Guy, his family and other friends.  By the time that I was leaving around 6:30, the pig looked pretty-much picked, but Kloby's has so much other great food that the dining rooms were full and people were waiting in the entry.

Whole Smoked Pig Tonight At Kloby's

Kloby's photo taken from Facebook

For the record, my wife would have gone to this.  She is a fan of fun.  I'm just saying that a full roasted pig isn't a bad thing to come around when she out of town.

Kloby's Smokehouse in "Tribeco" is smoking an entire pig, and they're teaming up with DuClaw Brewing for a pig roast with craft beers tonight.  The pig roast starts at 5 pm tonight.  This is part of Kloby's celebration of its fourth anniversary.  These are the beers that DuClaw has brought along:

• Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Flame
• Repent Belgian Pent
• HellRazer IPA
• Serum Double IPA
• Double Naked Fish Chocolate Raspberry Stout
• Bourbon Barrel Aged Devil’s Milk Barleywine

I'm going outside now.  Mowing the lawn will mean that I earned my roast pork.

Any Other Howard County Food Bloggers?

On a comment from today's post, I discovered another food blogger in Howard County -- Elizabeth on Fiercely Fresh.

Then drafting this post, I stumbled on another -- The Soffrito, where Victoria writes about gardening and cooking.  I loved her post about rain barrels and wondered if I could get those installed while Mrs. HowChow is on this business trip.

I try to link to local blogs.  I vividly remember nice people who shared my early posts, and I enjoy connecting readers to local blogs.  We have a nice mix of local food blogs -- some reviewing restaurants, some sharing recipes, some people writing broadly but with "food posts" noted with categories.  I keep a list in the right column.  If you're writing regularly from Howard County, feel free to email me.

My blogging advice:  1) Post regularly.  People return to blogs that update a few times a week.  2) Relax.  Regular posting is harder than you think, so just get back on the horse when you have a slow period.  3) Take photos.  They make the page interesting, and they tell Google that you're a real person.  4) Use categories.  I link to some blogs using the "food" category.  5) Get listed on HoCoBlogs.

Jessie X -- If we get a bunch posting regularly, the "food section" is going to need an extra long area like those "community" blogs.

Links: New Coffee Shop In Elkridge, Famous Dave's Renovating, More Beer For Everyone

If you have a few minutes, you should definitely check around the Web for other folks writing about Howard County food:

• Sharp's Farm in Brookeville has opened for the season, and you can buy herbs, tomatoes, and other plants for your garden, reports Annie on the AnnieRie Unplugged blog.
• The new Green Valley Marketplace grocery has opened a coffee shop inside its new Elkridge store, reports Elizabeth Janney in the Elkridge Patch.
• Famous Dave's in Columbia will close temporarily for a complete renovation, reports Wordbones on Tales of Two Cities.  In the same post, Wordbones starts a new hilarious analysis for HowChow -- Best Dining Overlooking A Stormwater Management Pond.  He talks up Qdoba and El Hildago.  I need to think more, but my first suggestion would be the new Mango Grove.  No outdoor dining yet, but those back windows overlook a very nice stormwater pond.
• A snowball stand has opened in Williamson's Nursery in Ellicott City, reports Wordbones as well.  He talked to the owner.  I need to collect all the snowball and ice cream stands for the warm weather.
• The Two Dudes Who Love Food tried out the re-christened Shanty Grille in Ellicott City.  I worry about who the dudes would classify as a "flurry of senior citizens" 
• Victoria Gastropub, Frisco Tap House and other local beer joints will be able to sell refillable growlers starting on July 1 after the state legislature amended the law, reports Lindsey McPherson of Explore Howard.
• If you're into CSAs and vegetable ideas, you should keep an eye on the Kitchen Scribble and the AnnieRie Unplugged blogs.  They're reporting about their CSAs with great ideas about how to use produce.  Annie also has some great posts about finding asparagus in your yard and mixing her CSA vegetables with tomatoes, sausages and bread from Boarman's.  (And check out another local blog -- Fiercely Fresh.)
• If you're into vegetables from your own yard, check out the P90 Noir blog about mushrooms that they picked from the lawn.

Lotus Root At Red Pearl -- Crisp, Weird!

Lotus root at Red Pearl

The great part of vegetarian eating is that you can grab the weirdest thing on the plate and pop it in your mouth.

Lotus root comes on the authentic menu at Red Pearl in Columbia.  You can buy the roots at the Asian groceries, but the restaurant turns them into a crunchy entree.  It's crisp.  It has a light sauce.

It also looks insane.  Pale white circles with holes throughout.  They serve the sliced roots with other vegetables.  It's obvious to go with vegetarian food, but it would be a great pair with the Szechuan kung pao chicken or the spicy lamb.

Links: Wegmans Updates From Patch & Sun

The Wegmans folks met with local reporters, and there are reports on both Explore Howard and the Patch.

Discussion of the two-story parking, local products they'll stock, and how workers will park far away in the first weeks to make space for you.

Sign Up On-Line For A Wegmans Club Card

Excited for the new Columbia Wegmans?  Sign up on-line for their Shoppers Club card.  It's the normal grocery store bonus card, and you could have yours delivered before the June 17, 2012 opening.

You know the place will be a zoo in the first few days.  Don't wait in line for your card.

Hat tip to Alison on the I Want The Columbia Wegmans Facebook page who pointed out that you can sign up for the card on-line.

Plan For Monk's Rye Thursdays At St. Anthony's

Buy Trappist-baked bread at the St. Anthony's shrine

Marcia has been driving out to the St. Anthony's shrine near Clarksville to check for the bread baked by Trappist monks in New York.  She was hunting for rye, which they get delivered on Thursdays.  On other days, they have other varieties, but she sent the husband back two weeks ago:

As promised, pictures of the rye bread from the St. Francis shrine in Ellicott City, my husband stopped in [two weeks ago] since they told me they get rye on Thursdays. ($5/loaf)

As you can see, it looks like store-bought sandwich bread. I'd call it soft rye. It is quite good, with a nice rye flavor. I prefer the crunchy crust on Atwater's rye, but they both taste comparable.  Both taste good!! My mom prefers the bread from the shrine.  (Maybe that's good, no fighting!!)

Companions of St. Anthony
12290 Folly Quarter Road
Ellicott City, MD 

NEAR:  I think the address above is the shrine near Clarksville.  This is just west of Rte 108 and north of Rte 32.  Marcia says it is easy to find the shrine.  On Folly Quarter Rd., go to the back of the property where the chapel is.  The gift shop (where they sell the bread) is in the same building.

Bon Fresco Expanding To Annapolis Junction

The Washington Post raves about the sandwiches at Bon Fresco Sandwich Bakery in Columbia, and owner Gerald Koh told the Post that he has plans to open a second location in Annapolis Junction this year.

Rita Rapuano talked up the picante pork sandwich, along with the London broil and the salads.  Koh talked about he tries to make everything in house -- from the breads to the roasted meats to the chocolate croissants.  That's why I suggested Bon Fresco as the first stop on my tour for people thinking about moving to Howard County.

Liquor Coming Upstairs At Wegmans

The liquor store attached to the new Wegmans will apparently be upstairs on the second floor of the new building -- at least that's what the name suggests.

Upstairs Wine & Beer has its liquor board hearing on May 1, 2012.  That's the trade name of Columbia Wine Partners LLC, which has applied for a seven-day license at 8855 McGaw Road.  That seems to be the Columbia Wegmans site facing Snowden River Parkway.

Highland Gets New Spot From Milton Inn Owner

The owner of the upscale Milton Inn in Sparks will open a new restaurant in Highland -- the Highland Inn, reports Ryan Sharrow in the Baltimore Business Journal.

The Milton Inn sounds like a great restaurant in Richard Gorelick's review.  Chef and owner Brian Boston will open the Highland Inn this summer apparently -- outside dining, wine shop too.  If I'm right, this will be on Rte 216 just west of Rte 108.

(Hat tip to Alicyn who posted a link on the HowChow Facebook page.)