Link: B More Sweet Goes To Charleston

OK, Charleston isn't in Howard County or a place to visit often, but it is a place to dream about -- and perfect for a food blogger.

The B More Sweet blog is one my favorites for the writing and for the photographs.  She covers her own baking (like this) and places where you can buy your own (like this).  You have to be a little subtle at Charleston, so she took her backup camera to record her dinner.  Still better than most of the shots that I post, and it's a great description of the sweets of Cindy Wolf.

B More Sweet taught me to love Touche Touchet in Columbia.

Link: Facci Gets Written Up By The Sun

The Sun's review of Facci went up on the Web today -- and should be in the newspaper Sunday -- as JJ alerted me.

I'd suggest that you go tomorrow to beat the crowds, but the crowds already found Facci.  Richard Gorelick really liked the place, especially a pasta with clams and a meatball appetizer.  Ironically, we tried to eat at Facci on the same night he went, but we got turned away because they couldn't make a table for six at 5:45 pm on a Tuesday.

I love Facci's food, and the casual, classy atmosphere makes it one of my favorite places.  But my recent visits haven't involved the fun that Gorelick describes.  If you get a seat, everyone is so nice.  If you're in line, the hostess and managers are all defensive.  We know there are no reservations.  We don't understand why we get a vibe that is more "take it or leave it" than "we want you to join the fun."  For the last three visits, the atmosphere was unwelcoming enough that we ate somewhere else.

As Trip Klaus pointed out to me, Facci also got a post in Washingtonian -- also highlighting the meatballs.  I'll try them eventually.  I'm really underplaying our unhappiness -- and the details of how we were treated -- because I know that we'll eventually go back.  Maybe we're the only people feeling the vibe.

(Update: From the comments, I see I'm not the only one feeling the vibe.  To be clear, I really like Facci.  I even think the parking is fine.  Circling for five minutes isn't that different from driving somewhere, and I love that there are four successful restaurants there.  But I can really enjoy Facci's food while joining in the great anonymous line below: "Waiting could be just as much fun as eating.")


(Update II: I have been reading the comments below.  Yes, several read like Facci employees defending their place.  Let's just take it with a grain of salt.  Real people are commenting too, and YumPo and one anonymous poster traded civil opinions.  That's worth keeping the comments open.  You can judge the other posts by their tone and their content.)

Red Pearl Returning Chinese Food To Lakeside

Apparently, a new Chinese restaurant called Red Pearl will open next to Sushi Sono in Columbia -- the lakeside spot that formerly held Jesse Wong's Hong Kong.

The sign says that the owners also own Far East in Rockville and Jade Billows in Potomac, according to Wai.  She said that she hasn't eaten at those restaurants, but online reviews suggest that the cuisine is more Americanized.  Wai is the hero who translated Hunan Legend's Chinese menu, and she is hoping that Red Pearl will broaden the authentic Chinese menus around here:

Hopefully, it will take a cue from surrounding authentic Hunan and Szechuan Chinese restaurants and take up the charge to represent authentic Southern Chinese cuisine in Howard County! I'm hoping this will be a great place for wedding banquets, particularly with that lovely scenery. If the owners of Red Pearl are reading this, cook authentic, awesome Southern Chinese cuisine and you'll already have a wedding banquet lined up for the next year. :-) 

Thanks also to bmorecupcake who put up the original comment about Red Pearl's sign.  Has anyone been to Far East or Jade Billows?  Any idea when it will open?  Any photos of the sign?

(Update: MJ2010 added the first comment below.  If you want to add more comments about Red Pearl, please add them to the post announcing the opening.)

Unleash The Kraken

HowChow needs your help -- if you're going to Clyde's or Sushi Sono this weekend.

There is a great anonymous comment on an old post that says there is a sign on the former Jesse Wong's Hong Kong that says a new Chinese restaurant will open there.  This is the spot next to Sushi Sono on the lake in downtown Columbia.  Apparently, the sign says something like "Coming soon from the owners of Restaurant A and Restaurant B."

Unleash those HowChow readers.  The commentor apologized for not taking better notes.  Now, we need the information -- a cell phone photo of the sign, maybe the name of the place, what restaurants are mentioned there, what it looks like inside.  Please.   Please.  Please.

(Update: An hour later, we had the comments below.  The restaurant is going to be Red Pearl in Columbia.)

The Salif Juicer By Alessi

I was thinking about why anyone would need a review about how to use a citrus juicer.

Allmodern.com gave me a deal on an Alessi juicer with the idea that I would write a review.  The first time, my oranges sprayed a little on the counter around the glass between the juicer's feet.  So I was juicing limes a few days later for ceviche, and I was thinking that my review was going to be something about how you need to juice over a low, wide bowl.  You put the cool metal feet inside the bowl, and the bowl captures the juices and all the spray.

I was congratulating myself when a low, wide bowl of lime juice shot across my counter, shattered against the cabinets, and sprayed sticky juice across the floor.

Advice One:  Don't juice over a low, wide bowl.  It captures the juice, but it also captures all the torque from your wrist and slides like a hockey puck when you bear down.

Advice Two: You need to hold the Alessi juicer.  One hand pushes down the fruit.  The other one holds the cool metal feet.  The design is perfect -- with juice and pulp flowing down the sides and into the glass that you set between the legs.  If you juice in the sink, the light spray won't bother anyone.

With this MENSA advice, you can juice anything in style -- as long as you have $96.  That's expensive unless you're the type of display cool modern stuff in your kitchen.  We're in because we got a $75 discount and because we're the type to leave a polished aluminum juicer on the counter because it looks cool.  It also works great.  My ceviche recipe suggested eight limes to squeeze a half cup of juice.  My shattered bowl carried at least three limes' juice to the floor, but the Alessi juicer squeezed my half cup from just four of the remaining limes.

We have had fun with the juicer.  It sits on the counter, so it inspired me to buy navel oranges when our family visited.  Two mornings of fresh-squeezed juice was great fun.  A luxury certainly, but a juicer that will last forever.

Check out Allmodern.com's Alessi juicer here.  It's a quality site that we have used before to shop for modern furniture.  If you'll even read a review about a modern juicer, then you should check out the used modern furniture at Home Anthology in Catonsville.  (Update by Mrs. HowChow: Not USED modern furniture....VINTAGE.)  One of my favorite places.  A terrific place to find cool, reasonably-priced furniture.

(Update:  Check out Nigel's comment below about a Williams-Sonoma juicer.)

Meadows Frozen Custard Coming To Columbia

The former Fractured Prune in the Hickory Ridge village center will be replaced by a new frozen custard shop -- Meadows Frozen Custard, according to an email from Chuck.

Meadows appears to be a small chain, and the corporate Web site does include a Columbia location.  But Chuck reports that a sign said it would open in "Spring 2010."  Chuck spotted no changes inside, although Fractured Prune did leave a lot of equipment when it closed.

Link: Five Guys in Columbia On 'Til It's Done

Columbia Mall's Five Guys got a greasy, but satisfied thumbs up from a relatively new blog 'Til It's Done.  Val and Adam appear to be Montgomery County folks, but they come north -- and they snap way better pictures that I pull off.

Canned Beer You Can Love

It ain't Milwaukee's best, but you can buy more and more interesting beers in cans these days.

Practically, canned beer works well for summer events like picnics or concerts where you don't want to risk those classy glass bottles.  But it is also a kick to anyone who drank beer when classy glass bottles were just too expensive to even consider.

Ah, the Milwaukee's Best 12 pack.  At an age before I even knew about gift bags and bringing a bottle of wine, I proved myself a good guest by ringing the doorbell with canned beer -- cheap beer, but more than I planned to drink myself.  Now, craft brewers are getting into the act with a variety of beers canned for quality, not quantity.

Personally, my favorite is a Scottish Ale from Oskar Blues.  For an adult review, you really want the Baltimore Beer Guy.  I'll tell you that it's delicious and flavorful, and it's perfect for a barbeque.  I think it's pretty available at liquor stores, certainly available at i.m. Wine in Fulton or Perfect Pour in Elkridge.  Perfect Pour's beer wall has canned beer from Brooklyn Brewery, the Reading Brewing Company, and even a hefeweisen from Butternut Beer.  They even have a $17 four-pack of Oskar Blues' Ten Fidy imperial stout.  That's $4+ for each can of beer.

(Update: Check out the Craft Cans blog mentioned in a comment below.  The Mama's Little Yella Pils is one of the good Oskar Blues brands available around here.)

If you're interested in beer, check out the Baltimore Beer Guy for news from the local craft beer bars or read my post about the Sudsy Triangle of Howard County.

Link: Wilde Lake in Tales of Two Cities

Wordbones has a thoughtful defense of the current state of Wilde Lake village center on Tales of Two Cities.   I agree that vacant stores are never good, but the village center is well maintained -- a great place for local food if you like David's Natural Market, Bagel Bin, or Today's Catch.  (You can see links to them all in the right column.)

Soujouk at Nazar Produce

It is only with the upmost gravity that I compare anything favorably to bacon.

Ah, bacon. . .  The thick-cut bacon from one of Howard County's butchers is one of the best tasty treats that you can give yourself.  Two slices can turn breakfast or other dishes into something spectacular.  Now, you need to pick up Turkish soujouk from the Nazar Produce Market in Columbia.

Soujouk is one of the halal meats in Nazar's refrigerated section.  It's a spicy, dried beef sausage.  I wouldn't have known what to buy or cook except that the guy who cuts my hair turned me on to scrambled eggs with onions and soujok.  This is the Turkish bacon and eggs, and it is just as delicious.

Let's repeat:  Just as delicious as bacon.

I bought the soujouk that comes in six little salamis because Nazar's owner pointed out that you just use one at a time and save the rest.  (He says they last months.  So far, I'm eating through too fast to test that theory.)  You saute some onion in butter until it softens.  Peel the paper casing from the soujouk, then chop it and add to the onion.  In a few minutes, a light film of oil has rendered out, and you cook scrambled eggs.  Soujouk tastes of spice and meat.  Strong spice to balance the eggs with no risk of the fattiness or the burnt section that you can get from bacon.

One small salami serves a hardy breakfast for two.  You could add less, but it's like bacon.  You'll miss it when you scrimp.

(Update:  Mrs. HowChow correctly notes that today's photo is horrible.  But I'm snapping with a cell phone in our kitchen, and it would have been her eggs getting cold if I had stopped to run a photo shoot.  Trust me that the soujouk tastes better than I made it look -- and I'm always open to photographers who want to build clips by shooting for a blog.)

If you are going to Nazar, you have to try the baklava.  They generally have several varieties.  Ask for the burma or the saragi burma variations.  And check out HowICook's comment that includes discussion of Soujouk and other items you can buy at Nazar.

Blended Chai Tea Lattes at Sidamo

Go off menu at Sidamo's in Fulton to turn your latte into a warm-weather treat.

Blended chai tea lattes are Frappochino's by another name, and they taste as sweet.  They taste really good actually, and I only know because my cousin asked if the lattes on the menu could be blended with ice.  Who knew?

Sidamo is becoming my source for coffee.  I love bold coffees, but I have realized that I don't love Starbucks bitter taste.  Sidamo roasts currently at their DC store, and they're waiting for the roaster to be delivered to the Fulton branch.  They have two varieties that I love, and I'm alternating when I buy the whole bean pound bags.

The blended chai lattes are your "stop for a treat" option.  I'm pleased to see Sidamo's seats fill up, and I hope they can add a few outdoor tables as the weather warms.  This Maple Lawn may work out yet!

Aida Bistro Moving Across The Street, Expanding

Aida Bistro is moving across the street and expanding -- according to the restaurant's email update.

The Columbia Italian restaurant has signed a lease on 4,400 square feet and hope to move into new space around Labor Day.  You can check out Aida Bistro's Facebook page for updates.

Bad News: You Live In Howard County!

HowChow has good news, bad news.

The good news is that Laura Vozzella posted a reader's compliment about Kloby's Smokehouse on Johns Hopkins Road.  The bad news is that she thinks it is bad news that the tasty barbeque is in Howard County.

Laura, Laura, Laura. . . The Dining at Large blog used to be a friend of the suburbs!  All your readers are welcome on Rte 29!  Come for the BBQ; stay for a giant yard, public schools, and parking lot cafes.

(Thanks to Brandon for the tip.  Notice in the post that the Laurel post office address does confuse the out-of-towners.  More proof that isn't Laurel.  Two words: Fulton annexation.)

Yama Sushi, Yogi Castle and Smokin' Hot Coming To Town

Time to catch up on some new places that people have mentioned.  No real reports yet from these places, but I'm interested.

Yama Sushi has opened in the Dorsey's Search Village Center in Columbia, according to Eric who had picked up a takeout menu and planned to try in the future.  (Update: Hoco Rising has already been to Yama twice and posted a rave.)

Yogi Castle will open selling frozen yogurt in the same shopping center as Sergio's Jewelers on Rte 40 n Ellicott City, according to K8teebug's comment on the Tutti Frutti post.

And there were signed last week for Smokin' Hot -- the barbecue place replacing Vesuvio's in Glenwood, according to Danita of the Land of Pleasant Living blog.  No signs yet, but Dana said her husband is very excited.

Thanks for the tips.  I'd love to hear if you try these joints.

Diamondback Tavern And Great Sage Win Sun Readers Favorite For Brunch Spots

As part of the Sun's package about Easter brunch spots, the Diamondback Tavern and Great Sage were two of the four restaurants named as "readers favorite brunch spots."

Diamondback is a casual place in Ellicott City where the Sun touts the eggs Benedict, French toast and shrimp with grits.  Great Sage is a Clarksville vegetarian landmark where the Sun suggests the "Monster Cinnamon Roll" or the "Chai French Toast."

(Update: In the comments, SarahKK astutely points out that Sun readers recommended those items.  Not a Sun reviewer.)

Howard Magazine's 2010 Dining Guide

Howard Magazine's dining issue hit the stands yesterday, and you can check out their comprehensive 2010 dining guide and other articles like a story about places for afternoon tea.  This is their first edition posted on the Web.

The magazine's Lisa Kawata wrote a very nice story about HowChow.  Thank you to Lisa, to all the people who agreed to be interviewed, and to Matt and Brian who spent a funny afternoon dropping menus on me.

One correction to the story.  Magazines have a long lead time so I definitely told Kuwata that Mrs. HowChow had drawn the line at eating from gas stations.  However, I forgot to call back to report that we broke that line for the delicious tacos at R&R Deli in Elkridge.  Those tacos are Mrs. HowChow approved.

Honey Pig In Ellicott City: What Did You Think?

Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ opened its new Ellicott City location on April 1, 2010.  Have you been?  What did you think?  How long was the wait?  I'm gearing up for a visit, and I want to know what we should order.

If you're going to try Honey Pig, save a little room and enjoy either an ice cream at Soft Stuff or frozen yogurt at Tutti Frutti.

The first comment came in before I even posted this from Mr. Dai, who seems satisfied.  


Definitely check out Arthur K's Yelp review, which starts with "Honeypig has just upped the ante for Korean restaurants in Howard County. My solemn duty as a Korean man required me to visit Honeypig as soon as possible. I got the opportunity to go opening day and I was not dissapointed. The wait was reasonable, 25 minutes; though it was Thursday and earlier in the dinner rush (we arrived at about 6)"

Pho Saigon 54 in Laurel

I love a bowl of pho on a chilly afternoon, and I'm adding to my repertoire with Pho Saigon 54 in Laurel.

It's outside Howard County, but so perfect if you're making repeated trips to Ikea in College Park.  Along with the list of things that I had forgotten at Ikea, I carried Momomom's comment about what you want in high quality pho:

I want really nice garnishes of cilantro and Thai basil, sprouts that are crisp with no brown edges, generous wedges of lime, some sliced jalapennos, sriracha and hunan sauce bottles. I want HOT broth that is meaty but not greasy. I want all dente rice noodles nested in a circle. I want various meat options even though I always get the plain round steak. I want the spoon and the chopsticks must be nice...not break apart wooden ones. I like an option with vegetables instead of meat. I like fast service ... that seems the norm for pho. Predictable and always the same over and over again.

That's Pho Saigon 54 in a paragraph.  This is one of those simple, shopping center restaurants like An Loi or Pho Dat Trahn in Columbia that offer Vietnamese soup, noodles, and those delicious summer rolls.  We really liked the pho.  Hot soup, fresh herbs, terrific noodles that filled us up.  Pho Saigon is clean, fast and offers all the sauces, hot peppers and sprouts to personalize your own bowl.  Certainly as good as the Howard County spots.  I thought the brother and meat were excellent here, but I'll need to see if one of these three actually excels.

Pho is perfect for a chilly spring day.  You leave warm and full, but not so stuffed that you need a nap.  You can still do your errands, assemble your television stand, or whatever else needs to get done.

Momomon -- Why do you want the noodles in a circle?  They were.  I just wondered why!  [Update: Check out Perrik's comments below for an answer and for other pho recommendations.]

Pho Saigon 54
13600 Baltimore Ave #306
Laurel, MD 20707
301-490-5858

NEAR:  Pho Saigon is in a shopping center at U.S. 1 and Contee Road in Laurel.  That's south of Rt 198.  Pho Saigon is in an outbuilding next to the Starbucks.

 

Sushi Sono Is About To Get Busier

The Washington Post will review Sushi Sono this weekend, and it's a positive review as first noted by Perrik in a comment about Dobbin Donuts & Kabob Korner.  In fact, Tom Sietsema's review has no down side:

Columbia might not be the first (or even the 13th) place to pop into your mind when the subject of sushi in the Washington area comes up, but trust me: The quality of the raw ingredients and the devotion of the chef and owner, King Lin, are indisputable. 

With that obligatory "Can you believe they have food in Columbia?" out of the way, Sietsema spends paragraphs applauding Lin, who previously owned Sushi King as well.  He talks up several dishes, including a young snapper special, a vegetable roll, a jellyfish salad, and the shabu-shabu.

Click here for the full review already posted on the Web.  Click here for my prior Sushi Sono posts.

As Perrik notes, Sietsema's praise will certainly make the wait longer.  The weird part of the review is that Sietsema repeatedly talks about making reservations at Sushi Sono.  Have the policies there changed?  My memory is that calling ahead helped put your name on the list, but they didn't actually take reservations.

Link: Whole Foods Coming To Columbia (Actually, Elkridge)

Two weeks ago, Forbes named Howard County the third richest county in the United States, and now we are getting Whole Foods -- the official grocery store for those richest counties. 

(Read the comments below.  This was an April Fool's post in 2010, but there were 2011 reports that Whole Foods was actually negotiating to open a Columbia store in the former Rouse Company headquarters.  Then a real Whole Foods opening in 2014.)

Whole Foods will open in the vacant space that dominates the Costco / Best Buy shopping center on Rte 175 as early as the end of 2010, according to the WPost's local business column.  That is officially Elkridge, but the WPost article and the Whole Foods press release are calling it "Columbia."

The prime retail space sat empty for three years because a sporting goods company signed a lease, but decided not to expand, as Tales of Two Cities has reported since last year.  Now, Whole Foods will take over the location, and it can open in as few as six months because the space -- as you can see on Wordbones' post -- is complete but completely unobstructed.  I assume Whole Foods is trying to beat Wegman's to the punch because those folks are building from scratch and may not open until 2012.

Personally, my first trip to the Columbia Whole Foods will be for cheese.  The photo above is the Silver Spring store.  What will you shop for when this is true?

Seriously, read the comments below.  This was the 2010 Aprils Fool joke.  If you're interested in real news and posts about Howard County food, please do check the HowChow homepage or become a fan on Facebook.