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.

Dobbin Donuts Reborn With Kabobs As Well

Dobbin Donuts has been reborn and doubled the alliteration with a South Asian twist.

The donut and lunch joint on Dobbin Road in Columbia closed last summer, but the lights have gone back on with new owners and a new menu that will include kabobs and Indian food.

The sign in the photo says "Dobbin Donuts & Kabob Korner."  When I stopped by, the place still looked like a minimal takeout or lunch joint, and the owner said that they're still adding to the menu as they get up and running.

Dobbin Donuts & Kabob Korner is in a shopping center on Dobbin between McGaw Road and Oakland Park Boulevard.  It's south of McGaw, and it's on the right if you're driving from Rte 175 or McGaw.

Kabob Skewers at Pars Market

Kabobs are within your reach -- and won't fall apart when you try to take them off the grill -- if you grab a few thick metal skewers at the new Pars Market in Columbia.

Thin skewers work fine for vegetables, but you can't thread a ground meat kabob on a pencil-sized piece of metal.  They fall apart when you try to lift them.  That's why Pars sells inch-wide skewers for a few dollars each -- either as a package or individual skewers.

For an easy night, you can also buy the Sadaf ground kabob seasoning at Pars, mix it with some ground beef or lamb, and make the long thin kabobs that you see in the photograph.  Those -- made with ground chuck from the Laurel Meat Market -- cooked as simply as hamburgers and came off the grill beautifully.  


I'm looking for some recipes to make kabobs from scratch, maybe with some lamb from the butcher at Columbia Halal Meat Market or Caezar International Market in Elkridge.  Just a short Google search turned up seasonings from Indian to Lebanese.

(Update: Check out Brandon Miller-Milhouse's comment below linking to a recipe for Indian lamb kabobs.)

(Update II: Also, I assume that "David" and "Joseph" below are fake comments.  Not that there is any substance to the comments, but I think it is only fair to point out that I appear to have someone posting vague compliments about Pars and insults about a competitor.  I was one insult away from erasing all the comments, but those seem to have stopped.  If I'm wrong, then "David" or "Joseph" are welcome to email me directly.  Update III;  The fake comments continue, so I erased them all.)

Ginger Candy at David's Natural Market

Reed's Ginger Chews are for people who want candy with bite when they bite into candy.

David's Natural Market in Columbia sells these all-natural ginger chews in bulk.  They're fiery with all of the flavor that comes from actual pieces of candied ginger.  I actually prefer the flavor and the texture, which is almost like chewing gum but eventually melts in your mouth.

The Reed's candies are individually-wrapped, so they're great to stuff in a lunch or a purse.  Ginger has anti-naseau properties, according to my medical expert, and it's a really adult flavor when you want a treat. Ask at David's or look for the bulk candy bins in the center of the store.

One thought:  The candies are dusted with a white, flavorless powder.  Don't be alarmed.  I assume that it keeps the sticky candies from attaching to the wrapper, but it melts on your tongue and mars nothing along the way.

Roots in Clarksville sells Reed's Ginger Beer -- along with the company's seasonal spiced apple brew -- so it may sell these ginger chews as well.

Taste For Life - Wine and Food on April 11

While you're eating for cancer at the "pink plate " specials, consider stopped on Sunday, April 11 for the "Taste For Life" charity wine tasting in Clarksville.

The event -- to raise money for the American Cancer Society -- runs from noon to 5 pm in the Ten Oaks Ballroom.  All the wine is being arranged by i.m. Wine of Fulton.  For $65, you can come from 1 to 5 pm for wine, an auction and food from Putting on the Ritz.  A $100 ticket buys you all that, plus the noon to 1 pm "premium tasting" with some higher-priced wines and food from Aida Bistro.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.tasteforlife.org.  Or, you can call ACS at 888-535-4555.

Bon Fresco Gets A Rave From The Sun

In my most egomaniacal moments, I hope that the real food critics use blogs as a way to identify places that they should check out.

The Sun actually reviewed Bon Fresco yesterday -- saying that the bread was exceptional and talking up the lentil soup and the grilled vegetable and spicy Italian sandwiches.  This was ironic because Elizabeth Large posted an email from me two months ago as part of her posts about "places we probably won't get to as well."  This was also terrific because the Sun will drive more people for Bon Fresco's bread and sandwiches -- a crusade that I have been on since they opened last summer.

The truth is that the Sun probably saw the recent WPost review.  But either way, I'm a huge Bon Fresco fan.  A great place to grab lunch if you're doing errands in Columbia today -- especially that potato salad.

Thanks to Cari and Sarah who pointed out the review!