My New Favorite Awesomest Thing In The World

Sweet. Potato. Latte.  Awesome.

Get ready for the holidays with my new favorite awesomest thing in the world.

Imagine a classic Thanksgiving sweet potato side dish:  Whipped sweet potatoes covered with melted marshmallows.  Then imagine that as a warm winter drink.

Inspired?  Then go to the new Shilla Bakery on Rte 40 in Ellicott City.  They have all kinds of pastries, cakes, coffees, and other drinks.  But my new crush is the sweet potato latte.

This isn't a latte with a hint of sweet potato.  This is dessert in a paper cup.  Creamy, sweet, actually tasting like someone whipped marshmallow and sweet potato into a warm version of a milk shake.  I loved it.  I didn't need more than a few bites of the other desserts that we had ordered, but the sweet potato latte made my night.

The Shilla Bakery is a really cool place to hang out.  Families.  Teenagers.  Four women sitting at a table with coffees, forks, and a roll of sponge cake.  Everyone can have fun for an afternoon or after dinner.  We recommend the macarons, which have a crunchier exterior than the perfect ones from New York City but that come in a range of interesting flavors.

Sweet potato cake

HowChow regular Min ordered a sweet potato cake from Shilla for a birthday.  She thought it was delicious -- dense in texture, but not overwhelmingly sweet.  She originally thought it was covered in coconut, but that turned out to be finely-grated cake crumbs.

Bon Appetit a little farther west on Rte 40 is a straight-up competition with Shilla.  I need to check out their latte options.  The new Bean & Burgundy Bread has probably triple the space, and they're trying to offer coffee, baked goods, and a bigger savory menu as well.  They're all casual variations that offer a nice way to get out of the house as the weather gets cold.

Ernesto's Has Opened; Rte 40 Gets Mexican From Dallas To Go With New Korean Bakery Shilla

Ernesto's Fine Mexican in Ellicott City

Ernesto's Fine Mexican has opened in the Enchanted Forest shopping center on Rte 40 -- bringing a Dallas chain to Ellicott City.

I didn't actually taste the food when I stopped for a menu.  I had just eaten two tacos in Catonsville.  But the place looked nice.  The menu looks like basic Tex-Mex with tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and some larger entries.  They have special lunch dishes.

Kathy ate at Ernesto's on the third night they were open.  She said the meal wasn't perfect, but it showed signs of promise.

Most of it was well cooked but under seasoned. The queso blanco on my enchilada and the rice in the side were excellent. I had a long talk with Myra, a manager here from Texas to open the new place. She wants to sample other Mexican food in the area but so far has only been to Don Pablo's. I wanted to weep! I sent her to R&R. Hopefully that will convince her we want, need, love real Mexican!

I'm with Kathy.  I love Mexican food, but I pass by many Mexican restaurants around here because I'm afraid that I'll get piles of cheese with uninspired ingredients.  In contrast, I stop at taquerias aimed at immigrant customers because the food is often fresh and full of flavor.

Baked goods at Shilla

In the same way, we're lucky to be getting a variety of shops aimed at Korean customers on Rte 40.  The Shilla Bakery has opened -- although they're still waiting to offer sandwiches.  You can buy all kinds of cakes, cookies and sweets, along with some savory baked goods like Shilla's take on pizza.

Again, I have only visited with a full stomach.  Mrs. HowChow and I split a green bean donut, which was terrific.  Sweet, dense filling inside a fried pastry.  If you catch a warm night, we highly recommend bing soo, a Korean dessert that we had at the similar Bon Appetit Bakery farther west on Rte 40.

What do people suggest at Shilla and Ernesto's?  What have you had?  What would have again?  What would you order next time? 

Both Shilla and Bon Appetit are cool places to hang out.  They're basically coffee shops with awesome sweets.  They're often packed with families and kids.  

Ernesto's Fine Mexican Food
10040 Baltimore National Pike (Rte 40)
Ellicott City, MD
410-750-1005

NEAR:  Ernesto's is in the Enchanted Forest shopping center.  It is on the north side of Rte 40 west of Rte 29.  Ernesto's is next to Jilly's.

Shilla Bakery
9339 Baltimore National Pike (Rte 40)
Ellicott City, MD
410-418-8800

NEAR: Shilla is on the south side of Rte 40 west of Rte 29.  It is in the same shopping center as Jason's Wine & Spirits.  Don't listen to Google.  Shilla sells some items in the Lotte grocery at Rte 29 and Rte 40, and Google lists that as Shilla's Ellicott City location.

Shilla Bakery Has Opened In Ellicott City

During my down time, the Shilla Bakery opened on Rte 40 in Ellicott City.

Shilla is a Korean bakery with sweets and savory.  I haven't been there yet, but I assume it has a selection similar to the Bon Appetit bakery farther west on Rte 40.  Adam tells me that they have bulgogi and kimchi pizza.  That seems like something that I need to try.

Shilla is on the south side of Rte 40 west of Rte 29.  It is a strip shopping center just in front of the center where you can get Bon Chon fried chicken.  Weirdly, the Shilla Web site seems to say the new bakery is at 8801 Baltimore National Pike, which would be the Lotte shopping center.

Thanks to Adam, Dan and everyone else who emailed me about Shilla opening.  If you have been, please post reports or recommendations in the comments.

New Food Coming: Sushi, Indian Coming To Fulton And A New Korean Bakery On Rte 40

Food marches on in Howard County.

Apparently, a new Korean bakery has a sign on Rte 40, reports Amelia.  She said she saw a sign for Shilla bakery between Jason's Wine and Kim Bob Nara.  That puts it on the southbound side west of Rte 29.

Separately, new Indian and sushi are coming to Fulton.  The Maple Lawn developers have signed a lease for a sushi restaurant across from the Harris Teeter, the developers said at last night's neighborhood meeting.  They also said work will start in the next month or so on the new Indian place from the folks who own the Ambassador.  That'll be on Maple Lawn Boulevard south of Johns Hopkins Road.