New Music And Food Venue Coming To Columbia Lake Front After Clyde's Closes Tomato Palace

The Columbia lakefront will get a new music and food venue where the Clyde's restaurant group will offer live music and casual food, reports Warren Rojas in the DC Eater.

The Clyde's folks apparently closed the Tomato Palace.  They're renovating to create a 240-seat performance space, not yet named but modeled after a DC spot called The Hamilton.  They'll share a kitchen with the Clyde's next door, but offer a different menu.

Go Walk The Columbia Lakefront: The New Path Has Circled Lake Kitt So You Can Eat And Run

From the trail to Whole Foods

The Columbia Association opened a path Friday that circles the downtown lake and opened all kinds of new options for you to eat and run ... or eat and stroll.

The lake -- officially Lake Kittamaqundi, but now Lake Kitt in the blog as dubbed by Jack in an email to me -- is really a new nexus for Howard County food.  The Whole Foods sits right on the lakeside, along with Clyde's, the Tomato Palace, Le Comptoir, Petit Louis and Sushi Sono.

The new trail along a stream

That's great eating, and the CA's new path makes for great walking as well.  For years, the path had circled only part of the lake.  Now it goes the whole way, and we circled with a stroller in about a half hour.  It's an easy walk, and it's beautiful even in cold weather.

(Update: See the story by Luke Lavoie in the Sun.)

You're not going to do better than lunch at Sushi Sono and a walk around the lake.  But all the restaurants are popular, and you can really enjoy an afternoon and even shop for groceries.

I'm impressed by the new trail.  They did pretty work, and there are places to sit and to check out the stream running against Rte 29.  Today is supposed to be beautiful so soak in some warmth. And please suggest dishes at any of the lakefront restaurants if you have favorites.  People have talked up the pizza at Tomato Palace, but I haven't eaten there myself.

Jack, who works with the Bicycle Advocates of Howard County, shared an old map that showed how the trail used to deadend.  He said the new trail was one of the initiatives under a "Connecting Columbia" plan.

Gourmet Ice Cream Now At Le Comptoir: Delicious Treat, Adult And Toddler Approved

Salted caramel ice cream at Le Comptoir

New parent lesson for the day: It can be hard to pull a toddler away from a pint of ice cream, especially if it is rich, intense caramel on a warm afternoon.

Lil' Chow threw one of his first full fusses Sunday when we tried to cap the pint of salted caramel ice cream at Le Comptoir on the Columbia lakefront.

That's house-made ice cream and sorbet that they're selling $6 for a shareable 13 ounces.Just $4 for a single serving.

Restaurant-quality dessert served in a plain paper pint. It is another reason to make the Columbia lakefront a destination for dates, family night and general fun

We had stumbled to the lakefront after an abbreviated nap.  I ran Lil' Chow up and down the hill outside Clyde's.  Then Mrs. HowChow wanted to check out Le Comptoir's ice cream. Salted caramel, spiced chocolate and two sorbets.  One minute we were wondering if a 17-month-old would like salted caramel.  The next, he was dragging Mrs. HowChow's hand to his mouth to get a steady stream of sweet.

I has to feed her from my spoon so she could keep up the baby bites.  We thought it was terrific ice cream.  Worth eating there or even stopping to carry a pint home.

I'm a huge fan of Le Comptoir -- both for the food and sweets and for the chance to enjoy the lakefront even if you don't want a full meal.  Clyde's, Sushi Sono, Tomato Palace and Petit Louis all serve fine lunches and dinners, but there is almost a city vibe to a coffee or dessert at Le Comptoir's cafe tables.  Go enjoy.

One question:  Does anyone know the story about why the lake path doesn't go all the way around the lake?  I'm suddenly focused on stroller paths.  The lakefront path just ends on the far side.  Why?  Part of Rouse's master plan?

Salmon-Skin Rolls: Voted Least Likely To Be A HowChow Favorite, But Now A Crunchy Contrast

Salmon skin roll at Sushi Sono

Who would have ever expected to write rhapsodically about eating fish skin?

It sounds like a joke, but the salmon skin roll has become one of our favorites since I learned about them from a friend.

Almost every sushi restaurant offers their variation on this cooked roll.  Thin pieces of salmon skin with a little attached fish, broiled until crisp and then rolled sometimes with vegetables and the standard nori and rice.

Done right, it's a contrast with regular sushi rolls -- crunch and an unctuous char among dishes that can have a similar texture of rice-fish-nori-rice-fish-nori.  I think we tend to order salmon skin rolls when we have a few people around the table.  One or two pieces punctuate a meal.  We don't need half of the rolls to have skin.

Over the winter, we discovered that Sushi Sono does an exceptional salmon skin roll.  More meat than many other variations and cooked to the precise point where the skin crunches, but hasn't burned.  That version may even be better than our prior favorite at Yama Sushi in Ellicott City.

If you're looking for something fun, I really suggest getting 6-10 people together for one of the private rooms at Sushi Sono or Sushi King.  They both offer special tables where you sit on benches in an enclosed space.  Exotic fun for adults -- and surprising kid-friendly because we have had toddlers wander around the room without bothering anyone outside.  Check out my post about the Sushi Sono room, and call either place to reserve the roms.

Whole Food Has House-Made Popsicles -- Juice Pressed, Mixed And Frozen In The Store

Store-made popsicles at Whole Foods

Mrs. HowChow had looked in the window of the new Columbia Whole Foods, so she knew that it was enormous when she told me that she only wanted one thing if I stopped on opening day.

House-made popsicles.

Whole Foods presses their own juices in the store on the Columbia lakefront.  Then they freeze them into 99-cent popsicles.  Little bundles of icy happiness.  Some adult flavors with kale and greens.  But most are sweet and fruity.  They're definitely worth checking out if you're still exploring the new Columbia store.

I'm still infatuated with the new Whole Foods.  I have gone the last two weekends and bought our food for the week.  I'm making a seasonal effort to cook whole grains, and the bulk section is a terrific way to try different stuff -- bulgar, quinoas, beans, etc.

Age Tofu At Sushi Sono -- Outside the Fish

Age Tofu at Sushi Sono

No one beats the sushi at Sushi Sono in Columbia, but I recommend the age tofu appetizer if you want to step outside the fish.

This is the kind of dish that makes me never fry at home.

I look to professionals like the Sushi Sono kitchen that turns our perfect crisp blocks of silky firm tofu.  They're crunchy, but not oily.  Hot pieces that are easy to lift onto your  plate and then spoon over with the dashi broth at the bottom of the bowl.  The flavor -- earthy and warm -- comes from that broth and the large slices of dried fish that actually wave as the heat from the tofu.

Your first piece of tofu will be hot and crisp.  The second will have rested a few minutes in the broth and become a bit chewier and more flavorful.  It's a terrific treat and another lesson about how Sushi Sono worries about texture and subtle flavors, far more than fancy sauces or spices.

If you like age tofu, I also recommend the same appetizer at Shin Chon Garden in Ellicott City.  They're different dishes, but it's a testament to the flexibility that age tofu contrasts equally well with a plate of tofu or a grill full of Korean barbecue.

Drinking A Flower: Le Comptoir's Lavender Iced Latte Has Become A Mrs. HowChow Favorite

The Le Provencal iced latte and a chocolate cookie

Narrow-casting here for the lavender lovers in Howard County.  For everyone else, there are still cookies.

Le Comptoir in Columbia offers an iced latte flavored with lavender that has become one of Mrs. HowChow's favorite things.  Le Provencal is pricey at $6, but it's her treat as we sit on the lakefront.  Done right, it's a revelation. Perfectly iced coffee with a waft of lavender.

Not the flavor of soap, which is a common problem when you cook with lavender.  This is a hint of flavor, more of scent than something strong.  We assume they use a lavender simple syrup, but we're happy to enjoy without knowing the secret.

And then there are always cookies if you want a treat without flowery flavors.  Le Comptoir makes a variety of baked goods that have made it one of our favorite places.  But those chocolate cookies have become our favorites -- crunch on the outside, moist inside.  Not cakey (because we're not a cake family).

Le Comptoir is a terrific place to stop before checking out the new Whole Foods on the lakefront.  Walk from the grocery down towards the lake and Clyde's.  Le Comptoir, Petit Louis and Sushi Sono are all perpendicular to Clyde's overlooking the lake.

Whole Foods Has Opened; The First Visit Left Me Overwhelmed, But I Finally Caught My Rockfish

The patio overlooking the Columbia lakefront

The couple was just behind me looking at the fish display.  Whole Foods opened in Columbia this morning, and we were in the lunchtime crowd.

They pointed.  They talked varieties.  They were clearly excited by just the idea of seafood because they were dressed for the office and clearly couldn't carry a fish with them.

Then the woman turned to the guy.  "Oh, wow," she said.  "We're in trouble."  He nodded.  "Yes, we are."

The pickle bar

If you're a Whole Food kind of shopper, then you are in trouble with the new store that opened in Columbia.  It's beautiful.  It's huge.  It's exactly the pricey temple to eating that you've seen in other towns, but now it's calling you from nearby

I barely looked at the central aisles today.  My first visit was a long circle around the edges where Whole Foods serves all kinds of convenience -- from ingredients like fish, sausages and meats to takeout like salads, fresh pasta, and olives to full meals like pizzas, bi bim bap, and sandwiches.

The meals seem as important to me as the grocery store.  Like Wegmans, Whole Foods offers tables after table of seating.  They want you to buy and sit.  They even have a deck and an indoor space that look over the lakefront.

I've said that this makes the Columbia lakefront a broad magnet.  People can shop.  They can just buy a meal.  In good weather, they can picnic outside.  Maybe stroll for a drink at Clyde's or our favorite cookie at Le Comptoir.

The cheeses

Today, I circled for things that I already know.  Some produce, a cheese, flowers, and the chicken sausage that will become a freezer staple for grilling, pasta sauces and more.   I planned to return for fresh pasta.  I gasped at the pickle bar.  A dozen kinds of pickled cucumbers.  Four kinds of kimchi.  A scattering of other cured vegetables.

I took my leap at that seafood counter.  I had two great fishing trips that both ended as fish-catching failures.  But Steve Vilnit talked up rockfish and showed me how they're caught in Chesapeake Bay traps.  I took the plunge on a small one that the fishmonger scaled, gutted and butterflied.  That's sitting now in the fridge with olive oil, roasted garlic, basil and lemon juice smeared inside.  Ready for the grill.

Does anyone else have stories from the Whole Foods opening day?  I'm sure that I'll post more as I try new items.  (Four kinds of kimchi!)  I'd love to hear about the actual meals -- the pizza, the lunch counter. . . .  Welcome to Whole Foods -- especially to the folks who moved to Columbia to work at the store.  I met a cheese guy who left California and felt duty-bound to warn him that this isn't the August heat that he should expect next year.

For more on the Whole Foods, check out the Two Dudes Who Love Food.  The teenaged bloggers made a short video about the store and making two healthy school lunches.  Just don't believe them about "wraps."  I love whole grains.  I love tortillas.  But America has ruined too many great sandwich ideas by switching bread for whole grain tortillas.

Whole Foods To Open August 20 In Columbia

Whole Foods will open its new Columbia store on August 20, the company announced today.

The store will open in the former Rouse Company headquarters, the white office building on the lakefront and across from the mall.

You can follow some pre-opening events on Whole Foods' Facebook page.  Mrs. HowChow is super-excited about a popsicle bar.  They're making special juices and freezing them into popsicles.  We could have used those tonight.

Best Seat In The House: Chocolate Cookies, Sunset And A View Of The Columbia Lakefront

The best seat in the house

That's the best seat in the house.

Sunset.  Two chocolate cookies from Le Comptoir, the new dessert and sandwich counter next to Petit Louis.  And a view out onto the Columbia lakefront.

I can't recommend enough a night on the outdoor seats at Le Comptoir.  For a few dollars, you can enjoy an idyllic view and a delicious dessert.  Pair with a walk on the lake.  Go after dinner at Sushi Sono or before a drink at one of the bars.  You might almost be in a pedestrian spot, and in a few months . . . . Whole Foods just down the lake.

Go have fun this weekend.

Le Comptoir: Every Sweet Is Among The Best Desserts In Howard County, Every County

Cookies! Even the cookies are exceptional.

Petit Louis is certainly a sweet spot, and they're still working hard to hit the sweet spot in every aspect.

I can't talk enough about the desserts -- both in the restaurant and at its casual counter Le Comptoir.  We have eaten almost everything that they offer.  Probably a dozen trips in a single month -- mostly to carry out a box of cookies or pastries.

I think that I'm being even-keeled when I say that I have eaten 15 different cookies, eclairs and pastries and every one ranks among the best desserts around.  Just last month, I emphasized how many great sweets are available in Howard County.  But Petit Louis and Le Comptoir immediately leapt up to the absolute top tier, and you can't check it out fast enough.

Macarons with a changing run of imaginative flavors.  Eclairs and financiers that shame regular pastries.  Tiny fruit gels that are brilliant $1 bites.  Cookies that even taste exceptional.  Mrs. HowChow almost passed on the chocolate cookie after we walked around the lake.  How special can a cookie be?  It turns out that they can be amazing with a crisp exterior and a soft inside, rich with chocolate and perfect with coffee (and with a second cookie like the rosemary-scented heart-shaped one).

And don't get me started about the macarons.  These trendy French pastries are basically sandwich cookies with merengues on the outside and a flavored filling.  We have been infatuated for several years.  I have carried macarons home from New York City.  But I have never had better ones that Le Comptoir.  The merengues are perfectly dry without cracking.  The flavors are fresh and intense, strong with banana, peanut butter, pistachio-grapefruit, etc.  They're the symbol of what I love about Petit Louis' sweets -- simple desserts that are so clearly not simple to create.

Now, a friend told me that he thinks Petit Louis became Howard County's best restaurant as soon as it opened.  I'm excited if that is true.  It may have been a mistake for us to eat there on a Monday night, but we were celebrating that day.  Five occupied tables couldn't fill the room with any energy, and we got a waiter who was growing into the role.

As it was, we unintentionally ordered two fried dishes.  I asked if the beignet was like the doughy fritter that you'd see in New Orleans.  Now, I realize that the waiter's nod was probably based on politeness, not agreement.  I got shrimp and vegetable tempura.  Terrific tempura, but that wasn't what I had wanted.  Then we got surprised again when Mrs. HowChow's desire for fresh fish got her fried cod.  Again, real skill to fry that perfectly.  Just not what she was looking for.  I remember servers at other Foreman-Wolf restaurants, and I think they would have led us to dishes that we wanted.

Of course, the entire meal leads you to dessert, so you go out on a bang without any risk of translation.  We went with Gateau Aux Fruits Exotiques and Pot de Creme Au Chocolat.  They're intense flavors, rich but light enough that we walked out smiling and bubbly.  Honestly, the fruits aren't that exotic -- passion fruit, coconut and pineapple.  It's talent that intensifies the flavors in layers of cake and cream.

As I'm sitting here trying to explain why we're au septieme ciel over Petit Louis' sweets, my best explanation is that they don't taste of butter and sugar.  You can always win over a table with dessert heavy with cream or sharp with sweetness.  Each Petit Louis dessert leads with a flavor -- a fruit, an herb, that chocolate.  They run from crunchy to creamy to gelled, but they each taste fresh and unique.

Seriously, you need to go check this out.  Petit Louis serves high end French dinners, and the Foreman-Wolf team have been spectacular to offer you smaller options -- maybe just dessert in the restaurant, definitely sandwiches, quiche, coffee and sweets as takeout or sit down at the casual Le Comptoir next door.

A bunch of new restaurants have opened over the past two months.  Practically, it will take a while for us to try them all.  But I'm also being slow because I want these places to get up and running.  I'm confident that the Petit Louis folks want Columbia to rival the Baltimore location, and I think that lakefront dining room will be a very special place.  One meal shouldn't define any of the new endeavors.

Whole Foods Sign Is Up In Columbia; Dreaming Of Summer And Warm Walks For Exercise And Food

Sign Is Up At Whole Foods Columbia

The sign is up outside the Whole Foods in Columbia.

Check out the giant logo that Mrs. HowChow spotted while she was stopping for French pastries at the Columbia lakefront.

The Whole Foods folks have been saying that they aim to open in the first week of August.  The sign is just one of 1,000 steps in that process.  But we're already dreaming of summer and warm walks where a few thousand steps could take us for food.

Across the lake

On the first Sunday that the weather broke last month, we drove to Columbia and walked around the lake.  On that Sunday, the main draw was pastries and coffee from Le Comptoir, which I'll rave about later this week. But we walked past the Whole Foods construction site and imagined an afternoon that could include takeout lunch on the grass, a walk around the lake, and then shopping for groceries.

Our walk was fun even though the lake was frozen solid.  I can't recommend the trip enough on a day with friendly weather.  Park in the lot off Little Patuxent Parkway across from the Columbia Mall.  The lot is next to and beneath the Copeland's restaurant, but you want to walk down to the lakefront for a walk and then something to eat.  Sushi at Sushi Sono.  Sandwiches, pastries and coffee at Le Comptoir.  Large menus at Clyde's and Tomato Palace.

And by late summer . . . Whole Foods.

On the first trip, I will pour one out for Wordbones.  He would have loved the real estate talk as companies develop the lakefront neighborhood.  I imagine he also would have gotten a kick out of standing in Whole Foods and figuring out where his former office would have been inside the new store.

Drop What You're Doing! Go Have Coffee And Pastries At Le Comptoir, The New Walk Up

"Cinnamon bun," chocolate croissants, croissants

Petit Louis hasn't even opened, but the small walk-up counter next door has already kicked off a brand new experience for Howard County food.

Le Comptoir is a casual counter service area next to the space that will open next week as the latest Foreman-Wolf restaurant.  You can get casual lunch items, but it's worth dropping whatever you're doing right now to just get coffee and pastries.

The best croissant Mrs. HowChow has ever had.  Lemon poppy cakes.  A chocolate-pistachio pastry.  Two flavors of macarons.    Something described as a cinnamon bun, which I carried out and is waiting to be eaten as a little snack.

Everything that we ate was perfect.  A small, crispy croissant that was simultaneously light and flaky, but left a luscious impression of butter on my tongue.  A cake moist with a strong lemon flavor and a slight crunchy crust for contrast.  You know that I love the local bakeries, but you can't beat these pastries overlooking the lake.  We split a French press of coffee, and we had the best time.

Even before the coffee rush, I was pretty hyped up for this group's first restaurant in Howard County.  I can't say that I dream of French dining, but the Foreman-Wolf restaurants have this amazing feeling where people are obviously serious about the food, but not about themselves.  They're so nice.  The flavors and the people make me want to go back immediately.

At Le Comptoir, you can take out or sit at one of the cafe tables overlooking the Columbia lakefront.  Gorgeous now -- and great to get out of our house after these frigid weeks.  I can imagine that it will be even better in five to seven months when you could eat outside, walk around the lake, and let little feet run on the grass.

Petit Louis appears to be opening next week.  They're doing "friends and family" meals to work out the kinks and hosting a few charity lunches and dinners this week.

Check with Le Comptoir about their hours this week.  Eventually, they're planning on breakfast and lunch.  Maybe into the night.  But the restaurant is still opening, so I don't know their hours this week.  Hat tip to Clayton who stopped for an espresso and croissant on the first day Saturday.

Le Comptoir (inside Le Petit Louis)
10215 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, MD 21044
410-964-9999

NEAR:  This is on the Columbia lakefront next to Sushi Sono and just down from the Tomato Palace and Clyde's.  You park in the parking garage fronting Little Patuxent Parkway, then walk down to the lakefront.

#15 Roll At Sushi Sono; It's Delicious, But Just Not What I Had Told You About Last November

The actual #15 Roll

On a recent night at Sushi Sono, the blog's name was taken in vain.  The photo above is the #15 Roll.  It has smoked salmon, crunchy seaweed, and crab on top with flakes of dried tuna.  And it needs the protection of the Sono staff who told diners that HowChow had gotten that wrong.

In November, we had eaten a delicious new roll with green tea noodles, and I swear that we had ordered the #15 Roll special that night.  Either way, I posted a rave describing that as the #15 Roll.  This month, people ordered the #15 at Sono and then asked whether the recipe had changed -- maybe green tea noodles had been removed?

No, the Sono folks said, with grace and patience.  That roll with green tea noodles has a name that translates like Green Tea Noodle Roll.  It's another special that the kitchen is working to perfect.

Then the killer:  "I know HowChow says that was the #15.  But it wasn't."

How embarrassing.

I have revised the November post to note that that was the "Green Tea Noodle Roll" or something similar.  And now, I come again to praise the #15.  This is another Sono success where the chefs play with flavors and textures.  The smoky flavor of the salmon against the sweetest of crab.  The crunch of seaweed with the papery flakes of dried fish.  Both the "Green Tea" and the #15 are worth checking out.

We have begun to order every visit off the white board of Sono specials.  If anything, that has made us more-interested in driving to Columbia.  We get new surprises, and everything is done right.  If only HowChow could produce as perfectly.

Foreman-Wolf Restaurant In Columbia Appears To Be French, A Second Version Of Petit Louis

The new restaurant from Tony Foreman and Cindy Wolf in Columbia appears like it will have a French menu and be a second version of their Petit Louis Bistro -- with patio dining overlooking the lake.

The name and cuisine have not been officially announced, but people can't keep a secret when they have a hunger for booze.

The Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board ran an ad in yesterday's Baltimore Sun noting a application from "LouisCo Columbia, LLC t/a Petit Louis Bistro" in the name of Diane Patton and John Anthony Foreman.

The new restaurant is under construction on the lakefront in Columbia.  It's the former location of the Red Pearl.

Another cool detail: They're asking for liquor sales on a 471-square-foot patio.  That patio seems like a great idea.  They get extra tables, and diners can enjoy some seasonal seats with one of the best views around.

Hat tip to Anonymous for spotting the ad and posting a comment last night.  Does anyone know the plan or the time table for opening?  Mrs. HowChow loves Petit Louis, but she had been dreaming of Cindy Wolf's take on "farm to table" seasonal food.  The liquor hearing is 6:30 pm on December 17.  Let me know if anyone happens to attend.

Construction Coming Along At The Foreman-Wolf Spot In Columbia; New Chef At Greystone?

You can see the bones of a restaurant in the Columbia lakefront space being renovated into a restaurant by Tony Foreman and Cindy Wolf.

Walls have gone up.  You can see what looks like entry area, a bar, maybe a private room or an alcove.  They're just rough construction materials and utility lights, so I can't imagine how the place could open in 2013.  But that was the original plan, and I'm no expert.

Has anyone heard about the current timeline for opening?  Or heard what name or menu they're picked for their Columbia spot?

While we're asking questions, has anyone heard about changes at the Greystone Grill in Ellicott City?  I have heard rumors about Robert Gadsby, the chef who has created terrific food at a casual barbecue place on U.S. 1 in Laurel.  His RG's BBQ Cafe has spectacular ribs, chicken and specials like lamb shank, but his real history has been upscale restaurants.  People -- including me -- jumped the gun earlier this year and thought Gadsby would take off the former Venegas in Fulton.  That didn't happen, but the skill in that barbecue will make me line up wherever he takes over -- even to "Gadsby's Bar American."

See The New Columbia Whole Foods -- Photos!

Where you'll eat lunch from Whole Foods

Take a tour of the new Columbia Whole Foods.  It's still under construction.  No food displays because they're still pour concrete, and there are no walls.

Duane got a tour, and he posted photos and descriptions on HoCo Connect.  He noted that windows -- even those overlooking the lake -- will be replaced by supermarket walls.  He also described some kind of spa and exercise facility that the Columbia Association will open in the same building.

I can't wait for Whole Foods to open in 2014.  Over the summer, we had a great day around the lake.  We ate at Sushi Sono, but I noticed the grassy areas between the Whole Foods and the lake.  That will be a great place to eat lunch.

Here Comes The New Foreman-Wolf Restaurant; Construction Begins, Red Pearl Disappears

Demolition at the new Foreman-Wolf restaurant

Here comes the new Foreman-Wolf restaurant on the lakefront in Columbia.

Construction has started on the new restaurant from the owners from Charleston, Pazo and other Baltimore spots.  Or at least demolition has started.  Crews were tearing out metalwork and fixtures earlier today.

Red Pearl's old woks

The Red Pearl's woks were sitting on the floor near the door after that place closed last year.  We still miss that lakefront dim sum.  But we're very excited for Cindy Wolf's new kitchen.  So far, no one has talked publicly about what kind of menu the new restaurant will offer.  Mrs. HowChow is rooting for a seasonal place tied to local farms.

The June announcement said the new restaurant would open in 2013.  It's part of the Howard Hughes Co.'s effort to develop their land and properties in central Columbia.  It's next to Sushi Sono and just down the lake from the Whole Foods under construction.

The Whole Sign Is Up At Whole Foods

Coming in 2014!! Howard Hughes has posted a Whole Foods sign at the building that they're renovating for the upscale grocer.

Construction has really started at the former Rouse Company headquarters on LIttle Patuxent Parkway across from the Columbia Mall.  Fence up.  Parts of the first floor seem to have been torn down.

New Wolf-Foreman Restaurant Aiming To Open In 2013 On The Downtown Columbia Waterfront

Columbia should get a new restaurant this year by the owners by Charleston, Petit Louis and Cinghiale -- filling the lakefront space that used to be Red Pearl, notes the Sun and other folks who got the press release.

Incroyable!

As I had written in April, folks have been talking about Cindy Wolf and Tony Foreman opening a new restaurant in downtown Columbia.  It's une idée formidable.  The Howard Hughes Company is developing a bunch of downtown land, and they're adding the nouveau restaurant down the lake from the Whole Foods coming in 2014.

Foreman and Wolf run wonderful upscale restaurants in Baltimore.  They should bump up the food around that area -- and be a nice pair with Sushi Sono overlooking the water.  One question remains: What kind of restaurant are they opening?  The official word is that no one should talk about that until authorized by .  But then, nous pouvons tous imaginer.