Azul 17: The Soft Open Has Begun

Azul 17 Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Lounge has opened quietly -- starting with dinner and working towards an October 8 grand opening.

Dzoey ate at the Snowden River Parkway restaurant on Sunday night and says they were serving appetizers, salads and small plates. This week, they're adding main dishes. Next week, they'll add lunch. I had been piecing together the story, but Dzoey has a full report that I slightly edited:

I liked the decor which gives the place a nightclub feel. Not sure if it will go over well in family oriented Columbia, but on the other hand, there's probably pent up demand for a place like this. They are happy to see families as well, and treated my kids nicely, but if I were in my 20's, I'd feel comfortable coming here.

The food was good. Real Mexican, not Tex-Mex, though they say they'll have some Tex-Mex on the menu for people's comfort zones.

The tacos are excellent, just like Lilly's [Mexican] Market (mother-in-law of the owner) or one of the US 1 taco trucks. I tried the sopas de tortilla, expecting a chicken-soup type dish. Instead I got an intensely flavored tomato based soup with chicken in it. It was delicious and surprising. We also tried the crab empenadas which I liked but the kids didn't.

They have two salsas, one mild but very flavorful and the other one spicy with decent flavor and a nice long tail.

Definitely worth checking out. We'll go back when more of the menu is available.

Dutch Country Farmers Market in Laurel

The Dutch Country Farmers Market has re-opened in Laurel, and it is still worth a drive by anyone interested in exploring food -- it's just a drive on Rte 198.

This market was a Burtonsville landmark for years, and, as I said about that location, you could go to Laurel just for the spectacle and the pretzels. Dutch Country is the size of a small supermarket with a dozen vendors selling everything from meat to candy, fresh-squeezed juice to ribs you can carry out. The new market has shopping carts and wide aisles. But it is still chaotic. It's still friendly. It's still a well-stocked middle ground in a world where so many stores specialize in organic or cheap.

Start your trip with a $2 hot pretzel from Lydianne's Soft Pretzels, which is right at the front door. They're literally right out of the oven, and you can't beat that kind of treat. Personally, I ask for a pretzel that hasn't been dipped in butter. They dip everything in quarts of melted butter. That's delicious, but I prefer a little more crisp and little less butter.

Then, take a walk. As far as I can tell, the vendors are all people from Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Obviously, this is a perfect place if you like Pennsylvania Dutch food. Think pasta and potato salads, sweet desserts like cheesecake, fudge and pies, and canned items like jams, pickled vegetables (brussel sprouts!) and pickled eggs. Don't expect a "Whole Foods" array of ethnic items. The meat counter has three different kinds of bologna, but doesn't sell pastrami. The prepared foods sells lots of fried chicken and ribs, but you're not going to get Asian-flavored grilled chicken breasts.

Sample your way around the Dutch Market to see what catches your eye. I have found great ingredients to cook and many little treats. The Laurel market has a machine that stamps rice cakes similar to the popped rice bowls at H Mart. They blow out of the machine every nine seconds, which would be a little show if you shop with kids. Usually, I'm in the midst of errands, and the full selection of vegetables -- clearly not grown in Pennsylvania -- always makes me wonder whether they're really "farmers market" special or just nice-looking stuff from a wholesale market. But you should definitely check out the central stall with bulk candies, spices, and baking items. (This weekend, I saw the wafers/cookies that you use to make ice cream sandwiches. You could make your own with your favorite ice cream.) You should also check out the restaurant, which had lines out the door from 8:30 past 9 am.

You should also read the comments. The first reports from other people are here, and TVMom posted photos on A Million Things I Love. I hope that other people will comment on this post about why they drive to the Dutch Country Market. These are my current favorites:

• The hot pretzels, including the breakfast "bacon, egg, and cheese" pretzel log. (I'm not kidding.)
• The fresh-squeeze orange juice and lemonade at a stand that is in the center across from the BBQ and meat stands. Juice can run $7.89 and $3.59 for a half-gallon respectively, but it's delicious. You can buy smaller bottles as well ($4.29 and $1.99).
• The dairy products -- including Trickling Springs Creamery regular or organic milk in glass bottles -- in a dairy section across the aisle from the juice stand. It is right next to a machine that makes rice cakes.
• The Beiler's Meats counter with a broad selection of steaks, veal, pork, interesting sausages, organic meats, and butcher-store specialties like ham hocks, cow feet, and goat meat. Beiler's sells three levels of meat -- USDA grain fed, a "natural grain fed" free of steroids, hormones and antibiotics, and a certified organic. One tip: Grab a number from the middle of the long counter. If you just stand around, they won't help you.
• Bacon. Six slices of thick-cut bacon beat a pound of plastic-wrapped stuff at the grocery store. Beiler's sells pepper, smoked or regular bacon.
• The baked goods, including all kinds of dinner rolls, sweet breads, cakes and even loaves from the Breadery in Ellicott City. But read the ingredients. This is a business, not just home baking. Some of the items are packed full of of potassium sorbate, polysorbate 60, and other not-so-country ingredients.

If you are looking for butchers, check out my post about meat markets in Howard County. If you're driving to shop in Laurel, consider checking out Panam Supermarket for Latin groceries, Eastern Bazar for Indian, or Aladdin Market for Middle Eastern.

Click here for the 2009 "best restaurants" in Howard County.

Dutch Country Farmers Market

9701 Fort Meade Road (Rte 198)

Laurel, MD 20707

877-421-1454

717-786-4736

http://www.burtonsvilledutchmarket.com/

NEAR: The market is on Rte 198 just east of U.S. 1. It is very convenient from downtown Laurel or I-95. Watch for the Home Depot and then turn right at the next light. There is a Jerry's Subs in the center -- along with a Filipino market.

Eastern Columbia: Cantaloop, Food Fantasia

Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, we have something special here in Columbia this evening -- a tour of great food in eastern Columbia.

This is the fifth in a series of posts that are a tour of Howard County, designed with the idea that people new to the county can learn best by actually driving the roads. Click here for the explanation and other tours. Check out the links below to see my prior posts about
restaurants and markets on the route, then take a weekend drive. Or flip over to the "What I Learned" series.

This is a winding drive aimed to help a newcomer -- or maybe a not-so-new comer -- connect the major east-west routes through Columbia. There is little great food on Rte 32 or Rte 175, so you need to swerve among shopping centers on Snowden River, Dobbin and the other roads that connect one of Columbia's major commercial areas.

1. Start on Rte 29 and take Exit 17 towards the east on Seneca Drive. (This is an exit north of Rte 32.) Immediately, turn RIGHT on Shaker Drive.
2. Drive south on Shaker and look to the left for a shopping center with a post office and the Touche Touchet Bakery. Grab some coffee and something sweet. Maybe a cupcake?
3. Return to Shaker Drive and turn LEFT to continue the way you were going. The road curves around, then crosses over Rte 32. At that point, it changes name to Eden Brook Drive.
4. Notice -- but go through -- the first light after Rte 32. That intersection is Old Columbia Road. If you turn right, Old Columbia curves around, crosses a one-lane bridge and eventually deadends in Gorman Road -- part of the "South County" leg of this tour.
5. Go through the second traffic light at Guilford Road. Then turn LEFT into the King's Contrivance Village Center. Park and stretch your legs.
6. The Harris Teeter is obvious. (Consider the exotic fruit.) Walk into the village center, and you'll find a quiet spot with a summertime fountain to enjoy frozen custard at Rita's, a bagel from the Bagel Bin, or pizza at Trattoria E Pizzeria Da Enrico. King's Contrivance also has a restaurant / bar Michael's Pub that I have not tried yet, and the center's Web site says there is a Burrito Brothers, which I never noticed before.
7. Go back to your car and exit the way that you entered. Turn RIGHT on Eden Brook, then RIGHT at the light onto Guilford Road.
8. Turn LEFT onto Broken Land Parkway. Broken Land starts at Guilford, so you can only turn left. Cross over Rte 32 and notice the commuter bus parking on the right.
9. Turn RIGHT at the light for Snowden River Parkway. Then drive for a while. You're passing all kinds of good food on the left, but we'll loop back.
10. Turn LEFT at the light for Oakland Mills Road. Then turn RIGHT into the first shopping center. Turn RIGHT again from the main driveway, and you'll see Bon Fresco Sandwich Bakery in an building that faces Oakland Mills. Stop for great sandwiches and bread. This center also has a Ledo's Pizza, a bike store facing Snowden, and a bird feeding store tucked at the end across the parking lot from Bon Fresco.
11. Return to Oakland Mills Road and turn RIGHT to continue the way you were going. If you want a summertime treat, check out the detour below to Pete's Snowball Stand.
12. Turn RIGHT at the traffic light for Dobbin Road.
13. Look left for Oh, What A Cake bakery in a little shopping center with a big sign for Dobbin Pizza. Turn LEFT into the center and try another cupcake.
14. Go back to your car and turn LEFT to continue on Dobbin Road.
15. Turn RIGHT at the first traffic light on McGaw Road and then turn LEFT just before the APL Credit Union into the shopping center with India Delight, Cha Ya Thai, Smoothie King, The Greene Turtle and Cheeburger, Cheeburger. Walk around for menus.
16. Go back to your car and turn LEFT to continue on McGaw Road. Just go down a little way. On the right, that construction is the site of the planned Wegman's. On the left is Apple Ford. The light in front of you is Snowden River. If you went to that light and turned right, you would be at the Home Depot. U-TURN on McGaw and return to Dobbin Road.
17. Turn RIGHT on Dobbin Road. On the right, you'll see a shopping center up above the road. You'll also see a sign for "County Offices" and a street sign that says "Stanford Blvd."
18. Turn RIGHT at the Stanford Blvd. sign and turn into the shopping center. This is a bonanza -- coffee at Riverside Coffee, great beer and southwestern food at Frisco Grille, sushi at Hanamura, Asian noodles at Noodles Corner, and beer, pizza and more at Pub Dog.
19. Return to Dobbin Road. Turn RIGHT. At the next traffic light, turn LEFT into the shopping center with a DMV. Once you pull in, look to the left, and you'll see two of my favorites: Sushi King and Lily's Mexican Market. Definitely get out and check out the market for take-out tacos, horchata, cactus, store-made tortillas, the butcher, and more.
20. Return to Dobbin Road. I hear Five Guys is coming to the former Party Party store next to the Blockbuster right in front of you. But, for now, turn LEFT on Dobbin.
21. Turn RIGHT at the next light into the Wal-Mart shopping center and then take the immediate LEFT next to McDonald's. Past McDonald's, look on the left for Mango Grove and Mirchi Wok -- a pair of great Indian restaurants. Mrs. HowChow's favorite Chik-fil-A is there as well.
22. Return to Dobbin Road. Notice the Starbucks across the street. Turn RIGHT on Dobbin. Cross Rte 175 and just follow Dobbin. On your right, you pass the back of the Target. On the left, you pass a shopping center with a Chipotle and then a Red Robin and Longhorn Steakhouse.
23. Dobbin deadends into Snowden River Parkway. If you turn left, you'll go past the closed Krispy Kreme and then Victoria's Gastropub at Rte 108 -- which was the first tour in this series. Turn RIGHT on Snowden River. Cross back under Rte 175.
24. Just after the underpass, turn LEFT into the entrance ramp for Rte 175. Stay in the right lane and don't get on Rte 175. Instead, BEAR RIGHT onto Columbia Gateway Drive. This road is a loop so you actually turn RIGHT onto Columbia Gateway Drive, then turn RIGHT into a shopping center with Aida Bistro for upscale Italian. (Thanks to anonymous who suggested this detour in the comments. Please check this set of directions because I'm writing it from a map, not experience.)
25. Return to Columbia Gateway from the shopping center. Turn RIGHT to continue the way that you had been going. Then turn RIGHT onto Robert Fulton Drive. This runs next to the movie theater and Home Depot. Follow the signs for Snowden River SOUTH, which will take you under Snowden and then curving up a ramp.
26. You have entered Snowden just south of Apple Ford, the future Wegman's, and Home Depot. Pass through the light at Oakland Mills Boulevard.
27. Turn RIGHT into the next shopping center. The NY Deli on the corner is new. The House of India is one of Columbia's best restaurants.
28. Return to Snowden River southbound. Then turn RIGHT into the next shopping center -- with a Mattress Warehouse on the end. This one includes the new Azul 17 Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Lounge along with Akbar's for Indian, Nichi Bei Kai for Japanese, and Pho Dat Trahn for Vietnamese.
29. Return to Snowden River. Turn RIGHT. Then turn RIGHT at the light onto Carved Stone Road. There is a Three Brothers Italian restaurant on that corner. A block ahead is the red roof of Hunan Manor, a Columbia institution for Chinese.
30. And once more, return to Snowden River. Turn RIGHT. Then turn RIGHT at the light with a KFC. Go to the shopping center on the right up the hill, and you'll find An Loi for Vietnamese.
31. Return to Snowden River. Turn RIGHT. Then turn RIGHT when Snowden deadends into Broken Land, then RIGHT onto Cradlerock Way. On the left will be the Owen Mills village center with Sonoma's Bar & Grille, a nice bar and restaurant with live music. (Thanks to the anonymous comment for reminding me.) If you had kept going on Cradlerock and turned right on Homespun Lane, you would hit Oakland Mills Road just north of Dobbin.)
32. To find your way home, return to Broken Land. A right takes you to Rte 29. A left takes you to Rte 32.

There is one bonus detour if you're driving in the summer heat. At Step 9, just keep going on Oakland Mills. Eventually, you'll hit a point where your road deadends. Oakland Mills actually turns to the left, but the house right in front of you is Pete's Snowball Stand -- great for snowballs and sometimes honey and fruit grown right there. You turn right and then immediately into the driveway. Check out Hayduke's map here.

Meet "Venegas Prime Filet" - The New Maple Lawn Steakhouse

The new steakhouse planned for November in Maple Lawn will be called Venegas Prime Filet.

When oZ Chophouse closed in August, there were talks about a new steakhouse from the owners of Jordan's in Ellicott City and Ranazul in Fulton across the street from oZ. Now, Jordan's is closed, and Ranazul's co-owner Carlos Venegas is opening the new steakhouse on his own.

The solo venture will be dubbed Venegas Prime Filet, according to the Maple Lawn newletter. The talk is still about opening in November.

Comments About India Delight, sushi, Bare Bones, and Dog House Pub

So many opinions. They're the best part of the comments that people leave on HowChow posts. I don't have time to link them all, but I like collecting some so that people go back and check them out.

But first some business. Alyssa emailed to ask whether anyone knows of restaurants that will honor Jordan's gift cards? Jordan's closed last month. Elizabeth Large posted that the planned Carlos' Steakhouse will honor them, but you might have heard about other places looking to attract new customers. (Update: Anonymous reports below that Bistro Blanc will honor them at 30.)

Now, to the opinions:

• Amy reported that the jazz musicians who I saw outside Strapazza included Phil Heiliger of the Maryland Piano Service on Red Branch Road. She thinks they're good too.
• Veggies and Anonymous reported about the re-opening of the Dutch Country Farmers Market in its new Laurel location.
• Kikiverde's report on India Delight was one of my inspirations for my visit to their buffet. After I wrote, a bunch of people, including MegH and Dzoey joined the chorus of support.
• The Baltimore Beer Guy gave tips for where to sit at the Frisco Grille and see the beers on tap. He also says Frisco Grille has published its "secret" menu -- an extra sheet of items including green tacos, a steak sandwich and his favorite the "Adam Bowl."
• JamFreak talked up Sarah & Desmond's Bakery. They made his wedding cake, and he recommends the "BellaDonna" portabella sandwich, the margherita pita pizza, the formaggio pizza, and the "lemon lust" cake. He also says the chai tea is perfect for these cool fall days.
• Anonymous finally visited Lily's Mexican Market and loved the tortillas, the dried peppers and the fresh poblanos.
• Data -- who has a new food blog called Adventures in Food -- finally bought the popped rice at the H Mart!
• Sara says the mole at La Palapa is so good that she has never ordered anything else.
• John G. Boyle and his wife liked Coal Fire Pizza -- the "ring of fire" pizza and the "crabby mac."
• Ho.Co.Po. talked up Hanamura, especially the salmon soup and the mushroom miso, on the post about sushi spots and talked up Pachanga and Bare Bones on the post about Rte 40.
• In fact, Ho.Co.Po. joined crowds on both posts. Tons of people commented about their sushi favorites -- everything from changes at Nicki Bei Kei to favorite rolls at Yamahama. On my post about Hanamura, Kim and emkenton talked up the tempura sweet potato roll. Others commented about Rte 40 and their beef favorites like Chum Churum for Korean, the Canopy for pit beef and Bare Bones.
• Some things were mixed. Bitsy, SH, Johanna and others loved the Dog House Pub and its wings, burgers and beer, but Anonymous was disappointed by the craft beer selection on his visit. Another Anonymous didn't love the tomatoes or melons that he/she bought at Gorman Produce Farm. And a third Anonymous really didn't like the falafel at Parsa Kabob. (Maybe he/she should try Ceazar in Elkridge because a fourth anonymous loved the falafel there.) And JP really doesn't recommend the pho at An Loi.

And one final comment from HowICook, who was the first person to tell me about Heyser's, which has an in-orchard fruit stand in Highland just off Rte 216:

Seasonally from July - early Fall, Heyser's of Colesville in Montgomery County runs a in-orchard location on Browns Bridge Rd in Highland. This is their local peach orchard. It's a shadow of it former self because of pending development but it's still open. They have a tent under a large tree right off the road.

They sell stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums etc), pears, corn, tomatoes and other stuff in season. Some of the varieties are hard to get in main stream markets. According to the help, the source of the produce is the on location orchard, Heyser's main farm, Heyser's Pennsylvania farm and some other local Maryland stuff. Sometimes they label the varieties but if they don't just ask and they'll tell you the variety and source. I generally go for the unbelievable white peaches. The juiciness, smell and sweet taste is a bit of peach heaven.

The stand is reachable by turning right off of 216 onto Browns Bridge road. The tent is a short drive down Browns Bridge on the left. Sometimes there's a sign with an arrow on 216 that says Peaches. There only open Tuesday thru Saturday.

Has Anyone Been To The New Dutch Country Farmers Market In Laurel?

The Dutch Country Farmers Markets opens today in Laurel -- after moving to a new space from Burtonsville. Have you been? What does it look like? Could you comment on this post?

(Update: Reports are coming in there!)

Mexican Pickles At Super Grand

Keep your eye on the Mexican goods at the Asian supermarkets because you can find little gems like the pickled vegetables ("verduras curtidas") at the Super Grand in Laurel.

The jar looks distressingly orange, but that is the stain of carrots, not artificial color, according to the ingredient list. Cauliflower, onion, carrots and jalapenos soaked in vinegar and merging their flavors of spice and sweet.

These aren't the delicate Asian pickles that you can make yourself with Yoricho vinegar. These are fiery vegetables that I have enjoyed in small quantities. A small bowl were a side dish with tacos. A few pieces jazzed up a brown-bag lunch. Chopped, they might make a fine relish. It is an exotic taste for about $4 if I remember correctly. And as easy as just pulling them into your cart.

Super Grand definitely has the widest Mexican selection of the Asian supermarkets. But you could look for these as well at Lotte in Ellicott City or H Mart in Catonsville -- or at Lily's Mexican Market in Columbia.

Previously, I have posted about the Asian supermarkets and about "no cook" finds -- specifically at H Mart but probably available at Lotte and Super Grand as well. Or click for the starting page for my "What I Learned" guide to food in Howard County.

Azul 17: Hiring On Craigslist

Azul 17 Mexican Cuisine & Tequila lounge is advertising for part-time waiters with a Craiglist ad that is amusingly ambiguous about whether they have opened. (Update: Comment below says Azul 17 is open.) This is a modern-looking Mexican place that is opening on Snowden River Parkway. Anyone know if it opened? The ad says it is "newly opening," and it suggests that they're offering tequila to the public:

Azul 17 specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine and offers an immaculate collection of the finest Tequilas for tasting and presents an array of freshly prepared international cocktails. Our teams of passionate professionals are dedicated to consistently providing our clients with superior service and a memorable experience that will only leave you yearning for more!

Hanamura in Columbia

I have a new girlfriend -- a neighborhood gal with less flash, but just as much ambition as the stylish chicks I have been seeing.

I love Sushi King and Sushi Sono. Love the big rolls and private rooms. I have been loyal for years -- mostly because my few dalliances were expensive and not as fresh.

But I stepped out to Hanamura last week and discovered complex food in a joint stripped bare of the decor, the sauces -- and the $12-18 per roll price tags -- that dominate my sushi experience in Howard County. OK, dominate our sushi experience. That metaphor has gone far enough to test how regularly the wife reads the blog, and this post should be about fish, not girlfriends.

Mrs. HowChow and I stepped out to Hanamura with my aunt and mother after I wrote about wanting to try new places and noticed the Columbia restaurant mentioned again and again. We stepped in with trepidation because sushi disappoints if the fish or the price seem off, and the sparse, small restaurant off Dobbin Road doesn't look that different from places that have let us down.

Then, the fish started to arrive. Spicy shrimp roll picked by my aunt, spicy scallop by my mother, salmon skin by Mrs. HowChow, and on and on . . . . We filled a table with sushi for four on a budget just larger than dinner for two at Sushi King. We had a wonderful meal that started with edamame (ask if they'll salt the beans) and ran through mochi ice cream for dessert. Everything was delicious, and everything was different enough that we each had favorites. The Atlantic Roll's mackerel, ginger and scallions was my "new find," but the least of the rolls for my aunt. We all left satisfied, and Hanamura gets my family's ultimate prize -- my mother says the spicy scallops matched Niwano Hana, her gold standard in Rockville.

For me, the innovation at Hanamura is serving imaginative flavors even in $6 or $8 dishes. They have $16 rolls that echo the Sushi Ks', but I saw more small dishes that looked intriguing. For $8, we took a risk on tuna tartare, and the bowl of tuna, avocado and cucumber echoed the poke that we loved in Hawaii. For $3, we tried the pickled radishes. They weren't great, but they weren't pricey. Next time, I'll try the salmon and squid in the "tiger eye" appetizer or the salmon soup that ho.co.po commented about. You aren't sacrificing quality at Hanamura. You are just getting choice and a great change of pace -- tasty fish in a budget meal or tasty fish in an opulent banquet. It just depends on what you want to try.

And a parting thought for equality: On our visit, Hanamura was an all-woman show. Women manning the tables and the sushi bar. Mrs. HowChow pointed out the sushi chef as we left -- in part because we have seen more Latinos cutting sushi than women. Way to go girlfriend!

If you want more advice about sushi in Howard County, check out the posts on Sushi King and Sushi Sono and check out all the comments there and on my post about wanting to branch out to something new. People talk up Yamahana in Waverly Woods, Niko on Rte 40 in the Normany Shopping Center, and others.

If you're interested in cooking Japanese food, check out my review of Kimiko Barber's cookbooks. They're great guides to the Japanese aisle of our local Asian grocery stores.

Thanks to everyone who pushed me to Hanamura, including Chris C., David P., ho.co.po., Hal, Lisa, and Anonymous (who loves the Kevin Roll).

Hanamura
8865 Stanford Blvd
Columbia, MD 21045
410-290-2883

NEAR: Hanamura is off Dobbin Road south of Rte 175 in a shopping center with Pub Dog, Riverside Coffee and Frisco Grille. From the north, take Rte 175 and turn south on Dobbin Road at the intersection with a Chik-fil-A on the corner. The shopping center is on the left after the second light. From the south, take Snowden River Parkway and turn left on McGaw Road at the light with Apple Ford. Turn right at the light with Dobbin, then look for the shopping center on the right.

Baltimore Beer Week Update

The Baltimore Beer Week keeps picking up new events for its festivities October 8-18, 2009.

You can check out all the events (130 and more) on the main Web site or on the Beer in Baltimore blog , and you can search there for Howard County events at Perfect Pour, Victoria Gastropub and Frisco Grille.

If you can't wait for October, order the beer sampler at Victoria, check out my take on Beer in Howard County, or go right to the source for local beer -- the Baltimore Beer Guy blog.

India Delight (now Royal Taj) in Columbia

There is a ceiling to how great a lunchtime buffet can be, and the new India Delight in Columbia strains to reach that height.

(Update: The restaurant changed its name to Royal Taj in fall 2009.)

This is a broad buffet. You sit at white-table-clothed tables, but you walk to two long tables to pick your own food. On a busy Saturday, the first table started with rice and then held curries from spinach paneer, green beans and vegetable korma to dals, lamb and chicken tikka masala. My plate was full before I even reached the second table where a chef made potato dosas, and warming trays held pakoras and tandoori chicken.

That is a huge diversity, and every dish looked fresh and tasted good. India Delight's skill turns up in the simplest part -- the bread. Naan on a buffet can be soft and tasteless. India Delight's was crisp, warm and really just as good as the best places around. Of course, buffets have to spice at the mildest level. That keeps an India Delight lunch from matching the full magic of Indian cooking unleashed at House of India or Mango Grove, particularly in the vegetable dishes to my taste.

But don't get me wrong. I filled an entire second plate, and I loved the potato dosas, which I had never seen on a buffet before. The chef turns out the thin pancakes, and they're that wonderful mix of crispy skin with warm, soft potatoes inside. India Delight's talent with

this type of food that is traditionally mild gives me optimism that the full dinner menu will include spicier, more complex fare.

India Delight has a few other unusual touches on its buffet. Check out the fried discs of mashed potato on the pakora dish. Addictive and the kind of dish that would coat your home kitchen in oil. Also look for the thermos of tea on the dessert table. This is milky chai, maybe a taste of licorice in the spice mix. It's good, and the tea and dosas are both signs that India Delight wants to give you a deluxe experience. My friend and I chatted over tea. I thought about a third plate, but let reason (and my full stomach) win out over my greed.

India Delight replaced California Tortilla in the shopping center on McGaw Road behind Apple Ford. This row has a bad-news run losing the Atlanta Bread Co., Z Pizza, Orinoco Coffee, and the fast Mexican. But there is still The Greene Turtle, Cheeburger, Cheeburger and Cha Ya Thai Sushi, which has gotten some positive comments.

Check out my prior post about Indian restaurants in Howard County. Or click here for the starting page of the "What I Learned" guide.

India Delight

now called Royal Taj
8874 McGaw Rd
Columbia, MD 21045
410-381-1111

NEAR: McGaw Road is the light where Apple Ford sits on Snowden River. From Rte 175, turn right on McGaw. From Broken Land Parkway, turn left on McGaw. The shopping center with India Delight -- along with Cha Ya Thai, The Greene Turtle and Cheeburger, Cheeburger -- is on the right before the intersection with Dobbin Road.

One Month To Harris Teeter?

One month to Harris Teeter in Fulton? The sign is up, and the Maple Lawn developer has said at various times that the new supermarket on Rte 216 would open on October 6 or October 7, 2009.

(Update: The Maple Lawn newsletter says there will be an official opening ceremony on the afternoon of October 6, and the market will open to the public on October 7.)

The store has been move-in-ready for months now. But an anonymous comment said last week that the Harris Teeter in King's Contrivance was advertising for workers at the new location. By Saturday, there was a huge poster in the window advertising as well.

Turf Valley Town Square will also get a Harris Teeter, according to Tales of Two Cities who reported last week that they signed a lease with work starting next year and a store opening in late 2011. I don't commute past Turf Valley so I can't obsessively keep on this. Send me updates when it happens!

Parking Lot View -- And Live Jazz!

I rushed out for comfort food and stumbled on an ultimate suburban experience -- a jazz trio . . . in a shopping center . . . in the shadow of a Subway.

A few months ago, I celebrated parking lot cafes where you get dinner and a view of your car, but I overlooked Strapazza -- an Italian place in the same shopping center as Jesse Wong's Asean Bistro. I ran to Jesse Wong's because Mrs. HowChow has been under the gun all week at the hospital. As I was driving away, I swore that I was hearing live jazz music.

And I was. Strapazza has live jazz on Friday and Saturday nights -- at least this weekend 6:30 to 9 pm. Three guys playing at the corner of the shopping center. They were serenading Stapazza's outdoor tables. They were also playing for Subway, the wing joint and anyone else who wandered by. They sounded great to me.

Strapazza

8775 Centre Park Dr

Columbia, MD 21045-2177

Get Directions

(410) 997-6144

NEAR: In the shopping center just off Rte 108 between Howard High School and Rte 29. Very convenient from Rte 100. There is a Giant on Centre Park Drive, but Strapazza is down the row from Jesse Wong's in the stores right up against Rte 108.

Link: Sun Raves About Ceazar Restaurant

Ceazar Restaurant in Elkridge got a rave from Richard Gorelick in the Sun yesterday -- including a nice photo of the owner Mohammad Sizar and chef Ben Tehranian.

Gorelick liked the combination platter, the kebabs and other dishes. I also really enjoyed the Persian menu and highlighted the garlic pickles. Like Gorelick, I think you need to pair a meal at Ceazar's with a visit to the Middle Eastern grocery next door -- one of the stars of ethnic shopping in Howard County.

Dutch County Farmers Market To Open Sept. 10 In New Laurel Home

The Dutch Country Farmers Market will open its new Laurel store on September 10, 2009 --- ending a summer hiatus as they moved from Burtonsville. (Update: They opened. Please comment on the new post!)

I had hoped for a "soft open" this weekend, but I got an email Thursday saying that the opening will be September 10 and the hours will be Thursday 9-6, Friday 9-8, Saturday 8-3. The market is on Rte 198 about a half-mile east of U.S. 1 -- very easy access from I-95 or U.S. 1.

(Update: Reports about the re-opened market are in the comments below. Plus a bunch of photos on TVMom's A Million Things I Love blog.)

Click here for more information about the market and the move. Or click for the starting page for my "What I Learned" guide to food in Howard County.

Larriland Update: Swing Seasons

Larriland Farm is kicking off two seasons of pick-your-own fun right now -- the peaches and blackberries are still producing and the first apples (Galas!) are available by the bag.

Sunday's beautiful weather convinced us to cancel our plans on a whim and head up to Woodbine off I-70. Twenty pounds of peaches is always a pleasure, but we were actually glad that we hadn't bothered our friends Magda and Holly, who had said they wanted to join our next trip. Picking on Sunday afternoon was scarce. Truly ripe blackberries were almost impossible to find. And the trees that dripped with ripe peaches a month ago had definitely been searched by many hands over the weekend.

Despite the work, Mrs. HowChow pulled 20 pounds of peaches in maybe a half hour. All glowing yellow and a few ready to eat in the car. Larriland also had fields open to pick tomatoes, apples, leeks and flowers. Even on a day of slim pickings, Larriland is a beautiful place -- the smell of peaches and the warmth of the sun. It is also beautifully run with people working in the all the fields and the barn full of produce, canning supplies, loaves from Ellicott City's Breadery, and those dried fruit candy. I'm already thinking about an October weekend when we can go for apples and pumpkins.

One new arrival is root beer and sarsaparilla from the McCutcheon's brand. The Frederick company has sold jellies and other items for decades, but I had never seen the soda before. Sarsaparilla was great fun. We both remembered birch beer that we drank decades ago.

Parting advice: Think twice about the blackberries for sale in the barn. They look beautiful, and they're a bargain compared to grocery store blackberries. But they're picked tart. I don't pick a blackberry if it resists at all. That is how you get sweet, plump berries. Dark, firm berries aren't sweet, and those tart berries dominated the pint that we bought. Still good for a blackberry & peach pie.

Elizabeth Large Reviews Ranazul

The Sun's Elizabeth Large reviewed Ranazul on Sunday and seems to like the place. Good food. Nice energy. Surprise at the price -- especially $3 for bread and oil and $7 for a glass of sangria.

The review echoes my initial thoughts and makes me want to go back to check out the scallops, the fritto misto and maybe the duck breast.

But my favorite part of the review is that Large just says Ranazul is in Maple Lawn. Not even a reminder that's in Howard County. Her readers slag Maple Lawn in the comments on Large's blog.

Azul 17: New For Howard County

In the midst of recession, someone has a pair of cajones to invest in a new restaurant that looks upscale and unique for Howard County.

The Azul 17 restaurant looks ready to open on Snowden River Parkway in Columbia. I don't know much, and I'm trying to keep my expectations low because nothing beats discovering an unexpected treat -- like the recent arrival of a great new joint for sandwiches and bread.

But I'm piecing together hopes that Azul 17 is going to open something special. Talk of upscale Mexican. Ads for fine-dining waiters on the door. Modern furniture that certainly looks like it'll compete with Aida Bistro for classiest spot in a strip mall. The new sign says "Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Lounge." They registered the Web site http://www.azul17.com/ in mid-August.

Again, I don't know much. A few weeks ago, Vkatnyte commented that Azul 17 had been advertising for bartenders and servers on Craiglist. Vkatnyte mentioned a chef/owner named Damien. A few days later, Anonymous commented that he/she had been talking to Lily Soto, the owner of Lily's Mexican Market about a place to be opened by her husband Julio:

I drove by and sure enough it is there and is suppose to open beginning of October. It looks really cool inside with blue teal walls and white leather banquettes, very modern & lounge like. She mentioned the food would be authentic but with a more contemporary preparation, offering over 100 tequilas, and live lounge djs on friday and saturdays. I am so excited to have a new and hip place to hange out on the weekends, Can't Wait!

I love Lily's Mexican Market -- ironically because it feels authentically local, like a place Mexicans would do their basic shopping. Modern banquettes, 100 tequilas and live DJs would be a very different feel. Last night, we drove past on our way back from sushi, and it looked like there were televisions playing inside Azul 17. I caught only a glimpse from Snowden, but it got me excited. But trying not to be too excited!

What else do you know about Azul 17? The new restaurant is in the same shopping center as Akbar's and Nichi Bei Kai. It's the stretch between Broken Land Parkway and Rte 175, south of the Home Depot.

This looks like the kind of place that wants to be on Top 10 lists, so check out my 2009 "best restaurants" in Howard County.

Did Krispy Kreme Close In Columbia?

Krispy Kreme appears to have closed its Columbia donut store. I have received two emails, plus some confirmation in the comments below. I assume they're talking about the store near Target and the also-closed Expo Design Center.

This has become a week of "opening" and "closing" posts. I need to eat somewhere new this weekend to break the trend. If you are new to HowChow, click for the starting page for my "What I Learned" guide to food in Howard County.

Dutch Country Market in Laurel Opening Soon

The Dutch Country Farmers Market looks ready to open at its new home in Laurel on Rte 198, and I'm hoping for a "soft open" this weekend.

The last official email from the market said they were hoping to open the second week of September after final inspections in the week of September 1. But a comment from Veggies! talks about opening Labor Day weekend. People were definitely inside last weekend when I drove past.

(Update: They're open. Official email said they'll be open Thursday 9-6, Friday 9-8, Saturday 8-3. No "soft open," I guess.)

The market was a Burtonsville landmark for decades, and they're still using the name "Burtonsville" on the front of the store. But the new store will be in Laurel just east of the Home Depot. This is a half-mile east of U.S. 1 and completely convenient from I-95.

The Burtonsville farmers market was a must-visit for anyone interested in food. You could go just for the spectacle and the hot pretzels. But they also served everything from meat to candy, fresh-squeezed juice to take-our ribs. Based on people I know, the butcher was one of the major draws. People won't admit it, but they also went for the egg, bacon and cheese pretzel rolls that made a hearty breakfast.

If you want more information, call 877-421-1454 or 717-786-4736.

(I fixed an earlier error that said "west of Hope Depot.")

Dutch Country Farmers Market (opening September 2009)

9701 Fort Meade Road (Rte 198)

Laurel, MD 20707

877-421-1454

717-786-4736

http://www.burtonsvilledutchmarket.com/

NEAR: The market will be on Rte 198 just east of U.S. 1. Look for the Home Depot. Then turn right at the next light, and you'll be in the market's parking lot. It is very convenient from downtown Laurel or even from I-95.