This might even deserve four exclamation points.

February is my birthday month, and it's also the month I'm going to retire.

I just want to give you, dear readers, a heads up. ...

Continue reading "Exciting news!!!" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (93)
        

Passions have run high over the Super Bowl in Baltimore. OK, specifically over the Colts.

When one commenter who loves Indianapolis called Baltimore "this pit," Robert of Cross Keys responded, "Well, if that's how you feel perhaps you should go back to Indiana with your corn, your 'One Day at a Time', and your little pink houses for you and me." ...

Continue reading "A fun new game to make you forget about the impending doom" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

I didn't think anyone could possibly come up with a new crab cake question.

Actually, I thought no one would ever ask me any crab cake question except "Where can you get the best crab cakes in Baltimore?"

But Sherri has done it. She's asked a new restaurant crab cake question.

And it's one I can't answer: ...

Continue reading "A new twist (gasp) on the dreaded crab cake question" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

I couldn't believe it when I looked at the Most Popular Stories Right Now list on the Sun's home page just now and No. 1 was "Gluten-Free Tasty Cakes."

I mean, we have stories on the blizzard of 2010, the next blizzard of 2010 and the most exciting Super Bowl in recent memory, and you're telling me Gluten-Free Tasty Cakes is the most-read story?

Nothing against gluten-free products, mind you.

Maybe people thought the story was about TastyKakes.

I think I'll go back to bed.

(Barbara Haddock Taylor?Sun photographer)

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 3:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Yesterday my review of Pho Dat Thanh in Towson appeared in the Sunday paper.

It was the perfect kind of restaurant for how I was feeling -- just coming off two weeks of a nasty, clingy head cold.

I so much wish we had a nice, big steaming bowl of pho for dinner tonight. The skirt steak I marinated doesn't seem half so appealing. ...

Continue reading "Monday Afternoon Quarterbacking: Pho Dat Thanh" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Monday Morning Quarterbacking
        

I'm not sure why the idea of a Toronto restaurant promoting Valentine's sex in its unisex bathroom, as reported by the restaurant critic of the Star, makes me squeamish.

But it does.

"'We've always had little trysts in our bathrooms,' says chef/co-owner Donna Dooher [of Mildred's Temple Kitchen], pointing to lingering weekday lunches as a popular time. 'We're taking it to the next level on Valentine's weekend.'" ...

Continue reading "A Valentine's idea for restaurants with unisex bathrooms" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

I have to admit that the minute I heard the magic words "six to ten inches," I got in the car and headed for the Giant. What can I say? We were down to a pound of butter.

Just kidding.

But I outsmarted myself. I beat the crowds, but I also beat the trucks that were supposed to bring the food in, and the shelves were bare. The vendors might not even get in until tomorrow, I heard one employee say, but that's not written in stone.

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

To get a little ahead of the week, I went through my work e-mail after I shoveled out the driveway yesterday.

The really long driveway.

No, no, of course I'm not bragging.

Here's what people told me about and what I'll be working on to find out more this week -- plus a few tidbits and crumbs that don't really fit anywhere: ...

Continue reading "New restaurants and more" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

This query from a reader involves a restaurant that was before my time, but I'm posting it on the off chance that someone remembers something:

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

Robert of Cross Keys' fine Free Market Friday guest post got postponed a couple of days this week, but hasn't everything? I laughed out loud at his description of his ham. Here's RoCK. EL

A day before this little weather incident occurred, I decided to go the grocery store.  I went to the SuperFresh in Hampden.  Crazy. I walked in and walked right back out.
 
I thought it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.   After all, I still have most of that ham I bought at the hardware store in Smithfield.  I also have a bottle of Rebel Yell Bourbon.
 
My ancestors were among the first settlers of both Virginia and Tennessee, and a country ham and a bottle of bourbon would have lasted them a winter, so surely it would be sufficient for me to get through the weekend.

I made my meal plans for the weekend. I would have country ham spread along with a pasta dish my wife found in an old Charlie Palmer cookbook that features orecchiette, country ham, peas and goat cheese. ...

Continue reading "More snow food: country ham and bourbon" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Free Market Fridays
        

I'm already bored with the snow and I haven't even dug my car out yet.

One thing it's done is made me forget about posting anything about Super Bowl food, except for the top five unhealthy ones. Before the snow, I was thinking of looking into whether any restaurants were doing anything this past week. (I know, for instance, that Regi's American Bistro in Federal Hill has been running New Orleans specials.)

And I haven't even asked you yet what, if anything, you're serving during the game tonight.

Yesterday I made my stepmother's spaghetti sauce for Super Bowl dinner tonight. (That is, it will be eaten in front of the TV.) ...

Continue reading "Super Bowl food and my not-so-wicked stepmother" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (29)
        

Now that Alan M. has told us Regi's American Bistro is open, and Sean has mentioned Zeke's, I ought to do what I should have done before their comments: Make a separate post under which people can let us know about places that are open.

(Lloyd Fox/Sun photographer)

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 1:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

jl played right into my darkest fears with this comment this morning:

Along with stocking up on comfort and party foods, one should also lay in plenty of CFF -- cooking-free food -- in case power is cut.

I wonder how many interesting meals and snacks could be made without cooking. If it snowed for weeks and you were stone bored to death with sandwiches and salads, what would you make to keep from going mad?

Posted by: jl | February 6, 2010 9:08 AM ...

Continue reading "Surviving 101: Cooking-free foods" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

It's hard to talk about anything but the snow, isn't it? I'm sorry I said all those mean things about people overreacting. This is a lot o' snow.

I was wandering around the house at 2 a.m. after the giant branch crashed on our house. Or maybe it was the thunder and lightning that woke me up.  I made a cup of tea and just sat at the dining room window, staring out. Now it just seems to be sleeting, but then it was amazing to watch.

My friend out west reading the comments under the Blizzard Food post noted how odd it was that everyone went to the supermarket when there was the threat of snow. ...

Continue reading "Snow food, the sequel" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 7:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (74)
        

Wow. That's the first time ever I've been one of only two people in the whole theater. And I was sitting next to the other one.

We did stop by the Giant on our way out, which was still bustling. Don't those shoppers realize there's ... one inch of snow on the roads?

If you're desperate, there was still food on the shelves.

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

With all the excitement over snowmageddon, I forgot to link to Other Reviewer Richard's review of Cafe Azafran yesterday. This is a place I never would have known existed except for your comments on Dining@Large.

I particularly liked the fact that Richard didn't try to oversell the place, although he obviously enjoyed it. Too bad it's not a little bit more accessible. Like in the Sun building, for instance. ...

Continue reading "Cafe Azafran and what I'm doing in the Blizzard of '10" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Not much shocks me any more, and particularly not the fact that people eat unhealthful foods while watching the Super Bowl.

But in the interest of public health, I'm going to pass along part of a press release I got from the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

I'm sure after reading this you'll change your menu and serve raw celery, carrot sticks and cauliflower with low-calorie ranch dressing dip during the game. ...

Continue reading "Shocking facts about Super Bowl food" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

If you get a chance, stop by the New System Bakery & Cafe in Hampden before the snow arrives and say goodbye. It's closing for good today.

I asked one of the current owners, John Ruthke, why they were closing. (The people in the photo are the former owners, Grace and Bernie Breighner.)

"The economy," he said, "It's complicated. It was a bunch of factors. We're not making any money."

When I asked what was next, he said, "We're going to get jobs somewhere."

I'm really bummed by this news. Maybe other people wouldn't, but I put New System in the Baltimore landmark category. ...

Continue reading "The death of an old-fashioned bakery" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

I came across this photo in our archives with this amazing caption: "Wine tops Valentine's Day gift-giving lists."

Of course, whatever story it originally came with from the Associated Press has long gone out of our system (it's dated 2005) so I can't check the source of that statement, but it did get me thinking. 

First of all, if I had to say a wine I thought someone might give at Valentine's Day, it would be champagne. But isn't chocolate the top gift for Valentine's Day?...

Continue reading "What's your top Valentine's Day food gift?" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Wine and Spirits
        

Corey has been looking for good ramen around here, and other than Nina's spicy egg ramen, I didn't have any place to recommend to him.

Noodles shops usually fall under the cheap eats category, so I don't get to them much.

I was surprised when I went to our archives to see what our other reviewers have said. Nothing came up except a story about a Web site devoted to ramen, Rameniac.

I'm assuming that at places like Noodles & Company you can get Japanese-style ramen, but they aren't the major focus.

(Los Angeles Times photo)

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

I can hardly keep up with the posts I want to do this morning. Check out Jay Hancock's item on plastic sandwich bags that make your lunch look moldy to deter thieves.

This is one of those products that are only cute-giftable, not usable in real life,  because who steals a sandwich? Has anyone ever had his or her sandwich stolen at work?

Chocolate, yes. Even maybe a yogurt. But not a sandwich.

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
        

What's your dirty little secret in response to the latest hype around the White Death and the End of Civilization as We Know It?

Have you already run out to the supermarket and stocked up on more toilet paper and milk when you didn't really need anything? Before one flake has fallen?

Are you planning to live on hot chocolate, cheap red wine and microwave popcorn this weekend? ...

Continue reading "Blizzard food" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (81)
        

I thought you would enjoy that headline.

I stole the phrase from a story that ran yesterday in the Wall Street Journal on new restaurant design trends turning up the volume.

We've discussed restaurant noise ad nauseum on this blog, and I wrote a story about it a decade ago. So I was a little surprised to see the subject pop up in the WSJ as if it were a new phenomenon. ...

Continue reading "The ultimate restaurant noise trap" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

I just got an e-mail from Ryan, the general manager at the Wine Market, saying that the Locust Point restaurant is offering its Restaurant Weeks menu through Saturday, Feb. 13 because the bad weather this weekend kept many folks away.

I hate to break it to you, Ryan, but they're calling for four feet of White Death this weekend.

Ha, ha. Just kidding. ...

Continue reading "Restaurants extending Restaurant Week because of the weather" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

I wish I had a better illustration for this excellent Shallow Thought Wednesday guest post. It's the only photo of the Crush bar we have. You have to admit it's a fascinating picture, though. Here's our Shallow Thought guru John Lindner. EL

I visited Crush last Friday evening with a friend who’d recently lost a dear friend. We went to mourn, laud and remember over martinis. ...

Continue reading "A crush on Crush" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Shallow Thought Wednesdays
        

OK, today I'm going along, doing a couple of work chores, checking my e-mail, hum-de-dum, and then I read the following and something snaps.

You have to understand that I usually answer my e-mails with a measured, adult, calm response, no matter how irritated I am. It's amazing how often that causes the other person to be reasonable, we end up friends, he starts sending me great tips, etc. etc.

Not this time.

Here's the e-mail:

Continue reading "Am I taking bribes? Uh, no" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)
        

Under an earlier post there was a discussion about regulars getting special treatment at restaurants.

As one commenter pointed out, it's great if you're a regular, and not if you're not.

But I think the best restaurants manage to make their regular customers feel special without neglected the new diners. ...

Continue reading "Should regulars get special treatment?" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 6:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)