I'm not sure what he's trying to say, but I'd give up an awful lot of things to not have to live in Tyson's Corner.

I know it's Crab Week, but I need to score some points with my supervisor. Can anyone recommend a better-than-average Chinese restaurant in/around Rising Sun/Port Deposit?

Piano Rob: I have had some really good food from a dicey looking place in Havre de Grace, on Route 40 right at the east-bound start of the Hatem Bridge. It has changed hands (and colors) several times over the years, but the menu has always struck me as more authentic than most. Decor, presentation and service all score poorly, but it was a good sign that the cook cut up the veggies as he needed them, rather than grab them from a big tub. It's been over a year since I was there last, so I can't vouch for what's going on their now, but I'd say it was worth stopping in to see.

Back to Walter's comment, I think good local bread is as important as good local beer -- and the more the better! I was a huge fan of Big Sky Bakery before it went away, and I would love to see some more competition for Atwater's and Stone Mill, especially with respect to baguettes.

EL -- I noticed that your review mentioned "the Stone Mill's very fine vegetable lasagna, made with a touch of truffle oil." There has been some controversy over the chemical used to give commercial "truffle oil" its "truffle" flavor, as per this New York Times article. Also, according to this posting on the website of the Jean-Louis Palladin Foundation, you can't just make your own batch of truffle oil and expect the flavor to hold. Was Stone Mill just using the bottled commercial stuff?

I don't know, because for $14.95 the kitchen wasn't using vats of it, as you can imagine. Also, I always think of Anthony Bourdain's comment on truffle oil. EL

Back to Walter's comment

Huh? I didn't see a comment from Walter.

First, Chinese restaurants in Cecil County is going to be very limited. I don't think you'll find anything in the county outside of take-out places.

Try Aberdeen. You can usually find good Chinese in a town with a military base. As a kid, I would eat at Oings, but they are gone. There is a good place in the Beards Hill Shopping Center, right off of Exit 85. I've been there a few times, but I can’t remember the name.

I would also like to talk about the Washingtonian/NOVAite and his backhanded compliment of our bakeries, but I have to get back to the swing shift at my factory job in my labor town.