Kicking it Old School
The only thing missing from this excellent guest post by Robert of Cross Keys is the recipe for the dish he's taking to his pool party. Here's Robert. EL
Last week my wife let it be known that I live in the public eye. And like many other elected office holders, I am getting ready for the big political event that takes place this week.
Yes, I do serve. I’m on my condo’s board of directors. And this week, of course, is the annual Cross Keys pool party.
As perhaps the only Republican office holder in all of Baltimore City, I realize that I am vulnerable, even in Cross Keys. It is imperative that I bring my A game to this event, and by that I mean I have to impress with my covered dish. ...
This year I’m going with a squash and potato salad with a dressing of sour cream, dill, and sautéed scallions. I picked up this recipe from an episode of The Hippy Gourmet on PBS that features one of my favorite lines from a cooking show: “Hippies love potatoes.”
I think this recipe communicates that I understand the plight of people. It is recession chic.
Last year before the wheels fell off the economy, and everyone started bragging about how much money they are not spending and how many coupons they are clipping, I was free to show off a little more. I made a krab, pea and tomato salad that I patterned off a similar salad that is served at Petit Louis.
Ah, but those days seem so far away now. It seems there needs to be a special occasion, like Restaurant Week, to break out the krab.
Speaking of days that seem so far away, I found myself at an Old School restaurant last week near Perring Plaza in Parkville. Well, I assume it is Parkville, but I know there are some Chamber of Commerce types who insist that area be referred to as Towson.
My wife and I were in the area to try the new Hibachi Grill, but a combination of a 30-minute wait and watching people driving around the buffet in their Rascals made me reconsider our dinner plans.
So I drove down Satyr Hill, and I saw a tavern sadistically placed at the corner of hairpin turn. It’s an old building with red lettering that spells out Valley View Inn. Probably when it was built a valley was actually visible from the grounds, but now you see the beltway.
We walked in and I heard a woman yelling: “I’m so crazy; I’m so crazy” in a classic Baltimore accent the kind of which, since moving to Cross Keys, I don’t hear too often outside of those ever so frequent commercials for Mr. Tire.
We made our way through the bar and back to the dining room. Everything was gray: the carpet, the walls, the tables, the chairs, the artwork, the customers, everything.
At that point I was wondering if I made a good decision. I looked at the menu and nothing was speaking to me. My wife asked me what I was going to have. I said, "Maybe a sandwich." She repeated what I said, only with a greater sense of dejection.
I knew what she wanted without asking her. She wanted the steak like she always does. My wife will order the steak at any place from the Prime Rib to Denny’s. I understand the former, but when the latter is priced at a similar point to a Moons Over My Hammy, it is a given that quality of the beef is going to be lacking.
Now the steak she wanted was the porterhouse special for $17. It wasn’t priced so low as to have been wearing a saddle last week, but it was certainly a questionable call.
I went on for a good 15 minutes telling her about my beef quality theories and corresponding price points, but it became clear that she was set on the porterhouse.
I knew that I couldn’t just get a sandwich, as the price differential of our two items would leave her feeling guilty. It would also leave me looking emasculated. As it was she was already drinking a Bloody Mary, while I was there sipping an unsweetened iced tea.
I ended up ordering the fried chicken, which was listed as a house favorite. She got the porterhouse, medium rare.
Both of us were pleasantly surprised with our meals. The chicken was well seasoned, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The porterhouse was perfectly cooked to order, and it didn’t have that livery taste that too many steaks seem to have.
Considering the kitchen did a good job with the main courses, I asked the waitress if any of the desserts were made in house. She said only the rice pudding, so I decided to pass.
Our waitress worked a double that day, and we were her last table. Since I understand the plight of the people, I knew it was time to the pay the check.
(Photo of Valley View Inn bar courtesy of Jason Knauer/Metromix)
Comments
Did you get the recipe for "krab,pea,and tomato salad from Spongebob?
Posted by: RayRay | August 14, 2009 11:22 AM
I made a krab, pea and tomato salad ..... to break out the krab.
Do you make krab kakes too?
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | August 14, 2009 11:30 AM
Wait...Cross Keys is in Minnesota?
Posted by: Lissa | August 14, 2009 11:33 AM
I've been by that place so many times I can't count, but have never been inside. Thanks for the review, RoCK.
I'm guessing he uses "krab" to mean the Asian stuff?
Posted by: PCB Rob | August 14, 2009 11:37 AM
don't worry RoCK, I'm sure that there are Republican elected officials in Guilford and Roland Park too!
Posted by: Joyce W. | August 14, 2009 11:45 AM
The price of crab exceeds campaign finance limits, so I use krab instead.
Posted by: Robert of cross keys | August 14, 2009 12:37 PM
Are you really going to hike the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia or will we find out later that you were in Uruguay with a sultry cobbler?
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | August 14, 2009 12:49 PM
Does the AT even go through West Virginia? I know it skirts it in a couple of places.
We used to hike up to Annapolis Rock a good bit.
Posted by: PCB Rob | August 14, 2009 1:03 PM
The Valley View Inn is definitely Old School RoCK. Nothing fancy, plain decour, hard working waitresses who get to know their customers by first name. And their food is consistantly good. Their turkey platter is total comfort food...Real carved turkey, homemade gravy, and good fries. I think I have posted this somewhere before, so hopefully this doesn't come across as a shill!
Posted by: Trixie | August 14, 2009 1:04 PM
Gee, a Rebublican... Ummm I hope you have a receipe for health care reform.
Posted by: Jack ziegler | August 14, 2009 1:14 PM
(All puffed up with empty pride) I have both the Hippy Gourmet mug and the bumper sticker!!!
Posted by: The Canon | August 14, 2009 1:33 PM
I am in almost heaven at this moment. At this point I have had the hillbilly chicken at my pappy's place, but I have not yet seen either the AT Trail or any saltry cobblers.
Posted by: Robert of cross keys | August 14, 2009 1:53 PM
Canon, those are items worth being proud of - and envious of! Where'd you get them?
Posted by: Joyce W. | August 14, 2009 2:28 PM
Speaking of community events...Cedar Grove methodist Church on Mt. Carmel Road off of I-83 will be hosting a yard sale / food sale on Saturday - August 15. Yard sales up and down Mt. Carmel...get a good night's sleep, come early, eat well and enjoy...
Posted by: Anonymous | August 14, 2009 3:42 PM
Joyce,
You can get Hippy Gourmet stuff here:
Hippy Gourmet Marketplace
Posted by: PCB Rob | August 14, 2009 4:00 PM
I remember this place from the Metromix photo roundup. Ahh the pre-smoking ban bar days, my guess is that most of the people in this picture have expired. I live less than 2 miles away, and this picture was the only reason I ever had to walk into the place. Thanks for the review, maybe we will try it out, even if said review came from a Republican who lives in a gated community with a bunch of liberals who pimp their Priuses.
Posted by: Jason Knauer | August 14, 2009 4:37 PM
I'm guessing RoCK must be in great demand on election day when the city tries to find GOP poll watchers.
Posted by: Dahlink | August 14, 2009 5:12 PM
Well done RoCK.
Every time I go to Denny's (rarely now) I order Moons Over My Hammy. Not only is it one of my fav breakfast/hangover sandwiches, I get to giggle about the name. Thanks for the memories.
Posted by: Bourbon Girl | August 15, 2009 12:05 AM
RoCK and BG,
Moons Over My Hammy is a real sandwich? The times I've been to Denny's (and its been awhile now), I don't remember it on the menu.
Posted by: PCB Rob | August 15, 2009 8:39 PM
PCB Rob - Moons Over My Hammy has been on the menu for at least the past 15-20 years at every Denny's I've been to on East Coast and in the South East.
For those who don't know: "Moons Over My Hammy®. Ham and scrambled egg sandwich with Swiss and American cheese on grilled sourdough. Served with choice of hash browns or grits"
Posted by: Bourbon Girl | August 15, 2009 10:00 PM
Moons over My Hammy is very 1980s. They used to advertise it a lot around when MIami Vice was on. I had no idea what it was. I've never been to Denny's.
Swiss cheese, BG? You refused to try some beautiful organic grass-fed Swiss cheese I offered you because all Swiss cheese was "disgusting and inedible". I guess Denny's has a better version.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | August 15, 2009 10:32 PM
im one one the waitresess at the valley view good food , friendly , love the people, thanks for the comments,polly
Posted by: polly hofmeister | August 16, 2009 7:58 AM
Hey Polly! You are just what I had in mind when I commented on the waitresses. You have served my dad Bob, and his buddy Jack quite frequently. Myself also, just not as much.
Posted by: Trixie | August 16, 2009 12:37 PM
Yes, when I went, I was served by a very nice waitress.
Everything came out hot, including the rolls, and my iced tea was refilled probably about seven times. (I get very thirsty.)
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | August 16, 2009 2:33 PM
RoCK, Valley View Inn has been there forever! I've never been in, but maybe that's where we'll go when we're looking for comfort food but not from a diner.
Posted by: Dottie | August 16, 2009 11:08 PM
Sounds like the Valley View Inn would make a good stop after a visit to the Home Depot just up the hill.
But if the weather wasn't too nasty, I'd hit the Charcoal Grill, just another block or so south.
Posted by: PCB Rob | August 17, 2009 12:28 AM