Milk & Honey

While in Mount Vernon running errands yesterday morning, I had the chance to finally stop into Milk & Honey, the new small storefront on Cathedral Street that bills itself as a "neighborhood grocery/café/deli". You won't find a wide variety of products here - that's not Milk & Honey's modus operandi. What you will find is a small but high-quality selection of organic groceries and higher quality goods, many from around the area. Not just local milk and honey, of course (though they do have those), but cheeses from around the world, sodas, butter (including the high-quality European butter Plugrá for a little over $6 per pound) and organic produce (very locally grown fingerling sweet potatoes for $4 per pound, for example) among other things.

They have some unique and almost impossible to find groceries that not even most health food stores carry. For example, I found a box of Lundberg gluten-free vegan brown rice couscous ($3.99). Back when I was really investigating gluten-free products, I had seen a wide variety of gluten-free flours, pastas, breads, rolls, cereals and so on, but no gluten-free couscous (yes, technically a type of pasta). No area health food stores carry it (some hadn't even heard of it), but Milk & Honey does. I bought a box, though I have yet to try it (watch for that post soon).

When you enter the big, sunny Milk & Honey, your attention will not immediately go to the groceries, though those are the first things you will encounter to either side of you. What you will first encounter is the big glass deli case in front of you, which holds a small variety of baked goods and sandwiches (looks like Milk & Honey is definitely going for quality over quantity). I was quite lucky to have gotten there when a few free samples of their ham and cheese biscuit were sitting out for the taking, as that helped me (and the two women in front of me) make my purchasing decision. Though out of that variety of biscuit, they did have an equally luscious bacon & chipotle biscuit. I don't throw around words like "luscious" very often, but underlying that crumbly outer surface is a moist, savory and I dare say luscious little biscuit. It's also a large (for me) and filling biscuit and I do recommend it. You will need something to go with that biscuit, by the way. I bought a half-chocolate-dipped sandwich cookie for $1.25, which was simple and tasty. On the beverage front, order anything from soda to coffee to hot chocolate. Sit there in their little café, or head outside. I wish I had. Hot chocolate will be a very nice choice this upcoming week.

Lunch today

Very simple: chicken salad on lettuce leaves from lettuce I grew myself. The chicken salad is the lovely stuff from Graul's. Yes, it was because I ran out of bread. Now I don't think i can ever eat it with bread again.

Lunch at Yia Yia's of Essex

I did not realize tht Yia Yia's Bakery on Philadelphia Road had a sandwich special. I usually just go over to the cookie counter. But for $5 you can get a sandwich of the day. Today was Hot Italian, with several Boar's Head meats and some cheeses, warm, on ciabatta bread made at the bakery. Instead of eating in the bright dining room, with the special eating area sectioned off and backed with a mural of Greek pillars, I went ahead and got it as take-out. Along with this came some chocolate meringues (25 cents each). The sandwich was filling, with juicy cold (er, hot) cuts and slightly melted cheeses. All this came with a tangy spread on top and a pickle to finish it off. I just wish they had removed the hard string of skin from one of the cold cuts, but apart from that it was a cheap sandwich I would get again.

Trekkin' around Little Italy and Corned Beef Row

I am spending more on groceries than I should. However, much of that was spent at two places in Little Italy that people don't regularly shop for groceries.

Vaccaro's

After parking at Whole Foods, buying some mesclun (in bulk!) and getting validated, I wandered into the neighborhood my great-grandparents first lived after they came from Napoli to New York, and then made the big trek down to Baltimore. I noticed not only a second Indian restuarant in Little Italy, but a Spanish tapas bar as well. But of course, there were the umpteen fancy and not-so-fancy Italian spots in our little Little Italy. I passed buy a guy singing Italian songs on a stage, not exactly sure where I was going. But my feet (working with my stomach) knew where they wanted to go: Vaccaro's. I saw the 2006 World Cup Final - and the infamous head butt - in Vaccaro's second floor.

I am always flabbergasted with the selections in any pastry shop, but things with the word "butter", "chocolate" and "vanilla" always come to the head of the line (things with "coconut" usually go to the end). I got about $9 worth of cookies, including lemon coolers, butter chocolate, butter almond and an Italian cookie with a gooey raisin filling. I hate that I forgot the name.



Attman's

Leaving Whole Foods, I didn't go straight home. I had wanted to stop at Attman's for a while now. The most famous institution on Corned Beef Row, I had not actually stopped in since I was a child. A favorite (though occasional) Sunday lunch was a bunch of Attman's famous kosher hot dogs wrapped in fried bologna. I got neither of these things, though I did get a half pound of hot corned beef (about $8) and an order of Western fries ($3). I had forgotten just how extensive "the line" really was, but at least it gave this indecisive shopper enough time to figure out what he wanted.

Knish Shop of Pikesville

I found myself trapped in traffic on Reiserstown Road today (rrrrrrrrrrrrgh). I took the time to recover by pulling into the Knish Shop on a busy Friday afternoon, with swarms of shoppers packed in to do shopping for the weekend before it hit sundown (I imagine that Shlomo's Kosher Meat & Fish Market next door was just as busy). Yes, this goy guy felt a little underdressed in T-shirt, shorts and sandals but it was worth it for the tasty knishes I picked up. I figured they would be more expensive, but apparently it's only about $2.50 per knish. I got a delicious spinach knish and, to balance it out, a sweeter one filled with sweet potato. But I did put back the $5 loaf of challah.

Next stop: Sion's Bakery (see Beltway Snackin' Exit 20), where I got a quarter pound of chocolate tops and black & whites for two bits shy of $2 ($8 per lb). Total spent for lunch today: all of $7. And I still have two half knishes left to finish!

Exit 34: MD-7 (Philadelphia Road, to Rosedale)

I am somewhat familiar with the Golden Ring exit. I sometimes work off this exit and my brother-in-law's family has spent many a night at Franklin Square. Plus, it's conveniently close to Route 40 (see the next two weeks' installments off of Exit 35), Eastern Avenue (see Exits 33, last week, AND 36, sometime around the end of the month), and Martin State Airport. Close to everything in and around Essex, Middle River, Chase and Rosedale.

Regardless of which direction you come from, inner or outer loop, the exit empties out onto the Centre at Golden Ring (map), site of the former Golden Ring Mall. It's not only a convenient way to get to Home Depot and - GASP! - the evil Wal-Mart, but an even more convenient way to avoid all the lights along Rossville Blvd between Philadelphia Road - MD-7 - and Pulaski Highway - US-40. Whatever I write from it I will save for next post, since most of the eating options are on the Pulaski Road side of the Centre.

Cutting through this shopping area to get between MD-7 and Route 40 is good advice, since the area surrounding "the Centre" seems to be cursed. Based on my experience sitting in traffic it is hands down the most accident-prone area I have ever seen. In just one day I saw three accidents, two at Rossville and Pulaski, the other at Phila. Road going into the Centre. This las one I saw as it happened right in front of me. Some numbskull ran the red light and cut off three lanes of traffic in the other direction, allowing two cars who had the right-of-way to crash into him despite their slamming on their brakes. If you have to get to CCBC or Franklin Square, good luck. Lately, to get to CCBC's Essex Campus I just avoid this exit altogether and take Bel Air Road. It's just not worth the aggravation.

I still headed up Philadelphia Road toward Rossville Blvd, CCBC and Franklin Square. And I was surprised at how many of the businesses were just totally shuttered. One of the few that isn't is the Kasai Seafood and Steakhouse (map), a sushi and hibachi grill near the Giant that claims to have "just opened", even though it's been open for at least a year. Continuing down Phila. Rd. you smell the promise of pit beef at Ross Village! Or maybe that's just your imagination, since both Kombert's Pit Beef & Seafood and Vinny's, which I think was a sub place, are both now closed. As in forever. To wit, Kombert's today:

And I was kind of looking forward to some pit beef, too.

The only dining option left? The Subway.

Not to despair, because there are other things to eat across and down the street. I've written about Yia Yia's before. Binkert's Sausages and Lunchmeats (map) is a German deli that I had meant to explore earlier. It's a small place with a dizzying array of lunchmeats and wursts. I got a pound (package of four) of their weisswurst (white veal sausage), which they made themselves and which I will eat soon**. Almost everything seems to be $4.60 per lb, and everything is sold by the pound (no 1/4 pounds here). I will return as soon as I can for more. By the way, conveniently located next door is a shaved ice place that also operates a snowball stand.

Across the street is the Delli's Bar and Grill (map). Not "deli" and not "Delhi" but "Delli's", and it serves both standard American food and popular new additions to the American menu - Maryland crab, quesadillas, Buffalo wings, burgers, Reubens, meatloaf, etc., etc. I rarely can figure out what I want but the waitress, who was very helpful, mentioned a great-sounding French dip sandwich with provolone on it ($9) with fries AND slaw AND horseradish. I got an iced tea ($2.50) to go with. What shocked me the most was the turn-around time: just five minutes of waiting and it was right in front of me.

That's a lotta sammich...

The French dip was tasty, if a little soggy on the bottom. And they gave me a big bowl of au jus to dip it in. The meat was moist and the provolone only added to it. The fries were tasty, and I ate many of them, but not as good as some I've had lately. The one thing I did not enjoy was the pickle, which was a little warm for my taste. Total cost with tax = $12.50, left $15. IN short, the service was FAST, and friendly. One small downside: the flies trying to get out of my window. They were few but mildly annoying. Still, don't let that be a deterrant.

I originally did not even think of going the other way, into Rosedale, but it dawned on me later that I may find a few more dining options that way, and I did! Just a few of them:

• The Spartan Pizzeria (map), off Golden Ring Road. This is one of a few Spartans in the area, with other locations in Canton and Essex (if they are indeed all the same corporation). It's next to the All Nations International Market.
• Pastore's Italian Deli (map), which was closed when I got there. It looks bigger than the German deli down the street. I have to stop in here, too, as I'm always looking for a good Italian market, and Little Italy is so difficult to park in! A pizzeria is also next to this market, and a Chinese take-out is next to it.
• There are not one but two Mexican restaurants in this area. I had to choose between the Burritos California Mexican Grill (map) and the Fiesta Mexicana Fast Food (map), across the street from a chocolate shop. BC Mexican Grill is sandwiched between a Philadelphia Pizza and Subs - there seems to be one off every other exit - and, quite cruelly I might add, a Curves. Maybe they're familiar with America Ferrera's earlier work?
  

I went to the much easier-to-miss Fiesta Mexicana, a friendly and clean little hole-in-the-wall that, even on a rainy Monday evening, had several patrons. There is one menu, posted at the counter, and the proprietors will happily help you out with recommendations. Actually, the clients will help with that, too. I especially have problems deciding what to get in Mexican restaurants, because I just love so much of it and want everything! But the woman ahead of me had a recommendation for the one thing I was not too familiar with: the Veracruzano sandwich known as the pambazo (spelled pambazos on the menu - that's just a typo; just drop the s). I'm not really familiar with the cuisine of Veracruz, but I'm a little better acquainted now. It's best described by the City Paper as "a fried roll coated in guajillo sauce, then stuffed with sausage, potato, lettuce, sour cream, and cheese". Along with it I got an order of guacamole ($3.75) that is made on the spot, and consists of an entire avocado. It's pretty mild, but chunky and very fresh. It's a lot of guacamole so I may have to share it.

The whole pambazo...

...and more guacamole than you can shake a stick at!

I ate the pambazo at home. My God, I never thought I would need to describe a sandwich roll as tender but it was so nice and tender, soft but hardly soggy. The flavors are all very mild, both in terms of heat and subtlety. The potatoes really catch you off guard - who expects potato on a sandwich? It's a carbalicious South Beach nightmare, but very tasty and very worth it. I ate only half of it, plus not much of the guacamole - so much of it! - and shelved the rest for later. As an aside, the owners hoped I would come by again, which I said I probably would (they also asked how I heard about them - "Just driving by"). After eating this pambazo, I am coming back, ¡es cierto!

** By the way, here's a fun video showing the correct way to cook and eat a Bavarian weisswurst. No forks - I never would have known!

Other photos

I don't know which came first, but which business really benefits more from the other being there? I have my own theories...

Places I visited

Binkert's Sausages and Lunchmeats (deli / market - German) - 8805 Philadephia Road, Rosedale, MD 21237; Phone: (410) 687-5959

• Would I shop there again? Ja!
• Would I go out of my way to shop there again? Again, yes. There's just too much there to try at once.

Delli's Bar and Grill (American / bar & pub) - 8776 Philadelphia Road, Rosedale, MD 21237

• Would I eat there again? Yes
• Would I go out of my way to eat there again? Eh, mmmmaybe
  

Fiesta Mexicana Mexican Fast Food (Mexican) - 8304 Philadelphia Road, Rosedale, MD 21237; Phone: (410) 686-0134

• Would I eat there again? ¡Sí!
• Would I go out of my way to eat there again? Otra vez, ¡Sí, es cierto!

Places to look up later

Burritos California Mexican Grill (Mexican) - 8224 Philadelphia Rd, Rosedale, MD; I have searched in vain for their phone number. Can somebody help me out?

Kasai Seafood and Steakhouse (Japanese / sushi / hibachi) - 8645 Philadelphia Road, Rosedale, MD 21237; Phone: (410) 780-7778

Pastore's (deli / market / bakery - Italian) - 8442 Philadelphia Road, Rosedale, MD 21237; Phone: (410) 686-1884

Spartan Pizzeria (pizza) - 6401 Kenwood Avenue, Rosedale, MD 21237; Phone: (410) 866-6061

Exit 32B: US-1 North (Belair Road, to Belair)

I find myself out this way often, but usually it's just to go to work. Today I made myself linger around, and I was surprised by one thing: there are fewer places to eat this way than I thought. Actually, there are many more options going the other direction (Exit 31A). One option I've already explored (and written about) was the Mount Everest Nepalese buffet, in the same shopping center as the K-Mart and IHOP near Belair Road and Rossville Blvd. Currently the most expensive South Asian buffet I have seen outside of the weekend - now $10 instead of $9 - the food is good, but you can find just as good if not better for cheaper just about everywhere else (qv: the multitude of South Asian restaurants in Mount Vernon, Indiclub in Woodlawn, Indian Delight in Catonsville, etc).

Driving around the Giant and the Putty Hill Shopping Center I saw very few food options. Like every exit, there is the complementary "greasy wok", Peking House (map). The linked Metromix page says it offers "a little more than the usual fare" but that "little more" doesn't look all that unusual to me. Much bigger was Tully's Restaurant (map) - it seems like a restaurant and pub. Most of the reviews mention DJ's and bouncers, but not the food, so I can only assume it is your typical brewpub. A couple who tried to enter tugged on a locked door and turned around. Here's one page of reviews. I have no idea what the hell the reviewers are talking about.

Driving past Putty Hill/Rossville, I eventually came upon Ridgley's Choice, a brand new plaza with only a few businesses inside. The only food-related one was the Ridgeley's Choice Deli and Catering (map). It looks from the outside like your typical deli. I'm not sure how new it is because I can't find much information about it. I did find two very terse yet positive reviews, but nothing apart from that. Maybe this is one to look out for in the future?

If you want seafood, there are a couple of options for you. The Fullerton Pub and Crab House (map) offers more than just crabs, but also standard pub food. Like (I imagine) Tully's, karaoke and DJ'ing are easy to find. Right across the street is the small but still tough-to-miss Fisherman's Wharf (map). Not related to Mo's Fisherman's Wharf - at least I don't think it is - this is Putty Hill's local seafood-specific shop. It's an unassuming, somewhat grody place but carries the typical seafood items: lots and lots of local fish and shellfish, plus frozen seafood from other parts of the country. For example, I found Dungeness crab, frozen, at $10 a pound.

Of course there are the local delicacies: rockfish is easy to find, as are those blue crabs (soft, hard, steamed, picked), shrimp and oysters, hon. Right now there is a sale on shrimp. As for the price of crab meat: my eyes just about bugged out of my head. One pound of Chesapeake Bay jumbo lump crab meat: $28! That is, granted, the highest-quality stuff (even if I still like a little special meat mixed in), but I guess we are in a crab shortage, aren't we?

I arrived around 1 PM, and was the only customer. The employees outnumbered me, with only two in the back. I almost ordered one of the lunch specials: a fried catfish sandwich with fries and fountain drink for only $6. Instead I spent my time perusing the menu, a very diverse one featuring many choices at many different prices for many different budgets. You can get a sandwich for $5 or $6, or platters for $12 to $15. Plus, their many sides fit various budgets as well, from under $1 to upwards of $5. I finally settled on a $6 fried rockfish sandwich on white bread, with sides of onion rings ($1.50) and hush puppies (75¢). Total cost: just under $9.

The one big problem I had turned out to be a big problem: the wait. Perhaps they were getting other things ready for other people, I don't know. But it took HALF AN HOUR for me to get my sandwich and sides (half an hour, that is, from the time I ordered to the time I got my food). How the hell does it take two people half an hour to fry fish and put it between two slices of bread? In all fairness, after about twenty minutes of waiting they did say they were out of white bread and offered me a roll, wheat bread or rye (a fish sandwich on rye?) - I took the roll. Maybe they spent the first twenty minutes looking for the white bread? Anyway, I do know that they started frying up my food that long after I ordered it because after this exchange I distinctly heard a brand new sound in the restaurant: frying. Considering that all my meal was fried, well... at least I got the meal.

About five minutes later four more people came in, including a young mother with child in tow who seemed to know the man behind the counter. At least they have repeat customers. Maybe this was an off day for them? Or she just likes the sloooooooow service!

After waiting 30 minutes for my food I was hungry, and took the time to taste one hush puppy right in my car. It tasted great right out of the bag, almost as good once I got it home half an hour after that.

They also offered tomato. After what I've heard in the news, I'm glad I turned it down.

The meal was substantial and tasty enough, though certainly not good enough to warrant standing around for half an hour just to read all the brochures on Maryland's seafood industry.

The rockfish flavor was a bit muted under all that batter and bread. To be honest, I'm not sure if rockfish stands up to breading and frying very well. It's too delicate in my mind. Other fishes are quite strong enough to bear it: trout, catfish, etc. But rockfish needs to be broiled and on a plate. Or if fried, definitely on a plate, no bread. Some better ways to prepare it can be found here.

As for the sides: again, the hush puppies were thoroughly cooked through and pretty tasty. In fact they were the best part of the meal. I could have done without the onion rings. They were crunchy but inconsistently fried - everywhere from golden brown to near-burnt, and this was often all in the same onion ring. Plus, the little cardboard boat literally leaked oil onto my kitchen table, making my phone bill perfectly translucent. I threw the rest away.

In short: this is not a place I would go back to. To justify that wait, the food needed to be damn good. It was merely okay.

Other photos:

They don't know it's locked. I guess it's not martini time yet?

In case you can't find the Ridgely's Choice Deli, just look for this big marquis!

Places I visited:

Fisherman's Wharf (crabs / seafood) - 7928 Belair Rd, Baltimore, MD 21236; Phone: (410) 668-4330

• Would I eat there again? No, specifically because of that wait. Otherwise, maybe.
  
• Would I go out of my way to eat there again? No. Not at all.
  

Places to look up later:

Fullerton Pub and Crab House (pub / American / crabs) - 8027 Belair Road, Nottingham MD 21236; Phone: (410) 661-5910

Peking House (Chinese) - 7916 Belair Road, Nottingham, MD 21236; Phone: (410) 661-1702 and (410) 661-1703

Ridgely's Choice Deli & Catering (deli) - 8615 Ridgelys Choice Drive, Suite 101, Nottingham, MD 21236; Phone: (410) 248-8850

Tully's Restaurant (pub / American) - 7934 Belair Road, Nottingham, MD 21236; Phone: (410) 665-9100

Exit 28: Providence Road

Providence Road leads to nowhere. I don't mean absolutely nowhere. There are hundreds of lovely little houses in either direction off of Exit 28. But in terms of businesses, especially ones catering to a hungry Homo sapiens searching for snacks, your immediate options are, well, limited. A Royal Farms and a bowling alley, and that's about it if you go towards Towson. Nothing but houses and bucolic scenery in the other direction (squirrel stew anyone? They did make it in Maryland at one time. I think they still do. And no I'm not making fun of the idea. Hell, I'd try it!)

As is my custom on these Beltway Snacking trips, I drove around a bit to look for a place to eat. Down Providence Road - cop behind me, I hope she doesn't notice my one burned out brake light. Five minutes down a winding country road with churches and, yes, more houses. Back the other way, Providence, Cromwell Bridge, and finally I am at the entrance back onto the Beltway - via Exit 29 (note to self: check out the pit beef truck for your Exit 29A post).

Okay, let's try this again.

Turning back toward Towson, I eventually came upon Goucher Blvd, Joppa Road and the popular Towson Place complex, the only shopping center I know of that has both a Target and a Wal-Mart. I find myself here on occasion, less often these days. There are few non-chains that I know of in this area. As an aside: a colleague at work notes that she and her husband have gotten some less-than-exceptional service at the Panera Bread in Towson Place (I guess none of the Towson Panera Breads are very good). There is one place to eat here, the Einstein Bros. bagel shop (map), a not-so-famous chain with locations in almost every state. I used to go to the Beltsville location long ago as a student at College Park. I've been meaning to stop into this one, but I haven't gotten the occasion. I catalogue it as a lunch option in case I find nothing else.

Across the street is Joppa Road, originally a Native American road that European and African settlers started using as late as the 1690's. We have a few more businesses that offer potential. And no, I don't mean the Qdoba or the Applebee's. I do mean the Glory Days Grill (map) next to the Army Recruiting Center. This Richmond-based corporation has many Virginia locations, plus five in Maryland and one in West Virginia. Again, something to keep in mind for the future. As I drive around to find a way out I come across the Pickles and Chips Deli & Grille (map; Adventures in Baltimore Restaurants got here in October, about three months after they opened). This could be a promising lunch place. The promise of "breakfast all day" and the cartoonish pickle and potato chips on the awning and on the windows of the catering wagon are certainly enticing the hungry patron to come in. So I come in.

It's noon, and the homey Pickles and Chips is crowded, with several lunchers waiting in line for sandwiches and burgers, a few others for deli meats in the separate deli case (several types of pickles on top, I might add). I have to excuse myself out of the line so I can get a better look at the menu, but I can't see a thing! So I find one of the few take-out menus lying around and glance at the offerings. Wow, this place must be popular with local newsies! Check out some of these sandwich offerings:

• the Marty Bass (tuna, tomato and provolone on toasted everything bagel),
  
• not to be outdone, the Bob Turk (turkey club and sprouts, on whole wheat toasted bread - ahhh, sunshine-y!)
• the Laurie DeYoung (grilled ham and cheese sandwich on Texas toast)
• the 98 Rock Hercules (big - it's just big)
• the Mark Viviano (roasted turkey, cheddar cheese, hot peppers, on a kaiser roll - and say, whatever happened to John Buren?)
• the Maria Dennis (I love this description: "A BLT with more BLT than a normal BLT")
• and of course, the Brian Billick (3/4 lb of hot corned beef, though I think it's recently been fired)
  

Their list of burgers is intriguing, at an aveage price of $8. That price includes homemade cole slaw, homemade potato chips, lettuce and two slices of tomato, plus a small fountain drink and (of course) a whole pickle - not a slice, not a spear, but a whole pickle. My eye gravitated right to the Loyola burger (mushroom and Swiss) and the Goucher burger (add green peppers and sautéed onions to the Loyola burger). As for their answer to Alonso's, their 2 lb burger: it seems excessive, but if you get through the entire thing (dine-in only), they'll take your photo and post it on the wall. I am not that hard up for meat, so don't look for my Polaroid on their wall anytime soon. When all was said and done, their Reuben burger was the most intruging: a half-pound of meat (the rarest they will do is medium, unfortunately), with sauerkraut, Russian dressing and streaming gobs of Swiss cheese, on a Kaiser roll. Since I didn't expect the chips to be enough, I ordered an extra helping of curly fries for $1.50. After everything was added up, I owed $9.75. About 10 minutes later I had my food, to go (don't worry about the receipt saying "Dine In").

I wanted to get home, where I knew it wouldn't be in the exact same hot and tasty condition it was in the bag, so I sampled a few items:

• the cheese on the burger really did stream off when I pulled a piece of burger off, much like in a commercial. This was promising.
• the curly fries were edible, but very forgettable. Flavorless and boring, but you will do worse at many places.
• the chips were interesting, though I'm still up in the air on how I felt about them. Ripple-cut, hard and crunchy, and very thick. Their flavor was more distinct than the curly fries, a little more "well done" than the fries
• I liked my pickle.
  

At home I plated everything (oh God, I never thought I'd use "plate" as a verb) and dove in. The rest of the burger was quite good, and lived up to its promise. The meat was tender and juicy, and the cheese was a nice complement. I couldn't taste the sauerkraut, so that was a throwaway. But the Russian dressing was a nice, even sweet addition that I didn't at first expect. I'd eat this burger again. The fries? No, those I would not get again. I might try their onion rings the next time I go back (which I probably will), but not the fries. Again, I'm still ambivalent about the chips. I wasn't used to the hardness of the potato chips, so that did throw me off. And again, they were a bit more "well done" than potatoes really should be. One thing these chips were good for: the tomatoes. Since I was halfway done my burger before I even thought about my tomatoes and lettuce, and since I couldn't really peel the roll off the burger - the top was glued on with cheese, the bottom was a little bit soggy - I just started eating the tomatoes a la carte. These were actually flavorful tomatoes, so I did enjoy them. But then I got the idea to put the tomato slices onto the hard potato chips and eat them like they were on crackers. It was a pretty good idea, I think. Plus, the chips went well with both ketchup and Ranch dressing. I guess my final opinion on these chips, which are one of the namesakes of the place I bought them: they are definitely worth eating if they're free, but I probably wouldn't pay much for them otherwise.

Mmmmmmm. Burger. Ehhhhhh. Fries.

Other photos:

Take me home, country road

Places I visited:

Pickles & Chips Deli (deli / burgers) - 1220 East Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286; Phone: (410) 321-1088

• Would I eat here again? Yes
• Would I go out of my way to eat here again? I probably would, but I'm not getting the 2 lb burger. Ever.
  

Places to look up later:

Einstein Bros. Bagels (bagels) - 901 Goucher Blvd, Towson, MD 21286; Phone: (410) 825-0420

Glory Days Grill (sports bar / grill) - 1220 E. Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286; Phone (443) 901-0270

Exit 23B: MD-25 (Falls Road)

I made my most recent beltway stop before I hit New York the week before last. I just have not had the time to write about it! In retrospect, there was a lot I still need to see off of the Falls Road exit off the beltway. This stop takes you to Greenspring Station. I think it really does hold true: one never truly gets to know his hometown until he leaves it. In the few years I lived in California, I would explore things when I came back to visit that I never had even heard of. Then I moved back, and went right back into "Eh, I'll get around to seeing it sometime" mode. Had it not been for this weblog, I still would be stuck in that mode. It's really forced me to explore this city and state in ways I did only on occasion.

I say that because I had no idea that Greenspring Station even existed. And why would I? I never get up to that part of Falls Road. Sure I understand it's kind of new, but still, no clue over here. It's one of those upper-middle-class sort of places where it's not quite easy to find something affordable to eat. I was about ready to smack this one guy I passed by - he was telling someone, a security guard I think, how he usually takes a limo from the airport or something. Something that caught me off guard, as a wee bit pretentious.

Likewise, my first impression of Greenspring Station - after that it was there in the first place (!) - was that it was a little expensive. It's a fun little place for shopping, tailoring (women only), eating, even going to the doctor. Just expect to lay down some moolah. I set out to not lay down too much. My target lunch: $10 or less.

It's strange, but as nice a place as this is, one would think they'd have a web site or something. No. The powers-that-be didn't seem to have that kind of foresight. So I won't be able to give a play-by-play of all the places I saw. I just don't remember them all. That's all the more reason for y'all to go see it for yourselves. But a few of the ones that I do remember include:

• a little liquor - er, wine - store-slash-deli that I didn't get to. It's a place to keep in mind for later.
• likewise, a little specialty store that sells specialty nuts and things. Again, check it out later.
• a new steak house opening up in Greenspring Station. Because doofus forgot to take a photo of it, I can't remember its name either.

I did stop in the Stone Mill Bakery (map) to see what they had to offer. Cozy yet not cramped or even that small, Stone Mill is divided up into two sections, a smaller, comfier "ready-to-eat" side and a larger, brighter bakery and deli counter side. Each side, however, serves all the same menu items. I thought I'd step up and order something, and looked at the menu. I had no idea that a Reuben could cost $10.50. In fact, most of the dishes - okay, all of the dishes - were a little pricier than I was looking for. It looks like a nice place to eat, but it will have to wait.

I next found the Poulet Gourmet Catering and Restaurant (map). I thought it was a chain - it's a small one - but I'd never been in so I took this opportunity. Wow, it does have lots of different things in it. It's like a rotisserie/combination pit beef/"ready-to-eat" sandwich shop/Boston Market gone Cajun/creperie/ice cream parlor. In fact, the City Paper calls Poulet's ice cream the best in the city for 2005 (eat that, Cold Stone).

With so many choices, Mr. Indecisive was in trouble. What to get? Out of all the things I saw, their wall of sweet and savory crepes looked particularly interesting. Each is named after a different local Catholic or other private high school - there's the Notre Dame, the Gilman, the Loyola (Dons, not Greyhounds), the Boys' Latin, etc. The Loyola particularly caught my eye, because its description basically reveals a "Reuben crepe": corned beef, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and cole slaw all melted together into a delicious savory crepe ($7). So I ordered that, along with a large homemade chocolate truffle ($1). I ate the truffle in the car, which was a mistake - chocolate truffles should be eaten at room temperature, not fresh out of the fridge.

The Reuben crepe was probably better in conception than execution. For one, it was kind of messy, with Russian dressing all streaming out. This is not a crepe you can pick up. Not that I was going to, but try it and you will get covered in Russian dressing (you have been warned). It was also pretty difficult to cut apart. I blame this not so much on the knife as on the brand of corned beef. It was plasticky in its texture, difficult to chew or even cut, and not terribly exciting in its flavor. Note to Poulet: choose a new brand of corned beef. This one is not very good. The Loyola crepe also doesn't hold up too well on reheating, becoming even more of a big, Russian dressing-soaked mess after a few days in the fridge. I might try this on my own, if I could only make crepes very well at all (note to self: invest in a crepe maker - and a food processor, because you need a new one). I would definitely go back to Poulet, as there is just too much there to not try. But if you're looking for gourmet crepes, steer clear of Loyola.

Places I visited:

Poulet (rotisserie / deli / crepes / ice cream / catering) - 2436 W. Joppa Road (Green Spring Station), Lutherville, MD 21093; Phone: (410) 339-3900

• Would I eat there again? Yes
• Would I go out of my way to eat there again? Sure, at least to try some of the other stuff

Places to look up later:

Stone Mill Bakery (bakery / deli / cafe) - 10751 Falls Rd (Green Spring Station), Lutherville, MD 21093; Phone: (410) 821-1358

Postcards from New York 3: Overpriced Latkes and Irish Sausage Burritos

Well I am recovered from the big trip to the Big Apple - the last in a while, since it costs more than I want to pay. I got up on Saturday morning and checked out of the Candy Hostel (note the view from my own private room to the left), very conveniently located a 10 minute walk from Central Park, all ready to look for super cheap food that wouldn't break my bank account. I should have known not to choose based on the unusualness of the restaurant's name. But all-stupid here did just that!

Benny Greengrass is known as the "Sturgeon King" - and lots of Manhattanites are in agreement. The place was packed on a Saturday morning with laughing, boisterous and happy breakfasters. I was immediately seated and hardly 5 seconds after getting my coat off a waiter came by and asked what I wanted (!). Is this one of those legendary New York restaurants that get you in, get you served and get you out like clockwork?

Instead of cheap, like I wanted, I got the ridiculously overpriced, quite average (at best) latkes, complete with a large, hard clump of sour cream at Benny Greengrass. This is worth $7.50? But they were edible at least. The $5 cup of hot chocolate I got - which was brought out very fast and very steamy, so those were pluses - turned out to be milk with a big blob of chocolate syrup at the bottom. Maybe I'm being picky, but it wasn't worth $5. The ONLY great thing about the experience was the service. And silly me, assuming that a place whose typical breakfast prices are $20 (I guess lox and sturgeon are pricey) would actually take a card. No - the waiter informed me, in a very chipper and agreeable voice at least, that they only took cash, which sent me darting across the street to the CVS, whose ATM was broken, leading me to buy something in order to get cash back. I guess it could've been worse - the waiters could have been assholes. I did leave them a good tip.

After even more mishaps with bitchy security guards* at the fabulous Metropolitan Museum of Art - WOW, that museum was just, WOW - I was headachy and ready to eat. I got a hot dog and a small Diet Pepsi at a cart outside the museum. Nothing special, but it was refreshing.

Since going to Brooklyn would have gotten me way off schedule by this time, I skipped the promises of wonderful Vietnamese food in Brooklyn for not-so-bad Vietnamese in the Upper East Side, which was in walking distance. The Saigon Grill is mentioned in Frommer's NYC Free and Dirt Cheap guide. The one thing I didn't get from the guide? Said Saigon Grill is closed. For good. At least at that location. Fortunately there were some other good options available, including Mexican and Irish brunches. I went to Genesis - the Irish place - instead of the Tex-Mex spot Cilantro, only because Genesis's brunch included a free mimosa or bloody Mary (my choice). I went with the Irish sausage burrito for $11, munching as I caught an eyeful of English Premier League Socc- um, Football.

A few hours later I was back at the Metropark parking garage and my car. Before I headed south again I wanted to try out this place touted on either the Food Network or the Travel Channel (one of those forgettable "food travel" shows). Rutt's Hut, in Clifton, New Jersey (a suburb of Newark, I think) has what the locals claim are the best dogs in the universe. They are deep fried quickly, only until their skin gets hard and "rips" open when you bite into it. The inside is still soft and delicious. Or at least it was supposed to be. I got two of them ($1.80 each), and even though they were tasty, neither was the orgasmically eye-popping experience I was led to believe it would be. To be honest, I liked the onion rings (about $2.50) better. I'm glad I can say I tried it, but I wouldn't drive out of my way for these dogs. If I were in the area I'd go there, but not 30 miles out of my way.

* No sir, 'No flash photography does not mean 'No photography at all'. Sir, you are a feckless bitch.

Other photos:

The Met touts its reconstructed, imported-from-Egypt Temple of Dendur, but I thought the Temple of Perneb was a little cooler.

Just try getting mustard on this 19th century dress!

Here they are - those legendary "rippers" with some Diet Pepsi and a nice helping of onion rings.

Virginia Road Trip Part IV: New York Deli

I went back to Carytown for some lunch and a little bit of shopping. And again I was going on Kurt's recommendations. His one big suggestion for lunch would not have been an obvious one to me in the former Capital of the Confederacy. But in the end, I went to the New York Deli and had a lovely lunch.

The place has character - lots of art deco and bar-style decorations with a counter directly facing a large mirror and well-stocked bar. There were also tables, but after some confusion I just sat at the counter. The woman behind it immediately came to my aid with a menu (talk about service). For a drink I settled on unsweetened iced tea (about $1.50) - this way I could sweeten it with as much sugar-free stuff as possible (sugary drinks do not like my system, sadly). The refills were free (an uncommon thing these days). I had two of these while I waited for my main course, for about, oh, twenty minutes.

For that main course, I ordered one of their oft-requested Reubens (about $8.00) with some fries (again, the waitress' recommendation). I could see why it took so long to make - OMG, it was huge! I doubted that I could finish it! This Reuben had sauerkraut, Swiss cheese on top, cheddar cheese sandwiched in between two kinds of meat, corned beef and pastrami, all on rye bread with crispy, crusty fries and a large pickle wedge. And except for a stray strand of dried-out pastrami, it was delicious. If you find yourself in Richmond for whatever reason, get thee to Carytown and head straight for the New York Deli.

Afterwards I headed back to Baltimore, getting stuck in hhhoooorrrrrrible rush hour traffic about half an hour south of Alexandria. Once in Maryland, though, it was pretty smooth sailing. At least I had these purchases to reflect upon:

• A lemon zester from the Compleat Gourmet for $3. It was certainly a steal because: 1) this place jacks up most of its other prices; and 2) Bed, Bath and Beyond AND Williams-Sonoma have the EXACT SAME THING for $8 and $20 respectively. I also got a vanilla bean for $1.50 and another item that is a Christmas present for my sister, who is probably reading this right now so I can't tell her what it is;
• exploding "bath bombs" from Soak (3 small ones for $12);
• Two old CDs of Crowded House and the Mavericks for $3 each, as well as a DVD of one of my favorite MST3K'd movies, Parts: the CLONUS Horror, ($10, but it's the original movie so no bitchy commentary), at Plan 9 Music;
• And some ice cream to finish my trip at Bev's Ice Cream - Bev's Brownie sundae, with two large scoops of any particular ice cream, whipped cream and two other toppings (one of your choice) all on top of a brownie, goes for $5.50 before tax, just over $6 after (it's the cheapest thing you can buy in order to use a debit or credit card).

And that's it! This whole Jamestown-Richmond trip was a very long time in coming, but it's finally happened, and it was quite nifty. Pictures of Jamestown will follow, but I'll throw in some of Carytown, night and day, here:

This is the delicious and HOT lamb vindaloo from my dinner at Farouk's House of India the night before. The hottest stuff, according to the menu, "will bring you tears". Is it that bad?

Perhaps the most appropriately-named business on the street.

The interior of the New York Deli. That clock advertises A&P.

So... ya got a public restroom?

And there's this last one, with these cute doggies just lounging around, waiting for their owner (No, I refuse to call them "pet parents" - I loves me kitty, and I'd put him on the rescue boat before I got in. But I am his owner! Get over it!)