Baltimore is okay...

Silver Spring is NOT okay.

2009-11-25T00:42:00.000-05:00

In fact it sucks.

Vaccaro's Overload

2009-11-10T08:19:00.003-05:00

Vaccaro's
222 Albemarle Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

With my big move looming, it was imperative that I make it to Vaccaro's for their Monday night All You Can Eat dessert and coffee special. I have seen this advertised for the last four years I have been in Baltimore and have been aching to experience the sheer gluttony first hand. I finally made the effort yesterday, and met up with Britta for an after dinner binge fest.

The special is only available Monday's from 6-9. It can sometimes be extremely busy so opt to get there early. I had planned on doing my weekly Monday run with the Fed Hill group at 6:30 so I cut the run slightly short and made it to Vaccaro's by 7:15 or so. Nothing like a decent run before a gorge fest. The website features the special at $12.95 but pricing has gone up to $15.50 which seems like a lot but ends up being worth it if you make sure to drink and eat enough, which I certainly did.

I started with a decent portion of traditional Tiramisu (as opposed to the amaretto option) and a double espresso. So yummy. The lady fingers were moist and flavorful.

Tiramisu dish COMPLETE.

Round 2 consisted of the Vaccaro's Sampler; vanilla and chocolate cannolis, almond cookie, pignoli cookie, butter ball, and cream puffs. I wasn't as impressed with this assortment as I was with the Tiramisu. Maybe that's because I was sickly full after the Tiramisu but still pressed on.

Sampler attempt fell short as I left a decent portion of the cream puffs and cookies. I tried my best though :)

Britta also went for the All You Can Eat but was a little more conservative with her selections. She definitely got her moneys worth by ordering to Vaccaro's style cappucinos and the Death by Chocolate cannoli cake with chocolate gelato. It was absolutely enormous and unfortunately, even with the two of us chipping away, we could not conquer this behometh dish.

All in all, definitely worth it for a special occasion. Make sure to skip dinner so you have more room but keep in mind you will be staying up pretty late due to sugar and caffiene overload. Yikes!

Coming and Going

2009-11-08T20:20:00.005-05:00

Mt. Vernon park and washington monument will be replaced with...
Downtown Takoma Park and the landmarks of my youth...

To all of my loyal blog readers, I am posting to inform you that as "okay" Baltimore has been over the last 3 and a half years, it is time for me to say goodbye. I have accepted a new position that will require me to relocate to the metropolitan area (DC/NOVA) and I must leave my Mt. Vernon sanctuary to brave the streets of the nation's capitol. This has been a bitter sweet decision for me because, although I am SUPER STOKED about my new position, I will dearly miss all that I have come to call home here in Baltimore. Of course, I am more than comfortable with my soon to be new digs since I grew up in the Takoma Park/Silver Spring area. So in essence, this will be a bit of a homecoming...more so because I will actually be living at home. Yeah, really cool, I know. This is a temporary stop gap for me to save money and get acclimated before I find an affordable place with a cool new roomie :)

Some of the things that come to mind that I will miss...

Zeke's coffee at the JFX Farmer's market on Sunday mornings...

Iggie's pizza as often as possible...

night caps at midtown yacht club and Sunday morning brunch buffets...

wednesday night runs with the Iggie's running club...

team thats what she said and Ryan's awesome ability to rally all of Baltimore's runners...

my 5 mile stadium run through Camden Yards and Ravens Stadium...

morning runs with McVets no matter how cold and how tired I might have been...

trips to canton dog park with the pups and my boyfriend...

working with such amazing and positive people at Friends...

my tremendously fantastic Friends School XC team...

being able to walk everywhere...

being able to run everywhere...

I will miss everything. Baltimore and my life here has been way better than okay...

I don't think this necessarily means I will cease blogging...nor do I have plans to rename the blog. I will continue to critique and comment on events, restaurants and general happenings that I stumble upon wherever they may be. I only hope to be as influenced and affected by my new/old environment. Until then...

Ciao Baltimore.

Autumn Cravings

2009-11-08T20:04:00.007-05:00

Farmer's Market Butternut Squash Soup with yellow zucchini, caramelized onions, and a garnish of toasted pine nuts, sour cream, and turkey bacon.

So, this seriously was the most simple and rewarding dish I have EVER made. Here's the quick breakdown of my make-shift recipe-

1 Butternut Squash- peeled and cubed

1 other squash, etc- I happened to have a zucchini or two, that seemed to work fine (cubed)

**Next time, I would love to add chic peas. Great texture and would add lots of depth**

1 red onion- half sliced and added to broth, other half to be sauteed with brown sugar and butter

4-5 slices of turkey bacon- to be cooked with the onions as they caramelize

1 package of vegetable broth

some pine nuts, or something to add extra crunch...

dollop of sour cream

oh yeah, some nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and pepper for the simmering broth and veggies

1) Add cubed squash, zucchini, onions and seasonings to vegetable broth in pot of sorts. Let simmer on low for as long as needed for contents to soften.

2) Simultaneously, caramelize onions in skillet. As they sauté in butter and brown sugar, add bacon strips to skillet.

3) Once veggies in pot are soft, start MASHING. No need to puree or emulsify anything, just take any old kitchen utensil and smush those veggies until the soup thickens and becomes smoother.

4) I am not a fan of perfectly smooth soups, reminds me too much of a juice from concentrate or something. I like to leave a bit of texture in the soup, so I stop mashing once I am satisfied with the consistency.

5) Add bacon and caramelized onions to bowl once prepped. Dollop of sour cream and pine nuts added for garnish.

Enjoy!

Pumpkins Galore

2009-10-17T16:49:00.003-04:00

Stopped by Harbor East with Ross in the poopy weather for a free burger at Elevation Burger and a matinee of Where the Wild Things Are at Landmark. Stumbled upon some Halloween festivities which included live music by a local favorite, The Crawdaddies, face painting, scarecrows on stilts, and a couple of middle aged witches. Very kid-friendly, which meant I enjoyed myself. Here are some pretty pumpkins I spotted.

Bmore Run Fest/Burger Binge

2009-10-16T10:10:00.003-04:00

What do you follow up with after taking part in the largest Running event in Baltimore? Eat! A lot! Well, that's what I did. This past weekend was the Baltimore Running Festival, a gigantic event that brings a ton of publicity and tourism to our city that is "okay"... The fest consists of a full marathon, half marathon, team relay and 5K. For the third year, I have participated in the team coed relay and for two straight years we have been victorious! It is so much fun and makes eating as much as I do not feel quite as bad.

After sticking around at the finish line area for a bit, my fellow relay mate and some friends needed some post-race nourishment. To my surprise and excitement, it was settled we would rendez-vous after showering, at Abbey Burger Bistro in Fed Hill. I had been craving a beer and a burger The Abbey seemed to be a solid choice...seeing as they specialized in burgers...and beer.

They were packed, lots of other race participants, most of which didn't have the luxury of going home and showering. The staff was very accomodating and even tolerated us huddling by a smaller table near their entry way until a larger table opened up. Drink specials were available; a couple lagers at $2 and $3, not bad.

What enticed me most on the menu was the Build a Burger option available. Similar to my experiences at the Counter in California; a form is provided on a clipboard (part of the kitsch factor) and categories are broken out with check boxes next to the available options for your sandwich concoction. You can customize your burger all the way down to the type of aioli sauce! The options weren't too overwhelming and my eyes went straight to the desired items. Pretzel bun, turkey burger, avocado, homemade mustard with whole mustard seeds, fresh lettuce and tomato and my favorite-the dill yogurt sauce (sounds weird but super yummy for homemade chip dipping- served on the side as requested). The burger was tender and just the right size. I really liked it. The presentation was cute with the traditional toothpick and olive, and the accompanying chips were prepared nice and crispy even amongst the burger juice.

A friend had ordered the "Waffle nachos" from the appetizer menu and didn't realize that it was going to be served with waffle fries instead of nachos. Uhhh...duh. Her bad. None of us got to try this loveliness but I figured I'd still snap a shot before it was sent back. I definitely would have housed it.

Abbey Burger Bistro
1041 Marshall Street, Fed Hill

St Paul Food Mart

2009-10-04T21:09:00.005-04:00

Who knew you could find traditional Indian food ingredients at your local food mart?

Mere blocks from our humble abode in Mt Vernon, Ross and I have stumbled upon a quick-stop that stocks not only the best Ben and Jerry's selection in downtown Baltimore- I'm talking all the newest flavors, marzipan madness and all the oldies too- but also a sundry of Indian food ingredients! I've never prepared Indian fare but I certainly eat it and if I were to ever cook Indian food, perhaps I would consider purchasing my ingredients here. Pretty authentic stuff. I couldn't tell you exactly what they were selling...beans and grains of some sort? Also pictured, Bakar Khani? Maybe I'll investigate more...

St Paul Food Mart is located just up St Paul near Read St and the Spotlight Theatre. Good stuff.

Random Thought

2009-10-03T20:11:00.005-04:00

Halloween inspired dinner...

Bratwurst sauteed in Pumpkin beer with mashed sweet potatoes and sauerkraut.

Someone make this.

Happy Halloween.

Crafts, Food, & Sugarloaf!

2009-09-30T11:38:00.006-04:00

Sugarloaf Craft Festival

Oct 2-4

Maryland State Fairgrounds

The Crafty season is upon us. What does that mean exactly? When I think of Fall, I think of making crafts in my living room with my mom. Carving pumpkins? Glitter, glue sticks and pipe cleaners? Maybe that's just me...

Sugarloaf Craft Festival is this weekend in Timonium. I doubt there will be the same kiddy type crafts that I dabbled with in my youth...since it is a juried craft fair, but creative art, food and fun will be abundant!

Comment on this post if you would like free tix :)

DC Dining - Farm to Table

2009-09-22T09:40:00.007-04:00

Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 822-8783

Finally made it out to the District for brunch with Saki prior to her departure :(

She had been raving about the flavorful cuisine at Founding Farmers since our trip to Woodberry Kitchen for dinner together a couple weeks earlier. Both restaurants boast locally sourced vendors for just about everything; just check the menus for farm locations. Founding Farmer's takes environmental stewardship a step further in gaining LEED gold certification for their restaurant space. And what a lovely space it is! Situated right downtown at the bottom of what appears to be an office building, is an open dining room and bar full of crafty wood tables and wrought iron light fixtures, large windows from floor to ceiling let in more than enough light. We were initially seated in a corner two-top but opted to be swapped to the family style table next to the bar. Much better vantage point for people watching.

So the menu was gargantuous and slightly overwhelming, especially when our waiter brought out the lunch menu too. I dived right into the brunch cocktails. Saki had a spicy bloody mary and I went for some sort of libation with Absinthe... Yikes! Well they brought me the wrong drink which ended up being okay cause he let us sample it regardless. Oh and it was goooood. If only I had taken notes so I could tell you what it was! Nava? Something sweet with a warm brandy after bite.

Moving on. Saki new off the bat that we had to start with the skillet corn bread; an item found on the lunch menu but worked perfectly with our brunch. Ugh...so good. We cut it into slices after smothering the crispy top with butter and honey. Bread was light and moist and ridiculously addictive.

Our brunch selections do look beautiful. But...honestly? They were a little lackluster. I figured an Eggs Benedict would be a solid choice. It being such a traditional selection I envisioned the local spinach, tomatoes, creamy hollandaise sauce and homemade english muffins would catapult the dish into a new stratusphere but instead the veggies were mealy, the sauce bland, BUT the muffins were impeccable...full of buttery goodness and sopped up the egg remains nicely. My side of grits were eh. I almost didn't even clear my plate! But, then I did cause I have never NOT cleared my plate. But, I definitely thought about it this time.

Saki's spherical delight (don't you love how they poach the eggs?) was an interpretation of a skillet "hash" with cornbeef, grilled potatoes and two poached eggs. Turns out if you select the eggs poached instead of scrambled, the hash ends up pretty dry. The poached eggs didn't provide nearly enough moisture once mixed in. Perhaps with the scrambled option, the dish would have been more composed or casserole-like. At least that's what we were expecting.

Although the two brunch entrees may have not been what we were expecting, the experience more than made up for it. The service was stellar, the ambiance was creative and inviting and the prices weren't outlandish. Saki has gone back several times for lunch, dinner and drinks and has had no complaints. I definitely plan on making a second visit...the burger and shortribs are calling my name.

PS- Definitely a close call to Woodberry Kitchen. Nothing beats Woodberry's outdoor seating, rustic decor and decadent dishes...Founding Farmer's will play second fiddle until I have a chance to go back and sample more.

Back to Baltimore!

The Magic of Wegmans

2009-09-01T21:46:00.004-04:00

fruit tarts galore

olive bar

Wegmans

122 Shawan Road

Hunt Valley, MD 21030

Anyone that ever said they hate grocery shopping obviously have never been to a Wegmans. I finally made time for my first Wegmans adventure this past weekend out in Hunt Valley as I happened to be in the area for a 5K race in the McCormick business district.

This place is indescribable. I have had plenty of conversations about how awe inspiring the Wegmans experience can be but I couldn't grasp the magnitude until this first shopping trip. I plan on making an extra effort to travel the 20 minutes out to Hunt Valley at least once a month to explore the awesomeness of Wegmans. Be sure to give yourself at least 2 solid hours of shopping. Make sure you bring recipes for ridiculously exotic dishes you never thought you would be able to find the ingredients for; especially all at one location because you will find them here.

The international food section was phenomenal; from the japanese seaweed rolls and pocky candy to the Goya wall of goodness. The Health Foods section is like a mini Trader Joes within the Wegmans Temple of Food. A sundry of Paul Newman snacks, bulk food, and gluten-free options. The list goes on. Best of all, the bakery stole my heart. As I waltzed down the floury aisles, I found freshly baked rosemary rolls, olive loafs and multigrain flatbreads. The pastries appeared to rival any local patisserie; I didn't try them but they were beautifully done. Unreal. AND the employees were all so pleasant. From the cashier to the customer service rep that helped me find my cell phone I left in the bread aisle. Can't wait to buy more groceries!

Coldspring Brunch

2009-08-23T21:08:00.007-04:00

After a lazy Sunday morning at the pool, I decided to hit up brunch. The initial thought was to sample Woodberry Kitchen's new brunch menu in Clipper Mill but after showing up 15 minutes before the close of brunch (2PM), we were told that no more "walk-in's" were to be taken as the food selection was running low. Who makes reservations for a brunch? Come on. Now I know their brunch ends at 2 so I won't make that mistake again, if I even go again. Strike two on Woodberry. First dining experience was lackluster so this did not bode well. So...off to the brunch fail-safe; Miss Shirley's in Roland Park. We were not disappointed. Observe.

SICK Monkey bread. This "appetizer" or ridiculous dessert was unreal. Pecans, cinnamon, bananas, even a decadent chocolate sauce for dipping seated within the monkey bread itself.

After a couple rest breaks, we were able to not only make a dent but obliterate the monkey mayhem.
The indulgence continued with the "Get Your Grits On" dish; jerk shrimp, fried green tomatoes- a Miss Shirley's specialty- and savory grits with a bacon and roasted corn emulsion. The shrimp were enormous and well seasoned. I could have gone for more grits and less fried green tomatoes; although the texture of the fried tomatoes were a welcome addition.

Jen had an omelette. It looked good.

I'm glad Woodberry gave us the boot because we definitely would not have had this kind of home-cooked, playful cuisine at Woodberry. Never let down by Miss Shirley's :)

On to my next food adventure, wherever that may be...

OH! I still have yet to post about my Restaurant Week selection from two weeks ago...ended up going to the Wine Market with Saki. Pictures and "review" of sorts will be posted when I decide to upload images from my camera.

2009-08-18T08:00:00.006-04:00

Dinner is always better after you go to the grocery store...and when balancing atop my balcony railing. I'm sure there is a better spot for impromptu food photography but this will have to do.

Chicken Kielbasa sausage with sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms with an avocado spread.
Side of creole flavored rice and beans.
Side of wilted garlic spinach, cabbage and beets.
Old bay pickle garnish.
Chimay...

I am still full.

Pomodori del mercato

2009-08-18T07:51:00.003-04:00

Mi piace estate...

Restaurant Week?

2009-08-11T07:46:00.002-04:00

So I am trying to choose a restaurant from the Baltimore Restaurant Week list that will offer the most bang for my buck. Saki is coming for another Wednesday excursion in Baltimore and would like a hip and bustling locale with substantial course options. I typically like to choose restaurants that are normally out of my price range, so the couple I am contemplating thus far for her visit address her expectations and my penny pincher ways...who am I kidding- I am such a splurger.

Here is a run down of the Restaurant Week options I am considering... my course selections are in l'orange :)
*Worth noting- three of my potential selections are Charleston Group Restaurants. They must be doing something right!*

Option 1: Cinghiale (Italian)
Located in Harbor East, has both Enoteca for more casual wine bar feel; Osteria for a white tablecloth, elegant dinner. Been there before, Osteria is a little too fancy for me. Restaurant week course options are minimal...

First Course Options:
Squash Soup- Caprino "Crostini", Basil, Lemon
Local Heirloom Tomato Salad-Fresh Basil, Sportoletti Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Second Course Options:
Garganelli All'Uovo Pasta- Gulf Shrimp, Local Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes
Braised Lamb Leg- Roasted Local Sweet Peppers, Smoked Garlic Sauce

Third Course Options:
Vanilla Panna Cotta- Local Peaches, Amaretti
Local Stone Fruits- Zabaglione, Pound Cake

Option 2: Pazo (Tapas)
Right on outskirts of Harbor East, elaborate Tapas Restaurant with Italian/Spanish/Meditteranian influence-lavish interior, normally very busy.

Pa Amb Tomaquet-toasted country bread, tomato & jamon
Ceviche-tuna, scallops, & shrimp marinated in citrus juices with crispy tortillas
Mixed Olives-five varieties with herbs
Arugula Salad with local summer fruit & sherry vinaigrette
Empanadas with salsa verde
Samfaina-traditional Catalan braise of summer vegetables
Grilled Shrimp with salmoriglio sauce
*I guess you get ALL of these (to share)

Choice of one per guest:
Wood Grilled Strip Steak Smoked potatoes & romescu
Grilled Tuna Summer vegetables & lemon oil
Malloreddus alla Norma house made pasta with eggplant, tomato, garlic & pecorino

Choice of one per guest:
Pazo Chocolate Cupcakes white chocolate mousse & salted caramel
Crema Catalana traditional custard scented with lemon & cinnamon

At least there is a lot of diversity? I like the spectrum of tapas and simple "entree" tapas options. Ambience will always make up for any menu shortcomings; almost.

Option 3: Salt Tavern (New American)
Patterson Park/Butchers Hill area. "Innovative renditions of classic American dishes"- reminds me of Bicycle for some reason...

First Course Options:
House Salad-Fresh mixed greens, marinated tomatoes, kalamata olives, red wine vinaigrette and shaved parmesan regginano
Boston Bibb Lettuce and Watermelon Salad-Extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, balsamic reduction
Eastern Shore Corn and Shrimp Chowder-Applewood bacon, fresh thyme
Corvina Ceviche-Ginger, lime, cilantro, aji amarillo, red onion, cusco corn, sweet potatoes
Crispy Hoisin DuckSpring Roll-Spicy chinese, mustard dipping sauce
Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels-Tomato, basil, roasted garlicSpicy Pork
Manchego Cheese Empanada-Jalapeno jelly, black bean sauce

Second Course Options:
Oven Roasted Salmon-Wilted baby spinach, crab and tomato butter
Grilled Giant Prawns-Roasted chickpeas, lemon, olive oil, garlic brioche
Grilled White Fish Tostados-Cabbage, red onion, avocado, grilled orange, cilantro, queso fresco
Spicy Peanut Braised Pork Shank-Udon noodle stir-fry
Grilled Lamb Sirloin-Curried carrot fritter, watercress and bean salad, feta vinaigrette
Fresh Pasta with Corn, Asparagus and Chiles-Sweet corn butter, fresh thyme, shaved pecorino romano
Grilled Skirt Steak-Plantain, grilled red onions, chimichurri sauce

Third Course Options:
Goat Cheese Donuts-Lavendar honey, vanilla sea salt, coffee ice cream
Fresh Berries-Lemoncello whipped cream on a sweet croissantChocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich-Fresh Meyer Lemon Sorbet with Cookie

Option 4: Louisana Restaurant (French/Creole)
Fells Point. Upscale southern, creole style french cuisine.

First Course Options:
Mixed Field Greens Salad-tossed in a light lemon basil vinaigrette with hearts of palm, roasted Holland red peppers, and crisp parmesan
Red Wine Poached Pears and Candy Walnuts-tossed with mixed field greens, crumble blue cheese and blue cheese vinaigrette
Louisiana crab bisque-garnisheed with jumbo lump crab
Fried Green Tomato's-layered with jumbo lump crab and topped with a citrus chive buerre blanc

Second Course Options:
Blackened Salmon with potato croquette, house vegetable and crayfish buerre blanc
Blackened Jumbo Shrimp and Grits with corn emulsion and vegetables
Slow Cooked Duck Confit with sweet potato, house vegetable and a dried cherry sauce
Grilled Black Angus New York Strip Steak Accompanied with herb potato puree, house vegetables and red wine demiglace
Pan Seared Sea Bass With potato croquette, house vegetable and crayfish buerre blanc (Additional $5.00)
Grilled Black Angus Filet Mignon with herb potato puree, house vegetable and red wine demiglace (Additional $5.00)

Third Course Options:
Apple Beignet
Bread Pudding Chocolate Mousse

Featuring the entire Restaurant Week menu is getting excessive. These are my TOP 4 picks. Some additional considerations include The Wine Market and B- Bolton Hill...

Their special prix fixe menus can be found here.

I need insight people! Reservations must be made tonight for tomorrow's din din.

No Leftovers

2009-08-10T15:31:00.002-04:00

First Thursday Dinner for Breakfast! Yum...Everything turned out delightful. Quiche was a BREEZE and the left over farmer's market spicy lamb sausage did just the trick and went well with the horseradish cheddar. Sweet cinnamon pancakes with rich and sugary berry compote with lots of maple syrup.

Jen made mimosas; thanks Jen!

Enjoy!

First Thursday's West Mt Vernon Park

2009-08-05T11:41:00.009-04:00

"First Thursday's in the Park " presented by WTMD is tomorrow afternoon. I plan on actually making it out to the park this time...

Bonnaroo performer, Evan Watson headlines alongside local group, Ms. Sarah and the Help.

I have concocted a Baltimore brunch themed menu for the big evening...don't worry, photos will be taken to document food and festivities.

Gardens Bloom

2009-08-05T07:21:00.004-04:00

The Lower School has organized a community garden right here on campus! How coooool.

All the hard work this spring looks like it will certainly pay off. Can't wait to see those tomato plants reach the tops of those trellis'. I think there was talk of the produce from this garden supplying some of the needs of the new dining hall? How very sustainable of them.

Owl Beer

2009-07-24T13:24:00.004-04:00

Spotted this owl beer at Well's Liquor last night in Towson. Anybody ever tried this? It appears to be japanese. Either way, I am in love with the logo.

Owls make great beer spokesmen.

After some interweb perusal, I found that Gracie at Design Sponge - one of my top 5 favorite blogs - scooped me on these darling beers a mere 3 years ago. So what? I'm a little late to the party; but that's cause I'm in Baltimore...what are you gonna do :)

Belvedere Square Market

2009-07-22T15:16:00.006-04:00

Ugh. This place is HEAVEN. I have been in Baltimore for nearly 7 years now and never have I ever set foot in the Market side of Belvedere Square. Why did no one spend more time raving about this place?! Belvedere Square is a collection of restaurants and boutiques, tucked away near the corner of Northern Pkwy and York Rd. So I have spend multiple Sunday mornings "in the square" at Ryan's Daughter for their brunch; but never in the actual Market. Little did I know what I was missing :)

Look at this lunch. This is why I eat. Neopol Smoked Salmon Salad with Ceriello Grilled Vegetables on a bed of greens for lunch! I couldn't decide on a single dish from just one seller so I chose some sauteed veggies from the prepared foods case at Ceriello (sorta expensive- $9/lb) and then opted for a half portion smoked salmon salad from Neopol. A harmonious blend of flavors and was actually very filling. I can't even fathom finishing the full portion of this. The smoked salmon salad may seem like a foreign concept but it works, seriously. The salmon is smoked on premise and then mixed with a light amount of mayo, herbs and some standard seasonings to make for a delicious salad. The texture was not off putting as one might find mushy fish to be.

Looking forward to my next lunch break at the Market. But next time, I will be sure to leave room for dessert from one of the other neighborly vendors.

Here's a short list of the Market sellers in case anyone's interested. I hope to sample something from each at some point before...I leave Baltimore?

Atwater's
Excellent artisan baked goods, soups and sandwiches...expensive but worth it.

Bon Bon's
Ice cream and sweet treats.

Ceriello Fine Foods
Italian grocery with a fabulous prepared foods selection...fresh mozz and homemade bottled sauces for sale!

Earth's Essence
Don't know...didn't stop by but I'm sure it's good.

Farmstead Cheese
Fromagerie, associated with Atwater's. J'adore fromage!

Grand Cru
Darling wine bar. Very low key and unpretentious looking.

Ikan Seafood & Sushi
Everybody needs a sushi joint.

Market Bakery
More Atwater's affiliates...specialty bakery with gourmet tea & coffee.

Planet Produce
Fresh produce I presume.

Neopol Savory Smokery
I dream about their cheese spreads; the presentation is beyond adorable. (see below)

Starling Diner

2009-07-20T15:21:00.010-04:00

Starling Diner
4114 E. Third St.
Long Beach, CA
(562) 433-2041

I first found Starling Diner while driving through town with my mom situated amidst a low key residential street. The window treatment was quaint with crafty details. I said immediately- "We have to go there". I could tell it was my kind of place, specializing in breakfasts, baked goods and hearty sandwiches; no need for frilly dramatic dinner menus. We finally go for breakfast nearing the end of my vacation and it was oh so worth it. I was EXTRA hungry following an early morning spinning class and swim. This proved helpful as it allowed me to sample more from their rich selections. I started with an excellent "baked every morning scone" with a decadent house-made lemon curd and butter on the side. This was devoured immediately.

The menu was concise which made ordering a breeze. I get anxious when menus are noticeably overworked. Starling capitalizes on their simplicity with a no nonsense and well rounded menu. I chose the smoked salmon dish, pictured above. Sauteed spinach and smoked salmon came topped with delicately poached eggs and some other frou frou items (chopped tomatoes and sprouts) obscuring the dish a bit in the pic. Side of potatoes were just crispy enough and not overly greasy. Twas a lovely breakfast; salmon was fresh as can be, not the slimy packaged type and melded well with the sauteed spinach. Eggs were pretty standard, although...I have never made a decent poached egg so kudos to all that are able to successfully do this cause they taste great!

Mom got the breakfast polenta starter. No it is NOT an ice cream sundae as it may appear to be, although it was pretty intense for a breakfast dish. I have only had polenta served in a savory context or fried in a cake. This sweetened version with cream tasted almost like tapioca but with small flavorful grains. Yum! Looking forward to my next Starling Diner meal; I've heard there french toast is to DIE FOR.

Otacon...

2009-07-19T17:44:00.003-04:00

Friendly Otacon attendees pose for a shot on St Paul on their way to the Convention Center for this years event. Strange how Baltimore transforms during this busy weekend; with the hipsters up north for Artscape and the nerdy types further south for Otacon, there is no denying the Charm in this city.

Artscape Happenings

2009-07-19T09:25:00.010-04:00

My coworker and NEW friend, Erin makes an appearance on my electrifying blog. She has now utilized 5 of her 15 minutes of fame. Our excursion led to many Smalltimore moments; ranging from old high school sweethearts to foes alike :)
People walking on Charles.
Art cars...this particular one tickled my fancy. My fav from last year wasn't there; the one that has dancing lobsters and fish? Oh well, this'll do.

Stilt women. There were a lot.

A bit further down Charles, there was a healthy collection of food vendors; ranging from the fantabulous falafel fellows from the JFX Farmer's Market to the eccentric smoothie entrepreneurs from Wheely Good Smoothies...details below.

Ok. Best idea ever. Who needs blenders to mix your smoothies when you can have quirky MICA students build bike contraptions that blend your smoothies FOR you with your own leg power. Leave it to Baltimore! Check the name- "Wheely Good Smoothies" ha. Check the smoothie prices too...yikes! 50 extra cents if you have an employee "blend" it for you.

Native Foods in California

2009-07-17T10:26:00.009-04:00

Native Foods
Westwood Village
1110 1/2 Gayley Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 209-1055

During our trek to Ventura from Long Beach, my mother and I decided to stop off at a vegan-friendly, organic lunch chain in Westwood, near UCLA. Native Foods have a couple locations throughout CA and came highly recommended on Yelp when searching the area on my iPhone for healthy food options. The location was small with two seperate areas for take-out and sit-in diners. The ordering scenario is very Pei Wei-ish or Noodles & Co. style; you order and pay up front at the register, then are issued a number and the food is then brought to you at your table. I like this system as it is usually pretty efficient, but the kitchen staff here were definitely on "California time" when sending dishes out...

All our food came out at the same time; including our appetizer. Eh. No biggie I guess. I figured my Ensalada Azteca would not be filling enough so I added the Awesome Threesome app, pictured above which consisted of hummus, a tomato bruschetta, and grilled flatbread. The sauces were a bit on the oily side but the bread was nice and crispy and just what I needed.

Here is my pretty Azteca Ensalada, suggested by the cashier as supposedly their most popular dish. Umm...it was a little lackluster for me, but that doesn't mean I didn't finish the whole thing. No surprises there. The ingredients were fresh no doubt but the combinations didn't seem to jive. Just a few too many ingredients and textures, especially when you incorporate jicama fruit which is so tough and bland flavored. Mostly, I was just jealous of my mom's selection so I resented my choice the whole time knowing how good her hot bowl was...read on :)

Mom went for the Ghandi Bowl which blew me a way with its flavorful steamed veggies, tart dried cranberries and aromatic Jasmine and brown rice. The heat from the curry sauce was subtle and gave the dish just enough moisture; the grilled tempeh added heartiness and substance to an otherwise relatively light dish. As you can see, mom is posing like Ghandi would have had he eaten his namesake bowl...er something.

Overall a worthwhile pit stop. If you are looking for a quick bite this might not be the place, but if you have a smidge of extra time it's a solid option. I especially loved watching our food get assembled from our 2nd floor perch atop the kitchen. (pictured top)

OH! A must mention; the gratis water came flavored with fresh lemons and limes. This trend I noticed was more typical than not in California cafe style establishments, perhaps because natural California tap water is icky tasting, either way I totally dug it.

Venice, CA

2009-07-17T10:13:00.008-04:00

monsters I found.

Groundworks Coffee Shop.

intense handlebars.

Traveling Feet

2009-07-17T09:16:00.005-04:00

Back porch lounging. Mt Vernon-Baltimore, Maryland

Naps on the Beach. Ventura Beach, California

LA FLower District

2009-07-14T14:15:00.011-04:00

Philly Weekend: Farmicia Restaurant

2009-07-03T19:45:00.004-04:00

Farmicia Restaurant

15 S. 3rd Street

Old City, Philadelphia

215-627-6274

Great food. Enough said.

Philly weekend: The Franklin Fountain

2009-06-30T21:29:00.009-04:00

Wow. I love fro yo and gelato and all the fancy schmancy dessert options out there, but there is something to be said about old school fresh ice cream. The Franklin Fountain is an authentic ice cream parlor that embodies the exact characteristics of any 20th century establishment. From the tin accents on the ceiling, to the hairnets on the help.

Ice cream flavors are relatively standard, I tried the rum raisin, a childhood favorite and maple walnut which tasted just like creamy maple candy. The hot fudge was so decadent I bought my own jar for sundaes at home. ($9) Which I might add is almost gone already and it's been three days. Only shortcoming that is not quite articulated until you reach the register is that they are a "cash only" establishment. I should have assumed that...with it being a storefront circa 1908. So, my ice cream had to be put on hold after already being scooped and Andrea and I had to make the trek to the nearest bar for a cash withdrawal. The extra steps were well worth it.

Also worth noting-they serve their to-go ice cream in an adorable carton a la chinese food with an available closure in case you aren't able to finish it all..something I didn't have any trouble with. This is a MUST visit place in Old City, Philadelphia. You must must must go.

The Franklin Fountain
No. 116 Market Street.
Phila. PA 19106
215 627 1899

TKPK Farmer's Market

2009-06-23T12:46:00.007-04:00

Baltimore is okay but it will never be Takoma Park. Historic old town and the Sunday Farmer's Market will always hold a special place in my heart. Especially when followed by brunch at Mark's Kitchen, swings at the park and some shade under the gazebo. I am so lucky to have grown up here! I miss you, thank goodness your only right down 95.

Ciao Orla!

2009-06-15T11:46:00.002-04:00

I will miss you and your crazy tights! Burlington is lucky to have you. Until next time...

Learned to Row (1 wk later)

2009-06-15T10:44:00.005-04:00

So in fact I did attend Learn to Row Day in Middle Branch Park hosted by the Baltimore Rowing Club a week ago. Sorry to all my loyal readers (mom and dad) that it has taken me forever to update this thing but real life was getting in the way of my blogging habits- pitiful excuse, I know. It won't happen again.

The rowing event two Saturday's ago officially started at 9AM, Britta and I waltzed into the boathouse area a little after 10 and were told our group would begin in 45 minutes to an hour. Ugh. Ok, so we had to amuse ourselves for a while and decided to mosey over to the Gwynn Falls informational area who were soliciting volunteers for National Trails Day, which was that day. Groups of volunteers were all over cleaning up, getting dirty and improving the trails. Britta and I just watched. Gwynn Falls Trails are actually pretty neat and span pretty much all of Baltimore in some capacity. If I were so inclined to ride a bike, I might do so on this trail.
Here's a completely illegibale picture of the Gwynn Falls Trail map. I would advise just visiting the PDF link since this gives you no idea what you are looking at.

Anyway, back to rowing. After killing an hour, our group was on deck. I could already tell this wouldn't exactly be the most stimulating experience as the brief hands-on component followed approximately 30 minutes filled with a boat house tour, informational safety video, and erg machine overview. Eventually we made it out onto the Patapsco and that part was most definitely the highlight; except for the fact that it is extremely difficult to get a group of novice rowers to follow directions and row in unison. Oh well, at least we tried.

So I can now check this off my list of sports I thought I might be into...
Next up- Female Boxing in Baltimore! Any ideas/locations?

Learn to Row in Baltimore

2009-06-05T11:01:00.005-04:00

Baltimore Rowing Club
3301 Waterview Avenue Balto, MD 21230
Saturday June 6, 2009
9am-3pm
FREE!

In an effort to assuage my unbridled depression due to not being able to run, I plan on attending tomorrow's Learn to Row event hosted by the Baltimore Rowing Club in Middle Branch Park. I have become close friends with the erg machine at the local Merritt and can't wait to put those stationary skills to real use. Groups form every 30 minutes between 9am & 3pm; each equipped with a coach and very own coxswain. Any questions can be directed at learn@baltimorerowing.org

Also featured on the site-
"June 6 is also National Trails Day and our friends
at the Gwynns Falls Trail are focusing their 2009
Service Project on Middle Branch Park ,
which runs through and around the boathouse.
If you have some free time before or after
your Learn to Row session , lend a hand!"

Might be fun to walk the trails after my rowing excursion...but it would be more fun to run them :(

Sticky Rice in the District

2009-06-03T21:33:00.014-04:00

Saw the fam on Sunday and had an impromptu family brunch at Sticky Rice in DC. I had been raving incessantly about how awesome this place was; I had been to the original location in Richmond a couple years back and could not wait for them to open quasi-locally. And they did not disappoint.

I'm always down for an eclectic brunch selection and was definitely digging the unique dishes served. Huuuge plus- the full sushi and specials menu is available during brunch which means I could sample items from both! Also worth noting are the approachable price points, barely anything on the brunch menu even goes into the double digits!

The commute was pretty straightforward and parking was a breeze...mostly because of the locale. As we cruised further into NE past Union Station, H Street got a little..eh. Sticky is right before the newly developed Atlas District...gentrification at its finest.

Back to food and drink; ordered a breakfast cocktail- the Sakimosa. Lovely start to the meal :)

Immediately ordered our bucket o' tots with the secret tot tartar sauce. Scrumptious.

Settled on the green chili over rice; nice and light but not quite satisfying enough. Followed the small portion up with a crunchy specialty roll- "Snap, Crackle, Pop"- slightly spicy with salmon, cucumber, jalepenos, tobiko, and crunchy tempura flakes, my favorite! Presentation was darling- how cute is the wasabi mouse?! I melt for that kinda stuff. PS- Rooster sauce on the table for extra heat! Love!
Dad got the Crunchy Shrimp and Grits (above), described as Tempura fried shrimp with togarashi (japanese pepper) served with cheddar cheese grits topped with chopped sausage, red
and green peppers and onions. Didn't get to snag a bite; plate was cleaned pretty quickly ;)

Love the name of this dish- The Kevin Bacon and the clean presentation. Sister Chanty nibbled at this, but with my help she was able to join the clean plate club. Bacon was crispy, French toast was fluffy, "sweet potatoe home fries" weren't really home fry-ish but still worth it. The mandarins were a nice refreshing garnish.

Lil' Jackie demolished the Sticky Mess which was a perfect choice for kids. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, red onions, scallions all smothered with cheeeeeeeese. A 2 year olds dream.

Highly recommend this place not only for a brunch with little ones and family types but perhaps for a night out, for a lunch with friends, or for....just about anything. It's got just the right amount of kitsch with a touch of quirky but a hell of a lot of character. Not to mention I've heard they host a bangin karaoke on Tuesdays! More weekly events/specials found here.

Sticky Rice DC
1224 H St
NE Washington, DC
(202) 397-ROLL (7655)

Family

2009-06-03T10:24:00.003-04:00

Dying to Run

2009-05-29T09:46:00.007-04:00

I want to run. My foot still hurts, therefore I can't. This is all I think about...

I have self-diagnosed myself with an ankle impingement.

When I get healthy again (which feels like it is going to be an eternity from now)- I have considered running the following local races...

Rockville Twighlight- 8K (6/18)

Survivor Harbor 7 miler (6/14)

Baltimore Women's Classic- 5K (6/28)

Honestly, I probably won't be able to race at all this month, so who am I kidding... I will need to project some August or September racing goals just to be more realistic. Any suggestions? 5K/10K and half marathon distance...maybe

Get better foot, or else this will be me...

True Love

2009-05-27T09:36:00.003-04:00

Free Snacks!

2009-05-27T09:26:00.002-04:00

The local critters on campus LOVE when the students leave behind their PBJ sandwiches. His breakfast was better than mine.

Where Have I Been?

2009-05-27T07:37:00.004-04:00

Oh how I've missed you blogger. My lack of posting can be attributed to my actual real-life activities that have taken me away from my trusty computer.

Memorial Day weekend was spent in the Outer Banks for a wedding with my Iggie's Running Club friends! Beach was beautiful, wedding was fabulous, bride was breathtaking, food was to die for and I had the honor of being beaten in chess by a 5 year old. Awesome.

Highlights include...
ridiculous quantities of snacks for the drive- thank you Meg!!
morning bathroom routines
naps on the beach
frisbee time
bird watching- who knew? "cup of tea"
fried oysters with wasabi mashed potatoes
bruschetta bars with tapenade, caponata, and traditional bruschetta
chocolate fountains
brie with rasberries, served by Brie
showtunes
sunburn butts
planet unicorn
gravedigger
...and great friends!

The wedding was catered by Coastal Provisions Market, a suuuuper cute market/grocery right off of Route 12. We made a pit stop there on our way home and picked up some deli sammiches, including the "Ultimate Brie LT" which came highly recommended by the bride herself :)

Ultimate Brie LT
Double Crème Brie, thick sliced Peppered Bacon and Vine Ripe Tomato with Leaf Lettuce and Mayo on Ciabatta.

Coastal Provisions Market
1236 Duck Road
Duck, NC 27949

Can't wait for my next vacation and foodie exploration!

Dogs on Leash

2009-05-13T07:58:00.005-04:00

Hearing at City Hall was a big success! The $1,000 fine for dogs of leash enforced earlier this spring has been lowered to $200 for first time offenders, $400 (second), $600 (third). Thanks to everybody that made it out to Fed Hill for the hearing and for those of you who signed the petitions :)

Dude. Baltimoreans are way too disgruntled about the dumbest things. Enough people complained about dogs off leash so then out of nowhere, $1,000 fines! Nobody, even dog owners, want dogs running rampant around a public park, so let's do what every other city does that has a strong dog presence and build more dog parks...this time one that people and their dogs will actually go too. I'm not a huge fan of the Canton Dog Park, but beggars can't be choosers right?

*photo from canton dog park site

Eating Healthy in Baltimore

2009-05-13T07:29:00.007-04:00

Author, Michael Pollan is slated to speak this Saturday at the Enoch Pratt Free Library regarding his most recent book entitled "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto", and previous best-seller, "The Omnivore's Dilemma".

Michael Pollan public lecture

Saturday, May 16th @ Enoch Pratt Free Library

400 Cathedral St.

Cocktail Reception 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. (*reception sold out)

more details here

I've seen the covers of both before but haven't had a chance to peruse either. A brief synopsis of In Defense of Food touches upon the "American Paradox": in which the Western Diet is said to consist of "edible foodlike substances" instead of "real" food. This real food, typically consists of 5 or less ingredients and does not tout health buzz words on the packaging is what the American diet should consist of. "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Michael's seven words to live by. I think there is a lot of good advice to glean from this book. Of course, I am willing to read any book related to food, although this one seems exceptionally interesting. Wish I could go to the lecture but will be in Princeton for ECAC's.

Other books I am may or may not read (food-related):

Born Round: The Life of a Full Time Eater, Frank Bruni (*August 09 release date)

Spiced: A Pastry Chefs True Stories of Trials by Fire, After-Hour Exploits, and What Really Goes On in the Kitchen, Dalia Jurgensen

My Life in France, Julia Child

The Sweet Life of Paris, David Lebovitz

These may not capitolize on the healthiest of food choices as Pollan's books do, but I'm all about educating myself on both perspectives :)

**Just added (Diane is interviewing the author on NPR RIGHT NOW! and he was featured on Colbert Report a couple weeks ago)

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, David Kessler

Happy Mothers Day!

2009-05-10T10:44:00.004-04:00

Now it's time to eat!
Post Market Brunch on my patio. tomato, peppers arugula, scallions, gorgonzola and parmesan omelette, side of bacon and an Elvis inspired cinnamon, brown sugar french toast baguette sammich with bananas and almond butter.

Killed it.

2009-05-09T21:18:00.004-04:00

So this WAS our take-out from El Guapito, previously known as El Torito in Mt Vernon. Yeah, we killed it.

I know this may not be the most captivating pic for you foodies, but what it should tell you is that this place is awesome hence the near clean plates. Seriously legit, authentic mexican. We decided on take-out instead of sit-down due to the fact that NO ONE was at the restaurant. So yeah, it was pretty early for dinner (6:30), but still you can tell there wasn't much foot traffic. That didn't bother me because we got extra special service from the host/owner. She answered all of our questions about the dishes and was very personable. I decided on the tacos surtidos (chorizo, al pastor, and lengua-beef tongue) Each meat had a distinct flavor and just was intense; that's the only way to describe it. The rice and beans I purchased separately, as they do not come with, were rich with flavor too and a welcomed break between tacos.

Ross went for the chicken enchiladas and they were awesome! Way better than the ones he normally gets from Holy Frijoles. I love having a boyfriend that never finishes his meal! I ended up scarfing half of the enchiladas and was glad I did. Each mouthful was exploding with succulent verde sauce and moist chicken. The corn tortillas instead of flour was worth noting also as it definitely made a difference. Homemade tortilla chips were great- just crispy enough and as addictive as any if not more. Unfortunately they didn't have any guac due to business being slow and avocados going bad :(

I really really really really want this place to do well! Stop by when you can, even for take-out. The location isn't ideal but there is usually parking right out front or around the corner on Park. I am a stickler about ambience and would say that is not a selling point of El Guapito but the food certainly makes up for it.

One more thing! They open at 10:30 and serve traditional Mexican breakfast!! Although the items listed on the menu are limited for breakfast, they will make just about anything for you if they have the ingredients. Yay!

El Guapito Mexican Restaurant

110 W Mulberry Street

Baltimore, MD

Art Mart today

2009-05-09T20:40:00.013-04:00

Art Mart was today in West Mt Vernon Park, hosted by Baltimore crafting duo at Squidfire. Beautiful day for a low key event like this. Could have spent more money but decided to save some for tomorrow's Farmer's Market :)

Bumble Bee Studios had a really nice space. Neat herbal "artisan" bath and body products as mentioned on her etsy page.

Cotton Monster, one of my favorite stops every year. Her lovely stuffed monsters are delightful. I just can't seem to justify spending $35 plus on stuffed animals. But the workmanship is impeccable.

I bought one of these guys last year. His name is Macaroni.

Umm...so people were getting their hair done by Tenpachi? Interesting concept. Looked like fun! I like the idea of getting beautified outside.

I bought some neat prints from Brainstorm, a Jersey based print & design duo. I plan on giving them to the mothers in my family for mother's day but...I sorta kinda like em too much. Oh alright, I'll give em to em. The one pictured above I pulled from their flickr link, the assortment of horticulturally inclined images were my fav.

I have to give a shout to Tigelilly! I bought a pair of darling rose studs for myself today...couldn't resist. Only $4! Check out her etsy store- everything is there! First saw her work at the American Craft Council earlier this year and became enamored with the organic nature-oriented etchings on the jewelry; see above :)

Puff's & Pastries of Hampden were there with sweet AND savory goodies. Sammiches and cookies are always welcome. Of course I had just eaten so I couldn't indulge. I love her stuff.

Kudos to Squidfire for putting on another stellar Art Mart. Side note...I'm not quite into Squidfire's stuff- is that horrible of me? Since they facilitate a lot of cool craft stuff for Bmore? Just my personal opinion...

Guest Appearance!

2009-05-08T09:32:00.003-04:00

Distinguished Towson track star and seasoned food enthusiast, Maggie made a guest appearance in her old dwelling of Mt Vernon last weekend! Look how cute she is eating this phenomenal falefal sandwich from the Farmer's Market. Come back to Baltimore again soon!

Reason #385

2009-05-08T09:23:00.004-04:00

Reason # 385 that I can't stick to a semi-healthy diet when at work...

I walk out of my building and the 5th grade is hosting a BAKE SALE! AHHH!

Look how freakin cute these are! Strawberry, almond, chocolate chips, blueberry nose and a cantaloupe cheese! :)

List.

2009-05-06T10:33:00.005-04:00

1) My foot still hurts. I go to the doctor this week. I will probably need a new foot. I hope my insurance will cover it.

2) I am sick of the stationary bike.

3) It is horrifically depressing out. This weather sucks.

4) I am perpetually hungry. Eating is now filling the void of running; I am getting really good at it!

But at least I have a new puppy!

Picture is bad. But he is cute nonetheless.

Swine Flu for Blue Hens :(

2009-05-01T13:53:00.006-04:00

Saturday's UDel track meet has been CANCELLED due to several reported cases of Swine Flu on campus. Too bad... But don't you fret, Towson will be in action for our last in season meet at George Mason...blah.

Flowermart in Mt Vernon

2009-04-28T08:17:00.004-04:00

Looking forward to Flowermart this weekend.

Flowermart 2009

May 1-3

Mt Vernon Parks

TTWSS/Falls Rd at Port to Fort 6k

2009-04-27T09:38:00.005-04:00

Falls Road Running/TTWSS runners swept the Port to Fort 6K top positions! Results here

Clementine

2009-04-27T09:06:00.004-04:00

After practice on Friday, I made my way out with the fam to Clementine in Hamilton on Harford Road. I had been there one time before within their first month of opening and had been underwhelmed. With all the glowing endorsements as of late, I thought I would give it another shot. We got there on the earlier side for dinner, so there was no wait, plus we had made reservations. My sister had the toughest time making a decision, mostly because every entree was a bit out of her comfort zone; each dish containing some sort of obscure ingredient and/or technique that confused instead of intrigued. I paid no mind to the foreign words and just ordered with my gut.

First course for my dad and I was a mixed green salad with artichoke hearts, anchovies and "jamon" (just say ham in the menu- jeez!) The dressing was refreshing and the meaty ingredients really complimented eachother well. Clementine boasts their own Charchuterie where the cure their own meat; hence the delicate and quite flavorful ham.

My sis went for the traditional mac n cheese. She was not enthused with the tomato chunks and scallion accents. I thought it looked pretty but didn't add much in terms of flavor. Wish the cheese would make its way all the way through the layers of noodles... seems to be a perpetual problem as I encountered this last time. Still good but more cheese is always a plus.

I was very happy with my stuffed peppers entree. I honestly could have just had one pepper but I am not one to take home left overs so I ate both anyway. Peppers were stuffed with hearty rice and beans and smothered with cheese. Yum! The sauces added some moisture and tangy flavors. Really well balanced veggie dish.
My dad got a fish dish that sounded really good in the detailed menu description. It must have been good because he barely stopped to speak during consumption :) I didn't snag a bite but trust his word.

We had to rush but made time for a quick dessert, sorry no picture. All desserts are made in house; we decided on the coconut cake with some sort of 7 minute icing or something? The waitstaff kept emphasizing this one baking point but I don't remember the significance. Either way, the cake was fluffy and icing with coconut shavings was pure decadence. Will go for the brownie with bourbon creme next time. J'adore FOOOOOD!

Cheesesteaks and Penn Relays

2009-04-26T19:55:00.012-04:00

Alright, so running track and highly caloric cheesesteaks with cheese whiz don't usually coexist but at Penn Relays anything can happen.

So, I made the trip out with the Towson 4x100 and 4x400 to Philadelphia on Thursday for Penn Relays! Always something to look forward to; not only because of the phenomenal relay performances but the worldly cuisine attributed to the Jamaican street vendors that set up shop on Walnut and South street...every other year but this year. No jerk chicken, no goat curry, no plantains. It was heartwrenching, I have no idea why they weren't there this year, but it completely blew my lunch plans.

Between Relays I settled on an organic and vegan-friendly tomatu ragu, rice, tofu and veggie wrap from Magic Carpet Foods- a cart I found right outside the park by UPenn on Walnut? Pretty good stuff, definitely need to remember that place. Wrap was followed by a ginormous fruit salad from a fruit stand just next door.

I am obsessed with the food carts in Philly. Why can't Baltimore jump on the bandwagon? They are convenient, quick and most importantly ridiculously good!

This cart is right outside UPenn's stadium on Walnut. I made 3 trips there...one for breakfast (bagel with egg and cheese), one for Roger's cheesesteak, and one more for Ross' cheesesteak to-go. GREAT cart; they've been right in that spot for about 50 years?

Our 4x100 was a little lackluster with some shaky handoffs but we came back and won our heat in the 4x400, so that was a nice end to the day. Links to the videos on Flotrack are above.

Of course we had to stop for dinner and what better a meal then more cheesesteaks! This one was a bit off the radar, outside of the city and off the interstate. I can't remember the name but will fill that in later...

From Left to Right: Chicken Cheesesteak, Cheesesteak with lettuce and tomatoes, Cheesesteak BBQ style...yeah

Friday @ Penn Relays- I didn't make the trip out with the team because I gotta make that money, but I did want to mention our Shuttle Hurdle Relay team won their heat in a blistering 59.32, placing 7th overall. Great Job Towson!!!

Morning Temptations...

2009-04-24T08:54:00.003-04:00

This is the sole reason mornings at work are so hard!!!!

Fenwick Bakery goodies baked fresh this morning- still warm!

So far I've only sampled the strawberry danish...may have to go for a cheese :)

30 Day Challenge

2009-04-22T10:52:00.010-04:00

Mr Yogato is OPEN for business.

Ross and I are attempting the 30 day challenge...after 30 consecutive days of froyo goodness, they will name a flavor/toppings combination after you!

If I can make it through, I will do something like...tangy froyo, mango, mochi, and granola. What should I call it? Ross is definitely all over the tangy froyo, cookie crisps, fruity pebbles and banana toppings. I have to admit, 3 days in I am already getting a little over-yogurtfied.

The layout is adorable; there is a back lounge area with lots of funky seating, vibrant colors and lots of character. The front of house boasts table top games like Connect 4, Guess Who and Operation!!! There's a nintendo and TV set up in the corner for anyone inclined to regress back to grade school gaming days :) It's super cute and VERY inviting...I just hope the novelty of it doesn't wear off.

Ross and Jenn diving into their sweet treats during our first visit.

2009-04-21T20:15:00.005-04:00

Yay for Puppy Parties! The MD SPCA threw a stellar event this past Sunday at Druid Hill Park to raise funds for their facility and their pups. Cici, Ross and I, along with our pack Tailwaggers & Co. galavanted around the reservoir and stopped at a couple vendor booths for doggie treats along the way. Our pack raised nearly $1,000 for the Maryland SPCA! Back in 2005, I adopted Cecilia from the SPCA; we've been best buds ever since.

Here are a couple highlights from the March...

We spent the majority of our time at the BROOD booth sun bathing with some other fellow bassets. Here is Cici with 9 month old Sam who is up for adoption and Milton's butt all the way to the left.

Umm...here's the turtle pet. He walked/crawled faster than Cici and didn't even need a leash.

Corgi Puppy=LOVE! So cute...Her name was Elfi! Only 9 and a half weeks old. I must have one!!!

Fine Dining on Eastern Ave

2009-04-14T08:25:00.005-04:00

First time at Matthew's Pizza last night. Made a quick stop after getting off 95 at the Eastern exit. I am way less familiar with this side of 95 but invite any breaks from monotony. So I know this place has been around for like EVER (50 years +?) but like I said, I tend to stick to my terriroty...Midtown. Well I shouldn't have been surprised by the quaint arrangements inside; I did expect more of a take-out vibe with a counter and waiting area but instead, I was pleased to find several occupied tables. A family sang Happy Birthday to a beaming 5 year old, an older couple relaxed with a bottle of wine and anchovie pizza...very homey and inviting :)

Great Art on the walls, even though it's kinda kitchy. They may have had the majority of their success in the 80s and 90s when it comes to regional recognition and awards, but they still have the charm. AND damn good pizza. Fresh ingredients, homemade pizza dough, imported cheese and ridiculously good bruschetta...which is what I got. Ross went for the crab pizza which was very good- unique interpretation with no sauce, red or white; just cheese and crab! Dough came out lightly crisped but still chewy enough. Will totally go back for what I like to call- "date night in sweatpants". Label reserved for dining environments that are conducive to sweatpants :)

Check out this ancient soda fridge. LOVE IT.

Matthew's Pizza
3131 Eastern Ave
(410) 276-8755

A year older...

2009-04-10T07:35:00.011-04:00

Here I am the day after my birthday, a year older, a year wiser....eh, who am I kidding I'm the same. Nothing has changed.

BUT! I had a stupendous birthday! It's so fun being overwhelmed with birthday wishes via phone, text, ecards, and through actual human interaction. There's so many ways to wish someone happy birthday these days! A superb friend, Sarah visited at work over lunch and brought me a schmorgasboard of goodies from Chocolatea. I have blogged about this Charles Village dessert cafe before, but have yet to go. The hot chocolate was phenomenal with a touch of chipotle pepper adding some heat on the way down, several truffles that were immediately devoured AND the proverbial "icing on the cake" was a pastry and baking cook book from San Fransisco Bakery, Tartine. SOOOO excited to start baking! Brioches, galletes, and tarts galore! And I love the Sarah's personal touch on the inside cover- " Life is Short, Eat Dessert First!" This was certainly the anecdote of the day...

I had a lovely visit with some long lost childhood friends...once they found their way and got un-lost... here's Elana molesting my basset. tee hee.

For dinner, Ross and I waffled between a sundry of fancy restaurant options but sprung for Tapas at Tapas Teatro in Mt Vernon. Haven't been there in quite some time and the charm was certainly still there. Portions seemed to have evolved from the "small plate" tapas mentality to legit courses. Where normally Ross and I can split a total of 6 different tapas, I could barely get past two! Everything was lovely and very salty! I like salt so a little extra sea salt is right up my alley. Specials we sampled included asparagus soup, cod fritters, and a lamb shoulder with a tangy sauce adding some extra spunk served on rice. Dessert came later...

A quick trip across town and we made it just before closing to Vaccaro's in Little Italy. We figured we would just get our sugar fest to go which was a good idea because I would have been way embarassed to eat as much as I did in public. Cappucino, a collection of italian biscotti and baked goods, and a hefty portion of tiramisu. Oh and of course we had to try the gelato, Ross settled on a pint of mint chocolate chip. Wow, I'm getting nauseous just typing about it.

Needless to say, this morning was rough...Birthday success.

I Spy...

2009-04-06T08:06:00.002-04:00

a kitty!
I just had to share this with the 1 or 2 people who read this blog- yeah, my cat enjoys cuddling in our dirty laundry...

Picturesque Baltimore?

2009-04-06T07:49:00.005-04:00

Caught this rainbow at the end of practice on Friday in Unitas Stadium...short lived but beautiful.

Artwork at Evergreen

2009-04-03T13:41:00.004-04:00

** Update: Found out the name of this artist-Eli Halpin** LOVE IT!

During a morning coffee run to Evergreen, stumbled upon these little lovelies...

I need to go back and look at the artist's name. I wonder if they are for sale!

Elated by Elevation Burger?

2009-04-01T07:34:00.003-04:00

Eh...
BF and I made it to Elevation Burger in Harbor East on Monday for there Grand Opening. Dinner rush was not off putting at all, the line was short and the menu even shorter, making quick selections that much easier. The whole appeal is "healthy alternatives"... cooking fries in olive oil, grass-fed happy cows and fresh ingredients and toppings.

I tried the "Half the Guilt" burger, comprised of one beef patty and one veggie patty with cheeeeeese. There were two veggie options available to choose from. One that is vegan and one is more veggie-esque? I didn't quite get the difference but opted for the veggie-tasting one anyway. The selection of toppings were stellar; ranging from the norm lettuce, tomato, to the more obscure balsamic mustard and hot pepper relish. The caramalized onions were on point. It was nice to have ripe tomatoes too. Those pale, almost white variety at the other burger joints don't really add much...Overall I dug the burger. Nice to be able to have the best of both worlds- meat and veggie patties unite! Next time I might shoot for the "Vertigo Burger", a build your own burger with stacks ranging from 3-10 patties. Reminiscent of the stackable patties at In N Out Burger.

Fries were ok, not really worth the extra calories. Couldn't taste much of a difference with the use of olive oil. They were those skinny cut kinds, I feel like thicker cut potato wedges would be more in line with their health conscious schtick.

Side note: there are side salad options available on the menu. I was all about ordering one and then I looked to my left and saw them in plastic to-go bowls in the fridge. Yeah...fries instead please.

Will go back to try the shakes. Would have gotten back in line for dessert but only had plastic and there machines were down so I would have had to gone through another manual credit charge.

There are definitely some kinks to work out; slow service (attributed to grill breaking down earlier in the day and general learning curve), but most importantly NO VIBE. Other new sprouting burger joints have character and pizazz! Like The Counter. Don't get me started on the Counter, I so badly wanted Elevation Burger to be like this place. But I'm sure EB will develop its own unique charm over time...

PS-Big turn off- No Music! Get XM or something. It made the place seem very sterile.

Bad ass...

2009-03-23T10:46:00.003-04:00

Morgan State Frosh, and Philly native, Ameer Ali is a bad ass.

Way to rep Baltimore.

Birthday Cake!

2009-03-23T09:11:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday Jen!
Thanks for the bomb red velvet cake.

Sugarbakers
752 Frederick Road
Catonsville, MD 21228
410-788-9478

Yeah, I ate it all.

2009-03-20T19:14:00.007-04:00

Well I did get some help.. but trust me, I housed the Napoleon, chocolate chip cookie, and rasberry pistachio creme cake. Yeah. Heaven.

Next time I'll just go for the whole cake; it's more cost effective when you eat in such quantities.

Yum.

Patisserie Poupon

820 E Baltimore St

I Spy during my commute

2009-03-20T18:55:00.010-04:00

During my 5 mile run from Friends to Mt Vernon...

Mural on Falls right near 83 split in Hampden

Mural #2 on Falls, before Clipper Mill

Jones Falls isn't just an expressway, there is actually a Jones Falls :)

Industrial stuff further down Falls en route to Charles

Baltimore Bicycle Works and neat mosaic windows

And then I noticed a production crew setting up next to the monument...

The End.

Welcome Back Spring

2009-03-20T08:52:00.002-04:00

In honor of the first official day of spring, I have decided to wear flip flops to work.

...even though its 40 degrees outside :(

Downtown Commute & Pastries

2009-03-20T08:37:00.009-04:00

After a day of low productivity at work (were on spring break, so there isn't much to do...) I plan on "commuting" home to Mt Vernon by foot. The Penn Station shuttle isn't running from Towson since its break for them too so my only option unless I wait 2 hours for a ride, is to run home. Here is my planned course.

Depending on how time is looking, I may stop in some shops on the Avenue as I will be coming right down Roland and intersect with 36th. I am in diar need of a new coffee table and couch; neither of which I could bring with me on my run home but I could maybe pick something out.

A much needed reward post-commute, will be one if not several, pastries from Patisserie Poupon on E Baltimore St. I am so excited! I was lucky enough to sample a couple of their pastries at Marie Louise Bistro who purchases from Poupon, but it'll be that much more thrilling to go to the shop itself. They specialize in catering for events; weddings, etc. but have a small storefront area with petite goodies for tasting :) Photos soon to come if I don't eat too quickly.

Spring Break Meet wrap-up

2009-03-19T13:23:00.004-04:00

Tiger Track Ladies did a great job this past Saturday at the Coastal Carolina Spring Break Invitational in Myrtle Beach. Considering it was a a blustery 45 degrees the majority of the day. Lots of outdoor PR's (first outdoor meet of the season) and a general good time. Just wish it could have been WARMER. Results here

We stayed right on the beach which was pleasant. Early morning runs, wet sand, and lots of seashells. I have some great shots that I will need to upload from my camera at some point. I took full advantage of this trip as a break from everyday life and proceeded to eat every burger, fry, ice cream available. It was well worth it.

With the kick-off of outdoor comes the planning of my "racing season". Which will be slim but I figure if I can put some things down officially and get myself to eventually register, I will be on the right track. No strategy as of yet but plan to run around 2 short races (5K or so) in preperation for another half; perhaps the Broad Street Run thrown in there as well...in passing, I also hope to run an 800m race on the track at some point by end of summer. Ambitious!

And now for something completely unrelated...

Scanwiches

"Scans of sandwiches for education and delight" YUM!

Fells Point Fro Yo

2009-03-18T10:50:00.008-04:00

One would think the Fro Yo craze hasn't quite electrified the country from coast to coast...until now. Baltimore will have its very own frozen yogurt establishment-Mr. Yogato- in the heart of Fells come this April!

Having been a loyal patron of Pinkberry in Cali, I have had a hard time accepting the plethora of competitors. After a trip to one of the east-coast based Pinkberry locations in NYC, I noticed a handful of similar fro yo types touting "tart and healthy yogurt with a sundry of toppings"; Red Mango, Yogurtland, etc. just to name a few...

DC joined the picture last year; first came TangySweet. Seriously? Could these places be any more of a rip off of eachother? Even the names sound the same- compound words with some sort of fruit or adjective. TangySweet didn't really do it for me, and after commenting on their similarities to Pinkberry to the founder, he didn't seem to pleased...I will admit their fro yo is actually quite tastey :)

Haven't yet made my way to the Mr. Yogato in Dupont, but have heard/read good things. They may peddle the same tart yogurt concoctions with unlimited toppings, etc. but they seem to do it with character. Some unique nuances, like their "rules" list (see below) make this place seem a bit quirky and very Baltimore-esque.

Rules of Yogato

If Mr. Roboto comes over the speaker system and you sing along, you get 10% off yogurt.

Try your luck with a trivia question. Get it right for 10% off, but get it wrong and 10% is added.

If you will wear a yogato stamp on your head, you get 10% off.

If you can recite the Stirling battlefield speech from Braveheart in a great scottish accent, you get 20% off yogurt.

Order a yogurt for 30 consecutive days and we'll name a flavor after you. View 30 Day Champions

If a customer suggests a topping or flavor which is then adopted, that customer receives a 5% discount for life.

If anyone can stump Steve on trivia regarding Seinfeld or "The Rock," 10% off yogurt.

Anyone wearing a kickball uniform and has played hard (evidenced by dirt on their knees) will receive an automatic 10% off yogurt.

When assessing dessert choices in Fells Point proper, you will have a new option in town...I intend to agonize over the options; smooth organic gelato from Pitango or kooky low cal fro yo from Mr Yogato. What will you choose? The Dessert saga continues...

(Pitango gets my vote) ;)

Burger or Bust

2009-03-18T10:40:00.006-04:00

Turkey Burger Bonanza...

Dinner a couple nights ago, prior to Myrtle Beach track trip.

Turkey patty with chopped spinach, feta, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, old bay, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of chili powder. Topped with tomato, sprouts, MORE spinach, MORE cheese (swiss), avocado spread on bottom, honey mustard on top served on toasted wheat bread. All out of english muffins :( yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Perplexed!

2009-03-18T09:59:00.005-04:00

I am at a loss right now with my silly Blogger formatting. For some reason or another, my sidebar content (links, profile, etc.) have all relocated to the bottom of my blog. It makes the page look so blah. My OCD-ness is not helping...must have this fixed STAT. Any ideas?

Spinal Tap. Seriously.

2009-03-18T09:23:00.006-04:00

This is a dream I tell you...

Guess what I heard today? Head Coach Rog mentioned in passing that everyone's favorite hair band Spinal Tap will be gracing the stage UNPLUGGED at the Lyric Opera House this May. This event marks the 25th anniversary of their 1984 mock-umentary- This is Spinal Tap. None other than Nigel, David and Derek will be there to perform hits from this legendary film and other Christopher Guest cinema favorites! AHHHH!

Unwigged and Unplugged
An Evening with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer
Tuesday, May 12 @ 8PM

I only hope Stonehenge will make an appearance.

Life Sans Car

2009-03-18T09:20:00.006-04:00

So I have been living without the convenience of my beloved Element for two work days now and I am surprisingly okay with it. Since Ross got the new job in Woodlawn, he drops me off in the AM and then I must fend for myself as they say in order to get to practice at Towson. This is until he gets his very own car ;) Today I will attempt to take the Penn Station Shuttle from campus to Penn Station in Mt Vernon! How conveeeeeenient! From Friends to Towson for practice is approx 3 miles so I have been running there since the weather has been okay, when it gets crappy out....I don't know what I'll do. Here's the route I take. It's nice cause it totally forces me to at least run 3 miles everyday during the week since I don't really have any other option...PS- I hate Rodger's Forge hills.

Foot Mileage 3/10/09: 5 total + Lifting

Working on my Green Thumb

2009-03-06T11:54:00.011-05:00

I have all intentions of sprucing up my apartment with some actually living plants. But I have NO idea where to go, what to get, and where to start... Here are some inspiring pics that have me aching for horticulture.

Design Studio at Farmer's Market, an icelandic design company...notice the lovely living branch type thing in the corner (photo taken from designspongeonline)

I love the perfect size potted tree/plant thingy near the fireplace, it's a nice hefty size. Even the aloe plant on the mantel brings life to the space. Pic found in a sneak peek post about Life + Limb store owner Molly Quan's who resides in Portland, OR. (photo from designsponge)

Ironically enough, I checked out Molly's shop and it specializes in "interior plants and homewares for modern living." How perfect is that? I might have to peruse their online selection- although I would really like to buy local and not spend too much...

Here's the space I'm trying to fill...

It's a tall and narrow space that needs something well...tall and narrow. I think I might try Ikea in White Marsh and maybe the Home Depot on Joppa. Any other suggestions for that perfect plant?

I just realized I reference Design Sponge like daily. God, I love that blog.

Sun Means Run...maybe

2009-03-06T11:30:00.008-05:00

*An image of what I hope Mt Vernon will look like this weekend- blue skies! Probably won't be so green and lush, but gimmie sun!

I am so excited. It is slated to be WARM, WARM, WARM this weekend. Highs of 67 Saturday and 70 Sunday? Ridiculous! I would love to pretend that means I will be doing a lot of running but... my mom is in town and I am recovering from pneumonia so I may be continuing to lay low...(<--- making excuses!) Oh alright, maybe I'll go and run- without a watch though, so it's more for fun :) 5 miles or so a day this week after a week of hacking my gunky lungs up. I hope to get in about the same today after practice. Hopefully my mileage total will be at 30 or so? I'm such a slacker. It's funny this Sunday will be the EXACT opposite Sunday from last week as it was just beginning to snow and was a mere 30 degrees or so. Ugh, I love the inconsistencies of Baltimore weather.

Gearing up for the girls spring break meet next weekend in Myrtle Beach at Coastal Carolina U. Everybody really looks forward to this meet for obvious reasons; great weather, beach and of course it being our first outdoor meet of the season. Hopefully we will set the bar high for the rest of the season. We'll be there for most of spring break so the Miami bikini contests and infamous bar crawls will be replaced with track intervals and long runs. ha.

A couple of Towson trackers will be competing this weekend at the indoor ECAC's in Boston. Our weight thrower threw the qualifying standard with a PR at our last meet- woo hoo! Our hurdler was quite close to the qualifying standard and would have been our lone track competitor, but we decided to take the 4x4 team instead who was a mere .5 seconds off of qualifying. Season PR in a great performance last Friday at the Fast Track Invitational at the NY Armory!

Knitted Wonders

2009-03-04T17:42:00.006-05:00

I love sushi! Especially when it's made of yarn! I am totally re-blogging as I found this image on Design Sponge...I think, er somewhere during my daily blog perusals. Either way, I am definitely a fan of this elegantly done sashimi and sushi knitted dish.

If you are an accomplished knitter and crochet worker, you can make this yourself by following the pattern available for purchase on the NeedleNoodles Etsy page in PDF format. Also featured are crochet Pork Chop sandwiches and BLT's! Woo hoo for food influenced knitting!

PS- SO not Baltimore related but worth noting as always :)

If You Have a Snuggie in Baltimore...

2009-02-26T17:39:00.004-05:00

Then you have a date with destiny this Saturday. Featured on Midnight Sun's Blog, Snuggies will be the main attraction in a SoBo Bar Crawl. HA! Come out donning your sensual snuggie and enjoy booze discounts across Fed Hill. I only hope there are lots of pictures.

Bars that will be hit by the Snuggie Bregade:

Route:

1. Captain Larry s - $2 Yeungling & Miller Lite Drafts
2. Rafters - $2 Yeungling & Bud Lite Drafts
3. Hogans Alley
4. Idle Hour
5. Don't Know - $2 Miller Lite bottles & drafts & free lite buffet
6. Southside
7. Little Havana's
8. The Tavern on Key Hwy
9. Sly Fox
10. Lime
11. Paul's
12. End at Captain Larry's ...

facebook invite here

pic found on Captain Larry's facebook invite

Towson W & Post-Meet BBQ

2009-02-25T21:47:00.007-05:00

After the track meet this past weekend at UDel, we stopped for a quick bite at the local Wawa in Elkton, MD. I had made my own lunch but wish I had splurged on the decadent BBQ available across the way at Durham's BBQ. Holy bejesus, look at the ribs. Fellow coach, Roger picked up a pulled brisket sandwich with sauteed onions filled to the gills; elbow licking good. They serve an affordable selection of lunch specials with quite a selection of typical southern sides from 11-3. I will surely make this an essential pit stop after all subsequent track meets.

PS- Towson did a GREAT job at the Colonial Invitational hosted at UDel. Almost every athlete scored at least one point in their respective event and/or had an indoor personal record and it added up to just enough to pull off the W over UDel! I couldn't have been any happier. Some highlights include a 5.38 indoor long jump breakthrough and sub 9.0 60HH race by our one and only senior, not to mention three scorers in the 60HH...AND a qualifying mark in the weight throw by one of our freshman! Stupendous I tell you! Results can be found here :)

Asian Horror & Shepard's Pie

2009-02-18T07:27:00.009-05:00

My evening last night consisted of a bizarre fusion of experimental Shepard's Pie and provocative yet unnerving Asian thrillers.

I am not an expert on Asian cinema nor am I even well versed in the horror/thriller genre but I can say I enjoyed what I watched; well at least the 'parts' I watched. I was able to distract myself from the gore by cooking! My bf had recently been at a friends who gave him a laundry list of recommended films. By the time I got home, he was already well into an installment of Masters of Horror called Imprint, directed by Takashi Miike.

The colors were vivid, the content both sexual and grotesque. I couldn't tell you much about the narrative because as I said, I was busy cooking...but from what I gathered, it was pretty disturbing.

We then moved on to 3...Extremes, a trilogy of hour long short films by three different directors; Takashi being one of them. The first- Dumplings directed by Fruit Chan, addressed a washed up TV actress' desire to stay young; by means of specially prepared dumplings. Let's just say these dumplings weren't composed of veggies.

While I'm on the topic of food...here are some glamor shots of the Shepards Pie/Pot Pie concoction I made last night.

Vegetable medley filling with chicken pieces covered with a fairly thick coating of mashed red potatoes. It was a bit bland, something was missing...oh I know- BUTTER.

I look forward to finishing 3...Extremes and the rest of the Shepards Pie tonight :)

Georgetown BBQ

2009-02-16T12:10:00.009-05:00

Made a quick stop for dinner after visiting the grandparents. Headed over to Georgetown and decided on a southern influenced BBQ joint on M street- Old Glory. This used to be one of my favorite restaurants growing up; I would go here almost every year for my birthday with the fam. The food is authentic and fabulous, the ambiance is vibrant, and the staff incorporates memorable moments that keep you coming back like a big surprising rubber stamp on the table as soon as all are seated as well as complimentary tootsie pops with your check. I love these kind of touches.

We were seated near the kitchen which was nice, the grill aromas were enticing. Along with the kitchen, we were near a ruckus group of your typical DC young professionals being yuppy and somewhat obnoxious; I would guess at least 4-5 drinks into their nightly binge.

Our waitress was at our table in minutes. She came bearing sweet corn muffin gifts.

These are significantly smaller than the biscuits that used to be offered, but still very good...and bottomless.

I had a hankering for something traditional-either brisket or pulled pork. I decided on the pulled pork platter, with two heapin sides of collard greens and BBQ red beans. My bf Ross is never as hungry as I am so he opts for an entree that only comes with one side but still seems filling; loaded baked potato with beef brisket topped with beef brisket and a side of cole slaw. Minutes later, our dishes are brought out to us.

The pork was perfectly moist and lightly seasoned with a significant smokey taste. The beans were a nice mixture of spicy and sweet with tidbits of bacon, the collard greens which I usually get as a side was a bit saltier than normal and also had bacon- needless to say there was a lot of bacon accents throughout.

I can't vouch for Ross' dish as I didn't have any, but I will say that his comments on the coleslaw were- "I have had a lot of coleslaw and this is the best I have ever had."

Upon seeing my dish I figured, oh goodness me, this will never be enough...I should order the starter I had been eyeing earlier. As the runner set my dish down, I asked for an order of hush puppies. Seconds go by and they are brought out to us.

Crispy on the outside filled with warm potato and bacon on the inside, with a hint of warmth from minced red peppers. The best part was the accompanying aoili of sorts with a hint of spice that added the perfect amount of moisture to the potato filling. And yes, I ate them all.

What I like most about BBQ is that you can start with a base taste and dress it to your liking; this can be done using the sundry of available house BBQ sauces at Old Glory. BBQ purists will argue that sauces can take away from the dynamic nuances of the BBQ itself but I see it as accessorizing and by no means detracting from the taste but instead embellishing :)

I wasn't able to find descriptions on each individual sauce but they all have their own unique nuance and range from your standard dark and sweet BBQ sauce to a more vinegary option with a hint of mustard. They are all good and I honestly use pretty much all of them...

There is an awesome outdoor patio/bar area that would be fun in the warmer months and also for drinks with friends. I just noticed on their site that Old Glory is affiliated with several other restaurants as part of the Capital Restaurant Concepts group. That sort of makes it seem a bit less authentic since its grouped with a bunch of other unrelated concept restaurants but it doesn't make it any less good. I am familiar with one of the other restaurants, Paolo's and am a big fan also. There is one in Gtown and also one in Towson. There used to be one in the harbor but I think it was recently closed.

Back to Work(outs)

2009-02-13T10:36:00.002-05:00

So I did my first "official" workout after at least 6 weeks of just running distance. Ew. Of course it had to be ridiculously windy which was quite the deterrent. The backstretch of the track was utterly impossible to navigate. That being said, I bailed on the initially planned broken 800s workout and decided on "a bunch of 200's." Being vague on exact quantity of intervals was the key- limiting ourselves to 200's meant we wouldn't have to exert any effort into the headwind. Nice.

20 min warm up on track
5min: 30 seconds TEMPO, 30 seconds JOG
drills

So in my head I thought 10 total would be pushing it, especially if I was trying to hit 35, with 200m jog recovery. Well, the first 6 went something like this-

33
37
36
36
35
36

That is NOT quite consistent 35's. I am officially OUT OF workout SHAPE. I can blame some of this on the wind can't I?

after a 3 min walk recovery, I decided to do 4 more for an even 10...this turned into 6, because my training partner wanted to do an even 1.5 miles. Thanks.

34
35
35
33
36
35

10 min cool down

By 6PM, swirling wind was howling and 3/4 of the track was headwind. Thank god I was done early. But now I can gloat for a week that I did a workout but probably won't touch the track for a bit :(

J'adore Francoise Hardy

2009-02-13T09:41:00.006-05:00

Ecoute "Ce Petit Coeur" et "Tous Les Garcons et Les Filles"

Baltimore Featured!

2009-02-13T07:28:00.005-05:00

So.....I saw He's Just Not That Into You last night at Landmark Theaters in Harbor East. First of all, every single women in Baltimore was at this showing. Guys, I am telling you, if you want an easy place to pick up women, go see this movie. Honestly, my bf was 1 of 4 guys I counted in an almost sold out showing.

The movie was GREAT. Yes, I am admitting to absolutely truly loving this blatant chic flick. But guess what? So did my bf! This film touches on every potential dysfunctional relationship scenario. Each separate relationship and narrative is intertwined through mutual friends, etc. Every unique subplot was just as exciting- I found myself looking forward more so to the interactions between Justin Long-"Alex" and Big Love's Ginnifer Goodwin-"Gigi" (btw, I love this name and totally fit Ginnifer;s character) Her innocence and naive approach to dating was so sweet and well, hopeless. With the help of jaded womanizer-ish, Alex, she believes shes figured out the mystery of men and dating. Trust me, the dynamics of them together are just totally adorable.

While Gigi and Alex are exploring the dating world, Jennifer Aniston- "Beth" and Ben Affleck- "Neil" 7 year relationship is coming to a head as Beth decides she can no longer remain with the guy of her dreams if he will never marry her. This scenario isn't typical because usually the guy who just doesn't want to get married, is sort of not worthwhile; in this case, Neil is a phenomenal, sensitive, compassionate guy...who honestly doesn't exist in the real world. AND he owns a boat which was a nice touch.

I have to mention that Scarlet Johansen looked scandalous in this. It was a combination of the obtuse styling ranging from low cut busty dressses to even sexy sweatpants? The bright red lipstick and bleach blond hair bordered on sloppy. Her vixen aesthetic didn't really fit her yoga teacher lifestyle which is supposedly what she was in the film.

Ok- so throughout the movie, I was able to recognize a number of Baltimore locations...
A lot was filmed in Historic Fells on Thames Street. Alex and Gigi have a date at the Waterfront which they call something else...I think there was a scene in Canton Square...all the row homes were beautiful and so uber Baltimore, I think in Patterson Park or maybe Fed Hill...Basset Hounds were mentioned but that's not really Baltimore-related...I was surprised to not have been able to recognize any of Mt Vernon, I know they did some shooting there...OH! Brewer's Hill is where Kevin Connolly-"Conor" lived. Can I just say that I have never seen Baltimore row home interiors that look as nice as the ones in this movie; someone please tell me where these are so I can go buy one?

I have to say, I think this film really portrayed Baltimore in a positive light and represented it authentically; with the exception of like not a single minority in the entire film-maybe one cameo. So maybe the demographics were off slightly, but at least it was in Baltimore!

This movie is a hit, go see it. Now I better read the book.

Come Back JFX Farmer's Market!

2009-02-11T23:21:00.003-05:00

These aren't actually pictures from the Baltimore Farmer's Market under the JFX. These are actually from a Saturday Farmer's Market in Eugene, Oregon but you get the idea. With the weather near 70 today it was hard to remember we are still stuck in February. I still have 3 months to wait until my beloved Sunday Farmer's Market returns...May 3rd; see you guys there!

Ugh- I am craving the falafel!!! Best post-run meal of all time. Once you enter the market, head towards your right and they are next to the meat lady.

Somewhere NOT in Baltimore...

2009-02-11T23:16:00.004-05:00

Michael's Good Boy Drive In

Columbus, Ohio

Summer 08

Somewhere in Baltimore...

2009-02-11T23:11:00.005-05:00

Liberty Street

USATF Task Force Report

2009-02-09T14:22:00.007-05:00

After the US track and field teams lackluster performance at the Beijing Olympics, USATF founded a task force - "Project 30" to restructure the "high performance" programs and initiatives currently in place for elite athletes...

Here were the aspects in which improvements are needed, according to the task force ( I agree for the most part) I am glad Logan has made an effort to legitimize track to some extent here in the US. Everywhere else (europe specifically) There are strong organizations backing the sport whereas here even our own federation sorta just coasts through...and hopes for the best.

Overall, there is a lack of accountability, professionalism and cohesion in the areas the Task Force studied.

* The International Team Staff selection system lacks transparency and accountability, creating a culture of mistrust for coaches and athletes alike.

* International staffs need more managers and fewer coaches.

* The criteria for selecting track and field's U.S. Olympic Team should not change, but the Olympic Trials themselves should.

* Excessive travel and poor long-term planning on the part of athletes, their coaches and agents appear to be the greatest controllable factors negatively affecting Team USA performance in Beijing.

* Spending more than $1 million in the last six years, and with as many as 173 athletes taking part in it each year, the National Relay Program has failed to produce results that justify the costs of the program.

I don't even know what the relay program IS; obviously it has not been seen as effective.

* Lack of communication between coaches and athletes, poor management of the relay pools and questions over which coaches were responsible for relays resulted in the 4x100m relay failures in Beijing.

Youch!

* American coaches and athletes under-utilize the facilities and USATF sport science available to them.

* Inroads have been made into catching and punishing doping cheats, but more must be done to strengthen the anti-doping culture.

I don't know how truthful this is.

* American athletes as a group do not conduct themselves as true professionals, and USATF does not hold them to professional standards.

Oops?

Based on its findings, the Task Force makes the following 10 Recommendations:

* Hire a professional General Manager of High Performance.

I'll do it! Not really...

* Create a transparent, criteria-based Team Staff selection system.

* Restructure the composition of Team USA staffs.

* Shorten the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field to five days.

fabulous idea. I can only imagine how grueling it is to fly out for the Trials and then wait like 3 days in between heats...that's an exaggeration but seriously.

* Terminate the National Relay Program.

I still have no idea what this is.

* Establish a comprehensive 2012 team preparation program.

* Target technical events for medal growth and develop those events.

* Create a well-defined Professional Athlete designation.

I need further explanation...archetype of US athlete?

* Establish a more stringent anti-doping reinstatement system.

We will see...

* Promote and foster a self-sustaining professional athletes' union.

FULL 69 page report can be found here.

Lazy Sunday

2009-02-09T13:20:00.013-05:00

So-yesterday was my favorite day of the year thus far. It was GORGEOUS. Of course I chose to take advantage of it not by going for a long run, but literally relaxing which is seldom done in the House of Rebs. Please observe my pictured lunch. I was super stoked by the hot bar at Whole Foods; ribs, neat mexican style chicken breast, tex mex tofu, sauteed veggies, cauliflower, and mac n cheese. I opted for veggie fare and some black bean salad from the salad bar. Seriously, I dream of winning an unlimited meal plan from the salad bar/hot bar at Whole Foods. They should offer some sort of option?

After lunch we treated ourselves to several petits fours from the bakery department...they really do some innovative and yummy stuff at Whole Foods. I'm sure I was still hungry following but I tried to distract myself.

The harbor was lovely, aside from the trifling appearance of the water as usual...

In tandem with our Harbor East excursion, we stopped in for a cup of coffee at Bluehouse. I am repulsed by the price tags but in awe of the design and product selection. I can only dream of furnishing my home with these types of beautiful things...

Place Setting by Josh Jakus made of recycled rubber with a built-in napkin grabber.

Check out the $3,200 love seat! PS- that's the sale price!

Lovely display of glassware collection, etc...

Raven Run

2009-02-04T13:43:00.006-05:00

No, this actually has NOTHING to do with the Baltimore Ravens...

A bud just told me about this crazy guy in South Beach who has been running 8 miles a day EVERYDAY for the last 34 years! The first 8 years or so, he did this predominantly by himself but now greets fellow runners who want to share in the "experience" with him; they call it the Raven Run. Over 560 runners have joined him over the years. It's not the 56 mile weeks that's challenging, its the rate of consistency that is the hardest part. To be somewhere everyday at a certain time to do the same thing; well that is just impressive.

The daily Raven Run starts and ends at the same place; sixth street lifeguard stand everyday without fail. 4PM in the winter and 5PM after daylight savings :)

The ONLY reason this can be accomplished, is because the guy lives in South Beach. Who DOESN'T want to run on the beach everyday and watch the sunset? Come on! Although we could probably find someone crazy enough in Baltimore to get this going. Anyone up to the challenge? Ryan?

The site is really neat and has a lot of interactive components and quirky runner profiles. This kinda stuff is why I like to run...

Thanks Sara!!!

Thanks Giada!

2009-02-04T11:01:00.004-05:00

SO I decided on Giada's lasagna roll recipe for din din. Thanks big head, little body! Has anyone else ever noticed how big her head is? She's darling though and I do love her food. But seriously- look at the size of her head!

So my attempt proved fruitful. After work, practice, my workout, grocery shopping, AND THEN cooking, I got this. The ricotta, parmesan, spinach and prosciutto filler was nice. Now that I am comfortable with the recipe, I will probably opt for LESS spinach, add minced mushrooms perhaps, another cheese and diced tomatoes? And probably use a less tart tomato sauce. Oh, and I totally bought the wrong lasagna pieces, they were way too narrow, so the rolls ended up looking like little cinnamon buns instead of mannicotti-esque. Served with some broccolini on top for color and crispness :)

Quelle Surprise!

2009-02-04T10:12:00.003-05:00

2 hour delay again! This time I was not clever enough to check the web prior to my commute. Didn't figure it out until already en route! Ended up spending 2 hours vegging out on a couch at the Evergreen; shoes off :)

Way too much coffee was consumed! I am highly caffeinated! Read some quasi-interesting articles in the Post Food Section, esp. a feature on Crepes a-Go-Go in Gburg and Dupont (authentic french crepes; over 30 options!) AND a very compelling feature in the CityPaper about Globe Poster Company, an old poster business/letter press in Highlandtown. This place has been around for 80 years... they still have all the original letter blocks and materials unique to old style printing press. I myself have never seen this type of process used, obvi this isn't the method of printing currently in place as the majority of their print work is done digitally. I am uber impressed that Globe Poster Company has been able to evolve alongside the progressions of print production but still hold onto their past. The materials and knowledge they have on hand with regards to this medium could inspire and teach so many graphic designers who would never see this type of process at work. It's nostalgic but also informative and has the potential to really teach the ART of these processes...

Honestly though- most people don't have patience anymore and would rather draft something quick and dirty on a computer...lazy.

La Cena

2009-02-03T13:17:00.010-05:00

What to have for dinner?

Either Ina will guide me through her Barefoot Contessa recipe for Chicken Pot Pie, OR do a Lasagna roll rendition of Giada...decisions, decisions!

That'll be the day...

2009-02-03T07:58:00.010-05:00

RIP Buddy Holly :(

"Well that'll be the day,
when you say good bye,
yes, that'll be the day,
when you make me cry.
Oh you say you're gonna leave,
you know it's a lie 'cause
that'll be the day when I die!"

Buddy Holly
September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959
50th anniv. of the fatal plane crash

Ahh...I get it.

2009-02-02T11:30:00.003-05:00

So I figured out what the significance of that cardboard cutout is that I mentioned in an earlier post...

As it seems, Mt Vernon is pushing for a new homeless shelter on Fallsway, at the old Transportation Agency Building. There was some initial resistance being such close proximity to Mt Vernon proper, but it appears that the city officials and community board have come to some sort of compromise.

This is walking distance from my place. I don't really have a problem with this locale; hopefully the Mt Vernon community can recognize the significance of this.

Anyone saying- "Not in my backyard" should actually LOOK in their backyard and realize, their ARE homeless individuals living there (ie: Mt Vernon Parks). We might as well provide a facility with a roof, then those individuals will be less inclined to literally be in your yard! Not a sermon...just a thought :)

Baltimore Sun Article

Spotted

2009-01-31T09:58:00.004-05:00

St Paul and Franklin

Evokes interesting emotions towards the homeless. As opposed to a person holding a sign asking for help, the cardboard itself is making the statement. Wonder who did this?

Watching Juno for the thousandth time on Starz. I don't think I could like Jennifer Garner anymore than in this movie; she is so compassionate and sweet.

"Puffy version of June Bug." Love that line :)

Rainbows are for everyone!

2009-01-30T15:42:00.004-05:00

Seriously? Why did I NOT know about rainbow cakes sooner? I am SO making this when I get home!!!!! Well not immediately, but soon enough. Directions here :)

And it continues!

2009-01-30T15:18:00.007-05:00

Just Announced: Baltimore Restaurant Week has been extended! According to the official site as of today, approximately half of the listed restaurants will continue their three course price fixed menu through next weekend, February 8th! So excited!!!

I hope to be able to check off the following restaurants; b-Bolton Hill Bistro in Bolton Hill (duh), The Wine Market in Fed Hill, and perhaps Tio Pepe's in Mt Vernon with the extra week :)

Superbowl @ The Senator?!

2009-01-30T10:56:00.004-05:00

The Historic Senator Theatre will be screening The 43rd SuperBowl this Sunday. Would be a cool venue but I would have to be guaranteed all necessary munchies would be on hand. Comfortable seating is also important, and I wouldn't say their seating is comfortable...

Free Admissions with food donation to "CARES" non profit.

I am partial to being as lazy as possible for big football games, so I will not be in attendance because this would force me to actually leave my apartment but it should/could be fun :)

Treacherous Ice

2009-01-29T10:22:00.004-05:00

2 hour delay this morning due to freezing roads....yes extra sleep!

Running has become a mere memory this week due to inclement weather and lack of enthusiasm. Now all my mileage happen in my head, not in real life. Check out the frozen harbor, PS. I almost fell in taking this picture.

I plan on doing an imaginary workout after team practice this afternoon. Maybe enough of the ice will have melted by then and I can run outside.

Breakfast thus far (10:30AM)- ridiculous amounts of office coffee and a banana.

Research

2009-01-28T23:09:00.004-05:00

My cat, Paddington did some research on my laptop this afternoon.

I couldn't pull him away!