Birthday Party at The Front Porch! I was looking for a place to accommodate 30-to-40 people for my father's 80th birthday party. The Front Porch seemed like a good option and I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodating Katie who made planning this event very easy.
We had the large upstairs dining area to ourselves with two servers taking drink orders and another filling water glasses. We enjoyed appetizers of spinach artichoke dip with tortilla chips and assorted cheese platters with warm fresh bread and chutney. The cocktail hour began at 5:00 p.m. and by 5:30 everyone had arrived - I must say, we're a noisy bunch!
Just shortly after 6:00, we sat down to dinner. Adult plates had an assortment of field greens with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Children received plates of apple and cheese slices - on a bed of field greens! (This is an extra that I requested so that the youngsters would have something to munch on while we ate salads. Some of them may have enjoyed a salad too but they seemed to like picking the apples and cheese with their fingers.) Youngsters (and some oldsters as well) were entertained by a birthday word search primarily about Reggie and his farm life. Some children even enjoyed coloring farm animals and connecting the dots projects - I came prepared!
I chose the adult catering menu consisting of options: crab cakes, prime rib, rockfish with crab cake, chicken breast with crab imperial. Sides were mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies. Juniors chose from chicken nuggets, pizza, hamburger.
Anyone who ordered the crab cakes (and that was the most popular entrée) had a wonderful dinner. The scallion aioli sauce looked a little lighter in color than what I had a week prior but several folks commented that it was really good (garlic, mango chutney, Chef Jeff's secret blend of spices). I had Rockfish Hemingway (baked rockfish topped with a crab cake) - the crab cake was fabulous. I'm telling you, this is a must order when you visit The Front Porch. The rockfish was dry; I ate about half of it to try to get the flavor and it may have been good on its own with some lemon and butter. Folks who ordered the Chesapeake Chicken (fried chicken breast topped with crab imperial) also got a dry piece of chicken and it looked very dark - deep fried and over done? Perhaps I should have just told everyone that we were having crab cakes since I know them to be A+.
The mashed potato side was interesting - spiced with nutmeg? Took us a second to determine the spice but it grows on you. The seasonal vegetables, a squash and pepper medley, would have been delicious if not over salted. The vegetables were tended but still held their shape and color - not sure if it was a heavy hand or just a forgetful moment and they were salted twice.
The Front Porch was very accommodating about us bringing in a specialty birthday cake (Anita's Cake Shop - half vanilla and half chocolate with chocolate mouse filling - perfect end to the birthday event). Two of my sisters-in-law provided the cake. The Front Porch staff provided tables and cloth for the cake and when it was close to serving time, brought in a knife, dessert plates, and cocktail napkins - no prompting needed.
Brianna was the head server during our event and she kept tabs on us throughout the evening. She mentioned that they had a full house for dinner on the first floor so I was especially impressed by the service we received. The staff even came through to refill water glasses. All three staff members who served us delivered dinner plates - they had every entrée served in a matter of minutes.
The staff were also accommodating in helping our elder guests to and from the dining area - upstairs. Dad even pulled out his inhaler when he got to the dining room! I think it was easier going down. They guided folks to the back stairway - the rise is not as steep as the main staircase in the main entrance.
We received excellent service making this an overall enjoyable birthday event and party experience. Thank you very much to The Front Porch staff! Even Chef Jeff came upstairs to make sure everything was satisfactory.
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Front Porch Restaurant, 22770 Washington St, Leonardtown, MD
Dinner at the bar area of The Front Porch. The Front Porch is known locally as the Sterling House. It was built in the 1850s, purchased in 1911 by Linwood and Ruth Sterling who added to the home size to accommodate their 17 children (can you imagine!). The home received a facelift in 2006 when it was purchased to be converted to a restaurant. Many artifacts found during the restoration are on display at The Front Porch.
I asked the bar tender what the specialty drink of the week was (every bar or bar tender should have a specialty - sometimes they look at me like I'm crazy). He recommended the Mother's Delight which was the special for Mothers' Day and got such good reviews that they want to put it on the menu permanently. He said they needed to come up with a name for the drink and a few folks had ideas - fuzzy slipper being one (seriously?). I suggested the drink be named The Sterling House Cocktail in honor of the home; discussion among several of us in the bar area whittled it down to The Sterling - I hope it sticks! The cocktail is equal parts cranberry juice, pineapple juice, vodka, a splash of triple sec, shaken with ice and strained into a martini glass with a twist of lime on the rim.
I ordered roasted red pepper soup and quiche of the day. They were out of the quiche (must have been a good lunch crowd) so I ordered the crab cake sandwich to accompany my soup. I really like this soup, have had it at The Front Porch several times, and it is always pleasantly flavored and full bodied. The crab cake was fabulous! I left the top half of the bun on the plate and cut the crab cake and bottom bun into bite-sized pieces as I dined. There wasn't much filler, just enough to hold the cake together. This crab cake wasn't highly seasoned either - you could really taste the lump crabmeat. I experimented with varying doses of the dipping sauce provided on the side. Chef Jeff said that it consisted of garlic and mango chutney, pureed, along with spices (he wouldn't tell). It was addictive.
Hubby got the 1/2 pound Angus burger with fries. The burger was fairly well done instead of medium which disappointed him but he said that it had good flavor. He was enjoying his favorite Irish whiskey (Bushmills - not stocked by every location in SOMD) but wanted a cold beer to accompany his burger. The bottle was slightly cooler than room temperature so that drink was disappointing.
Oh well, still a nice evening at the bar area - a Monday night and few places are open. I was happy to relax with a drink and a nice meal.
The downside - just one of my many peeves. The routine response from some 25-to-35 year olds these days is "not a problem" - someone serves me a drink, I say "thank you," and he responds, "not a problem." The server delivers a plate of food, I say "thank you" and he again responds "not a problem." I hope it's not a problem - it's their job! This is one instance where I really, really like Chick-Fil-A training - "my pleasure" is an absolutely wonderful response. When I hear that, I think the person is happy to serve me and s/he enjoys what s/he is doing (even if s/he doesn't). If they can't squeak that out, perhaps a simple "you're welcome" can be achieved.
I asked the bar tender what the specialty drink of the week was (every bar or bar tender should have a specialty - sometimes they look at me like I'm crazy). He recommended the Mother's Delight which was the special for Mothers' Day and got such good reviews that they want to put it on the menu permanently. He said they needed to come up with a name for the drink and a few folks had ideas - fuzzy slipper being one (seriously?). I suggested the drink be named The Sterling House Cocktail in honor of the home; discussion among several of us in the bar area whittled it down to The Sterling - I hope it sticks! The cocktail is equal parts cranberry juice, pineapple juice, vodka, a splash of triple sec, shaken with ice and strained into a martini glass with a twist of lime on the rim.
I ordered roasted red pepper soup and quiche of the day. They were out of the quiche (must have been a good lunch crowd) so I ordered the crab cake sandwich to accompany my soup. I really like this soup, have had it at The Front Porch several times, and it is always pleasantly flavored and full bodied. The crab cake was fabulous! I left the top half of the bun on the plate and cut the crab cake and bottom bun into bite-sized pieces as I dined. There wasn't much filler, just enough to hold the cake together. This crab cake wasn't highly seasoned either - you could really taste the lump crabmeat. I experimented with varying doses of the dipping sauce provided on the side. Chef Jeff said that it consisted of garlic and mango chutney, pureed, along with spices (he wouldn't tell). It was addictive.
Hubby got the 1/2 pound Angus burger with fries. The burger was fairly well done instead of medium which disappointed him but he said that it had good flavor. He was enjoying his favorite Irish whiskey (Bushmills - not stocked by every location in SOMD) but wanted a cold beer to accompany his burger. The bottle was slightly cooler than room temperature so that drink was disappointing.
Oh well, still a nice evening at the bar area - a Monday night and few places are open. I was happy to relax with a drink and a nice meal.
The downside - just one of my many peeves. The routine response from some 25-to-35 year olds these days is "not a problem" - someone serves me a drink, I say "thank you," and he responds, "not a problem." The server delivers a plate of food, I say "thank you" and he again responds "not a problem." I hope it's not a problem - it's their job! This is one instance where I really, really like Chick-Fil-A training - "my pleasure" is an absolutely wonderful response. When I hear that, I think the person is happy to serve me and s/he enjoys what s/he is doing (even if s/he doesn't). If they can't squeak that out, perhaps a simple "you're welcome" can be achieved.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Expressions Catering (at the Brome Howard Inn), 18281 Rosecroft Road, St. Mary's City, MD
Would you believe that I've enjoyed Expressions Catering quality food three times in May? Expressions catered two full means that I enjoyed - the Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center and The Patuxent Partnership annual dinner at Historic St. Mary's City. In addition, I really enjoyed the heavy hors d'oeuvres event celebrating the past year of United Way held at Rosedale Manor House, Greenwell State Park.
DINNER REVIEW
You know how difficult it is to cater large events. Both meals were tasty, but the dinner under the tent at St. Mary's City was especially wonderful so I'll focus on that. We were first treated to passed and tabled hors d'oeuvres - huge sea scallops wrapped in bacon - every time I thought the last tray had been passed, another waiter appeared with more succulent scallops. Other appetizers that I tasted included crab dip, crudité, cheese assortment, breads, and crackers. I had just a small dose of each to save room for dinner.
Such a beautiful evening on the St. Mary's River in front of the State House, lovely breeze, cocktails, live music by Ed Warren - it was difficult to get the crowd to move to the tent for dinner! We gathered under the tent a full half hour after scheduled and I actually thought dinner would be a disaster. By the time the formalities of seating, honoring the flag, and invocation were complete and we finally sat, it was more like an hour behind schedule. The staff may have been frustrated but they were very professional and said nothing to the guests - realize that our late start meant that they had to work late.
The salad was dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette that was especially tasty. There was adequate space between tables for servers to move about removing salad dishes and serving the entrée without making hardly a sound. The tenderloin of beef was very tender, not as rare as I would like, but that's our fault for sitting down late. Even so, it was melt-in-your-mouth tender and just flavorful enough that I didn't add salt or pepper. We also had fish - tilapia with a very light breading and a fruit salsa, potatoes, and green beans. You know what a fan I am of crunchy green beans - they still had crunch!
Assorted desserts were already on the tables when we sat for dinner. I didn't try dessert after getting on the scales at a doctor appointment earlier in the week. Will save desserts for weekends only - we'll see how long that lasts!
HEAVY HORS D'OEUVRES REVIEW
I just love hors d'oeuvres - you can have a meal without feeling too full and enjoy a lot of different tastes. The dining table at Rosedale Manor celebrating the past year of United Way fund raising and accomplishments was laden with goodies: crab dip (I think the best I've ever had with huge lumps of crabmeat), meatballs (just the right size for eating without having to bite in half or cover your mouth with a napkin because they're too large - perfect portion), 1/2 croissant sandwiches stuffed with beef or ham (good idea to cut them in half given the other food available, again perfect portion), crudité, and mini desserts of warm bourbon pecan pies, lemon meringue pies, and trifles containing fresh strawberries. Darn it, I completely forgot my swearing off of desserts until the weekend - oh well, they were mini, right?!
TASTE FOR YOURSELF
You can try Expressions culinary expertise yourselves - Expressions Catering provides food service at the Brome Howard Inn, 18281 Rosecroft Road, St. Mary's City. They are open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Hit Thirsty Thursday from 3:30 until 6:00 p.m. for cash bar and $10 hors d'oeuvres specialties. Check the website (www.expressionsofstmarys.com) for schedule and upcoming events (wine and dinner pairings) and they occasionally close if someone rents the Inn for a special event.
Bon Appetite!
DINNER REVIEW
You know how difficult it is to cater large events. Both meals were tasty, but the dinner under the tent at St. Mary's City was especially wonderful so I'll focus on that. We were first treated to passed and tabled hors d'oeuvres - huge sea scallops wrapped in bacon - every time I thought the last tray had been passed, another waiter appeared with more succulent scallops. Other appetizers that I tasted included crab dip, crudité, cheese assortment, breads, and crackers. I had just a small dose of each to save room for dinner.
Such a beautiful evening on the St. Mary's River in front of the State House, lovely breeze, cocktails, live music by Ed Warren - it was difficult to get the crowd to move to the tent for dinner! We gathered under the tent a full half hour after scheduled and I actually thought dinner would be a disaster. By the time the formalities of seating, honoring the flag, and invocation were complete and we finally sat, it was more like an hour behind schedule. The staff may have been frustrated but they were very professional and said nothing to the guests - realize that our late start meant that they had to work late.
The salad was dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette that was especially tasty. There was adequate space between tables for servers to move about removing salad dishes and serving the entrée without making hardly a sound. The tenderloin of beef was very tender, not as rare as I would like, but that's our fault for sitting down late. Even so, it was melt-in-your-mouth tender and just flavorful enough that I didn't add salt or pepper. We also had fish - tilapia with a very light breading and a fruit salsa, potatoes, and green beans. You know what a fan I am of crunchy green beans - they still had crunch!
Assorted desserts were already on the tables when we sat for dinner. I didn't try dessert after getting on the scales at a doctor appointment earlier in the week. Will save desserts for weekends only - we'll see how long that lasts!
HEAVY HORS D'OEUVRES REVIEW
I just love hors d'oeuvres - you can have a meal without feeling too full and enjoy a lot of different tastes. The dining table at Rosedale Manor celebrating the past year of United Way fund raising and accomplishments was laden with goodies: crab dip (I think the best I've ever had with huge lumps of crabmeat), meatballs (just the right size for eating without having to bite in half or cover your mouth with a napkin because they're too large - perfect portion), 1/2 croissant sandwiches stuffed with beef or ham (good idea to cut them in half given the other food available, again perfect portion), crudité, and mini desserts of warm bourbon pecan pies, lemon meringue pies, and trifles containing fresh strawberries. Darn it, I completely forgot my swearing off of desserts until the weekend - oh well, they were mini, right?!
TASTE FOR YOURSELF
You can try Expressions culinary expertise yourselves - Expressions Catering provides food service at the Brome Howard Inn, 18281 Rosecroft Road, St. Mary's City. They are open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Hit Thirsty Thursday from 3:30 until 6:00 p.m. for cash bar and $10 hors d'oeuvres specialties. Check the website (www.expressionsofstmarys.com) for schedule and upcoming events (wine and dinner pairings) and they occasionally close if someone rents the Inn for a special event.
Bon Appetite!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Dent's Store, 44584 Tall Timbers Road, Tall Timbers, MD
Okay - it's your turn. Where do you buy good beef in SOMD? I hit two grocery stores on Saturday and walked out of each without beef - meat looked grey, I couldn't find 4 pieces that were similar in size, no offer of help from those behind the counter.
I went to Dent's Store in Tall Timbers - you've read my posts about Chief's? This is the other side of the building and it's quite the grocery / deli with just about anything you could want. They even have peck baskets of red potatoes, baking potatoes, and onions - hand select what you need.
I asked for filet mignon - yes, just the previous night I had a well-cooked filet and was determined to have a wonderful piece of beef cooked perfectly by (you guessed it - me!). Wow, I'm on a beef role considering I just had dinner a couple of weeks ago at a friend's home and she served a fabulous filet!!!
Anyway, at Dent's Store, they head to the walk-in frig, bring out a slab, and cut beef to your specifications. How thick do you want it sliced? How many slices? Your wish is their command.
Where's the beef? Dent's Store in Tall Timbers. Try it, you'll like it!
Where do you purchase beef?
I went to Dent's Store in Tall Timbers - you've read my posts about Chief's? This is the other side of the building and it's quite the grocery / deli with just about anything you could want. They even have peck baskets of red potatoes, baking potatoes, and onions - hand select what you need.
I asked for filet mignon - yes, just the previous night I had a well-cooked filet and was determined to have a wonderful piece of beef cooked perfectly by (you guessed it - me!). Wow, I'm on a beef role considering I just had dinner a couple of weeks ago at a friend's home and she served a fabulous filet!!!
Anyway, at Dent's Store, they head to the walk-in frig, bring out a slab, and cut beef to your specifications. How thick do you want it sliced? How many slices? Your wish is their command.
Where's the beef? Dent's Store in Tall Timbers. Try it, you'll like it!
Where do you purchase beef?
Chesapeake Resort and Spa - Rod 'n Reel, 4165 Mears Ave, Chesapeake Beach, MD
A special event Friday night was my third time at the Rod 'n Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach. Sometimes the entire place is referred to as the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa but there are several dining options onsite and the Rod 'n Reel is a nice option, especially for large gatherings.
Cocktail hour was very nice with bacon-wrapped scallops and two other served appetizers - I didn't get to taste either of the other two but recognized the scallops and grabbed a server's arm so as not to miss out. There was an abundance of hors d'oeuvres, but servers seemed reluctant to approach guests in conversation. I didn't want to ruin my appetite for dinner but lusted after several more scallops. I saw a couple of platters that were not served but appeared to be vegetable and/or fruit platters and folks were helping themselves.
I had a couple of cocktails before dinner. Guess I'm really used to happy hour prices in St. Mary's - $6 for a vodka tonic seemed a little steep to me. Guess I'm spoiled!
The dinner service was efficient and professional - serving at the left, removing from the right and I didn't hear a single dropped dish. There were probably 100 or more people in the dining area. Well done!
Warm rolls were accompanied by butter and garden salad was delivered to each place shortly thereafter. There was probably a vegetarian dinner option but everyone at the table where I sat got filet mignon, crab cake, green beans and mashed potatoes. The crab cake was unexpectedly delicious served with a side dollop of tartar sauce that was not overly tangy. My filet was well done, however, which was very disappointing. Others at the table were pinkish in the middle - luck of the draw? Actually you should NEVER destroy a wonderful cut of beef like filet by overcooking it. Bummer!
I do, however, understand the difficulty of serving 100 plates within 30 minutes of one another so I will give the restaurant another shot during a private visit and see what happens.
There were two dessert bars - one which I bypassed seemed to have small cakes or bar cookies. I opted for the pound cake - which wasn't even close to home made - disappointing. But, other items at the table made up for that disappointment - chocolate sauce, fresh strawberries and pineapple, watermelon, and whipped cream.
It was a great way to spend a Friday night - celebrating accomplishments of many tri-county leaders. Congratulations to all!
Cocktail hour was very nice with bacon-wrapped scallops and two other served appetizers - I didn't get to taste either of the other two but recognized the scallops and grabbed a server's arm so as not to miss out. There was an abundance of hors d'oeuvres, but servers seemed reluctant to approach guests in conversation. I didn't want to ruin my appetite for dinner but lusted after several more scallops. I saw a couple of platters that were not served but appeared to be vegetable and/or fruit platters and folks were helping themselves.
I had a couple of cocktails before dinner. Guess I'm really used to happy hour prices in St. Mary's - $6 for a vodka tonic seemed a little steep to me. Guess I'm spoiled!
The dinner service was efficient and professional - serving at the left, removing from the right and I didn't hear a single dropped dish. There were probably 100 or more people in the dining area. Well done!
Warm rolls were accompanied by butter and garden salad was delivered to each place shortly thereafter. There was probably a vegetarian dinner option but everyone at the table where I sat got filet mignon, crab cake, green beans and mashed potatoes. The crab cake was unexpectedly delicious served with a side dollop of tartar sauce that was not overly tangy. My filet was well done, however, which was very disappointing. Others at the table were pinkish in the middle - luck of the draw? Actually you should NEVER destroy a wonderful cut of beef like filet by overcooking it. Bummer!
I do, however, understand the difficulty of serving 100 plates within 30 minutes of one another so I will give the restaurant another shot during a private visit and see what happens.
There were two dessert bars - one which I bypassed seemed to have small cakes or bar cookies. I opted for the pound cake - which wasn't even close to home made - disappointing. But, other items at the table made up for that disappointment - chocolate sauce, fresh strawberries and pineapple, watermelon, and whipped cream.
It was a great way to spend a Friday night - celebrating accomplishments of many tri-county leaders. Congratulations to all!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Chief's, Your Neighborhood Bar, Tall Timbers
Would you believe we went to Chief's AGAIN - we're becoming regulars! Kind of a crazy day - we arrived just before 1 p.m. Chief's has tacos and chili on Sunday afternoons - $5 - a great deal. They also have live music from 4-to-7 p.m. on Sundays. We decided to order from the menu and didn't stay long enough for music, but it's something to remember for weekends to come.
I had steamed shrimp and ordered a side of slaw - Chief's has slaw slightly reminiscent of my grandmother's creamy dressing, including the poppy seeds, and the cabbage is chopped so that it maintains crunch. Don't you hate finely grated mushy slaw?! You can always count on the steamed shrimp to be good and 1/2 pound is plenty for one. Hubby had the NY strip, fries, and slaw. I tasted two pieces of the strip steak and the flavor was great - the steak was cooked perfectly medium rare. Honesty, Chief's has moved up in the world over the past couple of years.
Now for my nits: drinks served without cocktail napkins and food delivered to the table without cutlery in place. Oh well, the wait staff wasn't on duty that early in the day so the bar tender did double duty for the early bird customers. She stayed on top of it nicely and we got cutlery in a matter of seconds.
My second vodka tonic came in a fresh glass - I'm picky about that too. Don't give me the same glass - I relish a clean glass, fresh ice, a slice of lime, and a crisp drink. Very nicely done!
I had steamed shrimp and ordered a side of slaw - Chief's has slaw slightly reminiscent of my grandmother's creamy dressing, including the poppy seeds, and the cabbage is chopped so that it maintains crunch. Don't you hate finely grated mushy slaw?! You can always count on the steamed shrimp to be good and 1/2 pound is plenty for one. Hubby had the NY strip, fries, and slaw. I tasted two pieces of the strip steak and the flavor was great - the steak was cooked perfectly medium rare. Honesty, Chief's has moved up in the world over the past couple of years.
Now for my nits: drinks served without cocktail napkins and food delivered to the table without cutlery in place. Oh well, the wait staff wasn't on duty that early in the day so the bar tender did double duty for the early bird customers. She stayed on top of it nicely and we got cutlery in a matter of seconds.
My second vodka tonic came in a fresh glass - I'm picky about that too. Don't give me the same glass - I relish a clean glass, fresh ice, a slice of lime, and a crisp drink. Very nicely done!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The Tides - April 2013
I've enjoyed food at The Tides, 46580 Expedition Drive, Lexington Park twice this month.
The warm bread accompanied by your very own oil and balsamic mixture with a twist of freshly ground black pepper is wonderful with a glass of red wine. Salads are fresh and contain a variety of greens. Dressing options require that you stretch beyond the bottles in your frig door - the balsamic options are very good so relax and enjoy!
I had crab cake during one outing and it was delicious - lots of crab meat and the aioli sauce was very good. Use the aioli judiciously so as not to overwhelm the crab cake flavor.
I had duck during my second outing - a thigh and leg along with breast medallions. The duck was delicious and I've only had better during a cooking class at Quality Street. The Tides duck dish had just a touch of orange sauce, enough to complement the entree. Make sure to order duck medium - there's a tendency to over cook duck and that just makes it tough. Also - this is not your daddy's wild duck - no gamey taste. I promise you, if you try it you'll be hooked.
I also traded a taste of duck for a taste of the ribeye steak with a dinner friend. The ribeye had a slightly sweet, slightly smokey flavor. I guess my friend read the description before ordering - he said it was bourbon marinated or glazed. Very tasty.
I was intrigued by the offer of a side of seaweed. We asked the server, Brennan, for a "taste" to decide whether or not to order it. He brought a small container (same size as the aioli or dressing container). We passed the cup and each took a taste - crunchy, tangy, sweet. Brennan said that the seaweed had a soy vinigarette dressing - not drippy so well-drained or else the seaweed absorbs it. I've only built a seaweed side dish once and it was unpalatable. I may have to experiment with seaweed again!
Vodka and tonic is my summer drink of choice and The Tides was having trouble with their soda dispenser - my drink tasted like vodka and water - yuck! They tried again with a bottle of tonic but it was somewhat flat. The restaurant is switching to another product line tomorrow - just my luck! Oh well, I didn't have a designated driver for the night so perhaps it was for the best. (Lesson learned - I should have stuck with ordering red wine that I know is fabulous with the bread and would have been good with the duck as well.) At least I didn't go through the agony of being carded to get a drink - I'm almost 60 and, believe me, I can't pass for anything close to 21. We had quite the conversation about going to chain restaurants that insist on seeing your ID before serving alcohol.
Service at The Tides on both occasions was very good. The restaurant was loud on Thursday evening - no way to tame the noise from the happy hour crowd at the bar.
I promise to become more bold and start photographing the food. In the meantime, eat up and enjoy! Life is too short to diet. ;-D
The warm bread accompanied by your very own oil and balsamic mixture with a twist of freshly ground black pepper is wonderful with a glass of red wine. Salads are fresh and contain a variety of greens. Dressing options require that you stretch beyond the bottles in your frig door - the balsamic options are very good so relax and enjoy!
I had crab cake during one outing and it was delicious - lots of crab meat and the aioli sauce was very good. Use the aioli judiciously so as not to overwhelm the crab cake flavor.
I had duck during my second outing - a thigh and leg along with breast medallions. The duck was delicious and I've only had better during a cooking class at Quality Street. The Tides duck dish had just a touch of orange sauce, enough to complement the entree. Make sure to order duck medium - there's a tendency to over cook duck and that just makes it tough. Also - this is not your daddy's wild duck - no gamey taste. I promise you, if you try it you'll be hooked.
I also traded a taste of duck for a taste of the ribeye steak with a dinner friend. The ribeye had a slightly sweet, slightly smokey flavor. I guess my friend read the description before ordering - he said it was bourbon marinated or glazed. Very tasty.
I was intrigued by the offer of a side of seaweed. We asked the server, Brennan, for a "taste" to decide whether or not to order it. He brought a small container (same size as the aioli or dressing container). We passed the cup and each took a taste - crunchy, tangy, sweet. Brennan said that the seaweed had a soy vinigarette dressing - not drippy so well-drained or else the seaweed absorbs it. I've only built a seaweed side dish once and it was unpalatable. I may have to experiment with seaweed again!
Vodka and tonic is my summer drink of choice and The Tides was having trouble with their soda dispenser - my drink tasted like vodka and water - yuck! They tried again with a bottle of tonic but it was somewhat flat. The restaurant is switching to another product line tomorrow - just my luck! Oh well, I didn't have a designated driver for the night so perhaps it was for the best. (Lesson learned - I should have stuck with ordering red wine that I know is fabulous with the bread and would have been good with the duck as well.) At least I didn't go through the agony of being carded to get a drink - I'm almost 60 and, believe me, I can't pass for anything close to 21. We had quite the conversation about going to chain restaurants that insist on seeing your ID before serving alcohol.
Service at The Tides on both occasions was very good. The restaurant was loud on Thursday evening - no way to tame the noise from the happy hour crowd at the bar.
I promise to become more bold and start photographing the food. In the meantime, eat up and enjoy! Life is too short to diet. ;-D
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Spring 2013 - BBQ, Pizza, and More!
Bear Creek and Smokey Joe's
Hit the local BBQ spots for meals - other than BBQ, pulled pork or beef, or chicken. Some of these places have nightly dinner specials. I haven't figured out what's special on what night, but swing in if the sign blares something that you like. Have seen Liver & Onions at Bear Creek and Meatloaf at Smokey Joe's - I can vouch for both as being delicious and rib sticking. With a side of smashed potatoes, a vegy, and roll, you'll have left-overs enough for another meal or split a dinner with a friend.
www.bearcreekbbq.com, 301.994.1030, Rt 249 Callaway in vicinity of the post office
www.smokeyjoesrestaurant.com, 301.866.0995, Lexington Park (across from IHM Church)
Tried Pizza Hut for grins the other day. Brought back memories of taking the kids there when they were young. Alas, I seem to have outgrown the hut.
Chief's - Your Neighborhood Bar - 44584 Tall Timbers Rd, 301.994.0772
Needed a quick dinner one night last week so went to Chief's for take-out pizza. There was no skimping on the toppings that I ordered: pepperoni, mushrooms, onion, green peppers, black olives, tomatoes, and anchovies - yummo! Propped my feet up when I got home and enjoyed. Get a large for two people.
Also hit Chief's store last Saturday for lunch sandwiches. Got two made-to-order stuffed ham sandwiches. Came home to eat with hubby and each of us ate half of a sandwich. The next day, I took enough ham off of each remaining half to make two more sandwiches!!! Chief's stuffing has enough character to stand up to the spices and just enough heat for my taste. Walked out with a pound of sea scallops on Saturday as well and pan seared them for dinner - fabulous!
Had dinner at the home of an old high school friend this weekend. Her culinary skill is exceptional. I fought with hubby for a while until he learned to grill a good filet mignon to perfection. Have since learned how to pan sear a filet and finish in the oven - perfect rare to medium-rare doneness. My friend pan seared and finished stove top with a dry red wine and balsamic vinegar reduction. Hubby and I both enjoyed the dinner immensely. Sides were twice-baked potatoes and ratatouille. Dinner rolls, wine, tea, coffee - it was nap time for me when dinner was over.
I brought dessert to the high school friend dinner. I have issues with following a recipe - it looked somewhat disheveled but was tasty. Google "chocolate cake roll" and take your pick. There are several variations - hence my problem. I made my own combination of the variations that you'll find. My sister-in-law makes a fabulous pumpkin cake roll but she's a perfectionist - we all know people like that. She'll make it 10 times and each time it will be equally delicious and look like something you could photograph to grace the cover of a cooking magazine.
Hit the local BBQ spots for meals - other than BBQ, pulled pork or beef, or chicken. Some of these places have nightly dinner specials. I haven't figured out what's special on what night, but swing in if the sign blares something that you like. Have seen Liver & Onions at Bear Creek and Meatloaf at Smokey Joe's - I can vouch for both as being delicious and rib sticking. With a side of smashed potatoes, a vegy, and roll, you'll have left-overs enough for another meal or split a dinner with a friend.
www.bearcreekbbq.com, 301.994.1030, Rt 249 Callaway in vicinity of the post office
www.smokeyjoesrestaurant.com, 301.866.0995, Lexington Park (across from IHM Church)
Tried Pizza Hut for grins the other day. Brought back memories of taking the kids there when they were young. Alas, I seem to have outgrown the hut.
Chief's - Your Neighborhood Bar - 44584 Tall Timbers Rd, 301.994.0772
Needed a quick dinner one night last week so went to Chief's for take-out pizza. There was no skimping on the toppings that I ordered: pepperoni, mushrooms, onion, green peppers, black olives, tomatoes, and anchovies - yummo! Propped my feet up when I got home and enjoyed. Get a large for two people.
Also hit Chief's store last Saturday for lunch sandwiches. Got two made-to-order stuffed ham sandwiches. Came home to eat with hubby and each of us ate half of a sandwich. The next day, I took enough ham off of each remaining half to make two more sandwiches!!! Chief's stuffing has enough character to stand up to the spices and just enough heat for my taste. Walked out with a pound of sea scallops on Saturday as well and pan seared them for dinner - fabulous!
Had dinner at the home of an old high school friend this weekend. Her culinary skill is exceptional. I fought with hubby for a while until he learned to grill a good filet mignon to perfection. Have since learned how to pan sear a filet and finish in the oven - perfect rare to medium-rare doneness. My friend pan seared and finished stove top with a dry red wine and balsamic vinegar reduction. Hubby and I both enjoyed the dinner immensely. Sides were twice-baked potatoes and ratatouille. Dinner rolls, wine, tea, coffee - it was nap time for me when dinner was over.
I brought dessert to the high school friend dinner. I have issues with following a recipe - it looked somewhat disheveled but was tasty. Google "chocolate cake roll" and take your pick. There are several variations - hence my problem. I made my own combination of the variations that you'll find. My sister-in-law makes a fabulous pumpkin cake roll but she's a perfectionist - we all know people like that. She'll make it 10 times and each time it will be equally delicious and look like something you could photograph to grace the cover of a cooking magazine.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Happy Easter 2013!
Don't you love those family gatherings where everyone brings a dish so you're responsible for only one thing? Of course, there are the over-achievers in my family who just can't help themselves so by the time the meal is over, you're stuffed - can't help it, just have to try a little of everything. So at Easter dinner today we had St. Mary's County stuffed ham, old ham, turkey breast, and a table laden with side dishes. There were 4 or 5 desserts! I know that tomorrow morning my stomach will feel like an empty pit but tonight I'm bursting at the seam.
Let me share a quick and easy appetizer that my daughter made - roll a couple of goat cheese logs in toasted sunflower seeds, drizzle with honey, and serve with crisp crackers. OMG - goat cheese and honey - who knew how terrific this combination was? Obviously somebody unless she thought of it on her own!
I had a blast with my appetizer since I really like roasted tomatoes and couldn't decide between a tomato or olive tapenade so I made a combo. Cut 2-to-3 pints of grape tomatoes in half and toss them in a bowl (3 pints minus what you nibble while splitting); add 1 T minced garlic, 3 T EVOO, 3 T fig balsamic vinegar, 2 T brown sugar, 1 t kosher salt, and 1/2 t freshly ground black pepper. Stir to coat and spread in a shallow baking pan. Place in 450 degree oven for 1/2 hour. Meanwhile, chop 3/4 C kalamata olives (buy them already pitted to make life easier) and place in the bowl that you used for the tomato mixture (it's already dirty, so why not?). Add 1 t each chopped fresh thyme, rosemary, and basil. Sprinkle on 1/4 t hot pepper flakes or a couple of dashes of hot sauce. Relax until tomatoes are ready. Remove tomatoes from the oven and let sit for about 1/2 hour or until cool enough to handle. Chop tomatoes a little more to break up and add the tomatoes and pan juices to the bowl with the olives and herbs. Stir to combine - taste and be wowed! Great with bruschetta, crackers, or fresh vegies. Would be a nice accompaniment to chicken or fish.
So glad to find my username and password. Sorry I've been out of touch but can hardly wait to get back to sharing food ideas. Happy Easter to all!
Let me share a quick and easy appetizer that my daughter made - roll a couple of goat cheese logs in toasted sunflower seeds, drizzle with honey, and serve with crisp crackers. OMG - goat cheese and honey - who knew how terrific this combination was? Obviously somebody unless she thought of it on her own!
I had a blast with my appetizer since I really like roasted tomatoes and couldn't decide between a tomato or olive tapenade so I made a combo. Cut 2-to-3 pints of grape tomatoes in half and toss them in a bowl (3 pints minus what you nibble while splitting); add 1 T minced garlic, 3 T EVOO, 3 T fig balsamic vinegar, 2 T brown sugar, 1 t kosher salt, and 1/2 t freshly ground black pepper. Stir to coat and spread in a shallow baking pan. Place in 450 degree oven for 1/2 hour. Meanwhile, chop 3/4 C kalamata olives (buy them already pitted to make life easier) and place in the bowl that you used for the tomato mixture (it's already dirty, so why not?). Add 1 t each chopped fresh thyme, rosemary, and basil. Sprinkle on 1/4 t hot pepper flakes or a couple of dashes of hot sauce. Relax until tomatoes are ready. Remove tomatoes from the oven and let sit for about 1/2 hour or until cool enough to handle. Chop tomatoes a little more to break up and add the tomatoes and pan juices to the bowl with the olives and herbs. Stir to combine - taste and be wowed! Great with bruschetta, crackers, or fresh vegies. Would be a nice accompaniment to chicken or fish.
So glad to find my username and password. Sorry I've been out of touch but can hardly wait to get back to sharing food ideas. Happy Easter to all!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
The Tides, 46580 Expedition Drive, Lexington Park, MD
Our adventure at The Tides this evening (Saturday, 14 July) was a 9.5! Take advantage of this well situated restaurant (46580 Expedition Drive, Lexingron Park) for a great meal for your next special occasion. Reservations are recommended - 301.862.5303.
We enjoyed a nice bottle of California Cabernet with the warm bread and olive oil / balsamic vinegar dip. Two in our party had the soup of the day, a split pea, that was not the traditional thick pea soup but was light and aromatic, fragrant with parmesan. They both agreed that is was delicious.
Dinner entrees enjoyed by our group included pan seared duck breast with blackberry gastrique, bacon wrapped filet mignon with blackberry port sauce, Chicken Chesapeake - pan seared chicken breast with jumbo lump crab and sherry cream sauce, and special of the day Seafood Medley - soft crab, shrimp, and scallops. The duck diner said that the dish was delicious and he cleaned his plate. I enjoyed the filet mignon and was absolutely delighted by the perfectly cooked tender filet (medium rare). I asked the other filet mignon diner for a numerical rating and he said 9.5 - I had to agree. It was one of the best pieces of beef that I've had in a long time. The sauce and scattered blackberries contributed to the flavor experience. The chicken diners agreed that their dinner was delicious - they both ate their crab and half of the chicken breast, taking the other half home for lunch tomorrow. The Seafood Medley diner said that his dinner was tasty and ample.
Sides selected by our diners were asparagas, snow peas, garlic mashed potatoes, and crab risotto. Being an asparagas lover, I would have enjoyed more than the three little spears but it was an adequate serving. The crab risotto was another fabulous dish that several diners raved about. That was also one of my selections and it was indeed enjoyable, creamy and flavorful.
We really indulged this evening and several of us had dessert and coffee. Our selections ranged from Baked Alaska to Chocolate Cream Pie, to Blueberry Cheesecake. The Baked Alaska was made with orange sherbert and was okay - more sherbert would have enhanced the taste. The cake and meringue were just a little too sweet while the sherbert lent a tang to the dish but it was a melted puddle in the bottom of the bowl. The Chocolate Cream Pie served in a ramekin was decadent - rich, creamy, chocolatey - who could ask for more in a chocolate dessert?! The Blueberry Cheesecake was dry. It had a slightly tangy taste which I didn't mind - reminded me of yogurt - but it formed a paste in the mouth that required coffee or water to wash down - gross!
Put this treasure on your list of places to have a wonderful meal. I don't often find myself back in Lexington Park once the work week is done. I have enjoyed some delicious and affordable lunches at The Tides, but it's now at the top of my dinner recommendations as of this very evening. Enjoy!
We enjoyed a nice bottle of California Cabernet with the warm bread and olive oil / balsamic vinegar dip. Two in our party had the soup of the day, a split pea, that was not the traditional thick pea soup but was light and aromatic, fragrant with parmesan. They both agreed that is was delicious.
Dinner entrees enjoyed by our group included pan seared duck breast with blackberry gastrique, bacon wrapped filet mignon with blackberry port sauce, Chicken Chesapeake - pan seared chicken breast with jumbo lump crab and sherry cream sauce, and special of the day Seafood Medley - soft crab, shrimp, and scallops. The duck diner said that the dish was delicious and he cleaned his plate. I enjoyed the filet mignon and was absolutely delighted by the perfectly cooked tender filet (medium rare). I asked the other filet mignon diner for a numerical rating and he said 9.5 - I had to agree. It was one of the best pieces of beef that I've had in a long time. The sauce and scattered blackberries contributed to the flavor experience. The chicken diners agreed that their dinner was delicious - they both ate their crab and half of the chicken breast, taking the other half home for lunch tomorrow. The Seafood Medley diner said that his dinner was tasty and ample.
Sides selected by our diners were asparagas, snow peas, garlic mashed potatoes, and crab risotto. Being an asparagas lover, I would have enjoyed more than the three little spears but it was an adequate serving. The crab risotto was another fabulous dish that several diners raved about. That was also one of my selections and it was indeed enjoyable, creamy and flavorful.
We really indulged this evening and several of us had dessert and coffee. Our selections ranged from Baked Alaska to Chocolate Cream Pie, to Blueberry Cheesecake. The Baked Alaska was made with orange sherbert and was okay - more sherbert would have enhanced the taste. The cake and meringue were just a little too sweet while the sherbert lent a tang to the dish but it was a melted puddle in the bottom of the bowl. The Chocolate Cream Pie served in a ramekin was decadent - rich, creamy, chocolatey - who could ask for more in a chocolate dessert?! The Blueberry Cheesecake was dry. It had a slightly tangy taste which I didn't mind - reminded me of yogurt - but it formed a paste in the mouth that required coffee or water to wash down - gross!
Put this treasure on your list of places to have a wonderful meal. I don't often find myself back in Lexington Park once the work week is done. I have enjoyed some delicious and affordable lunches at The Tides, but it's now at the top of my dinner recommendations as of this very evening. Enjoy!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
The Birchmere Music Hall, Alexandria, VA
The Birchmere Music Hall is a great place to hear live music of all kinds - check out the website at http://www.birchmere.com/ and make the trip soon. It's only about 1.5 hours from Lexington Park for an evening of great entertainment. We went on 29 June to hear The Flatlanders - a TX group with an entertaining background and unique sound. But ... this is a food blog.
I had the Mexican Chicken Tostada, chicken layered with black beans, a tostada, and diced tomatoes in a casserole dish with monetery jack cheese melted on top, served with a side of mango slaw. Hubby had the prime rib sandwich au jus with spud of the day, sweet potato chips. I've never been impressed with The Birchmere food. They have a captive audience - if you want a good seat for the show, you need to arrive early to get a seat when the doors open about an hour and a half before the performance. I wasn't surprised by the ordinary dinner - a solid 7 on this recent evening.
The service was excellent and it usually is at The Birchmere. The servers are adept at coordinating multiple orders and check frequently for beverage refills. The Birchmere no longer serves pitchers of water. Now you have to pay $2 for a bottle of water. At least they threw in the glass with ice.
I had the Mexican Chicken Tostada, chicken layered with black beans, a tostada, and diced tomatoes in a casserole dish with monetery jack cheese melted on top, served with a side of mango slaw. Hubby had the prime rib sandwich au jus with spud of the day, sweet potato chips. I've never been impressed with The Birchmere food. They have a captive audience - if you want a good seat for the show, you need to arrive early to get a seat when the doors open about an hour and a half before the performance. I wasn't surprised by the ordinary dinner - a solid 7 on this recent evening.
The service was excellent and it usually is at The Birchmere. The servers are adept at coordinating multiple orders and check frequently for beverage refills. The Birchmere no longer serves pitchers of water. Now you have to pay $2 for a bottle of water. At least they threw in the glass with ice.
Dempsey's Brew Pub and Restaurant, Camden Yards
Here's the deal - rather than balance a dog or nachos on your lap during the game, get to Camden Yards early and enjoy lunch or dinner at Dempsey's. It's bustling but cool (temperature wise) and deco wise as well - lots of great photos of Orioles legends decorating the walls.
I had the mixed greens salad with a tasty vinaigrette. The salad had walnuts, apple wedges, and I opted for crabmeat to top it off. You want to know what little bit 4 oz of crab meat is - about a tablespoon! Oh well, the salad was fresh and delicious and I swiped a few nachos from my son's plate for some crunch. Others ordered loaded nachos which looked great and from the taste that I got with the occasional sneak, was great - fresh salsa; foccacia pizza presented well on a wooden board; and the crab cake sandwich looked tasty and was rated okay. Overall, this experience was higher than middle of the road, perhaps as high as 7. It's just a lot better than the balancing act while squished into a ballpark seat with cheering fans on either side. The Orioles won so that made my day!
I had the mixed greens salad with a tasty vinaigrette. The salad had walnuts, apple wedges, and I opted for crabmeat to top it off. You want to know what little bit 4 oz of crab meat is - about a tablespoon! Oh well, the salad was fresh and delicious and I swiped a few nachos from my son's plate for some crunch. Others ordered loaded nachos which looked great and from the taste that I got with the occasional sneak, was great - fresh salsa; foccacia pizza presented well on a wooden board; and the crab cake sandwich looked tasty and was rated okay. Overall, this experience was higher than middle of the road, perhaps as high as 7. It's just a lot better than the balancing act while squished into a ballpark seat with cheering fans on either side. The Orioles won so that made my day!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Chief's - Your Neighborhood Bar, Tall Timbers, MD
It's been a while since we dined at Chief's but it's become one of my daughter's favorite places so we agreed to head over for a Sunday evening bite.
Chief's wasn't very busy (I considered that a good thing since the last time we stopped by the parking lot was jammed and the place was pretty much closed for a private party) this evening - there were several people on the deck, 4 people at the bar, and 8 people besides our foursome for dinner. We had our choice of seats and within a minute or two a server was taking our drink order.
Chief's is not fancy - plain formica tables, metal frame chairs, a few tables have oil cloth coverings ... you get the idea. There's a roll of paper towels on each table, S&P, Old Bay seasoning, etc. Drinks were served promptly, no cocktail napkin - but hey, I've got an entire roll of paper towels - ha!
Our orders:
Diner 1 (yours truly) - crab imperial stuffed flounder, french fries, cole slaw.
Diner 2 (hubby) - crab cake dinner (two cakes), french fries, cole slaw.
Diner 3 (daughter) - cheese steak (go figure!!! - but it's one of her favorites and she orders it at Chief's regularly).
Diner 4 (son-in-law) - crab cake sandwich, french fries.
The flounder and crab imperial were delicious and presented gorgeously - flounder laying flat with a slit in the skin, slightly opened to accommodate a mound of crab filling -I rate this a solid 9 on a 10 scale - can you believe it - at Your Neighborhood Bar! The crab cakes were fried (neither diner chose the broiled option), crisp on the outside and well-seasoned and flavorful on the inside. The cheese steak looked huge and was exactly as my daughter expected. I think Chief's makes their own cole slaw - it's wet and brings back memories of Grandmom - I know they put sugar in the dressing!
I'm very particular about service. Our server was a college student, attends CSM studying Environmental Science. He was a very polite young man (I didn't get his name - I don't need to be friends with my server but I should have asked his name so that I could follow up with Chief's management about how pleasant he was). Our server told us the specials of the day very clearly describing each. I asked if he had tired them - and to my surprise he said that he had! How many times has your server not had a clue about what they were offering you for dinner?! He actually recommended the crab stuffed flounder and I later thanked him for that recommendation. The biggest deal for me was when our server brought our silverware and napkins (so, okay, they were paper napkins) before dinner was served. Again, how many times has your server brought your food and you've had no utensils at the table?!
Chief's was a Sunday evening pleasure! It's about to become one of my favorites, especially since they routinely have soft crabs in season and I remember having them at the restaurant last year. It's so nice to have a neighborhood place to go for good food.
Check them out - http://www.wjdent.com/, Monday thru Thursday 4-9 p.m., Fri Sat Sun noon-9 p.m. Give me a call and I'll meet you there!
Chief's wasn't very busy (I considered that a good thing since the last time we stopped by the parking lot was jammed and the place was pretty much closed for a private party) this evening - there were several people on the deck, 4 people at the bar, and 8 people besides our foursome for dinner. We had our choice of seats and within a minute or two a server was taking our drink order.
Chief's is not fancy - plain formica tables, metal frame chairs, a few tables have oil cloth coverings ... you get the idea. There's a roll of paper towels on each table, S&P, Old Bay seasoning, etc. Drinks were served promptly, no cocktail napkin - but hey, I've got an entire roll of paper towels - ha!
Our orders:
Diner 1 (yours truly) - crab imperial stuffed flounder, french fries, cole slaw.
Diner 2 (hubby) - crab cake dinner (two cakes), french fries, cole slaw.
Diner 3 (daughter) - cheese steak (go figure!!! - but it's one of her favorites and she orders it at Chief's regularly).
Diner 4 (son-in-law) - crab cake sandwich, french fries.
The flounder and crab imperial were delicious and presented gorgeously - flounder laying flat with a slit in the skin, slightly opened to accommodate a mound of crab filling -I rate this a solid 9 on a 10 scale - can you believe it - at Your Neighborhood Bar! The crab cakes were fried (neither diner chose the broiled option), crisp on the outside and well-seasoned and flavorful on the inside. The cheese steak looked huge and was exactly as my daughter expected. I think Chief's makes their own cole slaw - it's wet and brings back memories of Grandmom - I know they put sugar in the dressing!
I'm very particular about service. Our server was a college student, attends CSM studying Environmental Science. He was a very polite young man (I didn't get his name - I don't need to be friends with my server but I should have asked his name so that I could follow up with Chief's management about how pleasant he was). Our server told us the specials of the day very clearly describing each. I asked if he had tired them - and to my surprise he said that he had! How many times has your server not had a clue about what they were offering you for dinner?! He actually recommended the crab stuffed flounder and I later thanked him for that recommendation. The biggest deal for me was when our server brought our silverware and napkins (so, okay, they were paper napkins) before dinner was served. Again, how many times has your server brought your food and you've had no utensils at the table?!
Chief's was a Sunday evening pleasure! It's about to become one of my favorites, especially since they routinely have soft crabs in season and I remember having them at the restaurant last year. It's so nice to have a neighborhood place to go for good food.
Check them out - http://www.wjdent.com/, Monday thru Thursday 4-9 p.m., Fri Sat Sun noon-9 p.m. Give me a call and I'll meet you there!
The Lexington Restaurant, Lexington Park, MD
I hit The Lexington a couple of years ago for dinner before a show at Three Notch Theatre. I vowed not to return but I did again the same theatre season. So, fast forward two years.
I was part of a group dinner at The Lexington last Thursday evening. Cocktails at 6, dinner following, order from the menu. I stopped by the bar on my way to the back dining room which had been reserved for our group. I ordered a drink which came in the flimsiest plastic cup I've ever had - it surely wasn't a Solo cup! No cocktail napkin served with my drink - you know what a napkin freak I am. Picking up the drink, the slighest squeeze on the sides of the cup propelled liquid all over my hand and the bar. Oh well, it was Thursday, the week was almost over, I'll live with it.
We were seated in the back room - horseshoe-shaped table set up. Decent silverware and cloth napkins - a plus! The server took individual orders on a small tablet - name and entree on each page. Not sure who ordered what, but servers started coming to the room with items that apparently nobody in our party ordered. I took a rest room break and salads were served during the 5 minutes that I was gone - if you have my name, my seat location, and my order, just leave my salad at my place instead of taking it back to the kitchen. It took a few minutes but I finally got a salad, mostly iceberg with two cherry tomatoes and two slices of cucumber ... by the time I got my salad, entrees were being served. It was slightly entertaining since we were having a dinner meeting and the wait staff came to the room bellowing, "Who ordered the NY strip? Who ordered the cold plate? Who wants crab imperial?" Kind of put a halt to the meeting until everyone had their food.
What can I say about the food? There was quite a bit of grumbling. My crab imperial wasn't terrible - about a 6 on a 10 scale for taste. It was an ample serving but it wasn't very warm. I think the baked potato was actually baked - not microwaved so that was a plus. Bread was a plain roll - kind of like a small hamburger roll - white. I'm just glad I didn't order a steak - the NY strip was about 1/4" thick. I would have been extremely diappointed.
The Lexington seems to have turned into a bar with wings and burgers as specialties. Not that there's anything wrong with that - I really like dive bars! I just need to make a mental note that they are not great places for a dinner meeting. Give it a shot and see for yourself!
I was part of a group dinner at The Lexington last Thursday evening. Cocktails at 6, dinner following, order from the menu. I stopped by the bar on my way to the back dining room which had been reserved for our group. I ordered a drink which came in the flimsiest plastic cup I've ever had - it surely wasn't a Solo cup! No cocktail napkin served with my drink - you know what a napkin freak I am. Picking up the drink, the slighest squeeze on the sides of the cup propelled liquid all over my hand and the bar. Oh well, it was Thursday, the week was almost over, I'll live with it.
We were seated in the back room - horseshoe-shaped table set up. Decent silverware and cloth napkins - a plus! The server took individual orders on a small tablet - name and entree on each page. Not sure who ordered what, but servers started coming to the room with items that apparently nobody in our party ordered. I took a rest room break and salads were served during the 5 minutes that I was gone - if you have my name, my seat location, and my order, just leave my salad at my place instead of taking it back to the kitchen. It took a few minutes but I finally got a salad, mostly iceberg with two cherry tomatoes and two slices of cucumber ... by the time I got my salad, entrees were being served. It was slightly entertaining since we were having a dinner meeting and the wait staff came to the room bellowing, "Who ordered the NY strip? Who ordered the cold plate? Who wants crab imperial?" Kind of put a halt to the meeting until everyone had their food.
What can I say about the food? There was quite a bit of grumbling. My crab imperial wasn't terrible - about a 6 on a 10 scale for taste. It was an ample serving but it wasn't very warm. I think the baked potato was actually baked - not microwaved so that was a plus. Bread was a plain roll - kind of like a small hamburger roll - white. I'm just glad I didn't order a steak - the NY strip was about 1/4" thick. I would have been extremely diappointed.
The Lexington seems to have turned into a bar with wings and burgers as specialties. Not that there's anything wrong with that - I really like dive bars! I just need to make a mental note that they are not great places for a dinner meeting. Give it a shot and see for yourself!
The Gal is Back
SOMD Foodie Gal is back!!!
I misfiled my username and password so have been out of touch for a while. But, that doesn't mean that I stopped eating! I've missed some great opportunities to tell you how wonderful some restaurants are (Cafe des Artistes and The Tides) - please put these locally owned restaurants on your list and enjoy their fine cuisine. I really will highlight meals there on my next visits. In the meantime, you pay them a visit and let me know about your favorite food selections.
I misfiled my username and password so have been out of touch for a while. But, that doesn't mean that I stopped eating! I've missed some great opportunities to tell you how wonderful some restaurants are (Cafe des Artistes and The Tides) - please put these locally owned restaurants on your list and enjoy their fine cuisine. I really will highlight meals there on my next visits. In the meantime, you pay them a visit and let me know about your favorite food selections.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Captain's Table (at the Marriott Courtyard), 15th and N Baltimore Ave, Ocean City, MD
The Captain's Table Restaurant at the Coutyard Marriott must be one of Ocean City's best kept dining secrets, http://www.captainstableoc.com/. The service and food were absolutely fabulous! We put in a full day of sight seeing in inclement weather - nor'easter blew through and we were in the middle of it. We went to the Salisbury Zoo, Assateague Island, and Ocean Downs Casino - whew! We deserved a delicious meal.
If you're looking for a special treat, this is the place for a terrific evening out. With our drinks, our server brought out a bread basket with warm rolls and a small butter bowl. Hubby had the wedge salad and I enjoyed a Ceasar salad for starters. Hubby's broiled scallops were huge and delicious (yes, I scarfed one) swimming in butter. My crab cakes were cooked to perfection and I shared with hubby. Our sides were yummy - hubby had his usual baked potato and I enjoyed smoked salmon mashed potatoes.
The menu was a la carte with salads $8 to $9. Entrees ranged from $25 to $30 for seafood, $25 to $35 for beef, and $17 to $28 for poultry, lamb, and other. We decided on seafood for this meal because we planned to have a special steak dinner Sunday night.
The restaurant is on the second or third floor of the hotel, not right on the boardwalk. It's plush and you immediately know that you're in a place where they care about your dining experience. If you have a trip to Ocean City in your future, this restaurant is a nice splurge.
If you're looking for a special treat, this is the place for a terrific evening out. With our drinks, our server brought out a bread basket with warm rolls and a small butter bowl. Hubby had the wedge salad and I enjoyed a Ceasar salad for starters. Hubby's broiled scallops were huge and delicious (yes, I scarfed one) swimming in butter. My crab cakes were cooked to perfection and I shared with hubby. Our sides were yummy - hubby had his usual baked potato and I enjoyed smoked salmon mashed potatoes.
The menu was a la carte with salads $8 to $9. Entrees ranged from $25 to $30 for seafood, $25 to $35 for beef, and $17 to $28 for poultry, lamb, and other. We decided on seafood for this meal because we planned to have a special steak dinner Sunday night.
The restaurant is on the second or third floor of the hotel, not right on the boardwalk. It's plush and you immediately know that you're in a place where they care about your dining experience. If you have a trip to Ocean City in your future, this restaurant is a nice splurge.
The Acorn Market, 805 E Main Street, Salisbury, MD
Have you ever been to The Country House - a terrific shop that reminds me of a cross between The Apple Basket and Cecil's Country Store - you have to walk through it first one way and then the other because you will miss things if you only go through one way. Anyway, before or after your shopping spree, walk across the parking lot and indulge at the Acorn Market, http://www.theacornmarket.com/.
There is nothing on the menu that reaches $7.00 - okay, $6.99 tops. On the way to Ocean City a couple of weeks ago, hubby and I stopped at this place on the recommendation of a close friend. We had a late breakfast in Prince Frederick at a chain restaurant (I won't even comment) so we weren't very hungry but wanted to try the Acorn. We split a Pilgrim sandwich - roast turkey, cranberry sauce, lettuce on homemade stuffing bread. You would not believe the taste - it was fabulous - Thanksgiving in a sandwich. I knew hubby would want chips and said as much to the server at the counter (you place your order, pay for it, take a seat, and they bring it to you when ready). He asked what I would prefer and I told him grapes sounded good. He said that we could have both. Would you believe ... we each got our own serving tray with half a sandwich, hubby got chips and I got a huge bunch of luscious purple grapes, and we each had coffee and the bill was less than $10?!?!?!?!?!?! Gosh I wish this place were closer to where I live; I'd be there at least once a week.
You can choose to eat in the well decorated dining area or on the porch; we enjoyed the porch on the last gorgeous day before the nor'easter blew through. The Acorn Market has a limited, specialized, homemade menu of items including freshly baked goodies. Hubby and I eyed the bakery cabinet when we were ordering lunch and discussed getting something to take with us for dessert for our first night in Ocean City. While we were having lunch on the porch, I heard a customer who came in shortly after us ask the server to pack up everything in the bakery cabinet. Is that a testament to how delicious those homemade goodies were - somebody bought out the entire stock for the day. The server said that they didn't even have a spare anything sweet in the kitchen. He who hesitates is lost! Next time I won't hesitate.
There is nothing on the menu that reaches $7.00 - okay, $6.99 tops. On the way to Ocean City a couple of weeks ago, hubby and I stopped at this place on the recommendation of a close friend. We had a late breakfast in Prince Frederick at a chain restaurant (I won't even comment) so we weren't very hungry but wanted to try the Acorn. We split a Pilgrim sandwich - roast turkey, cranberry sauce, lettuce on homemade stuffing bread. You would not believe the taste - it was fabulous - Thanksgiving in a sandwich. I knew hubby would want chips and said as much to the server at the counter (you place your order, pay for it, take a seat, and they bring it to you when ready). He asked what I would prefer and I told him grapes sounded good. He said that we could have both. Would you believe ... we each got our own serving tray with half a sandwich, hubby got chips and I got a huge bunch of luscious purple grapes, and we each had coffee and the bill was less than $10?!?!?!?!?!?! Gosh I wish this place were closer to where I live; I'd be there at least once a week.
You can choose to eat in the well decorated dining area or on the porch; we enjoyed the porch on the last gorgeous day before the nor'easter blew through. The Acorn Market has a limited, specialized, homemade menu of items including freshly baked goodies. Hubby and I eyed the bakery cabinet when we were ordering lunch and discussed getting something to take with us for dessert for our first night in Ocean City. While we were having lunch on the porch, I heard a customer who came in shortly after us ask the server to pack up everything in the bakery cabinet. Is that a testament to how delicious those homemade goodies were - somebody bought out the entire stock for the day. The server said that they didn't even have a spare anything sweet in the kitchen. He who hesitates is lost! Next time I won't hesitate.
Sacred Heart Church dinner, 23080 Maddox Road, Bushwood, MD
What a glorious day for a church dinner on October 23rd! Making the rounds at church dinners has become a Southern Maryland sport. If you can only hit one fall dinner in 2012, this is the one (assuming it will be as good next year as it was in 2011).
First, you pay for your dinner and are then are seated at a long rectangular table with lots of other folks. A server takes your drink order - iced tea or coffee. You are then invited to go through the buffet line. Dinner is buffet style so everything you get is HOT (if it's supposed to be hot). The oysters were incredibly delicious as were the other items on the buffet - roast turkey with dressing, ham, parsley potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, cole slaw. Dinner rolls, beets, and a few other items are on the table so you help yourself during dinner. If you want seconds of anything, there are youngsters on standby to bring you smaller plates of whatever specialty you request. I had more oysters and slaw - the young may brought be close to a dozen oysters and a small bowl of slaw. Several folks at our table went back through the buffet line themselves - guess they wanted more of everything. Nobody raised an eyebrow and they thoroughly enjoyed their meal.
There were a couple of things about the buffet that I especially appreciated:
(1) As stated above, the food that's supposed to be hot was hot. (2) There were serving spoons or forks for each dish. (Sometimes at those family style dinners there aren't enough serving spoons and people use the forks they've been eating with to serve themselves more food from the community platter. I have issued with that.)
Put this dinner on your list. I will keep a watchful eye on my church bulletin and the local newspaper for announcement of this dinner. It is #1!
First, you pay for your dinner and are then are seated at a long rectangular table with lots of other folks. A server takes your drink order - iced tea or coffee. You are then invited to go through the buffet line. Dinner is buffet style so everything you get is HOT (if it's supposed to be hot). The oysters were incredibly delicious as were the other items on the buffet - roast turkey with dressing, ham, parsley potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, cole slaw. Dinner rolls, beets, and a few other items are on the table so you help yourself during dinner. If you want seconds of anything, there are youngsters on standby to bring you smaller plates of whatever specialty you request. I had more oysters and slaw - the young may brought be close to a dozen oysters and a small bowl of slaw. Several folks at our table went back through the buffet line themselves - guess they wanted more of everything. Nobody raised an eyebrow and they thoroughly enjoyed their meal.
There were a couple of things about the buffet that I especially appreciated:
(1) As stated above, the food that's supposed to be hot was hot. (2) There were serving spoons or forks for each dish. (Sometimes at those family style dinners there aren't enough serving spoons and people use the forks they've been eating with to serve themselves more food from the community platter. I have issued with that.)
Put this dinner on your list. I will keep a watchful eye on my church bulletin and the local newspaper for announcement of this dinner. It is #1!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
St. George's Catholic Church Oyster Dinner, St. George's Church Rd, Valley Lee, MD 20692
Church dinners in Southern Maryland are a great way to get your fill of delicious food. Some folks make the rounds during dinner season - crab cake dinners in the summer and oyster dinners in the fall. At many of these dinners, the food is served family style; at some, buffet style. I hit the oyster dinner at St. George's today (family style) and had my first fried oysters of the season.
Today's dinner included fried oysters a plenty, stuffed ham, and roast turkey breast. Sides included parsley potatoes, green beans, pickled beets, applesauce (cinnamon and sugar), dill pickles, dinner rolls. Once things got underway, our servers kept the hot oysters coming and they were delicious (although not as good as my dad's oysters - his are well-seasoned and crispy, not at all greasy). I know things are busy in the kitchen during these dinners, but fried oysters really need to be drained on paper towels or even paper bags for just a few seconds to get rid of excess oil before they are served. Additionally, the serving bowls need to occasionally be wiped out between refills to absorb excess oil. Guess I can't complain too much as it's been years since I worked at one of these events.
The pickles were a real disappointment. Mrs. Barnes, a black woman in her 80s, has made bread and butter pickles for the church dinners at St. George's for years. Honestly, I can sit there and eat beets, her home-made pickles, and oysters and forget about the other food. I knew by the look that the pickles at today's dinner were not hers but I put several on my plate anyway. I ate one - it was awful! I must ask her for a jar of pickles as a special treat. If I'm successful in acquiring a jar, I will not be sharing them. Oh no!
I'm not much for plastic ware - it you're going to use it, get the good stuff. Hubby actually broke his fork today. Good thing he was about finished with his dinner. Kudos to the servers - many parish members, students who will be confirmed in the near future, and volunteers from the Paul Hall Center.
I purchased an applesauce cake from the baked goods table and sent it home with my dad. Hope it was good!
Today's dinner included fried oysters a plenty, stuffed ham, and roast turkey breast. Sides included parsley potatoes, green beans, pickled beets, applesauce (cinnamon and sugar), dill pickles, dinner rolls. Once things got underway, our servers kept the hot oysters coming and they were delicious (although not as good as my dad's oysters - his are well-seasoned and crispy, not at all greasy). I know things are busy in the kitchen during these dinners, but fried oysters really need to be drained on paper towels or even paper bags for just a few seconds to get rid of excess oil before they are served. Additionally, the serving bowls need to occasionally be wiped out between refills to absorb excess oil. Guess I can't complain too much as it's been years since I worked at one of these events.
The pickles were a real disappointment. Mrs. Barnes, a black woman in her 80s, has made bread and butter pickles for the church dinners at St. George's for years. Honestly, I can sit there and eat beets, her home-made pickles, and oysters and forget about the other food. I knew by the look that the pickles at today's dinner were not hers but I put several on my plate anyway. I ate one - it was awful! I must ask her for a jar of pickles as a special treat. If I'm successful in acquiring a jar, I will not be sharing them. Oh no!
I'm not much for plastic ware - it you're going to use it, get the good stuff. Hubby actually broke his fork today. Good thing he was about finished with his dinner. Kudos to the servers - many parish members, students who will be confirmed in the near future, and volunteers from the Paul Hall Center.
I purchased an applesauce cake from the baked goods table and sent it home with my dad. Hope it was good!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Di Giovanni's Restaurant, 14556 Solomons Island Rd, Solomons, MD
It's been a couple of years since our last visit to Di Giovanni's Italian Restaurant. I wanted some place special to celebrate my daughter's completion of courses required for her graduate degree! The restaurant is open Tuesay through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. for breakfast and unti 8:00 p.m. for dinner. Chef-owner Jack Batten buys local and updates the restaurant menu frequently. The Chef also offers cooking classes, 4-or-5 course meals demonstrated (and participatory if you're so inclined) and served for your dining pleasure, along with a recipe booklet and his special tips. There's one coming up on 18 October called "Mother Sauces" for $40 and includes tomato, brown, bechamel, volute, and hollandaise - make the sauces and learn what to do with them. Visit http://www.digiovannisrestaurant.com/.
I'm sure Solomons was crowded during the Patuxent River Appreciation Days celebration this weekend but our timing was perfect arriving around 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening with only a few tables taken. We were seated promptly in the dining room and enjoyed the water view overlooking the deck dining area while our server fetched our wine and beer. The menu changes every few days based on the freshest seafood and produce available. There were 8-to-10 appetizers from shrimp, to baked brie, to Oysters Chesapeake (which we tried - half dozen for only $6). There were also soup and salad options and entrees ranged in price from $12-to-$20 with several pasta options, crab cakes, and steak. Sandwiches with a side of fries could also be ordered any time of day and prices were very reasonable.
Fragrant, hot bread arrived at our table shortly after the drinks. There were two olive oil options at the table, one rosemary infused which was my choice. Bread - without asking (+); hubby asked for more bread when the entrees arrived and our server comlied with the request within minutes (++). The Oysters Chesapeake were gorgeous to behold and tasty to eat. Freshly shucked oysters on the half shell were topped with bread dressing, crab, and corn and served piping hot. There were three large lemon wedges on the serving plate and the dish was sprinkled with parsley. I had manicotti, two large pasta rounds stuffed with cheese and topped with homemade sauce that was excellent. Hubby had crab cakes and said they were the best he's had in a while - he likes them with some breading and seasoning, not a fan of a cake of lump crab meat heated and called a crab cake. The celebratory girl was thinking of shrimp scampi but since she's allergic to shrimp asked if the chef could make a clam sauce (which wasn't on the menu) instead. Our server asked and the chef seemed happy to comply. The dish of pasta with butter/garlic sauce was surrounded by clams in the shell - lots of them! Our graduate girl's friend ordered the Chicken Chesapeake sandwich - grilled chicken with crab and cheese on a sub roll. Before I had a chance to take a good look at it, he had polished off all but the last bite and said that it was good. The fries were thick and golden. Di Giovanni's was as good as I remembered; consistency - it's a good thing!
Our server apologized for being short staffed Sunday evening. As more diners entered, it became clear that he could not manage on his own and the chef pitched in. It was quite nice to have the chef working the dining area as well as the kitchen. Our server was very polite and hustled to make sure we were satisfied - kudos (+). We were there as night set in and dim wall lights were turned on to illuminate the dining room. The only drawback to the entire evening were the slamming doors - the main entrance to the restaurant and the doors to the deck. Honestly, if I had a screw driver I would have taken a stab at adjusting them.
I'm sure Solomons was crowded during the Patuxent River Appreciation Days celebration this weekend but our timing was perfect arriving around 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening with only a few tables taken. We were seated promptly in the dining room and enjoyed the water view overlooking the deck dining area while our server fetched our wine and beer. The menu changes every few days based on the freshest seafood and produce available. There were 8-to-10 appetizers from shrimp, to baked brie, to Oysters Chesapeake (which we tried - half dozen for only $6). There were also soup and salad options and entrees ranged in price from $12-to-$20 with several pasta options, crab cakes, and steak. Sandwiches with a side of fries could also be ordered any time of day and prices were very reasonable.
Fragrant, hot bread arrived at our table shortly after the drinks. There were two olive oil options at the table, one rosemary infused which was my choice. Bread - without asking (+); hubby asked for more bread when the entrees arrived and our server comlied with the request within minutes (++). The Oysters Chesapeake were gorgeous to behold and tasty to eat. Freshly shucked oysters on the half shell were topped with bread dressing, crab, and corn and served piping hot. There were three large lemon wedges on the serving plate and the dish was sprinkled with parsley. I had manicotti, two large pasta rounds stuffed with cheese and topped with homemade sauce that was excellent. Hubby had crab cakes and said they were the best he's had in a while - he likes them with some breading and seasoning, not a fan of a cake of lump crab meat heated and called a crab cake. The celebratory girl was thinking of shrimp scampi but since she's allergic to shrimp asked if the chef could make a clam sauce (which wasn't on the menu) instead. Our server asked and the chef seemed happy to comply. The dish of pasta with butter/garlic sauce was surrounded by clams in the shell - lots of them! Our graduate girl's friend ordered the Chicken Chesapeake sandwich - grilled chicken with crab and cheese on a sub roll. Before I had a chance to take a good look at it, he had polished off all but the last bite and said that it was good. The fries were thick and golden. Di Giovanni's was as good as I remembered; consistency - it's a good thing!
Our server apologized for being short staffed Sunday evening. As more diners entered, it became clear that he could not manage on his own and the chef pitched in. It was quite nice to have the chef working the dining area as well as the kitchen. Our server was very polite and hustled to make sure we were satisfied - kudos (+). We were there as night set in and dim wall lights were turned on to illuminate the dining room. The only drawback to the entire evening were the slamming doors - the main entrance to the restaurant and the doors to the deck. Honestly, if I had a screw driver I would have taken a stab at adjusting them.
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