Search This Blog

Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday Morning Haiku


Heading to the beach?
Hosting a yum BBQ?
Have a great weekend!

Good morning!  I hope this shapes up to a lovely weekend for you all! 

What are your plans?  What are you making?  

I am making Eton Mess for a friend's BBQ this weekend.  I made it recently and fell so madly in love with it that it's basically my new go-to dessert.  I will post my recipe soon!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Help the Hungry and Enter to Win a $1,000 Wegmans’ Gift Card

Enter now to win a $1000 Wegmans gift card!  Tickets are $10 each or 12 for $100 and the money goes towards the Maryland Food Bank!

Enter now through May 30, 2011 and the winner will be announced that day through Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/MDFoodBank), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/MDFoodBank), and the organization’s web page (www.mdfoodbank.org).

Good Luck!!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Friday Morning-ish Haiku



Graduation Time!
New grads with hope and promise
Families so proud

It's graduation season!!!!!  Congratulations to any new graduates or families of graduates! 

So, where are people going to celebrate?  When I graduated from college, my family and I went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, it was my first time and WOW was it good.  When I graduated from Social Work school, we went to The Oregon Grille for lunch (if you go for lunch, the meal is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper and the guys don't need to wear a jacket!), and that was also one of the best meals I've ever had.  I remember it was the first and only place where I've eaten Savarin, and it was AMAZING.  I wonder if they still have that on their dessert menuu....

Where did you go/planning to go to celebrate a big graduation?

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Sabor, Timonium

Chorizo Empanadas

UPDATE: THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW CLOSED

Sabor is located in a quiet strip mall in Northern Baltimore County.  Their menu is seasonal (this review is for their Spring menu, currently being offered) and inventive with Spanish influences.  Dan and I went for a pleasant Sunday evening dinner, but the meal itself left something to be desired. 

We started with the Empanadas de Chorizo ($9) turnovers filled with ground beef, chorizo, raisins, chopped egg, golden fried served with tapenade.  We both thought these were spectacular.  I loved the flakiness of the dough, the sweetness of the meat and the saltiness of the tapenade. Outstanding.


Plantain and Chorizo Crusted Grouper
 
For my entree, I ordered the Plantain and Chorizo Crusted Grouper ($27) - sautéed sesame flavored spinach, coconut lemongrass broth. This was a pretty and sizable dish, but I didn't think the fish was crusted with plantains and chorizo, more like topped.  Although the meal didn't blow me away like the empanadas, I did enjoy the combination of flavors.



House Made Parmesan Gnocchi

Dan chose the House Made Parmesan Gnocchi ($22) with shrimp (add $7) which was finished with brown butter sage sauce. Do you see the picture above?  That is what Dan's dish looked like when it came out of the kitchen - completely void of color, swimming in the most butter I've ever seen, and topped with 4 tiny little shrimp that cost $7.  

The gnocchi themselves were doughy and soft, but there was just SO MUCH BUTTER that it overwhelmed anything positive about the rest of the dish.  I took a couple of bites and I couldn't eat anymore I was so put off by the unhealthiness of it all.  Dan was also not pleased, and neither was his stomach.  


Although our meal ended poorly, there are some positives that deserve noting!  Our server was great,  the complimentary basket of cornbread was DELIGHTFUL and our empanadas were YUM.  I would like to think that perhaps we ordered wrong and that maybe we should have gone for more meat dishes like the Grilled Churrasco Steak ($27) or the Curry and Turnip Lamb Stew ($25), but I'm not sure we'll be returning any time soon to find out. 


Sabor on Urbanspoon

Friday, May 13, 2011

Friday Morning Haiku

*** This WAS supposed to be the Friday Morning Haiku, but Blogger was having problems so it became the Friday Afternoon Haiku.


On our bird feeder
Was a little yellow finch
It made me happy

I've wanted a bird feeder/house for YEARS and recently Dan surprised me by setting one up in our back yard.  I LOVE it!  I watch it all the time now to see if birds come.  When this little bird stopped by, it seriously made my day.  The best part of it was?  He seriously didn't stop eating for a good 10 minutes.  I watched him the entire time and he just kept eating and eating and only stopped because he was scared away by a bigger bird. 

I love this yellow finch. 

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Two New Deal Sites!

There are two new deal sites for the Baltimore area!

  • CityCents
    • This is different from the other deal sites because you don't need to put any money down in order to get a deal.  Additionally, merchants are only charged $2.50 for each coupon, as opposed to a percentage.
    • As well as a regular deal, which is usually half-off a local establishment, they offer other ways to save.  After a certain amount of people have claimed the deal, there are other discounts (like a $10 Target gift card) that are unlocked and can be bid on.  The amount of bids you have depend on the amount of times you've claimed the regular deal.  HOWEVER, you can also purchase one of the side bids.  It's confusing, I know, but take a look at the website and you'll be able to figure it out!
    • Current Deal: 50% off food and drink at Sly Fox Pub (maximum discount at $15)
  • Deals for Deeds

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Bo Brooks, Canton

Thanks to a Groupon, Dan and I had $50 to burn at Bo Brooks.  We used to go there and get steamed crabs (too long ago to really comment on, but I know it used to be one of Dan's favorites), but this time we decided to give their entire menu a chance.


We started with the Crab Guacamole ($9.25), served with house-made chips made from their tortilla/wrap shells.  I thought the chips were OK, but Dan loved them.  I would have much preferred traditional tortilla chips.  These were a little too greasy and crumbly.  The actual guacamole itself was AWESOME.  I would definitely order this again.


We devoured it. 


I chose the Seafood Combo  ($27.50) - A selection of local, fresh seafood including scallops, shrimp, classic crabcake and fresh fish. Served broiled. It also came with two sides, so we chose the macaroni and cheese and the baked stuffed potato.  The macaroni and cheese tasted like the fake kind, I didn't like it at all.  The baked stuffed potato was creamy and delicious, until I realized that I tasted butter and not potato (YIKES!).  As for the actual seafood, I loved the scallops and crab cake.  The white fish was "eh" and the shrimp tasted like shrimp.  To be honest, if I were to spend that much again, I would have rather ordered the Crab Cake Platter ($27.85) and received 2 crab cakes instead.


Dan chose the Bo’s “Near-Famous” Seafood Club ($12) - Crab cake and shrimp salad between slices of toast and topped with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.  I LOVED this sandwich, and for $12?  That's a ridiculously good price considering you are getting a crab cake!  I wished the toast wasn't as toasted since it was a bit dry, but that was something I could easily get over.  Oh yea, and I loved the fries.  Dan definitely loved it too, but he said it still didn't compare to his favorite version of the sandwich (but this one is still $5 cheaper!).
 
Overall, it's nice to know that I can go to a seafood restaurant and not have to spend a fortune to get a good meal!  Though I did have a number of issues with the food, I would certainly come back and order the Crab Guacamole and Seafood Club again. I would also recommend this restaurant for large parties since it's such a big space and their menu is so varied.  Also, if you go on a nice night, it would be lovely to sit outside!  
 
Bo Brooks Restaurant and Crab House on Urbanspoon

Monday, May 9, 2011

WANT. IMMEDIATELY.

I WANT ALL OF THESE BOOKS IMMEDIATELY.

jacket image for Notes from Madras by Colonel Wyvern Wyvern - large version

jacket image for The Joys of Excess by Samuel Pepys - large version
jacket image for The Elegant Economist - large version
jacket image for Everlasting Syllabub and the Art of Carving by Hannah Glasse - large version

But, really, let's be honest - I want them all so that I can tear off the front covers and use them as art in my kitchen.  OH THE HERESY!

See all the Penguin Food Series books here.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Andy Nelson's Revisited, Cockeysville

 Express Sliders Meal (with an extra side b/c they made a mistake!)

I think it's about time I write another review of Andy Nelson's (see here for my last one), considering I usually order something different now when I go there.  Now, I am ALL about their beef brisket sandwich.  I can't get enough of it!  Sooo tender and sooo much meat!  I still can't stand their potato wedges, but I still love their cornbread and coleslaw.

As you see in the picture above, I tried their Express Sliders Meal ($9.75) and got one slider of beef brisket and one slider with pulled beef (along with two sides and a drink)...but I actually couldn't tell them apart enough (is that BBQ blasphemy!?) to ever warrant doing that again.  I think I'll just stick to one or the other and get one big ol' sandwich :)

p.s. Dan joined their free Loyalty Program and we seriously get Andy coupons EVERY MONTH.  And they are usually really awesome.  Currently the one we have on our fridge allows us to get one entree for free AND a free strawberry shortcake.  As I said, they're awesome. 

Andy Nelson's BBQ
11007 York Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
Phone: 410-527-1226
Monday to Thursday, 10am to 8pm
Friday and Saturday, 10am to 9pm

Friday Morning Haiku

 
The weekend for moms
flowers and breakfast in bed
will make her happy!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MAMA'S OUT THERE!!!!

My mum is the most incredible cook.  When I was younger (and even now) I would always hover around the kitchen, waiting until I could get a taste test - they were the best!  I am constantly in awe at how she throws together the most amazing meal without looking at recipes, and how she puts her heart and soul into every meal whether it's a weeknight dinner or a dinner for 12. Her brilliance in the kitchen is definitely something to which I aspire. I owe my love of food to my mum 100%.


P.S.  That cute print is what I got my mama for Mother's Day :)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Eat Your Veggies in Baltimore!



There is now a VegBaltimore 2011 Guide which is helpful for finding vegetarian, vegan, and veg-friendly restaurants all over the city!

All of the restaurants are listed at www.VegBaltimore.com, as well as grocery stores, resources, and local events.


I am obviously not a vegetarian, but I do like to cook all vegetarian meals at home as often as I can.  However, I usually always eat meat when I go out to eat, so this is a VERY cool guide for me.

So tell me, what are your favorite vegetarian meals/ vegetarian restaurants/ vegetarian entrees?

ADORBS.


Edible Penguins!

Someone needs to show up at my house with these (but please don't be creepy).

Adorbs.  Straight up adorbs. Check out how to make them here.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Want a Free Lunch for a Year?.....

........Then enter this contest from Boar's Head!  Here's the press release I recieved:

Have you ever had your lunch stolen from the fridge at work or home?  If so, take a stand with Boar’s Head and protect your lunch.  Not only will you save your sandwich, but you could even win FREE LUNCH FOR A YEAR!

Don’t you hate when you’ve been dreaming of a sandwich or yummy leftovers and they go missing?  Boar’s Head sympathizes with you and is giving away free lunch for a year.  Starting Monday, May 2nd email your name and phone number to followus@boarshead.com and you’ll be entered for a chance to win – that’s a lot of sandwiches!

To let people know you mean business, tell us your story on www.Facebook.com/BoarsHead and tweet it to @Boars_Head using #ProtectYourLunch.  Don't let this happen to you, www.tbs.com/video/index.jsp?oid=42447.

DETAILS:
- You must email your full name and phone number to followus@boarshead.com
- The sweepstakes begins 10AM EST on May 2, 2011 and ends at 11:59 PM EST on May 31, 2011. 
- Limit one sweepstakes entry per user.
Blog Widget by LinkWithin