tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55058781695978888212024-02-20T03:18:44.469-05:00Taste of BaltimoreNakiya @ Taste of Baltimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15555893508420635483noreply@blogger.comBlogger588125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-10774087177851675702012-07-11T12:05:00.000-04:002012-07-11T12:05:38.383-04:00July 13th - Dress Up and Get a Free Meal at Chick-Fil-A!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On <b>Friday July 13th </b>Chick-fil-A Restaurants Nationwide will be celebrating
Cow Appreciation Day by offering FREE meals to customers dressed as COWs. </div>
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Customers dressed “ head to hoof '’ as cows will receive a free meal (entree, side and medium drink) for breakfast, lunch or dinner. </div>
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If you're too “chicken” to dress in full cow attire, an entree will be given if you wear a cow hat, scarf, handbag or other unique cow accessory :)</div>
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For more info on the
event, a photo contest and easy costume ideas go to <a href="http://www.cowappreciationday.com/" target="_blank">www.cowappreciationday.com</a> .</div>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-58707344789177499722012-07-05T07:00:00.000-04:002012-07-05T07:00:02.241-04:00City Cafe, Mount Vernon<b>DISCLAIMER</b>: This post has been sitting in my "to publish" section for WEEKS because I was too lazy to upload pictures :o/ <br />
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How had I never noticed<b><a href="http://www.citycafebaltimore.com/"> City Cafe</a></b> before? This modern American restaurant is huge, first of all, and it's just a block away from Charles Street in Mt. Vernon. I mean, it's literally in the thick of things over there.<br />
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To start the dinner off on a liquid note I ordered a <b>City 75 ($10)</b> - <i>Hendricks Gin, Prosecco, and fresh lemon juice. </i>It was crisp and refreshing, though a tad sharp for my taste - I am used to my French 75's having a bit of sugar in them.<br />
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Since I ordered a $10 (!) drink, I decided to not splurge and order the <b>$15 Moroccan Lamb Burger </b>- <i>Served on whole wheat flat bread with tzatziki sauce and a tomato, cucumber and feta salad. </i>The burger was tasty and full of spices, though it was a bit well-done. I especially loved piling on the thick tzatziki sauce with every bite. I enjoyed the fresh salad as well, it was a very good meal.<br />
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My friend ordered the <b>Chilean Sea Bass ($30) </b>- <i>Pan seared with jumbo lump crab, Buerre blanc, whipped potatoes and asparagus. </i>I had a small bite and I quietly cried inside that I didn't order this instead because it was INCREDIBLE. The outside of the fish was buttery crisp, but the inside was soft and light and AMAZING. Oh Chilean Seabass, you are such a tasty fish even if your name is really Patagonian Toothfish and you're on the endangered list :(<br />
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At least it's good to know that if you're going to pay $30 for a dish, you will get what you paid for. The mash was also creamy and served as a good backdrop for the fish, which was the star of the show.<br />
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We ended up sharing the <b>Cake and Ice Cream for $8.</b> The cake was soft and light and it was almost like an overcooked lava cake made from dark chocolate so it wasn't overly sweet. This was a good basic dessert, and serves it's non-adventurous role well.<br />
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<b>Other important things to note:</b><br />
- The service was incredible! My friend and I sat and chatted for 3 hours and we never once felt pressured to leave.<br />
- They have complimentary valet parking!! Love!!!<br />
- This would be a great choice for a large group<br />
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<i><b>This was SUCH a great dinner! The restaurant was an open and large space with a very hip, modern feel to it. I really loved this place and can't wait to go back!</b></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/350622/restaurant/Mount-Vernon-Mid-Town/City-Cafe-Baltimore"><img alt="City Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/350622/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-49851901478049276642012-06-14T12:00:00.000-04:002012-06-14T12:00:03.894-04:00Foodie News and Events<i><b>Here is some information that I've received through press releases lately</b></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.marylandtraditions.org/festival"><b>2nd Annual Maryland Traditions Folklife Festival</b></a><b> is taking place on </b><b>June 16th (this Saturday) from 11am-7pm at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson</b>. <br />
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<li>The festival is an "interactive, family-friendly celebration of traditional music, arts and foods from across the state."</li>
<li>This looks so much fun you guys! Plus it has tons of delicious food vendors such as:</li>
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<li><a href="http://www.prigelfamilycreamery.com/">Prigel Family Creamery</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thehimalayanhouse.com/index.php">Himalayan House</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bearcreekbarbq.com/ordereze/default.aspx">Bear Creek Open Pit Bar-B-Q</a></li>
<li>Baltimore's Best Snowballs (snowball stand in Westminster)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ronsmeatcantbebeat.com/default.html">Ron's Famous Pit Beef</a></li>
<li>Fiesta Mexicana (restaurant in Rosedale)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.classicsmithislandcakes.com/">Classic Cakes</a> </li>
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<b>NASFT's Summer <a href="http://www.specialtyfood.com/fancy-food-show/">Fancy Food Show</a> is taking place</b> <b>June 17-19th in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.</b> <b> </b><br />
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<li><b> </b>This events "main goal is to connect food producers and businesses. Here, NASFT members (producers) promote hundreds of thousands of unique specialty food and beverage products that are often unavailable at your local grocery store or chain. The Summer Fancy Food Show invites chefs, food trade professionals, distributors and retailers from all over the world to attend this event and introduce them to some of the most innovative specialty food products in the marketplace."</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">If you are interested in attending, register for $35 ($10 off full badge price) when you use </span><span style="color: red;">this</span><b><span style="color: red;"> promo code SX10</span></b><b><span style="color: red;">. </span></b><span style="color: red;">Click on</span><b><span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://www.specialtyfood.com/fancy-food-show/summer-fancy-food-show/register-now/" style="background-color: white; color: blue;">this link</a><span style="color: red;"> </span></b><span style="color: red;">to register.</span><b><span style="color: red;"> </span> </b></li>
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<b> </b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stkH3mGC_wY/T9n3aRd5FsI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/BI_LA-1zFYQ/s1600/horizontal+line.jpg.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="67" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stkH3mGC_wY/T9n3aRd5FsI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/BI_LA-1zFYQ/s320/horizontal+line.jpg.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://www.rasushi.com/">Ra Sushi </a>is celebrating </b><b>International Sushi Day on June 18th (Monday)</b>. <br />
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<li>Anyone who "likes" <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RASushiBaltimore">Ra Sushi on Facebook</a> can print a coupon for one complimentary Tootsy Maki. It must be printed on June 18th and used that day between 11am-7pm. </li>
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<li>Ra is ALSO introducing new menu items and cocktail selections on the 18th, including</li>
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<li><b>Edamame Dip</b> ($5.25), a creamy edamame and spinach dip served warm with wonton chips. </li>
<li><b>Drunken Black Mussels</b> ($9.25) steamed in sake and sauteed in garlic an soy sauce. </li>
<li><b>Crispy Asian Tacos!</b> There are five different flavors to choose from, including the Spicy Tuna ($9.25), Chicken ($7.50), Spicy Salmon ($8.25), "RA"ckin' Shrimp ($8.25), and Crispy White Fish ($8.25)</li>
<li><b>Lycheetini </b>($9) made with lemon vodka, muddled lychees, lychee juice, lemon juice and sugar free sweetener. </li>
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<b> </b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stkH3mGC_wY/T9n3aRd5FsI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/BI_LA-1zFYQ/s1600/horizontal+line.jpg.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="67" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stkH3mGC_wY/T9n3aRd5FsI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/BI_LA-1zFYQ/s320/horizontal+line.jpg.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>This year's <a href="http://www.crabplace.com/crabandcruise.asp">Crab & Cruise</a> is taking place </b><b>June 22-23 in Crisfield, Maryland</b>.<br />
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<li>The Crab & Cruise is a two-day event aimed to attract Maryland seafood lovers from all over the country. It starts with a part on Friday night and ends with an all-you-can-eat crab feast and bay cruise on Saturday. </li>
<li>You can choose to do some of the events or all of them. It definitely looks like a great summer weekend! </li>
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<b><a href="http://www.bandorestaurant.com/">B&O American Brasserie</a> is hosting multiple events this summer</b><br />
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<li>On June 28th (Thursday) at 7:30pm it's hosting a <b>Stags' Leap Wine Dinner</b> for $75pp which will include a five-course menu all paired with a different varietal of wine.</li>
<li>On July 21st (Saturday) from 2-4pm, Chef Dunklin is having a <b>BBQ demonstration and cocktail pairing</b> from head bartender, Brendar Dorr. It's $35pp or $50 per couple. This is a cooking demo, so you will get to eat what the Chef prepares!</li>
</ul>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-7193946883413969152012-05-25T10:00:00.000-04:002012-05-25T10:00:08.732-04:00REVIEW: Graeter's Ice Cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So Memorial Day Weekend is here and I know a number of you plan to host or attend some parties, so let me give you some advice if you are unsure about dessert - find some <a href="http://www.graeters.com/"><b>Graeter's Ice Cream</b></a> and you're good to go!<br />
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Graeter's originated in Ohio, but it started to become well known after it was featured on The Food Network and after someone named Oprah became a fan (see her review <a href="http://graeters.com/pdf/O_article2.pdf">here</a>) :)<br />
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I was sent four pints of ice cream to try, and I was quite happy to oblige :) Dan and I hosted a BBQ dinner with our families and we all had a taste test for dessert.<br />
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<b>Everyone was pretty excited about this line-up </b></div>
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The flavors they sent me were <b>Vanilla Chocolate Chip, Black Raspberry
Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Mint Chocolate Chip</b>. And when they say chocolate chips they actually mean chocolate fudge chunks! Even directly out of the freezer, these HUGE chunks were still chewy and actually tasted DELICIOUS unlike most other chocolate chips in ice cream which are usually small, hard and bitter. <br />
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The ice cream itself is creamy and luscious, but the chocolate chunks really steal the show. My favorite out of all the flavors was the Chocolate Chocolate Chip. If you love chocolate, this is THE ice cream for you - it's just pure decadence! The Vanilla Chip was a perfect original and I could totally see it being an amazing addition to something like this <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chocolate-chip-cookie-ice-cream-pie/b3a9748a-d65a-41cd-b2a3-c7c330770054">this</a>. The Black Raspberry tasted like a mild chocolate berry and though it was not my favorite, I still ate it because of the fudge chunks hahaha<br />
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Anyway, you bet your boots I'm buying this ice cream again! I loved it! So get yourself to Mars, Weis or The Fresh Market and buy yourself a pint!<br />
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<i>DISCLAIMER: I was sent four pints of Graeter's Ice Cream to review for free, but these opinions are entirely my own. </i>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-1723870482124051922012-05-18T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-18T08:00:14.442-04:00A Fun Day in Baltimore County's Country and Soup'R Natural, Parkton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.souprnatural.com/"><b>Soup'R Natural</b></a> is located in Parkton about 30 minutes away from the Baltimore city center. I know that's a hard sell for those living downtown, so I decided to create a Baltimore County Country itinerary for you that includes lunch at this lovely restaurant.<br />
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<b><u>Baltimore County Country Daytrip</u></b><br />
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Why not start your day with some winery tours? There are a bunch in that area, such as <a href="http://www.basignani.com/">Basignani Winery</a>, <a href="http://www.woodhallwinecellars.com/">Woodhall Wine Cellars</a> and <a href="http://www.royalrabbitvineyards.com/">Royal Rabbit Vineyards</a>. Sure, Maryland isn't much of a wine destination, but it's always fun to visit local wineries and find some new favorites! Check the Maryland Wine Association's <a href="http://www.marylandwine.com/events-festivals">website </a>for any events that are going on in a particular weekend.<br />
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When you are ready for lunch, drive to Soup'R Natural and relax after your hours of wine tasting, and perhaps pay for your DD's lunch :)<br />
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After lunch, make a quick visit to <a href="http://www.gunpowderbison.com/">Gunpowder Bison & Trading Company</a> to see where a <a href="http://www.gunpowderbison.com/ourpartners.html">ton of restaurants</a> get their bison meat. It's a small little farm, but seeing the bison and looking around the cute little shop is worth it. When Dan and I stopped in, we ended up getting some ground bison (he uses <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/buffalo_burger/">this recipe</a> to make amazing bison sliders) and some bison sausages. Of course the meat isn't cheap, in fact we somehow spent $50 in that trip (!), but it sure is delicious.<br />
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Head south on York Road for an easy drive back to the suburbs. Stop in at <a href="http://www.thefillingstationcoffee.com/">The Filling Station</a> if you need a cup of coffee, and then, since you probably packed a cooler to store your bison meat, head to Hunt Valley Towne Centre to load up on any foodie delights at <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2008/07/wegmans-hunt-valley.html">Wegman's</a> before taking I-83 back home!<br />
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<b>See! What a fun day that would be!</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Crabcake sandwich (foreground) and chicken salad sandwich (background)</b></span></div>
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<b><u>Now, onto my review of Soup'R Natural! </u></b><br />
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Soup'R Natural is a small restaurant that prides itself on using local meats, eggs, and produce from nearby farms. It has a very casual farmhouse atmosphere that is great for families as well (my sister brought my niece with us). <br />
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My sister and I split the <b>Chicken Salad Sandwich ($8.75)</b> - <i>Roasted chicken with diced fennel, grape halves and sweet almonds </i>and we both agreed it was one of the best chicken salad sandwiches we had ever tasted. I loved the crunch of the toasted sweet almonds, and I personally LOVE grapes in my salad, so that made me happy. It came with regular and sweet potato chips on the side, and the sandwich itself was a nice portion.<br />
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My bro-in-law got the <b>Crab Cake Sandwich (Market Price)</b> - <i>served on your choice of bread with Old Bay aioli and capers, </i>which he really enjoyed as well. Though I didn't try it, it definitely was a good looking sandwich.<br />
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For dessert we all split their homemade <b>apple pie with ice cream</b>. The pie was STUFFED full of sweet apples, and it was quite a crowd-pleaser. <br />
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This was a wonderful, comfortable, locally-sourced and family-owned restaurant in a scenic part of Baltimore County. What's not to love? Next time, I'll definitely try the soup :)<br />
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<b>p.s. Thanks to my brother-in-law for taking some awesome pictures! If you're into biking, check out <a href="http://bicyclesportshop.wordpress.com/">the blog</a> he writes for!</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1507558/restaurant/Baltimore/Soupr-Natural-Parkton"><img alt="Soup'r Natural on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1507558/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-63388564869478644672012-05-11T10:07:00.002-04:002012-05-11T10:46:55.392-04:00Lamill Coffee, Harbor East<br />
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If you feel like treating yourself to a swanky cup of coffee and some treats, look no further than Lamill Coffee, located in the new Four Seasons Hotel in Harbor East. Be warned though, one look at the dessert counter, and your plans of getting a quick cup of coffee will be gone..... <br />
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......because they make beignets.<br />
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I ordered a cup of coffee and my sister ordered a tea. After a LONG wait (I am assuming they made the beignets fresh to order, so I forgive them hahaha), they brought out our treats, but I was a little annoyed that my coffee was in a mug and hers was in a to-go container - how does that make any sense?<br />
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Anyway, the drinks were great, but the real star of the show were the beignets (3 for around <b>$4.50 </b>with your choice of a lemon curd sauce or Valrhona chocolate sauce). They were hot, covered in icing sugar and melted in my mouth like soft dough-y pillows dipped in an obscene amount of chocolate sauce.<br />
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We sat for a while in the coffee shop/bar area of Wit and Wisdom Tavern, and never felt any pressure to leave. It's such a beautiful space, and a great place to go with a friend, a good book, a laptop etc.<br />
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And yes, there were 3 beignets and yes, sharing was tough :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1677072/restaurant/Harbor-East/Lamill-Coffee-Baltimore"><img alt="Lamill Coffee on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1677072/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-9083554014262154462012-05-04T07:00:00.000-04:002012-05-04T10:24:52.930-04:00RB Kebob, Towson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Samosa Chaat</b></div>
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<a href="http://rbkebob.com/"><b>RB Kebob</b></a> is a tiny, slightly hole-in-the-wall South Asian (with a <i>slight </i>Mexican fusion) kebob place in Towson. <br />
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Don't judge this place on its appearance - it more than makes up for the bare walls and lack of decoration with their food. In fact, the times that Dan and I have come to visit, we still eat there rather than get carryout because we don't want to wait a single minute to start eating!<br />
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To start, we ordered the <b>Samosa Chaat ($4.99 pictured above)</b>. We had tried and loved their <b>Samosas ($1.50 for one) </b>before, so we knew we had to see what the Chaat was all about. It's hard to tell from the picture above, but it was a very large portion and definitely enough for a person's entree! It's one samosa (maybe 2...it's hard to tell) crushed on the plate and then topped with chickpeas, tomatoes, yogurt and tamarind sauce and cheese (UGH - there should NEVER be cheese in a South Asian restaurant unless it's Paneer). Despite the cheese calamity, we LOVED this and would definitely order it again. Beware, though, it's quite spicy because of the chickpea curry! <br />
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If you choose to get the <b>Kebob Wrap ($5.99)</b>, you can order your wrap (aka a Naan Burrito) in a Chipotle-like style at the counter where you can choose your own toppings (chickpeas, rice, assorted meats, cucumbers, etc.) and sauces. Dan likes to get the chicken tikka with rice, chickpeas, tomatoes and a ton of sauces. Customize your wrap the way you like it, but please let them know your spice comfort-level so they can adjust accordingly!!!<br />
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The <b>Kebob Platter ($6.99)</b>, which comes with rice, chickpeas, salad and a choice of meat, is a little less filling than the wrap (and I mean that in a good way). The shish kebobs are EXCELLENT, made with chunks of cilantro and onions, they taste and look so authentic! I enjoyed getting the Kebob Platter because the meat didn't get lost, like I felt it did when I ordered a wrap on a separate occasion. <br />
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Now let me tell you a <i>very important tip</i>. If you decide to get a Kebob Platter, please still order a side of <b>Naan ($1.50)</b>. They roll out the dough and make it right in front of you, so it's incredibly fresh and hot - there's really nothing like it!!!<br />
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At the end of the meal, I ordered a cup of sweetened <b>milky chai ($1.50)</b> made in the saucepan. Perfect.<br />
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This place totally gets my approval, please check it out! I know I'm going to continue to go back again and again!<br />
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P.S. The photos on RB Kebob's <a href="http://rbkebob.com/menu_items.html">menu </a>are stock photos - their food looks MUCH better than that!!!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1677070/restaurant/Baltimore/RB-Kebob-Towson"><img alt="RB Kebob on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1677070/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-68465993509876702322012-04-25T07:00:00.000-04:002012-04-25T07:00:19.119-04:00Atwater's Ploughboy Kitchen. Mt. WashingtonI was off work one day and was in the mood for a sandwich. <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2010/01/atwaters-towson.html">Atwater's Chicken Salad</a> sandwich is usually my go-to for that kind of craving, but for the sake of this blog I decided I needed to at least try <i>something</i> different. I saw that Atwater's has a location called their <a href="http://atwaters.biz/shops/ploughboy/">Ploughboy Kitchen</a> in Mt. Washington that's literally a couple of blocks away from their OTHER location on Falls Road. The Kitchen is only open for lunch Mon-Fri, 11AM-3PM. I was so confused that I decided that I needed to investigate the difference between the two. <br />
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The Ploughboy Kitchen is located in a business park and the space itself seemed so sterile and so unlike every other Atwater's. I wasn't tempted to stay a while, so I grabbed my sandwich to go instead, which took no time at all because there were hardly any customers. Apparently, though, this place serves hand pies, unlike the other locations. I wasn't in the mood for a hand pie though, I wanted a SANDWICH. <br />
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And a good sandwich I had. <br />
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I ordered half a <b>Winter Roast Turkey ($4.95)</b> <i>Sun-dried tomato pesto, celery root remoulade, cheddar cheese, lettuce and garlic mayo on peasant wheat. </i>There was a LOT of cheddar cheese which was great, but I wish that the celerey root remoulade was more pronounced. I also ordered the <b>side salad</b> ($3.95) <i>local field mix, red grapes, pistachios and a balsamic vinaigrette </i>that was very tasty, though quite overpriced. One gripe - I wish the grapes were cut. There's something SO annoying about trying to stab grapes with a fork.<br />
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<b>In all honesty, I'm not sure I'll ever go to the Ploughboy Kitchen again, especially since the Kenilworth location is closer to me and has a better atmosphere, plus the menu is basically the same. At least my curiosity was sated though!</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1540684/restaurant/North-Baltimore/Atwaters-Ploughboy-Kitchen-Baltimore"><img alt="Atwater's Ploughboy Kitchen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1540684/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-22130878944412610312012-04-20T10:30:00.000-04:002012-04-20T10:30:05.124-04:00Rusty Scupper, Inner HarborI, along with my parents, had the opportunity to dine at the <a href="http://www.selectrestaurants.com/rusty/"><b>Rusty Scupper</b></a>* to celebrate the restaurant's 30th anniversary, and we all jumped at the chance. The Rusty Scupper! The iconic Baltimore restaurant that's at the end of the Inner Harbor pier! That awesome restaurant that everyone knows about, tourists and locals alike! And yet.....I've never been there and have never thought about going....WHY!?!? I always thought The Rusty Scupper was some old, stodgy restaurant that only catered to tourists with some bland seafood. I WAS SO WRONG!<b> You guys, this place is GREAT!!!</b><br />
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We had the fortune of going when it was a gorgeous night out, so our wonderful seat by the window made us truly appreciate how beautiful our city really is. Tourists shouldn't be the only people to appreciate the view! <br />
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We started off the meal with some soft bread served with a creamy red pepper spread that had a nice spicy kick. <br />
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The <b>10 Cane Mojito ($8.95)</b> was perfectly made. I'd be all about ordering this again. My dad's <b>Scupper Swizzler ($8.95)</b> was very tropical and sweet, though I forget exactly what was in it other than Malibu Rum. <br />
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<b>Artichoke and Crab Dip ($13)</b> <i>Served with melted cheese over crispy pita chips.</i> This was a surprise - it was HUGE! I thought they had given us nachos at first, since I was not expecting a crab dip appetizer to look like this. I thought this was very tasty though, there are lots of large clumps of artichokes in the dip, but even the pita chips are yummy by themselves. This would be really good for a large group since there is so much and it's so rich - it's hard to have a lot without compromising your appetite. <br />
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The <b>Caesar salad ($6.95) </b>was a nice hefty portion, though a bit heavy on the dressing. The <b>Chopped Salad ($8) (pictured above) </b>was colorful with large chunks of avocado! This was a solid salad with an oil herb parmesan dressing. I would definitely order this as a side salad again.<br />
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<b>Grilled Chesapeake Rockfish ($30)</b> <i>Simply seasoned and chargrilled with wild rice medley, fresh vegetables in a fresh lemon butter sauce. </i>My mum ordered the Rockfish which she really enjoyed. She said the delicate flavoring was a good match for this robust and meaty fish. <br />
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<b>Authentic Maryland Crabcakes ($32)</b> <i>Lump crab cakes lightly broiled with three mustard sauce served with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables.</i> I had to order the crab cakes, of course, and I am glad I did! They were wonderfully full of lump crab with hardly any filler. They were VERY well done, and an excellent introduction to Maryland crabcakes to any out-of-towner. The creamy garlic mash was a perfect complement to the dish as well.<br />
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<b>Bouillabase ($30)</b> <i>Shrimp, Diver sea scallops, mussels and white fish in a saffron tomato broth with rouille and crostini.</i> This just stole the show, I mean, look at it! The HUGE Le Creuset dish was filled with with large pieces of shrimp, mussels and tomatoes swimming in the fragrant saffron and tomato-flavored broth. Please just get this and share with 2-3 other people - no one person can finish it.<br />
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Save room for the desserts! They were such a highlight of the meal for all of us that it would be a shame if you missed out on them!<br />
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<b>Sweet potato cheesecake ($7)</b> <i>Served with warm pecan praline sauce and whipped cream. </i>I wasn't really excited about this initially, but oh boy I am so glad I got to try this because this was one of our favorites!!! It was decadent! Superb! It was so creamy and I just loved the pecan praline sauce on top. Perfect with a cup of coffee.<br />
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<b>Apple Walnut Upside Down Pie ($7)</b> <i>Warm apple pie inverted with a crunchy-candy glaze of walnuts and brown sugar, topped with vanilla bean ice cream. </i>I loved the warm apples, pie crust and caramel glaze, but i wasn't a fan of the hard candy on top - it was too tough on my teeth. I just moved it to the side of the plate and kept eating the rest :) It was too easy to finish.<br />
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<b>Smith Island Cake ($10) </b><i>Six layers of yellow cake and chocolate fudge icing served with Amaretto Biscotti ice cream. </i>I'm not normally a huge fan of Maryland's signature cake (SORRY!!!), since yellow cake and chocolate icing is just not my thing, but I can appreciate this cake for what it is. I brought some home to Dan who LOVED it (though he preferred the sweet potato cheesecake). It's served with an Amaretto biscotti ice cream which takes this plain (for me) dessert a bit further. And, just as with all their desserts, these are all made for sharing!<br />
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<b>Other notes about the restaurant:</b><br />
- There was live piano music, and it was so lovely!<br />
- This place is pricey, but please do keep it in mind for celebrations. Pre-prom dinner, an engagement celebration, or an anniversary would be lovely in this venue. There are several private dining areas in various sizes. <br />
- The views are spectacular when there's daylight, when the sun is setting, and when it is dark - you will want to see it all! Keep that in mind when you make your dinner reservation!<br />
- They have a parking garage right next to the restaurant, which they will validate for $6 BUT they also have a complimentary shuttle service available to guests within the city limits Mon-Sat, 5pm-Close! That is AWESOME. Have a couple more mojitos!<br />
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<b>My parents and I had such a LOVELY dinner at the Rusty Scupper. They couldn't stop raving about the food, the atmosphere and the view, and I was the same way. This is a really special Baltimore restaurant, and we should be proud that it's been around for 30 years - there's definitely a reason why!</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/352323/restaurant/Federal-Hill-Locust-Point/Rusty-Scupper-Baltimore"><img alt="Rusty Scupper on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/352323/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>
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<br /><i><b>*DISCLAIMER</b>: Though this was a free dinner, I was not asked to write a
positive review and felt no inclination to write anything which did not
reflect my true opinion of The Rusty Scupper.
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<br />Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-45354230245406862002012-04-13T12:30:00.000-04:002012-04-13T12:30:03.085-04:00Goat Cheese and Fig AppetizerFriends! I present to you my new favorite "in a pinch" appetizer! <br />
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Let's say you're having an impromptu get together with a friend after work and need to grab something in a hurry, head to Trader Joe's and buy this stuff. If there is no TJ's close to you, I've given you some alternate options!<br />
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<b>I present to you, the lineup of goodies:</b><br />
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Image from <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article.asp?article_id=237">here</a></div>
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Get some <b>Rosemary Raisin Crisps ($3.99)</b>. If you've never had these before, these crackers are Trader Joe's answer to the ridiculously expensive but ridiculously amazing <a href="http://lesleystowe.com/raincoastcrisps/about/">Raincoast Crisps </a>which are a little over $7/box. They are delicious crackers, don't get me wrong, but I can't justify spending $7 on crackers. <br />
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Then get some <b>goat cheese </b>(any kind, I went with a 5 oz log from TJ's). If you want to be fancy, get some of the delicious goat cheese from the local favorite <a href="http://fireflyfarms.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=688">Firefly Farms</a>. <br />
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Then get some <b>Fig Butter ($2.29)</b>, which is AMAZING and you will always remember and love me for telling you about this. You could also be fancy about this purchase as well and get some <a href="http://www.ficoco.com/">Ficoco </a>- a fig and CHOCOLATE spread (I've found Ficoco at Giant and Wegman's). <br />
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Now, get your cutest little platter and top each cracker with a bit of goat cheese and then a small dollop of fig butter, and you're ready to start pleasing people! Sorry for not having a picture of the finished product, but I assume you are all a very imaginative bunch and can figure out what it would look like. <br />
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Let me know if you try it - it's my new favorite (and takes the place of <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/goat-cheese-pistachios-00000000044911/index.html">this appetizer</a> as being my go-to).<br />
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<i><b>And nope, I was in no way compensated by Trader Joe's for this post (wouldn't that be glorious, though! hahaha), these are just my own ramblings. </b></i>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-21940512471951763052012-04-10T12:30:00.000-04:002012-04-10T12:32:33.096-04:00Reynolds Tavern, Annapolis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2uTJKinST0/T1l9mwPHgiI/AAAAAAAAAI8/j6do2M1C3XE/s1600/IMG_0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2uTJKinST0/T1l9mwPHgiI/AAAAAAAAAI8/j6do2M1C3XE/s320/IMG_0751.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>My tiered tea! This tray has tea for two people</b></div>
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Tea, Tea, Glorious Tea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </div>
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I went to <a href="http://www.reynoldstavern.org/"><b>Reynolds Tavern</b></a> in Annapolis one weekend to sample their
Afternoon (Tea) Delights.
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One thing I loved right off the bat about this <a href="http://www.reynoldstavern.org/documents/2011SummerTeaandLunchMenu.pdf">menu </a>is that they offer diners a nice selection of tea menus to choose from, whether it's a simple <b>Cream Tea</b> ($7.90 for a pot of tea and a scone) or a more elaborate <b>Champagne Tea</b> ($24 for the Afternoon Tea menu PLUS a glass of champagne and chocolate).
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I chose the <b>Afternoon Tea ($17) </b><i>which </i><i>includes a pot of tea, one scone, a
selection of sandwiches, 2 tiny savory tarts and a variety of tea cakes and
pastries. </i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RbJCVf_n49U/T1l9lxPwuNI/AAAAAAAAAI0/Z3oHdCWQ6eM/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RbJCVf_n49U/T1l9lxPwuNI/AAAAAAAAAI0/Z3oHdCWQ6eM/s320/IMG_0750.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Cranberry and Orange Scones</b></div>
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We had a choice of a cranberry and orange scone or golden raisin scone. My cranberry orange scone was warm and full of fruit and flavor. I knew from this scone that this Afternoon Tea was going to be a treat. </div>
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I always eat the scones first since they are usually right out of the oven. As you can see, I don't like to skimp on my cream or jam :)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44zAHwwXyng/T1l9k--Ia_I/AAAAAAAAAIs/NgCmP09BZcU/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44zAHwwXyng/T1l9k--Ia_I/AAAAAAAAAIs/NgCmP09BZcU/s320/IMG_0749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b> Savories!</b></div>
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We had three sandwich quarters - one
cucumber, one ham and one egg salad. Our two tarts were a mini mushroom
tart and a mini shepherd's pie that had me oooh-ing and aaah-ing with
my mouth full. </div>
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<b>Sweeties!</b></div>
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Look at those beauties. I was in sweetie heaven!!! On this dessert tier I had a chocolate truffle, a lavender cookie, a Russian teacake, a lemon bar, a piece of poundcake, some hummingbird cake and THE <i>PIECE DE RESISTANCE</i> - a Bakewell cake. When our server told us that this was included, I'm pretty sure I reacted like I had won a million dollars. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakewell_tart">Bakewell tarts</a> are quintessentially British, and this cake <span style="background-color: white;">mirrors </span>the cherry and almond flavors so well that I was transported to British heaven. <br />
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Additionally, (and this is very important though not stated on the menu)
you can have UNLIMITED pots of tea!!!
This is always a big deal for me because I like to try new teas at tea
rooms (especially ones that I wouldn’t usually buy for myself at home). I tried a regular British Breakfast tea,
another black tea called Canton Spice Tea that I hated because it had lemon in
it, and a lovely Green tea flavored with cherry that I surprisingly loved!<br />
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What a WONDERFUL afternoon. I swear, if it were up to me I would be
taking tea at a different place every weekend. Sure, this may seem
expensive, but trust me it's worth it if you love tea, or if you love bite
sized treats, and if you have hours to spend chatting with friends - because
this is not supposed to be a fast meal!<br />
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<b>Reynolds Tavern is definitely one of the best Tea Rooms I've been to in Maryland (along with <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2011/09/tea-by-two-bel-air.html">Tea by Two</a>). I loved:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Their tea selection</li>
<li>Unlimited tea</li>
<li>The food!!! </li>
<li>The proper yet convivial atmosphere</li>
<li>The serving ware :)</li>
<li>The general adorableness of its location - in a brick building on Church Circle in downtown Annapolis next to plenty of street parking and parking garages, but also with valet.</li>
</ul>
Not only will I want to come back for tea, but I would love to try some of the British selections from their menu. Bangers and Mash? Shepherd's Pie? Yes, please!<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/1329209/restaurant/DC/Reynolds-Tavern-Annapolis"><img alt="Reynolds Tavern on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1329209/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-86446128629785220772012-04-03T09:47:00.000-04:002012-04-03T09:47:27.976-04:00Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vqKXZxzqx5k/T3r9s4MmOyI/AAAAAAAAAOA/c72EhXTUQGU/s1600/free+cone+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vqKXZxzqx5k/T3r9s4MmOyI/AAAAAAAAAOA/c72EhXTUQGU/s400/free+cone+day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Today (Tuesday, April 3rd) is Free Cone Day at <a href="http://www.benandjerrys.com/scoop-shops/feature/free-cone-day/">Ben and Jerry's</a> from 12-8PM!!!</b><br />
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May I personally recommend their new <a href="http://www.benandjerrys.com/flavors/feature/greek/index.cfm">Greek Yogurt </a>flavors? I am kind of in love with them at the moment. I've tried Blueberry Vanilla Graham and Strawberry Shortcake (you can get them by the pint at many grocery stores) and they were both so delicious! <br />
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Click here for <a href="http://www.benandjerrys.com/scoop-shops/scoop-shop-locator/">store locations</a><br />
<br />Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-49790962799181949822012-04-02T07:00:00.000-04:002012-04-02T07:00:05.026-04:00Try Some Bug Cookies at the Maryland Science Center!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Maryland Science Center's exhibit "<a href="http://www.mdsci.org/exhibits/HarrysAdventure.html">Harry's Big Adventure: My Bug World!</a>," running until April 29th, might open up some new horizons for
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According to the press release I received, <i>"Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World! is a one-of-a-kind,</i></div>
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<i>interactive exhibit with thousands of live insects,
interactive activities, contests and demonstrations that give Maryland
Science Center guests a better appreciation for the impact these
tiny creatures have on our lives."</i></div>
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And what better way to appreciate bugs than to eat them!? :)</div>
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The chef demos food all day during the weekend hours of the
exhibit, including the following:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rv4WBt7gfjU/T3YWJgtx7ZI/AAAAAAAAANY/mSUqqmmb5u0/s1600/photo+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rv4WBt7gfjU/T3YWJgtx7ZI/AAAAAAAAANY/mSUqqmmb5u0/s200/photo+%282%29.jpg" width="200" /> </a></div>
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Chocolate Chirp Cookies - Chocolate chip cookies with crickets in the batter</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GU8138ACWr0/T3YWKZ80RCI/AAAAAAAAANg/1TnmzgrlNLg/s1600/photo+%283%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GU8138ACWr0/T3YWKZ80RCI/AAAAAAAAANg/1TnmzgrlNLg/s200/photo+%283%29.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Washington wax worms on small slices of Washington apples with a dab of honey</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcX1jY6Z9A0/T3YWL5Wgg8I/AAAAAAAAANo/Zd50dXN1zrg/s1600/photo+%286%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcX1jY6Z9A0/T3YWL5Wgg8I/AAAAAAAAANo/Zd50dXN1zrg/s200/photo+%286%29.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Crispy Cajun crickets toasted in a pan with a little butter and some Cajun spices</div>
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I know I'm not brave enough to give these a try - are you?<br />
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<a href="http://www.mdsci.org/"><b>Maryland Science Center</b></a></div>
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601 Light Street</div>
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Inner Harbor</div>
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Baltimore, Maryland 21230</div>
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<i> </i></div>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-9419842775020012772012-03-30T07:00:00.000-04:002012-03-30T09:57:56.733-04:00Bonjour French Bakery and Cafe, Mt. Washington<b><a href="http://bonjourbakerycafe.com/">Bonjour French Bakery and Cafe</a></b> in Mt. Washington is a special place. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Id9deUyj8pE/T3S4CLnatpI/AAAAAAAAAMA/Di4HceQUA-o/s1600/dessert_collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Id9deUyj8pE/T3S4CLnatpI/AAAAAAAAAMA/Di4HceQUA-o/s320/dessert_collage.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<b>Full size and fun size desserts! (pics from Bonjour's website)</b></div>
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It's a place to take out-of-town folks when you have time to sit and chat over a pastry and coffee. It's a place you come with a friend to gab about life while sharing a small cake. This is a place where you come to get a special breakfast. AND on Thursday nights from 5-8PM, it's a place to get some crepes! Check out their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bonjour-BakeryCafe/137781519578029">Facebook page</a> for more information about their casual crepe night. <br />
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If I am just quickly stopping in, I'll grab an almond pastry to go. What's not to love about a place that makes their croissants from scratch and fills it with a luxurious almond paste? There have also been plenty of times when I come, sit down with a cup of coffee, and select one of their mouth-watering mini desserts. <br />
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As well as the delectable treats offered at the store, they also do catering for events. Definitely check them out if you're interested in getting a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croquembouche">Croquembouche </a>for your wedding! <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cYOAQvYx2g/T3S4Asv5DUI/AAAAAAAAAL4/CTvD6fL-Lug/s1600/croquembouche.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cYOAQvYx2g/T3S4Asv5DUI/AAAAAAAAAL4/CTvD6fL-Lug/s320/croquembouche.bmp" width="233" /></a></div>
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<b>Croquembouche (pic taken from Bonjour's website)</b></div>
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One recent morning I decided to pop in for something savory. I ordered a <b>mocha latte ($3+)</b> and a <b>turkey and cheese croissant ($5)</b> for breakfast. This ended up being an expensive breakfast, yes, but wow was it a special one.<br />
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<b>Yes, you are right, that IS a terrible picture of my breakfast</b></div>
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The mocha wasn't too sweet and since it was probably made with some type of French Roast bean, it was quite dark and smoky - I liked it a lot. The warm (I asked for it to be heated) croissant sandwich was rich, buttery and flaky, and that was just the croissant! I'm not sure what the cheese was, perhaps gruyere? But it had gloriously melted over the turkey. I have never been so full from a breakfast sandwich before! I could tell that this croissant was made from scratch - it just seemed richer and, well, more calorie-ridden :) It was great!<br />
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I can't say enough about this charming little cafe. Oh wait, yes I can.<br />
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<b>They make their own macarons.</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/350315/restaurant/North-Baltimore/Bonjour-Baltimore"><img alt="Bonjour on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/350315/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-3314125703119559902012-03-23T07:00:00.000-04:002012-03-23T07:00:08.989-04:00Langermann's, CantonDan and I went to <b><a href="http://www.langermanns.com/">Langermann's</a></b> one evening and what a lovely date night it turned out to be! The Canton restaurant is in a large open space, with plenty of seating in the dining room and around its large bar. They even have a nice fireplace which I had the fortune to sit by! They have valet, but there is also a nearby parking garage and plenty of space in the surrounding parking lot - so suburbanites anxious about parallel parking (or is that just me?), do not fret!<br />
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<b>Bread Basket of Dreams</b></div>
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First of all, let's talk about the bread basket filled with two large pieces of sweet cornbread and two buttery biscuits. Way to know how to win over your diners, Langermann's :) I knew I was in for a good meal after one bite of that sweet cornbread!<br />
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<b>Low Country Louie</b></div>
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Thanks to a Facebook suggestion from <a href="http://www.minxeats.com/">Minx</a>, I started off the evening with the <b>Low Country Louie ($10.95) </b>- <i>lobster, crayfish, crabmeat, corn coblets all mixed with creole mayonnaise and served in a Martini glass</i>. What a lovely introduction to this restaurant!!! There was no skimping on the seafood in this appetizer - it was full of large pieces of crab and lobster. Though they had a light hand with the mayo sauce, you still need to like mayo to like this dish, but don't worry about it being spicy. I thought it was a wonderfully refreshing appetizer, and one that would be welcome in the spring and summer months.<br />
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<b>Seared Ahi Tuna</b></div>
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Dan ordered the <b>Seared Ahi Tuna ($23.95)</b> - <i> jerk seasoned tuna on top of julienned squash, roasted fingerling potatoes and served with a pineapple butter sauce</i>. He has never ordered seared tuna (served rare) before, but I think this entree alone has made him a convert! He thought the fish paired excellently with the pineapple butter sauce (don't think of it as a curd, it's chunkier).<br />
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<b>Shrimp and Grits</b></div>
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It seemed absolutely necessary for one of us to order the <b>Charleston Shrimp and Grits ($19.95)</b><i>,</i> which is what I always hear about and what our server said is their most popular dish<i>. </i> Taken from the menu, it's comprised of <i>shallots, tomatoes, andouillie sausage, buttery clam broth, stone mill grits and large pieces of shrimp gently placed on top of the bowl</i>. They do not play around with their grits. These were the creamiest/butteriest grits I've ever had, so I was thankful for the salty tomato and clam broth surrounding the bowl. I loved to get everything on my spoon for one big bite - a piece of shrimp, sausage, grits and broth. Exquisite. They do this dish well, no wonder they are so well known for it!<br />
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It may not seem like a large bowl, but by golly I could hardly finish the grits! They were RICH. I probably would just order an appetizer version of this (if they have it) next time, because it was very filling for me which was the reason why I so sadly had to skip out before dessert. THIS WAS SO HARD FOR ME TO DO. I wanted to try their apple pie because the table next to me ordered it and I'm pretty sure the pie was as big as my face. I WANT TO EAT THAT PIE.<br />
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Someday, I will eat that pie. I am going back, definitely. <br />
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They have a <a href="http://www.langermanns.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=GhviSofyaiA%3d&tabid=83">Cocktail Hour</a> Mon-Fri from 5-8PM with $5 appetizers, select wines and martinis and beers. They also have a <a href="http://www.langermanns.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=HaSJsGh4I8Y%3d&tabid=90">Sunday Brunch</a> that looks phenomenal for $15.95 for an entree and a drink (mimosa or orange juice) from 10AM-3PM.<br />
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<b>Dan and I loved Langermann's - we both highly recommend it for a date, for a group gathering, for happy hour, for a business meeting - for whatever! You will enjoy it!</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1494695/restaurant/Canton-Highlandtown/Langermanns-Baltimore"><img alt="Langermann's on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1494695/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-57827687147449122942012-03-16T07:00:00.000-04:002012-03-16T07:00:08.089-04:00Towson Town Center's RestaurantsI was invited* to Towson Town Center to take a "tour" of some of their major eateries: TGIF's, P.F. Chang's, Stoney River and The Cheesecake Factory. Below are some of my thoughts on each place.<br />
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<b>Also, Towson Town Center has been having some special events this month, including one on Saturday March 24th from 1-3PM: Cooking Demo and Wine-Pairing Seminar</b><br />
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<li>Local food and wine expert, Laurie Forster "The Wine Coach," will host a cooking demonstration and wine-pairing seminar.</li>
<li>Seminars will be held at 1PM, 2PM and 3PM in the Level 1 Grand Court</li>
<li>Seminars will include table-side sampling (SAMPLES!!!!!), fun raffles, giveaways and retailer offers.</li>
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Follow Towson Town on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TowsonTownCenter">Facebook </a>to keep up with more events.</div>
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<a href="http://www.pfchangs.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>P.F. Chang's</b></u></span></a><br />
<i>(Check out my last review of P.F.Chang's from 2009 <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2009/04/pfchangs-towson.html">here</a>)</i><br />
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At P.F.Chang's we were given some items from their Happy Hour menu to try. Their <b>Happy Hour is Mon-Fri, 3-6pm.</b> The prices I have included in this section are from that <a href="http://www.pfchangs.com/menu/Menu.aspx?sid=9855">menu</a>.<br />
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<b>Chicken Lettuce Wraps</b> </div>
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I hadn't been to a PFC in a while, so I have to admit that I was excited about trying the <b>Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($6) </b>again. They are still so good. The chicken concoction mixed with mushrooms and water chestnuts are good alone, but even better when made into a wrap with crisp lettuce. Yes, of course you can make this at home, but if you're at the mall shopping - this is definitely a nice appetizer to order while sitting at the bar.<br />
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Talking about the bar, we tried two specialty cocktails, an <b>Asian Pear Mojito</b> <b>($6) </b>and a <b>PFX ($6). </b>The mojito tasted very similar to the regular, but with a slight hint of the pear. It was nice and crisp. The PFX is flavored with passionfruit and hardly tasted like there was any alcohol in it, though I am assuming that is a good and bad thing :) It is supposed to be modeled after the cosmo. I liked both!<br />
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<b> Crab Wontons</b></div>
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Dan was fan of their <b>Crab Wontons ($5), </b>which are made with a cream cheesy crab filling and served with a plus sauce. He remarked on how much crab there was in the wontons, and how well they went with the sauce. If you feel like something fried, and are tired of the ubiquitous eggroll, these might be the thing for you! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://stoneyriver.com/"><u><b>Stoney River</b></u></a></span><br />
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Stoney River also introduced us to some items from their <b>Happy Hour, which takes place from 4-7pm everyday.</b> There are some seriously good deals:<br />
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This menu is solid, especially because it lasts until 7pm! It would be so easy to come here for dinner and make a good meal out of these offerings, not to mention with some nice cheap cocktails! For a drink, ask the bartender to make you a <b>Lemon Iced Tea Cocktail</b>, which is made with Bacardi Limon, lime, sour mix and some iced tea. If you like Arnold Palmers, this is the drink for you. If you like tea (me), this is for you (me).<br />
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We tried and LOVED the <b>Jack Daniel Whiskey Shrimp ($6)</b>. It was so good and SO buttery. The sauce is made with Jack Daniel's (obv.) and mustard and oh my the little slices of baguettes were just loaded with butter and the sauce and a jumbo shrimp. Yes please!<br />
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We also tried the mountain of <b>Bleu Cheese Chips ($6)</b>, and it really was a mountain (though it's hard to tell from this picture). Though blue cheese is not my favorite kind of cheese, once melted it has a mild flavor to it, so I surprisingly didn't mind this at all. If you love blue cheese, it would be right up your alley, especially because the chips were perfectly crisp and salted. It would be nice if they had other flavors for the non blue cheese lovers.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVTVdaWV0jE/T2JSIR2Ck6I/AAAAAAAAAKs/wjMFj_GgBbY/s1600/tuna2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVTVdaWV0jE/T2JSIR2Ck6I/AAAAAAAAAKs/wjMFj_GgBbY/s320/tuna2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The <b>Crunchy Ahu Tuna Roll ($7)</b> was also quite tasty, especially when dipped in the accompanying soy ginger sauce. Sesame seeds and breadcrumbs give the roll its crunchiness.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tgifridays.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />TGI Friday's</b></u></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B7coarO-Vkw/T1l-Z_LcSOI/AAAAAAAAAJc/iDQ_rBlTR_M/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B7coarO-Vkw/T1l-Z_LcSOI/AAAAAAAAAJc/iDQ_rBlTR_M/s320/IMG_0764.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Guinness Stout Milkshake from TGIF (sample size)</b></div>
<br />
There are two new drinks for St. Patrick's Day: the <b>Irish Rita</b> (made with whiskey, sour apple, midori and margarita mix) and the <b>Guinness Stout Milkshake</b> (Guinness with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup). Their Irish Rita was way too sour for my liking, but the Guinness Milkshake was surprisingly tasty, and I don't even like Guinness!<br />
<br />
All in all, I am simply not a fan of this place. The dishes were dirty, the food tasted unhealthy and it's really just not my kind of atmosphere for a restaurant.<br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/">Cheesecake Factory</a></b></span></u><br />
<i>(Check out my review of the Cheesecake Factory in 2008 <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2008/12/cheesecake-factory-everywhere-usa.html">here</a>)</i><br />
<br />
I am not going to lie, I tried bites of about 12-15 different types of cheesecakes. This sounds amazing, but after a while I got a bit sick. THAT'S A LOT OF DAIRY, YOU GUYS!!!!<br />
<br />
My personal favorite from the Cheesecake Factory is the <b>Fresh Banana Cream Cheesecake</b>, but of all the ones I tried from that day, I really enjoyed:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Vanilla Bean cheesecake </b><i>(layers of vanilla bean cheesecake, vanilla mousse and whipped cream)</i> </li>
<ul>
<li>I liked the simplicity of this, plus it felt <i>light</i> because of the mousse.</li>
</ul>
<li><b>Godiva Chocolate cheesecake</b> <i>(Godiva chocolate cake + Godiva chocolate cheesecake + Chocolate mousse) </i></li>
<ul>
<li>The addition of cake and mousse in this cheesecake took away the usual heaviness from a chocolate cheesecake. I loved the rich and dark taste of the chocolate. </li>
</ul>
<li><b>Dutch Caramel Apple Streusel</b> <b>Cheesecake</b>, pictured (terribly) below <i>(original cheesecake with a TON of baked apples and then topped with some delicious brown sugar walnut streusel topping)</i> </li>
<ul>
<li>I loved this because it was so different. It tasted more like an apple pie with a little layer of cheesecake. There's a lot more filling than you would think, which is what really made this cheesecake stand out for me.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_8fOrArNQ8g/T1l-jJhVYaI/AAAAAAAAAKU/BGRw5oszW5o/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_8fOrArNQ8g/T1l-jJhVYaI/AAAAAAAAAKU/BGRw5oszW5o/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The problem is that to get a slice of cheesecake, you have to deal with the outrageous wait for a table because that place is packed ALL THE TIME. What is up with that? <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>SUMMARY</b></u></span><br />
The mall is definitely not a place I visit very often, but it was fun to take a tour like this to see the food beyond the food court. <b>Overall, I loved Stoney River. Their Happy Hour menu was fun, well-priced and enticing! I would definitely go back there again! </b>P.F. Chang's happy hour menu was also a great deal, and I especially liked their drinks. There is no need for me to talk about the appeal of The Cheesecake Factory, because it's already got that in spades. TGI Fridays didn't do it for me at all, but you can't win them all! <br />
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<div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1484066/restaurant/Baltimore/Stoney-River-Towson"><img alt="Stoney River on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1484066/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1419469/restaurant/Baltimore/P-F-Changs-China-Bistro-Towson"><img alt="P.F. Chang's China Bistro on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1419469/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1412748/restaurant/Baltimore/The-Cheesecake-Factory-Towson"><img alt="The Cheesecake Factory on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1412748/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>* I was invited by Towson Town Center, but I was not asked to review, nor was I told what to write. All opinions are my own (and Dan's!)</i></div>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-40862040157176360422012-03-15T10:39:00.000-04:002012-03-15T10:39:28.107-04:00Chili's, Outback, and Jamba Juice Coupons<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Here are some coupons for some national restaurant chains:</b></i></span><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Chili's</b></li>
<ul>
<li>Get any 2 burgers, 2 large drafts and unlimited fries for $20 with <a href="http://chilis.fbmta.com/members/ViewMailing.aspx?MailingID=23622357349&_X=3dXSQKWYgEoY0&MemberID=23632323904">this coupon</a>. Offer valid until 3/18/2012. </li>
</ul>
<li><b>Jamba Juice</b></li>
<ul>
<li>Get a sixteen size Fruit and Veggie Smoothie or All Fruit Smoothie for only $2 with <a href="http://www.jambajuice.com/component/jce/?tmpl=component&task=popup&img=assets/images/Coupons/FnV_Coupon_Landingpage_final_v2.jpg&title=&w=600&h=571&mode=1&print=1&click=0">this coupon</a>. Offer valid until 3/25/2012</li>
</ul>
<li><b>Outback Steakhouse</b></li>
<ul>
<li>Get $10 off your purchase of any two entrees when you Like Outback on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/outback?sk=app_86455798314">Facebook</a>. You will have to fill out a brief form and select your local restaurant to get your coupon via email. </li>
</ul>
</ul>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-38535880764654159872012-03-09T07:00:00.000-05:002012-03-09T07:00:12.587-05:00Teaism, Penn Quarter, Washington DC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yOTxoq-fUTQ/T1l4aMX8nkI/AAAAAAAAAIE/vezVeWt1ErM/s1600/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yOTxoq-fUTQ/T1l4aMX8nkI/AAAAAAAAAIE/vezVeWt1ErM/s320/IMG_0725.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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My book club planned to meet at <a href="https://teaism.com/Restaurant/PennQuarter7.html">Teaism</a>, a casual self-seating restaurant that has an Asian flare, in DC’s Penn Quarter one
Sunday afternoon, which made me very excited about the prospect of having
afternoon tea (we all know <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/search/label/Tea">how much I love those</a>!!!).<br />
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Everyday from 2:30-5:30pm, Teaism has the option of ordering the following afternoon teas:</div>
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<b>Traditional Menu </b>20.00<br />
<i>Tea sandwiches, ginger scone, cookies, lime curd tartlets, chocolate truffles, and a pot of tea</i></div>
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<b>Asian Menu</b> 20.00<br />
<i>Rice balls with pickle & sesame, tea cured salmon & nori, tofu with ginger, green tea ice cream, mochi, chocolate truffles, and a pot of tea</i></div>
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Because I am a sucker for tea sandwiches and scones, I had to go with the traditional menu. In fact, I ended up splitting it with a friend of mine, and we just ordered another pot of tea (I ordered a Keemun black tea, since I know I love that) since the menu only comes with one pot. Sharing was such a great idea since I felt very satiated from my half.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x9JNTcD8hPA/T1l4Y10-WMI/AAAAAAAAAH8/8Ds8eHSZT9I/s1600/IMG_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x9JNTcD8hPA/T1l4Y10-WMI/AAAAAAAAAH8/8Ds8eHSZT9I/s320/IMG_0724.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The best part of the menu was their ginger scone, hands down (get the recipe <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/40-a-day/teaism-ginger-scones-recipe/index.html">here</a>). If you like ginger, you will love these sweet scones, especially with a little bit of the marmalade. </div>
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I really enjoyed their cucumber sandwiches that were made with rice vinegar. Their cookies (on the bottom tier) were OK, but I LOVED the mini tart. </div>
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<br />
The truffle tasted like a matcha white chocolate truffle that I was NOT a fan of. I didn't like the fudgy consistency and I didn't like the super sweet taste either. The fact that it was green didn't help :)</div>
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<b>Some mores notes:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- This is not a traditional tea room, so don't expect unlimited tea or table service like normal. In fact, don't expect many other people ordering the afternoon tea....<br />
- They don't have descriptions of teas on their menu! This always bothers me! I don't know what "Now and Zen" is or "World Peace," for example. <br />
- If you are ordering tea from the small selection on the menu, don't forget to look at the chalkboard around the register - there are more listed there.</div>
<br />
Overall, though I enjoyed everything I ate, it really is just the wrong atmosphere for a two-tiered afternoon tea. I am glad I tried it, but I think next time I would order a pot of tea, some ginger scones and something savory since all the other items that my friends chose looked really good.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/7/106505/restaurant/DC/Penn-Quarter/Teaism-Washington"><img alt="Teaism on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/106505/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-71607490479781323352012-03-02T10:10:00.000-05:002012-03-02T10:14:17.090-05:00Supano's Steakhouse, Inner Harbor<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The beautiful large wooden bar is the cornerstone of the restaurant</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I was invited* to<b> <a href="http://www.supanossteakhouse.com/">Supano's</a>, a family-owned Italian restaurant and Steakhouse</b> located on the cobblestoned Water Street in the Inner Harbor. The restaurant pays homage to the Rat Pack, a theme that permeates the entire restaurant, from the art on the walls, to the music and the menu items. <br />
<br />
Supano's won three awards in 2011(Best Baltimore Italian Restaurant from the U.S. Commerce Association; Best Baltimore Steakhouse from The Destination Guide and Award Winning Excellence in Customer Satisfaction from Talk of the Town), so it's quite surprising that not many locals have heard of the place, including myself! It seems that it definitely is popular with tourists coming from the nearby hotels and from the hotel employees themselves, so says owner Terry Coffman. Not surprisingly, he wants to get the word out to locals!<br />
<br />
So let's get to the dinner review, starting with a couple of appetizers. <br />
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<b>Calamari ($11.95)</b> - The large and crispy calamari were served with an ample amount of marinara sauce. The breading was good, though the calamari itself was a bit chewy. A good solid appetizer, though nothing special.<br />
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<b>"Babycakes" Crabcakes ($13.95)</b> - This appetizer comes with 2 2oz crabcakes, or "baby cakes." The babycakes were yummy, though a bit buttery, with a lot of jumbo
meat and served with a tomato-y tartar sauce. Overall they
were tasty, but for the price, there should have been more, plus I felt like it was haphazardly plated. <br />
<br />
We then each got a salad to try (not pictured). I chose the <b>House Salad with Balsamic Dressing ($9.95)</b> and Dan ordered the <b>Caesar salad ($9.95)</b>. My house salad came with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, olives, pepperoncini, cucumbers and onions, and the creamy balsamic dressing was sweet yet tangy - a perfect combination all around. I LOVED this salad and devoured it hungrily. Dan's Caesar salad, on the other hand, was not a favorite of mine. The dressing was a bit warm and there was too much olive oil or maybe too little garlic? We weren't sure, but it didn't have the usual Caesar-y taste.<br />
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For our entrees, Dan and I decided to each try one of the restaurant's specialties. He chose the massive <b>24oz Porterhouse ($44)</b> and I chose the <b>Meat Lasagna ($15.95)</b> which was labeled as "Baltimore's Best" (though I was torn between that and the Eggplant Parmigiana which was labeled as "World's Best"). <br />
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<b>24oz Porterhouse</b></div>
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<br /></div>
One thing that Supano's doesn't add to their menu is the fact that a lot of their beef is USDA Prime. This is HUGE because it explains the exorbitant (or so it seems) pricing for their steaks. Dan's <b>Porterhouse </b>was excellent, and he really enjoyed both the Filet Mignon side and the New York strip side (though my favorite was the Filet because it melted in my mouth like <i>butta</i>). The menu didn't lie about it being 24oz, I mean it was larrrrrrge, but totally manageable :) The seasoning was simple - salt, pepper and butter butter butter :) <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Meat Lasagna</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
My <b>meat lasagna</b>, made with thick and chewy pieces of homemade pasta, gloriously oozed cheese with every stab of the fork! This is just a good old-fashioned lasagna, so get that Italian bread ready for dipping!! I think it's important to note that I am not a fan of superfluously saying stuff like "Baltimore's Best" or "World's Best" on a menu (unless an item has actually won an award) because it instantly raises expectations to the point where a diner will only ever be disappointed. In this case, I expected the lasagna to blow me away, to attack my senses with magical Italian delights, and although I got a really tasty lasagna that was awesome and cheesy, I'm not sure I would call it Baltimore's Best.<br />
<br />
Since the lasagna was a generous portion, I packed more than half away for my lunch the next day and proceeded to order dessert! I HAD to order the profiteroles since that is one of my favorite desserts (OF ALL TIME) and we were told the Tiramisu is a house favorite.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEZ4nNO7M5U/T1BDZ0JWLYI/AAAAAAAAAHs/KgDHjDwaXkc/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEZ4nNO7M5U/T1BDZ0JWLYI/AAAAAAAAAHs/KgDHjDwaXkc/s320/IMG_1205.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Profiteroles (background) and Tiramisu (foreground) </b></div>
<br />
The <b>profiteroles </b>were served in an unusual way. For<b> $7.95</b> you get three cream puffs that are nestled in dark chocolate mousse and white chocolate mousse on the bottom (though it tasted like whipped cream to me and not white chocolate). This dessert was AMAZING, I loved the mousse so much and the cream puffs were little balls of heaven! Although it seems like it would be a heavy dessert, it was quite airy and satisfying. YUM. <br />
<br />
Dan, on the other hand, couldn't get enough of the <b>tiramisu ($5.95)</b>, so it worked out perfectly for the both of us. The tiramisu was incredibly rich, heavy on the cream with a slight amount of cake. This is tiramisu for people who don't know they like tiramisu yet. There wasn't a lot of coffee flavor, just cream cream and more cream!<br />
<br />
<b>Here are some other notes about the restaurant: </b><br />
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<b>The downstairs bar in the "Man Cave" </b></div>
<ul>
<li>Dan wasn't a fan of the huge screen that plays Frank Sinatra (and probably other Rat Packers) music videos, since it was a bit of a distraction. I personally didn't mind it so much since I liked the music. </li>
<li>The bar is GORGEOUS. We loved the lighting, the style, the wood. This is the type of bar that you could sit at and order Old Fashioneds the entire night. </li>
<li>The service was INCREDIBLE, and no, not just to me - but everyone. The owner walked to every single table to see how they were doing. </li>
<li>There's a "man cave" downstairs that's really neat. They have a pool table, darts, shuffleboard, a large bar and plenty of seating with a ton of tv's. I think this would be a great place to watch a game,or come for happy hour after work. </li>
<li>This restaurant is open until 1:30AM DAILY!!!! That is INSANE! You can order from the full restaurant menu, though it does explain why an Italian Steakhouse has quesadillas and buffalo wings on their main menu. I wish they moved those items to a bar menu though, so it wouldn't cheapen the main dining menu. </li>
<li>They have karaoke Mon-Fri and live blues and jazz on Friday and Saturday night</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AiCZBInFqsU/T1BDX6m2P0I/AAAAAAAAAHk/OMOU9opZBPc/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AiCZBInFqsU/T1BDX6m2P0I/AAAAAAAAAHk/OMOU9opZBPc/s320/IMG_1204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Another view of the basement</b></div>
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Though there were a few issues with the food, I hope it isn't condescending to say that this restaurant has <i>so much potential!</i> The location itself is superb, the feel of the restaurant and layout is gorgeous, and a lot of the dishes was very tasty! I do think the prices are really high on some of the menu items, though. If they are going to charge that much, perhaps the upstairs could be more of a formal dining area to make it more appealing, and then the awesome man cave could be less formal with the big screen of Frank Sinatra and the karaoke every night.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1565246/restaurant/Downtown/Supanos-Steak-House-Baltimore"><img alt="Supano's Steak House on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1565246/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>
* This meal was complimentary, but all opinions and thoughts are my own! </div>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-87891934361485653372012-03-01T07:00:00.000-05:002012-03-01T07:00:00.846-05:00Ra Sushi's Tropical Island-Inspired Cocktails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nkmzotxq0m8/T06OOE-XyTI/AAAAAAAAAE8/gqpM2_U_08U/s1600/Pineapple+Express+&+Bikini+Martini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nkmzotxq0m8/T06OOE-XyTI/AAAAAAAAAE8/gqpM2_U_08U/s320/Pineapple+Express+&+Bikini+Martini.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<b> Pineapple Express and Bikini Martini</b></div>
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Apart from maybe a gin and tonic, or at THE MOST a margarita, I never make cocktails at home. I don't have the ingredients on-hand (as much as I would LOVE to have a bottle of St. Germaine, just because) and in all honesty, I just can't be bothered. So when I go out to a restaurant and find that they have a fun cocktail menu, I get excited! I love trying things that I know I will never make for myself at home. <br />
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The newest tropical island-inspired drinks from Ra Sushi are definitely my kind of cocktails (especially the Pineapple Express!). For <b>$8 </b>each, these cocktails will be available from <b>March 1st-April 30th</b>, or you can make them at home following these recipes!<br /><br /><b>Pineapple Express</b><br />1.25 oz. Kai Young Coconut Shochu<br />.25 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur<br />3 oz. pineapple juice<br />.25 oz. lemon juice (2 lemons)<br />Splash of Prosecco<br />2 Pineapple wedges<br />Slice of lime<br /><br />Preparation: Muddle pineapple with St. Germain in mixing tin. Add everything except soda, shake and strain into ice filled glass, top with Prosecco soda, garnish with a slice of pineapple and lime.<br /><br /><br /><b>Bikini Martini</b><br />.75 oz. Kai Young Coconut Shochu<br />.75 oz. vanilla vodka<br />1.5 oz. pineapple juice<br />.5 oz. simple syrup<br />.25 oz. blue Curacao<br />Splash of lemon-lime soda<br />Pineapple wedge for garnish<br /><br />Preparation: Pour all ingredients into mixing tin with ice. Shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and dash of blue Curacao.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rasushi.com/">RA Sushi</a><br />1390 Lancaster Street, BaltimoreNakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-78433372870896038252012-02-29T07:00:00.000-05:002012-02-29T07:00:17.498-05:00Pinteresting RecipesI'm not sure I ever mentioned this on the Blog, but my friends and I were featured in a local ABC news segment about <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest </a>(see it <a href="http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_county/interest-in-pinterest">here</a>).<br />
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If you're thinking about using Pinterest for the first time, it's always good to have an idea of what you want to collect. Are you trying to lose weight and need some fitness tips? Are you planning a wedding and need some ideas? Are you about to have a baby and don't know how to design your nursery? All these are reasons to start browsing Pinterest and adding things to your "Board" - or basically your page.<br />
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I use Pinterest for many things, including these incredible gems: <a href="http://pinterest.com/nakiya/i-love-tea-and-coffee/">I Love Tea and Coffee</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/nakiya/i-love-british-things/">I Love British Things,</a> and of course recipes. However, I started to notice that it was just another place for me to store my recipes, and since I <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2010/06/reader-question-how-do-you-organize.html">already have a problem</a> with that, I decided I needed to start making it useful and actually cook what I pin sometimes! <br />
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<b>So, here are some of my favorite Pinterest-Found recipes that I've made so far (all pictures are from the original website)</b>:<br />
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<img height="320" src="http://kimkelly.smugmug.com/photos/1235396536_dhRVv-M.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
<a href="http://livlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/03/limoncello-lemon-cake.html">Limoncello Lemon Cake</a> - I actually just made this with lemon juice. I love ANYTHING lemon, and these didn't disappoint, especially the wonderful glaze on top.<br />
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<img height="320" src="http://savorysweetlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Nutella-Twix-main.jpg" width="266" /> </div>
<a href="http://savorysweetlife.com/2011/03/dark-chocolate-caramel-nutella-twix-bars/">Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Nutella Twix Bars</a> - In the recipe it says that they take 12 mins to make. THIS IS A LIE. These are VERY finicky and annoying to make, but my friends LOVED THEM, which is the most important thing if you make food :) <br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY1TQyOYCTDQhsJ_nCwm1Yn_xrZk0ZFDOx5GgBjssJ_KAmjou4hO_2m6x9bKAlX3r2_fhJ9FQk4qF5A-EHEYtqmK0XOyWje7F3MjoxixE7dHIqCC0mCzjIqASWAwp8NjAj-NT9yXPxTaa/s400/022.JPG" /> </div>
<a href="http://www.jerseygirlcooks.com/2011/01/mini-lasagna-cups-or-12-minute-lasagna.html">Mini Lasagna Cups</a> - Made in a muffin tin with wonton wrappers! These were a cinch to make, super customizable, and an adorable appetizer. Love!<br />
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If you aren't a member of Pinterest and want an invite, feel free to send me an email. And if you're already on Pinterest, feel free to<a href="http://pinterest.com/nakiya/"> follow me!</a><br />
<br />Nakiya @ Taste of Baltimorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15555893508420635483noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-32815633941531364142012-02-24T07:00:00.000-05:002012-02-24T07:00:06.582-05:00Tahina's, Owings Mills<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lv875q6EDH4/T0bsOTXxOLI/AAAAAAAAAC4/X1RBYdV8_co/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lv875q6EDH4/T0bsOTXxOLI/AAAAAAAAAC4/X1RBYdV8_co/s320/photo%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712512907828345010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Dan's chicken pita with all sorts of toppings</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dan and I had a coupon to <a href="http://www.tahinas.com">Tahina's</a>, a fast casual Mediterranean restaurant in Owings Mills, that we were really excited to use since the <a href="http://www.tahinas.com/menu.php">menu </a>looked so great. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">However, there were some oddities about the place that may prevent us from returning. For example:</div><div style="text-align: left;">1. The menu looks simple enough online and when you walk in the shop, but it is NOT complete. They don't explain that you can make your sandwich into a "meal" by adding french fries and a drink, but it only applies to SOME sandwiches or even some type of bread. You are also limited to three types of toppings, unless you get some other kind of deal. Basically, it gets confusing once you start asking questions.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. As soon as we walked in, the server behind the counter immediately apologizes that she is sick, but then starts preparing our food......</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Another server then comes out of the kitchen to help her with our order and he has a hard time with the lavash bread (a flat wrap) because it keeps falling apart. He then tells us that the bread must not be so good today.</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. ANOTHER employee sat in the restaurant with her boyfriend/lover/boytoy having a serious discussion about who knows what. Regardless, she didn't help a bit and was ENTIRELY unprofessional.</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Luckily the restaurant was quite empty because they were slow in getting our order and making our food. We felt like all the employees were new, though we're not sure if they were. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, all of that is a shame because the food was surprisingly good. Thought the lavash bread was quite flimsy, I liked my sandwich combination of zesty garlic sauce with hummus, chicken, feta and cucumber/tomato salad. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kYo1bNQcb1M/T0bsNemU5vI/AAAAAAAAACw/-0fZii5diwM/s320/photo%2B3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712512893662324466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>My flimsy wrap</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dan got the pita bread sandwich with chicken and other various add-ons, and we both definitely agreed that the pita was the much sturdier choice of bread. There are a lot of toppings with which you can customize your sandwich (or platter, if you're not interested in bread), such as feta, cucumbers and tomatoes, cabbage, chickpeas, red onions, lettuce and others that I may not remember.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fkELyWlxGtU/T0bsNOjK79I/AAAAAAAAACk/t-_DuxX2wYs/s320/photo%2B4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712512889354121170" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 191px; " /><div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sweet Potato fries and a side of Falafel</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left; ">O</span><span style="text-align: left; ">ur favorite item was the side of falafel ($2.49). Nice and crispy on the outside with a strong taste of cumin. I loved it especially with the tahina sauce they had on the side.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I can't imagine that Dan and I are going to return to Tahina's. There are far too many places for us to try, and we had such a weird experience that it really turned us off. Though I must note a friend went there recently for lunch, and he raved about the place and said the service was friendly and helpful. It's always so funny when people's experiences are so different!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/1429255/restaurant/Baltimore/Owings-Mills-Reistertown/Tahinas-Mediterranean-Grill-Owings-Mills"><img alt="Tahina's Mediterranean Grill on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1429255/biglink.gif" style="border:none;width:200px;height:146px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Have you been to Tahina's? Have you ever had such a weird experience at a restaurant that it completely turned you off, despite liking the food?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-8636801306873466022012-02-22T07:00:00.000-05:002012-03-08T14:48:23.786-05:00Yogurt Maker Envy<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNrAgZ49txA/T0RfRhKRPuI/AAAAAAAAABw/1dk633WthGM/s1600/yogurt%2Bmaker.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711794981976489698" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNrAgZ49txA/T0RfRhKRPuI/AAAAAAAAABw/1dk633WthGM/s320/yogurt%2Bmaker.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 256px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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(From <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/automatic-yogurt-maker/?pkey=e%7Cyogurt%2Bmaker%7C3%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C2&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH%7C%7CNoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule-_-">here</a>)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">I have a case of yogurt maker envy</span><br />
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and it is bad.</div>
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So, let's get one thing clear - I love yogurt. I like to try lots of different kinds of yogurts. I like to buy yogurt every week for my lunch, and <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2010/02/lets-talk-about-yogurt-for-second.html">I like to try all sorts of brands</a>. I think it's safe to say that I am obsessed.</div>
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But one of my friends has taken it a step further. She bought that yogurt maker pictured above. </div>
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She brought over a cup of just plain low-fat yogurt she made and it was perfection<span style="font-size: 100%;">. It didn't need any additives!!!! It was creamy and light, and had the texture of creme fraiche. I had it for dinner one night with a side of blueberries, and I couldn't have been happier. </span></div>
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I am not ready to move my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-SD-YD250-Automatic-Bread-Maker/dp/B00005QFL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1268494211&sr=8-1">bread maker</a> aside and buy a new gadget for my kitchen, but I am quite intrigued to say the least.<br />
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If this has piqued your interest in buying some new kitchen gadgets, use these <a href="http://frugaldad.com/williams-sonoma/">Williams Sonoma coupons</a> to help you save!
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There are some great yogurt makers on sale on Amazon as well (like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/EuroCuisine-Automatic-Yogurt-Maker-6OZ/dp/B001KZM4Y4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1329880409&sr=8-6">this one)</a>. </div>
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Free shipping. </div>
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Could be here in two days.</div>
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All ready for the weekend....</div>
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<b><i>Do any of you own a yogurt maker? OR even better, do you make your own <a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/03/17/making-homemade-yogurt/">homemade yogurt</a>?</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-47791648803673973722012-02-21T07:00:00.001-05:002012-02-21T07:00:08.077-05:00Season 2 of Downton Abbey - Quick Thoughts (SPOILERS)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-em5M96tCElk/T0K3VdVDsOI/AAAAAAAAABk/kYsg21hC4yE/s1600/downtonabbey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-em5M96tCElk/T0K3VdVDsOI/AAAAAAAAABk/kYsg21hC4yE/s320/downtonabbey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711328856737296610" border="0" /></a>Image taken from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007B8EX9I/ref=atv_dp_season_select?ie=UTF8&redirect=true">Amazon</a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WARNING</span>: I hope by now everyone’s seen the end of Season 2 of <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/">Downton Abbey</a>. If not, please do not read ahead because there are major spoilers in this post!<br /><br />Anyway, I think it’s a no-brainer that I love Downton Abbey. It’s<br />a) British<br />b) set in England<br />c) a Masterpiece Theatre production<br />d) full of costumes and lavish sets and delicious food and <span style="font-weight: bold;">teatime</span><br />e) has enough drama that it should basically be considered a soap opera<br /><br />But just like anything you love a lot, there are still things about it that can annoy the hell out of you. Here is my list of annoyances from the last few episodes:<br /><br />- Lord Grantham’s quick affair with the housemaid seemed TOTALLY random! Was it just because she kinda looked like a young Cora? I was confused because it seemed totally out of character and it made me like him a bit less<br /><br />- Sybil and Branson have zero chemistry. You can’t throw two hot people together in a garage and think that’s enough – their whole relationship wasn’t developed at all in the second season and when they left for Ireland it seemed really flat<br /><br />- TOTALLY excited about Matthew and Mary (despite the fact that I hated Mary last season), but I am sad that Lavinia’s character had to be killed off. It seemed too easy of a plot device<br /><br />- Talking about Lavinia, the Ouija board was funny when it was used as a ploy for Daisy to stop being annoying, but I was not amused by the end which seemed totally out of sync with the rest of the show<br /><br />- MR. BATES AND ANNA CANNOT CATCH A BREAK AND IT IS NOT FAIR AND IT MAKES ME ANGRY<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Do you watch that show? What do you think of it? </span>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505878169597888821.post-1861473941975768892012-02-20T07:00:00.015-05:002012-03-08T14:46:59.136-05:00Race Recap: 2011 Marine Corps Marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had mentioned <a href="http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/2011/10/pre-run-meals.html">before</a> on my blog that I was training for my first marathon, but I never ended up telling you how it went - well, it went GREAT!!! I am including here a VERY LONG race recap that I wrote a week after my race in November. Personally, I LOVE reading race recaps, especially if I am considering running that specific race. If you are interested in running the <a href="http://www.marinemarathon.com/">Marine Corps Marathon</a>, registration is open March 7th. Register THAT DAY in order to get a spot. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a message!<br />
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If you need some new running shoes or some apparel for the marathon, use these <a href="http://promotionalcodes.net/finish-line/">Finishline promotional codes</a> to help you save!<br />
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Maybe this is YOUR YEAR!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Saturday, Day Before the Race</u></span><br />
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Oh my, the nerves I had. I felt like everything I did to myself that day would have some sort of repercussion during the race. I was terrified I was standing too much or eating too much spicy mustard, or not drinking enough or drinking too much. I was nervous that the marathon would hurt so much that I wouldn’t be able to run. I was nervous that I wouldn’t hit my goal (5 hours) and feel disappointed in myself. I was nervous that I wouldn’t fuel correctly. I was SUPER nervous about my clothes, especially since the forecast was colder than I was expecting. I was plain nervous.<br />
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We (my sister, niece, bro-in-law and husband) headed out to the Expo in the late morning and arrived around 11:30, along with many many many other people. I thought I would have wanted to soak in the energy at the Expo, but in all honesty it was so SUPER crowded and overwhelming, that I didn’t want to stick around. I am sure there were fun things to see at all the exhibits and maybe even some free stuff, but the Expo made me feel very non-confident in myself as a runner. I felt like everyone looked more prepared than me, or better looking as a runner than me (aka smaller). I was being too self-defeating and I knew I needed to get away from that. <br />
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After that, the rest of the day went pretty fast. I had a terrible sandwich from Cosi for lunch and then I treated myself to a cup of hot cocoa in the hotel room while I watched TV. For dinner, I had some bruschetta and a bowl of spaghetti and meat sauce from <a href="http://famousluigis.com/">Luigi’s</a> (which was PACKED with runners and families!). I decided to not get lasagna since I didn’t want to risk having so much cheese. It was probably a good idea! I went to bed at 9:30pm and slept well!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>RACE DAY</u></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Getting to the Start</b><br />
<br />
I woke up at 4:15am, drank about 3 cups of water, and then went back into bed until 4:30am when my alarm went off. I was planning on meeting my sister in the lobby to have breakfast (bagel and almond butter) at 5:30am and then leave the hotel by 6am. Since Dan was in the hotel room with me, I couldn’t listen to music to pump myself up, so I got onto Facebook. I eagerly devoured people’s words of encouragement that so many had written on my wall.<br />
<br />
For the mid-40s run, I ended up wearing my spandex shorts, a tank top and a zip up long sleeve shirt for my running gear. I also put on workout pants, another short sleeved shirt, a sweat shirt, two pairs of gloves and a wooly hat for warmth.<br />
<br />
We left the hotel at 6am and even though the start time was at 8am, we STILL cut it pretty close. The crowds were just incredible! You would have thought that all of DC were running the marathon! The walk from Pentagon station to the Runner’s Village (where the bag drop and porta-pottys were) was a miserably long, cold and dark mile. I cursed it, but it was probably a good warm-up for my legs because of how unbelievably cold it was, even with the millions of layers I had on!<br />
<br />
Once we got to the Runner’s Village, we checked our bags and then I needed to fill up my fuel belt and then go to the bathroom. I almost lost my sister because we didn’t stay with each other. If you want to run with someone – stay with them! There were way to many people to just say “meet you at this lamppost,” especially when there were a dozen lampposts around me. Luckily my sister found me while she was waiting in line!<br />
<br />
I ended up ditching most of my outer clothes and put on a garbage bag for warmth right before we lined up. I kept the gloves and hat on for the first few miles. I chose to do this in the Runners Village rather than at the start line because I knew it would be too crowded to try and situate my clothing. The garbage bag kept me surprisingly warm!<br />
<br />
Finally, with about 10 minutes to spare, my sister and I moved close to where the 5 hour pace group was. At this point I was SO READY to start running, mostly just to warm myself up! My sister was nursing a knee injury, so she wasn’t able to try for a Sub-4 hour race so she decided she would run the whole race with me! I was sad for her goals, but selfishly I was so happy! I knew having her run with me would help me feel 100000% more confident in myself as a runner. And, in all honesty, I was just really happy to share my experience with her.<br />
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<b>Miles 0-4</b><br />
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Went the gun went off, I was SO EXCITED and wanted to start running immediately, unfortunately there were thousands (no exaggeration) of runners in front of me and it took a long time for us to move. As soon as we crossed the starting line I remember being giddy and smiley and wanting to cry all at the same time. My sister and I kept looking at each other and laughing, I was so excited. These first miles were a blur to me. According to the course elevation profile, we were going up for most of it, but I literally don’t even remember that. I do remember wanting my feet to stop being numb, shedding pieces of my clothes, and running VERY SLOWLY. I also remember that it was pretty crowded.<br />
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<b>Miles 4-9</b><br />
<br />
I LOVED this part of the run. I saw a huge group of my friends and Dan around 4.5 and I was so excited I started jumping up and down! They had lots of awesome posters and were screaming my name. Seeing them gave me a good boost of energy for the beautiful but QUIET run along the water, during which I only heard the shuffling of shoes and labored breathing. This was the first time I ran a race without immediately putting on my headphones, and I was enjoying these sounds and silences. At one point, a woman who was running and holding the American flag, started singing God Bless America. Listening to her sing while running alongside Marines in one of the most beautiful and patriotic cities in America gave me goose bumps.<br />
<br />
Around mile 8.5 I got to see my group of friends again, did some more jumping and screaming, including telling Dan I loved him a billion times, and then ran through Georgetown. I loved these miles! They felt easy, I felt really strong and I was finally getting into a groove.<br />
<br />
<b>Miles 9-15</b><br />
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As soon as I started to recognize this portion of the race, specifically the loop around Haines Point, I inwardly grumbled. I HATED this part of the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and I wasn’t looking forward to running it again. Luckily, I had my sister with me this time.<br />
<br />
At mile 13 and the halfway point I couldn’t believe we had completed a half marathon. I was still physically feeling good, but I was nervous about our pace. My watch said I crossed at exactly 2 hours and 30 mins, so I knew if I continued to do what I had been doing, I would finish by my goal time. We had been going a nice and slow pace for most of it and one that I believed I could continue to do. But I was nervous about the mystery of the last six miles. What if I hit the wall? What if I need to walk for half a mile? I knew that it was going to be hard to hit my 5 hour goal.<br />
<br />
At one water spot, a woman stepped on the back of my sister’s shoe causing her bad knee to buckle a bit. After that, I noticed my sister becoming quieter, which is VERY unusual for her when we are together, and she was limping slightly. I was worried about her, but I didn’t want to say anything.<br />
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<b>Miles 15-20</b><br />
<br />
These miles make you run around the Mall and by the Capitol, and they are probably the best miles of the entire race. These are the miles that make you proud to live in such an amazing country. These were really great miles for me in regards to time, but hard for me as well because my sister and I split up at mile 16. After running through too much pain, and not wanting to hold me back, she told me she needed to stop. When we passed the 16 mile marker she looked at me and said “10 miles! Is that easy for you?” “Yes, it is actually!” “Alright, just 10 miles. You got this! You look really strong! You can do this!”<br />
<br />
And I really 100% believed her, so I gave her a quick wave and ran on and boy did I run FAST. I somehow managed to forget all memory of the past 16 miles and ran like it was a new race, a 10 mile race. I flew around the mall. The crowd support around these miles was SPECTACULAR. I weaved through people, blew past water stops (I had my own fuel belt) and felt PUMPED.<br />
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Now is also a good time to mention that I think running with the fuel belt was one of the best decisions I made. I was able to skip many water/Gatorade stops and food stations. I took my Gu every hour, just like I used to do during my training. I stopped every once in a while to refill my bottles, but it wasn’t often. I just made sure to drink from my bottles every time I passed a water stop. This was helpful for my time, I am sure, but it was also helpful because I HATED stopping. It hurt to stop because it hurt so much to start up running again. I probably walked about a minute total of my run, which may sound crazy to some, but it worked for me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEger6EjyYLzO4SD96vRwk6jv9Mx8hs3pVK0ckU1K4zGsnHiECoHCSVdyv1-s4Gdvtk0_Ic6xpIuVeWImidSrdxeRY5QEApVl19JTgGv6ZmZnUJ9sWtLGySODjf9djGSZiqkuB3CDx8F0OJF/s1600/capitol.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEger6EjyYLzO4SD96vRwk6jv9Mx8hs3pVK0ckU1K4zGsnHiECoHCSVdyv1-s4Gdvtk0_Ic6xpIuVeWImidSrdxeRY5QEApVl19JTgGv6ZmZnUJ9sWtLGySODjf9djGSZiqkuB3CDx8F0OJF/s320/capitol.bmp" width="214" /></a></div>
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Thanks Marathon Foto!</div>
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<b>Miles 20-26</b><br />
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Going into the race, I was really nervous about these last 6.2 miles. People always tell you that<br />
this is when you hit the wall or mentally break down, and I didn’t know what to expect. I knew if my sister and I weren’t running together then I would have my music to get me through, but I wanted something extra. I wanted Dan right beside me. The night before, I handed him a tiny post-it note pad and asked him to write a little note for me to read at each mile marker starting at 20 and ending at 26. Pulling out my secret notes at each mile was a HUGE emotional boost, and I know it helped me find the courage to keep on running and pushing myself.<br />
<br />
I saw Dan and my friends again right before the 20th mile marker and I excitedly shouted at them that I was almost there! I couldn’t believe it! Since I made it to the bridge, the awful bridge where cars instead of spectators share the road, I finally decided to listen to my music. This definitely helped me ignore the fact that more and more people were choosing to walk on the bridge instead of run. <br />
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Oh, did I tell you the bridge is also a slight incline?<br />
<br />
I made it past the bridge feeling strong and headed into Rosslyn. Now, no offense to Rosslyn here, but I wished our scenery on those last few miles were not of Rosslyn or of the highway, or of the AWFUL LOOP they made us do from mile 22-24. The last thing I needed to see near the end of a race were runners who were closer to the finish than me. The worst part of that loop was that I didn’t see the 22 mile marker, so the 21st mile felt like FOREVER and I started to get disheartened. Finally when I saw the 23rd mile marker at the turn around, it hit me: I had ONLY a 5K left. Just a 5K.<br />
<br />
I knew I had to give it my all, and I really really felt like I was. Those last miles were grueling. My lower back was killing me, my legs were feeling heavy, my stupid earbuds kept popping out of my ears, at one point I thought my Ipod died and I even got frustrated with runners in front of me who were slowing down.<br />
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There were so many points in the last 3 miles that I wanted to start sobbing because I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this, and the best part of it was, I knew I was going to hit my goal and then some. Every time I started to think about it, I started choking up, literally, and couldn’t breathe! I yelled at myself to keep it together, no matter how much I wanted to cry in awe, I needed to hold it together until I didn’t need as much lung capacity! The last few miles I ran with my mouth open, in this constant state of surprise, like I was saying “OMG I am doing this, Oh!”<br />
<br />
My mantra through those last couple of miles was “You Got This.” I kept thinking that over and over again, especially when it hurt. After the race was over, I realized that it was what my sister told me before we stopped running together. I like that she was with me the whole way through, even in my head.<br />
<br />
<b>.2 </b><br />
<br />
I saw my friends again right before the 26th mile marker. Dear friends, I was so happy to see you although I’m not sure I showed you, because smiling was not happening. I knew the worst was coming. I knew all about that hill up to the Iwo Jima memorial.<br />
<br />
And then the hill came, and I turned on my "power" song (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ckAbEHhEg">Muse – Map of the Problematique</a>) and I couldn’t believe how steep it was. I thought the Marines were going to be crowding around me cheering me on, but there were more supporters than Marines. It didn’t matter, I’m not sure I even knew they were there. It was me against the hill. My legs against the hill. I knew walking was impossible, I just had to run up it, even pass people if I could. Once I turned the corner from the hill I saw the finish line. I wanted to sprint to the end so badly, but my legs were doing the best they could. I heard my friend, Jeff, call my name, and I was so happy to see him right at the end, when my body was literally shuddering with pain. I didn’t see Dan, but I had figured my sister had found him and he was helping her (which he was, as sad as he was to miss me at the finish, I wouldn’t have had it any other way). I took my earphones out of my ear and ran to the finish line, raising my arms up in the air. I did it. 4 hours and 48 mins and 18 seconds. 12 minutes off my goal time.<br />
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Thanks <a href="http://www.marathonfoto.com/">MarathonFoto</a> :)</div>
<br />
<b>The End</b><br />
<br />
After crossing the line, it was a complete standstill in a sea of people. There were SO MANY PEOPLE. I had to stay in line to get my medal, my space blanket, my food and Gatorade. I had to stay in line to walk across the bridge to get my bag. I wish I could tell you that I was elated and sat on the grass and soaked it all in, but I just wanted to get out of there. I was in SO MUCH PAIN. I didn’t want to eat at all, but I forced myself to drink Gatorade.<br />
<br />
I am so lucky my friends found me at the family meet-up because they helped me figure out how to get back to the hotel and take one of the best showers of my life (thank you to the <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasrw-renaissance-washington-dc-dupont-circle-hotel/">Rennaissance Hotel</a> for extending my check out so I could shower!).<br />
<br />
I thought I would be ravenous after the marathon. I thought I wouldn’t want to move other than go to the bathroom. But I wasn’t that hungry! I didn’t even take a nap! I got home and wanted to stay awake and play with my niece. But the whole time I did that, I was so proud of myself. Even now, a week later, when I think about what I accomplished, I feel nothing but pride. I was never an athlete, never a runner, but I trained and pushed myself and had one of the best times of my life.<br />
<br />
<b>So was it worth it in the end? Absolutely. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.....and probably will.</b>Nakiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02637037124088692118noreply@blogger.com6