The Lunch Blog

Happy New Year, and Farewell

2008-01-02T08:47:00.000-05:00

Dear Internet People,

Happy New Year! For the Luncher, 2007 was a year of monumental proportion. We ate well, both in Baltimore and in Washington, embraced the under-JFX Farmer's Market, got a new pasta roller. Outside of gastronomic pleasure, 2007 was the year we became a homeowner, reached the half-way mark in the quest for a master's degree, and learned some valuable lessons about life and love.

And 2008 should prove to be even better - the new home is nearly completely painted and decorated (thanks to an ambitious little sister who comes for vacation but really to test her interior decorator/drill sergeant skills), school promises to be engaging and exciting with a summertime study in Bologna, Italy, and a thesis to be written and defended, and life and love continue to be rich and rewarding.

This year also marks the shutdown of The Lunch Blog. Firstly, this blog did not naturally evolve into a high-quality product as I'd hoped and I do not see it as a valuable tool for me or for readers, and I tend to neglect it. Secondly, this upcoming semester I'll take a a class - Intro to the Digital Age - that will require me to establish and keep another blog, and I'd like to have just one blog requiring my attention. Please e-mail me at nora.koch --AT-- gmail.com if you're interested in my rebirth as a blogger.

Cheers to 2008!

Café Isis/Al Pacino Café, Mount Vernon

2007-12-10T09:24:00.000-05:00

This place is confusing, from the outset. What's it's name? Cafe Isis or Al Pacino Cafe? And why Al Pacino - Does Michael Corelone own it or did he once grace my humble neighborhood with his presence?

A too-long line at Donna's led Mom and I to C.I./A.P.C. for a mid-Holly Tour lunch on Sunday. Walk inside and you feel like you've been magically transported to the Jersey suburbs, with booth tables and mauve and beige non-descript colors and a flirty waiter with a heavy accent.

Still confused, this place had me from the start. On their menu of Egyptian fare and pizza and pasta, they offer whole wheat pasta and pizza crust as well as soy cheese. We started with some tomato-spinach soup, uncharted territory in my tomato-soup loving life (a quick breeze on Google shows that the recipe is pretty simple - it will be made in a TF kitchen near you very soon). The soup was fresh and delicious, and served with a piece of seasoned flatbread that was ruined by a flash in the microwave. But at $5 for a small cup, it is too pricy. We then split a small "Four Seasons" whole-wheat pizza, topped with spinach, artichoke hearts, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Pizza was pretty good, or at least tasted healthy, but the crust was undercooked. With Iggie's just a few blocks away, I'll head there for pizza.

I may return to C.I./A.P.C. to sample their Middle Eastern cuisine, as that seems to be their headliner. More TK. So as you've read, I'm still confused. But sated.

Pad Thai, office-style

2007-12-05T16:14:00.000-05:00

Contuining the elusive search for an easy, yet healthy and edible take-to-work lunch, I tried the Thai Kitchen product that I found on sale at Giant last night for $1.79.

From the "Noodle Cart" line, I tried Pad Thai. The product comes with a serving of rice noodles in a microwaveable plastic dish, along with a packet of oil, a packet of spices, and - gasp! - a fork. You cook the noodles quickly, in hot water, then add the contents of the packet. The portion is small - 250 calories - but tastes high quality, as rice noodles always do. The peanuts are fresh and crunchy - a delightful natural taste.

It's no restaurant Pad Thai, of course, but for a quick work snack, just fine. But as a noodle dish would, it lacks nutrition - just 2g of fiber and 3g of protein, yet 569mg of sodium and 53g of carbs.

Carma's Cafe, Charles Village

2007-12-05T13:35:00.000-05:00

For two years I've passed by an unadorned basement-level shop, apparently a restaurant, just off the JHU campus on 32nd between Charles and St. Paul. The only sign of a food-bearing place are a few cafe tables in front and a hand-lettered sign offering soup and sandwich specials.

I found out last week it's Carma's Cafe.

For those of you who, like me, blindly ignore this little place, I've got to tell you to check it out. Down a set of stairs form the street is a cozy, inviting, and mysteriously crowded little cafe offering a hot drinks, sweets, and sandwich menu that blows me away.

Last week I lunched on a generous - oh, heck, enormous - brie, apple, and honey panini served on a near loaf of french bread, and a cup of 16-bean soup that was as good as my mother's. The ingredients seem fresh and flavorful and while faux creative, the menu is executed well. A highlight are the sweets - homemade cookies, macaroons, and scones.

Try it!

Purdue Oven Stuffer Roaster

2007-12-05T09:20:00.000-05:00

At the start of the week - a rare Sunday to myself with no where to be but home, finally - again I took advice from Men's Health and roasted a chicken. In response to a reader who wrote he was sick of turkey sandwiches for lunch every day, the magazine suggested roasting a chicken on Sunday then eating boosted-up chicken salad for lunch, mixing the meat with spinach, apples, salad dressing, nuts, and berries. Brilliant, I thought!

So, post-Farmer's Market, I stopped by the Super Fresh on Charles Street (a sham of a grocery) and picked the most-organic, most-antibiotic and hormone free bird I could find - the Purdue Oven Stuffer Roaster. A few hours and little effort later, I had a cooked bird sitting on my counter.

I got one meal out of it before I was so grossed out I had to toss the picked meat. This chicken - seasoned only with salt, pepper, and olive oil - had a strange, unappetizing taste. I'm very sensitive to additives, so I wonder if, despite technical promises of "all natural," these birds are pumped with additives that make them taste bad.

Thoughts? Anyone else trying to roast chickens but having success?

The 20 Worst Foods In America

2007-12-04T13:57:00.000-05:00

I'm fast becoming a fan of Men's Health, for the unobvious reasons.

Check out this month's article, "The 20 Worst Foods In America." Hello!! Cheese fries are my downfall. What's yours?

So Sweet

2007-12-04T13:52:00.000-05:00

A shout-out to my new favorite root:

Thanks to the farmer's market, I'm on a a big winter vegetable kick, which includes a lot of squash and sweet potatoes. For lunch, I've found a simple and delicious meal. In the morning, I toss a sweet potato in my bag, and mix up some cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, dried cranberries, and pecans in a bag. When I get hungry, I poke the potato with a fork, throw it in the microwave for 4 minutes, then empty out the baggie of toppings and add a little butter that I keep in the office fridge.

Perfect! And chock-full of vitamins A and C and fiber.

Breezin' and Boozin'

2007-11-28T09:12:00.000-05:00

I love Florida for its easy living, balmy breezes, and waterside dive bars that christen drinks with names like "Sex on the Island."

In case you want to mix it up yourself, I brought back the recipe.

Saturday Morning Market, St. Petersburg

2007-11-27T09:54:00.000-05:00

Ah, St. Pete.

Most readers know that while I happily dine in the Baltimore-Washington Metro Area, my taste bud of taste buds is in St. Pete. Many is the reason, but today we'll elaborate on downtown's Saturday Morning Market.

This market beats the oft-heralded Baltimore Farmer's Market for a few reasons: fresh-squeezed OJ and cored-while-you-watch pineapple, more artisan foods like this uhhh-mazing salsa and excellent breads and prepared salads, and several kitschy yet sophisticated made-to-order food stands as well as a fair-trade tea and coffee hut (although I am generally a free trader, I can be swayed at times). For $6 you can get an omelette with hashbrowns and toast and sit at a darling little table and listen to local musicians jam, while the sun warms your skin and the atmosphere your heart. (Yeah, I get really cheesey about St. Pete.)

We arrived on a balmy afternoon around one, hungry even after a delicious farewell noshing at The Breakfast Nook in Bradenton. By noontime, vendors were sold out of fair-trade iced tea, homemade meatball subs, slow-cooked bbq ribs, roasted turkey legs. So J opted for the grilled sausage because it was pretty much the only option. Cold off the grill, mealy, dry bun, and poor-grade mustard. Alas.

Lesson learned. If everything else is sold out, there's a reason the grilled sausage is still up for grabs.

But still. Something about it was monumentally delicious. Ah, St. Pete.

Sweet n' Sour

2007-11-26T10:24:00.000-05:00

This baby eats lemons. Like candy.

Don CeSar, Thanksgiving brunch

2007-11-26T10:06:00.000-05:00

Part I of Thanksgiving day was the brunch buffet on the Sun Porch at the Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach.

Opened in 1928, the grand pink palace was a hot spot for high society of the Gatsby age before it shut down after the depression and became a hospital for battle-fatigued World War II airmen. It reopened in the 1970s, and is now a family favorite for milestone meals and events.

I'm never one for buffets, and while this one was certainly above average, it wasn't as good as the usual meal at The Don. They offered the traditional turkey, with stuffing, gravy, homemade cranberry relish, sweet potatos, etc. - as well as carved prime rib, a pasta station with lobster ravioli, and other protein items like mahi mahi, chicken, and salmon. Everything was tasty, except for the pasta which kind of seemed like an afterthought. What was a true dissapointment was the desert table, peppered with aluminum foil tins filled with grocery-store quality pies.

Overall, it was a fine experience. But the truth is you can't beat Thanksgiving dinner at home.

Starving

2007-11-16T12:28:00.000-05:00

The Luncher regrets to inform you that she not eaten in the past few weeks, leading to a dearth of posts. Actually life is nuts right now with schoolwork, freelance work, and work work, plus a pathetic attempt at maintaining a semblance of a social life.

Tomorrow I'm heading to sunny (but cold!) Florida for a week of fun and family, but stay tuned for reports of Thanksgiving lunch at The Don, a wedding dinner at The Vinoy, and hopefully, lunches at a few of my St. Pete faves: my favorite Spanish tapas restaurant Ceviche, amazing chicken place Ya Ya's, and the charge-you-for-ketchup old-timey burger joint El Cap.

Jyoti Restaurant, Adams Morgan

2007-11-15T12:40:00.000-05:00

Happy Diwali!

To celebrate our inner light, G and I caught up for a late-night dinner at Jyoti Restaurant in Adams Morgan.

I love Indian food and don't ever need a holiday to order some Chana Masala, but the experience is way better when you dine with someone who can pronounce the menu items with a semi-native toungue and make solid suggestions. To break out of my Chana Masala obsession, G suggested I order a Thali Vegetable - "An assortment of five vegetarian specialties, bread and rice." The sampler came with, among other items:
-Baingan Bharta (Tandoori roasted eggplant cooked in spices, tomatoes, and onions)
-Vegetable Jalfrezi (Garden fresh vegetables sautéed with fresh spices)
-Chana Masala (Chickpeas and potatoes cooked with herbs and spices)

Of course, my fave was the Chana Masala, and I also really like the lentil dish and can't get enough Naan to dip into sauces. The sampler was plentiful, complimentary, and delicious - definitely enough to share. But not with me - I just can't get enough Indian food these days!

Kali's Mezze, Fells Point

2007-11-15T09:18:00.000-05:00

For a generically fun Saturday night with a slight breeze of urban chic, our party of four headed to Pazo. The Harbor East tapas place was closed for a private party, so we kept heading east for Kali's Mezze.

At 9:05 the hostess at Kali's tells me she can seat us at 9:45. We grab a pitcher of red sangria and its no sweat.

Closing in on 10 p.m., we're getting a bit antsy. Another party of four walks in, and the manager approaches them with a hearty hey-howya-doin' and a smile. We distinctly hear the manager ask how many people were eating tonight (4, the man said) and reply that he'd get a table right away. It was clear that the new party didn't have a reservation. A few moments later the hostess is leading them up the stairs to their table.

Now I know how the world works. Heck, I work in philanthropy. But the manager should have been a little bit more discreet. After some bantering, he tried to placate us with a complimentary spread of appetizer dips and a pitcher of sangria. Kind, but fruitless.

But poor and rude service aside, Kali's Mezze serves delicious food (which is what's keeping it off the BANNED list for now). The Greek dishes are more substantial than the typical tapas restuarant's offering, and most are very flavorful. The hummus, however, leaves something to be desired. We particularly enjoyed their falafel, a shrimp dish, and roasted mushrooms with cheese.

However, keep in mind that we were only at Kali's because Pazo was closed. But the sangria is good, the food divine, and the prices reasonable for a Saturday night - so there is a major cognitive dissonance here about returning.

Welcome Baby Grace!

2007-11-05T11:25:00.000-05:00

She sure did give her Mom a hard time and the rest of us a big scare, but now Grace LeeAnn Willis is doing fine and making our world a better place!

Soup's On, Hampden - Again

2007-11-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

Twice last week I went to Soup's On for lunch. I can't help it. It's so delicious. On Tuesday I had this amazing beef chili with a not-particularly impressive chopped salad. In the future I think I will skip the soup-salad combo and save a few bucks by ordering just the soup - a generous portion that is more than enough for a meal, paired with a chunk of hot French bread.

And I couldn't resist a chocolate mocha cupcake:

Kawasaki, Fells Point

2007-11-05T10:51:00.001-05:00

Been wanting to check out Kawasaki for months now; finally did on Friday and I may now have a new favorite sushi place. Fun atmosphere, with fake on-the-ground booth tables that require no shoes to sit there, pretty reasonable as far as cost-to-quality, and excellent sashimi. We ordered the sashimi boat - for $18 or so we got a boat of well cut, fresh fish including red snapper, tuna, white tuna, salmon, clam, and more, and it was too much for two people. Interesting rolls, including a conch-mango roll that was surprisingly tasty. Mostly, we were entranced by the boat on which the sushi and sashimi were served. And that's why M went home and found the entertaining video posted above.

Farmer's Market

2007-11-05T10:45:00.000-05:00

My Sunday pull from the Farmer's Market, plus a copy of the Sunday Sun:

A loaf of whole-wheat cranberry and orange bread; one dozen cage-free extra-large eggs; two single-serving butternut squash; one spaghetti squash; one green pepper (for hash browns); a pint of brussels sprouts; a three-pound medley of cooking apples; and a quart of redskin potatos = a delicious breakfast plus produce for dinner all week!

Sotto Sopra

2007-10-28T20:33:00.000-04:00

Friday night. Birthday dinner. We sit down at a table for two in the ambient Sotta Sopra, and the server comes up to the table with a fateful question:

"Tonight will you be drinking bottled still water, Italian sparkling, or... tap water?"

Before we even glanced at the menu, we were forced to define ourselves to the server. I found this quite tacky and would prefer that a restaurant take a more subtle approach to this, perhaps increasing entree prices by $2 or $3 and offering bottled water - sparkling or still - carte blanche.

Anyhow...

My first visit to Sotto Sopra was in college, when the recruiter at The Sun took me out for a farewell lunch at the end of my internship. I look back on my former life as a newspaper reporter with much fondness, and feel nostalgia at most anything that I can connect.

I've been back a few times and on Friday, when I needed to choose a place to celebrate the birthday of a person who hadn't eaten anything buy plain rice, applesauce, and Gatorade for four days, I picked Sotta Sopra.

This Italian place has chic-chic decor and lies on the Charles Street corridor that also includes Ixia, Helmand, and a few others - one of my favorite perks of living in Mount Vernon. The menu has everything from the basics to more creative fusion items, and it's always pretty delicious.

We started off with fried calamari, which was quite good. The server told us the calamari is fresh, and I could taste the difference. Mixed in with the squid were the thinnest shaves of green and yellow squash - also delicious. The dish is served with a spicy marinara sauce and a wasabi sour cream. The tomato sauce was tasty but the wasabi was a bit too heavy for either of us to enjoy.

Birthday boy - who came down last Monday with a nasty virus and spent the week eating a sick person's diet - ordered a duck-stuffed ravioli sauteed in butter and sage and covered in a truffle reduction sauce. Very flavorful and hearty, but this dish might be better shared or served as a side offering. The sauce was incredibly rich and - although it was finished - made the dish in my mind a bit too much for a stand-alone entree. Perhaps it would be better atop a bed of sauteed spinach or swiss chard.

Last time I ate at Sotta Sopra, food envy kicked in over H's Papardelle Sotta Sopra - so after a difficult run through the menu, I went for it. The restaurant makes a perfectly thin sheet egg pasta, served with a light tomato sauce and pockets of smoky fresh buffalo mozzerella. Simple, but delicious. I thought there was perhaps a bit too much sauce - it was nearly soup - but I was very pleased.

For dessert we shared a liquid-center chocolate flourless cake. I don't normally appreciate chocolate, but of course, knew not to insert an opinion about dessert on someone else's birthday. But this was phenomenal - there wasn't a hint of sugary sweetness to mask the cocoa flavor. It was rich, but not too rich. And, a delightful surprise - it was on the house.

Despite the irritating water question, I thoroughly enjoyed Sotto Sopra and, as it's in the neighborhood, will definitely return again and again. I certainly reccomend it as an alternative to Little Italy's offerings and as a highlight of Mount Vernon restaurants.

Ersters

2007-10-23T12:03:00.000-04:00

Before the season ends, I suggest everyone in Baltimore high-tail it to Cross Street Market for a plate of delicious, slurpy, salty oysters on the half shell and an afternoon experience that can't be beat.

In Federal Hill, at Cross Street between Light and Charles streets, the oyster bar is on the end of the market facing Charles. This place is a slice of Baltimore, without the sketch, and just as much about the experience as it is the taste. You sit at the bar and a crusty oysterman shucks them off a pile of ice right in front of you, while he theorizes on life and women. For $7 you get a half-dozen +1 served up on a styrafoam plate with a slice of lemon, and all the hot sauce, horseradish, cocktail sauce and crackers you'd ever want. Plus - cold beer for cheap. If you're hungry for more, the market also has a cool sushi bar and offers items like steamed shrimp and some amazing french fries.

Regi's American Bistro

2007-10-23T10:45:00.001-04:00

I've wanted to try Regi's, on Light Street, for ages.

We went for a late lunch on a leisurely Sunday, after oysters at Cross Street. To celebrate turning in a 31-page paper (ok, 15 of it was collateral - but still) and volunteering away my Saturday night (ok, I enjoyed it - but still) I decided a glass of wine was in order.

But that's neither here nor there. Regi's offers outdoor seating, and since this perfect fall weather has streteched into late October, we sat there. We sat down around two, so we straddled brunch and dinner and had only a limited menu to choose from, but that was still enough.

For an appetizer, we had No Choice But to try AJ's Tater Tots, described as "old fashioned tater tots stuffed with melted brie cheese and apple wood bacon." In reality, they were school-lunch fried tater tots and, rather than stuffed, they were topped with some large pieces of awesome bacon and what I have no choice but to assume was brie. While this dish tasted good, it was a little misleading to describe them as stuffed when they were really just glorified cheese fries. We expected something much more exotic and interesting than what arrived on our table.

Regi's menu has two sections of salads - one called Big Salads and another kind of tucked under the appetizers. I ordered a not-big salad, the Cape Cod. If this was not-Big, I do not want to know what is BIG at Regi's. The salad was pretty awesome - field greens (no spines!) with dried cranberries, bleu cheese, and candied walnuts with balsamic. Simple but delicious!

The Helmand

2007-10-21T21:28:00.000-04:00

One of Baltimore's culinary gems is The Helmand, an Afghan restaurant on Charles Street. It's owned by a brother of Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's president, and I swear that while you are in the restaurant you will overhear at least two different people mention that fact or ask server if that's true. (Our server politely told us that yes, that's true and Karzai is the server's uncle, too)

So Afghan cuisine is seriously delicious. For an appetizer, we ordered what everyone says is the must-try: Kaddo Borawani - "Pan fried and baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce." The pumpkin is super sweet, and on its own is pretty gross. But topped with the sauce, the sweetness is balanced out and while I couldn't imagine eating one on my own, but it was perfect to share. I do admit that one bite was more than enough for me. We also got an eggplant - Banjan - appetizer, cooked with tomatoes and that delicious Afghan spice and served with the yogurt garlic sauce.

And for the meals... I had the Lamb Lawand. Two days later as I think about this I am gushing. Menu description:

Boneless lamb sauteed with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and herb seasoning, topped with a dressing of yogurt and sour cream; and served with sabzy and challow.

The lamb just fell apart in my mouth and was so good; the mushrooms were kind of gross and looked canned. I wish there had been more sauce because it was so delicious on the rice; I was not a fan of sabzy - which is like overcooked spinach and not very flavorful.

I'm trying to be more critical rather than just gushing over food, but I actually loved The Helmand.

Savoring summer flavor

2007-10-18T13:06:00.000-04:00

Fall is always a nostalgic time for me. Not for any really deep reason like the symbolism of the falling leaves, but just because I love summer.

To me, summer is sundresses and pedicures and ice-cold gin & tonic, nights that start as the sun fades and stretch into the sultry heat of dark, and the time of freedom and few cares. Things happen in summer that don't happen the rest of the year. Each summer of my life that I remember - most until I finished college spent living in another city or centered around a major event - has marked a seminal moment, starting with the one in 1979 when I was born. In 2000 I lived in New Orleans for those three months and that summer I learned to be the person I am and I want to be. I love those moments of my summers, of my life.

It's October. Definitely fall. This summer was one of self-discovery and a little bit of difficulty that forced me to look inward, and its ok that it's over. I got a lot out of it. And now I'm getting a bit nostalgic for summer, especially after today's lunch: cucumber and what was probably the last haul of summer tomatoes from the Farmer's Market.

Perfectly ripe, sweet and tangy and rich, those tomatoes came to me so late in the season as if to remind me that I am supposed to be thinking, pondering, reflecting on this summer. They're telling me that summer might be over, but the beauty of the summer can pop back at any time, so don't forget it. That I need to appreciate the things that came of this summer all year long, and look forward to the times when I can reach back on those lessons and use them, savor them. Just like you do the surprising fall tomato.

Matsuri, Federal Hill

2007-10-16T23:21:00.000-04:00

Last time I ate at Matsuri, I failed to detail the wonderfulness of the sushi place in the heart of Fed Hill. This time I dined with the same person as I did last time, and it was twice as nice.

Head over heels, Matsuri is a million times better than Kiku, and even Minato. From the edamame to the generous rolls, this place is a hit. Their Dragon Roll - a rainbow of salmon, tuna, and avacado encrusting rice hiding tempura-cooked shrimp - is better than the usual specialty roll. At this point I'm impressed by just-above-average, thanks to Kiku - therefore blown away by Matsuri, so their spicy tuna was amazing because the spiciness was mixed up with the tuna. At our request, they made a special salmon and asparagus roll, and I was pleased with that as well. Matsuri also serves Quail Egg, my new favorite dare for those lucky enough to get sushi with me, and this time with Smelt Roe. (Sorry friends - suggest we go out for pizza instead and you'll be safe.)

Above all, the service at Matsuri is excellent. We took a long time to order, as we had a few months to catch up on, and the server was kind and patient. As the place shut down and we finished our dinner, one worker fed the tank of tiger fish next to us, making for a delightful bit of entertainment.

Matsuri's drink list offers a white wine, called "Oroya Sushi Wine." Sushi wine? I asked the server. She said "Hm, I don't really know. It is from Spain."

Beautiful.

BANNED Kiku Sushi Restaurant

2007-10-16T14:41:00.000-04:00

My first free Saturday in, uh, months was destined to be perfect. It was - class in D.C., then terrific shopping at the always-awesome Cupcake, a nap and then a jaunt over to Fed Hill to meet the runners for rooftop debauchery and then carousing, all mixed in with perfect weather.

Yep, perfect. Until we ordered sushi from Kiku Sushi. Maybe it was an off night, as this place was named Best of Baltimore in 2005. But with so many other sushi places in the nabe, it's not worth chancing.

The rolls were sloppy - too much, uneven rice. The fish was fishy - not the way it's supposed to be, but the way that makes you pucker your mouth because of the foul after taste. The steamed dumplings were crunchy around the edges and the edamame was brown and looked three days old.

So I'm being harsh, I know. But with so many great sushi places in Baltimore, including Matsuri and Cross Street just in Federal Hill, a restaurant can't afford to deliver poor-quality food on a Saturday night. Gross fish, messsed-up orders, sloppy sushi and nasty edamame... Kiku is BANNED.

(That said, Saturday was still perfect. The sushi just sucked.)

Soup's On, Hampden

2007-10-16T14:12:00.001-04:00

OMG. Right now, as I type, I am savoring the most delicious fast-food lunch. If good food appeals to you - good food as in simple, fresh ingredients thoughtfully merged into a healthy meal - you must try Soup's On in Hampden.

I've written about this place before, but today I just can't get over my lunch -- fennel and shrimp soup, perfectly balancing the flavors, and an arugula salad topped with apples, almonds, and a little bit of brie.

It's like I died and went to heaven.

b bistro, Bolton Hill

2007-10-14T14:03:00.000-04:00

After a squash-perfect trip to the farmer's market, Mom and I ventured to b bistro for Sunday brunch. After reading glowing reviews and hearing praise from friends, I had high hopes for this place.

b bistro is nestled among the stately, urban rowhomes along the tree-lined streets of Bolton Hill. Inside it's simple and urbane, lending to a very appealing charm. The brunch menu was simple - the two eggs & bacon bit, an array of omelettes and benedicts, and a few mundane extras like the breakfast burrito and a skillet melt.

Mom ordered an omelette with brie, asparagus, and crabmeat. She was very pleased with it, as the asparagus was thin and fresh and the crab was aplenty. (There's few better ways to irritate a Baltimorean than to skimp on crabmeat, so way to go, b!)

I ordered the traditional benedict. The hollandaise was lighter than I've had before, which confused me - I think hollandaise has to be rich to set off the dish. The ham was great, obviously of high quality, with grillmarks that I appreciated. And the english muffin tasted home made or at least artisan. The eggs were a bit undercooked for my taste, as the poached whites were still clear in many places. That may be a personal preference, however, I've never had such an undercooked egg on a benedict. The home fries served with both the omelette and the benedict were above average, with lots of fresh cooked bell peppers and onions, but unfortunately, were served to us cold.

My critical thoughts were wiped away when the bill came - less than $30 for two to enjoy the atmosphere and eat a mostly good Sunday brunch. I'd like to give b bistro another try, perhaps for dinner, because I think there is a lot of potential. Given the charming location, organic ingredients, and overall positive ruling on the food, I would also return for brunch.

Trinacria

2007-10-11T13:30:00.000-04:00

Reaching back for childhood memories, I recall occasional trips after Sunday mass at Mom's ancestral parish to a magical Italian grocery store in downtown Baltimore. We'd emerge with a Volvo full of gallon-sized tins of olive oil, cases of canned crushed tomatoes, boxes of cheap wine, and pasta, olives, sardines, pizelle, and fresh mozzerella.

I recently rediscovered Trinacria when I moved to Mount Vernon. On the outside, on the 400 block of Paca Street, it's a little less magical than I remembered, so at first, I was wary. But inside, Trinacria still delights and inspires me. It's a small row-house first floor, stuffed with people and walls lined to the ceiling with authentic Italian imports.

This weekend several darling friends will run the Baltimore Marathon, so I offered to host a pre-race pasta party. I'll be in class during race time, or else I'd be running at least a relay leg myself. During my lunch break, I ran home to meet a washer repair man. He finished his task in minutes, so I spontaneously decided to check out Trinacria, in hopes of avoiding Safeway for my party purchasing. Score! I came away with a bottle of vino di tavola (for me, not the runners!), a half-dozen fresh meatballs, cheese ravioli from Veleggia's, portobello mushroom ravioli hand-made at the store, five cans of Cento crushed tomatoes, garlic, a pound each of dried whole-wheat and white pastas (and all for a price lower than dinner for one at a generic pasta place).

Salute, Trinacria!

My Perfect Dinner Tour

2007-10-11T09:55:00.000-04:00

About every two years I get the chance to catch up with a great old college buddy. In town from L.A. for a wedding last weekend, his boss asked him to head to Chicago this weekend, so he stuck around town for a few extra days and took a night to visit me in Baltimore. I took him on a Charm City culinary tour, with stops at some of my favorite places for some of my favorite foods. Only a half-dozen oysters could have made this any better. Here's the perfect drawn-out dinner in my world:

Stop 1: Iggie's, shared a small margherita pizza and sipped Pellegrino

Stop 2: Brewer's Art, drank a couple cocktails in the basement

Stop 3: Minato, ordered a spread of sushi - including quail eggs (yes, I finally ate one!) - and sake

Stop 4: Dangerously Delicious Pies, housed a day-old slice of raspberry pie

Wedding bells

2007-10-11T09:50:00.001-04:00

This blogger is back after four glorious days celebrating the wedding of H&D. I can't even begin to tell you about the delicious meals we shared at party after party in their honor. Congratulations to a beautiful couple!

See more photos on their photographers' blog.

Baltimore's Fancy Markets

2007-10-03T12:59:00.001-04:00

My love for Whole Foods blossomed over a summer living in New Orleans. One afternoon I stumbled upon the adorable little market on Esplanade - it was an intimate, homey store that appeared like more of a mom-and-pop shop than the big ware-house versions we see today. I was hooked. KF and I would go there and get this amazing pesto dip, which I have never been able to recreate, and the makings for our summer hit, "Super Nachos," a dish of chips piled with beans, avacados, tomatos, peppers, herbs, whatever that we ate nearly every week and became more and more elaborate with each rendition.

Anyhow, that love reigns. I love the little market with high-quality, original offerings, excellent prepared foods, friendly service. I try to limit my shopping at the generic Safeway and Shoppers because those places tend to bleed out the pleasure of the experience for me.

The Baltimore Sun published an interesting comparison of the area's four specialty stores. I have my own opinions of Whole Foods vs. Wegman's vs. Fresh Market vs. Eddies.

What are yours?

Bistrot du Coin

2007-10-02T13:04:00.000-04:00

Friday night I finally ate at Bistrot du Coin. Over the years I'd heard so much about this place from friends living in DuPont and nearby, and given my appreciation for French food, I was dying to try it.

Truth is, I had low expectations. But now I feel like a jerk for assuming that this was a yuppie scenester place that delivered more atmosphere than quality food. Bistrot du Coin turned out a fantastic meal in a great atmosphere.

To start, I had Gratinée des Halles (French Onion Soup) that - really - is the best I've ever had. The cheese was perfectly crispy, the broth cooked long enough that the onions mostly disintegrated, leaving a delicious balance of wine and onion. I expect to return just for a second helping of this soup.

C and I also shared Salade d'artichaut et asperges (baby artichoke and grilled asparagus salad), Gratin d’endives au jambon (braised endives with French ham, Swiss gruyère and béchamel sauce), Mergez grillées, taboulé version Bistrot (Grilled spicy lamb and beef sausages served with couscous salad) and a dessert that was not very memorable, hence why I can not list it here. Overall, it was a great meal and representative of my view of authentic French cooking. Oh, and the scene was happenin'!

Have your cake and eat it too!

2007-09-28T13:41:00.000-04:00

Who serves their kid ice cream for dinner?!!??

2007-09-27T23:26:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday night my friend L, a special-ed teacher who is in her late 20s and has been married for over a year, talked about how she is ready to have kids and hopes to start trying next year. Four of the seven girls at the table shared her sentiments, and we went on to discuss things that change with the advent of parenthood. For me, notions of lost freedom and scheduling life around someone else's digestive system came to mind. For L, she said:

"I ate ice cream for dinner last night. Probably I can't do that when I'm a mom."

True, I guess. One of my favorite childhood memories was a night when Mom was at a conference and the whole family accompanied her to make it a vacation. She had a dinner one night, so Dad took us to the grocery store to get stuff for dinner. Each of us was allowed to choose one thing that we turned into a meal. Dorothy chose Pringles, Rob chose Reese's Pieces, and I chose strawberry ice cream. (Dad got a salad).

We turned out alright. L, I think you'll be just fine as a mother.

Dinner with the Baltimore Parking Authority

2007-09-26T14:48:00.000-04:00

Last night the girls met at Yellow Dog Cafe to catch up and enjoy a meal. I'd read several reviews that didn't make the food sound worth paying for a $40 meal, plus I had some school work to get done, so I showed after dinner.

Over a glass of wine, we chatted and had a great time. An hour into my visit, the waitress showed up asking if any of us drove a silver Honda - because the Baltimore Parking Authority just issued that car a ticket. My car. Ticketed for obstructing traffic because the car was parked on a corner and, I guess, pedestrians walking on the sidewalk would have to alter their path to get around the car as they crossed the street. There are no signs, as there are in Mount Vernon. There was not an indented curb. I legitimately didn't know I couldn't park there.

The fine is $52. I might as well have gotten to the restaurant on time and eaten some soggy fish. Apparently at 6:30 there were plenty of parking spaces.

Tabard Inn

2007-09-26T11:44:00.000-04:00

Last time I saw A, we drank a six-pack on my porch at Rocky Point and ordered Domino's. She was wrapping up her internship at the St. Petersburg Times and heading back to her last semester at Northwestern. We'd bonded because she is adorable and sweet and also from Baltimore.

Now she's a full-fledged adult, with a sweet (sweeter than she knows) gig covering technology and politics and living in D.C. We caught up for brunch at the Tabard Inn in DuPont, another fave of C's that I'd been wanting to try.

When you arrive at Tabard - behind SAIS on N Street, in an unlikely place - you feel like glamorous, Gatsby-like people had some wild times there long before you walked through the door. For brunch, the kind waitress helped me choose eggs benedict (remind me to write about my philosophy on this dish one day) and also some "famous" homemade donuts. The benedict was average, with the hollandaise sauce really lacking flavor and quite bland and the ham really not up to par, but the donuts were delicious. If only I liked donuts! While the highlight of brunch certainly was catching up with A, the food was perfectly fine and tasted better because of the Tabard's fabulous atmosphere. I'd like to go back at night and muse over the atmosphere with a Pimm's Cup or a Manhattan or something else that makes me feel like I'm a part of the Jazz Age.

So cute, you could just eat her up

2007-09-25T09:27:00.000-04:00

Today the Lunchbox takes a break from our regularly scheduled meal to wish a happy first birthday to the always-giggling, soon-to-be-walking, slightly mischevious and utterly fabulous Miss Keegan Emily!

Pasta, Pasta, Pasta!

2007-09-24T11:27:00.000-04:00

Our peaceful Saturday night

2Amys, Washington

2007-09-24T11:12:00.000-04:00

After BIG performed Friday with WIT, we drove up past the National Cathedral to 2Amys for dinner. C loves this place, and I was delighted to finally find out what all the fuss is about.

2Amys doesn't take reservations and is enormously popular with what appeared to be both the family crowd for pizza night and the young couples for date night, so we waited about a half hour for our table, even at the late hour of almost 10 p.m. We relaxed at their wine bar, C with a Moretti and me with a house specialty drink, the Lemonade McQuaid - lemons, honey, and Grey Goose. That drink was so delicious we attempted to make it again at home the next night. The wine bar offered a list of the cleverly named "Serenity Now," an exhaustive list of antipasto offerings that were served straight from dishes on the bar.

At a table outside - ah, lovely fall - a Maggie Gyllenhaal look-alike served us Polpettine al forno (fried risotto balls with cheese), Supli a telefono (meatballs), and Oven-roasted olives (hot olives!?). They were out of an amazing-looking eggplant parm and the fennel crostini that we'd ordered. By the time we sat we weren't starving, so this small-ish amount of food turned out to be perfect.

I was impressed with 2Amys simplicity, which lends to some pretty amazing food served in a relaxing atmosphere. Next time I'd like to delve a bit more into their "Serenity Now" offerings and try the pizza, which seems to be a hit offering.

Sushi with Bob

2007-09-21T12:16:00.001-04:00

One of my last trips to the Harbor East Whole Foods was with Bob. On our way to the closing for my condo, we grabbed lunch at the store - me, brown-rice sushi and Bob, a salad and meat from the hot bar - and reviewed the condo documents and strategized my (failed) demand for a new air handler in the unit. I met Bob in improv class and then, after finding the condo I wanted, figured I'd just have him be my real estate agent. What a bonding experience.

Anyhow, I recently told Bob he is my hero. He wrote about why in an entry on his blog. It sounds like I was joking, but there is a lot of truth there. While I make concious decision to focus on positives in life and am generally very happy with my lot - thrilled, actually, I am trying to figure out how to balance the desire to break free of the American standard (born, educated, job, married, kids, retire, die, as explained by my Dad) with the need to pay my mortgage and eat at good restaurants. Consumerism is killing my American Dream!

My sketchy understanding is that Bob worked in IT at a government agency for a few years, and then realized this wasn't the life for him. He's now in that stage we all go through trying to figure out how to make life fulfilling - but rather than doing that behind a desk he's doing it while sleeping at his parents' house and doing some odd - but meaningful - jobs part time. I admire Bob's courage to break out of the prescribed choices most of us make and I only wish I had his moxy!

Cheers to Bob!

Anyone out there have any suggestions to this modern problem of philosophy?

Australian cuisine

2007-09-21T09:53:00.000-04:00

For months I've been (obnoxiously?) anticipating my first taste of a Roo Burger - but the truth is that I've never actually considered Australian cuisine. As I learn more and more about the country that I liken to Disney World in form of a nation, I'm finding out about Australian foods and C's favorites, most notably, Vegemite.

Vegemite is a dark brown, super-salty paste that tastes like wet buillion on steriods. The Kraft Foods of Australia website describes it as a concentrated yeast product and full of vitamin B. If C eats breakfast, it's Vegemite spread on toast, and apparently, his countrymen swear by this as a cure-all health food. It's part of their heritage. When he shared it with me for the first time, he told me how Americans can't handle the strong taste of Vegemite - and, in fact, a product launch in the U.S. failed - so I was only allowed to taste a tiny bit on a cracker. I stomached it, and will do it again, because I think I might be brainwashed like the Aussies into believing this stuff is good for me!

Still waiting for that Roo Burger.

Read more in Whole Foods' feature on Australian cuisine.

Minato, again

2007-09-17T14:24:00.000-04:00

Bob nominated me this week as "most likely to overdose on sushi." His prediction is even more likely now that I've discovered the deals at Minato.

At lunchtime today, I snuck out of the office to meet the appliance repairman at my place. Thanks to the Federalist Papers, I've neglected nearly everything this past week, most notably grocery shopping and laundry. So I called Minato and ordered their three-roll combo - a generous deal that gives you two fish rolls and one veggie roll for $10.95. I got spicy tuna, cucumber and plum, and bagel (a departure from the usual, but fun and spontaneous). After lunch, I still have enough leftover for a pre-class dinner!

Tamber's Restaurant, Charles Village

2007-09-14T10:26:00.000-04:00

From buffalo wings and sandwich wraps to tikki masala and naan, you can order most anything Indian and generically American at Tamber's in Charles Village.

After learning that I have faculty privileges at the library - which means I can check a book out for the entire school year and it can not be recalled - I met a biomed post-doc for lunch. Charles Village doesn't offer a wide selection of reasonable (sofar as cost, time, healty) lunch spots, so we settled on the default Tamber's.

I ordered Chana - chickpeas in a masala sauce - and naan, and Biomed Post-doc ordered tandoori chicken. We don't know each other well, and I have that strange American detatchment/individualism thing going on, but I mustered up the decency to share. No way I could eat that many chickpeas myself, anyway.

Generally, Tamber's Indian food is pretty excellent, and not too oily - the mark of bad Indian to my uncultured palate (much to the chagrin of G). It's a bit expensive for lunch - some chickpeas, four folds of naan, and an iced tea cost me $18 - but that's the price you pay to stay away from the university dining hall.

Chicken Curry in Acorn Squash

2007-09-13T10:56:00.000-04:00

With the advent of another autumn, it's time to begin worshipping the squash. Spaghetti, acorn, butternut - whatever you choose, nature's perfect package offers a delicious source of nutrition that's often entertaining, too.

Stumbling on the first acorns of the season at the Farmer's Market, I was inspired to make a recipe I'd clipped last winter from Men's Health: Chicken Curry in Acorn Squash. The meal turned out simple to make, delicious to eat, fun to put in a bowl made of squash, and nutritous. If you try the recipe, I'd suggest using a little more curry powder and more raisins.

Farmer's Market delights

2007-09-13T10:14:00.000-04:00

Most Sundays I go to the Farmer's Market and buy lots of vegetables that I'll never eat. But now I'm trying to force myself to not waste the bounty.

To save the crimini mushrooms, I sauteed them in a little butter with french shallots (also acquired at the FM) and then cooked the mixture with an egg. With a fresh yellow tomato, this turned into an awesome meal.

Partly in vain, I rescued a mess of baby eggplant, green pepper, and zuchini, along with store-bought cherry tomatos and, of course, those French shallots, and made a faux rattitoule. First, I roasted the cubed eggplant in olive oil and salt, then I added everything to a pan and cooked it with more olive oil. The first round was delicious, with a sprinkling of parmesean cheese - but the leftovers looked more like depressing oil soup

Sette Osteria

2007-09-10T10:34:00.000-04:00

As summer fades and talk turns to Christmas in Tuscany, we couldn't help but find Italian for dinner. (That, and the wait at Bistro Du Coin was too long.) We settled on DuPont's Sette Osteria, where C had been before but been displeased with the service.

Our forgot-to-make-reservations Friday night turned out, however, to be a surprising delight here. We waited for our table for about 20 minutes, a time that flew by with a glass of Rose at the restaurant bar. After we were seated - and famished, as it was nearing 9 p.m. - we ordered calamari. I selected the "calamari" genre, and C honed it down by choosing the grilled dish rather than the fried - Calamari alla griglia offered perfect summer flavor, charred just right and served atop greens in a lemon vinagrette.

For our meal, we ordered two dishes to share:

"Cavatelli con cime di rapa, salsiccia e pomodoro" - Cavatelli pasta with mild Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, pecorino cheese

"Pesce spada alla Trapanese" - Seared swordfish on a Trapanese pesto sauce with roasted eggplant

Both were delicious - again, a surprise for a cheeky, scene-y DuPont restaurant better known for its pizza. The pasta dish offered a great balance between the ground sausage and the seasoned broccoli, and wasn't too heavy as pasta often is. The fish was the clear winner, topped with capers, tomatos, and olives that tasted delicious, atop diced eggplant, not overcooked, as eggplant often is, and cooked in some wine. Perfect!

Our service was fine - good, actually. When I mentioned to someone that we'd eaten at Sette, the first comment was "Oh the food is good but I always get terrible service." It wasn't an issue at all, and our server was extremely attentive and the food came out in fair time.

Eating out Italian isn't my first choice, as I belive I can create that cuisine well enough myself. But for a fun, low-key Friday night dinner, Sette delivered on all fronts.

Flour + Egg + Salt + Oil = Pasta

2007-09-06T09:55:00.000-04:00

Last night I christened the new pasta machine, in anticipation of a low-key pasta party at my place toinght.

First, I hand-mixed (literally, with my washed fingers and palms) a non-measured recipe of flour, eggs, salt, and olive oil.

After some kneading on my granite countertop, the ingredients turned into a pasty ball.

They "rested" for a while under a towel and then I cranked them through the new pasta machine so they were long, thin ribbons.

After another little nap, I cut the pasta into looong pieces of fetticuine, then stored them in the fridge in an air-tight container for tonight's meal. Mostly I just wanted to make sure the pasta machine was seasoned and ready to work and that I was able to mix the pasta dough by hand, sans Cuisinart.

New York Times Takes Canton

2007-09-05T15:19:00.000-04:00

After living in Canton for two years, and partying there longer, I have a deep affection for my city's grungier hot spot. Many a memory has been made - and lost - on the square that honors seaman John O'Donnell almost as grandly as it honors Natty Boh and RBVs.

The New York Times recently published "Cold Yuengling, Fresh Oysters" -- a sloppy travel piece that lists the restaurants and stores lining Canton Square. Firstly, the illo graphic calls South Curley Street "Scurley Street" and beyond that, it appears that the writer didn't actually dine at Mama's On the Half Shell or order a drink at Coburn's before suggesting readers go there. They mention Looney's but miss JD's Smokehouse, where the food is pretty great for bar stuff. They mention Mama's but forget Portside.

Alas. Black-and-white print, written by someone who doesn't know - the tragedy of journalism, lamented by a fundraiser who recently wrote an authoritative piece on secrets of the hotel industry for a major publication.

Dinner, August 31

2007-09-05T15:02:00.000-04:00

The Brewer's Art quickly became a neighborhood fave after I moved into Mount Vernon. Partly because they offer Nora beer, an Italian hoppy brew. Off the menu, Nora costs $15, seemingly pricey even in a haute beer house. But she comes with two glasses and can last almost all the way through happy hour.

This place is also a fave because of the food, of course. Upstairs Brewer's serves dark, cave-like haute-ish cuisine, like rabbit and pork, in a classy, white-tablecloth atmosphere. But downstairs is where you'll find the real gem; excellent food they try to pass as bar grub but really is high-quality fare at a reasonable price. The burger is a favorite, not remarkably different than what you'll find anywhere else, but a perfect excecution of a favorite. And the fries... now I generally try not to eat French Fries. (Years ago, during the post-college chunky days, a friend in Philadelphia and I were having those young-20s insecure weight conversations. She said something like "well, you really like french fries..." And I stopped eating them.) Except when I'm at Brewer's. These are the most delicious, perfectly delicate fries cooked to perfection and seasoned with rosemary.

Dinner, August 28

2007-08-29T14:40:00.000-04:00

After five days of eating things like Pigs in A Blanket (small hot dogs baked in refrigerated biscuit dough - I really didn't know people acually ate that) and sausage sandwiches for breakfast, C came back from visiting a friend in Colorado and needed sushi.

So I surprised my self, even, and jetted down to DuPont after work. We went to his fave little sushi place on P Street, which he likes because the inside reminds him of Tokyo. And therefore, the sushi must be real, too. Anyhow, we ordered edamame for an appetizer and he had miso soup, and a reasonable array of sushi:

What's amazing enough for a blog post was the crispy shrimp roll. Now generally, I'm morally opposed to sushi with cream cheese or tempura in it, but this turned out to be a winner - perfectly crunchy and lightly fried on the top, and sweet and spicy underneath. Mmmm.

After dinner, we ventured out for a drink and an unplanned shisha at Gazuza, high above the busy streets of Washington. We sat on a couch, smoked the hookah, and had a few drinks. A perfectly healthy Tuesday night.

Lunch, August 27

2007-08-27T14:29:00.000-04:00

Today I feel like a member of the proletariat, as most of the world appears to be on vacation. Virtually the entire population of my office, most of my Baltimore girlfriends, and even my own boyfriend, who is hiking in Colorado. Fun for me.

But, dear blog readers, for you, that means descriptions of too-long lunches. Mom, in town for the day to deliver a new present to me, stopped by the office and we went to Soup's On in Hampden.

Now, I don't actually like Hampden - it's a little to kitschy and hispter-y for me. But I like a few of the restaurants and the stores, including the most amazing soup place. Soup's On caught on quickly, so it's not a rare find. The proprietor, who appears to be there daily, makes soups from fresh, mostly local ingredients, and serves them up and garnishes them to order. She also offers salads - original ones with exotic-ish ingredients - and chicken pot pies. It's not cheap - $8 or so for a bowl of soup and bread - but certainly worth venturing in to HAMpden to enjoy a burst of fresh goodness. Mom got tomato-bread soup, which was like a taste of garden, with fresh basil - inspired me to try a bready soup recipe I recently found. I got a cupcake from Rose's, the dessert place partnered with Soup's On, but in truth, it fell short of my expectations as it was two or three days old and the cake lacked dense flavor.

Lunch, August 25

2007-08-27T12:09:00.001-04:00

Alas. Over in Fed Hill to pick up a pair of earrings for a friend, I decided to stop in Cross Street Market for a roll of sushi for lunch. I'd been out all morning running errands, from Home Depot to the drug store to the post office, and was famished. What would hit the spot better than a fresh roll of sushi?

Well, I walk in and standing by the door is Tall Mike, the shy guy who never kissed me after five dates. Then he went to China, leaving with a text that said "Can't wait to kiss you when I get back," and I decided to give girlfriendom with C a try. So when Tall Mike got back, I had to tell him that we wouldn't be getting around to that kiss.

Which totally sucks, because he's a really cool person and I know we would be great friends. Apparently that's not how it works in the dating world.

What also sucks is that I didn't get any sushi on Saturday.

Dinner, August 25

2007-08-27T11:48:00.000-04:00

In the midst of a ridiculous personal crisis that makes me wonder if I'm working with the romantic mindset of a typical dude rather than a woman, I met E for dinner at Jack's Bistro in Canton.

Before arriving, I'd been dreaming of the braised short ribs that a girlfriend had nearly killed me with one night, while I sat across the table with my miserable (but delicious) cheeseburger. Damn food envy. (The description: Beef short rib braised in a merlot wine, dijon mustard, and caramelized onion BBQ sauce. Served with French cole slaw, and jalapeno, bacon, and smoked gouda grits.)

But when we got to Jack's, the hot bartender lured us to the stools when he spoke of happy hour, when most drinks and all appetizers are $2 off. We ended up ordering four apps and four drinks, for a stool saving of $16. Worth it!

I mention this to my dear readers so you, too, can experience Jack's at the happy hour discount. Because this place serves up dishes you'd never imagine, the point of coming here is to experience, not to stuff your face. So I reccomend sharing a few plates, as E and I did with the four appetizers, so you can experience as many of these wacky dishes as possible. To wit:

The Logom- A grilled all beef hotdog wrapped up in flatbread with shrimp salad, mashed potatoes, fried onions, lettuce, and spices. How the heck do you come up with something like this? It tasted good, particularly due to the high quality of the dog, but felt kind of late-night in the sorority house kitchen.

Macaroni and Cheese and Chocolate- Shell pasta with a blend of five cheeses and shaved Belgian milk chocolate. I've expounded before on the beauty of this dish; each bite is still a surprise when you taste the cheese and chocolate meshing together in a perfect balance. Cheese and chocolate???!?! That's the thought every time.

Cheeseburger Balls- Bacon, ground angus beef, mozzarella cheese, ketchup, and seasonings rolled in bread and lightly fried. Served with seasoned french fries, and tomato aioli. I tasted this and felt like I could die, right then. The bread tastes homemade, and seems baked, not fried. And the beef mixture inside is so perfect, I might not ever eat another cheeseburger again.

Champagne juiceboxes

2007-08-23T10:55:00.000-04:00

Move over Juicy Juice and even Capri Sun: At Hotel Palomar, I met the new must-have for spur-of-the-moment parties. Champagne in a can. Canned by Coppola, the "Sofia mini" isn't the best champagne ever, but it's made up for in the experience of drinking it from an adorable pink can out of an extendable straw that came wrapped in plastic and glued to the can's side. I've already called The Wine Source to see if they can order me a case.

Dinner, August 18

2007-08-23T10:45:00.000-04:00

To celebrate H's last night out, I organized a dinner at Oyamel. Ritzy mexican food, served tapas style. Our menu included:
Guacamole, mixed tableside

Salmon ceviche

Delicious potato fritters

Mussels with stinky cheese

Scallops cooked in pumpkin oil, with pumpkin seeds and pumpkin puree

Fish tacos

...and tres leches cake and a mole cake for dessert

Happy Birthday, Kim

2007-08-23T10:44:00.000-04:00

A oreo cookie cake to celebrate Kim's birthday!

Does anyone actually read this?

2007-08-23T10:43:00.000-04:00

Just wondering. I might stop doing it if no one is reading it. Send me an e-mail or leave a comment just so I know.

Brunch, Sunday August 12

2007-08-13T12:24:00.000-04:00

Enroute to the Farmer's Market, we stopped for brunch at Donna's, which reminds C of a European cafe. I totally dig that because in my insecurities about my city, I attach to any comparision between Baltimore and a sophisticated, urbane place.

I ate a berry salad - all my favorite delights topping some mixed greens, with a chunk of gorgonzola and a vinagrette.

Sunday turned out to be like, the best day ever, and I'm sure it's because I started it off with a perfect meal.

Dinner, August 10

2007-08-13T09:09:00.000-04:00

Green Chicken Curry. At the tender age of 16, C, at home in Sydney, watched a TV cooking show where they made green chicken curry. The teenager copied down the recipe and has been making it now for 19 years. (Quirky, yes - and I love it.)

So I got to try this mastered recipe for dinner - basically its chicken, cooked in a sauce of cilantro, lime, curry, and ginger, with little corns, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and whatever else inspires. In this case, it was asparagus. And then, served over basmati rice.

Not his recipe, but similar: Green Chicken Curry.

Dinner, August 8

2007-08-13T09:02:00.000-04:00

I love my mom. But seriously, the last think I want to do after a day at work is drive to Hampstead, Maryland, to hang out with anyone, even the person who gave me life.

But I can be bribed... Mom gave me a call at 5, imagining that we'd made plans for me to come out and assemble her new treadmill. Well, we hadn't. I was annoyed that she assumed. And then...

She told me that she's made spaghetti sauce, from scratch, with tomatoes and herbs fresh from her garden.

I was heading north on 83 in about 10 minutes.

Dinner, August 7

2007-08-13T08:51:00.001-04:00

It seems like ages ago that R's time was at my disposal. Now that she is shacking up with some guy, and I'm running my own bachelorette pad, we actually have to SCHEDULE hanging out together. Alas, the perils of becoming an adult.

R and I went for dinner to Samos, our favorite Greek place in Baltimore's Greektown. While I wouldn't say the food they serve is exactly what I ate in Greece, nor is it as good as what I ate when I worked in Tarpon Springs, it's still pretty good, particularly their mezze dips.

What we (notice the "we" - I'm pulling at strings to keep my relationship with R as tight as it was when we shared a home) love are the salads.

Mmm... after sharing calamari, R got the Neptune salad, with shrimp, and I got a Greek Salad with Chicken. Their "famous" dressing is pretty decent, but overall its just an above-average quality American Greek Salad. Healthy, fun, engaging, at least as far as salads go.

While the salads were delicious, mostly, it was great to catch up. Lots has changed in the month since we parted ways, and its tough not having a live-in BFF. But, apparently, absence makes the heart grow fonder...

Alas

2007-08-13T08:47:00.000-04:00

Loyal readers, (all zero of you)

Apologies for the dearth of posting this past week. I haven't eaten.

Just kidding - swamped with work, semester-end projects, a freelance gig.

I know you're dying for an update and I promise to get back on the wagon.

Dinner, August 6

2007-08-07T15:02:00.000-04:00

You know what happens when I don't eat. And if you don't know, then, well, keep making sure that I eat at regular intervals and you'll be fine. (see: California drama, all caused when Nora had to wait til 3 p.m. for lunch.)

So Mondays are rough this summer. Class runs from 6 p.m. to 9, in Washington, D.C. Which takes 90 minutes to get to, and an hour to get home from. And all lasts right in the middle of dinner.

This Monday, Torie Clark spoke to our class about how to handle and craft communications responses to crises. She had a lot to say, having served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and run the Pentagon's pr when the Iraq war started.

And all that made me hungry. As soon as she left, I pulled out a salad, brought from home, squeezed a lemon over the lettuce, tomatoes, and cukes, and ate salad while my classmates and I discussed the perils of working for Ted Stevens and whether our teaher planned to fail us all.

I felt creepy eating dinner at a table meant for discussing communications and speechwriting strategy, but sometimes you've just gotta do what you gotta do.

Brunch, August 5

2007-08-06T09:37:00.000-04:00

For Christmas several years ago, I got my cousin a gift certificate to eat at Cashion's Eat Place in Adams Morgan. I ordered it over the phone and it was mailed to me, so I'd never been to the place, but had heard it was good. So I was excited to go there for Sunday brunch.

For brunch, I ordered a mimosa, iced tea, and water. Oh, and whatever is the french word for grilled cheese... croque, I think? This grilled sandwich - also perfection - was made of Parisian ham on the inside, and melted gruyere on the outside. Came with a salad. C had a bison-beef burger, served without a bun, topped with a poached egg and bernaise sauce. Apparently this is also how they eat burgers in Australia - topped with an egg. Oh-kay.

For dessert - c'mon, it was Sunday brunch - we had the Linzer torte. I always forget that I hate Linzer torte - too jammy for me - but it was so beautiful.

Dinner, August 3

2007-08-06T09:13:00.000-04:00

The summer I spent in New Orleans was a three-month-long seminal moment in my life. I'll spare my dear readers the litany of self-discovery and personal growth, but for the gastronomic: the beignets, po-boys, fried oysters, red beans and rice cooked by Kermit Ruffin and served at intermission, chickory coffee... the list goes on and on.

So I was estatic to try Acadiana, where they serve Louisiana southern-style cuisine and friends have returned from with rave reviews. We started off with drinks at the bar - C had a mojito and I a Pimm's Cup, my newfound summer fave. (Our 9 o'clock reservation was delayed, because I didn't want to sit in the table we were originally shown. How lucky am I to have met someone who humors my eating quirks - if I'm going to bother eating at a restaurant, I believe all elements of the experience should be taken into account, including the comfort and location of the table. So we got a booth by the window.)

The meal began with a trio of demitasse soups - classic turtle soup, smoked chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, and roasted sweet corn and blue crab soup. The gumbo was pretty benign, but the other two were winners: the corn soup had enormous chunks of crab and lots of flavor, and the turtle soup was seasoned with the perfect splash of sherry. The restaurant also served fresh biscuits and a butter mixed with honey and hot peppers - delicious!

The drama started with the entrees. I ordered red snapper amandine, with the fish grilled and coated with brown butter meuniere and served with swiss chard and sweet corn pudding. Delicious. Nothing not to love about snapper, especially with a butter sauce. The corn pudding was fine, nothing special, and the greens were pretty tasty. Overall, the plate lacked visual interest; could have been solved with a slice of red pepper, perhaps.

C got the bbq grilled swordfish. And the ugly food envy set in. The perfectly grilled fish, criss-crossed by grill marks, was topped with blanched fresh peach wedges and a tomato chow chow. Perhaps the most amazing fish I've ever sampled, and served with a side of "yaya eggplant fries," which were these also-perfect little finger-sized, melted eggplant in a slightly spicy batter, dusted with powdered sugar.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Lunch, August 2

2007-08-03T10:46:00.000-04:00

This week - and, hopefully, ad infinitum - I've been working as much as possible from another Johns Hopkins location five blocks from my home. Loving it!

I invited a friend who works nearby - for now, as she is moving to Rhode Island soon - to come over for lunch. At the appropriate time, I left the office, stopped at the Superfresh to pick up some a 50/50 lettuce-spinach mix and met L at my place. We ate salad with tomatoes and cukes, dressed with a homemade vinagrette of olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon, and some herbs. Delicous! We also noshed on some water crackers and leftover cheese from last week's party.

Growing up, my parents threw some pretty fabulous parties. Mom is a classically trained French chef, and both Mom and Dad are either snobs or appreciators of fine things in life - your call. I loved our parties, but even more, the days of teriffic leftovers afterward.

Dinner, July 31

2007-08-01T09:12:00.000-04:00

Few and far between are the meals I get to share with my dearest friends from college. With jobs and lives and distance, it's difficult for us to get together. One girl recently decided to move to Rhode Island, of all places, so we made plans to meet at House of India in Columbia for dinner.

I ordered "Chicken Makhani" - which was shredded pieces of Tandoori Chicken cooked with Butter in a creamy sauce. Oh, it was heaven over a bed of rice. I can't wait for the leftovers today. And the naan, oh, the naan.

Lunch, July 29

2007-07-29T22:16:00.000-04:00

Topping off the loveliest of lazy Sundays was a stop at Cross Street Market for oysters and beer. We ordered a plate of six, fresh shucked from Louisiana, and then a second plate of half clams, half oyster. Give me a cold erster with some lemon and cocktail sauce and I'm in heaven.

Dinner, July 28

2007-07-29T22:12:00.000-04:00

Threw my first "adult" party, with a tapas meal of garlic shrimp, scallops cooked in orange juice, lamb meatballs, potatoes in mojo sauce, fava bean salad, deviled eggs. A plate of delicious cheeses from Spain, citrus olives, menorca almonds, a fig tart, crackers and fresh crusty bread. Sangria.

So weird. People came, ate, socialized, made merry, and then left. No beer pong, no keg or keg stands, no wild dance party. I think I'm growing up. And loving it!

P.S. - a big shoutout to a special blog reader who drove down from Philadelphia and made it all go off without a hitch. Thanks! xoxo

Breakfast, July 28

2007-07-29T22:11:00.000-04:00

My horizons are expanding these days, now to Australia. How's this for an odd breakfast:

smoked salmon
atop table water crackers
with
bleu cheese, cracked pepper, a sprinkle of fresh lime

Um, delicious!

Lunch, July 27

2007-07-29T22:04:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to me! A highlight of an innovatively awesome birthday was a long, boozy lunch at Rasika. Another "sceney" restaurant, with engaging design, this place offers a menu of excellent Indian food. Ginger seared scallops that melted in the mouth and chicken kebabs for appetizers, and a lamb korma for the meal, and even a rose-vanilla ice cream with some "not-donut" things, too. And delicious pomengranate drinks.

Drinking cocktails at lunch felt absolutely devilish and was so fun!

Dinner, July 26

2007-07-29T21:47:00.000-04:00

Happy hour kicked off my 28th birthday celebration, with the most delicious pomengranate fili drink and good company. A friend from grad school, who turned 27 on July 25, conspired with me to get friends to Zaytinya for drinks. We ordered a few snacks from the Greek mezze restaurant, a place where the food actually does taste like it does in Greece, and then thought it would be more "civilized" to sit down for dinner.

H&D, G, and C and myself went to Rosa Mexicana, where H&D will hold their rehearsal dinner on Oct. 6. This place, while really nice, is one of those "scene" restaurants where the high-concept design makes the food (which is also high-concept designed) taste more upscale than it actually is. Their schtick - which, while slightly charming, doesn't impress me as much as others - is to make guacamole tableside. After you order, a guy rolls a little cart up to your table and mixes avacado, onion, jalapeno, and salt & pepper. Cute, but a little too cheesy to impress, given the simplicity of the recipe. All said, a fabulous dinner and awesome kick-off to four fantastic days.

Lunch, July 22

2007-07-23T10:11:00.000-04:00

The Farmer's Market at Saratoga Street is one of this city's gems. Every Sunday morning, from May to Christmas, a dingy highway underworld transforms into a bustling marketplace where all walks of life converging in pursuit of fresh produce. Of course, buying direct from farmers --feels-- better than shopping in the store, and being very conscious of my food miles and sustainability, I'm very excited to visit the market and eat seasonally available local produce and buy cage-free organically-fed chicken eggs. It's also kind of an impromptu meeting place; yesterday I ran into my dentist and a former co-worker and a girlfriend.

Before heading down to the market, I cleaned out my refrigerator to discard the remains of the last trip to the Farmer's Market: a full bowl of cherries; a bag of spinach, never touched; a pound of zucchini, also not touched; and some rotting tomatoes. Alas.

So I restocked with more cucumbers and tomatoes, but kept it at that (except for a glorious haul of fresh-cut flowers, but that's a story for a blog of a different name). Then we were enticed by the long line at the falafel stand.

This stand was being manned by a pack of hippies who were dancing, singing, and making falafel like there was nothing else in the world they would rather be doing. Three people each had discrete jobs: the pita toaster, the falafel fryer, and the sandwich assembler. The assembly was kind of like art - patrons could select toppings of blueberries, beets, pickled cukes, kimchee, tahini, lettuce, honey. They had nectarines, but were out by the time we arrived. I braved the berries, honey, tahini, and lettuce on my sandwich, and it was delicious and beautiful. Made with love, too.

Dinner, July 21

2007-07-22T21:32:00.001-04:00

The Australian came to Baltimore for Artscape, but the energy at the festival wasn't flowing for me (perhaps because the rest of my world is still kind of spinning). So we went to the Brewer's Art at his friend's recommendation, and ordered a Nora. It came out in a wine bottle, so we shared. I'm typically not a beer drinker, despite my phase in Philadelphia as a brewer. But this beer was delicious, hoppy but not overly so, and spiced with a surprising, but not at all overpowering, sweetness. My affinity for this beer has nothing to do with its name. I swear.

And then, to my sheer embarrassment, we joined up with some of my dear friends and went to... THE OWL BAR for dinner. What the heck was I thinking, returning to the two-time banned establishment? But I was too taken with the night and my companion to remember how awful dinner was before, and, the errors of this dinner slipped my attention this time. Distracted, completely so. The only way to enjoy the Owl Bar, and, perhaps, the best way, always, to enjoy everything else.

Lunch-ish, July 20

2007-07-22T21:25:00.000-04:00

Dear friend H is marrying dear friend D on October at the Hotel Monaco. I'm the Maid of Honor. H asked me to join her for the wedding tasting at Poste, the hotel's posh and trendy restaurant.

At the restaurant, we were taken to a private room where a table was set with the same dishes and cutlery as the wedding tables will be, and decorated with the same flowers chosen for the wedding centerpieces. What a delight! We then sampled a bevy of potential appetizers, entrees, and salads. Of course, I had strong opinions, and did my very best to keep them in check, since I was the lowest-ranking individual at the table (after the Bride, Groom, parents of the groom, and mother of the bride).

That said, I was pretty vocal about understanding the value of a duet (pronounced "dew-way" in this wedding party) and the necessity to choose items that create a dichotomy in flavor/texture/presentation. Overall, I think excellent choices were made, and it certainly will be the loveliest wedding of all. At the risk of divulging privileged information, I can not reveal the decisions made at this wedding tasting.

Can't wait to eat! Cheers to H&D!

Dinner, July 19

2007-07-22T21:20:00.000-04:00

In lieu of dinner tonight, I invited "the girls" over for wine, supplemented with cheeses of brie, jarlsberg, and cheddar, with berries, grapes, crusty french bread and an awesome peach-ginger thing you put atop cheese and crackers. We talked and hashed out our lives, and I really enjoyed their company, especially in the comfort of the home I own. Tres magnificent!

Dinner, July 18

2007-07-18T22:02:00.000-04:00

Eighteen days since R and I parted ways, she moving in with her boyfriend and me striking out on my own in homeownership. With dueling schedules, I don't know that we've seen each other since. She invited me - or, I invited myself, I'm not sure - over for dinner tonight, breaking up the week in the most lovely way.

R, for all her virtues, wouldn't consider herself a cook. But tonight she really shone, delivering a delicious dinner of steamed asparagus, corn, and a pasta dish with tomatoes, goat cheese, and basil. Her POSSLQ, I must add, who is also my friend, kicked off the dinner with a spicy recipe of steamed shrimp with a homemade more-than-just-cocktail sauce. The meal was delicious, but more so, I was excited to spend time catching up.

Before I moved back to Baltimore, I'd lived on my own since I left college. We had a rough start living together, but our friendship, started as sophomore year roommates in the dormer in college, really morphed into a sisterly bond. I'm very happy in my new place, and there are lot of things going on to keep me completely distracted. But I really miss the intimacy that comes out of living with another woman, sharing a bathroom and getting dressed together and judging each other's outfits and understanding each other's moods. As I move into my 28th year, I bet that won't be an experience I ever share again. Luckily, I have the fondest memories to go on.

Dinner, July 15

2007-07-15T22:25:00.000-04:00

Two weeks since moving in, and - thanks to Mom - I finally have curtains up. I'm sure the neighbors are happy now that they will not be forced to see me walking around in my robe (and it was only when they were lucky that I was that covered up). To thank her, I took Mom to XS for a late meal. She ordered Yaki Soba with chicken, which, frankly, appeared to be spaghetti noodles with a delicious soba sauce and some grilled chicken. The dish was simple, but unelegant. They should switch up the noodles so it doesn't appear to be Barilla. I, of course, ordered the Rainbow sushi roll. Mmmmmm.

Dinner, July 14

2007-07-15T22:20:00.001-04:00

At Chesapeake Beach for the day with the family, we went to Neptune's Pub to celebrate my aunt's 58th birthday. On the outside, Neptune's appears to be a dingy pub where you can order Natty Boh cans for two bucks, but the menu proved otherwise. For an appetizer, we ordered mussels cooked in a provencal sauce, garlic bread, and zuchini straws. My meal included shrimp and scallops broiled in a thai sauce - perhaps a poor sauce choice, as they were a bit too spicy and seemed contrived to be served in a sleepy beach town. Along with the seafood, I ordered garlic white beans - delicious and could have been a meal in their own right, and roasted vegetable risotto, which, surprisingly, was delicious - basically, they took a medley of roasted veggies, poured it atop some plain risotto, and added tomato sauce. It was better than it looked or sounds.

Breakfast, July 14

2007-07-15T22:19:00.000-04:00

Question: What's your gut reaction to a breakfast of wheat toast topped with cottage cheese and sprinkled with paprika?

Dinner, July 13

2007-07-15T22:14:00.000-04:00

Ixia gave me the perfect Friday night experience - more than a meal, dinner here was an experience. We started out in the lounge, a high-concept design-heavy area with an eclectic mix of chairs, and with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from Kunde, a winery I visited last month in Sonoma. From there, we (and the bottle of wine) took to a corner table. We ordered four "small plates" to share, tapas style: duck proscuitto; grilled octopus with ricotta gnocci, olives, and capers; grilled peaches with bleu cheese; oyster and smoked gouda ravioli in a pea sauce. The duck proscuitto was a bit rich, and perhaps not prepared best, but overall, the meal was delicious. I'd return to Ixia in a heart beat.

Dinner, July 12

2007-07-13T15:54:00.000-04:00

My boss, who I genuinely like and enjoy working for, invited the office staff over for a cookout at his house. Groan. The office closed at 3:30, and we all headed to his home in Hunt Valley. Moments before I closed up shop, I found out that another colleague was not bringing his two kids - a three-year-old towhead boy and a six-month-old girl. While I actually like my colleagues, I'd mostly been looking forward to hanging out with these two little ones. Oh well.

So the cookout was as awkward as you might expect, and I was doubly awkward because I haven't slept in days and was doing all I could to make awake, polite conversation, and because I'd eaten an entire pizza about three hours before I arrived at this cookout. But, I forced myself to eat three fourths of a cheese burger - I cut it in four and committed to at least making it look like I ate it.

Because I'm mature like that.

Lunch, July 12

2007-07-12T13:05:00.000-04:00

Ugh. I'd totally intended to make myself a salad with the on-its-last-breath tomatoes, cukes, spinaich, and cilantro in my fridge. I actually thought that through last night. But this morning I couldn't decide what to wear to work, so I was rushed and completely forgot to pack a lunch.

So I ordered a thin-crust pepperoni pizza from Domino's. And ate the entire thing.

Dinner, July 9

2007-07-10T09:20:00.000-04:00

With school running from 6 p.m. to 9, I race to DC from Baltimore, desperately fearing that I will be starving or near death because I will miss the dinner hour. I think I may have found the most delicious solution: Julia's Empanadas.

As if a sign from above, traffic was lighter than light down the parkway and I immediately found a street parking space near school. I was due to present to the class that night - over the course of the semester, we are assigned to write 11 speeches and must deliver one to the class; I chose to deliver a presidential nomination acceptance speech I wrote for Joe Biden - and therefore, even more fearful of becoming ravaged by hunger. So when I saw Julia's out of the corner of my eye, I thought to give it a try.

In the tiny storefront, one man manned the counter behind a display of nothing by empanadas. That's all they sell there, in addition to drinks. He asks for my order, and having never eaten an empanada before, except for a few at higher-end tapas places, I asked for his advice. He suggested the chicken one - perfect pastry stuffed with shredded chicken, vegetables, hard-boiled eggs (!) and lots of spice. I could hardly eat half, but went into class knowing that I wouldn't collapse with hunger pangs before I got home around 10. Phew.

Brunch, July 8

2007-07-09T23:31:00.000-04:00

While I enjoy all my meals, Sunday brunch is definitely the one I enjoy most. And, while I am fond of all the cities where I've lived, New Orleans is the frontrunner.

Put those two together, and it's Sunday morning bliss.

This Sunday, I met a clever, creative friend for brunch in Adams Morgan. He'd recently returned from a long trip to India, so we had a lot to catch up on. We went to Bardia's New Orleans Cafe, a not-gimmicky place on the neighborhood's main strip. Always a fan of eggs benedict - and unable to follow the deductive rule J and I determined after many tests: don't mess with the original - I ordered a benedict-like concoction of poached egg atop fried oyster, topped with a rich hollandaise-y crab sauce, served with a biscuit. Interesting, yes. The oysters were a little too oyster-y, and overpowered the dish. But it was original enough that I appreciated it. My friend ordered a like entree, but with a tomato-based sauce and with fried catfish bites.

When I lived in New Orleans, we nearly ate as much as we drank. KF and I would go to fancy restaurants, just the two of us, and order an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert, all to split. We forged a strong friendship over our love of good food. Eggplant, shrimp, rice, creole and cajun seasonings, red beans, bread pudding, beignets, creamy chickory coffee - all those flavors can take me back to those wild days.

Dinner, July 7

2007-07-08T19:47:00.000-04:00

For dinner Saturday, I had French champagne. At the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C.

A friend from grad school invited me to join her and her French National boyfriend, and a blind date, for this year's Bastille Day party at the Embassy. She and I suffered through Research and Writing Methods together last semester, and I really came to like her - a novelty to make a new friend in your late 20s. So I was just delighted at the invitation.

My night at the Embassy turned out to be kind of like a fairy tale, with the most charming Australian guy I'd ever met (another novelty - for me to meet a guy who can hold my attention). We started off the night with introductions and champagne at her place, and then headed to the Embassy where they served a very nice French dinner. I was particularly taken by a beef burgundy dish and a stuffed eggplant. For dessert, crepes were being freshly made at a stand outside, just like KF and I enjoyed in Paris in 2001. I had a lovely peach-filled crepe for dessert. And more champagne.

I'm still not sure if last night actually happened or if it was all just a dream...

Lunch, July 7

2007-07-08T10:40:00.000-04:00

After two weeks of playing Damsel in Distress, I'm really happy that I was not born before 1950. Moving into this new place was made possible only by the kindness of several friends, most of them who happen to be male. Thank goodness for boys with muscles and pick-up trucks and saws and drill bits, and, above all, kind hearts.

Anyhow, on Saturday, I poured lemonade and watched while a dear friend played carpenter on my broken television case, which weighs approximately 500 pounds (seriously). Afterward we went out for sushi at XS, the restaurant that I think is my new neighborhood fave. We ate edamame and spring rolls, and then a couple rolls of sushi - including the beautiful "Rainbow Roll," as pictured above. My standby, spicy tuna, was particularly spicy and almost unbearable, at least compared to what I'm used to from the Cross Street Market.

Lunch, June 6

2007-07-06T12:23:00.001-04:00

Much to the chagrin of my mother, a classically trained French chef, I eat Lean Cuisine every day. This pizza is better than pizzeria pizza (except for the garlic pie from Conte's we got on Friday nights when we lived in Princeton).

Pizza on Fridays is oddly comforting, taking me back to the days of innocence at Freedom Elementary School.

Dinner, July 5

2007-07-06T10:19:00.000-04:00

My first dinner guest in the new place came over last night, and I christened the stove, oven, and dishes with Red Snapper and a mango shrimp salsa.

On Wednesday, I went to Whole Foods to buy fish. There was no Red Snapper in the case, but the nice fish guy offered to fillet a fresh one for me. While I waited, I struck up a conversation with another customer who ended up taking the other half of the freshly filleted fish and copied down my recipe for her dinner that night.

After broiling the fish with olive oil and salt and pepper, I threw it over a salsa made of champagne mango, avacado, shrimp, chile peppers, green onions, garlic, and lime. Simple, colorful, delicious - the mango and peppers were perfect together.

Mmm. I love fish. I love cooking. I love dinner guests (especially tall ones).

Dinner, July 4

2007-07-05T09:03:00.000-04:00

I'm on a roll with perfect meals. Point: Grilled shrimp, simply seasoned with Old Bay; Chicken and steak kebabs; Orzo salad; Raspberries; Brie; Fresh grilled pineapple. And, the most excellent company.

Happy Independence Day, America!

Lunch, July 3

2007-07-03T15:03:00.000-04:00

You might call this Nora's Perfect Lunch.

Today I had to swing home to pick up some documents to verify my eligibility for a coveted parking pass in Mount Vernon, so I planned to eat lunch there. I chopped up a cucumber and tomato picked up at the Farmer's Market on Sunday - and, therefore, tastier and without the waxy sheen - and tossed the veggies with cracked pepper, olive oil, and some snips of fresh chives and basil.

Not sure a summer lunch gets much better than that.

Dinner, July 2

2007-07-03T09:01:00.000-04:00

Last night, in the perfect summer evening, I went out to dinner to celebrate moving the final piece of furniture into my new place.

We walked down Charles Street, appreciating the architecture of my new neighborhood, and I was deciding between the Brewer's Art and The Owl Bar. For years, The Owl Bar was a favorite, with excellent food that never failed to be excellent. But, alas, last year new management took over. In December, my girlfriends and I had an awful experience there - new menu with all the favorites taken off, atrocious server who told us most of the stuff on the menu was bad, and a really odd mistake in billing that took days to solve. After then, I banned it.

But yesterday, feeling nostalgic and thinking this new friend would appreciate the atmosphere, I decided to give it another chance.

I ordered the French Dip sandwich, once my most favorite menu item in the land, and a caeser salad. The salad came out with mostly spines, and lettuce with that red-orange discoloration. The sandwich meat was ridiculously tough, and I had to chew for like 5 minutes to consume a bite of it. I couldn't even finish half the sandwich because it was so awful.

My dining partner ordered a rare tuna wrap, served with guac, lettuce, and tomato. He was also underwhelmed, as the tomatoes were mushy.

Lucky for The Owl Bar, the wine they served was perfectly chilled and delicious. I should have trusted my instinct, because now, The Owl Bar is officially BANNED.

Breakfast, July 1

2007-07-02T10:02:00.001-04:00

First night in the new place and I couldn't sleep. Partly because of the courtyard fountain that kept me up and partly because of the nightmare that my mom's car was getting towed.

I'd parked in a museum lot across the street, thinking it would just be for a few minutes. A poor choice, as when I returned to get the car, a gate closed off the lot and was secured with a heavy chain and padlock. Several large "We Will Tow" signs oppressively beamed down from the cement walls.

So I woke up every hour on the hour to check to see if it was unlocked; finally at 7:30 a.m. mom's Volvo was set free. I couldn't go back to sleep, so I went to the Farmer's Market. I'm hoping the Farmer's Market can be a seasonal replacement for my Whole Foods fix.

I got four fresh baked muffins, a dozen free-range eggs, a bag of spinach, cherries, tomatos, a pepper, two cucumbers, garlic, string beans, and shallots (that got lost between the market and my kitchen). When I got back, H&D were awake, so we noshed on muffins and I made some iced tea. Delicious! A new Sunday morning tradition, I think.

Dinner, June 30

2007-07-02T09:52:00.000-04:00

Everything - but one annoying awkward abomitable heavy hutch - was moved in, thanks to an amazing crew of pals. So it was time to celebrate. K & J, fresh off a week from the beach, came by to see the new place, and me and H & D. We popped open a bottle of champagne, I gave the four-minute grand tour, and then we headed out for dinner.

As we approached the monument in the park, I was gushing about loving my new neighborhoo... CRASH! I'd stepped on a drainage grate in the sidewalk and it collapsed in two, my leg plunging deep into the annals of Baltimore city. I was scraped up a little, but mostly bummed because I got some blood on my white dress. Thank goodness for the Tide Pen!

We dined at Sotta Sopra. I hadn't been there since I wrote for The Sun some years ago, and editors eager to expense a delicious dinner were happy to take me. Usually I don't get excited about going out for italian becuase I was raised on homemade pasta and fresh spaghetti. But the food we had here was spectacular - I had gorgonzola gnocci with bolognese which was interesting and delicious, but too rich to be an entire entree. Other highlights on the table included the calamari, a duck ravioli dish in a wine reduction, and papardelle with tomato sauce and smoked mozzerella.

Can't wait to explore more culinary delights in my new neighborhood...

Lunch, June 30

2007-07-02T09:47:00.000-04:00

A perfect day for moving. Back and forth and back and forth. I'm feeling oh-so-anti-feminist because I was only able to move because of the boys and their muscles and the intense thought they give to tackling problems of moving large items of furniture. If my thesis wasn't about how the media frames female presidential candidates, I would do it on the thought process men use in moving large, bulky, heavy pieces of furniture. It's hot.

I tried to be helpful, since, uh, they were moving my stuff. But I think my most purposeful move of the day was picking up a 30-pack of cold Bud Light to complement the pizza R ordered. The only moving-day lunch, I think.

One weird thing that I'd never seen before was dipping pizza in bleu cheese dressing. R ordered the pizza with several ramekins of said dressing, and everyone was dipping. I tried it and it was pretty good. Not as good as ranch, which I remember the soccer team girls used to get when we went to Pizza Hut before games and practicies.

Dinner, June 29

2007-07-02T09:40:00.000-04:00

The Whole Foods habit is so hard to break. I knew it would be tough, but not this hard. Once I'm not driving by every day I should be in safer seas, but, as dinner proved, the driveby is fatal.

Enroute from Mount Vernon, where my mom had been unpacking my kitchen all day, to Bouldin Street, where we were hauling loads of R's stuff to her new place a few blocks north, I offered to pick up dinner for the crew. Guess where I stopped. Because I was driving past, and why waste an opportunity to buy organic, free-range herbed roasted chicken?

For the crew, to whom I am eternally grateful for really orchestrating my move, I got a roasted chicken, and then went a little nuts in the prepared food case. Chicken was complemented by mashed potatoes, ravioli pasta salad, baked beans, and a tomato-cucumber salad. Every dish inside that glass expanse is like a little treasure, packed full of flavor and nutrition.

For me, I got ... drumroll, please... a brown-rice spicy tuna and salmon roll pack.

Due to the lack of table and chairs, we "stooped" in true Baltimore style, eating our dinner on paper plates and watching the one-way street. Most enjoyable.

Then we moved another load to the new place before giving up and going out for drinks. Which, in my opinion, is better than going out for organic locovore raspberries.

Dinner, June 28

2007-06-28T19:11:00.000-04:00

Oh wow. I've got 48 or 49 hours to move everything out of the place on Bouldin and into the new one in Mount Vernon. I'm in pretty good shape, but I can take no credit for that. When it comes time to pack, I decide I need to count and roll change or write a blog. Or, order a delicious dinner so I can be well-nourished for the task ahead.

Tonight I took one load over after work, packed this morning thanks to an early call from Taskmaster R. Now we're all supposed to be taking three cars of my stuff over, but I had to eat. So I ordered a blackened chicken quesadilla from Nacho Mama's. Really, I should have just heated up a Lean Cuisine, but I thought this might be my last time to walk to pick up take out from the square. You know, because I'm moving and will have to drive.

Nacho Mama's food is average tex-mex, served up in a funky Elvis-worshiping atmosphere. The service notoriously sucks, but the margaritas served in hubcaps make it bearable. I probably will never return to Nacho Mama's again in my life, sadly, so the detour that has put off packing is righteous, I say.

Dinner, June 27

2007-06-28T11:54:00.000-04:00

Jack's in Canton served me the second-most delicious burger I've ever eaten in my entire life.
(The most delicious can be found at Port of Call in New Orleans.)

I opted to have my burger, consisting of fresh-ground filet mignon or something, cooked "Guiness style," which I presume means basted in a spicy soy-based sauce while grilled. Mix that with a topping of shredded smoked gouda, and it was the perfect burger! The cheese's smokiness perfectly complemented the meat, and it was served with tomato and shredded lettuce. To die for!

Lunch, June 27

2007-06-28T11:45:00.000-04:00

Lunch today on the fly, in between the final walk through and the settlement for my new place. My realtor and I swung by Whole Foods - funny that my last meal before homeownership took effect was there - and I grabbed some sushi: a spicy tuna and salmon combo with brown rice.

Few things make me feel better than sushi, especially when it's made with brown rice.

Well, one of those few things is holding the keys to my sassy new condo!

Whole Foods is now banned in my post-renter life. Since I first found the store on Esplanade in New Orleans, I've completely bought into their lifestyle marketing. I feel healthier when I buy my food at Whole Foods. I feel like an educated person when I shop there. I've convinced myself that I'm willing to pay $7.99 a pound for spinach. My consumerism there started to get a little out of hand when, enroute to work in the morning, I would drive past Whole Foods every day and stop to buy prepared hot breakfast and a salad for lunch. And then, on the way home at night, I would stop for dinner. All that said, I am obsessed with brown rice sushi. This will be a hard habit to break.

Dinner, June 26

2007-06-27T08:59:00.000-04:00

The board of BIG Improv met last night over greasy pizza. Like, stereotypically greasy, orange-cheese, huge-slice pizza. Mmmm.

BIG recruited me, I think, to help direct development and fundraising efforts. For me, this is very interesting and quite a challenge, as I'll find out the differences between working on behalf of an organization that raises $450 million a year and one that is striving to raise $45,000. This fledgling group has a long way to go before the troupes are performing in our own space, but I think there's a dedicated core of people who really believe in the power and value of improv. Plus, everyone is pretty funny.

Alas. Still no vegetables.