Legomania

It's raining in Baltimore.

It's a song by the Counting Crows, but it was also the fate of the day last Saturday. It was gross and humid outside, definitely a day I wanted to spend inside. I tend to go stir crazy if I'm indoors for too long though, so something stimulating was necessary. After brainstorming numerous ideas - watching a movie (boring), watching my boyfriend Paul program a computer for 5 hours (incredibly boring) - I finally struck gold. Remember the tiny multi-colored bricks you played with as a kid? The ones that fit together perfectly? You could build anything, a house, a car, a helicoptor...the only limit was your imagination (that's a cliche if I ever saw one). Yes, it's Legos, the perfect solution to any rainy day.

I used to always ask for Lego sets for Christmas. It was the perfect activity for an only child like me - it would entertain me for hours, days upon end.

We jumped in my car and zipped off to Target, heading straight for the kids section. Two 21 year olds closely inspecting every type of Lego set offered must have been quite a sight. After much debate, we decided on the City themed 963 piece Police Station. Dead God, it was beautiful. It had everything - a watch tower with spotlights, an interrogation room with a lie detector, a K9 mobile with a plastic dog inside and even a jail cells with toilets! The amount of detail was almost unbelievable.

So maybe it wasn't our most practical purchase (these things aren't cheap!), but we bought it. Later that day, we go to work. With the help of two of our friends, we pieced together the set in just a few hours. The set came with instruction manuals, complete with step-by-step directions for how to build each part. We had a great time, hunting for the pieces we needed while enjoying a beer as well (sure didn't do that when we were kids).

You'd think the Police Station would have quenched our Lego thirst. But no - less than a week later, Paul bought a Lego Mindstorms set off of Craigslist for a price too good to pass up. I don't know much about these, but apparently you can build robots with giant claws and make them do things. The box emphasized the robot was for ages 10 and older, but Paul assured me that the majority of users were computer geeks our age or older. Who knew?

Read more...

Otterbein's Cookies

My affinity for the cookie is a longterm relationship. I can't remember the last time I ever turned one down. My standards are high, especially for the chocolate chip cookie. I usually like my chocolate chip cookies thick, chewy in the middle but cripsy on the edges, threaded with chunks of high quality chocolate chips. I'm always looking for the best, and when I read about Otterbein's repuation for having the tastiest cookies in Baltimore, I had to try them. The Baltimore based bakery, in business since the late 1800s, was originally known for its homemade, thin but flavorful sugar cookies. The original owner, Adam Otterbein, came to Baltimore from Germany, and the business has remained in his family since.

At first, I was skeptical of the thin, almost frail looking cookies. I don't usually like cookies that are too hard or crunchy. So I took my first bite with little expectations. How I was wrong though - instantly the flavor permeated my mouth, the richness of the chocolate chips mixing with the subtley sweet flavor of the crunchy cookie. I had to say I almost prefered them to the gigantic fat cookies I had always flocked to. These were so light, and didn't leave me feeling ill afterwards. Can't wait to buy more, and what's better than supporting your local Baltimorean bakery? You can find Otterbein's cookies at most grocery stores such as Eddie's or Superfresh.

Read more...

Return of the Lake Trout

I decided to give lake trout a second chance, believe it or not. If you're gonna live in a city like Baltimore, you gotta appreciate the local cuisine. With that said, I knew there had to be somewhere better out there than Sea Blue on Greenmount. That was some truly terrible lake trout, soggy and mushy and tasteless. I had heard about another place in Baltimore, actually I had seen it mentioned on Anthony Bourdain's series No Reservations a few months ago - The Roost on Reisterstown Road has the reputation as being Baltimore's best lake trout.

Honestly, I can't stand Anthony Bourdain, but he does know his food, even his lake trout apparently. The Roost's lake trout is a clear winner.

I've never seen anything like this place in my entire life. After driving through an interesting part of town (by Pimlico race track), we approached the tiny roadside establishment. We walk inside, there's no where to sit, just a counter from where you order. The menu consists of "soul food" options ranging from fried chicken, collard greens, fried catfish, mac n' cheese and of course, lake trout. As we waited for our food, we browsed through a man's collection of pirated DVD's and CD's he was selling inside.

Our order arrived, we grabbed the plastic bag filled with lake trout and got in the car and ate it back home (if you care to stay, there are a few picnic tables outside). Instantly the aroma of freshly fried crispy lake trout filled the car.

This was serious lake trout - everything about it was world's better than my past experience. The fried part was crisp and crunchy and flavorful, unlike Sea Blue's soggy mess. With some catsup on the side, the flavors of my lake trout came alive. I ordered mine with fries, which I found underneath the lake trout. They were soggy, unremarkable. Next time I would order the lake trout dinner, and choose from The Roost's side options (not to mention you also get cornbread!).

This place is an institution among Baltimoreans. No, it's not something I'd eat everyday, but I admire the pride The Roost puts into not only their lake trout, but the rest of their food as well. The name of their website, thebestlaketrout.com says it all (but I couldn't get the link to work for some reason..oh well).

Read more...

Grilled Cheese and Co. is sheer brilliance

When I first read about this place I nearly jumped out of my pants. My affinity for the grilled cheese sandwich is endless. I grew up living off of my mom's grilled cheeses, literally. I'm pretty sure most everyone did as well, which is why this place is so incredibly brilliant. To evoke fond memories of home while enjoying a cheesy and savory treat is pure marketing brilliance.

If you can avoid getting lost in sketchy areas of Baltimore, Grilled Cheese and Co. in Catonsville is more than worth a visit. The interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting, but also pretty loud especially during peak lunchtime hours. The menu is pretty straightforward - various types of gourmet grilled cheeses. Immediately the "Crabby Melt" caught my eye, which piles Monterey Jack cheese on top of more cheese and blue crab. My roommate ordered this one and loved it. I was concerned about the sandwich being too rich, but the crab and cheese blend was not overpowering in the least. The subtle flavor of the creamy crab in between 2 thick slices of toasty golden bread was outstanding.
I went for the "Cordon Bleu," Swiss cheese, smoked ham and grilled chicken with Dijon mustard, a classic French treat. The combination of chicken and ham on the sandwich was an unlikely one, but it worked quite well. The swiss cheese was a winner as well, however I was disappointed that I couldn't taste the Dijon better. Perhaps it was too many flavors, the Dijon was neglected a bit. Overall, this sandwich is kickass.

Add regular or sweet potato fries to your meal plus a drink for only $2 more, not a bad deal! The portion of fries was more than I could eat in one sitting, but they were crispy and flavorful, definitely freshly made.

And to finish off the meal, my roommate ordered the "Sweetest Thing" (pictured below), Brie cheese, raspberry flavored Marscapone and chocolate chips smooshed between two slices of bread. The entire thing is an oeey, drippy mess, and is truly one of a kind. How creative to include a dessert grilled cheese...it reminded me of chocolate chip pancakes, interestingly enough.

Grilled Cheese and Co. calls their product "one of life's great pleasures" on their website. I have to agree, I honestly can't wait to go back. If you go, don't rely on your GPS to get you there though...mine sure crapped out on me.

Read more...

Unleash your inner francophile

My mother, my father and myself included are a family of Francophiles. We love anything French, whether it's food, art or wine. And ever since I spent my semester abroad in Paris last year, I've been spoiled in the most French way possible. I am especially picky when it comes to French food in the US - my standards are perhaps a little too high, but what can I say? Here's one place that passes the test - Petit Louis in Roland Park is a French-inspired bistro that doesn't disappoint.

The food is very French indeed - the menu options reminded me of typical items I saw in Paris, such as Salade Nicoise (with grilled tuna), Steak Frites (steak with "pommes frites," refer to my earlier blog post: http://elizabethlaseter.blogspot.com/2010/06/french-inspired-lunch.html), Croque Monsieur (a grilled ham and gruyere cheese sandwich essentially) and more. Reading the menu is a lesson in French cuisine - thankfully, English descriptions accompany the french names of the dishes.

I decided on the Confit de Canard, a leg of duck cooked in salt and its own fat. Perhaps that sounds a little unappetizing but if you have ever tried anything cooked in duck fat, you will understand the savory, rich and buttery flavor that results. The duck confit comes with a mushroom reduction sauce and spaetzle, or crispy thick pasta noodles, that soaks up the sauce and duck flavor perfectly. Duck is likely one of my favorite meats to order at restaurants, and Petit Louis' dish was outstanding.

My mother loved her steak frites, especially the accompanying pommes frites. We all loved the dijon mustard on the table, dipping the whole wheat sourdough loaf or frites into it. I usually hate mustard, and I loved this stuff.

With our meal, we enjoyed a bottle of French red wine from the Languedoc region. It was one of less expensive bottles on the menu, being $44 if you can believe it. My parents liked it, but I found the flavor a bit diluted and weak. I recommend buying the wine by the glass, and choosing a nice Bordeaux or Cotes de Rhone. Savor it slowly!

Read more...

Grab some Lunch in Fells

My mom visited Baltimore last Friday, I thought where to take her? Immediately I thought of a new hot-dog joint on Broadway called Stuggy's. This place had won acclaim for its all-beef, savory gourmet dogs and I was dying to try it.

Fells, with its colonel style row houses and harbor backdrop make for a picturesque setting for an al-fresco lunch. If you want to impress a visitor in town, I recommend taking them to Fells for lunch, especially on a nice day.

Stuggy's seating is extrmely limited, with about 4 tiny bar stools, that you're better off finding somewhere outside to eat. Even on a hot day, there's usually enough benches in the shade. Stuggy's offers an impressive menu, featuring traditional all-beef dogs, bison sausage dogs and turkey sliders as well.

Go for one of the specialty dogs or sausages - such as the Carolina Slaw Dog, which piles Stuggy's chili and cole slaw inside a dog that's been split open. The chili is excellent, complete with generous portions of beans and meat, and the cole slaw, well, I'm not sure why they choose to call it "Carolina slaw" but that's beside the point. Disregard the bizarre purplish appearance of the cole slaw and just eat it, it's actually pretty tasty. Also try the "Motor City Coney" dog (pictured left), with chili, melted cheddar cheese and diced raw onions (which I could do without but that's no problem). Nothing is better than melted cheese on meat, nothing.

After lunch, you can enjoy ice cream at Maggie Moo's, gelato at Pitango or frozen yogurt at Mr. Yogato - take your pick. I haven't tried Mr. Yogato yet, but the place is popular for its apparently healthy, pro-biotic enriched frozen yogurt. You can also add various toppings to it, such as fresh fruit, granola and other less healthy options, such as peanut butter cups, brownies and even Baltimore's own Berger cookie crumbs!

Read more...

Classy in College? No way...

13.5% Wine Bar in Hampden makes for a sophisticated, classy evening (which is often hard to come by in college at least). I went with my roommate and a few girls from my sorority last night. Located on the upper end of W. 36th Street along the “Avenue,” the wine bar’s modern, low-lit interior set the mood for the evening. Developing an affinity for wine while abroad in France last semester, I insisted on ordering the wine. The menu features wines by the glass and bottle, organized by price and type. Wine can also be ordered in flights, which allows you to sample three (3 oz. each) different wines of a similar breed (such as French wines). We decided on 2 bottles to start, a white and a red. I ordered the red for the table, impressing the waiter with questions like, “describe the aroma of this wine,” “does it have a strong aftertaste?” “which one is the most fruity?” He gave me a funny look, and recommended an Italian wine over the French wine I had picked out. I decided to go with his advice, and I’m glad I did.

The red, a Codici Montepulcianao from Italy (means nothing to me) was light and refreshing, with an aftertaste of fruitiness, very nice for the summer. It’s not horribly expensive either - $22. We ordered a Pinot Grigio for our white, but honestly I was so focused on the red, I didn’t have a chance to have more than half a glass of this one. Everyone who drank it seemed to enjoy it, though.

We also ordered a plate of 5 different cheeses, wine’s essential companion. Our waiter brought us selections such as goat cheese, cheddar, brie and others (I can’t remember their names), as well as a plate of toast to eat them on. If you’re going to order wine, you have to order cheese – the cheese was outstanding, all of it. Paired with the wine, it was divine.

13.5% was my first wine bar experience in Baltimore, and I loved it. All of the wines on the menu are available for purchase, minus the $8 corkage fee too. I couldn’t leave without buying a bottle of the red, either.

Read more...