Well, the Washington Post's writers managed to find their way all the way to the provinces and come to the Baltimore Farmers' Market. In their usual back-handed way, they said that it was good and cheap... something we all knew already.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Market Report - July 27
WOW, the market was really crowded this morning, even when we got there at 8:00. The peaches are really coming in and there's a funny variety, which I don't really understand, called Donut Peaches. 
They're small and flat. I'd rather have big round and juicy yellow peaches - and I bought a pint.
We picked up a dozen ears of Ambrosia corn, which has both yellow and white kernels. I will probably roast it in the husk again.
The cherry and cocktail tomatoes are out in full force, although the regular ones aren't quite here yet.
I am so interested in the wide variety of colours and shapes of the small ones, from very dark purple to pale green and from small marble sized to pear-shaped.
Julie picked up some smoked fish from Metropol, which has a location in Belvedere Square.
I had picked up some smoked chicken curry salad from there the other day, and the had the most gorgeous artichoke heart tart!
The most stunning thing this week were the "yard long" beans in green and purple. Allegedly, they have a radish taste.
See you next week!
They're small and flat. I'd rather have big round and juicy yellow peaches - and I bought a pint.We picked up a dozen ears of Ambrosia corn, which has both yellow and white kernels. I will probably roast it in the husk again.
The cherry and cocktail tomatoes are out in full force, although the regular ones aren't quite here yet.
I am so interested in the wide variety of colours and shapes of the small ones, from very dark purple to pale green and from small marble sized to pear-shaped. Julie picked up some smoked fish from Metropol, which has a location in Belvedere Square.
I had picked up some smoked chicken curry salad from there the other day, and the had the most gorgeous artichoke heart tart!The most stunning thing this week were the "yard long" beans in green and purple. Allegedly, they have a radish taste.
See you next week!Monday, July 21, 2008
mmmm. chocolate
My twin niece and nephew celebrated their first birthday yesterday. Although I didn't get the obligatory icing-smeared face photo, I did take a picture of the lucious chocolate cupcakes their mother made. Thanks C&G2!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Market Report - July 20
The market is in full swing now, and all of the fresh fruits are on the stalls. I got some of the last raspberries until fall, and also some black currants. 
They are not the commercial crop here in the US that they are in the UK, because they carry a blight which isn't harmful to them, but is to White Pine (Pinus strobus) that is a commercial crop. I adore black currents but anything made with them is nearly impossible to find here. So, I dried them in the oven and will probably make muffins or something like that with them.
They are not the commercial crop here in the US that they are in the UK, because they carry a blight which isn't harmful to them, but is to White Pine (Pinus strobus) that is a commercial crop. I adore black currents but anything made with them is nearly impossible to find here. So, I dried them in the oven and will probably make muffins or something like that with them. Again this week, they had the stunning white eggplants. They have the most gorgeous white skin. Kitchenography bought two, so let's see what she does with them.
I am sure I could find something delicious to do with the apricots, like an upside-down cake. But since I don't really cook...
I think that this is called a globe amaranth. I love how you can see tiny blooms inside the main flower.
Here's the sunflower photo of the week. I think this is a more fall or harvest season looking one, than full summer. 
Friday, July 18, 2008
Tiny Town
As I mentioned, I was in Howard County for a meeting and had a little time before I went to meet my sister at lunch. I stopped by Columbia Mall to pick up a present for Bird, and found to my delight, that there is a Williams-Sonoma there. Could I have really not noticed it before? Was that at all possible? I pride myself on my powers of observation. Turns out they just opened June 1.
As I was checking out, I started chatting with the other woman in line. We both said we lived much closer to the Cross Keys store and talked about the Country Club selling its land. Chat, chat, chat. Something flickered across my mind, but was lost.
Today, I was commenting on the relatively new Baltimore Blog, B-More Sweet, which you should go read (and then come back here). I commented and then the little thought returned. "Were you at Williams-Sonoma in Columbia Mall the other day?" I asked. Seconds later an e-mail came, "I was!!!! Was that you I was talking to?? OMG!!!!!!!"
Even stranger, before I knew it was B-More Sweet, I saw her again today and thought, I recognize her... I just spoke to her recently... Who is she?
They don't call Baltimore Tiny Town for nothing.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Suzy's Soba
Wednesday was one of those days... a morning meeting in Howard County, lunch with my sister, back into the city for a much-needed haircut, dinner with the Blonde & Redhead and finally, a late evening glass of wine with P&B.
My two best friends and I, collectively known as the Blonde, the Brunette and the Redhead (BBR), chose Suzy's Soba for several reasons, not the least of which were the good food and the chance to eat outside. The place was virtually empty when we got there at 7:00, and Suzy put the three of us at a very small table, which would have seated two comfortably. There was an empty table for four, so we moved there. A little while later, she came out and scolded us for moving, saying she had a reservation for it. So we moved to where we originally were.
I always order the exact same thing when I am at Suzy's - the Ginger Lime Chicken. It's a light salad, with poached chicken, sliced mangos and avacado and a green-goddess-type dressing and some dried cranberries.
B&R both ordered the salmon, which was lightly spiced and came served with rice and some sauteed spinach.
The Blonde had a glass of white wine while she was waiting for the other two of us to arrive and then we each had a glass of Suzy's limeade and ginger-limeade. We were never offered desserts, but were asked summarily if we were finished, and then the bill of $73.00 was presented.
As we went to leave, at about 8:30, the "reserved" table had never been taken, and the rest of the restaurant was totally empty. There were two other tables on the deck, but that was it.
My two best friends and I, collectively known as the Blonde, the Brunette and the Redhead (BBR), chose Suzy's Soba for several reasons, not the least of which were the good food and the chance to eat outside. The place was virtually empty when we got there at 7:00, and Suzy put the three of us at a very small table, which would have seated two comfortably. There was an empty table for four, so we moved there. A little while later, she came out and scolded us for moving, saying she had a reservation for it. So we moved to where we originally were.
I always order the exact same thing when I am at Suzy's - the Ginger Lime Chicken. It's a light salad, with poached chicken, sliced mangos and avacado and a green-goddess-type dressing and some dried cranberries.
B&R both ordered the salmon, which was lightly spiced and came served with rice and some sauteed spinach. The Blonde had a glass of white wine while she was waiting for the other two of us to arrive and then we each had a glass of Suzy's limeade and ginger-limeade. We were never offered desserts, but were asked summarily if we were finished, and then the bill of $73.00 was presented.
As we went to leave, at about 8:30, the "reserved" table had never been taken, and the rest of the restaurant was totally empty. There were two other tables on the deck, but that was it.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Iron Bridge Wine Company
Finally, after 11 months, I took my sister, Bird, out to celebrate her birthday. We've been trying to do it for ages, but it's just not worked out. Since I was in Columbia for a meeting this morning, we decided to meet someplace out there and I chose the Iron Bridge Wine Company. Chef friends Cat & Dog had mixed reviews, but we decided to go anyway.
Iron Bridge is on Route 108, a rather schitzophrenic strech of road in Howard County. There are farms and fields on one side of the road, and houses and businesses on the other. Next to Iron Bridge, there's an old abandoned house.
I got there a little before Bird, and the waitress tried to put me at a table that was three inches from the one next to it, even though there were other available tables. I balked at that, and she said I could wait until another table opened. The place was crowded from when we got there at 12:30 until we left at 2:30. It would have been nice if they opened the other side of the dining room to give people some space.
After checking to make sure that nothing she wanted had onions in it, Bird ordered the Sun Dried Tomato and Toasted Almond Chicken Salad on a croissant with herbed Yukon Gold potato wedges.
I got a Grilled Wagyu Beef Burger on Kaiser Roll with Citrus Scented Orzo Salad. 
I'd never seen the multi-coloured orzo, but since it's a pasta, I am sure you can add anything to colour it. It was quite good and very fresh tasting. 
Both were very good, but it took about 40 minutes between the time we ordered and the time they were served. Of course, we had to have dessert, and chose a creme brulee, a favourite of both of ours. It was slightly different from the usual, as it had a chocolate ganache on the bottom, which was a nice counterpoint to the creme. I had requested that they bring it with a candle and they did. 
I did like Iron Bridge, but it shouldn't have taken two hours for lunch. It wasn't that we were taking our time, it was that the kitchen was very slow. We were next to a table of four women who looked like they must have worked at the same office, and their waiter made several mistakes, forgetting to put in orders, bringing the wrong drink, etc.
I think I am with Cat & Dog - it's a mixed review.
Iron Bridge is on Route 108, a rather schitzophrenic strech of road in Howard County. There are farms and fields on one side of the road, and houses and businesses on the other. Next to Iron Bridge, there's an old abandoned house. I got there a little before Bird, and the waitress tried to put me at a table that was three inches from the one next to it, even though there were other available tables. I balked at that, and she said I could wait until another table opened. The place was crowded from when we got there at 12:30 until we left at 2:30. It would have been nice if they opened the other side of the dining room to give people some space.
After checking to make sure that nothing she wanted had onions in it, Bird ordered the Sun Dried Tomato and Toasted Almond Chicken Salad on a croissant with herbed Yukon Gold potato wedges.
I got a Grilled Wagyu Beef Burger on Kaiser Roll with Citrus Scented Orzo Salad. I'd never seen the multi-coloured orzo, but since it's a pasta, I am sure you can add anything to colour it. It was quite good and very fresh tasting. I did like Iron Bridge, but it shouldn't have taken two hours for lunch. It wasn't that we were taking our time, it was that the kitchen was very slow. We were next to a table of four women who looked like they must have worked at the same office, and their waiter made several mistakes, forgetting to put in orders, bringing the wrong drink, etc. I think I am with Cat & Dog - it's a mixed review.
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