AMBASSADOR, Maryland

Chicken tika masala anyone?? That's what you can hear me say everytime I visit the Ambassador Dining Room in Guilford. I love this restaurant which I describe as "upscale Indian", but I especially love eating there in December when it is so beautifully decorated. The garden-view room was the perfect spot today for me, Steve, and Devin to toast the upcoming new year. We each had champagne from the brunch offering and we sat at the table next to one of the corner fireplaces. It was the ideal way to wrap-up this year and make plans for the next one!

Ambassador
3811 Canterbury Road
Baltimore, MD 21218
P: 410-366-1484

MARI LUNA, Maryland

I love my friends and I love Mexican food and tonight I was able to enjoy them together. Zoa, Kathi, Eileen, Joe, Collette, Christy, Emily, Amy, and Mark sat around the table with me at Mari Luna in Pikesville. This is a BYOB restaurant so we took our wine and shared appetizers before digging into our fairly large portions of delicious food. What a fun time!


Mari Luna
102 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21218
P: 410-486-9910

VICTORIA'S, Delaware

My cousin Lynn and I periodically visit my Uncle Ed (her Dad) in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. This past weekend he treated us and several others (Sylvia, Yo, Gil, Bob, and Mary Beth) to one fabulous brunch! We went to Victoria's, tucked inside the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, facing the Atlantic Ocean. We were engulfed by Victorian charm and thoroughly enjoyed delicious food while listening to a piano combo. Because there were eight of us, we managed to sample just about everything the buffet offered, even though it took several trips. I started with a mimosa, smoked salmon, fresh berries and cheese, a mini-waffle, and bacon (didn't partake the omelet station). Then it was time for lunch - beef vegetable stew, steamed shrimp, and an array of other lunch options, (including raw oysters if you like that sort of thing). And, don't even get me started about dessert, even though we all know I chose something chocolate. It was truly a special place to enjoy a Sunday afternoon and I hope to be doing it again soon. They also offer an Afternoon Tea during the week that looked interesting, making me envy the locals. A definite "must do" restaurant for everyone.

Victoria's Restaurant
Boardwalk Plaza Hotel
Olive Avenue & the Boardwalk
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
P: 302-227-7169

THE WINE MARKET, Maryland

When I want to meet one of my Federal Hill friends for a bite and a great glass of wine, this is my old standby. It's located in The Foundry off Fort Avenue in Baltimore City. My latest visit included my brother Steve and my friend Vicki. We sat at the bar for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My choice here is always the same because I love their steak salad. The wine selections are great, maybe because there is a full wine store in the entranceway to the restaurant. Whether drinking in or carrying a bottle out, this establishment lives up to its name!

The Wine Market
921 E. Fort Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21230
P: 410-244-6166

PAZO, Maryland

Tonight I gave my brother a tour of Baltimore's latest "hot" neighborhood - Harbor East. In fact, it is so "hot" that we think it deserves a recognizable name like New York's SoHo and The Village. To keep in step with this, we are now going to call it "He". Five years ago this restaurant and lounge opened in He, giving Baltimore's hip and groovy people a very different place to relax and enjoy everything it has to offer. The menu is comprised largely of tapas, all very inviting. We were happy to get seated in the lounge where we could enjoy delicious food comfortably, people watch, and listen to great music. All the tables on both floors were filled by the time we left and it was clear that this place is still "happening".


PAZO
1425 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
P: 410-534-7296

CHELSEA MARKET, New York

Chelsea Market has entrances on 9th and 10th Avenues between 15th and 16th Streets, allowing you to see at least two dozen retail and restaurant spaces between those doors. It was hard to walk past several bakeries, each smelling better than the last. Inside this market are all kinds of offerings. There are various small restaurants, groceries, specialty food items, kitchen utensils, baked goods,

seafood, flower arrangements, wine, teas, and gifts and I'm probably forgetting even more that can be found there. I loved browsing from one end of the market to the other. It appeared that this market is a "best kept secret" by NY locals; a place where they can escape the madness of the street and get comfy inside in one of the seating areas offered by various establishments. Everyone there seemed relaxed and happy. I don't think this was my last visit, I saw things I still want to buy and there was a cozy little area in the back of a tea store that was calling me to sit and sip.



Chelsea Market
75 9th Avenue between 15th & 16th Streets
New York, NY 10011
Subway to 14th Street and 8th Avenue

FISHS EDDY, New York

I took this picture of the side window of FISHS EDDY. It says it all. Inside are dishes of all themes and related items. I think I could have spent hours shopping there and I, in no way, can cook like or resemble Martha Stewart. It's hard to walk out empty handed, and so I didn't. It was fun to see so many things in one space yet I couldn't help but worry about having to pay for anything my swinging handbag could break if it knocked over one of the towers of dishes. Yikes! I loved the store for kitchen related gifts and needs, and will be shopping there again with my hands free to really explore all that this store has to offer.

FISHS EDDY
889 Broadway at 19th Street
New York, NY 10003
P: 212-420-9020

NOUGATINE, New York

NOUGATINE at Jean Georges is offering an autumn promotion, one that my brother and I readily accepted. We had our choice of two plates and one dessert in an offering that made our
choices difficult. My calamari was perfect and his shrimp salad with avocado and tomato dressed in champagne vinegrette, was exceptional. My red snapper was light while my brother's tenderloin was a little on the rare side for him. For dessert, I tried and totally consumed the warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. I think I would have chosen that three times if given the option. My brother, who eats gluten free, had fewer dessert options and couldn't order the cake. Bummer. All in all, we thought our lunch experience was well worth the $26 prix fixe. And, when you exit, you are in the heart of Columbus Circle where you could spend the rest of the afternoon. It could be considered being in the right place at the right time.

NOUGATINE at Jean Georges
1 Central Park West
New York, NY 10023
P: 212-299-3900

W HOTEL LIVING ROOM, New York

Staying in a W Hotel can be a real treat, but when I want to treat myself to a few minutes of relaxation in the Union Square neighborhood, I like to sit in the lounge in the W Hotel overlooking Park Avenue South through 16 ft high windows. This area is called the "Living Room" and it does have some very comfortable chairs and sofas for sitting with a drink of any kind. I prefer to sit on the cushioned bench along the window where I can see everything that's going on outside. It's a great corner to people watch. Sometimes I sit with a glass of wine, sometimes it's a resting place where I can taste an appetizer with a cup of tea. Regardless of my need, I always leave this resting place in a good mood!

W HOTEL NEW YORK - UNION SQUARE
201 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
P: 212-253-9119

BOTTLEROCKET, New York

BOTTLEROCKET is a wonderful Wine and Spirit shop located in Chelsea. Bottles are arranged for easy access making it convenient for me to find one of my favorite red wines - The Chocolate Block. This full bodied South African red is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet, and Cinsault. I prefer to buy it here, but be prepared, it can be difficult to find in other stores. I save it for my special occasions since it retails for $40 a bottle and my wallet struggles to keep up with my tastebuds. Everyone in the store is friendly and helpful and there is even an email newsletter for interested patrons. Shopping here is a definite must for anyone interested in raising their "spirits".

BOTTLEROCKET
5 W. 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
P: 212-929-2323

UNION SQUARE, New York

I love going to Union Square, it's a hub of activity and entertainment. Sunday is the best time to visit and today we lucked out with an art fair. I couldn't stop reaching in my pockets to buy unique gifts from table to table; there were so many great items of interest! It's a park area where you can relax and stroll from vendor to vendor throughout the year. If you get tired, there are plenty of people watching opportunities. A fun place for a fun time!

Location:
14th Street Subway stop
Surrounding neighborhoods:
North - Flatiron District
East - Grammercy
South - Greenwich Village
West - Chelsea

SPICE, New York

I'm back in Manhattan, my second home (home to my son and my brother). I love my monthly visits and absorb as much as I can what the city has to offer. It's 10pm and time to go out and grab a bite! I was in the mood for some Thai food so off we went to one of our favorites - SPICE. And, to add a little excitement, we visited their very new location. It's a corner restaurant in Chelsea with subdued lighting and great ambiance. I ordered their Signature Shrimp Fritters (golden ground shrimp and chicken with honey-chili sauce) for my appetizer and they were delicious. Instead of having my usual Pad Thai, I ordered the Miso Salmon. It was wonderful. A very generous portion surrounded by vegetables, all resting on a tangy sauce. Our servers were attentive and friendly and the price was right. All good reasons to keep it on my list of favorites!

STONEY RIVER LEGENDARY STEAKS, Maryland

Going to Stoney River was a no-brainer when my friend Zoa invited me to join her. We're on a mission to try new places and even though this restaurant is attached to Towson Town Center and has been open for only a few weeks, it was on the list and worth it! I managed to do a little holiday shopping until Zoa arrived which was a bonus for me. We met inside in the bar area where we waited for our table to be available. The bartender got us drinks, and a server, Justin S., gave us a rundown of what we could expect. We planned to give some "free passes" for uneven service, figuring there would still be kinks to be worked out. Instead, we were wowed by friendly, eager to please servers who did a great job fulfilling all our needs. Dorothy never missed a beat making us glad we were seated in her section. As I looked around the room, it was hard to believe we were even near a mall. The atmosphere was relaxing and calm with what Zoa called a sort of upscale LLBean decor. Funny. I started with the New England Lobster Bisque; it was excellent. Zoa got a tangy caesar salad and then it was "on to the entrees". We shared the 7 oz. Coffee-Cured Filet and the Horseradish-Encrusted Swordfish. We both agreed the steak was "the winner", and rightly so in a steakhouse. My favorite of our vegetables was the au gratin potatoes. We were too filled to try dessert even though I noticed there were two chocolate offerings which are always inviting to me. After dinner, we went outside to the valet parking area to get Zoa's car. It's reasonably priced and a great idea if you don't want to drive endlessly around a parking lot. Our mission was accomplished and we were delighted that it was so enjoyable.

Stoney River Legendary Steaks
Towson Town Center
825 Dulaney Valley Road
Towson, MD 21204
P: 410-583-5250

THE PRIME RIB, Maryland

Every November, Bill, Bill, Brian, and I have dinner together at The Prime Rib in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood. If you enjoy a good steak, this is the place. Dave, the manager, always graciously accommodates our requests. Chuck, our waiter, sees to it that we have the right amount of privacy combined with his attention and good service. Several feet away, two musicians play soft music on piano and bass. The lights are low, but the energy is high, as well dressed diners enjoy everything this fine dining restaurant has to offer. My filet was prepared perfectly tonight and I surrounded it with a caesar salad and shared vegetables. Desserts were outstanding as always, including my hot fudge sundae. Tomorrow, it's back to my weak dieting, but tonight's dinner and all that made it so enjoyable, was worth the setback! So keep a credit card handy ($50-$100/person) and definitely include this restaurant as a special place for special and any occasions, you won't be disappointed!

The Prime Rib
Horizon House
1101 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
P: 410-539-1804

PATRICK'S RESTAURANT AND PUB

Every month or two, Bill and I try to meet our friends Dave and Judy for dinner at Patrick's in Cockeysville. We got waylayed for awhile since Patrick's experienced the misfortune of a fire, but as of tonight we are back on schedule! Our evening was fun filled, as it should be. For the first time, we all ordered the price fixe dinners. My strip steak entree was just what I wanted, not to mention the caesar salad, the baked potato, and the hot fudge sundae completed my expectations. It's always fun to sip my cosmo, catch-up on conversation, have a glass of red wine with dinner, and finish with dessert! Our waiter was wonderful, very attentive and cordial. He didn't write our requests which always makes me nervous (I can't even remember what I ordered let alone everyone else), but there were no mistakes. All in all, I can't think of anything that was missing unless it would have been the opportunity to compliment Chef/Owner Carole Brosso. Well done!


Patrick's Restaurant and Pub
Cranbrook Shopping Center
500 Cranbrook Road
Cockeysville, Maryland 21030
P: 410-683-0604

PAZZA LUNA, Maryland

Located in Baltimore's Locust Point area, Pazza Luna is a fun place to enjoy good Italian food with good friends. Tonight, Vicki, me, Robin, Marci, Marguerite, Diane, and Susan treated Georgia to dinner there to celebrate her birthday. We've patronized this restaurant before, however this was our first visit under the new ownership. Our group always sits at the large table next to the kitchen on the first level. I can't tell you if that is typically a loud spot because we are a boisterous group. On the other side of the restaurant sits the bar and a few smaller tables. There is additional seating upstairs. Tonight happened to be "ten dollar pasta night". I chose capellini with mussels in a red wine sauce. Very tasty. I couldn't help but notice how busy it was for a week night, which to me, says good neighborhood support. That and the new owner walking around to meet his patrons were good signs.

Pazza Luna
1401 E. Clement Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
P: 410-962-1212

BON AIR COUNTRY CLUB, Pennsylvania

Love the changing colors of Fall? I do. Since I don't have time to drive south on Skyline Drive, I did the next best thing - I spent the day on a golf course. I haven't played golf for two years, but today all the conditions were too right to not try. Forget the bad knees, forget the swelled thumb, just do it! I was a guest at the Bon Air Country Club in Pennsylvania, not far from New Freedom. It was the perfect day to be there. The sky was clear, the air was fresh, and the trees were beautiful. My game was in the toilet, but that was expected, and second to the importance of the day. I have forgotten how beautiful golf courses can be, and as a

city girl, it used to be my main commune with nature. Thank goodness I gave it a "shot" today!

Bon Air Country Club
2287 Club House Road
Glen Rock, PA 17327
P: 717-235-2091

LA SCALA, Maryland

How do you say PERFECT in Italian?? La Scala. I've heard a lot about this restaurant in Baltimore's Little Italy area and tonight I finally got an opportunity to experience "the experience" first hand. My friend Diana is a huge fan of La Scala and now I know why. We were warmly greeted at the door and taken to our table. I couldn't help but notice the bar on my left and an indoor bocce court downstairs on my right. How cool is that? Once seated, we started off with a bottle of wine from Diana's private locker upstairs. Willie, our server, described tonight's Specials explicitly making it hard for me to decide what to order. Then Chef/Owner Nino graciously greeted us and helped us get started with some appetizer suggestions. We split the grilled caesar salad and the shrimp toast. Yummm. After a little more wine and some bread, we received our entrees. Diana got her favorite, Bronzini, a whole fish grilled and drizzled with olive oil and lemon. As always, she loved it (and so did I thanks to her putting some on my plate). I chose one of the Specials, Chicken Rotilini. It consisted of chicken filets wrapped around fontina cheese, sage, bread crumbs, and I'm sure an assortment of hidden ingredients, all resting on marinara sauce, contributing to a delicious dinner served with a side of pasta. Wow! We had plenty to eat and it was a pleasure to not be rushed. Although we had no room left for dessert, Nino gave us complimentary after dinner drinks. Our Friday evening was so relaxing, we even had time to ask for a second bottle. It was the perfect way to spend a chilly, rainy night - or for that matter - any night!


La Scala
1012 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
P: 410-783-9209

ALIZEE, Maryland

Are you a martini lover? If so, this is the place for you on a Thursday evening between 5 and 11pm. It's a favorite spot for me and my friends, Lizette and Marilynn. We love to meet there and unwind with a half-price cosmopolitan and a burger. The food is quite good, prepared by chef Christian deLutis. Alizee, in the Colonnade, in Guilford, houses a lovely restaurant, but we prefer to sit at the bar and socialize with our favorite bar person, Judy. It's a great place to relax with good food and drink!


Alizee
4 West University Pkwy.
Baltimore, MD 21218

P: 443-449-6200

COSTA'S INN, Maryland

Today I took my "twin mothers", Vete and Rete, to my favorite place that serves steamed crabs. Costa's is located on the east side of Baltimore off the beatin' path, but it attracts folks from all over the state. It's one of the few restaurants that accepts reservations for in-house crab dining, not to mention year round. There is a full menu, but steamed crab lovers rarely utilize it. If you've never tasted steamed blue crabs, this restaurant is the perfect place to treat yourself to this experience. If you're already a fan, it's still the perfect place!

Costa's Inn Restaurant

4100 N. Point Blvd.

Baltimore, MD 21222

P: 410-477-1975

RUTH'S CHRIS, Maryland

I normally don't write about chain or franchise restaurants, but my experience in the bar at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Pikesville was too good to be excluded. It's a great place to sit at the bar or in a booth in the bar with friends after work to unwind with a drink and a bite. The restaurant is upscale with a dress code, but the bar area is relaxed and bustling (yes, it can be both). Last night I went there with my friends Christy, Zoa, and Amy. We sat at the bar and had a wonderful time together. Christy got Oysters Rockefeller, Zoa got a sushi grade tuna salad, Amy got the filet trio, and I got my old standby - a caesar salad with steak (who wants chicken in a steak house)? Our food was delicious and we had a good time telling stories and laughing (don't worry Zoa, your story is safe). Several of Amy's friends came in, not a surprise since this is a popular neighborhood meeting place. Who knows, maybe one day someone I know will walk in the door! Could I be the next Norm of "Cheers"?

Ruth's Chris Steak House

1777 Reisterstown Road

Pikesville, Maryland 21208

P: 410-837-0033

COOKSHOP, New York

My friends, Georgia and Vicki, and I arrived at the Cookshop a little before 11am, our reservation time. We had just survived a crazy cab ride and deserved a rewarding brunch. Located on Tenth Avenue in Chelsea, it looked very promising with lots of folks waiting for the doors to open. We were seated by the window which was perfect because it gave us a peek at the High Line right across the street. We chose to forego bloody marys and mimosas since we partied hearty in the Village the previous night. Our brunch selections were wonderful, but for me the breads were the highlight. My skittle eggs wouldn't have been the same without the semolina-raisin toast. Georgia loved the coffee, and not being a coffee drinker, that's good enough for me. All in all, we enjoyed our brunch experience and appreciated the opportunity to once again share good food with good company.

Cookshop

156 Tenth Avenue (at 20th St)

New York, NY 10011

P: 212-924-4440

BAZZINI, New York

Stumbled onto this place this afternoon strolling through Tribeca. From the outside, I thought it was a restaurant, but once inside, I realized it was a market place with an eating area. Bazzini is most known for its nuts, but has expanded and offers lots of gourmet culinary options. You can browse through what seemed like a zillion bottled drinks, order your salad custom made, buy food prepared or ready to prepare, choose from barrels of coffees, and spend countless minutes trying to decide which of their nut offerings suits your craving. If you wanted, you could buy your lunch and walk a block or so and picnic on the Hudson River. How amazing is that??

Bazzini
339 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
P: 212-334-1280

ELMO, New York

I always love my visits at the elmo restaurant in Chelsea. Sometimes for lunch, sometimes for dinner, doesn't matter - it's always fun! The food is so good I don't limit myself to a favorite. My brother Steve and I ate lunch outside today. We started with the gulf shrimp "popcorn style" with cornmeal batter and chipotle aioli. (see photo). Note: This is an especially good option for folks with celiac sprue diets since most restaurants serve shrimp in floured batters. There are many entree choices; today I ordered the grilled atlantic salmon blt on toasted multigrain bread. The best!! Don't let the photo trick you into thinking this is a calm environment. There is a lot of energy bursting outside from those open windows and entrance way. Inside is a thunderous environment equal to any South Beach club/restaurant. The music is blaring and the later it gets, the louder the audience. Very hip and groovy with lots of people watching opportunities.

elmo
156 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10011
P: 212-337-8000

THE HARRISON, New York

I couldn't get to New York fast enough to meet my two friends, Vicki and Georgia, for dinner at the Harrison restaurant in Tribeca. We had 9pm reservations and I just about rolled out of my cab as it approached the corner of Greenwich and Harrison streets. Found my friends so pleased at the bar we decided to sit there for dinner. My favorite appetizer was the house made ricotta gnocchi with sugar snap peas and asparagus butter. They were exactly like our bartender described them - "pillows". We loved our salmon and snapper entrees and savored our dinner together occasionally toasting with a great wine. Yum. The best part for me was knowing that I would be eating in Jimmy Bradley's other great restaurant the following night. Stay tuned for my Red Cat experience.

the Harrison
355 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
p: 212-274-9310

PEPPERMILL, Maryland

Once or twice a month I meet my in-laws for lunch. We try to choose a restaurant halfway between us which usually takes us to the Peppermill on York Road near the beltway. We seem to order the same things most visits, mine fluctuating between the shrimp salad club and the grilled chicken caesar salad. Service is dependable there and the food is always delicious. The audience is greatly comprised of elderly folks, probably a lot of them are loyal patrons since its opening in 1982. My father in law told me his friends call it "God's Waiting Room" which is pretty funny. For me, it's a relaxing, enjoyable lunch spot for me to enjoy two people I don't get to see that often. Not to mention it's a place I can go and feel young!

The Peppermill

1301 York Road

Lutherville, MD 21093

P: 410-583-1107

JULIE & JULIA

Can't resist raving about this movie. It was such a pleasure to watch two true stories ping-pong style. One minute you're immersed in Julia Child's life and the next you're catching up with Julie Powell. They are both determined women who succeed in their goals despite setbacks throughout the movie. It only takes a few minutes for Meryl Streep to have you believing you are watching Julia Child; as usual, she was great. And Amy Adams makes you want to be at Julie's table every night for dinner to give her a high-five and enjoy her masterpiece meals.

The movie was extremely entertaining and I left in awe of both women. As a new blogger, Julie Powell is now my inspiration. Julie, if only you would follow my blog - you are my Julia Child!

CENTENNIAL PARK, Maryland

My cousin Lynn and I decided to take a stroll around Centennial Lake while my brother did some kayaking with his IPOD. It's a beautiful park in Howard County so we thought the trek would be a "walk in the park". Hah! Little did we know it was about two and a half miles around the lake back to our starting point. It was a warm afternoon and we're both out of shape - a bad combination. We kept asking people on the path how far away the boathouse was, getting various answers, none being the one we wanted (near). So, we kept walking knowing going back was already too far. When we finally got back to the boathouse, our faces were beet red and our clothes were wet from dousing ourselves with our water bottles. We were the poster children for "get in the gym". And, to get humbled even more, we couldn't get over how this really old guy had passed us on the path twice!

There are four entrances to the park, each leading to various facilities. You can hike, rent a boat, cast for fish, play a sport, have a picnic, and enjoy wildlife. There's plenty to see and do!

Centennial Park

Off Route 108

Ellicott City, Maryland 21042

p: 410-313-4700

TIO PEPE, Maryland

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore! When I was fourteen, my Spanish teacher took our class to this restaurant as a Spanish lesson, we were not allowed to speak any English. I immediately fell in love with everything and have continued to keep it one of my special occasion destinations.

Located in Baltimore's Mt. Vernon neighborhood, this restaurant attracts locals and visitors wanting lunch or dinner to be "special". Many diners accompany the fine Spanish cuisine with a pitcher of Sangria. Hmmmm, my favorite way to eat fruit. If you know anyone who frequents this restaurant, you will surely hear about their "favorites" (things like the shrimp in garlic appetizer or the paella or the scallops in champagne sauce or the pine nut roll). My brother and sister and I decided to make our dinner even more special than usual and asked about lobster options not on the menu. The waiter said they were out of "Lobster Cardinale", but the chef recommended "3 O 3". We were intrigued and all ordered it. What we got was amazing. Crab, shrimp, and lobster mixed together in champagne sauce served with rice and vegetables. Wow! I brought some of my dinner home and savored it tonight, just as much the second time! It's a must for anyone who wants to make their dining experience a special occasion. p.s. Reservations are a must.

Tio Pepe

10 E. Franklin Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

p: 410-539-4675

NACHO MAMA'S, Maryland

Buenos dias! Celebrated my brother's Big 50 this past week at several restaurants. He loves the crab nachos at Nacho Mama's in Canton, so away we went. As usual, there was a wait list for a booth (they don't take reservations), but their margaritas helped make waiting bearable. Unlike many Mexican restaurants, the decor here is extremely eclectic and very Baltimore. You need to see it to believe it.

Dress is very casual, it's a fun spot to let your hair down and just have a good time. Portions are big, be hungry.

Muy bueno!!

Nacho Mama's

2907 O'Donnell Street

Canton, Maryland 21224

p: 410-675-0898

BLUESTONE, Maryland

Sunday Brunch - one of my favorite times of the week. Today was especially fun because I shared this time with my brother Steve and my friend Lizette at Bluestone. Good food, good mimosas, good company, good time.

The menu specializes in seafood offerings with crab cakes that are hard to resist. An additional brunch menu is offered and in effect until Labor Day. You get three courses for just under thirty dollars (drinks not included). We considered that a deal and definitely got our money's worth. So much, that none of us could breathe as we walked to the car. I still haven't mastered the art of putting down the fork when I start to feel full. Does anyone have a place for me to review that teaches this lesson?

BLUESTONE
11 W. Aylesbury Road
Timonium, MD 21093
p: 410-561-1100

DRAGON BEST, Maryland

Like a pearl in an oyster, this little sushi spot is hidden in Woodholme Square off Reisterstown Road. The restaurant is small in size with a few tables for seating and a counter for their carryout/delivery service. The menu offers Chinese and Japanese cuisines, sushi being my first choice. Today I ordered one of my favorites - the Pikesville Maki. These rolls are lower and wider, filled with shrimp and crab meat with an avocado nestled inside. If this doesn't appeal to your sushi senses, there are 54 other Maki options. Let the good times "roll" !

DRAGON BEST

Woodholme Square

1860 - C Reisterstown Road

Pikesville, MD 21208

p: 410-602-2208

SNYDER'S WILLOW GROVE, Maryland

An Oldie but a Goodie. Don't let the outside appearance stop you from thinking it's not interesting. Inside there are two dining rooms that take you back to 1975 while you enjoy some pretty good dinners. Our favorites are fried shrimp and the open steak sandwich. I'm mentioning this because just today I was talking with a friend and not only did this restaurant come up, but so did those very two entrees. Seems four of us always order those same two selections. I'm wondering what Kevin Bacon would order????

This restaurant has a history of perserverance. It opened in 1937, was destroyed by a fire in 1944 and reopened across the street (photo). It was remodeled in 1964 and then again in 1972 after it was damaged by Hurricane Agnes. Then it was remodeled again in 1975 because of water damage sustained from Hurricane Eloise.

I used to go there with my Dad in the 70's and sitting in the dining room with the green leaf wall paper is very comforting to me. When I look around the room, I think I am not the only one. If you've never been there, look forward to a blast from the past with good food for today.

SNYDER'S WILLOW GROVE

841 N. Hammonds Ferry Road

Linthicum Heights, MD 21090

p: 410-789-1149

TEXAS de BRAZIL, Florida

Who would guess that you can satisfy your carniverous cravings in the Sunshine State? When I think about Florida, orange juice and Disney World and bathing suits come to mind. When I think about meat in Florida, I wonder about alligator - not beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and sausage. Going to this Brazilian-style all-you-can eat restaurant is a fun experience. Gauchos (carvers) come to your table offering choice cuts of various grilled meats. In addition to these offerings, there is a 50-item "salad bar" with something for everyone. My family frequents this restaurant during our annual trip to Orlando and each time, we swear we are not going to eat as much as we did "last year". I'd like to say that this year we accomplished that, but everything was so good, no can do.

FYI: This is a fixed-price dinner which could be considered moderately expensive once beverages, desserts, tax, and gratuity are added.


TEXAS de BRAZIL
5259 International Drive
Orlando, Florida
p: 407-355-0355

THE HIGH LINE, New York

Walking the streets of New York City is one of my favorite things to do. There's so much to take in and it's so much more interesting than walking on a treadmill facing the wall in a gym (not that I would know). Recently I discovered the High Line, a former elevated freight railroad track that has been partially rejuvenated and newly opened in June, 2009. Located on the West Side of Manhattan, you can walk a little over a mile with the city landscape on all sides. It's a real treat to see Manhattan architectures, the Hudson River, and the Jersey coastline all in such a short span. In two places, the park travels under and through buildings. There are many benches for soaking up the ambiance as well as a stadium style bleacher area overlooking traffic. This wild flower filled attraction screams eclecticity!

The High Line

Manhattan's West Side

From West 20th St. in Chelsea to Gansevort St. in the Meatpacking District