Pizza-the artists’ food

A little over a week ago (yes, I am a tiny bit behind on my postings, but I am finding that all of this eating means that I need to go to the gym more so I don’t have as much time to write) I went to see a play in the Arts and Entertainment district Station North.  After the opening night production there was a catered reception featuring pizza from Joe Squared, a restaurant in the Station North area, actually it’s across the street from the theater that I was at.

Their pizza is great!  I actually ended up going there later that weekend and order the flag pizza, a pizza that’s a third traditional cheese, a third white pizza, and a third pesto pizza (the Italian flag, duh).  The crust was thin and crispy, but not too well done.  Also, it wasn’t round but rather in squares, the Midwest way to eat pizza and my personal favorite pizza shape.

Not only is the food delicious, but they are also huge supporters of the arts, making going to their establishment even more worthwhile.  They often have musical groups performing in restaurant, they have a stage area specifically for those occasions.  They also support the arts organizations in the area by subsidizing food for them, including opening night receptions like the one I went to at Single Carrot theatre.

It’s nice to know that in these Arts and Entertainment districts that can be found throughout Maryland businesses that work for profit, like Joe Squared, support those who are not-for-profit, like Single Carrot.  It gives me a little more hope for the arts, and for delicious food!

PAPERMOON–Need I say more?!

Everyday I pass this strange blue house with mannequin body parts strewn outside on my way to work.  Typically I’m running late and my mind is filled with the never ending questions if I’ll make it to work on time, so rarely can I fit questions about this weird building into my brain.

Last week my roommate casually mentioned the delicious breakfast food (we share a love of all things breakfast-y) at PaperMoon Diner.  Upon stating it location and how it’s known for its strange decor I made the connection that this was the establishment that I had been passing everyday.

We decided to eat breakfast there this past weekend and boy was I thrilled with the food!!  The prices aren’t bad–about $10 per entree.  What really makes this place though is the decor.

You may end up finding a wagon tacked up upside down on the ceiling over your head.  You may particularly like your greeting from the sliced mannequin with tiny G. I. Joes as a headdress (you need to see it to believe it!)

I ordered the breakfast quesadilla.  Eggs, veggies, cheese, and bacon (different types for your choosing), in a flour tortilla, served with guacamole and salsa.  For $9 I was over-stuffed after eating 1/2!  This was delicious and worth every penny!  I completely understand now why it had been featured on Food Network a few years back!!!

THE Thai Restaurant

This past week some friends of mine (I know it shocks me too that I have friends) asked if I wanted to go to this Thai restaurant, originally enough, it is also titled “Thai Restaurant.”

Being a lover of Thai food, but not really of the unoriginality of this title, I decided to go to this restaurant, and boy, am I glad I did!  The curry was UNBELIEVABLE!!!

If you’re not a curry fan, I can probably say that you won’t like Thai food.  If you like those sorts of spices though and happen to be passing through Baltimore, I would definitely suggest making your way over to this restaurant.

In the Greenmount/Charles Village area of Baltimore, their prices are decent (about $12 an entree).  My food easily lasted me more than more meal, I just made some more rice at home and I then I definitely felt like I got my money’s worth.

What my friends and I did I would suggest to anyone that goes there in a group.  We each ordered a different entree (2 curries and 1 stir fry) and we each got to have some of each one.  Then whichever one we ordered we got to take home at the end of the night.

Overall, the service was good, the prices were average, and the food was AMAZING!!!  I would definitely suggest to anyone and everyone coming through Baltimore.

Eggspectations

So, I realize that the location that I am about to speak of is not technically in Baltimore, it’s in Columbia, which is about 20 minutes away.  Nonetheless, I am going to speak of it because this is my blog and I can do whatever I want (don’t worry, I mean this in the nicest way possible).

Anyway, I recently went to Eggspectation.  It’s a more expensive chain restaurant located in the US and Canada.

Here’s my biggest complaint about the restaurant, IT’S EXPENSIVE!!!  I went with a friend for dinner and we each got a meal and one drink, and it cost us over $40.  She had a Groupon, but without it the meal would have been really pricey.

The food was good, don’t get me wrong.  I had their Egg-chilada: 3 eggs, cheese, jalapeno, green, and red peppers, and potatoes and fruit.  I also asked for tortillas instead of toast on the side so that I could make it more of a breakfast burrito.  I also love breakfast for dinner, so with this Sunday night meal it was almost a “what can be bad?!” kind of situation.

The meal itself, without tax and tip, and if I hadn’t gotten a drink, would had been upwards of $13.00, which is a decent chunk of change.

I don’t think that’s a bad price for dinner, but it is a little extreme for breakfast.  So overall here’s what I’d say about this restuarant.

If you’re going to go, make it for brunch or do breakfast for dinner.  Their portions are sizable and you’ll definitely be full.  Also, they offer things other than breakfast, but I mean, their name is “Eggspectation” so I’d stick with what they’re known for

 

Getting my Soul Food on!!!

On Saturday morning I made my way through the Waverly farmer’s market.  Located in the neighborhood of Charles Village, it offers an abundance of local fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and probably most importantly to the eternal foodie, food carts galore.

As I was walking through, have not eaten yet, I decided to try one of these food carts for my breakfast fare. Not knowing anything about the food carts available, I naturally went to the one with the biggest line, Blacksauce curbside kitchen.

Their speciality is biscuits, and with my passion for the flaky goodness of buttermilk, this choice was quite appropriate.  On Saturday they offered three different biscuit sandwich options–two meat and one vegetarian, as well as the plain biscuits for ordering.  From what I heard from people in line, their menu changes weekly, so you never know what sandwich and/or biscuit options will be available.

This past week the biscuit options were traditional buttermilk, multi-grain, and ham and cheese.  Each biscuit was $2.50 plain and $7.00 was the sandwich.  I wasn’t supremely hungry so I went with a plain buttermilk biscuit and it was like my grandmother had made it (if she wasn’t born, bred, and still living in the Midwest).

It was perfectly golden brown and crisp on the outside while still being wonderfully flaky on the inside.  I was able to eat it without any butter or jam it was so light!

So far Baltimore, you are definitely not letting me down in the food department!

Yum, The Golden West Cafe

This past Friday, my roommate, a friend, and I decided to spend the evening in the kitschy, hipster area of Hampden.  This is filled with cute restaurants, bars, and shops to take advantage of, and on a Friday night, is filled with young people spending a night on the town.

My friends and I were starting to get hungry and my roommate suggested that we hit up the Golden West Cafe.  She had said she’s been there once and they have good food, lots of vegetarian options (she’s a vegetarian), and are moderately priced.\

The menu is extensive; they offer breakfast all day, burgers, appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and tons of Mexican fare.  We started off our meal with sweet potato fries, per my roommate’s suggestion, and they were awesome!  They offer both sweet and savory fries; we got the savory ones with sea salt.

For dinner I ordered the nacho salad, I know you’re shocked at my meal choice.  This salad was delicious!  For a mere $8 I got tons of corn tortilla chips,  black beans (however you have the choice between pinto and black), cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and homemade salsa fresca.

One I ordered my meal the waiter told me that it was the biggest thing on the menu and he wasn’t lying!!  This salad came in a massive bowl and was overflowing out of it.  One of the best parts of this salad was the homemade buttermilk ranch that came alongside the salad.

This salad was filling and (somewhat) healthy.  I would ABSOLUTELY go back to this restaurant and would suggest it to any and all of my friends!

Holy Frijoles

So I had a desperate need for nachos today.  I hadn’t had them in over a week and I was starting to get the shakes, so I knew that I had to find a nacho restaurant ASAP.  I googled and googled and found from multiple foodie blogs that the place to hit up was Holy Frijoles in Hampden.

It’s a super cute, pretty hipster-y place that could almost be considered a hole-in-the-wall.  They are relatively inexpensive and the portions are HUGE.

I have to say though, the nachos were somewhat disappointing.  They were fresh and the chips were great, but the cheese was satisfactory at best.  It was burnt onto the chip and kind of crusty.  The salsa fresca (i.e. pico de gallo) was good and really fresh also.

If you’re not used to “authentic,” as authentic as nachos can be, then these are really good.  If you are used to REAL Mexican, these will not satisfy your appetite, but hey, they filled my stomach.