One World Cafe

Last weekend I ventured into the world of the unknown. I went with a friend of mine to the well-known Baltimore vegetarian restaurant One World Cafe. I have always enjoyed tofu and vegetarian dishes, so I had high hopes of enjoying One World Cafe.
Upon entering One World, I was immediately struck by the colorful walls and modern appearance. The front of the space is used as a coffeehouse. There is a counter where patrons can order coffees, sweets, and small entrees. The coffeehouse takes up a large amount of space and is very much the focus of the eatery. Beyond the coffee bar however is a sit-down portion of One World that is more akin to a traditional restaurant. The restaurant has seating for about 50 patrons and is contained in one large, square room. The space is colorful and cute. The atmosphere is relaxed and quaint. The atmosphere is a little trendy, but certainly still casual.
I order a Thai tempeh stir fry dish that was amazing. The texture of the tempeh was more meat-like than tofu. It almost has a texture as though it's got pieces of ground nuts in it, although it is very much made from soy like tofu. The dish had more of an Indian curry taste than a Thai vegetable stir fry, but the flavors were delicious nonetheless. The vegetables and tempeh were exceptionally well prepared and the dish was full of flavors. I had the feeling I was eating something with numerous ingredients, of which I could only make out a certain few. The iced tea was nothing special and the restaurant does serve alcohol. The desserts are fabulous and I have a special place in my heart for the red velvet cake, although I admit to having a special place in my heart for almost any red velvet cake.

FestAfrica

Fest Africa was this weekend in Patterson Park. I forewent the $5 required for admission to see what the festival was about. There were several craft boths, a performance stage, and some food vendors. There was a limited number of authentically African food vendors, but one booth did stick out in my mind. Lady D's Cafe of Waverly had several authentic Nigerian dishes for sale, of which I chose the asaro (yam porridge) with chicken. The spices in the dish were delicious and I am now considering the trek up to Waverly to try out the home-style west African restaurant.

Pork Cheeseburgers with Adobo

I saw this recipe for pork cheeseburgers on gourmet.com and thought it sounded interesting. I gave it a try and found the food to be delicious. Having pork in a burger provides a new and interesting flavor to the traditional hamburger buns. The mild flavors of the muenster and avocado don't over power the flavors of the pork. The adobo sauce provides a spicy accent that complements the other flavors in the burger as well. Although I might suggest using a combination of BBQ, spicy peppers, mayo, and vinegar to make a sauce that will stay on the burger better and be a little less complex to make. The recipe is fast and easy, as it took me only about 20 minutes to make.

http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/2000s/2009/06/chipotle-pork-cheeseburgers

Blue Hill Tavern

I decided to try the Blue Hill Tavern the other night because it looked really different and exciting for Baltimore. For one, the space is impressively large; the restaurant spans two floors and each floor is much larger than the typical Baltimore rowhouse. The atmosphere is very sleek and the layout is designed using elements of minimalism. I was very excited by photos I saw of the restaurant on-line and was not disappointed when I walked through the door. The space in Blue Hill Tavern was impressive and innovative.
The food however was a different story. Before I discuss my disappointment with the food, I will say that the meats I enjoy were excellently prepared. Nonetheless, there was some disappointment after I received my dishes from what was a well-described and delicious looking menu. I decided to start with fried oysters Rockefeller. I love oysters Rockefeller and thought the dish looked intriguing. The oysters were deliciously hot, fresh, and well cooked. I also had a salmon sandwich for dinner, which was perfected cooked.
Despite the excellent preparation of the meats however, the flavoring in all of the dishes however was surprisingly bland.The oysters Rockefeller I had as an appetizer did not resemble any oysters Rockefeller I have ever had prior. The oysters were fried in cornmeal, which was creative, and sounded delicious, but actually very bland. The oysters were accompanied next to spoonfuls of spinach which was wilted, bland, and somehow managed to look sad and helpless on the plate, which I have never said about spinach before. There was also an odd tasteless sauce drizzled on top of the oysters that I had hoped would provide some flavor to the dish, but the sauce disappointed nonetheless.
The salmon sandwich I had was also relatively tasteless. There was another odd tasteless sauce on the sandwich (described on the menu as aioli), along with lettuce and other relatively tasteless vegetables, all of which surprisingly exuded almost no flavor. Even some salt could have brought out the natural flavors of the salmon and would have been a welcome addition. I did end up salting my food, which helped, but the disappointment had already set in. Perhaps the fact that the menus described the dishes well and made the cuisine sound new and exciting actually caused me to be even more disappointed than I would have been if the menu had described the food the way it came out to the table. Nonetheless, the meal left something to be wanted, particularly at the price the restaurant was charging.
All in all, I was very impressed with the atmosphere of the restaurant and the preparation of the meats, but felt that a salt shaker and some inventive seasoning to accompany the food and menu descriptions is desperately needed. The menu was a little small and lacked a plethora of options, so I'm hoping that the chef is simply trying some things out and will perfect the menu with time. I would certainly be willing to give Blue Hill another chance ... oh and they have a really cool looking bar!
On the upside, the atmosphere is lively, modern, and stylish; ont he downside, the food lacks a great deal of flavor.

Aqua Terra

I went to an unassuming little restaurant on Main Street in Annapolis called Aqua Terra. I have heard good things about the place, but the restaurant is not as flashy or crowded as some of the other (and numerous) restaurants on Main Street in Annapolis and thus it's never come to me to try it out. When I'm dining in Annapolis I usually end up at one of my favorite two or three places or else I try someplace that looks adventuresome and exciting. Nonetheless, while passing by in the afternoon, I was in the mood for something small and light and I decided to stop in for a quick lunch.
With respect to the atmosphere, there isn't a lot to say. The restaurant is small, has a modern and clean decor, and offers a nice place for an intimate meal. The location is great, right off Main Street, and the restaurant has a couple of tables for outside seating, where I decided to sit on a warm summer's day.
The cuisine leans towards asian fusion with respect to several dishes , but there are American and European options as well. The menu consists mostly of small plates, sushi, sandwiches, and pizza, although there are several entrees as well. I wasn't terribly hungry and decided to go with a small plate. I opted for Aqua Terra's Korean BBQ, which was not too bad. The meat was a little tough and the sauce was a little sweeter than I usually like Korean BBQ. It was nonetheless nice to see Korean BBQ on the menu, but I'm not sure I would order the dish again. I would however go back and try something new. The restaurant offered several creative dishes and appeared to have relatively healthy, light cuisine. Some of the restaurant's other dishes were intriguing, such as the tempura battered asparagus, seared tuna with cajun spices, and thai crispy whole fish. My friend who accompanied me opted to try one of Aqua Terra's sandwiches: Havarti and turkey a.ka. the Norwegian. She said the sandwich was just okay; she said that it was "fresh, but lacking any pizazz." Although Aqua Terra wouldn't be the first place I would recommend a friend visiting from out of town to try in Annapolis, it's worth a light lunch or dinner if you get the chance to check it out.
On the upside, the menu is inventive and the location is easy to get to when in downtown Annapolis; on the downside, the creatively described dishes weren't terribly well prepared.

If you are in Rehoboth this summer, I highly recommend Cloud 9. The restaurant has a colorful and cheerful atmosphere exuding from its cute downtown storefront. This restaurant blends the casual warmth of the laid back beach town with the creativity and sophistication of fine dining. The menu is inventive and playful and the service is efficient and friendly.

Joss Cafe and Sushi Bar

The new Joss Cafe and Sushi Bar in Baltimore is a very attractive sushi restaurant that is more modern and trendy than the restaurant's original location in Annapolis. Many of us know Joss for its fabulously fresh fish in its Main Street Annapolis sushi joint. The Baltimore location won't disappoint those familiar with the original.
With respect to the atmosphere, the restaurant has a beautiful waved bamboo ceiling and comfortable and spacious seating in the bar area. The brick walls are decorated with minimalistic simplicity and the historic rowhouse entrance is quaint and chic. Joss Cafe in Baltimore exhibits a more modern and trendy vibe than the quirky, unfanciful, sushi restaurant in Annapolis.
Now for the really good news. The sushi is every bit as delicious as that which can be found in the Annapolis location. I had a spicy tuna roll, perfectly fried shrimp tempura roll, and deliciously unique spicy scallop roll. The spicy sauces on the two spicy rolls (particularly on the spicy scallop roll) were uniquely created by the restaurant and thus offered something you cannot get at other sushi restaurants. The spiciness in the rolls did not over-power the deliciously fresh seafood. All the rolls used unique, fresh ingredients to accent some very traditional rolls. The sushi had original flavor combinations and managed to nonetheless pay homage to the simple and original taste of the rolls.
On the upside, the sushi is fresh and delicious; on the downside, the restaurant is not terribly lively and is still trying to get a steady crowd of patrons.

Greek Folk Festival

Don't forget to check out St. Nicholas's annual Greek Folk Festival this weekend on Ponca Street. There will be a good deal of delicious food I'm sure with such favorites as gyros, moussaka, dolmathes, grilled octopus, baklava, and of course leg of lamb!

Talara

I recently ventured over to Talara, a new Nuevo Latino restaurant you may have noticed that opened in Harbor East on President Street. I wasn't sure what to expect because I don't know many good Nuevo Latino restaurants in Baltimore and I was worried that the self-described "South Beach" atmosphere might mean the owners want to place more of an emphasis on the bar than the food. I was however pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the food. The restaurant was crowded, but I only waited for 15 minutes without reservations. I got a drink at one of the two bars and was seated at a large window-side table.
The mojitos were a little adverturous with flavors like pomegranite and key lime. I had the pomegranite, which was a little on the sweet side, but the drink had fresh mint and was relatively good overall.
The food however was even better. I went with a group of friends and we all split four tapas. We had a lime and jalepeno flavored shrimp ceviche (ceviche seems to be the restaurant's specialty), which was good and an asian style ahi tuna ceviche, which was amazing. The tuna ceviche was very well flavored and was almost sushi-like, but nonetheless noticably ceviche.
We split a seafood paella, which was very well seasoned and contained some of the best Spanish rice I've ever had. We had a pulled pork and manchengo sandwich that was delicious! The pork was well cooked and perfectly accented by the cheese and bread. We also had a tender pork shank that could have used a little more seasoning, although it was deliciously juicy nonetheless. All of the seafood we had was very fresh and it seemed like there was an emphasis on truly high caliber preparation.
We skipped dessert, only because we wanted to walk down the street and get some bubble tea at Teavolve. The atmosphere is fun and lively and the service could not have been any better. I highly recommend this new and creative restaurant!!
On the upside, Talara brings a new, inventive food concept to Baltimore and it does it well; on the downside the music is a little loud and it can be difficult to hear.

EatBar

I went to an amazing restaurant in Arlington, VA while hanging out with a friend in the DC area on Saturday. The restaurant is called EatBar and has a true neighborhood feel. The "bar"puts an emphasis on the food it prepares (thus the name), and yet also maintains a strong wine, beer, and cocktail menu. In fact, EatBar has over 70 wines by the glass (many under 10 dollars) and a selection of cocktails created in house.
I dined with two other guests and we decided to start by splitting a cheese/charcuterie plate that ended up being a delicious way to begin an amazing dining experience. The plate contained an interesting goat's milk cheese (we picked 3 cheeses off a list on the menu) that contained lavender. The lavender was a little over-powering, but it offered an interesting flavor compliment to the soft, mild, and creamy goat's milk cheese.
The restaurant has a number of small plates and also offers some entrees as well. We chose to get several small plates to split and also got a sandwich that sounded interesting. We had excellently prepared charred octopus. The octopus was perfectly cooked and was firm and flavored on the outside and soft on the inside - not chewy. We also had a rabbit pate. The pate had a very un-pate like flavor, but the whole grain spicy mustard and carrot salad served with it complimented the pate well. The Reuben sandwich we ordered was truly amazing!! Best of all, when the bill came, the damage was not bad! I highly recommend this eatery/bar to anyone in the Arlington area wanting a cheap, chic, and truly exceptional restaurant. Great food and the service was very good as well!!
On the upside, the restaurant is well priced and cozy and on the downside, I hear the desserts leave more to be wanted.

Ricotta Gnocchi

I saw this recipe from Chef Marc Vetri, owner and chef at Vetri in Philadelphia. Vetri is consdered by many to be THE top Italian restaurant in the country right now. This recipe (ricotta gnocchi with crispy artichokes) looked amazing and I had to try it. Not only does it look beautiful and sophisticated, but it tastes delicious and is easy to make. It's an easy impressor at any dinner party!!

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/ricotta-gnocchi-with-crispy-artichokes?lnc=4ef2dc5bfca40110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=showarchive_tv_show-archive

Ixia

Ixia is, I dare say Baltimore's most creatively and exquisitely decorated restaurant. I would go back just to sit and admire the artistic passion and thought that must have gone into developing the design concept for the spacious, high-ceilinged restaurant. Ixia is plastered in a calming blue paint and is flared with gold accents on many of the restaurants historical moldings. The overwhelming, calm, blue tones are complemented by the soft white chairs and tables and the polished wood flooring. Modern art that challenges the restaurant's color scheme seems to fit in seamlessly with the restaurant's classical architectural notes.
As if the restaurant's decor weren't enough, the food at Ixia is creative and inventive as well. The restaurant's signature appetizer is its crab and lobster macaroni and cheese. Although sometimes inventive, macaroni and cheese dishes can miss the mark; this dish however hit the target right on. It was truly delicious and unexpected. The elbow-shaped pasta was creamy, full of delicious crab, and expertly broiled; the macaroni and cheese is one of the best I've had anywhere. I ordered the skate for dinner. Although the dish was a little cold when it arrived, it was previously well-cooked for such a slender fish and rested beneath the perfect amount of creamy citrus sauce. Delicious and well cooked potatoes complemented the fish perfectly. I recommend the dish, although others in my party ordered some fabulous looking entrees that I would easily try on my next visit.
Ixia also has a well developed cocktail list. Some of the cocktails are on the sweet side, but they are relatively well-balanced and from what I understand, at least one is internationally acclaimed.
On the upside, the artistically designed atmosphere and food are refreshing; on the downside, it can be difficult to focus with the restaurant's eclectic eccentricities.

Marie Louise Bistro

Marie Louise Bistro recently opened its doors in Mount Vernon. The restaurant serves simple French bistro fare and tempts its patrons with pastries on display in a refrigerated glass case just to the right of the front door.
I was pleasantly surprised by the decor of the bistro, which included what I think of as traditional bistro chairs as well as a tiled floor that was reminiscent what I remember from my travels in Europe. I was pleasantly surprised that the owners of Marie Louise actually made an effort to make the restaurant look like a bistro. So many Baltimore restaurants clean up a space, offer a new and inventive concept, but don't bother to make their restaurant have the look and feel of the food they are trying to sell - not so with Marie Louise.
I ordered the duck confit, which was deliciously hot and juicy. It was crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and over all very well prepared. The duck came with assorted vegetables (which appeared to be steamed) and couscous. As with the main dish, both sides were simple and very well prepared. Both sides were well-seasoned, well cooked , and tasted naturally flavorful.
I unfortunately couldn't save room for dessert, but I wanted to kick myself for not having done so. The pastries in the front of the store (which are available for take out) looked fabulous.
On the upside, Marie Louise offers well prepared classics in a traditional French setting; on the downside the place was a little slower than I would have liked to have seen it

Elevation Burger

The concept behind Elevation Burger sounds like a great idea.The establishment promises organic burgers and offers an upscale casual atmosphere with reasonable prices.
The restaurant attempts to draw in its patrons with a clean and modern design. The burger maker in Harbor East has sleek counter tops and retro-slick aluminum serving trays, but the atmosphere lacks a character that seems necessary in a place serving comfort food. If you saw a picture of Elevation Burger, you wouldn't know the interior from any strip mall chain in America. In fact, Elevation Burger seems a lot like Five Guys. It offers a limited menu with the promise of preparing well the few dishes it does prepare. Although the burger I had was tasty, it was less flavorful than other burgers I have had (including other popular chain burger joints). Elevation's fries were delicious however and are highly recommended.
I was hoping to find some specialty burgers that would separate Elevation from Five Guys or other chain burger joints in the area. Unfortunately, I found most of the same offerings and not a whole lot new to peak my interest.
On the upside, Elevation offered good fries and environmentally friendly food; on the downside, it lacked a certain zest and failed to offer a concept that strayed far from the alternative patrons are already offered here in Baltimore.

About

As an individual who enjoys food and dining out, I thought I would start my own blog about the Baltimore dining scene. I know there are other blogs devoted to the same subject with a similar intensity and passion for good dining, but let's face it, good food means different things to different people. I therefore will tell you why my blog is a little different and why you should read it (even if it's in addition to some of the other wonderful Baltimore food blogs). I tend to prefer chefs/restauranteurs who show creativity in their cooking and creativity which carries throughout the dining experience. This means I enjoy dining when I know that those in the restaurant treat creating food and the creating the dining experience in general as an art form. This means that I enjoy when a chef prepares food in an effort to balance the food's flavors, show a concern for portion size, demonstrate an appreciation for texture, and prsent food that isn't either too showy or too modest. This makes my blog different because I look for these qualities while I dine.
Another hobby of mine, besides dining, is traveling. I thought I would make this blog a little more unique by adding my dining experiences when traveling to nearby locales around Maryland and nearby states. I travel to the beach, mountains, city, and country during much of my free time. I haven't yet found a Baltimore blog that devotes a significant portion of its content toward dining in nearby locations and even if such a blog does exist, let's face it, there are so many dining options within a 2 or 3 hour drive of Baltimore that my blog is bound to discuss different restaurants. I will discuss how I choose which restaurant I dine while on day trips and why I have chosen to review each restaurant I review. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy as this blog gets started over the next few months.