Melting Pot

My sister and I came here the day before Thanksgiving. It was her treat "for a foodie like me" as she put it. I had never been to this location or any other in the franchise. To be honest I wasn't completely sure about the concept. Anyway, I'm so glad that I finally made it. This was the best dining experience I had in a long while. The food was fantastic, but the service was even better! Our waitress was attentive, knowledgeable, and a down right sweetheart. 

We ordered the spinach and artichoke fondue for our first course. It was just as good if not better than the dip I usually make at home, which is has never been the case at any other restaurant I've been to. Next was the salad course. Lettuce is lettuce.

We chose the court bouillon for our main course. I got The Classic, so I could sample a variety of things and my sister got the French Quarter. My entree came with Angus sirloin, Memphis-style BBQ pork medallion, Pacific white shrimp, herb-crusted all-natural breast of chicken, and teriyaki-marinated sirloin. It also comes with vegetables and red potatoes. It sounds like a lot of food and it was! It also includes six delicious sauces/condiments. The green goddess sauce made with sour cream, cream cheese, and herbs was so good I plan to recreate it at home. The curry yogurt sauce was light and refreshing. 

We ended the meal with the Flaming Turtle fondue which is swirled with caramel, sprinkled with candied pecans, and flambeed with 151! I'm not the biggest chocolate fan but it was to die for. We dipped banana (we asked for more), strawberries, rice krispy treats, brownies, blondies, marshmallows, and pound cake until we thought we'd burst.

At the end of the night we left a hefty tip, gave to St. Jude's, and waddled out stuffed and happy. I cannot wait to go back. We received a gift card for giving so, soon and very soon!

Burgers: Burger Bros.

Came here for lunch a couple weeks ago based on proximity to work and other reviews. The burgers are fresh made like most places (that aren't fast food) and I've come to expect that. I am no burger connoisseur, but the burger was good. I've had better and I've had much worse. It's comparable to Five Guys, which is down the street. The burger patty itself is larger (thicker), but the toppings are just as fresh and delicious. I will say that I AM a potato connoisseur, especially french fries and these have nothing on Five Guys, Kooper's, or even GrrChe food truck. I can't say that I am a fan yet, but I will go back.

Great Grapes

Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to attend Baltimore county's Great Grapes Food and Wine Festival. Being from Cali (where ALL wine doth flow), I was more than pleasantly surprised by the amount of wineries, winecellars, and vineyards from around Maryland showcased at the event. I tasted some wonderful wines and champagne. I am usually a white wine drinker but I was introduced to some tantalizing reds. My favorite at the event was from Linganore Winecellars, Indulgence. The name says it all; Its a sweet red with a perfect hint of chocolate.

Linganore was the best overall. I enjoyed every wine they offered and I'm willing to travel the three hours to get to it for more wine ;) Basignani and Boordy among the other favs!

Check the link below to see all the pics from the event:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.565101082125.2034504.138400110&type=1

A Gem on Greenspring

Joey Chiu

I'm a huge fan of brunch buffets, but really who isn't? I found a quaint little spot on Greenspring Ave. They had a spread of breakfast pastries, donuts and breads, fruits and veggies, salads, shrimp and smoked fish. Omelette and crepe stations with all the fixings Breakfast options of eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes and French toast. A plethora of Chinese food lunch options including beef and broccoli, fried rice, and chow mein. Endless mimosas and bloody Marys to quench the thirst and tasty dessert selections topped off the afternoon. For $28 (including tax but excluding tip) this a steal for sure!