Slacking, a message from Steve

Alright I'm slacking on this blog.  The holidays brought lots of busy times; while also bringing many chances to eat.  I made sure to take pictures of all of my food so there are lots of reviews forthcoming.  I promise.

Tavern on Canton Square

Wild Boar Burrito with Cajun Fries

If I learned one thing from the Tavern on Canton Square, it's that they have the best business idea in Baltimore.  That idea is to be located directly next to Nacho Mama's and Mama's on the Half Shell.  I don't know why previous places haven't done well in this location...it's brilliant.  9 out of 10 times, people will go to either of the Mama's and be told there's a two hour wait.  Some people will go somewhere, get a drink and wait it out.  If you're like me, however, you'll consider going somewhere else for food.  And why go far when you can go right next door?  This is how my visit to the Tavern came about.  My crazy friends thought it'd be a great idea to have dinner (7 of us) at Nacho Mama's at 7:00 on a Saturday night.  Once I heard the plan, I laughed and started planning on other places to go after the inevitable "2 hour wait" statement.  Needless to say, that's what happened and we ended up next door.

The place was lively but not crowded; so we were able to get a seat immediately.  For Canton:  major points right there.  The menu is average-sized with average prices (for an average place, but we're getting to that).  We started with a Fried Pickles appetizer (Special, $9).  The pickles were nothing special, but the dish also featured fried banana peppers.  We all agreed that the peppers made the dish.  

After much deliberation with myself, I settled on the Wild Boar Burrito that comes with Cajun Fries (pictured above, $12).  My rationale was that I've never had wild boar before, so why not try it?  It was a typical burrito setup: with sour cream, salsa, queso, beans, and lettuce.  After a few bites, I noticed that wild boar doesn't taste any different than regular boar (or pig for that matter).  It was average and boring...nothing stood out in terms of flavor.  My friend had the special that night which was Braised Short Ribs, Asparagus, and Mashed Potatoes in a mushroom sauce.  His feelings were the same as mine:  "ehh."  His was $24, so I'm sure he was expecting more from it.  I will say, however, that the fries were ridiculously good.  They reminded me of the fries from the Corner Stable in Timonium, only with a little extra cajun flavor.  These were the highlight of the meal and had me wishing they were my entree instead of the burrito.

Would I recommend this to someone?  Well, it depends.  I wouldn't suggest making a special trip to Canton just to go here.  Much better places you can go (Langermann's).  However, if you're there and the Mamas are full, it's worth stopping in and trying some of the lower priced bar fare.  I'll probably end up back at this place in the future, so I can report if it gets any better.

 

 

 

Looks like the review turned out a bit more wall-o-texty than my past reviews, but I also didn't jump around as much...so I've got that going for me.

The Baltimore Dip

The Baltimore Dip

Every sports stadium seems to have their own signature food item.  Camden Yards has Boog's; Boston has Fenway Sausages; Pittsburgh has Primanti Bros.  Up until this year, I hadn't found a signature food item at M&T Bank Stadium.  I mean, who needs to buy food inside when you can just tailgate outside for cheaper?

That's the way I thought until one day I ventured out to the Club Level concourse to see what they had.  In my searching I found The Baltimore Dip.  Upon first seeing the name, I assumed it was a normal "dip" sandwich - meaning beef and au jus made for dipping.  Oh, how I was mistaken.

The Baltimore Dip goes beyond a normal "French" dip.  Here's how it's constructed.  The bun is ready to go as soon as you get there.  The server then takes a large portion of brisket (yes, brisket) and dips it in the au jus for a few seconds.  The beef is then placed on the bun.  Next, the server grabs a big spoonful of crab dip and puts it on top of the beef.  That's right...crab dip.  This is then followed by a few teaspoons of hot peppers and horseradish sauce (not required if you don't enjoy them).  The sandwich is accompanied by kettle chips and a pickle.  For an added bonus, ask the server to dip the ENTIRE bun in the au jus.  This is not a normal thing to do, but it's marvelous.  My cousin, who took me to the game, said that the idea came from a server that learned it in Chicago.  He's been doing it ever since.  This makes the sandwich a little harder and messier to eat; but hey, it's a football game.  You're watching sports and you've been drinking all day.  That makes this the perfect sandwich.  And at $10.50, it's not overpriced based on what you're getting.

The station I went to is located in the concourse of Section 250.  I don't know if there are other stations that serve it, but I certainly hope that there are.  Next time you're in M&T Bank Stadium, make sure you search it out.  Within the next couple years, this will be talked about as the staple sandwich of the Baltimore Ravens.

Fiesta Mexicana

Tostada, Un-fried Quesadilla and El Nido

When I said that yesterday was Taco Thursday, I wasn't joking.  I had tacos for lunch, and tacos for dinner.  The best part about it is that I had amazing tacos for both meals.  Taco Bell got nowhere near this belly.

This time I'm writing about Fiesta Mexicana - a restaurant I've been to roughly 100 times.  Since I had it last night for dinner, I figured I might as well give them some official props.  Fiesta Mexicana is a hole-in-the-wall joint in Rosedale located at 8304 Philadelphia Road.  The place and location don't look like much, but just like a person, it's what's inside that matters the most. 

Once you walk inside, you'll notice the Mexican culture on the walls and the kitchen directly to your right.  You can see everything being cooked here, which is a good thing.  The owners Frederico and Maria (both of whom I've personally known for years) are extremely friendly and can usually be found cooking the food.  The food is all cooked to order as well.  That may cause it to take a bit longer to get to the table, but completely worth the wait as this is some of the freshest Mexican food you'll ever eat.  Fresh.  That's a word you'll use a lot during your meal.  In terms of beverages, they don't have a liquor license so it's completely BYOB.  There are two refrigerators with standard soda selections if you don't want to bring something of your own.  If you're a beer fan, I recommend bringing some Tecate as it goes very well with the food.  Frederico will even provide you with limes!

Ok, let's talk about the food itself.  I can easily say that this is some of my favorite food to eat.  The cheese that you'll find on most of the dishes has a fancy name that I can never remember...but it's special ordered directly from Mexico.  Very creamy, light, and fresh in taste.  There's that fresh word.  I'm going to use it again to describe the guacamole ($4).  I never liked guacamole until I had it here.  Again, made to order and out of this world delicious.  The avocados taste as if they were picked directly and immediately made into the guacamole.  In addition to the guac, another quality appetizer is the El Nido (Top of the picture above - $6).  It's chips with a mixture of meat and black beans.  Simple, yet oh so good.

The entrees are where this place truly shines.  Frederico and co. put their heart and soul into every  dish that they create.  Cilantro and cream are key ingredients to most of them, providing that fresh taste I keep talking about.  Most of the dishes aren't too spicy unless otherwise noted.  If you're looking for spice, all you need to do is ask and they will be happy to provide a plate of sauteed spicy peppers and onions.  Along with your meal, you will also receive two salsas:  Salsa Verde and Salsa Roja.  The salsas are made differently each time, so one could be spicier than the other at different times.  Best thing to do is to try them first!  Salsa Verde seems to feature more jalapeno, while the Salsa Roja gets its spice from red peppers.  Neither of them is an overpowering spice (unless you use a good amount of it). 

Our entree last night is pictured above and was hand-picked by Frederico.  It's one of their Tostadas (usually come in orders of 2 - $7.75) and a Quesadilla that had not been fried.  A dish I've never had before that truly did not disappoint.  The rest of the menu is standard Mexican fare with Tacos ($2.25 each), Enchiladas ($11), Flautas ($8), and the Pambazo ($7).  The Pambazo shines on the menu because it is a "sandwich" of sorts - featuring lettuce, cream, meat, and veggies - with the entire bun having been cooked in salsa.  Yes, it's as good as it sounds.  Throw a little extra Salsa Roja on there for a flavor explosion.  

As I've been listing the prices, you've probably noticed how reasonably priced the food is.  For last night's meal, we had two appetizers, an appetizer Compachano Taco for me (clutch to order a taco before the entree), and the two entrees pictured.  Total price was $27.  For one of the best meals I've ever had, I continue to be shocked by how little I have to pay.  If they ever raise their prices, I will understand completely and still go back weekly.

So if you're looking for a great Mexican meal for little cost, Fiesta Mexicana is the place to go.  You need to try it at least once; even though I know once you do, it'll end up being an immediate favorite. 

Woody's Taco Island Truck

Woody's Fish Tacos

Today is Thursday.  Working at the Inner Harbor means that today is Taco Thursday because the Woody's Taco Truck is a block away.  If you've never heard of Woody's, here's where you can get more information:  http://www.woodystacoisland.com/

On Thursdays the truck can be found at the corner of Commerce and Pratt St. from 11:00am-3:00pm.  There always seems to be a line (for good reason), but it moves along fast as the service is very prompt.  If you see a lengthy line, just wait it out.  I assure you it'll be worth it.  Another characteristic worth noting is their frequent visitor program.  If you get 10 orders of tacos, you get 1 free.  A nice deal if you come to the truck and pickup big orders for offices.

Now on to the food.  Woody's has a normal sized food truck menu.  About 6 main items, a special, and some sides.  The special is usually the best way to go in my experience.  Specials I've had include Fried Shrimp Tacos and BBQ Teriyaki Steak Tacos.  If you choose to avoid the special, Woody's Fish Tacos (pictured above - $12) and the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Tacos ($9) are the way to go.  The Fish Tacos feature fresh marinated Tilapia, pico de gallo, and cheddar jack cheese.  The little containers feature slaw and fresh tomatoes. 
Three tacos come in a box and are more than enough to satisfy even the largest lunch hunger.  If you look at the picture, Woody's has their own special sauce they apply to some of the meals.  On the counter in front of the truck, however, are the usual Tabasco sauces and Sriracha sauce (which goes perfectly with the tacos).  Without the sauces, the tacos have plenty of flavor and not much spice.  If you like spice, add the sauce.

It's a little bit of a pricey lunch, but worth every penny that you pay.  And hey, if you're ever over there on a Taco Thursday around noon...you'll see me salivating while waiting for my tacos!

Foreword

Alright, so this is how this will work...

I'm one of those guys that takes pictures of his food and beer.  I've gotten made fun of quite a bit for doing this in restaurants, but I feel like I need to share what I'm experiencing with the world.

So that's what I'm going to do.  I'm going to take pictures of my food/beer and post it on here, along with a brief review of what I'm having.  These items will come from area restaurants and bars, so it's going to be a great resource to find new places you may have never tried.  If you read about something and require more information, just leave a comment and I'll be happy to share more about my experiences!