July 25th, 2011
I am back to tell you that right next to the Haute Dog is a wonderful French Bakery called Bonjour. The address is 6070 Falls Rd., Baltimore, MD 21209. Tel. 410-372-0238. Website? www.bonjourbakerycafe.com.
Having a hot dog did not prevent us from going into the bakery to check it out. We were very good; resisted all temptation. But, boy, did they look good!!
Bonjour opened in 1998. The owners are Gayle Brier and Gerard Billebaut, a husband and wife team. I, unfortunately, did not meet them.
They offer breads, breakfast sweets, desserts, savories like turkey and cheese croissants, pissaladierre, quiche and flat bread pizza.
The bakery was beautiful. The colors were soft pastels. The aroma? Well, can you imagine? You are in a bakery. Close your eyes and imagine, tarts, pies, cakes, and macaroons.
It was comfortable inside Bonjour; the perfect place to sit down, enjoy some coffee and sweets.
Visit their website because they have information on all they have to offer.
A bientot……talk to you later…..
July 25th, 2011
I lived in Charm City from 1976 until 1981. Worked at First National Bank of Maryland and took the #61 Bus downtown. Enjoyed the Inner Harbor and everything this city had to offer. So, I asked myself, What’s Going On, Baltimore?
In the headlines; detrimental news about this city. When I think that cities throughout would kill for the resources Baltimore has to offer. The harbor, the downtown adjacent to water, sports, ethnic neighborhoods with amazing foods, major hospitals and universities, financial houses, an international airport, and all in very close proximity. Baltimore is small and that’s what I liked when I first moved there.
What got me going to Baltimore on the hottest week-end of the summer, when everyone was driving to the Beach, was first to visit my sister in law, and then, because I heard a conversation on t.v. about the new bullet tax that is being proposed for Baltimore. The commentator said something; well, why are we even talking about this, who really goes to Baltimore? An ignorant statement to say the least.
And, guess what? I am alive and did not even have to dodge any bullets. I agree, some areas are, definitely, more charming than others. Just like everywhere else. The sad part is when we take those areas for granted; oh, well they are part of what Baltimore is. Just like New York was cleaned up, Baltimore can achieve that, as well.
I found a lot of the streets to be very clean with no trash. A drive through Pig Town showed the sad state of that neighborhood.
Baltimore is a city of important Firsts in this country from 1743 to 1995. A few are:
1743 – First professional sports organization in the U.S.; The Maryland Jockey Club
1774 – First Post Office System in the U.S.
1796 – First Sunday newspaper in America – Monitor
1796 – First sugar refinery in the U.S.
1797 – First U.S. war ship to capture an enemy vessel – Constellation
1798 – First fort built by the U.S. government – Fort McHenry
1800 – First investment banking house in America – founded by Alex Brown
1803 – First electric refrigerator, invented by Thomas Moore
1814 – Birth of the Star Spangled Banner
1816 – First city to illuminate streets with hydrogen gas
1831 – First national nominating convention for President of the United States
1840 – First dental college in the world; Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
1854 – First Jewish Community Center in the U.S. – Young Men’s Hebrew Association
1901 – First Woman Professor in a U.S medical school – Dr. Florence Rena Sabin
1946 – First photograph from space produced at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab.
1966 – First baseball player to be named MVP in both leagues, Frank Robinson
1995 – First American city to win championship in the Canadian Football League – Baltimore Stallions
For a complete list, please visit http://baltimore.org/about-baltimore/baltimore-firsts
And, Baltimore, you can’t clean the city after all those accomplishments?
So, there I was, in hotter than…in Baltimore to do a little sightseeing, a little eating and a little catching up.
It was Noon and Susie and I were hungry. Just something small; early dinner later on.
We went to Haute Dog. Street food; I am totally into it. Haute Dog is located at 6070 Falls Rd., Baltimore, MD 21209. Website? http://www.hautedogcarte.com
Haute Dog is right next to Bonjour Bakery so I am not sure if the name “Haute” came because they had to step it up a notch.
It is street side. It opens at 11 until 2:30 p.m. They will keep on serving their customers past that time. There is usually a line.
There was a menu attached to the pole. This is probably one of the best hot dogs you will have. Grilled, which is what I like and very messy.
They have available, vegan dogs, and chicken dogs, as well.
The hot dog roll is pre-heated and it is thick.
We decided to split a Haute Dog Signature dog – It was a 1/4 lb. Black Angus dog finished with tomato and onion jam, bacon and onion marmalade and Dijon. The picture? That’s the best I could do under the circumstances; heat, hunger, camera, and bag on hand.
The combination of those flavors was perfect; the marmalade, the Dijon. The warm bun was great. It was definitely not a boring dog.
We found out that customers make special trips to Haute Dog; they are not just the neighbors.
Check it out…let me know how you like it…Talk to you in a bit…
June 12th, 2011
Names like German Chocolate, Chocolate Peppermit, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Caramel, Vanilla Birthday Cake…and Vegan Chocolate Capuccino, Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter…These were only in the dreams of some that need to follow a gluten free diet, among other diets.
My first visit to Sweet Sin Cafe was on January 5, 2010. I wrote a post on that day and you can see it by just clicking on the left hand side of this blog on the month of January, 2010 and scrolling down to the 5th. I bought all kinds of breads, cookies and cupcakes on that visit.
Sweet Sin Cafe is located in the Charles Village/Remington neighborhoods of Baltimore. The exact address is 123 West 27th St., Baltimore, MD. The tel. is 410-464-7211. The website? www.sweetsinbakery.com. The owners are Richard and Renee D’Souza. E-mail is richard@glutenfreedesserts.com.
It is a very simple cafe in a row house. A casual place, bring your laptop, have just a coffee and a baked good, a full breakfast or lunch like we did. There is a board showing the daily temptations.
Since my visit they have opened the sister restaurant to Sweet Sin Cafe. Right next door. Meet 27, American Bistro. It is Charm’s City’s newest, full-fledge gluten free restaurant. That address is 127 West 27th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. Tel. 410-585-8121. It is open Mondays through Thursdays from 5 until 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 5 until 11 p.m. and Sundays from 5 until 10 p.m.
Visiting the Cafe with Susie and now with John, the one with celiac, I can tell you that it was music to my ears to hear them say “Our menu can accommodate gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and soy-free diets”.
All natural ingredients; some dairy free, soy free, casein free. Soups like Cream of Mushroom, Spinach Mulligatuny, Chicken and Rice, Vegetarian Chili, Shrimp Chowder, Clam Chowder, Thai Chicken and Vegetable Soup are dairy free.
The day I visited was for lunch, therefore, I have not tried Meet 27 yet. I believe that Meet 27’s liquour license is in the works. Meet 27 has appetizers, salads, entrees like Chili Paneer, Catch of the Day, New York Strip Steak, Peppercorn Beef, Vindaloo Pork, Lamb Chops, Veggie Platter and different burger options all made with local and organic dry-aged beef. Their desserts are all house made and some of those options were: Chocolate Mousse with orange sauce and fresh berries (vegan and gluten free), Coconut Lime Parfait on a meringue cookie with coconut creme anglaise (dairy and gluten free) and Black Forest Cake with cherry sauce (gluten free).
We were starving and this is what we had:
The Chicken Tacos – a generous portion and Susie said they were delicious.
Goat Curry – John loves goat. Hey, he likes it. Actually, I do too. Maybe my PR roots of “cabrito”. He accompanied the goat curry with cabbage with peas and carrots and basmati rice with vegetables. Enjoyed it!!
Penang Chicken with Chana Masala, which were chickpeas in Masala sauce. Added plantains and black beans with salsa and yogurt and what a lunch I had!! The portion was huge for lunch, but it was so good; the right amount of spice. The color and aroma were to die for.
I like to try different things and I had an Organic Raw Kombucha as my drink. It was good but I had to take a few sips before I acquired the taste for it. You would have to decide. You are either going to like it or hate it.
Even with all that food we ordered cupcakes. Sweet Sin is also a complete bakery. You can find their offerings at stores like Wegman’s, Whole Foods and Roots Market. Have a Special Occasion? Visit the above mentioned website for more info.
We ordered a Key Lime Cupcake, and a Carrot Cake Cupcake. Both were good but we all decided we liked the carrot cake better.
I love that the flavors are not compromised. Whether you have an allergy or not the food is delicious. I think Richard and his wife Renee, who has to eat gluten free, are doing a great job. I hope they keep it that way.
Sweet Sin Cafe has ready to go baked goods and foods. All you have to do is stop by.
I will talk to you later….have a great day!!
October 6th, 2010
You wonder if I am still blogging about the beaches. Of course, but I had a little detour and I do love checking other places out. So, my posts this past week have reflected that.
Last week I was in Baltimore and Susie and I took off for a long walk. By the way, Susie is my sister in law and an avid walker. We had a destination in mind, this being the One World Cafe but in order to get there and have breakfast we needed to walk close to 2 miles.
We took a trail called the Stony Run Trail. It was a beautiful autumn day. The Stony Run Trail follows the railroad bed of the former Baltimore & Delta/Maryland Central. Service began between Baltimore and Towson in 1882. Then in 1891 the Maryland Central merged to form the Baltimore & Lehigh Railroad, then to merge again to form the Ma & Pa in 1901, which was in service into the 1950’s.
There are no railroads running now on this beautiful trail that navigates through very pretty neighborhoods. The restoration of the Stony Run Stream has been completed and community involvement has been on-going to prevent erosion and to improve the condition of the trail. Native plants, trees and shrubs have been planted and the trail is used by walkers, runners, and bikers.
So, if you like to walk this trail is a “way to travel” in Roland Park. It connects a lot of great destinations in the northern Baltimore suburbs; to the Baltimore Museum of Arts, Johns Hopkins Campus, Charles Village, Roland Park, Hampden and Remington. If you are acquainted with Baltimore, then you know that all these neighborhoods are known for their wonderful restaurants and shops.
Finally we arrived at One World Cafe located at 100 W. University Parkway. Tel. 410-235-5777. Website is www.one-world-cafe.com. It is practically, across Johns Hopkins University.
One World Cafe reminded me of some of the restaurants that I visited in Boulder, Colorado. It was eclectic and bohemian.
Their motto? “Healthy vegetarian cuisine in a casual, eclectic atmosphere.”
One World Cafe serves organic and chemical free fruits, vegetables and whole grains, whenever possible.
Their menu reflect the vegan items; vegan desserts, fair trade organic coffee, organic wine, beer or local brews. The restaurant has a full service bar that is open until 2 a.m.
If you are someone that has a food allergy, this restaurant is very aware and sensitive to those with dietary limitations.
We were hungry but coffee was on my mind. I had one of the best cups of coffee in a long time. I should say a large cup of coffee. I like my coffee with a bold taste and it was rich and foamy and perfect!! The barista outdid himself. I told him so.
Next I ordered a Smoked Salmon Omelette, which had smoked salmon, red onion, tomato and capers. Served with multi grain bread. On the menu it stated that if you ate gluten free, then avoid the bread. Delicious.
I wanted to try the vegan meatless sausage patties and they were very good, as well.
Susie ordered the Blue Corn Cakes and she got 2 large pancakes served with butter and organic maple syrup.
She wanted to try the Fakin Bacon. She liked my sausage better but I liked the bacon just as much as the sausage.
Even though we only had breakfast, the dinner menu looked very interesting and I would love to come back and try some of their offerings.
I found the restaurant very comforting, a neighborhood restaurant where you can just stop by and have just a cup of coffee, read the paper sitting on one of the sofas, tables, or at the bar and have breakfast, just like we did.
One World Cafe is open Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Have a great day!!!…Talk to you later….
Note: Some of the information for my post was taken from www.stonyruntrail.com/pdf./WIAnews_June07.pdf.
October 4th, 2010
One of the things I like to do when I visit Baltimore, Maryland, is to try one of its many ethnic restaurants. I lived many years ago in Baltimore and have very good memories; working downtown and watching the Inner Harbor come alive.
I was spending the night in Baltimore last week and Susie, Pam and I decided to go to The Carlyle. This was the location of a Lebanese restaurant but it is now an Indian restaurant. It is located at 500 West University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21210. Tel. 410-243-5424. It is on the first floor of an apartment building by the same name, a few blocks from John’s Hopkins University.
I thought the restaurant looked pretty; a little formal, we were properly dressed, promptly seated and I could not wait.
Indian Cuisine is about 5,000 years old. Cultural and geographical boundaries have changed, but its original identity has not been lost, it actually has become richer.
As you know, I live in Rehoboth Beach and we do have excellent restaurants but we are lacking an Indian one. So, any time I can go to one, it is great.
We started with an appetizer of Vegetable Cuddy. A cuddy is a widespread dressing in North India. Spicy but soft enough thanks to yogurt and flour. Can be used for salads and vegetables.
The cuddy is also considered an ancient ceremonial dish, served in temples throughout India. Vegetables fritters in a turmeric yogurt sauce.
I cannot even tell how good this appetizer was. I could just go and have this one as my meal.
The next appetizer was a Vegetable Samosa. A samosa is a stuffed pastry. It is usually a fried or baked triangular semi-lunar pastry shell with a filling consisting of either vegetables, ground beef or chicken. It is served with a chutney or curd.
My particular samosa was stuffed with potatoes and peas. It was good but I liked the cuddy better.
My choice for an entree was the Tamil Lamb Curry. The Tamil cuisine is from the South of India. Its distinct flavor and aroma is a combination of spices like, curry leaves, tamarind, coriander, fennel, and coconut, among others. It is one of the spiciest, oiliest and most aromatic cuisines in India.
Mine was a fiery lamb curry cooked with fennel, tomatoes, poppy seeds, lime, and a touch of coconut milk. I really liked it; the lamb was so tender.
Susie had the Shrimp Madrasi. Madras is a fairly hot curry sauce, red in color. It originated in the South of India; getting its name from the city of Madras. It goes well with all foods, and can be used in any stage of cooking; marinade, grill or finish. Easy to prepare, as well.
This dish had jumbo shrimp sauteed with garlic, ginger, chili, lime and fresh coriander.
Pam decided on the Bengan Bhartha. From Northern India, this is a vegetarian dish; roasted eggplants mashed and cooked with coriander, cumin, onions and tomatoes. Light and perfectly seasoned.
We decided to skip dessert. Can’t have it all.
All three dinners were served with rice and the side order is spinach. I tasted all the entrees and they had very distinct flavors.
I like the restaurant and would certainly go again.
Have a great day…..too much rain….talk to you later.
April 17th, 2010
Today I am attending the Memorial Service in memory of Dr. Fortuin. I thought of just leaving the blog quiet. That’s hard. So, I decided to tell you a little bit about my experiences with him.
Dr. Fortuin came at a time in my family’s life when we needed him the most. He was compassionate, available, friendly and most of all he made us feel at ease.
I had total trust in his judgment and opinion. And, on a funny note, he was reading my blog, (I told him I was going to test him), specially since he was visiting Bethany Beach this summer with his whole family; wife, children and grandkids.
I know he loved playing golf in Delray during his visits with Dr. Guzman, a cardiologist who had been a student of Dr. Fortuin’s, from Puerto Rico, at the Gulfstream Club. He also loved photography. I gave him several books from our own photographer, Kevin Fleming, the last being Wild Delaware, autographed by Kevin.
The first time I met him he mentioned to me that he had been involved in the case of Rev. Ron Pytel from Baltimore. Rev. Ron Pytel’s healing or “miracle” was thoroughly and exhaustively researched by medical professionals and theologians who deal with the causes for saints. In order to be declared a saint in the Catholic Church, 2 authenticated miracles (usually physical healings) must be approved. Healings must be instant and irreversible.
Dr. Fortuin was Rev. Pytel’s cardiologist. St. Maria Faustina’s intercession in Rev. Pytel’s healing elevated her to Sainthood. This was the second miracle needed. Dr. Fortuin was part of the panel reviewing the case and attended the Cannonization in Rome, by Pope John Paul II.
He really left us too soon. Talk to you later….
Note: Dr Nicholas Fortuin’s Memorial Service will be at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 811 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD 21201 at 4:30 p.m., today, Saturday, 4/17.
February 23rd, 2010
I found myself at the BWI Airport in Baltimore, Maryland. We all say it is Baltimore, but, really the right address for the airport is Linthicum, Maryland. We arrived with more than enough time, so now, what? Please, I don’t want to eat at the airport. Even though there are airports known to have very good eateries, I really have not found any.
So, it was nice to see that right by the Southwest ticket counters there was a new restaurant. It is actually called DuClaw Brewing Co. It looked lively and definitely a visual attraction. It had a good menu but, unfortunately, since my husband has to eat gluten free, most of the items had gluten. So, why bother? Did not try it but it is worth mentioning.
We went right through Security. I guess not too many people were flying on Sunday. BWI looked clean, bright and organized.
After going through Security we found ourselves on Concourse B so we kept walking and found out a colorful restaurant called Zona Mexicana. Zona Mexicana is very clean and modern. It has a full bar with flat screen t.v.s arround the restaurant and plenty of seating; bar tables or benches. The music was pretty good too.
If you are there early you can have their American Platter breakfast which is scrambled eggs, ranchero potatoes, bacon with fresh fruit and wheat toast but if you want to kick it up a notch you can have it Mexicana style, topping it with fresh salsa and queso fresco. Queso fresco is found in every Mexican restaurant recently. Breakfast is served from 6:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
My husband and I had the Border Burger. It was very good, made to order and a very large portion. You can see it on the picture. I ordered a side salad that came in a taco shell. Originally, my husband wanted to have the tacos. The shell is made out of corn so a person with a gluten allergy can have them. But, the problem was that Zona Mexicana makes their own shells and they are fried in the same oil in which other foods are fried in. This is what usually restaurants do, and it is something you have to have in mind when ordering.
 Border Burger Even though our Concourse was A, which was on the other side, I am glad we went and checked this new restaurant. I am passing it along to you since this is an international airport and you might find yourselves in it one of these days.
Our waiter, Dave was very nice and I asked him about the restaurant since I had never heard of it. Apparently there is a connection with DuClaw Brewing Co.; the owners are looking for another place within the airport to put another eatery, so stay tuned.
Who would have thought that maybe these restaurants could become as popular as restaurants in other airports throughout the U.S. as well as in major cities train stations?
Zona Mexicana has fast and friendly service while you wait anxiously to board. Kid-friendly, as well.
It is open from Sundays to Fridays from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on Saturdays from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. Their telephone is 410-850-4846.
A smooth flight and cooler weather in Florida. Nos vemos luego… Talk to you later…
January 5th, 2010
Well, I guess one of my New Year’s Resolutions is down the drain. And, it happened in Baltimore, Maryland. Boy, it did not take long.
I was supposed to have had a bit of more self control, but how could I? When you read this post you will see why.
At the beginning of December there was an article in the Baltimore Sun about a gluten free bakery in Charm City. It gave an interesting story on how it started and how this bakery was now making gluten free cupcakes, as well. Cupcakes, the “new” rage.
Monday was my opportunity to visit them and check it out.
Sweet Sin Bakery is located on 123 West 27th St., Baltimore, MD 21218. The tel. number is 410-464-7211. You may place orders by calling 410-366-5777. Fax number is 410-366-5788. Website is www.glutenfreedesserts.com and the e-mail address is Richard@glutenfreedesserts.com. They are open Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Richard and Renee D’Souza are the owners, bakers and cooks. Renee is the person that has a gluten allergy and that is how this whole thing started. They have been in business for 5 years and even though I had not heard about them until now, they are becoming very popular because of the amazing products they are bringing to people with celiac disease. You see, when you have this allergy, is not that you can just pop a pill. The only thing for it is a strict diet.
So, needless to say, I am very happy to have found them since I have mentioned in the past about my husband’s gluten allergy.
Besides being a gluten free bakery, they also prepare soups. In the next few weeks they will also have a full gluten free menu with about 5 or 6 dishes.
The soups they had today were so delicious that I took a quart of each one home. Have in mind that these soups are made with natural ingredients and no added preservatives.
The first one was a Crab and Clam Chowder and it had crabs, clams, shrimp, tomato, garlic, coconut, green peppers, carrots, green peas, okra, jalapenos, potatoes and onions. The seafood was so tasty and the broth was rich. Richard told me that the soup was so natural that not even oil was present. The broth is all homemade, as well.
The other soup was a vegan soup. It was a Sweet Potato, Pumpkin Soup and it had sweet potatoes, pumpkin, onions, garlic, rosemary, coconut, basil, tomato, olive oil and cinnamon. It was fantastic with the perfect seasoning and sweetness.
Veganism, Dairy Free and Casein. What are these terms?
Veganism is a lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. They do not consume animal products of any kind.
Dairy Free contains no milk, cheese, butter, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, whey, casein or foods that contain those ingredients.
Casein is a protein found in all mammals’ milk. The most common foods that contain it are milks, ice cream, sour cream, yogurt, butter, lunch meats and cheese.
The cakes looked very appetizing as well as the tarts and pies. I tried the pecan pie and it really was good.
My sister in law and I sat in the living area of this row house and had our soup and 3 cupcakes. I have to confess that I had 2 and she had 1/2 of the other and took the rest home. I really don’t feel guilty, though.
As we sat there chatting people kept coming in. Some were buying soups/muffins, bake goods and others were talking about gluten free foods. Nobody rushed us; you can read or have a cup of Zeke’s coffee.
I really would love this bakery to make products for our beaches. I think we need it and we have plenty of stores that could carry their goods.
Sweet Sin also bakes sandwich bread. I had it toasted, with a little bit of butter and it had good taste, was dense and it held well.
I left this great bakery with a bunch of goodies like, pecan tart, which is casein, dairy and soy free, double chocolate mousse cake, with no added preservatives, a key lime tart, also casein, dairy and soy free, lemon meringue, chocolate-raspberry truffle, chocolate dipped cheese cake and chocolate caramel tart.
Then, I bought an assortment of cupcakes and cookies, as well.
If you get the opportunity to visit Sweet Sin in Baltimore, you will find out that they have something unique, besides their winning disposition. Nobody knows better what people with food allergies go through than the owners of this bakery. They have not compromised flavor as they developed the recipes that will make you want to come back for more.
Now you know why my New Year’s Resolution was on hold for the day. And, even though this post was not from any of my beach towns, it was definitely worth writing about.
Note: The cupcakes have eggs. Most of their products are made with only non-hydrogenated fats, including olive oil and organic palm oil shortening.
Information on Veganism was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/veganism
Talk to you later….
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