Technology & MSG

Corky’s Smoke Shack opened last week, probably to the worst weather Maryland has seen in a decade. That normally wouldn’t matter, except that the Shack is located outside. But even that doesn’t seem to matter. According to the owners, there’s been a steady stream of customers since opening day. Even on an overcast Thursday afternoon, [...]

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Despite my penchant for helping out the little guy, I feel like most of my shopping is done online these days. Today however, was an exception. I found myself quite the consumer all afternoon and into the evening.
Chili
Area Rug
Gasoline
Phone
Cereal
Aluminum Foil
Bread
Steam Trays
Ginger Ale
Jeans
Garage Door Opener
Gyro
My poor credit card, it’s only reprieve was the chili and the [...]

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Knowing full well that most Chinese takeout is Americanized and unauthentic, still I like it. The value of any takeout joint is in their MSG-laden lunch specials. I was perusing through a menu one Sunday afternoon and having difficulty deciding what to order. Since most menus lack sufficient descriptions and very few places take photographs [...]

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The Annapolis installment of Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant offered a much better experience than its Washington, D.C. counterpart. My biggest gripe there was that people would hover around your table, hoping to grab it once you were through eating. Not so in Maryland’s capital, where a host/hostess will seat your party. They take reservations [...]

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Don’t let the garish and almost comically blood red exterior fool you, Hunan Manor in Columbia is worth a visit. If you’ve got a group of eight or more, try the family-style dining. It’s a very reasonable way to try a lot of different dishes and it feels more like home even when you’re eating [...]

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Ever since one of the owners of Gourmet Shish Kebab (GSK) was in the news pleading guilty to spying for Iraq, I couldn’t in good conscience continue to eat there. Due to the quality of the food however, it continues to be my basis for comparison when it comes to kabobs.
Enter Maiwand Kabob, a small [...]

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After careful consideration, I’ve decided that sandwiches are better when cut diagonally. They don’t taste better necessarily, but the experience is better overall. With a full sandwich, you’ve got to hold it with both hands. I feel like I’m eating a turkey leg at the fair and large bites follow, inhaling the contents. Whereas a [...]

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This is Chang’s Spicy Chicken.

It isn’t that spicy.
That doesn’t mean it wasn’t tasty. The dish is served up with about two dozen tender chunks of chicken breast, lightly breaded and pan-fried so that the edges are slightly crispy. The whole thing is battered in a sweet glaze, reminding me of a cross between honey and [...]

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I was invited to a screening of Sin Nombre at The Charles last night. In a word, it was intriguing. Unlike Traffic’s alternating light/dark-hues, the cinematography is rich and clear. The language is beautiful and like most subtitled films you don’t even realize you’re reading and watching after a short time. No noticeable camera tricks, [...]

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Last night we went out to The Bangkok Oriental to celebrate my parent’s anniversary. It’s one of our local favorites, known for its savory and spicy Thai dishes. We usually go there for lunch, but tonight we ventured out for dinner.
The restaurant itself is cozy but not cramped, perfectly lit for quiet conversation. There’s custom [...]

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Can you believe it’s 2009 already?
I rang in the new year with a small group of 80’s themed dressed individuals at Gallery Imperato in South Baltimore. I went as Danny Noonan from Caddyshack. In addition to enjoying the change of scenery — the gallery is located in an old historic foundry — we got to [...]

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A generous gift from a family friend enabled my family and I to dine at Cafe Mezzanotte last weekend. Located in a small professional complex on the southbound side of Ritchie Highway in Severna Park — with neighboring offices belonging to doctors and surgeons — apart from any other restaurants or bars, Cafe Mezzanotte has [...]

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When I went up to Rochester for a wedding in October I didn’t make it to Nick Tahous, but I had been planning to make garbage plates at home for a long time. Today was the day. Behold, my attempt at a cheeseburger garbage plate inspired by the original. For those unfamiliar, it’s a delicious [...]

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I was out a lot last week.
Monday afternoon I attended a business meeting at Hana to go over some quarterly numbers. That statement alone makes me feel old. I ordered the chicken yaki soba ($9.95) and enjoyed it, but the overall experience at Hana wasn’t too great. The pricing at this Piney Orchard establishment is [...]

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In the Holiday 2008 issue of Details, we learn — by way of writer Jeff Gordinier — that Keanu Reeves has a hankering for a good sandwich. The two gentlemen embark on interview-turned-quest that leads them on a forty-five minute drive from West Hollywood to Santa Monica in search of Bay Cities Italian Deli & [...]

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