Dessert #6

After the delicious crab dinner (and fried appetizers!), what could we find for dessert - and what wouldn't fill us up too much? Easy answer - snowballs with marshmallow! Would have actually been better without the marshmallow but the locale was perfect. Just down the road on Eastern Avenue in a little shack at the side of the road. Not usually a big fan of flavored ice but we all sampled - and the marshmallow was such an odd topping. Couldn't finish dessert but was still a fitting end to a foodie extravaganza evening!!

#2 - Mr. Bills + surprise #69

I can't believe that this is #2 - more like #1 place for crabs in Baltimore! So fun and a very different experience. Just down Eastern Avenue (ok - way down Eastern Avenue) but seemed to be a lifetime away. Julie's favorite crab place and she's been there often so thanks for organizing. Donya, Heather and Sara joined for a truly fun night on the town!

We needed to be there at 4 to put our name in (paid off when we were the third table seated!) and sat at the bar to take in the crowd. A couple of pitchers of beer later we sat down at a table in the restaurant and opened the menu to decide on our food for the night. Cheese balls sounded far too good, so we ordered them (don't think our waitress was too happy when we were brought cheese sticks and asked for the balls instead. Kate wasn't around for her signature mozzarella sticks and we really did want to try something new - and they did not disappoint!) With an odd mustard sauce, they were delicious and well worth going off the foodie list for! We also noticed gravy fries on the menu and had to order them! It really is amazing how difficult they are to find - and we had to be able to tackle #69 on the list at some point. Great surprise to be able to have them here! Gravy on the side (of course) so we all dipped once and gave Donya the rest of the gravy! Sara also happily had her favorite onion rings - too good. If the appetizers were any indication, this was going to be an incredible meal!

And, yes, the crabs were amazing as well. Just enough old bay. Nice size crabs. Donya was so meticulous in her dismantling of them that we thought Tim was there. The rest of us made such a mess - but absolutely worth it!

Our waitress was very funny so we had to get a picture with her. To be posted soon...

Definitely one to go back to (and soon I hope!)

the "Chip" salad #14

Our first film night was very fun and productive in terms of food, but not in terms of the movie (see other posts about being rained out). So, we decided to try the Little Italy film. Forgettable title and movie, unfortunately, but, once again, I'm getting too far ahead in the story.

Sara, Heather and Gautam met at Chiaparelli's in Little Italy. And, what better time to get the Chip Salad to go to eat during the movie. Of course, the pasta looked too yummy and since it came with the salad, I guess we really didn't have a choice but to order it! The pasta was good but the salad was much better. Who knew a dressing could be that good?

Gautam left before the movie, but fortunately Julie joined us for good food and better conversation. That is, until the movie started. Then the conversation turned bad (bad screenwriters I suppose) and we got tired and gave up on the movie. Still a fun night. No good luck with movies but great luck with food and friends!

Off to the Beach for #s 17 & 26

The only "problem" with the Baltimore foodie challenge is that there are two items not found in the direct region. So, we had to take the show on the road and head to the shore for the weekend. (again, no arm twisting on this one!) What better weekend to do that than the annual Breast Fest weekend for the Tyranna Foundation. Heather, Doug and Sara got off work as early as possible (though Doug kept working and amusing us with his work conversations on his headphone on the way down!) Once we hit Rehobeth though, all work needed to be done. There was a large thrashers french fries to be eaten. Luckily we all like just a touch of vinegar. Talk about the perfect fry! Even Heather, who doesn't really like french fries and was a very good sport!, agreed that they were fantastic. I seem to remember a lot of fighting for the last one.

So, who needs lunch when you can go straight to dessert - Fisher's popcorn. Of course, the caramel kind. Not quite as good as the fries, and very filling on top of them, but still good. Even Sara who wasn't supposed to have caramel until the dental work is complete (will it ever be?) couldn't stop munching on it!

Then, in an attempt to get some "real" food inside of us (or maybe just a ploy to sit at the bar and have margaritas!), we wandered into the Purple Parrot. Heather and Sara resisted the urge to order the parrot poop (still regretting it - will just have to go back!) and instead got the cheese plate, which looked remarkably like a cheese quesadilla. Of course split it!

Great stop on the front end of a fantastic beach weekend!!

Matthews pizza

Matthew's pizza - so good, it deserves two postings! Yes, Heather and Sara had tackled this one (not kicking and screaming!) earlier this year, but Donya and Julie had not so Julie was kind enough to pick up two pizzas for the outdoor movie - the required mozzarella pie and a veggie. I think we all agreed that the veggie was even better than the one on the foodie list! By the way, perfect time to mention special guest Valentina - visiting Julie from Colombia. Our first international participant and it was really great to have her there.

And, this night was so good, it is to be continued in the third and last installment of our very own "Twilight on the Pier" trilogy...

August 4 - #13 & #63 (Attmans)

OK - yes, it is taking longer and longer to get these posted, but life is busy. Too much good food and good drink out there! Plus, we tackled 10 items in August and that takes a while! Now, let's rewind to a month ago when the weather was far hotter than this cool and perfect day today. An evening perfectly suited to a nice movie on the Fells Point pier. And, when that movie is Twilight: New Moon and you are with wonderful girlfriends, all the better!

Donya really took the lead on this one and created an amazing spread! Unfortunately, I can't comment on the Attman's delicacies of a baloney wrapped hot dog and corned beef sandwich. Anyone, anyone? I still want to go back there and try some other items so let's do that soon (and certainly before the end of the year!)

This post to be continued in the next one - Matthew's pizza!!

#8 Serve Sauerkraut with Your Turkey

September 5, 2010 (Labor Day weekend)

This wonderful concoction is a turkey roll up (or fake turkey, the darker ones) carefully and lovingly stuffed with sauerkraut served atop a heated baguette slice glazed with stone ground mustard garnished with some rosemary and a delicate dusting of cayenne pepper.

Yes, it sounds and looks better than it tasted. But, it's still technically completing #8 and that's what this is all about! Thus began Sara's labor day party. Those partaking of this scrumptious appetizer: Sara, Gautam, Jeff, Erica, Ryan, Linwood, Heather, Kent, Kate and Doug (can't remember if he actually ate one). Call us crazy, but we're committed to completing this list, even if it means Sara has a big jar of sauerkraut in her fridge that will be there long after we complete the challenge.