Baltimore, MD

Golden West Cafe is a quirky restaurant and bar with an Old West theme. Similar to the Paper Moon Cafe, Golden West’s menu begins with rules. Some people may be turned off by these rules, but judging by the long line on Saturday and Sunday Mornings, they don’t keep too many patrons away. The portions are large, the ingredients fresh, and you can find asian, mexican, and european influences in the menu. It is also a family friendly place. If you can’t stand the sound of children chatting and scurrying about, don’t go to Golden West. There is also a charming long bar at the back of the restaurant. On noisy evenings, it is nice to sit at the smoke-free bar and eat dinner. They get their cakes from Rose’s Cookies and they are to-die-for, especially the chocolate cake with Mocha frosting. Mmmmmmmmmm.

Address:
1105 E. 36th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211

Hours:
Monday 9.00 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Tuesday 9.00 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Wednesday 9.00 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Thursday 9.00 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Friday 9.00 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Saturday 9.00 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Sunday 9.00 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:45 PM

The Long Bar is open from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM on Sunday, Monday & Tuesday. 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM Wednesday and Thursday, and 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM on Friday and Saturday.

golden west cafe, food, The Avenue, Hampden, restaurant, bar

What is your favorite restaurant, coffee shop, and/or bar in Baltimore? I would love to hear from readers about their most loved spots to visit in Charm City! I’ll post the results next week.

Last Friday, friends and family joined my husband and me at Brewer’s Art in Mt. Vernon for our rehearsal dinner. Brewer’s Art’s website describes the restaurant and brewery as:

Set in a grand Mt. Vernon townhouse, The
Brewer’s Art offers many temptations for
your palate. Our seasonally-influenced menu
of European-style country fare features meats,
fish, seafood, pasta, and vegetarian offerings.
Dinner is served daily between 5:30pm -
9:00pm (later on Thursdays, Fridays and
Saturdays) and light fare is available from
4:00pm - 11:00pm. Our creative pastry chef
prepares our homemade desserts.

In addition to brewing our fine beers on the
premises, we offer a carefully picked selection
of beers and fine wines from around the world,
and one of Baltimore’s best selections of
scotches and spirits.

Everyone raved about the service and the food. We felt free to move around the long table for fifteen guests and mingle after the three-course meal. A few weeks before the dinner, we chose two first course options and four entree options to offer our guests. The dessert was chef’s special and the fruit torte and flourless chocolate cake was outstanding! Although we were in the same room with other parties, the event still felt intimate. In addition, the home brewed beers were an enjoyable treat for out of town guests.

1106 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Tel: 410-547-6925
Email: malthops@abs.net

restaurants, Brewer’s Art, rehearsal dinner, Mt. Vernon, Baltimore

In almost every post, I’ve mentioned my fiance. Soon, he will be my husband and we are very pleased with the site of our wedding. Linwood’s Restaurant has been wonderful to work with over the past eight months. From the ceremony to the last dance we will be celebrating in the private sister restaurant- Due (pronounced “doo-ay”).

Here is their philosophy:
“We pride ourselves on our dedication to wonderful food, wines, and desserts. We invite you to dine in one of our two restaurants, to enjoy our outstanding food and service, and to experience cuisine from the open kitchens of our four star restaurant, Linwoods, and its sister restaurant, Due. Our philosophy is to be the best in creating unique dining and catering experiences. ”

Organizing the wedding with Leslie at Linwood’s/Due has been a relaxed and enjoyable experience. Plus, the tasting for the three course meal was delicious and a fun event. The food is phenomenal and the service is friendly and seamless. I feel very confident about hosting our big day at Linwood’s/Due and I recommend it to anyone in Baltimore looking for a warm, intimate, and classy place for their wedding day.

410.356.4147
lesleydesautels@linwoods.com

25 Crossroads Dr
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Dinner:
Mon-Thurs 5:30pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat 5:30pm - 11pm
Sunday 5:00pm - 9pm

restaurants, Linwood’s, Due, weddings, tasting, Baltimore, MD

On the last night of Restaurant Week (although I’ve heard that many restaurants continue the special menu throughout August) my fiance and I visited Spice Restaurant. We were welcomed by cheerful staff and seated in a romantic corner of the restaurant. The room was filled with candle light and soft, warm lighting from chandeliers. Large, cushioned booths line the room and there is a luxurious lounge in the center of the bar and restaurant.

The meal started with warm breads. For the appetizer, I had the House Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette and Toasted Almonds and my fiance had Crab Lauren with Colossal Blue Crab, Beets, Avocado in a Citrus Vinaigrette (he is much more adventurous than me). As an entree, I had the Roasted Eggplant, Tomato, Artichoke, Mushroom and Edamame with Quinoa Salad and my other half had New York Strip Steak and Gorgonzola- Rosemary Potatoes. We were both fully satisfied with our meals and my fiance even had room to finish off the last few bites of my meal. Finally, for dessert I enjoyed the chocolate cake (with mousse-filled layers and rich and dense frosting). My fiance relished the cheese cake, his all time favorite dessert. This is the perfect spot for anyone looking for a romantic spot for dinner or a place to have a comfortable and classy dinner with friends and family.

4 W. University Parkway
Inn at the Collonades
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 235-8200

dinner, food, The Spice Company, restaurant, Mt. Vernon, Restaurant Week, Baltimore, MD

I just returned from yet another satisfying meal at Joe Squared. Of course, I ordered pizza. Joe Squared serves a thin crust, square pizza with fresh and unique toppings. The signature pizzas are innovative, but if you want to create your own pizza, you can be as traditional or creative as you like. Bottom line: fantastic pizza. Joe Squared also has appetizers (including alligator fritters), subs, salads, and numerous unique risottos. You can browse the menu here.

In addition to great food, Joe Square hosts art installations, various musical artists, and DJs. If you like to dance, there is a dance floor waiting for you. Check out the events here.

Hours: Everyday 4pm-2am
Address: 133 W. North Ave. (corner of Howard and North Ave)
Phone: 410-545-0444 (they deliver!)

pizza, Joe Squared, DJ, live music, art exhibits, Baltimore, MD

Red Emma’s describes itself as, “a worker-owned and collectively-managed bookstore and coffeehouse”. It is located at 800 St. Paul St. Walking into Red Emma’s is like no other bookstore and coffeehouse experience. The mission of the place is clear: read, explore, and act; and Red Emma’s provides the tools to do just that.

The first thing you see as you descend the stairs and push through the front door, are a line of internet-surfing patrons. Both times I’ve visited Red Emma’s there have been a few people at the counter ready to help with anything from a cup of coffee to finding a book. The menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly, and the coffee and espresso are fair trade and organic.

Red Emma’s also hosts events supporting groups such as the United Workers Association, the Underground Literacy Alliance, independent films, and many, many more social, literary, and arts organizations. This is a bookstore and coffeehouse that is much more than it seems at a glance. Red Emma’s is making a strong, positive impact on our community. Here are their plans for the future (from the Red Emma’s website):

As you may have heard, Red Emma’s is seriously considering moving to a new location, where we hope to be able to offer a much larger space for events as well as a greatly expanded menu with a vastly expanded amount of places to sit (not to mention the radical children’s activity corner, the expanded free computer lab, the cooperative produce purchasing pick up location, the activist conference room, the outdoor tables, and most importantly accessible entrances!)

But in order to make this dream a reality, we need your help. In order to take on a project of this magnitude, we need to raise about $50,000. If you can help us by making a donation(we’re happy to announce that it is now possible to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Red Emma’s project) or a long-term no-interest loan, or know of potential sources for funding for a project of this sort, please drop us a line at info@redemmas.org.

The next time you’re looking for a book, a cup of coffee, or a delicious meal, check out Red Emma’s. You’ll be fully satisfied and you’ll be supporting a place that is working to build a healthier Baltimore everyday. You can even check Red Emma’s inventory online by clicking here. Let us know what you think of your visit or past experiences by commenting here.

Address: 800 St. Paul St.Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 230-0450
Email: info@redemmas.org
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10AM-10PM, and Sunday from 10AM-6PM
Weekly collective meetings: Sunday at 7PM (open to anyone interested in the project)

books, worker cooperative, Red Emma’s, Mt. Vernon, coffee, vegetarian, vegan, Baltimore, MD

Since I’ve switched to a vegetarian diet, I’ve noticed my choices at local restaurants dwindling. I am more curious about nutrition and cooking at home. I also feel more passionate about buying local, organic produce. All of the answers to these questions can be found through the Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG).

“The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on vegetarianism and the interrelated issues of health, nutrition, ecology, ethics, and world hunger. In addition to publishing the Vegetarian Journal, VRG produces and sells cookbooks, other books, pamphlets, and article reprints.” (www.vrg.org)

If you’re interested in anything vegetarian or vegan related, you’ll probably find it on the VRG website, but if its not there, just give them a call!

The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG)
P.O. Box 1463, Dept. IN
Baltimore, MD 21203
(410) 366-VEGE
Email: vrg@vrg.org

food, recipes, vegetarian, vegan, Vegetarian Resource Group, Baltimore, MD, nutrition

Soups On is my favorite spot for lunch for many reasons, which include: its simple yet creative cuisine; the friendliest service in Baltimore; its convenient location on The Avenue in Hampden; and its continuously changing menu. After some rough calculations, I determined that I’ve probably eaten at Soups On about 200 times (and I’ve only lived in Baltimore for a little over a year)!

Cynthia Shea offers three soups and three salads everyday. Recently, she added “The Ultimate” Tuna Sandwich. My fiance is a die-hard tuna sandwich eater and he agrees that it is the world’s best. Usually, one salad and one soup are bumped out of rotation each day and thats why I keep going back for more! I usually go for the soup and salad combo, which is always accompanied by a piping hot, thick slice of a Bonaparte baguette. Plus, Cynthia, owner and chef, and Melissa always put a smile on my face. When they ask how I’m doing, they actually want to know!

As if all of that wasn’t enough, Cynthia has to-die-for cookies, brownie, lemon and lime squares, and other sweet treats from Rose’s Cookies. Iced coffee during Baltimore summers is a must, but we all know that ice cubes can turn a great cup of joe into a wattery dissapointment. Not Cynthia’s, though! She fills your cup with coffee ice cubes to make sure you enjoy your cool mid-day jolt to the last drop. There is also homemade iced tea, lemonade, and other juices to quench your thirst.

soup, hampden, Soups On, soup, salad, The Avenue, lunch, Baltimore, MD, restaurants, food

Have you always wanted to try out a restaurant in Baltimore, but haven’t wanted to cough up the change? Baltimore Restaurant Week is the perfect time to try out many of Baltimore’s best restaurants at an affordable price! Visit the website and you will find a list of participating restaurants and their fixed menus. Here are a few of the eighty restaurants involved:

b, Bolton Hill Bistro
Babalu Grill
Bicycle
Black Olive
Brass Elephant
Brewer’s Art
Café Promenade
Eden’s Lounge
George’s on
Mount Vernon Square
Grille 700
PAZO
Petit Louis Bistro
Prime Rib
Taste
Wine Market

I recommend making reservations. Restaurant week is July 30th-August 5. Enjoy!

Baltimore Restaurant Week, Baltimore, Maryland, food, restaurants

While strolling down St. Paul St. the other day, my fiance and I noticed an ice cream shop on the first floor of an apartment building. The sign outside Dominion Ice Cream read, “Eat Your Vegetables Ice Cream”. In addition to being coffee lovers, we are also ice cream lovers, so we decided to venture inside.

The owner of the shop was behind the counter and she gave us samples of many different flavors, including: Yam, Green Tea, Carrot, Tomato, and Spinach! They were all creamy and sweet. The owner had worked on the recipe for a year and finally created vegetable ice creams that were delicious and retained all of their nutritional value.

After much debate, I chose a scoop of Yam and a scoop of Green Tea. My fiance chose a peanut butter shake. Both choices were fantastic. Plus, many of the flavors (all of the vegetable ones) are homemade! There are also a variety of traditional flavors and toppings. Stop in soon for a taste!

Hours: Monday - Saturday 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Closed Sundays

Winter Hours: Nov. 1 through April 30 - 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Closed Sundays

3120 St. Paul Street - Baltimore, MD 21218 in Charles Village

ice cream, charles village, vegetables, St. Paul St., food, health