If You're Ever in Cleveland...

by Xani

You MUST visit Bar Symon. I went to Iron Chef Symon's new-ish casual eatery a few weeks back while visiting a dear friend, and it absolutely blew my MIND. Along with Lola, Lolita, and B Spot Burgers, Iron Chef Mike sure is making his mark in C-town. This meal was even better than the one I had last summer at Lolita. Onto the food!

First, a note about location. Bar Symon isn't in a trendy, hip neighborhood with no parking, like you might expect. Nope, it's a strip mall, in quasi-suburbia. But, don't let that deter you! Because inside, you'll find a long bar, tons of beer on tap, and some amazing eats. (and possibly a long wait. We were seated right away on a Friday night, but apparently the standard wait here is an hour. But WORTH IT!)

We started with a round of draft beers from their extensive selection, and then got down to ordering. My dining companions were gracious enough to let me to the ordering, and our fabulous server, Jessica, made sure everything was easily share-able-- sweet! The rundown:
For starters:
Pork Crackling . chile powder, sea salt & malt vinegar 5
Veal Bratwurst . Spicy Lamb . Pork & Fennel 3 for $17, Served with grilled bread, pickled vegetables & mustard
Mains:
Symon Fried Chicken . rapini, old bay & sriracha honey 15.
Michael’s Glory "Symwich". beef tongue, pierogi, horseradish, caramelized onion, Dijon & sourdough 10.
Duck Sloppy Joe . duck confit, pickled carrots, cilantro, sriracha mayo & bun 12.
Arctic Char special
Sides:
Lola Fries w/rosemary 4.
Fried Brussels sprouts 6.
Desserts:
Beer and Pretzel Sundae . Guinness ice cream, fudge and caramel sauce, pretzels 5.
House Made Sorbet or Ice Cream (Banana peanut butter, for us) 3.

Now, I normally don't list prices when I blog, but I just had to. This dinner was SO affordable, I couldn't believe it. For the quality (and quantity, we were all stuffed to the gills after), it can't be beat. Here's the pics/porn:

some sort of delicious amber beverage

crispity, crunchity, cracklins!

the pork board

amazing sammiches

Char

AMAZING fried chicken

we couldn't even finish the fries, everything else was SO good. they were served with a fantastic house-made spicy ketchup.

Desserts!

Another reason our server was FAB-- she came back to the table near the end of our meal and asked us a mysterious question, "do you like funny moustaches?" Well, the answer to that question is always YES! She handed us a sharpie, showed us the way, and many funny finger moustaches ensued!

What a fun and delicious meal. I would say my favorite items were the Michael’s Glory "Symwich"-- the man is a genius for putting tongue and pierogi on a sandwich!-- and the fried chicken. But EVERYTHING was good. If I lived in Cleveland, I would SO be a regular at this place. What will it take to get Symon to put a restaurant in Baltimore??

Thanks to my wonderful friend Hayley for being an awesome hostess. Let's start planning where will eat NEXT visit!

X

P.S. Just to make it a 100% Michael Symon weekend, we also went to Czuchraj Meats in the Westside Market to try the jerky he claimed was "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." And let me tell you, this is so GOOD jerky! And what a cool market. Again, if you live in or are visiting the Cleveland area, I highly recommend stopping by!

Fab and Fun at Mr. Rain's Fun House

by Xani



We recently dined at one of South Baltimore's newest and most unique restaurants: Mr. Rain's Funhouse. Mr. Rain's is located at the top of the American Visionary Art Museum (arguably one of the best museums in our fair city), where the much-missed Joy America Cafe used to be. But Mr. Rain's is so funky, cool, and delicious, it makes us almost able to forget the Joy that was tableside guacamole.



But let's not dwell on the past. Mr. Rain's is (pretty much) about the now, from it's Tim Burton-esque decor (which marries perfectly with the overall tenor of the museum) and it's outrageous cocktail menu, to the menu's focus on world cuisine and sustainable sourcing.


During our recent visit we settled into a spacious table, overlooking the harbor (er, the condos in front of the harbor) and got started with cocktails. Mr. Rain's boasts a very unique bar menu, featuring concoctions with such unusual ingredients as thai basil, artichoke bitters, and cayenne sea salt. We tried the The Orchard (Old Forrester Bourbon, Lillet Blanc, Apple Cider, Cinnamon Syrup) which was slightly sweet with a strong bourbon flavor, and The Art E. Choke Flip (Henderick’s Gin, Cynar Artichoke Bitters, Lemongrass Syrup, Egg White) which we deemed the tastiest cocktail we'd had in recent memory! Anyone out there who likes adventurous cocktails, especially those more savory than sweet, should try the Flip! Turns out Flips are a type of pre-Prohibition cocktail, and you know we love anything retro....

The Flip! Notice the foam on top, from the egg white

The Orchard

Then, onto the food. Mr. Rain's originality doesn't end at the drink menu. The dinner options included several several starters, salads, and soups, along with a drool-inducing list of entrees, both carnivorous and vegetarian. We shared a Roasted Garlic & Radish Soup (with shaved idiazabal cheese) to start-- it was creamy, sharp and delicious-- then moved on to main courses.

Oh, and who could forget the lovely pretzel bites they serve with spicy mustard, instead of the predictable bread and butter!



For mains, we went with meat: Duck 3 Ways (seared ~ sausage ~ confit), and a weekly market special, Hog Roast Platter (tasso cured ham, hunter sausage, head cheese, woodfire barbecue). That's 7 kinds of meat!! Each preparation was well-executed and tasty. Even the headcheese, which we were a bit nervous about, had a mild flavor and complex texture. Grilled beets, saurkraut, sauteed spinach, and other delicious little garnishes were nestled amongst the platters, each complimenting one of the seven preparations of protein nicely.

Ze duck! You can see the seared in the middle of the plate, and the confit on the right

Pig 4 ways! Plus it came with fries on top and an amazing BBQ sauce on the side

While we couldn't even finish the massive servings of meat, we just had to indulge in a bit of dessert. While a nearby table opted for a fantastical Baked Alaska (with cotton candy!), we chose the decadent peanut butter cheesecake, served along with a chocolate-marshmallow popcorn ball. Divine! The in-house prepared desserts are just as whimsical and well thought out as the cocktails and the savory dishes.



Overall, we were wowed by Mr. Rain's! The food, drinks, and service were outstanding, and we're so excited to have this funky new establishment in the neighborhood. We can't wait to see how the changing seasons (yay spring) influence the menus. Asparagus mojito, anyone?

Happy Tim Burton-esque dining,
X & EP

Chaps BBQ: Good Food and...Adult Entertainment?

by Erin



Recently I joined a group of friends from work in a trip to Chaps Charcoal Restaurant, a Baltimore landmark, for lunch. Chaps has been featured on "No Reservations" with Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel and "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" with Guy Fieri (the episode also featured Chef Duff from "Ace of Cakes") on the Food Network and is known for one thing: pit beef. Pit beef is a Maryland thing (apparently - I only found this out when the out-of-towners had no idea what I was talking about), typically made from top round beef that is cooked over charcoal and then sliced super-thin, served on a kaiser roll with raw onions and horseradish sauce (lovingly referred to as "Tiger Sauce" when it comes to pit beef).

Ever since being featured on TV, Chaps has been on my radar. I grew up eating pit beef with the BCD family (traditionally served with awesome, boardwalk-style fries) and since Chaps got so much press, we were eager to drive across the city to give it a try.


Chaps is located on Pulaski Highway near the County line and there are a good handful of adult book and video stores in the area. Chaps happens to be located in the parking lot of a strip club. One stop shopping if you were so inclined!


Gentleman's Gold Club + sandwiches

Anyway, the group arrived at Chaps right around noon and miraculously we missed the gigantic line that formed after we got there and at one point stretched out the door.


Mostly male clientele at Chaps; I felt a little out of place (a) being dressed in business attire, and (b) being female, but everyone was super-friendly nonetheless :)

I was first in line and I knew exactly what I wanted: pit beef sandwich, medium rare, fries, drink. YUM. Some of my friends got some other side items with their sandwiches, like baked beans, cheese fries, or cole slaw, but I needed to investigate the fries - official blog research, of course!

Lunch!

Cheese fries - I heard they were good

The verdict? The pit beef was moist, tender, and well-cooked (it was more medium than medium rare but that's okay), the roll was fresh, and the tiger sauce was rich, creamy, and SO strong your sinuses were cleared with each bite. Delish!



The fries were good but they were a little cold and needed some salt -- perhaps I got the bottom of the batch? BTW, fries + tiger sauce = amazing. I've been to pit beef places (at the farmers' market under the JFX, for instance) where they add bits of charred beef to the sandwich to add some contrast in texture, which would have been nice to have here but certainly did not detract from the sandwich experience.

HEAVEN

Most of the folks I came with got pit beef, but a few friends got the "Triple D," featured on (created on?) "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" which consisted of pit beef, corned beef, and sausage all on one sandwich. Wow. It got great reviews, perhaps I'll try it next time?

Triple D sandwich

It was a great lunch adventure and I was glad I could share the Baltimore tradition of pit beef with my friends! My next goal is to go back to The Canopy on Route 40 in Catonsville, where BCD Dad used to take me for pit beef after lacrosse games, so I can compare to Chaps. Any excuse to eat pit beef and fries, right?

The lunch gang!

Happy local fare eating,
EP

BCD gone Mad (Men)!

by Xani

It's probably not news to many of you that EP and I LOVE a good theme party. It just makes a regular party that much more fun! Plus, it gives us an excuse to wear costumes. Over the weekend, we threw one of our best theme parties yet: a Mad Men Birthday Party!

If you aren't familiar with the award-winning show (which, I have to admit, I have only seen a few episodes of myself. But I have season 1 from Netflix! Which means I'll get around to watching it approximately... NEVER.), its set in the early 1960s, in New York City and the surrounding 'burbs. Thus, the inspiration for our party! Big hair, classic cocktails, and traditional party foods (with our signature spin).


We did a lot of research and found several links with advice on throwing your own Mad Men-themed party. This one, this one, and this one helped us get started. We also surveyed our parents for cocktail and menu ideas, and came up with a few creative elements on our own! Here is what we decided on for the menu:

• Crudites w/green goddess dressing: classic and delicious (and garlicky!)
• Union square bar nuts: always a hit-- guests who showed up on time got to have them warm out of the oven! Oh wait, NO ONE showed up on time.
• Deviled eggs: another classic with a slight twist. We used Blue Smoke's version, which has a hint of curry powder. All of our guests loved these and I've already had several requests for the recipe.
• Pigs in blankets with mustard picalilli sauce: store bought piggies with a fantastic sauce (which was a repeat from our Sausage and Beer party).
• Mini-quiche: also store-bought, but very tasty, and quiche is SO retro.
• Crostini with mushrooms, blue cheese, and proscuitto: we made this recipe for a party MANY years ago, pre-blog. But it was good enough to remember, and our guests gobbled them up.
• Chips & french onion dip: if you think we would just stir a packet of onion dip into sour cream, you obviously don't read this blog regularly. This version by Ina Garten was 10,000 times tastier, even if the onions took most of the afternoon to caramelize.

But most of what we read online said that a true 1960s cocktail party would be all about the cocktails. So, we made sure to set up a fully stocked bar, and supplied a bar menu so our guests could mix up some classic creations.

While we had ingredients on hand for martinis, screwdrivers, tom collins, old fashioneds, white russians, etc., the real hit of the party was the Moscow Mule. A little vodka, a squeeze of lime, a splash of ginger beer (we used the fabulous Regatta Ginger Beer, which is unparalleled by anything else I've found in the states. If you're in Canada, that's a different story). They were out-of-this-world, the bee's knees, [insert period-appropriate exclamation here]! It was the party favorite and we went through a LOT of vodka and ginger beer. Also, almost an entire bottle of Maker's Mark. Even out of plastic cups, its goes down smooth. The beer we bought (Stroh's and Ballantine's Ale, both popular in the 60s) went untouched. Guess people were really feeling the cocktail vibe!

A few more entertaining notes:

Outfits: EP and I worked tirelessly to put together the perfect outfits, along with makeup and hairdos. In fact, we did TONS of research on hair, and ended up using these helpful videos from Strawberry Koi for instructions on how to create our bouffant and up-do styles. This involved putting our hair in pincurls the night before the party, sleeping in them, then taking them out and teasing the CRAP out of our hair to create "volume." Also, LOTS of hairspray and bobby pins. We were so happy with the final results, it was worth all the effort! And we weren't the only ones dressed up-- thanks to all our fabulous friends who came in pretty frocks, seamed stockings, and skinny ties.

Good shot of our hair, but with an anachronistic Blackberry in the pic!

Erin rocking the Breakfast at Tiffanys 'do

Another fab 'do-- ignore the bunny ears

Decor/props:

To properly set the scene, we gave my already slightly "mod" house a few extra touches. We hid modern items (like remotes and laptops), and decorated with balloons and crepe paper, which have been around forever. Also, since everyone in Mad Men is constantly smoking, we put little ashtrays with fake cigarettes (from Party City, in the costume department) on every available surface. Yes, all those cigarettes in the pictures are FAKE-- I can't imagine letting all this people smoke in my house! Not that anyone smokes anymore, but still...ew. The fake ones were an awesome prop for our pictures, along with a pair of dark-rimmed glasses (also from the costume store).

But the BEST prop was the TV, which my boyfriend Dave transformed into a good old-fashioned "boob-tube", complete with rounded screen and rabbit-ear antenna! BCD Mom and Dad lent us their DVD of Julia Child's The French Chef (which originally aired in the early 60s) to complete the effect. It was awesome. A custom Pandora Radio station was the final A/V touch (I searched for a record player, but to no avail).

My swingin' pad

Julia as she was meant to be seen!

The other thing that was awesome about this party was that EP and I celebrated our birthdays together for the very first time! With my birthday in February, and hers in July, you can see why we haven't done this before. But since her birthday was RUINED by the bar exam, we postponed her party 8 months and decided to celebrate together-- what a treat! We really did it up this time, and it paid off big-time.

Thanks again to all our friends for playing along and making this such a fun event. Now we're just waiting for the next excuse to throw a party... anyone have a good idea for a THEME??

Happy birthdays to US!!

X

Cena a Milano (or...Dinner at Milan)

by Erin and Xani



Last week, immediately after finishing a (hopefully) winning proposal at work, we crossed town to have dinner in Little Italy at a new, very chic spot called Milan. Our friend Amy (of Profiles, Inc.) had invited us to try this new restaurant** and as usual, greeted us at the door with a smile and lots of guidance on what to order!

First we received a tour of the incredible space, which felt cozy due to dark wood floor and dimmed lighting, but still chic and modern with walls made of glass beads, plus cool chandeliers, huge windows looking out onto Little Italy, and the best part: a private lounge comprised of several rooms with low white couches, flat screen TVs, and arched doorways. This lounge would be perfect for a birthday celebration!


We were seated in the upstairs dining area along with fellow Bmore food bloggers Kit, Liz, and Jessica (great to see you, girls!), and after chatting with Amy for a bit about her recommendations, we studied the menu. While perusing and chatting, we enjoyed a glass of rose prosecco, which was excellent and full-bodied (sometimes they are really sharp and/or sweet, this one was lovely). We also nibbled on some bread and tapenade, but we wanted to save room for the many courses that lay ahead.

Cheers to finishing the proposal! Go team!

We were eager to try a variety of the large menu, including the "Sushi Italiano," which is crudo (raw fish), usually paired with some sort of italian flair such as pesto, olive oil, or a lemon aioli, for instance. For our first course, we enjoyed the 6-fish crudo plate, which featured salmon with lemon caper aioli, hiramasa with a blood orange balsamic glaze, arctic char with a basil pesto, hamachi (yellowtail) with roasted red pepper puree, yellowfin tuna with red pepper oil and sea salt and white tuna with lemon oil and pine nuts.



As if we couldn't eat more raw fish, we also ordered a barely-seared tuna dish that had olive oil, capers, and a yummy micro-green salad topped with our favorite: white anchovies! All of the fish was incredibly fresh and each of their accompaniments went well with the flavor of the raw fish.



For our second course, we tried two of the small plates (mezze) and one salad. The first small plate we tried were the lamb lollipops, which were perfectly cooked (medium rare) grilled baby lamb chops served with a creamy lemon-rosemary aioli.

Next, we ordered something that was one of our favorites of the night: vegetarian meatballs (called Ortaggio Mondeghili). They were made of eggplant, portobello mushrooms, and other veggies, and probably bound together with eggs and maybe breadcrumbs, then served with a delicious pomodoro sauce. It tasted like eggplant parm but in mini, meatball form! So good, we could have eaten a whole big plate of these.



The third member of our second course was the Deviled Caesar Salad, which included a spiced up caesar dressing, white anchovies (again! we love it!), and a very delicious deviled egg on the side. Since it wasn't a classic caesar salad, we will refrain from comparing it to BCD Mom's so we can remain on everyone's good sides :)



Okay, next course was the main course. We got the cioppino (spicy, tomato-based stew with lots of shellfish) and the NY strip, which was served with lobster butter, sauteed spinach, and lobster mashed potatoes. The cioppino was very tasty and had so much delicious seafood in it, including mussels (and the largest mussel we've EVER seen) and head-on shrimp. It was served with a garlicky parmesan bread to soak up the tomato broth - superb!

Largest mussel ever in the left forefront; see regular mussel to the right

The NY strip was, again, perfectly cooked to medium rare and the bits of lobster on top didn't hurt either! The sauteed spinach was a surprising highlight of the dish - it was very garlicky and barely wilted and added some freshness to the decadent plate. The mashed potatoes were the low point of the dish, unfortunately - while they were very creamy, they didn't really taste like lobster, and they were at room temperature, not hot. The spinach and the meat, however, were very strong so the dish was still very enjoyable.



Finally, we enjoyed a little dessert and of course, coffee. People always ask us how we can drink coffee (or espresso, if you're Xani) at the end of the night, but amazingly, it doesn't keep us up! Plus, it's a digestif and it allows you to reflect on the meal before heading home. I love a cup of coffee at the end of a great meal...mmm coffee...

Anyway, for dessert we chose the ricotta cheesecake with a strawberry-balsamic glaze and candied rosemary. The cheesecake was really good - creamy, rich, and a nice thick graham cracker crust on the bottom. The balsamic glaze was unique and added sweetness and tartness to the creamy cake. The rosemary was pretty but not really edible.



What a meal! We teetered back to our car (conveniently parked in the parking garage right next to the restaurant - that is some prime real estate, Milan!), crossed the city back to Federal Hill, and fell asleep with visions of veggie meatballs dancing in our heads.

Thanks, Amy, for inviting us to Milan for a great meal, and for introducing us to the chef and owner. Next time we'll check out the downstairs bar area and try one of the fancy cocktails, and we also need to try the pasta, risotto, and flatbreads - they looked amazing but we couldn't order everything, could we??

Buon appetito,
EP & X

**In compliance FTC Guidelines at 16 CFR Part 255, we hereby disclose that we received our meal free of charge (though we did provide a generous gratuity, obvi). First Amendment? What's that? I'm not familiar.