We all need a second chance at some point, some of us at several points. A few of us almost daily. We all went to the Pier for lunch on our first visit to Cove Point two years ago, Liza and Michael and the girls, our co-grandparents Sue and David boyd, and, of course, Nancy and me. It was a glorious day, we had fallen … Continue reading The Pier, Solomons, Calvert County, Maryland
Nancy and I recently went over the river and through the fields to Stauffer’s Produce and Greenhouses in Loveville, an Amish section of St. Mary’s County, where I bought a large number of plants for a ridiculously low price. We were hustling back well after noon when we decided to get a quick lunch. Time constraints ruled out a leisurely meal at Sweetbay, so we … Continue reading The Rex, Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County, Maryland
Brick Wood-Fired Bistro is in one of those Prince Frederick shopping centers off Route 4, the one across from the fire station, a few miles south of the Safeway. It’s a big new place with acres — well not quite — of seating, a community asset that attracts group events. It’s known as “The Brick,” according to our good friend, Dan Blankenship, who lives nearby, … Continue reading Brick Wood-Fired Bistro, Prince Frederick, Calvert County, Maryland
I’ve always liked Road Houses. I remember Joe’s Ranch House on 31 south of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, when I was a kid, and Lillo’s, an Italian place near Leland, Mississippi, I frequented during my voting rights career. You sometimes see them in old films. The Gateway Restaurant and Lounge is a Road House — not a Road House like the Patrick Swayze movie with its … Continue reading Gateway Restaurant and Lounge, Port Republic, Calvert County, Maryland
Julie Goos is a founding member and ornament of the morning Starbucks group at Connecticut and Livingston. I say ornament not only for her charming self, but also because she’s about the only member who’s still dresses for work, and she selects her clothes very well. Julie dresses as befits someone at the Thomas Moser Showroom in Georgetown. Thomas Moser makes beautiful furniture with hand-crafted … Continue reading Chez Billy Sud, Georgetown, Washington, DC
UPDATE: I wondered about the toast. Not only did it arrive ht, but it tasted better, had a better texture than other loaf bread. It turns out that the bread is made from scratch and baked in-house. They also make everything from crab cakes to scrapple in house. IT really is food like grandma made. Dale Leibach, part of the neighborhood diaspora, paused his wanderings … Continue reading 2 Soul Sisters, Lusby, Calvert County, Maryland
I’se Da Bye’s is a brightly painted food truck that sets up shop in the parking lot of Sneade’s Ace Home Center, my favorite hardware store ever. Sneade’s is hugely popular. We always see someone we know there, even though we’re pretty new to Calvert County, and part-time at that. Calvert County is full of people who work in the building trades as well as … Continue reading I’se Da Bye’s Fully Stuffed Kitchen, Lusby, Calvert County, Maryland
You’ve all heard of the terrible accident at the Parthenon on March 11, not long after I reviewed the restaurant (see the review here). A car accelerated into the outdoor seating area shortly after noon on a bright, sunny day. Two people, Jane Bloom and Terese Dudnick Taffer, died and others were injured. The whole space was blocked off and the outside area remained closed … Continue reading A Parthenon Update, Chevy Chase, DC
In 1990, Mark Furstenberg started the revolution in Washington. I mean the Really Good Bread revolution. That was when he opened Marvelous Market on upper Connecticut Avenue. Before 1990 you could get second-rate baguettes — I forget where — and there was pretty good Italian Bread at the liquor store at Connecticut and Livingston, and good sub rolls at Mangialardo’s on Capitol Hill, a few … Continue reading Bread Furst, Forest Hills/Van Ness, Washington, DC
Nancy and I went back to the Avenue recently, this time with Nancy Breul. You’ve met Nancy Breul, our Senior Correspondent for South Portland, Maine, where she and Jon, DC expatriates, live and dote on their two preternaturally perfect grandchildren. Nancy stayed with us for an evening during a flying visit to the breakfast group and sundry other groups. The Nancys went to an early … Continue reading The Avenue, Chevy Chase, Washington, DC
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