Go <a href=” http://www.lauralippman.com/ “_blank”>here</a> if you want to read yet another interview with Dave White.
Meanwhile, I’m thinking of adding a new feature to this website: TRTB — The Road to Bouchercon. Bouchercon will come to Baltimore a year from now. And as most of you know, I’m a homer who takes eating very seriously and I am trying to go to as many restaurants as possible before next October. (A tough gig, but as the only local, I feel I must.)
Last night, friends took me to Jack’s Bistro, which I’m told is the new Salt (recommended in the comment section on Win Some, Lose Some.) I haven’t been to Salt yet, but Jack’s is pretty fun. The menu includes cheeseburger soup and mac’n'cheese with chocolate. My friend tried the latter and let me have a bit. It was exactly as billed, and pretty tasty, but rich.
Tuesday is pretzel night, and the appetizer specials include homemade pretzels topped with entrees. Seriously — one had hangar steak, and mine had shrimp-and-crab salad. I adored it. I also liked my mango mojito.
We followed up this decadence with healthy salads.
Jack’s Bistro is in the Canton neighborhood, a block south of the square, about a 10-minute cab ride from downtown Baltimore. It takes reservations. My only caveat — why go any night but pretzel night?
Hm…mac n’ cheese with chocolate, and pretzels…and Laura. Couldn’t ask for more fun!
A bunch of folks are already registered for Bmore, and I will be too, soon as I get some moola together.
If you can come to Sleuthfest next Feb 28 thru Mar 2, 2008 (www.sleuthfest.com) we can maybe get up a crew to go to the Hard Rock hotel and Casino
George is clearly a fan!
Laura Lippman has established herself as one of the most important and original novelists of her generation. Her books are ambitious, exciting, and explore the human condition with uncommon depth. I can think of no other writer more worthy of the Guest of Honor slot at Bouchercon 2008 than Laura Lippman.
It’s killing me not to make an Office reference for pretzel night.
My mom is addicted to the Mount Washington Tavern (which I really only like on Wednesdays–$2.50 margaritas and free quesadillas for happy hour) and I like the Petit Louis Bistro and the apparently obligatory Cafe Hon and Rocket to Venus.
I will have to try Jack’s Bistro.
I love the Helmand.
Salt’s only drawback is lack of parking. There just isn’t any at all. Pazo is yummy too — especially for girly drinks and apps.
Venturing a bit out of the city — I recommend Vin in Towson.
Looking forward to trying Jack’s Bistro on pretzel night. Had a good laugh remembering the pretzel episode of The Office. Very funny — but not quite as funny as when Michael burnt his foot on the Foreman Grill.
Salt, Rocket to Venus and Dogwood are among my must-visit.
Baltimore faves include: Nasu Blana, Petit Louis, Charleston, the Helmand, Faidley’s (for crabcakes), Matsuri, Matthew’s pizza, Fleming’s (a chain, so sue me), the Wine Market, Thai Arroyo, Tapas Teatro, Mezze (have the lima beans with a side of feta, also the baba ghanoush and roasted salmon) . . . but all of this is to come over the next year.
I am totally addicted to Al Pacino’s Pizza. It’s insane how much I love it and sometimes when I talk about it, I sound not unlike Gollum. I got my coworker Bernadette addicted to it, too.
This thread is really going to kill me. Haven’t been to Helmand in years but love it. Petit Louis wasn’t there when I moved from Baltimore but I’ve been there during visits back and really liked it.
So, with full disclosure that I am no longer a Baltimre resident and thus have very little by way of credentials to suggest Baltimore eateries, I have to tell you to venture northeast a little and try The Cameleon Cafe. It is a must visit for me every time I’m back in B’more. The neighborhood bar down the block, Coco’s, also has a very good crabcake-don’t let the Pointlike ambience fool you.
restaurant visiting/testing is a job I occasionally have here at Rollo, and a job I aspire to hold later on in my career. What better task than to eat new food and rate it? especially with entrees like that. genius about the pretzels!
My favorite restaurant is still the quirky Marticks.
When I was a teenager more than 40 years ago it was a beatnik bar. Morris Martick left for France when he got tired of the crowds of rowdy drinkers and decided to study Cordon Bleu. Now he’s in his eighties and I can’t imagine the place will be open much longer.
The pate is to die for as is the bouillibaise. Entries are extremely reasonable in price – most are under $20.
Martick has a kitchen upstairs as well as his apartment. The building looks like a remnant from World War II. Sometimes you wonder if the building has been condemned. You need to knock on the door for them to unlock it. It’s located on Mulberry Street across from where Abe Sherman had his magazine and newspaper store (that’s for people who are ancient like me.)
Martick’s makes an appearance in next year’s Tess novel.
And Abe Sherman — that’s a great Baltimore memory, although one I never got to experience first-hand.