Friday, October 31, 2008

Going Solar in Howard County: My Experience


If you've ever thought of using solar power, Howard County offers one of the best deals in the U.S., and tax breaks make early 2009 a great time to do it. I'm doing several posts about it. First, let me tell you about my experience.

About a year ago I started checking into the possibilities of solar power for our home. I had heard about various tax breaks and incentives, but didn't know what they would mean for me. I started reading various web sites and contacted two of the most active solar installers in the area, Standard Solar (Gaithersburg, MD) and Chesapeake Solar (Jessup, MD). Both of them seemed very good, and I got site visits and quotes from both. Though their prices and offerings were similar, the Standard Solar representatives were a little more responsive, so I ended up working with them.

Both vendors started by recommending fairly large 3-5 kilowatt systems that ranged from $35-50K. As each of them started explaining the tax breaks and incentives, the prices came down almost in half, but the payback was still many years on the investment. The federal and state incentives were capped, at that point, at $2,000 and $3,000, respectively. I began to wonder if a smaller system that made more efficient use of the caps would come closer to paying for itself immediately.

Sure enough, I found that by installing a 1-2 kilowatt system with an initial outlay of around $15K I would recoup the cost of virtually the entire system through the various tax incentives. Those incentives are a little complicated and I'll go through them in a separate post. And they've become even more generous for 2009 which is why you really should start investigating solar yourself.

We ended up installing a small system in May 2008. The system was rated to offset less than 10% of our average monthly usage, but it was a start and, except for a battery backup option I added, it paid for itself in tax incentives.

Now -- here's the kicker. Since we installed the system, our whole family has become much more aware of our energy usage. We are much more proactive about turning off lights, keeping thermostats under control, and we've switched a few (but not nearly all) lights to flourescent bulbs. The result: our energy usage has declined by 35% since we installed the solar system. We've dropped from averaging over 1,800 KwH per month to less than 1,200 KwH.

So check out solar power in Howard County. It's something that's good for the country and good for you!

See the other posts in this series:
Going Solar in Howard County: Taxes and Incentives
Going Solar in Howard County: Battery Backup

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Dr. Milles & MDVIP

I've been using Dr. Gary Milles (infrequently, knock on wood) as my local doctor for nearly 15 years. He came well recommended and also was featured in magazines as one of the county's best. He has proven to be that -- a kind, caring and reassuring doctor. Clearly, though, he's also been wrestling with the business side of running a practice, first with partners and lately on his own.

I recently learned he's changing his practice to join the MDVIP model. MDVIP is a national network (and marketing organization) for physicians focusing on preventive and personalized healthcare. Under this model, Dr. Milles will charge an annual $1,500 "subscription" that gives guaranteed access to a smaller roster of patients. In fact, he's cutting his patient roster from around 1,800 down closer to 500. For those 500 or so, Dr. Milles will offer expanded care and services. For the 1,300 that opt out, Dr. Milles says he will provide referrals to other reliable local doctors. We'll see.

I expect I'll be one of the 1,300. I don't begrudge Dr. Milles an opportunity to make a healthier income or run a less stressful practice. He's a very good doctor and has earned the right to charge a premium. He blames the insurance companies for forcing an ever-increasing workload on general practitioners everywhere. Maybe he's right. I'm sure from his perspective he sees little choice.

I think it's a shame our nation's healthcare industry is forcing this choice upon doctors and patients. It's symptomatic of a broken system. Both the presidential candidates talk about addressing our nation's healthcare problems, but I doubt it's something that can be fixed quickly or easily. I hold out hope that one will be better at it than the other, but I also hope I don't get sick in the meantime.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Bistro Blanc

A newcomer in 2008, Bistro Blanc is a wine bar, shop, and dining establishment a little along the lines of Iron Bridge Wine Company. In fact, Chef Marc Dixon was the original chef at Iron Bridge. We've been impressed with the menus and preparation at Bistro Blanc. The starters work nicely as appetizers or a small plates meal. The entrees are mouth watering. The Enomatic dispenser in the wine bar lets you sample wines at the click of a button, but it's a bit of a gimmick. I tend to prefer ordering a bottle or a glass, and the selection at Bistro Blanc is outstanding. It's great to have a quality restaurant in Western Howard County. It's worth the drive.

Reviews:
Location:
3800 Ten Oaks Rd

Glenelg, MD
21737
Phone:
(410) 489-7907
Website: www.bistroblancmd.com

Specials and Other Details:
  • Bistro Blanc is open for brunch Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm.
  • Bistro Blanc hosts monthly Wine Dinners featuring guest experts and wineries.
  • Bistro Blanc has live entertainment most Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Shout Out to HowChow

As I've been putting together this blog, I've looked at a lot of other Howard County bloggers and web sites. I want to give special recognition to HowChow and the work he's doing. I'm very impressed by the quality, depth and volume of his posts and his commitment to better dining in Howard County.

I especially applaud his interest and promotion of diverse ethnic cuisines. We have a growing range of choices in the county and I am certainly eager to see more. HowChow has already led me to a few I hadn't known about, and tempted me to visit more.

I hope in time my blog can prove to be a worthwhile companion to HowChow's, and I encourage you to read them both!

UPDATE: Be sure to check out HowChow's Best of Howard County.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

MiCasa

MiCasa, Ellicott City
MiCasa is not the largest, busiest or most innovative Mexican restaurant in town, but we still have a soft spot for it. It does the Mexican basics consistently well, and the service is usually quick and friendly. It's a comfortable spot for a casual weekday meal.

Mi Casa on Urbanspoon

El Azteca

El Azteca, Clarksville
The original link in Gilberto Cortez's family of Mexican restaurants (also La Palapa and La Palapa Too in Laurel). Like the others, El Azteca offers a full slate of Mexican standards as well as an encouraging selection of "Gilberto's Specialities" for variety. El Azteca is smaller than its cousins and doesn't take reservations, but somehow the food always seems a little better. It's fun if you don't mind a possible wait.

Update: El Azteca is on our list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County.

El Azteca on Urbanspoon

La Palapa

La Palapa Grill & Cantina, Ellicott City
A large, friendly Mexican fixture on Main Street in Ellicott City, La Palapa is the largest of Gilberto Cortez's family of Mexican restaurants (also El Azteca and La Palapa Too in Laurel). La Palapa offers a full slate of Mexican standards as well as an encouraging selection of "Gilberto's Specialities" for variety. La Palapa is great for groups, lunches, dinner or brunch.

Update: La Palapa regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.

La Palapa Grill and Cantina on Urbanspoon

The King's Contrivance

The King's Contrivance, Columbia
Columbia's most venerable fine dining establishment seems to just keep rolling along producing surprisingly good fare. Extensively renovated over the past few years, the stately mansion is a pleasant step back in time. The menus also reflect a traditional take on good food, prepared and served well.

The King's Contrivance makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

King's Contrivance on Urbanspoon

Elkridge Furnace Inn

Elkridge Furnace Inn, Elkridge
This historic inn makes it worth the drive to the eastern corner of Howard County. Chef and owner Daniel Wecker and his family bring a personal touch to the restaurant's operations, and the results show their pride and care. Ambitious prix fixe and a la carte menus offer fine French fare. And now there's the option of a very good menu of small plates in the Tavern. The Inn also runs an extensive series of special events including afternoon teas, wine tastings, cooking classes and even murder mystery evenings.

This makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: Elkridge Furnace Inn regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.

Elkridge Furnace Inn on Urbanspoon

Victoria Gastro Pub

Victoria Gastro Pub, Columbia
Victoria's brings upscale food and drink choices to a former Bennigan's location. It's a big improvement. The menu has interesting variants on the typical burger, fries and salad staples, and the beer and wine choices are impressive. The bar is big and can get busy, but the dining room has different areas that break up the space and can afford some peace to enjoy a good meal.

Victoria Gastro Pub makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: Victoria Gastro Pub regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.

Update: The Baltimore City Paper published a review of Victoria Gastro Pub in December 2008. See my comments.

Victoria Gastro Pub on Urbanspoon

Aida Bistro and Wine Bar

Aida Bistro and Wine Bar, Columbia
The Barbera family runs this Italian and Mediterranean outpost in an unlikely office park setting. Once you're inside, the pleasant atmosphere and seasonal menus of small plates and entrees make for a very enjoyable experience. Knowledgeable servers help navigate the extensive selection of wines by the bottle or glass. And there's an option of fixed price menus with wines or beers matched to each course.

Aida Bistro makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: Aida Bistro regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.

Update: Aida Bistro is one of four Howard County establishments on Baltimore Magazine's Best Restaurants list.


Aida Bistro & Wine Bar on Urbanspoon

Cafe de Paris

Cafe de Paris, Columbia
Owner Erik Rochard is one of the friendliest hosts you'll find, and he offers a range of choices at the cafe. It's become two restaurants in one, with a Crepe Cafe adding a low cost alternative to the main dining room for lunch or dinner. In the dining room there's a three-course "Formule" menu or extensive a la carte list of French specialties. The weekend brunch is a nice treat, too.

Cafe de Paris makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: Cafe de Paris makes our list for Best Steak in Howard County.

Cafe de Paris on Urbanspoon

Iron Bridge Wine Company

Iron Bridge Wine Company, Columbia
One of the most inventive and original establishments in the county (and now expanded to Virginia), Iron Bridge melds wine shop, bar, gourmet small plates and coffee lounge into one. It's a great place to relax and spend some time, but it can get crowded and busy, too. The wide selection of small plates and the few entrees are fun and usually very good. The staff knows their wine, too, and help with the appealing atmosphere.

Iron Bridge Wine Company makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: Iron Bridge Wine Company regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.

Update: Iron Bridge Wine Company is one of four Howard County establishments on Baltimore Magazine's Best Restaurants list.

Iron Bridge Wine Company on Urbanspoon

oZ Chophouse

oZ Chophouse is now closed.
Below is our capsule review and links, for old times' sake.


oZ Chophouse, Maple Lawn
More great steaks! oZ helped inaugurate the Maple Lawn town center several years ago. It has a modern, comfortable dining room (though I still haven't figured out why the tree's in the middle) and an extensive menu of steaks and other favorites. You can choose styles and sauces to match your taste. oZ has a cool bar and specialty drink menu, too.

oZ Chophouse makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: oZ Chophouse regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.

Update: See posting oZ Owner's Email: Rumors of Closing Untrue.

Update: oZ Chophouse makes our list for Best Steak in Howard County.

Update: See our Dining Update review of a recent meal at oZ Chophouse.

oZ Chophouse on Urbanspoon

Ranazul

Ranazul, Maple Lawn
This upscale tapas and wine bar is a welcome addition to the Maple Lawn area. The small plates menu offers plenty of choices for the timid and adventurous. The wine list is extensive and the ambiance and service are usually quite good. Ranazul is a nice place to bring friends to experiment with a variety of flavors and options.

Ranazul makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Ranazul on Urbanspoon

Jordan's Steakhouse

Jordan's Steakhouse is now closed. Below is our capsule review, for old times' sake.

Great steaks are alive and well in Howard County. Jordan's lets you choose between prime and choice cuts of beef (the choice tastes great to me) along with terrific sides and appetizers. Located at the lower end of Main Street in the heart of historic Ellicott City, Jordan's has a private club ambiance with several different rooms and a cozy downstairs bar. With steaks as the headliners, an array of tempting appetizers and sides, and a heavy duty wine list, you can have a seriously good meal at Jordan's.

Reviews
  • Jordan's Steakhouse makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.
  • Jordan's Steakhouse holds the top spot on our list of Best Steak in Howard County.
  • Jordan's Steakhouse is one of four Howard County establishments and #48 on Baltimore Magazine's Best Restaurants list for 2009.
  • OpenTable diners give Jordan's Steakhouse 4.2/5 stars based on 225 votes and 100 reviews as of 5/11/09. OpenTable ranks Jordan's #8 among all Baltimore Suburbs restaurants, #1 as a Special Occasion destination, #6 for Ambiance, #10 for Service, #6 for its Wine List, and #5 for Romantic restaurants.
  • Urbanspoon readers give Jordan's Steakhouse 79/100 based on 92 votes, ranking it the #1 restaurant in Ellicott City as of 5/11/09.
    Jordan's Steakhouse on Urbanspoon
  • Citysearch users give Jordan's Steakhouse 4/5 stars based on 27 reviews as of 5/11/09.
  • Rewards Network users give Jordan's Steakhouse 4.5/5 stars based on 143 responses as of 5/11/09.
  • TripAdvisor users give Jordan's Steakhouse 3/5 stars based on 25 ratings and 17 reviews, ranking it #17 in Ellicott City as of 5/11/09.
  • Yahoo! Local users give Jordan's Steakhouse 4/5 stars based on 20 ratings and 14 reviews as of 5/11/09.
  • Yelp users give Jordan's Steakhouse 4.5/5 stars based on 10 reviews, ranking it the #1 restaurant in Ellicott City as of 5/11/09.
  • BooRah users rate Jordan's Steakhouse 85/100 based on 82 votes, and ranks it the #1 restaurant in Ellicott City as of 5/11/09.
  • Zagat has 45 member reviews of Jordan's Steakhouse as of 5/11/09.
  • Examiner.com's Tamar Fleishman posted a lengthy review of Jordan's Steakhouse on 3/7/09.
Location
8085 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: 410-461-9776
Website: www.jordanssteakhouse.com

Specials and Other Details
  • Jordan's is offering a Spring Prix Fixe menu for $35.
  • Jordan's serves a range of $10 or less Bar Menu selections after 4:00 pm, including a Maine lobster roll, calamari and chopped tenderloin burger

Tersiguel's

Our consistent choice for Mother's Day and other special occasions, it's a delight to have this gem on Main Street.  Fernand and Odette Tersiguel have a history as restaurateurs in Ellicott City going back more than 30 years.  They've given way to their son and chef Michel, but this classic hasn't missed a beat.  Fine French country cooking with fresh ingredients, many from their own farm, and always save room for dessert.

Reviews
  • Tersiguel's makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.
  • Tersiguel's is one of four Howard County establishments on Baltimore Magazine's Best Restaurants list for 2008, ranked at #40.
  • Tersiguel's received an Honorable Mention for Fine Dining from Howard Magazine for 2008.
  • Urbanspoon readers give Tersiguel's 75/100 based on 81 votes and has one user review as of 5/1/09. Tersiguel's on Urbanspoon
  • Gayot rates Tersiguel's 14/20, one of the highest ratings in the region.
  • The Mobil Travel Guide gives Tersiguel's 3/5 stars.
  • Yelp readers give Tersiguel's 4/5 stars based on 14 reviews as of 5/1/09.
  • TripAdvisor readers give Tersiguel's 4/5 stars based on 17 votes and has 10 user reviews as of 5/1/09.
  • Yahoo! Local readers give Tersiguel's 4/5 stars based on 15 ratings and has 7 user reviews as of 5/1/09.
  • BooRah readers gives Tersiguel's 93/100 based on 49 votes and has 25 user reviews as of 5/1/09.
  • Citysearch readers give Tersiguel's 5/5 stars based on 5 reviews.
  • Zagat has 61 member reviews of Tersiguel's as of 5/1/09.
  • Baltimore Sun review by Elizabeth Large from 10/28/07.
  • Books to the Ceiling blog post from 3/14/09.

Location
8293 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: 410-465-4004

Specials and Other Details
  • Chef Michel Tersiguel blogs occasionally.
  • Special events at Tersiguel's planned for 2009.


Monday, October 27, 2008

Howard County's Best Restaurants

Here's my personal list of best restaurants in Howard County. They're listed by location, in no particular order, but all 10 are very good. If we're in the mood for a nice meal or taking out guests, we're likely heading to one of these. If you haven't tried them all, you should!

Tersiguel's, Ellicott City

Jordan's Steakhouse, Ellicott City

oZ Chophouse, Maple Lawn

Ranazul, Maple Lawn

Iron Bridge Wine Company, Columbia

Cafe de Paris, Columbia

Aida Bistro and Wine Bar, Columbia

Victoria Gastro Pub, Columbia

King's Contrivance, Columbia

Elkridge Furnace Inn, Elkridge


Update: Also see out list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County for good establishments that did not quite make this list of the very best.

For a little variety, check out HowChow's "Best of Howard County" list. Or see the discussion in The Baltimore Sun's Dining at Large blog.

Update: Also see the Howard Magazine Best of Dining 2008 list.


Getting Started

The purpose of this blog is to review and comment on the best of Howard County, Maryland for residents and newcomers. We aim to track a variety of topics, from restaurants and entertainment to shopping, schools, recreation and conservation. We hope readers will find it a useful resource for information and opinions on our community.

Howard County is consistently ranked one of the wealthiest counties in country, and Columbia/Ellicott City are ranked in the top ten "Best Places to Live" by Money. We hope we can help you find some of the best of what Howard County has to offer, and perhaps be a platform to make our home even better.