Soiree for Howard County Tourism

Next Tuesday, June 2, Howard County Tourism will host its annual fundraiser, Soiree!, at the Belmont Conference Center from 5:00 - 9:00 pm. The event will feature food from 17 of the county's best restaurants and culinary resources. There will also be a live and silent auction for exciting travel packages, and a "Dancing with the Howard County Stars" competition featuring four brave couples from the local business community.

This benefit supports Howard County Tourism operations to promote the county, and 10% of the proceeds go to Howard County Community College's Culinary and Hospitality Management scholarship program. If you'd like to support this worthy cause, tickets are available in advance for $80 ($85 at the door) or buy a four-ticket bundle for $275.

Studio Inspire Summer Workshops and 2010 Cruise

I first wrote about Studio Inspire when it opened last September. Since then, despite the tough economy, the studio has built a membership base of folks seeking fun, fitness and health through dancing in all sorts of styles. The owner, Shara Darden, even won a business achievement award from the Howard County Economic Development Council.

This July and August, Studio Inspire is running a series of short workshops, some for beginners and others for intermediate or advanced dancers, taught by an impressive roster of guest instructors. Workshop styles include jazz, ballet, belly dancing, modern and tap. The workshops offer a great way to sample the studio, and there are early bird deadlines that let you save money on registration.

Studio Inspire is also booking spots on its "Boogie in the Bahamas" cruise, slated for May 17-21, 2010. This is a cool way to take a break with friends, have a lot of fun, and stand a fighting chance burning off as many calories as you'll consume on-board.

Location
Studio Inspire
6656 Dobbin Road
Columbia, MD 21045
410-381-0407
www.studioinspire.net

Kloby's Smokehouse

For quite a while, I've been wishing for a respectable local barbeque place, and in Kloby's Smokehouse I've found it. It had taken me a little while to get to Kloby's, partly because I was confused about its location due to the Laurel address (or is it West Laurel, North Laurel, or North Maple Lawn...and what ever became of Scaggsville, anyway? If Scaggsville's been marketed out of existence, someone should change the exit sign on I-95...but I digress). Thanks to positive comments from HowChow and loyal reader John Boyle, I finally made a little effort and was pleasantly surprised by Kloby's convenient location and easy access from Rt. 29, just south of Rt. 32 at the Johns Hopkins Road exit.

Once inside I was even more pleased with the casual, friendly vibe of the place, and it smells great. It's place-your-order counter service, but there are plenty of tables and a couple of TVs in a seating area festooned with NASCAR banners. I liked the separate Hershey's ice cream counter, too.

People get very fussy about ribs, and I'd say Kloby's baby backs are very good -- maybe not lights-out great, but real good and better than the beef ribs. You can choose mild or spicy sauce; both are smoky, and while the spicy is still pretty tame, there are bottles of hot sauce at the ready to make adjustments. The real winner for me was the pulled pork sandwich and the sides. The Carolina-style pulled pork was fresh, moist, and handmade with a tasty dab of cole slaw. The BBQ beans, red-skin potato salad, and boardwalk-style fries were all above average. I haven't had the brisket yet, but it looked good and gets a lot of positive comments. The specialty burgers, loaded up with pulled pork, brisket or other BBQ toppings look positively dangerous. And there's also chicken, turkey, spicy sausage, wings and St. Louis style ribs that will have to wait for future visits.

Kloby's has a good backstory, too. The pitmaster and owner, Steve Klobosits, is a former paramedic/firefighter who shifted to culinary school and put in his time at high volume theme restaurants before opening his own place. Kloby's Smokehouse is well worth seeking out, and you'll probably find it very easy to keep coming back.

Reviews

• Howard County Times article on Kloby's Smokehouse from 4/16/09.
• HowChow has three posts about Kloby's Smokehouse with 5 comments as of 5/22/09.
• Urbanspoon readers give Kloby's Smokehouse a 100/100 rating based on 9 votes, with one review (HowChow's) as of 5/22/09.
  
  
• Yelp readers give Kloby's Smokehouse 3.5/5 stars based on 4 reviews as of 5/22/09.
• TripAdvisor readers give Kloby's Smokehouse 3.5/5 stars based on 2 reviews as of 5/22/09.
  
• Kloby's Smokehouse discussion on Chowhound with 5 replies as of 5/22/09.
  

Location
Kloby's Smokehouse
7500 Montpelier Road
West Laurel, MD 20723
301-362-1510
www.klobysbbq.com


Specials and Other Details

• Kloby's is open for Memorial Day and offering $2 off a full rack of St. Louis ribs or a whole chicken.

Wine in the Woods

The 17th annual Wine in the Woods festival will be held in Columbia's Symphony Woods this weekend, May 16-17 from 12:00 - 6:00 pm. The festival is a celebration of wine, food, music and crafts and general Springtime fun featuring tastings from more than two dozen Maryland wineries (who knew?). There's food from nearly 20 restaurants and vendors, including Greystone Grill, Bombay Peacock Grill and Serafino's. And more than 70 artisans and craft stalls, too.

Music is a keystone of Wine in the Woods. There are two stages, each stocked all day with a variety of styles, literally something for everyone. Featured performers include guitarist Carl Filipiak, Damon Foreman and Blue Funk, and singer/songwriter Victoria Vox and her ukelele.

Tickets are $25 at the gate, but can be had for $20 in advance from three walk-up locations: the HoCo Recs & Parks office, Glenwood Community Center or the Bain Center. Look for directions here. Kids 4-20 are $5, under 4 are free.

Revised Profiles for Bistro Blanc, Jordan's Steakhouse and Tersiguel's

The format of my restaurant profiles has evolved to include links to other reviews, contact data and other (hopefully) useful information about each establishment. I've decided to revise the older profiles but keep their original posting date and any comments. I've recently completed these:

• Bistro Blanc
• Jordan's Steakhouse
• Tersiguel's

Sushi Sono

Sushi Sono holds down a primo location on Columbia's downtown lakefront and serves primo sushi and other Japanese specialties. It's one of the prettier restaurants in the county, with picture windows of the lake, a sizable sushi bar and two private rooms. But it's the sushi, both the rolls and nigiri, that brings in the crowds.

Sushi Sono recently revised its website and has done a good job maintaining a high profile all over the internet. It is one of the most widely reviewed restaurant in the county, and most of the reviews are very positive.

Reviews

• Sushi Sono is included in our list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County.
• Howard Magazine (formerly Columbia Magazine) has ranked Sushi Sono as the Best Sushi Restaurant in the county for the last 9 consecutive years.
• Baltimore Magazine includes Sushi Sono as one of six restaurants in Howard County in its list of Neighborhood Specials places to eat.
• Dining@Large incudes Sushi Sono in its June 2008 list of Top 10 Howard County Restaurants.
  
• Gayot rates Sushi Sono 12/20.
  
• TripAdvisor readers give Sushi Sono 4/5 stars based on 31 ratings and 14 reviews, ranking it #1 in Columbia as of 5/10/09.
  
• Urbanspoon readers give Sushi Sono 93/100 based on 73 votes, ranking it #14 in Baltimore and #2 in Columbia as of 5/10/09.
  
• Yahoo! Local readers give Sushi Sono 4.5/5 stars based on 21 ratings as of 5/10/09.
• Yelp readers give Sushi Sono 4/5 stars based on 39 reviews, ranking it #3 in Columbia as of 5/10/09.
• Zagat has 58 member reviews of Sushi Sono as of 5/10/09.
  
• BooRah readers give Sushi Sono 89/100 based on 66 reviews, ranking it #2 in Columbia as of 5/10/09.
• CitySearch readers give Sushi Sono 3.5/5 stars based on 14 reviews as of 5/10/09.
  
• Sushi Sono garners frequent comments on Chowhound in discussions regarding best sushi in the area.
• HowChow reviewed Sushi Sono in July 2008.
  

Location
10215 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, MD 21044
Phone: 410-997-6131
Website: sushisonomd.com
Blog: sushisono.blogspot.com

Specials and Other Details

• Sushi Sono has been running month-long discounted specials since March. Check their blog for more details.
• Sushi Sono has a Facebook page.
  

Jenny's Market

A harbinger of spring and summer farm-fresh produce, Jenny's Market is a roadside stand that just re-opened last week. Jenny's Market used to be just off Route 32 near Burntwoods Road, enticing drivers with handmade signs. With the completion of the new traffic circles at the Route 32 - Burntwoods interchange, Jenny's has had to move a few hundred yards onto Andrea Drive, but the signs are still there to guide you.

For the moment, Jenny's produce is coming by truck from farmers in the Carolinas and further south. But I can attest that the corn is sweet and the tomatoes are ripe. As we get further toward summer, the produce comes from farms that are more local. The family that runs Jenny's have always been friendly when I come through and rummage around, and help me pick out the best veggies and fruits.

So stop by Jenny's any day except Mondays. Just follow the signs.

Note: HowChow did a nice post about Jenny's last summer.

Crossroads Pub

In the mood for crabs? Fresh fried seafood? A killer crab soup? The Crossroads Pub, tucked way out of the way in Western Howard County, could be the spot for you. It's another one of those places I've driven by for years and finally stopped in, only to find something quite different than what I'd thought.

Seafood, specifically crab, is the name of the game at the Crossroads Pub. You can order fresh steamed crabs and start pounding and picking like you were at the Eastern Shore. Or you can order off a menu filled with fried seafood entrees and sandwiches, along with a few traditional landlubber options. The soups, either Maryland Crab or Cream of Crab, are hearty, rich and tasty. The crab cake platter or sandwich stands up with the best in the area. The fried clam strips were fresh and meaty. The shrimp salad is also listed as a specialty, but I haven't tried it yet. Whatever you get, you're not likely to leave hungry.

The Crossroads Pub is small, but with a back room of picnic tables is a little bigger than it appears from the street. It's not fancy, and the crowd and service can feel like a trip back to an older time in Maryland that may not appeal so much to the trendy set. But the Crossroads Pub seems to be proud to serve a down home meal to those that seek it out.

Reviews

• Restaurantdb.net rates the Crossroads Pub 8.7/10 for food, based on 9 reviews as of 5/1/09.
  

Location

4809 Ten Oaks Road

Dayton, MD 21036

Phone: 410-531-7485

Website: (none)

The Crossroads Pub is just west of Route 32 on Ten Oaks Road where it intersects Howard Road and Green Bridge Road. Exit Route 32 at Linden Church Road West, then turn right on Ten Oaks Road.

Cinco de Mayo in Howard County

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everybody! Where can you go to celebrate in Columbia, Ellicott City or elsewhere in Howard County? Here are a few ideas. If you have some others, please post a comment.

• El Azteca in Clarksville is at the top of our list for Best Mexican restaurant in the County. They are having "drink and food specials all day."
• La Palapa in old town Ellicott City is a cousin of El Azteca's, but larger. Not sure of what specials they're having, but Tuesdays are all-you-can-eat taco nights.
• Mi Casa on Route 40 in Ellicott City is a small but friendly Mexican restaurant and a personal favorite.
• The Pachanga Grill, further west on Route 40 in Ellicott City, is also an El Azteca cousin and is also offering drink specials for the night.
• The Frisco Grille in Columbia has a great beer and tequila selection to go with its good Mexican food menu.
  
• Sonoma's Bar & Grille in Columbia has live music from Sons of the Radio from 9:00 pm and lunch and dinner specials as well.
• The Second Chance Saloon in Columbia has taco, beer and margarita specials tonight.
• El Nayar in Elkridge has a nice selection of Mexican meals, and Tuesdays are 1/2 price burrito nights.
• If you're in more of a do-it-yourself mood, stop into Lily's Mexican Market in Columbia and stock up on all you need.
  

Coal Fire Pizza

Full marks to HowChow for being all over the recent opening of the Coal Fire Pizza restaurant in the Shipley Grant development of Ellicott City. This place is a welcome addition to the local restaurant scene and I agree it jumps near the top of the list for best pizza in Howard County.

The thin, handmade pizzas feature fresh sliced mozzarella and a choice of three tasty sauces. The 580-degree coal fire oven produces a crisp, bubbly, slightly charred pie that's distinct from any others in the county. The selection of toppings is limited, but Coal Fire suggests no more than two toppings per pie "to ensure a perfect bake." I haven't gotten beyond the pizzas yet, but the pastas, sandwiches and wings look intriguing and worth a try.

The restaurant itself is suburban modern, with the oven prominently visible. It's fun to watch your pizza being made and see the coals glowing. Coal Fire Pizza is not especially exotic, but offers good quality everyday eating and is off to a strong start in its first few weeks.

Reviews

• HowChow has an excellent review that has generated 10 additional comments as of 5/2/09.
  
• Chowhound has a lengthy discussion of Coal Fire Pizza with 15 replies as of 5/2/09.
  
• Urbanspoon readers give Coal Fire Pizza 100/100 based on two votes and has one user review as of 5/2/09.
• Yelp readers gives Coal Fire Pizza 5/5 stars based on 1 review as of 5/2/09.
  

Location

5725 Richard's Valley Road

Ellicott City, MD 21043

Phone: 410-480-2625

Website: not yet

The Shipley's Grant location is on Route 108 between Snowden River Parkway and Route 100.

Columbia Foundation Spring Party

The Columbia Foundation holds its 27th Annual Spring Party this Thursday, May 7, from 5:45 - 8:30 pm at the Spear Center in Columbia. Tickets are $75 for a full buffet and open bar, and you have the option of donating an additional $25 to support each of the Foundation's 25 non-profit endowments.

The Columbia Foundation is one of Howard County's most important and productive non-profit groups. Take a moment to look through their list of recent grants and you're sure to find support for some of your favorite and most worthwhile local institutions. So, supporting the Columbia Foundation is a quick and easy way to help a whole range of local organizations at once. The current economy is hard on everyone, but especially the non-profit community that relies on contributions. Here's one way you can help...and get dinner and drinks to boot.

Tooting One's Own Horn

The Baltimore Sun featured yours truly among the County's many fine bloggers in a lengthy article in yesterday's paper. It's great to see the article finally appear -- the interviews occurred back in December and January -- though the online version doesn't have the print version's nice photo of Jessie Newburn and Chris Bachmann ogling an iPhone.

I encourage you to read all the local blogs, made especially easy by the HocoBlogs website and Twitter page. As I wrote in a recent post, bloggers play an increasingly important role in sharing information about local events and community, especially as local newspapers are in an accelerating tailspin. So support your local blogs and tell your friends! UPDATE: See also the feature article in today's Washington Post on restaurant bloggers pros and cons. A happy coincidence.

I particularly want to extend special appreciation for two people in the local blogging community. Jessie Newburn is a remarkable multitasker who writes her own blog (Jessie X), runs the HocoBlogs site, Twitters up a storm on her own, and finds time to host frequent gatherings of Hoco bloggers (that I've been derelict in attending). She's an inspiration and valuable catalyst for helping new bloggers and making Howard County a more interesting place. And speaking of inspirations, HowChow continues to generate a terrific blog on interesting restaurants and food finds in and near the county. He is very deservedly the number one Baltimore area blogger on Urbanspoon, and just got a nice mention from Elizabeth Large at the Sun for his post on the opening of Coal Fire Pizza in Ellicott City.

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is underway at the Howard County Fairgrounds this weekend. This is one of the largest wool and craft events on the east coast, drawing thousands of people (and some lengthy traffic jams) to the Fairgrounds. The festival is always held the first weekend in May, but somehow it always seems to sneak up on me. Driving by the Fairgrounds today I can attest that the place is packed, but the early morning rush is over and it's easier to get in. The festival runs until 9:00 pm tonight, then tomorrow from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Admission is free.

There are over 250 vendors selling all manner of things related to raising sheep and the crafting of wool products. There are also lots of classes and demonstrations of weaving, knitting, quilting, spinning, braiding and most anything else you can think of to do with wool. And there's musical entertainment, too. So if you're looking for something to do this weekend, head on out to the Howard County Fairgrounds. One more hint: if the Route 32 exit from I-70 looks jammed, head west to the next exit (Route 97), then come back east on Route 144. You can also exit the Fairgrounds that way and probably save some time.

Mother's Day Restaurant Specials in Howard County

Here are restaurants in Howard County, including Columbia and Ellicott City, offering special menus or brunches for Mother's Day on Sunday, May 10.  In addition to these, I'm sure any restaurant serving brunch in Howard County (see our list) would be happy to see you.  For a convenient list of brunch options in the wider Maryland area, see the OpenTable brunch listing.

• Aida Bistro and Wine Bar offers a special Mother's Day prix fixe menu from 1:00 - 7:00 pm. $34 per person, or $44 with flights of wine or beer. Reservations recommended.
• The Crab Shanty has a Champagne Buffet Brunch (menu pdf) from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Adults $22.95, kids 12 and under $10.95. The Crab Shanty will also offer a Mother's Day Dinner Buffet (menu pdf) from 2:00 - 9:00 pm. Adults $29.95, kids 12 and under $12.95. Reservations recommended.
• The Elkridge Furnace Inn has both a special Mother's Day Brunch Buffet and Mother's Day Dinner Menu. The brunch buffet (menu pdf) will be served from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm in the garden tent, $32.95 for adults, $16.50 for children age 5-12, children under 5 free. The dinner (menu pdf) can be ordered as two to five courses from $39 to $58. Reservations recommended.
• The Iron Bridge Wine Company presents a special three-course Mother's Day Menu. $40 per person, from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Reservations recommended.
• The King's Contrivance offers a Mother Day Menu with both prix fixe ($55 per person) and a la carte items. Reservations recommended.
• oZ Chophouse serves a Mother's Day Brunch Buffet (menu) from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. $30 per person. Reservations recommended.
• Tersiguel's serves a special Mother's Day Menu from 11:30 am - 7:30 pm. Reservations required.
• The Waterside Restaurant in the Columbia Sheraton Hotel offers a Mother's Day Brunch (menu pdf) from 11:00 am - 7:00 pm. Adults $31.95, children aged 4-10 $15.95. Reservations recommended.
  

Restaurant Events for May '09

May brings Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Make your plans now for a special night out!

Sat. 5/2: The Second Chance Saloon features Mint Juleps and Mojitos at 5:00 pm for the Kentucky Derby.

Sat. 5/2: The Diamondback Tavern features $2 Mint Juleps for the Kentucky Derby.

Mon. 5/4: The Iron Bridge Wine Company hosts its Iron Bridge University session on Italian Wines. Taste 4-6 wines with a snack included. $25 per person. Reservations required.

Tue. 5/5: The Second Chance Saloon features taco specials, margaritas and Mexican beer for Cinco de Mayo.

Wed. 5/6: The Elkridge Furnace Inn hosts an Afternoon Tea. Seatings 11:00 am - 2:30 pm. $26.50 per person. Reservations required.

Sun. 5/10: Aida Bistro and Wine Bar offers a special Mother's Day prix fixe menu from 1:00 - 7:00 pm. $34 per person, or $44 with flights of wine or beer. Reservations recommended.

Sun. 5/10: The Crab Shanty has a Champagne Buffet Brunch (menu pdf) from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Adults $22.95, kids 12 and under $10.95. The Crab Shanty will also offer a Mother's Day Dinner Buffet (menu pdf) from 2:00 - 9:00 pm. Adults $29.95, kids 12 and under $12.95. Reservations recommended.

Sun. 5/10: The Elkridge Furnace Inn has both a special Mother's Day Brunch Buffet and Mother's Day Dinner Menu. The brunch buffet (menu pdf) will be served from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm in the garden tent, $32.95 for adults, $16.50 for children age 5-12, children under 5 free. The dinner (menu pdf) can be ordered as two to five courses from $39 to $58. Reservations recommended.

Sun. 5/10: The Iron Bridge Wine Company presents a special three-course Mother's Day Menu. $40 per person, from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Reservations recommended.

Sun. 5/10: The King's Contrivance offers a Mother Day Menu with both prix fixe ($55 per person) and a la carte items. Reservations recommended.

Sun. 5/10: oZ Chophouse serves a Mother's Day Brunch Buffet (menu) from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. $30 per person. Reservations recommended.

Sun. 5/10: Tersiguel's serves a special Mother's Day Menu from 11:30 am - 7:30 pm. Reservations required.

Sun. 5/10: The Waterside Restaurant in the Columbia Sheraton Hotel offers a Mother's Day Brunch (menu pdf) from 11:00 am - 7:00 pm. Adults $31.95, children aged 4-10 $15.95. Reservations recommended.

Tue. 5/12: The Iron Bridge Wine Company hosts its Tuesday Night Wine Club featuring an Alexander Valley Winemaker's Dinner with winemaker Kevin Hall. A four-course menu will be served beginning at 6:00pm. Reservations required.

Thu. 5/14: The Elkridge Furnace Inn has a Wine Tasting of Sauvignon Blancs from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. $29 per person. Special prix fixe dinner available after for $30. Reservations recommended.

Sat. 5/16: The Diamondback Tavern features $2 Black Eyed Susans for the Preakness Stakes.

Sat. 5/16: The River Hill Sports Grille features Black Eyed Susans and Happy Hour Food all day for the Preakness Stakes.

Mon. 5/18: The Iron Bridge Wine Company hosts its Iron Bridge University session on Wines of Spain and Portugal. Taste 4-6 wines with a snack included. $25 per person. Reservations required.

Mon. 5/18: The Elkridge Furnace Inn hosts the Gourmand Club Goes to Mexico, a belated Cinco de Mayo five-couse wine dinner from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. $90 per person. Reservations required.

Mon. 5/18: Bistro Blanc hosts a Wine Dinner featuring J. Lohr Wines from Monterey, California. Reservations recommended.

Thu. 5/21: The Elkridge Furnace Inn hosts an Afternoon Tea. Seatings 11:00 am - 2:30 pm. $26.50 per person. Reservations required.

Wed. 5/27: Aida Bistro and Wine Bar is hosting a Sensorium Vineyards Wine Dinner from 6:30 - 9:30 pm. A special five-course meal will be matched with Sensorium wines for $89 per person. Winemaker Jeff Ritchey will attend. Reservations required.

Thu. 5/28: The Elkridge Furnace Inn hosts a Murder Mystery Dinner from 7:00 - 10:00 pm. $56 per person. Reservations required.

Sun. 5/31: The Elkridge Furnace Inn serves a Sunday Afternoon Tea at 12:00 pm. $26.50 per person. Reservations required.