Yay! An Irish pub and restaurant that does not require traveling to downtown Baltimore/Annapolis/DC. Of course, there is Brian Boru on Ritchie Hwy in Severna Park, but it has not become my favorite.
The Twisted Harp just might become that - so far, the feedback has been amazing from folks who have visited and I can't wait to check it out myself.
In the meantime, here is their Facebook link----->
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Perry-Hall-MD/The-Twisted-Harp/131155473445
Many Irish blessings to all!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ahhh.....the Monks and their divine fudge!
The Brigittine Monks Gourmet Confections is giving a 10% discount to our special online customers from January 26 to February 28. Go to our website www.brigittine.org and enter the code VAL10 in the Discount Code field on the check out page and click on the Discount Code button next to it to get an automatic 10% off from your order of fudge and truffles.Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Give that someone special a Heavenly treat this Valentine's Day.We are now introducing our newest gourmet fudge Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge for the price of $9.95 per pound (no code required). It will normally sell for $12.95 per pound. This special will run until the end of March.We are now offering the flat rate postage of $4.95 for all single items sent by US Mail to addresses within the United States. Order of Two items or more going to one address will be shipped via UPS at their current rates.Please watch for our monthly specials.Please contact us if you have any questions or suggestions.THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORTGod bless you!The Brigittine MonksPlease note: if our website does not give you the advertised discounts, we will automatically give them to you, or if you wish to place your order by phone we will honor these offers. 503-835-8080 ext 1WE DO NOT SELL OR RENT OUR MAILING LIST .
Friday, January 22, 2010
Cannella's - Nirvana on a Roll
Apparently, Cannella's has been around for some time. I have only just discovered this little gem about 9 or 10 months ago. Since then, I have made the trek from my office on the-always-fun-to-navigate Belair Rd to it's rather unassuming location (looks like a former 7-11) in Perry Hall.
The fact that whatever I buy has to be transported to my home that can take either 30 minutes or an hour depending on traffic..lol..has a lot to do with what I order.
So I started safe and ordered a cold sub for my first go-round - the "Baggio" and a medium size container of potato salad.
I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived home about 40 minutes later and unwrapped the sub - not only was it perfectly wrapped - but looked as if it had been prepared only minutes before. I actually could not believe how good and fresh it really was!
The potato salad was very creative - huge chucks of garlicky pickles intermingled with the cooked-just-right potatoes. Very seldom can I order deli potato salad with any hopes of not receiving half-raw potatoes. It was most appreciated.
So, to be sure that I did not have "beginner's luck", I have gone back again....and again.....and again....lol!
I have tried several other subs - The "Porketta" is one of my faves - lean pork roast cooked tender-perfect, with onions and provolone and their signature dressing...my goddess, it sent me into blissful nirvana!
I have also tried the meatball sub and their Italian - both very, very good.
If you are looking for a entree - try the homemade ravioli. Delicious. Tender pillows of cheese with an awesome sauce bursting with flavors....a real treat for anyone craving authentic Italian cooking.
You can also purchase their breads - OR, like me, you can buy a frozen loaf to take home and bake fresh from the oven.
There is a nice small dining area - and they recently installed a self-service soda fountain machine for those who like to drink from cups with ice.
This place is very out-of-my-way, yet I make the time to go-out-of-my-way whenever I can!
Location: 9611 Belair Road • Perry Hall, Maryland 21236 Phone: 410-248-3288
The fact that whatever I buy has to be transported to my home that can take either 30 minutes or an hour depending on traffic..lol..has a lot to do with what I order.
So I started safe and ordered a cold sub for my first go-round - the "Baggio" and a medium size container of potato salad.
I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived home about 40 minutes later and unwrapped the sub - not only was it perfectly wrapped - but looked as if it had been prepared only minutes before. I actually could not believe how good and fresh it really was!
The potato salad was very creative - huge chucks of garlicky pickles intermingled with the cooked-just-right potatoes. Very seldom can I order deli potato salad with any hopes of not receiving half-raw potatoes. It was most appreciated.
So, to be sure that I did not have "beginner's luck", I have gone back again....and again.....and again....lol!
I have tried several other subs - The "Porketta" is one of my faves - lean pork roast cooked tender-perfect, with onions and provolone and their signature dressing...my goddess, it sent me into blissful nirvana!
I have also tried the meatball sub and their Italian - both very, very good.
If you are looking for a entree - try the homemade ravioli. Delicious. Tender pillows of cheese with an awesome sauce bursting with flavors....a real treat for anyone craving authentic Italian cooking.
You can also purchase their breads - OR, like me, you can buy a frozen loaf to take home and bake fresh from the oven.
There is a nice small dining area - and they recently installed a self-service soda fountain machine for those who like to drink from cups with ice.
This place is very out-of-my-way, yet I make the time to go-out-of-my-way whenever I can!
Location: 9611 Belair Road • Perry Hall, Maryland 21236 Phone: 410-248-3288
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Chocolatea........is good for me!
I had an opportunity to visit Chocolatea (pronounced choco-latte) the other day during my lunch hour - I figured any place that offered coffee and chocolate was a must-visit for me!
I must admit it was an experience getting to this place, I still cannot understand how people who live in the city get anywhere and parking is frightening. But I sucked up my suburban fear and after driving around for a little while trying to find a place to park, I finally found a spot near University Parkway and enjoyed a small hike up to the cafe which is located inside Ambassador Apartments.
After wrestling with a broken door knob, I stepped inside and was struck by a peculiar smell that was at first, not identifiable. It was not at all what I expected - dark, but cosy and warm, with coffee and chocolate aromas permeating throughout.
It was dim, but hardly warm and cosy - instead it was cold and well....kinda dingy looking. There was a weird color on the walls that do not do well inside on such a gray afternoon and the paintings (for sale) that were hanging, while bright and colorful did not stand out and did little to bring any cheerfulness to the interior. Perhaps on a sunny day - with some light streaming through the windows would liven it up a little.
I was a little hesitant, but the few people there seemed happy and content, but very focused on their newspaper and/or books. Since Hopkins is right around the corner, I was not surprised, but I was still a little weirded out by the eerie silence and trying to adjust to my surroundings. I was still trying to figure out the smell, I know it was some kind of Asian thing going on, and when I picked up the menu, I realized why.
My “in-my-mind-cosy-shabby-chic-throwback-coffee-and-chocolate-shoppe” was a noodle house??? Who knew....lol. I was actually relieved when I was finally able to distinguish the smells and noticed several people eating with gusto from bowls and I saw a little girl with her Mom using chop sticks and seeming to really enjoy being there!
I was greeted very warmly by the girl behind the counter and I was instantly put at ease - she was very helpful in answering my questions about the many offerings of teas and coffees - they have a great variety and I would have enjoyed spending time sampling, but I had such a hard time parking, I barely had time to order anything more than one of their “Coco-Lattes” - from their winter offerings board - “Almond Joy” and I chose one of their luscious-looking muffins - pineapple and coconut. The server told me they did not make them on premises, they were brought in, but did not offer any bakery name.
While waiting, I browsed around - they have a case to the left of the counter that was filled with chocolates of all types - but after determining they, like the muffins, were also “brought in”, I declined to try any. I'm a finicky chocoholic and was not feeling adventuresome.
Instead, I sat at one of the little tables and observed the other patrons.
The gentleman directly across from me was eating heartily from a steaming bowl of Udon noodles and was eventually brought a wrap - a beautifully presented and very fresh looking wrap. He noticed me looking and told me it was the “Chicken Salad Wrap” and was ”fantastic”. Another diner overheard our conversation and smiled and said her fave was the ”Spicy Chicken Teriyaki Wrap” and the ”Maguro Wrap” - seared sushi grade tuna, avocado, pickle ginger, cucumber, romaine and white chocolate Wasabi sauce. Although I am not a fan of fish, it sounded intriguing.
Besides the wraps and a few sandwich choices (all come with a side salad), they have a wide array of noodle and rice bowls and also a nice selection of dumplings. I would have like to have tried those, so made a mental note to check them out next time.
They also have a small “Veggie” selection - one of those is their version of the “Powerhouse” wrap , which has always been a fave of mine when I am feeling....well....veggie-ish. They use Feta cheese, instead of Havarti and a soy mustard vinaigrette as a dressing. They also have an “Energizer” wrap - which included avocado and Fontina cheese on a sesame semolina bread.
I like the creativity and thoughtfulness of their menu - this seemed like a great place to stop in and grab a bite and/or just relax with a coffee.
The muffin, while obviously not freshly baked, was moist and flavorful. It was a perfect accompaniment to my Almond Joy Coco-latte.
Ahhh......the Coco-latte....I saved the best for last. It took a few minutes of me waiting for the drink to be prepared, but what a treat!
I am not too sure what I was expecting, but it was beyond compare - wow! They use 100% real chocolate and infuse it with milk. They then add fresh fruit and/or spices to give it a perfect flavor. The best hot chocolate drink I have had in a long, long time and the creamy whipped cream on top just made it all the more luscious. There was just a hint of almond and coconut - not at all overwhelming the chocolate. There was not any nasty sediment left in the bottom of the cup and it was all I could do to not try to lick the inside of cup...lol!
It was just under $6.00 for the coco-latte and muffin.
They also have breakfast selections and the hours seem convenient enough. Would I come back? While I would not make a special trip after work or on the weekends as parking would seem insurmountable, I would brave the noontime traffic to pick up one of the wraps or try the dumplings, absolutely! If I lived nearby, I would definitely stop in often.
If only for another one of those cups of blissfully rich chocolate!
http://www.chocolateacafe.com/
I must admit it was an experience getting to this place, I still cannot understand how people who live in the city get anywhere and parking is frightening. But I sucked up my suburban fear and after driving around for a little while trying to find a place to park, I finally found a spot near University Parkway and enjoyed a small hike up to the cafe which is located inside Ambassador Apartments.
After wrestling with a broken door knob, I stepped inside and was struck by a peculiar smell that was at first, not identifiable. It was not at all what I expected - dark, but cosy and warm, with coffee and chocolate aromas permeating throughout.
It was dim, but hardly warm and cosy - instead it was cold and well....kinda dingy looking. There was a weird color on the walls that do not do well inside on such a gray afternoon and the paintings (for sale) that were hanging, while bright and colorful did not stand out and did little to bring any cheerfulness to the interior. Perhaps on a sunny day - with some light streaming through the windows would liven it up a little.
I was a little hesitant, but the few people there seemed happy and content, but very focused on their newspaper and/or books. Since Hopkins is right around the corner, I was not surprised, but I was still a little weirded out by the eerie silence and trying to adjust to my surroundings. I was still trying to figure out the smell, I know it was some kind of Asian thing going on, and when I picked up the menu, I realized why.
My “in-my-mind-cosy-shabby-chic-throwback-coffee-and-chocolate-shoppe” was a noodle house??? Who knew....lol. I was actually relieved when I was finally able to distinguish the smells and noticed several people eating with gusto from bowls and I saw a little girl with her Mom using chop sticks and seeming to really enjoy being there!
I was greeted very warmly by the girl behind the counter and I was instantly put at ease - she was very helpful in answering my questions about the many offerings of teas and coffees - they have a great variety and I would have enjoyed spending time sampling, but I had such a hard time parking, I barely had time to order anything more than one of their “Coco-Lattes” - from their winter offerings board - “Almond Joy” and I chose one of their luscious-looking muffins - pineapple and coconut. The server told me they did not make them on premises, they were brought in, but did not offer any bakery name.
While waiting, I browsed around - they have a case to the left of the counter that was filled with chocolates of all types - but after determining they, like the muffins, were also “brought in”, I declined to try any. I'm a finicky chocoholic and was not feeling adventuresome.
Instead, I sat at one of the little tables and observed the other patrons.
The gentleman directly across from me was eating heartily from a steaming bowl of Udon noodles and was eventually brought a wrap - a beautifully presented and very fresh looking wrap. He noticed me looking and told me it was the “Chicken Salad Wrap” and was ”fantastic”. Another diner overheard our conversation and smiled and said her fave was the ”Spicy Chicken Teriyaki Wrap” and the ”Maguro Wrap” - seared sushi grade tuna, avocado, pickle ginger, cucumber, romaine and white chocolate Wasabi sauce. Although I am not a fan of fish, it sounded intriguing.
Besides the wraps and a few sandwich choices (all come with a side salad), they have a wide array of noodle and rice bowls and also a nice selection of dumplings. I would have like to have tried those, so made a mental note to check them out next time.
They also have a small “Veggie” selection - one of those is their version of the “Powerhouse” wrap , which has always been a fave of mine when I am feeling....well....veggie-ish. They use Feta cheese, instead of Havarti and a soy mustard vinaigrette as a dressing. They also have an “Energizer” wrap - which included avocado and Fontina cheese on a sesame semolina bread.
I like the creativity and thoughtfulness of their menu - this seemed like a great place to stop in and grab a bite and/or just relax with a coffee.
The muffin, while obviously not freshly baked, was moist and flavorful. It was a perfect accompaniment to my Almond Joy Coco-latte.
Ahhh......the Coco-latte....I saved the best for last. It took a few minutes of me waiting for the drink to be prepared, but what a treat!
I am not too sure what I was expecting, but it was beyond compare - wow! They use 100% real chocolate and infuse it with milk. They then add fresh fruit and/or spices to give it a perfect flavor. The best hot chocolate drink I have had in a long, long time and the creamy whipped cream on top just made it all the more luscious. There was just a hint of almond and coconut - not at all overwhelming the chocolate. There was not any nasty sediment left in the bottom of the cup and it was all I could do to not try to lick the inside of cup...lol!
It was just under $6.00 for the coco-latte and muffin.
They also have breakfast selections and the hours seem convenient enough. Would I come back? While I would not make a special trip after work or on the weekends as parking would seem insurmountable, I would brave the noontime traffic to pick up one of the wraps or try the dumplings, absolutely! If I lived nearby, I would definitely stop in often.
If only for another one of those cups of blissfully rich chocolate!
http://www.chocolateacafe.com/
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Nobody does fudge......
like The Briggitine Monks in Amity, Oregon!
First of all, the price is unbeatable - only $10.95 for a 1 pound box of the creamiest fudge you will ever taste. This stuff is made with only a few ingredients - none of those nasty additives!
I just placed an order for my Mom's birthday this month for a pound of the fudge and a box of their giant truffles.....including shipping - about $35.00.
Cheaper than anything else I could have sent - plus I don't have to worry about flowers wilting or fruit arriving spoiled!
Here is their website - enjoy!
http://www.brigittine.org/monks/confec0721.html
First of all, the price is unbeatable - only $10.95 for a 1 pound box of the creamiest fudge you will ever taste. This stuff is made with only a few ingredients - none of those nasty additives!
I just placed an order for my Mom's birthday this month for a pound of the fudge and a box of their giant truffles.....including shipping - about $35.00.
Cheaper than anything else I could have sent - plus I don't have to worry about flowers wilting or fruit arriving spoiled!
Here is their website - enjoy!
http://www.brigittine.org/monks/confec0721.html
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Arby's Freebie Wednesdays Today 7/15/09
Today's freebie is a Regular Roast Beef sandwich with a purchase of only a soft drink.
I know, I know - it's not from one of those pit beef stands, but free is free.
And free is a wonderful thing.....especially when it's still 2 more days til payday!
I know, I know - it's not from one of those pit beef stands, but free is free.
And free is a wonderful thing.....especially when it's still 2 more days til payday!
I'm Hooked!
I admit that I am a “cheese steak sub snob”....and that was actually before I became a foodie.
I am so picky about my subs and how they should be that I will often eschew the whole process of even ordering one, having discovered that my desire to “have it my way” never really does materialize in sub world.
For far too long, I have been the unlucky recipient of too many greasy, soggy, tasteless cheese steaks. I have endured tummy-aches and alka-seltzer moments from these gastronomical aberrations. Don't get me wrong - I love a good cheese steak sub (especially when I get one), but they can be a very rare thing to find.
For me, a good cheese steak sub conjures images of hearth and home - warm, comforting drippiness. As a child, 45 years or so ago, my brother and I lived for Friday nights - Cheese Steak Night. My Dad would stop at Captain Harvey's on Dundalk Avenue after pulling his rig in for the weekend after a week on the road.
He would bring home subs for all of us - his would be loaded with extra hots. I truly believed in my 8 year old heart that this was the food of the very, very lucky and my brother and I just got very, very lucky. We would fight for the biggest “half” and then for the crumbs and bits of meat that would fall onto the wrapping.
Cheese steak night even continued when my parents moved us out of Dundalk and into suburban Anne Arundel County. We would always joke about how fast Dad could get those subs across the bridge and through traffic and I believed he truly enjoyed trying to beat his previous time. His goal was to deliver the “best traveling” subs, which later became one of my criteria for deciding the best of anything.
Aahhh, the simple luxuries of my childhood. So I was nostalgically excited (excitedly nostalgic?) when I accepted a job offer near Dundalk that afforded me an opportunity to pick up a sub and carry it across the bridge. So, one evening, after a particularly grueling day and hungering for something substantial, I decided to stop by Captain Harvey's on Merritt Blvd - after discovering they have moved from Logan Village via Google. Which is confusing me still, because there IS a Captain Harvey's still operating there as of yesterday, what's up with that??
Anyway, I remember how I salivated on the trip home - the smell intoxicating me so that I was backing into my driveway before I even knew it. I carried my bag into the house, lovingly cradling it like a tiny infant before laying it gently onto the table and unwrapping it slowly.
At least that was what I tried to do - the grease and the gummy cheese was fighting to hang onto it's paper cocoon and when it was finally viewed, I was staring at a giant, rather unappealing mess. I specifically stated raw onions - for my trouble I got no onions at all. The meat was way too much, very dry and strange-smelling. It appeared as if it was lying around for a while (which it was). What little cheese (provolone) on the sub was stuck onto the wrapper. There was a sliver of tomato and a few shreds of lettuce. The roll was a mess - cheap H & S that should have been tossed the day before. I did not finish it and threw the meat I picked off away. I laid on the couch and felt sickish. Needless to say, any craving for a cheese steak went away for a long while, at least 2 years.
So after dropping off my granddaughter the other day and heading back home from Annapolis, I found myself craving something good. Wasn't sure what, but I knew that I would know when I happened upon it. To avoid the weekend bridge traffic on Rt. 2, I decided to take a more scenic route and made a left off Ritchie Highway and onto B & A Blvd., meandering along while I decided what would satisfy my craving.
So I was kinda surprised when I happened upon a sub shop with a sign out front proclaiming “Anne Arundel County's BEST Cheese steak”. What? Who? Jenos Steaks. Why did I not know this place? I was even more surprised when my mouth started to salivate and I realized this might satiate the craving.
I was even more astounded that I actually hit the brakes and did a u-turn - I mean, what the heck was I thinking? Take a chance on a unheard of place that is bold enough to boast that it serves the Best of the Best? Always a kiss of death. A place with a cliche name of Jenos?
Ok, I was feeling a little lucky.....not very, very lucky, but I was willing to gamble.
I entered the tiny shop, it's walls obliterated by snapshots and clippings of who-knows-who and about who-knows-what. I was too intrigued by the smell of steak - emanating from a grill that was manned by the most serious of grill-steak-sub-makers. It was truly like watching a craftsman honing his craft, using his cooking instruments expertly, working the steak back and forth on an impossibly clean grill. He tossed and turned and inspected continuously, weeding any little bits of fat away from the meat and into the trap.
I saw three impeccably dressed sub rolls, loaded with fixin's. The grill-meister picked up the cheese placed on each sub and very carefully positioned it on the mound of steak, allowing it to melt just enough, before turning it onto the roll. With precision work, each sub was loaded, wrapped and lovingly marked with a Sharpie. Several times, I saw him pull the tiniest, teeniest piece of fat away as he loaded the roll with the meat - once as he was wrapping one up.
Apparently, their credo is “Let no fat come between a customer and their steak sub”.
I was thrilled - and ready to order. Jeno's has quite a few specialty subs, some inspired by customers, but I stuck with the basic cheese steak - which will set you back about $8.50. For that - you have your choice of cheese - american, provolone and the disgusting “whiz” and lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo, etc. as desired. Their fries are cooked in 100% peanut oil, but I passed on ordering any as the size of the sub was enough for a meal and then some.
I was fascinated as grill-meister executed his precision skills with palpable intensity - I have never seen such care exercised in the preparation of a sub before in my life. I was almost hypnotized as I watched. When the meat was finally prepared, loaded and wrapped, I had to break out of my reverie to finally receive the prize.
I thanked him for taking such care with my food as if he were preparing it for himself. I learned that he was the son of the family that has owned it for many years before finally stumbling out with the treasure cradled in my arms. I was so anxious to get home and see what I purchased that I forgot to ask him his name!
After arriving home, I noted two things immediately - the lack of grease and how neat the sub looked after being wrapped and riding in the car for 20 minutes. So far, so good - it passed the “travel test”. I was also impressed by the smell of the steak - really, really good. I could hardly contain myself after the first bite - it tasted even better than it smelled.
I realized now why I usually add a lot of onions and hots to a sub - to add flavor. I am not a bland or plain person - but this steak - I could have eaten it plain on a plate. It was that good.
I took my time eating it - and afterwards, I did not feel bloated or stuffed. Just very happy.
I went online and did a little research on them - their web site has their menu and hours, but little else at this time. Their tagline is “Get hooked on Jenos Steaks!”. I also stumbled on a few reviews from people from Philadelphia who raved that this was the “best cheese steak outside of Philly”. I honor everyone's opinion, however, I was in Philly a few years ago and I hated the sub that I got. I thought I was being cool and ordered it Philly style and all I got was a hot mess. It was gross. Plus, I am not a fried onions fan - I like them cold and crunchy on the hot steak.
In my opinion, I would have to say that this sub beats anything I have ever had anywhere. Especially when I am still thinking about it for several days after.
I believe that I got very, very lucky.
http://www.jenossteaks.com/
I am so picky about my subs and how they should be that I will often eschew the whole process of even ordering one, having discovered that my desire to “have it my way” never really does materialize in sub world.
For far too long, I have been the unlucky recipient of too many greasy, soggy, tasteless cheese steaks. I have endured tummy-aches and alka-seltzer moments from these gastronomical aberrations. Don't get me wrong - I love a good cheese steak sub (especially when I get one), but they can be a very rare thing to find.
For me, a good cheese steak sub conjures images of hearth and home - warm, comforting drippiness. As a child, 45 years or so ago, my brother and I lived for Friday nights - Cheese Steak Night. My Dad would stop at Captain Harvey's on Dundalk Avenue after pulling his rig in for the weekend after a week on the road.
He would bring home subs for all of us - his would be loaded with extra hots. I truly believed in my 8 year old heart that this was the food of the very, very lucky and my brother and I just got very, very lucky. We would fight for the biggest “half” and then for the crumbs and bits of meat that would fall onto the wrapping.
Cheese steak night even continued when my parents moved us out of Dundalk and into suburban Anne Arundel County. We would always joke about how fast Dad could get those subs across the bridge and through traffic and I believed he truly enjoyed trying to beat his previous time. His goal was to deliver the “best traveling” subs, which later became one of my criteria for deciding the best of anything.
Aahhh, the simple luxuries of my childhood. So I was nostalgically excited (excitedly nostalgic?) when I accepted a job offer near Dundalk that afforded me an opportunity to pick up a sub and carry it across the bridge. So, one evening, after a particularly grueling day and hungering for something substantial, I decided to stop by Captain Harvey's on Merritt Blvd - after discovering they have moved from Logan Village via Google. Which is confusing me still, because there IS a Captain Harvey's still operating there as of yesterday, what's up with that??
Anyway, I remember how I salivated on the trip home - the smell intoxicating me so that I was backing into my driveway before I even knew it. I carried my bag into the house, lovingly cradling it like a tiny infant before laying it gently onto the table and unwrapping it slowly.
At least that was what I tried to do - the grease and the gummy cheese was fighting to hang onto it's paper cocoon and when it was finally viewed, I was staring at a giant, rather unappealing mess. I specifically stated raw onions - for my trouble I got no onions at all. The meat was way too much, very dry and strange-smelling. It appeared as if it was lying around for a while (which it was). What little cheese (provolone) on the sub was stuck onto the wrapper. There was a sliver of tomato and a few shreds of lettuce. The roll was a mess - cheap H & S that should have been tossed the day before. I did not finish it and threw the meat I picked off away. I laid on the couch and felt sickish. Needless to say, any craving for a cheese steak went away for a long while, at least 2 years.
So after dropping off my granddaughter the other day and heading back home from Annapolis, I found myself craving something good. Wasn't sure what, but I knew that I would know when I happened upon it. To avoid the weekend bridge traffic on Rt. 2, I decided to take a more scenic route and made a left off Ritchie Highway and onto B & A Blvd., meandering along while I decided what would satisfy my craving.
So I was kinda surprised when I happened upon a sub shop with a sign out front proclaiming “Anne Arundel County's BEST Cheese steak”. What? Who? Jenos Steaks. Why did I not know this place? I was even more surprised when my mouth started to salivate and I realized this might satiate the craving.
I was even more astounded that I actually hit the brakes and did a u-turn - I mean, what the heck was I thinking? Take a chance on a unheard of place that is bold enough to boast that it serves the Best of the Best? Always a kiss of death. A place with a cliche name of Jenos?
Ok, I was feeling a little lucky.....not very, very lucky, but I was willing to gamble.
I entered the tiny shop, it's walls obliterated by snapshots and clippings of who-knows-who and about who-knows-what. I was too intrigued by the smell of steak - emanating from a grill that was manned by the most serious of grill-steak-sub-makers. It was truly like watching a craftsman honing his craft, using his cooking instruments expertly, working the steak back and forth on an impossibly clean grill. He tossed and turned and inspected continuously, weeding any little bits of fat away from the meat and into the trap.
I saw three impeccably dressed sub rolls, loaded with fixin's. The grill-meister picked up the cheese placed on each sub and very carefully positioned it on the mound of steak, allowing it to melt just enough, before turning it onto the roll. With precision work, each sub was loaded, wrapped and lovingly marked with a Sharpie. Several times, I saw him pull the tiniest, teeniest piece of fat away as he loaded the roll with the meat - once as he was wrapping one up.
Apparently, their credo is “Let no fat come between a customer and their steak sub”.
I was thrilled - and ready to order. Jeno's has quite a few specialty subs, some inspired by customers, but I stuck with the basic cheese steak - which will set you back about $8.50. For that - you have your choice of cheese - american, provolone and the disgusting “whiz” and lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo, etc. as desired. Their fries are cooked in 100% peanut oil, but I passed on ordering any as the size of the sub was enough for a meal and then some.
I was fascinated as grill-meister executed his precision skills with palpable intensity - I have never seen such care exercised in the preparation of a sub before in my life. I was almost hypnotized as I watched. When the meat was finally prepared, loaded and wrapped, I had to break out of my reverie to finally receive the prize.
I thanked him for taking such care with my food as if he were preparing it for himself. I learned that he was the son of the family that has owned it for many years before finally stumbling out with the treasure cradled in my arms. I was so anxious to get home and see what I purchased that I forgot to ask him his name!
After arriving home, I noted two things immediately - the lack of grease and how neat the sub looked after being wrapped and riding in the car for 20 minutes. So far, so good - it passed the “travel test”. I was also impressed by the smell of the steak - really, really good. I could hardly contain myself after the first bite - it tasted even better than it smelled.
I realized now why I usually add a lot of onions and hots to a sub - to add flavor. I am not a bland or plain person - but this steak - I could have eaten it plain on a plate. It was that good.
I took my time eating it - and afterwards, I did not feel bloated or stuffed. Just very happy.
I went online and did a little research on them - their web site has their menu and hours, but little else at this time. Their tagline is “Get hooked on Jenos Steaks!”. I also stumbled on a few reviews from people from Philadelphia who raved that this was the “best cheese steak outside of Philly”. I honor everyone's opinion, however, I was in Philly a few years ago and I hated the sub that I got. I thought I was being cool and ordered it Philly style and all I got was a hot mess. It was gross. Plus, I am not a fried onions fan - I like them cold and crunchy on the hot steak.
In my opinion, I would have to say that this sub beats anything I have ever had anywhere. Especially when I am still thinking about it for several days after.
I believe that I got very, very lucky.
http://www.jenossteaks.com/
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