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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

The Trolley Stop - Ellicott City, MD

My friends Jack (left), me, and Ivan (right)

The Trolley Stop is a historic tavern in historic Ellicott City that has been in service since 1833 (one of the oldest restaurant I've dined in).

You might ask why it is named the Trolley Stop? In 1889 through 1955, the trolley #14 and #9 cars stopped right outside the second floor of the building.

In this flyer above, you can see
how the trolley stopped on the second floor

My friend Ivan has been telling me about this place for the longest time. So Ivan, my friend Jack, and I decided to finally give the Trolley Stop a try for lunch.

Keep in mind this is an historic property and it feels like it has lots of stories to tell. Pictures and photos hanging on the walls document the timeline of the tavern. It's a cozy place with rustic feel. Noting fancy or new.

This picture doesn't come close to showing how big this platter was

For an appetizer, we all split the Trolley Chicken Wings. It really wasn't an appetizer, it was more like a full meal. The wings were savory and sweet and doused in a light honey bbq sauce (aka their "special wing sauce").

I was especially pleased with the generous amount of celery we were given since many restaurants don't give you enough in my opinion.

Classic Club

The service was extra fast. In fact, as we were eating the last wings we were served our main courses.

Jack and I ordered the Classic Club with fries - turkey breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. The entree could barely fit on the plate (in the photo you can't even see the two large pickles that are hidden under the humongous sandwich and fries).

While the sandwich wasn't he best I've ever eaten, it was tasty and the large size made up for any shortcomings. However, the crisp bacon was absolutely perfect on this delicate stack. My friend Jack agreed, and added "the sandwich wasn't the best I've ever had, sometimes it fell apart, but the Tavern atmosphere more than made up for it."

Crab Melt

Ivan selected the Crab Melt - crab cake topped with tomato, melted swiss cheese served on a fresh baguette.

This was another ginormous sandwich - and we are perpetually hungry teenagers saying this. He liked how the gooey texture of the cheese covered the slightly crisp and lumpy crab cakes. It was super tasty. However the potato salad, that looked great, was nothing special.

I'm definitively going to try the Crab Melt next time at The Trolley Stop.

Oh yeah, did I say how big the melt is?

Turkey Reuben

Later that day, my parents decided to go to The Trolley Stop for lunch based on my recommendation. They split an order of the Turkey Reuben with fries - grilled with sauerkraut, swiss cheese,and 1,000 island dressing served on rye bread.

They also commented on the huge size of the sandwiches making it easy to spilt. It was packed with thinly sliced turkey and creamy Thousand Island sauce that wasn't spilling out like some dressing do in a melt. They really liked the bread. It was toasty, warm and crisp with a lovely buttery taste.

The large entrees at the Trolley Stop are enough to satiate a teenager's cravings.

The lunch and dinner menu has so many choices - hot or cold sandwiches, wraps, salads, burgers, pastas, soups - really there's something for everyone. They also serve breakfast.

Just remember, whatever you order, that the portions are crazy big. In fact, I didn't even have breakfast the day I went to The Trolley Stop and I was full. My friends couldn't finish all their food and took some home.

- Thomas

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Yama Asian Fusion - Ellicott City, MD

Yama Asian Fusion is an new restaurant located in the new Forest Green shopping center on Route 40 across from the Double T Diner.

My mom Lisa and I tried it for lunch recently.

Check out the ceiling design

It's clear that Yama put considerable thought into the decor that has a modern and futuristic feel reflected in the wall and ceiling art, furniture and lighting. I'd rank the restaurant as one of the coolest designs I've seen.

Bar area

99% of the time, I order only water at a restaurant. However, when I saw a Virgin Pina Colada on the menu, I made an exception. The mix was thick and sweet with a strong coconut taste but easy to suck through the straw. The only problem I had was the "brain freeze" I got because I couldn't get enough of it and drank it too fast.

The menu has a combination of Chinese, Thai and Japanese dishes to choose from.

My mother ordered sushi - the Sexy Lady Roll,
shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado, smoked salmon wrapped in soy paper topped with colorful tobiko sauce.

She LOVED the combination of sweet sauce, crunchy cucumber and tempura with the salty, smoked salmon. Like me, my mom loves salmon. Although she really enjoyed this dish, she said the salmon taste was very pronounced. So it may not be good for someone who doesn't love salmon.

I choose the lunch option "any two rolls" and selected the AAC and California Rolls.
It was my first time trying the ACC Roll - a vegetarian roll of asparagus, cucumber and avocado. Both rolls were packed with very fresh ingredients and tender to the bite.

We received complimentary candy after the meal

Between the miso soup (came with the lunch special), sushi rolls and Virgin Pina Colada, I walked out of Yama Asian Sushi stuffed and satisfied.

My mom was pretty happy too after finding a new favorite sushi roll, Sexy Lady.

Yama Asian Sushi was a big hit. We are planning on returning with my dad and brother Charles.

Check out the outdoor seating area in the summer

- Thomas

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

2014 MOBBIES results

The Baltimore Sun's 2014 MOBBIES (Maryland's Best Blog awards) results are in!

2 Dudes Who Loves Food was awarded:

Best Suburban Blog - 3rd place

Best Food Blog - 4rd place

Best Facebook Page - 4th place

We REALLY appreciate all the people who voted for us. It's still pretty neat that people actually read our blog posts. It means the world to us.

A special shout out to our HoCo blogging community and teachers Mrs. Bagley, Madame Doff, Mr. Barrett, Mr Pauller, Ms. McDonough principal Haffets, for always encouraging and supporting our food adventures.

Also, a big thank you to our friends and family who often come along for the ride with our crazy food shenanigans.

Last but not least, congratulations to fellow bloggers and MOBBIES winners HowChow, Village Green/Town Squared, HoCo Connect, The 53, HoCo Maryland, Lisbeth Eats, AnnieRie Unplugged, Three Beans on a String and The Unmanly Chef (who took home the big kahuna - 1st place Best Food Blog).

With much appreciation,
Thomas and Charles

Friday, November 7, 2014

Whole Foods Thanksgiving Meals, Nationwide

The Whole Foods Columbia, Maryland store invited local food bloggers to a taste testing party to sample their Thanksgiving meals.

Our invitation included one guest each, so we asked our Grandma Alberta and Grandpa Charles to join us.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with a warm welcome by Whole Foods Chef Patrick, Katie Malloy and Mia Hinckle. The cafe was transformed into a private dining area for us with a gigantic table with printed name plates, menus and Fall decorations.

(left to right) Charles, Chef Patrick and Thomas

Tasting menu

The Holiday Taste tasting took place in the cafe area overlooking the lake

Before the event started, it was exciting to hang out with some very cool food bloggers including @theunmanlychef, @3beansonastring, @HoCoBlogs co-founder Jesse Newburg and @thebaremidriff and @hudsonandemily.

Then, Chef Patrick introduced the appetizers and the parade of holiday food began.....

Chef Patrick introducing the appetizers

Coconut shrimp (left) and shrimp dumplings with dipping sauce

We started with appetizers - a coconut shrimp and a shrimp dumpling with sweet and sour sauce. While the dumpling's thin skin was fork tender filled with a tasty, well seasoned mixture of shrimp filing, the star, for all of us, was the coconut shrimp, It was a huge, pump shrimp lavishly covered in sweet, coconut flaked coating. The right amount of sweet and salty. We washed down the shrimp appetizers with a sweet apple cider that was another stand out.

For the first course, the Organic Triple Squash Soup was "smooth and tasty" with "a very faint hint of cinnamon", the "perfect Fall soup" The Organic Cream of Mushroom Soup had a "strong earthly mushroom flavor." We spilt on which one we liked best - Grandpa and I liked the Squash Soup and Grandma and Thomas the Mushroom Soup.

Roasted Free Range Turkey with Gravy, Organic Biscuit & Mushroom Stuffing,
Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole, Mashed Potatoes,
Cranberry Orange Relish, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, and
Glazed Carrots with Pecans

Then the second course came out - a gigantic plate of mouth-watering Thanksgiving classics. We all agreed the Organic Biscuit & Mushroom Stuffing was star of the plate. "Much better than regular stuffing"(Grandma) and "biscuit added a depth of flavor and texture" (Grandpa). Both potatoes - Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole and Mashed Potatoes, were well seasoned with a smooth and silky texture but "had a thinner consistency than we make at home"(Grandpa).

Cranberry Orange Relish was "very good and sweet" (Charles), "not a jelly more of a jam (Grandpa) and "very flavorful with a hint of orange" (Grandma).

Roasted Brussel Sprouts - "tender, easy to cut" (Thomas), but "needed a bit more seasoning or salt" (Grandpa).

Roasted Free Range Turkey with Gravy was sliced thicker than we are accustomed to at home but the turkey was "very flavorful" (all of us) and with it lathered in the chunky mushroom gravy it was a real hit.

Glazed Carrots with Pecans - although "tasty" (Grandma) and "tender" (Thomas) we would prefer the carrots be a bit more sweet.

Pumpkin Pumpkin Pie

Grandpa and I are not pumpkin fans, so only we let Thomas and Grandma give the 411 on this Pumpkin Pumpkin Pie - "clever play on the classic pie with the two different layers of pumpkin pie (the top layer a mouse and bottom layer was the classic pumpkin pie custard)" (Thomas) but "the crust was thicker than we preferred" (Grandma).

As the dinner ended, we were stuffed. It felt like Thanksgiving. You know that feeling when, even though you want to eat more because it tastes so good, but you just can't eat another bite. That was us.

When we left we were given "Yum" goodie bags stuffed with 365 (Whole Foods house brand) Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake cookies, daelias Biscuits for Cheese (almond with raisin flavor) and Hammond's Mitchell Sweets (vanilla caramel & marshmallow).

In summary, this was a VERY cool event. It's our first taste testing and hope its not our last.

We decided to incorporate some of the items we tasted into our Thanksgiving meal. We're definitely ordering the coconut shrimp appetizer, organic biscuit and mushroom stuffing, mushroom gravy and pumpkin pie cheesecake cookies.

Check out all of WF Thanksgiving meals here (Columbia store here). There are so many items to choose from including kosher, organic, vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian. WF offers its Thanksgiving items as package dinners (serves 2 people or up to 16 ) or as single servings. From sides, breads, game birds, soups, gravy, relish, cheese platters, pie crusts and even holiday flower arrangements, there is a big selection to choose from.

Thank you Whole Foods. We had a great time.

- Charles

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Halloween Deals 2014

Check out these scary good Halloween food and drink deals -

At Sonic Drive - In nab a 50 Cent Corn Dogs all Day Halloween

Head to Chipotle's Mexican Grill dressed in your Halloween costume from 5 p.m. to close, and you’ll score a burrito, bowl, salad, or an order of tacos for just $3.
All proceeds up to $1,000,000 will benefit the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation.

On Halloween, Outback Steakhouse is offering kids 10 years and under a free kids meal when adults purchase an entree. We think there's a two kids maximum so call ahead to your local Outback for details.