The Dunedin Smokehouse

Ok, so I actually should have written something about this little treasure earlier but i assure you it will have been worth the wait. First of all, let me say that this was discovered by mistake while also on purpose. We were on our way to our favorite little restaurant, The Living Room on Main, and when we pulled into the parking lot it was empty. Not a good thing since this has happened to us before with great restaurants (r.i.p. Grillmarks). But there was a sign on the door that the Living Room had moved to a new location a few blocks away (for the record a great idea in hindsight). Coming soon would be the Dunedin Smokehouse. Now we proceeded to the Living Room and upon questioning the waitress regarding the move, we discovered that the new place would be opened by the same owners as the Living Room. Ok, now I am officially waiting with baited breath. A few weeks go by and we decide to try out the new Dunedin Smokehouse and all I can say is, wow. First of all, the portions are huge. And they have redefined barbecue. Brisket sandwich's so tender they melt in your mouth, smoked sausage with roasted peppers and onions that makes New Orleans stand up and take notice. And the sides are absolutely Living Room material. Smoked Gouda mac and cheese, sauteed green beans, sweet potato fries, and the list goes on. My wife summed it up best when she said, "You know it's good when you are way beyond full, but not finishing every bite would be a shame." And then came one of their special desserts. Now understand that the desserts change each night at the whim of the chef. And oh what a whim he had that night. Peach and apple caramelized crisp with cinnamon ice cream. Oh yes he did. And it was absolutely decadent with each and every bite. Even when the ice cream had melted and the entire thing turned to mush. I am drooling just thinking about it. And the fact that they have games you can play right there at your table is just further temptation to stay and enjoy the food, desserts or a nice nightcap. By the way, we broke the Jenga record that night. So if you are in the mood for barbecue done with a little panache, check out the Dunedin Smokehouse. I promise you wont go home hungry or disappointed.

www.thelivingroomonmain.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dunedin-Smokehouse/168644323146393

The Tapas Garden and Wine Bar

If you sneeze, you might miss it. And that would be a shame. The Tapas Garden and Wine Bar is located in Indian Rocks and is a quaint little restaurant that is unassuming yet cozy. The interior resembles a rustic kitchen with a small dining room to one side. You are greeted by a friendly staff that is more than willing to explain the menu and the specials for the night. My wife and I ordered a salad to start and some soup. The salad was fresh and came with the restaurants homemade house dressing. The minestrone soup was delightful and rich. No canned soup here. The artichokes sauted with spanish ham was one of the most incredible combinations of flavors since milk and cookies. The ham was crispy like bacon but with twice the flavor. The complimentary focacia bread with homemade humus and olive oil was more than appreciated, it was a welcome treat. My wife ordered the shenizel, a lightly breaded chicken with lemon sauce, which was the highlight of the evening. It was tasty without being overwhelming. The flavor was light and the texture was crisp. The side of rice was ok, but the addition of black beans made all the difference. I ordered the beef wellington, a little puff pastry filled with beef and pate, and was pleasantly surprised with the taste of the beef combined with the pate. The pastry, apparantly the chefs specialty, was amazing. I would love to try some of the other pastry based dishes upon my next visit, which I assure you will not be long.

www.tapasgarden.com

Chick and Ruth's Deli

One of the most recognizable landmarks in downtown Annapolis, MD is Chick and Ruth's Deli. It is a narrow little place that starts on the main drag of Annapolis and goes all the way to the road behind it. If you reach out your arms as far as you can, you might be able to touch the wall and the counter at the same time. But the food and the atmosphere are legendary. They have the biggest deli sandwiches you have seen and the best shakes for miles. When you first arrive you are greeted by pictures of Maryland politicians and celebrities including Adam Richman of the television show Man v. Food on the Travel Channel. You are also greeted by Ted, the proprieter of the deli, in his signature flat cap. As you peruse the expansive menu, you can munch on a bowl of complimentary deli pickle slices. The menu has everything from breakfast foods to dinners, from sandwiches to crab cakes, and a small malt to the mammoth six pound shake. Chick and Ruth's has a challenge wich consists of the six pound shake and either a reuben sandwich or a one pound burger. This is the challenge seen on Man v. Food. Now for our experience. The turkey sandwich I ordered was larger than I have found in a deli for a long time. The meat was tender and seasoned to perfection. And the boardwalk fries that came with it were an honorable replacement for Thrasher's on the Boardwalk in Ocean City. My wife had a crab soup that was a little fishy tasting, the only bad thing we experienced. She also had chili cheese fries, yes I know but we were on vacation. The thick cut fries were coated in chili which was rich and meaty. The only regret I have was not taking on the colossal challenge.

http://www.chickandruths.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/thrashers-french-fries-ocean-city