Fiesta Mexicana

We stumbled across this little place when we moved to our new neighborhood. It was just too interesting to pass up. So we headed there for our anniversary.

Upon walking in, it feels as if you're sitting in someone's kitchen. The ladies behind the counter were so friendly. We quickly placed our orders, starting with a nacho app and the sampler platter for dinner.

They cook the food right in front of you. You actually get to watch them make everything, right there, in front of you! It was so great. The food arrives as soon as it is plated, so it's piping hot, fresh and ohmygodyoucan'thandleit delicious. Hands down the best BEST Mexican food I've EVER had.

Look at those nachos. The sampler had enchiladas (chef's surprise as to what they were stuffed with but we figured pork and chicken. We were adventurous and let them pick), tacos, tostadas and something else I can't remember but it was gooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.

The meat was very tender and melted in your mouth. Everything was seasoned perfectly.

Nothing was too spicy and all the flavors blended so well together. We were completely stuffed halfway through the sampler and ended up taking the rest home. I am pleased to say that it also reheated well the next day, and was just as delicious.

This place is small, there's limited seating but that seems to make it that much more awesome. It's also really inexpensive. You get your sodas or beverage from the case, you can BYOBeer and you get to watch them cook your food (but not in the showy Japanese steakhouse way, more in the Mexican mom/sister/grandma cooking for you sort of way)

Stewart's Rootbeer

We are reviewing this place for these reasons:

• This old-time drive in type place is incredibly hard to find
• It's been owned by the same family for 60 years
• the same guy has been working there for over 40 years
• it's only open during the summer
• they has root beerz on tap!!!

Dave loves several things: me, dogs, Halo, naps and most importantly: hot dogs and root beer. In that order. When we drove by this place one day and saw it was open we nearly drove through the cement highway divider to get in there. Dave was so excited. They pour their root beer (or cream ale) into frosted mugs and everything is made fresh, by hand in the kitchen.

And everything is delicious. Dave devoured several corn dogs, while I face-planted into a double cheeseburger hot mess. It was heaven. The burger fell apart in my hands leaving me with mayo covered mitts and a clown-style smile of mustard and ketchup.

We highly recommend, nay, COMMAND you visit this place when they open next spring. Say hi to the friendly staff, sit back and enjoy several frosty mugs of rootbeer then raid the fridge on your way out and take home a few 4 packs of Stewarts fine beverages. Honestly, a must.

5 NOMS!

Dave's 2 Cents:

Many years ago, before I-95 came along, Route 40 used to be a booming highway. As you exit downtown Baltimore and drive East on 40, you can just imagine how grand a roadway this area was. Hotel shells line the street, which were once booming with people, after all this was the only way to Delaware and Atlantic City before 95 came along.

Out from the rubble though, stands a classic gem that has stood the test of time. Stewart's root beer. Once a prevalent franchise spread up and down the east coast, this is the last Stewart's store front in Maryland. As a matter of fact, it's the last of its kind in the Mid- Atlantic. If you want to travel inland, the Midwest has a few in northern Ohio, and the next closest one is in Camden County, New Jersey. I know that spot well, as i spent the first 10 years of my life right down the road from the "Drive in" version of Stewart's in West NJ.

The only 2 things that could make this place perfect is: 1. being open all year, and 2. being a true drive in (parking your car outside and a girl on skates rolls up to your car and takes your order).

When you walk into this place, you can just get hit with a huge feeling of nostalgia. Whether your 30, 40, 50 or 60 years old, there is a good chance you've been to a place like this during your childhood.

As you order from the front counter, you can watch through the doors, your food getting freshly made and another person reaching into the deep freeze to grab your mugs for your root beer. The root beer and diet are on tap, and the other 4-5 flavors are vended through the normal fast food dispensers.

There are also pallets of bottled flavors for you to take home with you, in all the flavors. They even allow you to mix and match flavors whether you buy a 4 pack or a crate of 6- 4packs. You can even get root beer 1 gallon barrels, filled with your favorite flavor!!!

If this diner has touched your childhood like it has mine, you definitely need to share the experience with friends and your own children. This place is worth the drive, you truly need to visit.

Stuggy's

Stuggy's

809 South Broadway

Baltimore, MD 21231

Phone: 410-327-0228

http://www.stuggys.com/

Thursday - Saturday: 11am - 3am

Sunday: 11am-5pm

Knowing my husband's all-consuming love for hot dogs, when I heard about this place I figured we'd have to go sooner or later. We chose sooner. As for me, hot dogs aren't a holy grail food, but I can appreciate a good dog now and again.

First of all, I love this location. Fell's Point is one of my favorite areas of the city. I love how close and intimate all the shops are with each other, the proximity to the water, the fact that you can have a great meal and then five feet later have a great dessert/beer/drink/whatever. It rocks.

This place is tiny. There are only four stools in it and when we walked in, all four were covered in teenager. We stared hungrily at the chalkboard menu for a few minutes, I had already decided on the Motor City Coney (1/4 all beef dog covered in chili, shredded cheddar cheese and diced raw onion...just like they make 'em back home) and Dave settled on a #3, two dogs, fries and a drink.

I will apologize for not having taken pictures of our actual foods, we both had inhaled our dogs and then realized "Oh crap, the blog" so we found some photos online of their food. I will testify that what you see in these photos is what you will get at Stuggy's.

The food came fast. We requested that the Teens working boot their loitering friends and they did. We sat down to eat. I loved my dog. It was fabulous. Crohn's be damned. I ate that chili like...a person who can eat chili and not end up in blinding pain an hour later. Usually I dislike raw onion but it was excellent on this dog. The chili was plentiful, the cheese was fresh and gooey and the onions crunchy and...pungent, as onions tend to be. The stomach ache I eventually suffered through was worth it.

I ate all of Dave's fries too. These fries were very different than any others I've ever had. They were fresh cut, no doubt about it, covered in sea salt, but they tasted almost like they'd been refired as they were slightly chewy. Still a really good flavor, just odd texture.

The soda they have here is like no soda anywhere else. Boylan Soda Co. It's some fancy pants odd flavored soda (think if Jones had a fountain machine, but not as delicious). With flavors like Black Cherry, Orange Creme, and an odd tasting Root Beer, the soda selection was a tad disappointing for me. I liked the idea of the unique variety, I'm just not a fan of the "creme" variety of anything.

Overall, I give it 3 out of 5 noms.

Dave's 2 Cents:"I'm not even supposed to be here today!"

This place pissed me the F#*k off.

It was as if an Oscar Mayer hotdog and "Clerks" the movie had a baby and gave it up for adoption in Baltimore.

On entering this establishment with no A/C in 100 degree weather, teens behind the counter not greeting us, and the only places to sit and eat were occupied by the employee's loitering friends, my temper grew fast.

At the point where our "to go" food was handed to us in "eat in" fashion, is when i started getting snarky.

As I tried to communicate with one of the employees over the blaring Death Metal music playing overhead, I asked if all these kids were their friends. When he said yes, I requested he tell them that they need to make room for paying customers.

On the flip side: The hot dogs were awesome, some of the best I have ever had. Surprisingly they were 100% beef, which I prefer Chicken/Pork.

I would suggest that the owner possibly think about doing some random walk ins or secret shoppers, but its really not worth it for what it is, a glorified hot dog stand in a popular bar district.

I just wouldn't be surprised if you caught the employees playing roof hockey at some point during the day...

Farmers Markets Around Town

BALTIMORE CITY

Baltimore Farmers' Market
Downtown: Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay Streets (under JFX Viaduct)
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to Noon (or sell out) May 2 - December 19
Contact: Carole Simon 410-752-8632
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted 
 
Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI) Farmers' Market
1415 Key Highway
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. June 5 - September 25
Contact: Jill Edmondson 410-727-4808
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
Howard Park Community Farmers' Market
4700 Block of Liberty Heights Ave.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. May 22 - December 18
Contact: Howard Park Civic Association 410-448-4257

Highlandtown Farmers' Market
3500 Block of Bank St. at the corner of Bank St. and S. Conkling St.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to Noon July 10 - October 9
Contact: Southeast CDC 410-342-3234
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted 
 
John Hopkins Hospital Farmers' Market
Jefferson Street pathway near Cancer Research Buildings
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. May 6 - November
Contact: Roneet Mallin 410-955-9014

Mt. Washington Whole Foods Market Farmers' Market
5800 Cottonworth Avenue (Parking Lot of Aldersgate Mt. Washington United Methodist Church)
Wednesday: 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. June 9 - November 17
Contact: Molly Kushner 410-532-6700

Park Heights Community Farmers' Market
5201 Park Heights Avenue (Pimlico Race Course Parking Lot)
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 2 - November 24
Contact: PHCHA 410-542-8190
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
32nd Street/Waverly Farmers' Market
400 block of E. 32nd Street
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to Noon Open All Year*
Contact: Marc Rey 410-889-6388 or 410-917-1496
Web:http://www.32ndstreetmarket.org/
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted 
 
State Center Community Farmers' Market
201 West Preston Street
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. June 2 - October 27
Contact: Debi Celnik 410-767-5781
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
University Farmers' Market (New Market)
Plaza Park, Paca Street
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 11 - November 23
Contact: Denise Choiniere 410-328-2009
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
Village of Cross Keys Farmers' Market
Parking Lot - Village of Cross Keys
5100 Falls Road
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. June 1 - October 26
Contact: Beverly Burton 410-592-6095
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted

BALTIMORE COUNTY

Boordy Vineyards - Good Life Thursdays
12820 Long Green Pike
Thursday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. June 10 - September 16
Contact: Dottie Bistransin 410-592-5015
mailto:wine-info@boordy.com
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
Catonsville Wednesday Farmers' Market
Bloomsbury Community Center (108 Bloomsbury Ave.)
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. May 5 - November 24
Contact: wedcatonsvillemkt@gmail.com
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
Catonsville Sunday Farmers' Market (new market)
746 Frederick Road (behind Friendly's)
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. May 16 - November 21
Contact: Catonsville Chamber of Commerce 410-719-9609

Dundalk Village Farmers' Market
Shipping Place at Dunmanway (Park in back of Dundalk Post Office)
Saturday: 6:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 10 - November 20
Contact: Rev. David Erickson 410-282-2540
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted 

Eastpoint Farmers' Market
Eastpoint Mall, 7839 Eastern Avenue
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. June 30 - October 27
Contact: Jerry E. Fisher 410-562-3464
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted

Farmers' Market at the Avenue
The Avenue at White Marsh
Parking lot behind Barnes and Noble
Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. July 2 - October 29
Contact: Janelle Vane 410-931-0411
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
Green Spring Station Farmers' Market (New Market)
Falls and Joppa Roads
Saturday: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. May 22 - November 20
Contact: Marge Wildey 410-828-5447

Kenilworth Farmers' Market (New Market)
798 Kenilworth Drive
Tuesday: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. May 4 - November 23
Contact: Beckie Gurley 410-472-6764 giftcal@aol.com
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted 
 
Owings Mills Farmers' Market
3506 Gwynnbrook Ave.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. May 30 - October 24
Contact: Ryan Couto 410-905-8030
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted

Pikesville Farmers' Market
Walker Avenue (Near Pikesville Library)
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 6 - October 26
Contact: Nick Attias 410-484-2337
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
Randallstown Farmers' Market
3525 Resource Drive
Wednesday: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. June 2 - Sept. 29
Contact: Debbie Risper 410-887-3389

Timonium Fairgrounds Farmers' Market (new market)
2200 York Road
Wednesday: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. June 2 - October
Contact: Maryland State Fair and Agriculture Society, Inc. 410-252-0200
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted
 
Towson Farmers' Market
Allegheny Avenue (between York Rd. and Washington Ave.)
Thursday: 10:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. June 10 - November 18
Saturday Location: Parking Lot next to 17 Allegheny Ave.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. June 12 - November 20
Contact: Nancy Hafford 410-825-1144
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted 
 
Woodlawn Farmers' Market
Woodlawn Bowling Lanes - 6410 Security Boulevard
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. July 1 - September 30
Contact: Delores Douglas 410-409-9172 or Bill Obriecht 410-944-5239
WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted

*Open All Year markets may have limited local products in winter

Go here for all other MD county Farmers Markets!