Reading through a year's worth of restaurant reviews brought back some great memories. I loved sipping coffee at the Blue Moon Cafe on a cold January morning and looking out over the Inner Harbor while eating on the deck of Little Havana. Just thinking about the oysters at Yin Yankee Cafe or the boursin-stuffed filet mignon at blu made my mouth water.
Baltimore and the surrounding suburbs are home to some wonderful restaurants, and I've been honored to sample so many of them.
Here are a few of the high points:
Best Breakfast: Blue Moon Cafe; 1621 Aliceanna St., Fells Point; 410-522-3940. This tiny, cozy cafe serves enormous cinnamon rolls, freshly blended fruit smoothies, fluffy omelettes and plate-sized hash browns. Everything from the muffins to the jams and salsas are made on the premises.
Best Lunch: Reynolds Tea Room; 7 Church Circle, Annapolis; 410-295-9555. A full tea in this centuries-old building includes luscious cream of crab soup swirled with sherry, an assortment of crustless sandwiches and a dazzling assortment of baked goodies. The tea arrives in a ceramic pot.
Best Appetizer: Yin Yankee Cafe; 105 Main St., Annapolis; 410-268-8703. The flash-fried oysters will have your taste buds doing a dance of joy. For an even bigger jolt, dip those fat morsels into the creamy dab of habanero-cilantro-watercress sauce.
Best Salad: Amiccis; 231 S. High St., Little Italy; 410-528-1096. The antipasto at this popular Little Italy destination can easily feed three and includes fresh greens, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts and several kinds of pickled pepperoncini, all surrounded by slice after slice of prosciutto, salami and mozzarella.
Best Main Course: Suzie's Soba; 7 N. Calvert St.; 410-528-8883. The bul kogi at this charming restaurant (also at 1009 W. 36 St.) has thin, tender slices of garlicky, gingery meat on a bedding of beautiful baby greens.
Best Fries: JD's Smokehouse; 3000 O'Donnell St., Canton; 410-675-4029. Finger-thick slices of potato, tender-white and steaming on the inside, savory and crisp on the outside, are the perfect complement to the smoked sandwiches at this casual bar and restaurant.
Best Dessert: Mother's Federal Hill Grille; 1113 S. Charles St., Federal Hill; 410-244-8686. A neighborhood bar and restaurant that takes its food seriously, Mother's serves delicious homemade ice cream daily. Vanilla and chocolate are always on the menu, as well as a third flavor that depends on the whim of the chef.
