Tooloulou (529 E Belvedere Ave.)

Cajun is a style of cooking native to the South, specifically the Louisiana region. The style refers to a series of spices and seasonings special to the area and preparation.

As many of you know, I am always looking for somewhere new to try.

After looking through The Baltimore Sun’s restaurant columnist, Richard Gorelick’s, section, I knew where I had to go. The Cajun inspired restaurant Tooloulou, was next on the list of GoodEats.

Tooloulou, meaning petit crab or fiddler crab in Cajun, is located in Belvedere Square Market off of York Road. The restaurant itself is nothing special, a small area comprised of a few cooking appliances, a pizza oven and a counter where your orders taken.

Tooloulou’s storefront. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Don’t be worried about seating; the market has tons of tables around all of the different stands and restaurants.

The menu is compiled of sandwiches, po’boys (a Louisiana style sub served on French bread), pizzas, salads and specials. As made evident by the Cajun inspired name, the majority of the menu items had a Louisiana flare.

After some suggestions, I had to go with the daily special, a fried chicken sandwich served on a jalapeno cheddar biscuit with a blackberry whiskey remoulade ($13). To be honest, I was nervous at first when I ordered it, but let me tell you that this sandwich was amazing. Juicy chicken with a tart sauce and a spicy biscuit, perfectly balanced.

The Fried Chicken Sandwich Special. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

We also ordered the fried oyster po’boy ($13). Plump and juicy oysters lightly fried and served with lettuce, tomato, spicy Cajun pickles and Tabasco remoulade. Also suggested was the Coca-Cola ham ($10), marinated slices of ham served as a sandwich and salad. Lastly, not to be forgotten were the pizzas. The Tooloulou pizza ($14) is the house specialty topped with white sauce, crab, Andouille sausage, banana peppers, mozzarella and a sprinkle of Old Bay.

The food and service were fantastic. Tooloulou is a small restaurant with some huge flavors. The food was fresh and really gave the diner something different.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

 

 Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Breakfast: It’s What’s on the Menu

Welcome back everyone! I hope your first week of classes weren’t too bad. This week I am going to try something a little different.

Breakfast is huge here at Towson. We are lucky enough to have Towson Hot Bagels just a short five-minute drive from campus. Nothing against THB – I love it – but this week I want to introduce you all to a couple of other less mainstream breakfast places in the area.

First, I have to highlight Miss Shirley’s, located just 10 minutes away off of Cold Spring Lane. Now, many of you know about Shirley’s, but for some reason so many of you choose to not take advantage of this breakfast haven. The wait time on weekends can run you up a wall, but it’s worth every minute. Shirley’s takes a spin on classics by giving them a gourmet twist. The chicken and waffles served with jalapeno butter is outstanding, or try one of the fresh French toast, Belgian waffle, or pancake specials all smothered with fresh and exciting toppings (like berry sauce, chocolate chips, etc.). Miss Shirley’s is a little bit on the expensive side with entrees in the mid-teen dollar range. It is definitely worth the price, though.

It’s only necessary that I also talk about another bagel restaurant. Bagel Works has two locations, both off of York Road (1701 York Rd. & 11209 York Rd.). Fresh bagels, huge omelets, and plump tuna salad highlight the menu. The bacon, egg and cheese is my go-to and it does not disappoint one bit. The wait time is usually minimal, if any, and the prices are extremely reasonable.

The third and last breakfast place I need to introduce you all to is Greg’s Bagels, located in the hip and trendy Belvedere Square Market, a short distance off of York Road. If you are going to Greg’s you have to get either lox (smoked salmon) or the tuna/chicken salad served on a bagel. The smoked salmon is what I consider Greg’s highlight, featuring about a dozen different types. The bagels are huge and made daily. Not only are you paying for a great bagel, but also the experience. Greg is quite the character. Please remember to bring cash, as he doesn’t accept anything but cold hard cash and Rolex watches (store policy).

I hope you all enjoy these other breakfast restaurants. As I said before, by no means am I dissing THB. I just want you all to enjoy something a little different for breakfast.
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Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Bacon, Egg and Cheese on an Everything Bagel from Bagel Works

Chicken & Waffles from Miss Shirley’s Cafe

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Shoo-Fly Diner (510 E Belvedere Ave)

The words rustic, home-style and diner are not commonly used together. But for the next restaurant on GoodEats, this is exactly what came to mind. Shoo-Fly Diner in Belvedere Square was next on my search for the best eats this town has to offer.

Shoo-Fly Diner is owned by the same restaurateurs as the delicious upscale Baltimore staple Woodberry Kitchen. The diner goes along with the same theme as Woodberry Kitchen, featuring all locally grown products on the menu. The combination of fresh ingredients with a diner flare prompts for a delicious meal at reasonable prices.

The ambiance was completely unlike any diner I have been to before. There are no acrylic booths or a jukebox here. Instead, there are beautiful, rustic wooden tables and booths, with a focal point around a long I-shaped bar.

The menu is broken into sections including breakfast served all day, lunch and dinner items, and a late night bar.

I ended up going on a Friday for dinner and was pleasantly surprised by all of the choices on the menu. I started off the meal with an order of onion rings found under the snacks section of the menu. They were the real deal. They’re all onion with a light, crispy coating served with a spicy fish pepper mayo.

The decision on what to get for my main course was tough. After a few recommendations from the waitress, I went with the pork cheesesteak, which consists of a crunchy sub roll, sliced pieces of tender pork topped with a warm cheese sauce, caramelized onions and mushrooms. The sandwich was both flavorful and hearty.

A friend and foodie of mine tagged along on the journey. When deciding on a main course, he went with the meatloaf. Now, meatloaf is a food I, and many others, get weary about ordering at restaurants. All worries were put to rest when their rendition hit the table. It’s served with roasted vegetables, airy mashed potatoes and a tangy barbecue sauce.

The perfect pairing of deliciously prepared food with realistic pricing has the Shoo-Fly Diner on my list of Baltimore’s best.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

 

Pork Cheesesteak served with homemade chips.

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.