Local Food Finds

Your weekly dose of some cool food and dining finds around town

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Newest restaurant on the block in West Annapolis *this week* (last week was Chessie’s Wharf), Ingrano Restaurant + Events, is now officially open! They’ve taken over Flamant’s space to offer fine dining to the West Annapolis community. Their menu reflects a modern interpretation of several countries inspired by Chef Adam Pusateri’s travels and experiences in diverse kitchens, from Italian and Greek to Japanese and French influences. One of the dishes on their menu is a 16 oz. A5 Wagyu ribeye with horseradish puree, kabocha squash, and celery leaf – yum!

Cold weather calls for a cozy bowl of noodle soup. Here are two favorites in the area:

• Pho5Up off Riva Road in Annapolis serves pho, a Vietnamese soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat. (This is also a good hangover cure.) Try their traditional pho (#1 on the menu), which is served with eye round steak. Don’t be alarmed when the bowl is set in front of you and the meat is still pink. Use your chopsticks (or fork) to push the steak into the broth to cook the thinly sliced meat! In addition to several meat options, they also have a vegetarian option, served with tofu and veggies in a veggie broth. A highlight on the drink menu (which includes milk and boba teas) is their Vietnamese coffee, made by passing hot water through dark roasted coffee grounds into a cup of condensed milk (if you get it iced, you’ll just pour the hot coffee into a cup of ice). Warning = it’s super strong! They also have locations in Crofton, Fulton, and Hanover.

• RamenYa off Crain Highway in Glen Burnie serves ramen, a Japanese noodle dish consisting of broth, wheat noodles, and toppings. This ramen is unlike your Top Ramen package from college. RamenYa’s noodles are made fresh daily from premium flour imported from Japan (there’s even a video on their website on how the noodle-making process works). If you like spicy, their Black Jack ramen is a must-order. It’s a combination of their spicy and black tonkotsu broth (it’s called “black” because of the black garlic they use). Tonkotsu ramen = pork-bone based. 

Ordering food made by a professional is still considered meal prepping, right? I say so! Well ding-dong, Bell House Catering brings you ready-to-heat-and-eat, delicious meals you can enjoy in your home.  The last prepared meals menu for January drops tomorrow and you can begin placing orders until Sunday for pick up on Wednesday – either in Annapolis or Shady Side.  There are always gluten-free, seafood, and vegan options available. Previous menu items included items such as wine-braised short ribs, garlic lime shrimp with house-made bread, and vegan cashew cream lasagna.

Rihanna said it best, “Cake cake cake cake cake.” Even if it’s not your birthday, Sweet Hearts Patisserie is showcasing all of their 17 cake flavors on their menu until Saturday, January 27 for $5/slice. Stop by and grab a slice…or 17!

There’s one more week left in January to cash in on Pusser’s January special – their $22 Surf and Turf Dinner. For date night or family night (they have a nice kid’s menu for under $10/meal), enjoy a petite filet mignon, pan-grilled to order, accompanied by a broiled lobster tail with drawn butter and lemon, served with steamed asparagus and mashed potatoes– all for $22! Make it a three-course meal and add Pusser’s tropical side salad and a NY Style Cheesecake for $2.50 each. There’s free two-hour valet parking – just make sure you tell the valet attendant that you are here for Pusser’s special dinner. The special is available from 5PM daily and from noon on Sundays (not during holidays or special events).