Monday Specials

Pulled Pork Panini with Coleslaw

Portuguese Sausage Kale Soup

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (vegan)

Hearty Mushroom Barley Soup (vegan)

Sunday Specials

Eggs Bellissimo - a toasted English muffin topped with Italian sausage in tomato sauce, two poached eggs, sauteed mushrooms and parmesan cheese. It'll make you want to shout bellissimo!

Apple Cinnamon Waffles - a cinnamon chip studded waffles topped with a sauteed apples and served with maple syrup.

Belgian Waffles with Maple Syrup

Cinnamon Crunch French Toast Casserole

• • • • •

Pulled Pork Panini with Coleslaw

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (vegan)

Hearty Mushroom Barley Soup (vegan)

Saturday Specials

Black Forest Waffles - a chocolate chip studded waffles topped with a cherry compote, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

Eggs Bellissimo - a toasted English muffin topped with Italian sausage in tomato sauce, two poached eggs, sauteed mushrooms and parmesan cheese. It'll make you want to shout bellissimo!

Belgian Waffles with Maple Syrup

Cherry Porridge with Toasted Almonds - our organic steel-cut oats prepared with a mix of dried cherries, cream and almonds.

• • • • •

Pulled Pork Panini with Coleslaw (finally)

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (vegan)

Hearty Mushroom Barley Soup (vegan)

Friday Specials

Pulled Pork with Coleslaw (finally)

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (vegan)

Hearty Mushroom Barley Soup (vegan)

Thursday Specials

Pulled Pork with Coleslaw (sorry, it's taking to long to get it right, one more day)

Spicy Jack Panino

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (vegan)

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (vegetarian)

later today Hearty Mushroom Barley Soup (vegan)

Wednesday Specials

Spicy Jack Panino
roast turkey
habanero jack cheese
caramelized red onions
zebra sauce

Curried Cauliflower Pistachio Soup
(not vegetarian)

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup :)
(vegetarian)

Tuesday Specials

Aaron's Tuna Salad or Tuna Melt - quickly becoming a cafe favorite.

Smokin' Tom - smoked turkey with sundried tomato tapanade and provolone cheese grilled on a ciabatta sub roll.

Hearty Split Pea Soup (vegan)
Cauliflower Pistachio Soup (chicken stock base)

Monday Specials

Smokin' Tom - smoked turkey with sundried tomato tapanade and provolone cheese grilled on a ciabatta sub roll.

Hearty Split Pea Soup (vegan)
Cauliflower Pistachio Soup (chicken stock base)

Sunday Morning Specials

Sausage Gravy on Baking Powder Biscuits

Belgian Waffle with Maple Syrup

Wild Blueberry & Cream Waffle

... and the most Amazing Sticky Buns I have ever made!

We also have Roasted Butternut Squash Soup and Hearty Split Pea.

Friday Specials

Turkey Club Panini - roasted turkey, farmers' bacon, tomato, lettuce and seasoned may on a toasted roll.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Roast Butternut Soup (vegetarian)

Thursday Specials

Chicken Satay w/ Peanut Sauce Panino garnished with sliced jalapenos, cucumbers, and red onion

Eggplant Parmesan Panino

Gypsy Soup (vegan) made with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, chick peas, peppers, smoked spanish paprika

Chicken Noodle Soup

Roast Butternut Soup (vegetarian)

Wednesday Specials

Eggplant Parmesan Panino

Gypsy Soup (vegan) made with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, chick peas, peppers, smoked spanish paprika

Thai Chicken Soup

Tuesday Specials

In celebration of this spring like weather - Egg Salad Sandwich

Aaron's Tuna Salad Sandwich (or Melt)

Gypsy Soup (vegan) made with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, chick peas, peppers, smoked spanish paprika

Thai Chicken Soup

Monday Specials

Aaron's Tuna Melt

The Smoke Bomb Panini - smoked hot dogs in a spicy relish sauce grilled on a ciabatta sub roll.

Gypsy Soup (vegan) my take on a Moosewood Cookbook original, made with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, chick peas, peppers, smoked spanish paprika

Thai Chicken Soup

French Green Lentil with Coconut Milk Soup (vegan)

Sunday Specials

Red Velvet Waffles with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Butter

Strawberry Cheesecake Belgian Waffles

Belgian Waffles with Maple Syrup

And an assortment of pastry goodies including (but not limited to) and Sweet Chocolate Buns and Walnut Sticky Buns

The Smoke Bomb Panini - smoked hot dogs in a spicy relish sauce grilled on a ciabatta sub roll.

French Green Lentil with Coconut Milk Soup (vegan)

Hearty Country Potato Soup

Saturday Extravaganza!

Crunchy Cornmeal Waffles with Sausage Gravy

Belgian Waffles with Strawberries and Cream

Praline French Toast

The Smoke Bomb Panini - smoked hot dogs in a spicy relish sauce grilled on a ciabatta sub roll.


Edited to add
So excited about the breakfast/brunch specials I forgot to mention the soups!

French Green Lentil with Coconut Milk Soup (vegan)
Hearty Country Potato Soup
Creamy Tomato Basil (vegetarian)

Friday Specials

The Applewood Panini
roast turkey, granny smith apples, farmers' bacon, cheddar cheese and a bit of dijon mustard grilled on a ciabatta subroll.

Hearty Country Potato Soup

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (vegetarian)

Green Lentil & Coconut Milk Soup (vegan) will be done by this afternoon.

Thursday Specials

Sweet-n-Spicy Ham and Swiss Panino
housemade sweet and spicy honey mustard with caramelized onions, country ham and swiss cheese grilled on a ciabatta sub roll.

African Peanut Soup (vegan)

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (vegetarian)

• • •

Do you remember Bandaloop's in Federal Hill? It was a bar and restaurant on South Charles Street named after the mystic doctor's in Tom Robbin's book Jitterbug Perfume. All of their menu items were also named after characters. Sadly, Bandaloop's closed in 2003 but I have many fond memories of meals with friends and good food. Their iced tea was delicious and they shared the "recipe" with me (1 part orange tea, 3 parts raspberry tea and 4 parts black tea).

But the thing that really got me going was their champagne mustard. There was a croissant sandwich made with turkey, saga cheese (the love child of triple cream brie and gorgonzola) and champagne mustard that was heavenly. They also had a cheese plate that came with a little pot of this liquid gold. No matter what my order, it included a side of this mustard. Long, long before Carma's Cafe was even a twinkle in my eye I tried to get the recipe. No go. Chef was not giving up the secret mustard.

Today, my friends, the mustard has returned! Just a shade off from Bandaloop's (no spare champagne lying around the kitchen - how did that happen?!) it has all the promise of new love. It's intense. It's hot. And it's sweet. And it's mine forever. And now it's yours too. Happy Valentine's Day.

Bandaloop Mustard
1/2 c. Penzey's regular Canadian mustard (store in Rockville)
3 T water (or champagne)
1/4 c honey
3 T cider vinegar
1/2 t salt

Mix all ingredients well and store in a glass jar. Allow to sit for 10 minutes or so before using to allow flavors to develop and liquids to be absorbed.

Wednesday Specials

Pesto Caprese Panino
roasted walnut pesto, tomato slices, and melty mozzarella

Chicken Kiev Chowder a hearty chowder with chicken, ham, potatoes, corn, and cheese

African Peanut Soup (vegan)

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (vegetarian)

Tuesday Specials

Spicy Jack Panino

Chicken Kiev Chowder a hearty chowder with chicken, ham, potatoes, corn, and cheese

African Peanut Soup (vegan)

16- Bean Soup (vegan)

Spicy Jack Panino

Chicken Kiev Chowder

16- Bean Soup (vegan)

Moroccan Tomato Chickpea Soup - a tomato soup loaded with roasted chickpeas and garlic, seasoned with fennel and ibzar. Very satisfying and ... compelling. It's the only soup I've ever dreamt of (vegan)

It was a very "special"-less Sunday

Sorry I didn't get Sunday specials posted for you. It was a crazy fabulous busy day with loads of good food and too few people serving it! I'd like to publicly give kudos to Graham who practically ran the kitchen solo for the past two days (and without an audible grumble). My friend Anne, who has been there every time I've ever called - Anne could you paint the bathroom? Anne would you fix my knitting? Anne would you come wash dishes? And she did. Of course it cost me a waffle and latte, but she did do a very good job.

For those of you who have been keeping up with my charcuterie goings on, duck breast prosciutto made an appearance today as Cured Duck Shitake Egg Hash. For the purposes of Charcutepalooza, pictures and recipes or it didn't happen. Please forgive the quick, less than artistic phone camera shot of what was a very tasty and well received brunch special.

First, there was a lovely duck bought from the folks at the Pennsylvania Dutch Market in Hunt Valley. The breast were removed to be cured. The fat rendered and legs made into confit. Finally, the carcass was roasted and made a wonderful stock.

The duck breast were prepared using Michael Ruhlman's Charcuterie as a guide (he also has the duck breast process on his blog if you hear the muse of meat curing call). Frankly, I was less than overwhelmed with initial impressions of my product. Not too salty. Not too gamey. But not the real "Ta-dah" of flavor I was expecting either. And the texture was ..... duck gummy bear.

Until it hit a hot pan! Then those paper thin slivers of breast practically stood up and sang the Hallelujah Chorus - damn they were tasty! Someone, who will go unnamed, said the words fatty and salty in tones usually reserved for private moments with a very special someone (who's breasts, it is safe to assume, are not of the duck variety).

And for my comrades in charcuterie, the merry masses of Charcutepalooza, here's what went down in the kitchen today.

Cured Duck Shitake Egg Hash
4 medium new potatoes, diced finely
1 large shallot, finely minced
4 oz. shitake mushrooms, sliced
4 oz. duck prosciutto, very, very thinly sliced
4 oz. spinach
handfull of shredded parmesan cheese
12 eggs (we use fresh local eggs from Springfield Farm)
1/2 cup of half & half
a dollop of rendered duck fat (maybe a tablespoon)
1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper,

Arrange duck slices in a large non-stick skillet and briefly heat, turning once. Some fat will be released. Set meat aside. Add a dollop of fat the the skillet and over medium heat saute potatoes and shallot until potatoes have started to brown. Add mushrooms and continue to saute for just a few minutes. While the mushrooms are cooking, julienne the duck. Add the duck and spinach to the vegetable mixture, stir to incorporate and remove from heat.

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, cream and pepper. Stir the sauteed meat & vegetable mixture, as well as the cheese into the eggs. Pour into a well greased (or silicone) baking pan.

Baked in a 9" square silicone pan at 350° for 35-40 minutes. Let sit for a few minutes before cutting and serving. Makes 6 servings.

Notes: Although we served this hot, I think it would be delicious at room temperature. Would also make a very fine quiche filling with some adjustment to the egg/cream ratio. Also, if you are interested in raw meat pics, the butchered duck can be found here.

Saturday Specials

Maple Apple Walnut Oatmeal

Belgian Waffles

Rowhouse Panini - sun-dried tomato basil cream cheese, sprouts, cucumbers, red onions, and havarti served on a toasted chiabatta sub roll.

Moroccan Tomato Chickpea Soup - a tomato soup loaded with roasted chickpeas and garlic, seasoned with fennel and ibzar. Very satisfying and ... compelling. It's the only soup I've ever dreamt of.

Beef & Guinness Stew - a hearty beef stew loaded with chunks of potatoes, carrots and pearl onions (will be ready by noon or so).

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (vegan)

Friday Specials

Rowhouse Panini - sun-dried tomato basil cream cheese, sprouts, cucumbers, red onions, and havarti served on a toasted chiabatta sub roll.

Beef & Guinness Stew - a hearty beef stew loaded with chunks of potatoes, carrots and pearl onions (will be ready by noon or so).

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (vegan)

Thursday Specials

Italian Eggplant Panini - roasted eggplant, marinated artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and a parmigiano (I mean really, why use a french word for an Italian cheese?!) balsamic cheese spread grilled on a chiabatta sub roll.

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup (vegan)

Tortilla Chicken Soup

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (vegetarian)

Wednesday Specials

Eggplant & Goat Cheese Panino

Tortilla Chicken Soup

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (vegetarian)

Tuesday Specials

Spicy Jack Panino

Tomato Basil Soup (vegetarian)

Roasted Forest Mushroom Soup (vegetarian)