Food Feuds

[Bryna]

I'm looking for food feuds in the Baltimore/DC area. An item of food (say crab cakes) where there are two restaurants/markets that are generally considered among the best at making an item and lots of strong opinions about who does it best. Let me know if you have any suggestions. No actual fighting needed, just strong supporters.

[phigam14]

I feel liek the biggest food feud in dc would be Kabob Palace vs. Ravi Kabob. No one seemed to point this one out

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Kabob Palace
2315 S Eads St, Arlington, VA 22202

[henmonster]

or pupusas! there are countless pupuserias and a showdown would be solid press for something little known outside of areas with strong central american populations

[henmonster]

would it even be possible to match up crab houses? something on maine avenue wharf vs. annapolis?

[Ziv]

This subject came up at a party I was at a few weeks ago. When I was at U of MD in the mid-80's we had 5 or 6 different crab joints we could pick up a bushel of crabs from within 15 minutes driving. I am in Arlington now and there are only 2 on this side of the water and then Maine Avenue if I want to cross the water. I hate to ask a question I probably won't like the answer to, but, is Virginia lame or has Maryland lost most of their crab shacks too?

[baltoellen]

It does look as though there will be a Baltimore crabcake "food feud." http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/ingo...

[Dennis S]

G&M didn't want to participate. They know the truth as well!

[reiflame]

Do you think this thread was helpful at all?

[baltoellen]

Did you mean to ask me this or the OP?

[reiflame]

Just in general to anyone who wanted to answer.

[baltoellen]

Seems to be the the OP went seeking a crabcake "food feud" & that's what she got. I've haven't been following this thread all that closely, but I don't recall Gertrude's ever being brought up....

[yfunk3]

I could have sworn that I saw a tweet from District Taco that mentioned they were going to be featured in a Food Network show "Food Feud" thing for the local food carts.

But I can't access Twitter right now. And I'm not sure if this was what the OP was working on...

Just thought I'd throw that out there, though. :o)

[ClevelandDave]

Here is a thought: Tiramisu? Most people think it is an Italian delicacy, but my understanding it was invented in Baltimore. It is a familar product to most Americans with an unfamiliar provinance, making it a good story. Besides I believe there are a couple places that have a rivalry over who invented it. It's also a nice play on Ace of Cakes and strengthens the reputation of Baltimore having a strong cake tradition (Ace, Georgetown Cupcake (DC), Berger Cookies, etc)...

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Georgetown Cupcake
1209 Potomac St NW, Washington, DC

[indcgirl]

tiramisu was not invented in baltimore--the person who invented it (while living in italy) now lives in baltimore. and any rivalry about the restaurant in which it was invented is firmly planted in italy.

[ClevelandDave]

I stand corrected, but the bottom line is still the same: the inventor
of tiramisu runs a small bakery in Baltimore and there is a rivalry over
who makes the best one.

Here is the story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

The Trail of Tiramisu
We Sift Legend From Fact In Search of an Answer: Did a Baltimore Baker
Create Italy's Most Famous Dessert?
By Jane Black
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

[rHairing]

If you do a saltenas smackdown, I give you Tutto Benne...on the weekends. Killer! I like the idea of a pho or banh mi smackdown. Rebel Heroes vs. DC Sandwich. Pho 75 vs Golden Cow.

[Dennis S]

Escaped me until now: The Sichuan places. HKP vs Joe's.

[flavrmeistr]

I'd like to see Adam Richman down a big plate of that Dry Saute Beef at Joe's. Four peppers and a star!

[flavrmeistr]

How about a throw-down between all these hideously over-priced celebrity chef joints where nobody can get a table? That would make some interesting reality TV. ( "Well, we tried to film a competition, but none of them would let us in until 2017. Also, we couldn't find anyone who had actually eaten there".) Maybe a speed-dialling competition between a few c-list celebrities and a mixed crew of local business types for reservations at mini-bar, Volt, Inn at Little Washington, etc.? This is the stuff DC for which DC could be famous- -a food competition that has nothing to do with food. What could be more emblematic of the Nation's Capital?

[ktmoomau]

Hee hee hee I kind of like this idea.

[ktmoomau]

And then going and bitching that it wasn't worth it.

[Bob W]

LOL love it. Our friend Joe H can guest host.

Otherwise, I hope the OP is getting the message that there are not many real food feuds in this area. You need the rancor to make the show interesting.

[woodleyparkhound]

frozen yogurt - SweetGreen vs. TangySweet? My favorite is Mr. Yogato, but I think the first two are a better match to each other.

burgers -- Good Stuff Eatery vs. BGR The Burger Joint. I prefer Ray's Hellburger, but I think these two are a better match.

[MikeR]

Minibar vs. Table 21. The item: A reservation. ;)

[yfunk3]

Well, it's the Food Network, so the losers would be us, the little people. LOL

[msjess]

Just whatever you do avoid the half smokes and jumbo slice (there was annother show that did some kind of competition between local food joints and picked jumbo slice in DC....except that no one eats jumbo slice unless they are 3 sheets to the wind)

The DC area is home to a lot of great ethnic food, I second suggestions to do pho, korean late night joints or Ethiopian. (although Koreans gaining more popularity in foodie circles while Ethiopian food is less well known)

If you wanted to tie in the Obamas, they seem to be burger fans- could do Good Stuff Eatery vs Ray's Hell Burger vs 5 guys.

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Ray's Hell Burger
1713 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209

Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC

[weezycom]

24-hour Korean in Annandale: Yechon v. Honey Pig.

[elegantelliot]

In DC you have all of the neopolitan type pizza places, 2 amys and Paradiso at the top of the list then others like mias in Bethesda

[Roland Parker]

It is a stretch to come up with a well-known food rivalry in Baltimore. Certainly nothing like Pat and Genos for cheesesteak in Philadelphia. Some of the places listed below including Faidley's for crabcakes, Pollack Johnny's, Binkerts and the others are not well known outside the chow world and wouldn't register to most Baltimoreans should you feature them on a television show.

Possibly the pit beef stands along Pulaski Highway would be a contender for a local rivalry.

[Bob W]

The pit beef stands would be good. Rheb's vs. Wockenfuss candies would make a good show because they have an east side vs west side thing (in Baltimore this is like going to the ends of the earth, you just don't do it) and the show could feature plenty of "hons."

I think Faidley's is very well known but there's really no natural rival like Pat's vs Geno's or the chili dog places in Detroit or Acme vs Felix's for oysters in New Orleans. The geographic proximity keeps the rivalry flame hot in those cases.

[Bob W]

How about DC's Horace and Dickey's vs one of Baltimore's best lake trout purveyors?

[Warthog]

While I don't think there are any "feuds" or even strong factionalism in most food categories in this area, one could come up with lots of shoot-outs among area pizza places that are serving roughly similar pizza demographics.
Joe Squared vs. Iggies for "gourmet" thin crust dominance
Pizza John's (Essex) vs. Squires (Dundalk) - very similar styles, both with long local heritage
Matthews vs. Uno's (yes, I know Uno's is a chain, and not really native to Baltimore) - Uno's "Chicago style" (sort of) deep dish vs. the uniquely Baltimore Matthew's "not exactly thin" crust
Zella's vs. Facci for those who prefer a yeasty-chewy crust.
I'm sure there would be several candidates for "best slice" from those who like NYC style

On another front, one could take a drive up to Hanover, PA for "Texas Weiner wars" among the various places that serve them there, or stay closer to Baltimore by pitting Zack's against Weenie World for a multi-style hot dog smackdown.

Any contenders for shad roe? The Peppermill vs. ????

How about a Coddie Competition (do local churches still do coddies as part of fund-raiser dinners)?

Andy Nelson's vs. Big Bad Wolf for the best of BBQ?

Zorba's vs. Samos, or maybe Ikaros vs. Acropolis for Greektown glory?

Sabs vs. Chips for "old school Little Italy" honors?

Vaccarro's vs. ???? for the title of Cannoli King?

Five Guys vs. one of the old school Baltimore bars (Duda's or Kisling's, perhaps?) for best burger?

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Zorba's
4710 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224

Peppermill Restaurant
1301 York Rd Ste G5, Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093

Weenie World
1099 Merritt Blvd, Dundalk, MD 21222

Little Italy Restaurant
6920 Bradlick Shopping Ctr, Annandale, VA 22003

Pizza Johns
113 Back River Neck Rd, Essex, MD 21221

[treetop tom]

For best burger I think I'd go with Duda's Tavern vs. Kooper's Tavern, although a sentimental favorite would be the iconic Alonso burger from Alonso's Restaurant and Package Store on Cold Spring Lane.

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Kooper's Tavern
1702 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231

Duda's Tavern
1600 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231

[lawhound]

Vaccaro's vs Cafe Piedigrotta would be a fair comparison, even if no "feudexists.

[elgringoviejo]

I'll bite, Vaccaro is good, but Piedegrotta is better. Piedegrotta's tiramisu rawks.

[melpy]

What about for cannoli though? Vaccaro has best I've ever had.

[elgringoviejo]

Greektown glory goes to Acropolis IMO. Their dolmades, fried calamari, and lamb yiouvetsi are simply the best south of Jersey and the town so nice they named it twsice.

[treetop tom]

In Baltimore you will find divergent views on more than just crabcakes:

Sausage - Binkert's vs. Ostrowski's
Hand-dipped Chocolates - Rheb's vs. Wockenfuss
Shrimp Salad - Mary Mervis vs. Kibby's
Marshmallow Donuts - Woodlea Bakery vs. Fenwick Bakery
Peach Cake - Hoehn's Bakery vs. Goldman's Bakery
Smearcase Cake - Hoehn's Bakery vs. Fenwick Bakery

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Woodlea Bakery
4905 Belair Rd, Baltimore, MD

[treetop tom]

Also in Baltimore:

Sour Beef & Dumplings - Dimitri's vs. Josef''s
Hot Dogs/Polish - G&A vs. Ann's Dari Creme vs. Polock Johnny's
Sub Sandwiches - Trinacria vs. Capt. Harvey's

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Ann's Dari Creme
2200 Ritchie Rd, District Heights, MD 20747

Polock Johnny's
3212 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230

[msjess]

I'm not so familiar with balltimore but I have heard about berger cookies, are there two places that especially stand out?

[Bob W]

msjess -- Berger cookies (they were invented by two brothers named Berger) are actually the product of a single bakery. There are probably other bakeries that make similar chocolate-top cookies, but I am sure they cannot call them Berger cookies.

[melpy]

I adore Berger Cookies!

[flavrmeistr]

Ann's and Polock Johnny's is a good one. My office is equi-distant, so it's a tough call. I'd have to go with Johnny's Super Polish in a throwdown, though.

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Polock Johnny's
3212 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230

[elgringoviejo]

For sour beef and dumplings, shouldn't Kibby's on Wilkens and Rallos' on Fort avenue's Wednesday special be included? My vote goes to Rallo's Wednesday special.

-----
Rallo's Restaurant
838 E Fort Ave Ste 1, Baltimore, MD 21230

[Bob W]

Fenwick should be in the peach cake battle too. How about a three-way among the old-line bakeries?

[treetop tom]

I've never had a peach cake from Fenwick or Woodlea, but I can't imagine they're not worthy of consideration. My favorite is Goldman's, but I buy more from the MARS Supermarket bakery case than anywhere else. Their peach cake and smearcase are both pretty good and you don't have to drive into town to get one.

Just received an email from Goldman's advising that the first fresh peach cakes of the summer will be available on Thursday. Looks like a trip to Pikesville in the near future!

[nyawira]

How about crab cake wars between Essex joints vs the tourist traps in Baltimore. Mr. Bills vs Obryckis for example....

[yfunk3]

What about Ethiopian restaurants on the U Street corridor? Dukem vs. Etete?

Or maybe Etete vs. Queen Makeda?

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Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Queen Makeda
1917 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

U Street Cafe
1301 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

[MakingSense]

Add in the new Ethiopic on H Street in that case. Great!

[henmonster]

Ethiopian is definitely a good match-up. And so is bahn mi and pho.

For banh mi - Song Que vs. Nhu Lan
For pho - Pho 75 vs. Pho Cong Ly

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Pho Cong Ly Restaurant
6671B Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA 22150

[kzorena]

Sadly, I found out yesterday that Pho Cong Ly is closing tomorrow is it's last day...
I saw all of their equipment for sale on Craig's List and a pic of the restaurant..sad!!
I emailed the owner and apparently the landlord won't renew their lease and the other establishments in that plaza. Get it while you can people!!
The best pho and Vietnamese spring rolls in NOVA or DC...it blows all the other places out of the water. Pho 75 cannot hold a candle to Pho Cong Ly.

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Pho Cong Ly Restaurant
6671B Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA 22150

[mjhals]

What about competing banh mi joints from Eden Center? You could even throw in the new food cart "Rebel Heroes", I think they started out with banh mis.

I also like the hamburger idea- what about Rays vs. one of the "big guys" downtown (the Palm, Cap Grille, etc.)

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Eden Center
Falls Church, VA, USA, Falls Church, VA

[sekelmaan]

I think Bahn Mi is a great idea. It would have to be DC Sandwich and someone else. Obviously in this same vein is pho. We have tons of pho places around here.

Oh. I have a great one. Pollo a la brasa. Super Pollo vs. El Pollo Rico. There is a ton of arguing about the best pollo-ria.

[MTP]

G street food does a good bahn mi. put em on the list

[sekelmaan]

You work for the food network? Looks like most your posts are searching for fueds or DDD type places.

[reiflame]

One of her posts says that it will be featured on a national cable show, so I'm guessing yes.

That said, you can do a lot worse than ask Chowhound for advice on these things.

I really can't think of any DC food feuds.

[Bob W]

Is there any place other than Ben's Chili Bowl that is known for their half-smokes?

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Ben's Chili Bowl
1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

[reiflame]

My boyfriend and I tried but couldn't come up with anything.

What about pollo a la brasa or pho? Do we have any "competitions" there?

[Ziv]

Crisp & Juicy vs. Pollo Rico vs. Super Pollo? My vote goes to C&J.
Pho 75, the old champ, vs. Pho Hot, the contender, vs. Pho 50, the sleeper?
Bangkok 54, the Rachel Ray of Thai, vs. Thai Square, cooking like your Mom would do it, if she was Thai?
Pike Pizza saltenas, homemade goodness, vs. La Caraquena's saltenas, refined South American street food? Is the latter making sense, at all?
The Quarterdeck crabs, all you can eat and you get to beat the heck out of it with a mallet, vs... Hey, where did all the Chesapeake Bay seafood places disappear to over the past 10-20 years?
Liberty Tavern vs. Tallula vs. Eat Bar vs. Spider Kelly's, kind of like putting saran wrap on the copier over and over, and wondering why there is not much there to see?

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Pho Hot Restaurant
7442 Little River Tpke, Annandale, VA 22003

Thai Square
3217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

The Liberty Tavern
3195 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201

Pho 50
7263 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042

Pike Pizza
4111 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

Pollo Rico
7643 New Hampshire Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

Bangkok 54 Restaurant and Bar
2919 S Columbus St, Arlington, VA 22206

[flavrmeistr]

Mario's vs. The Broiler for the best steak and cheese sub? I dunno what else. Who has the cheapest 15-dollar martini, perhaps? I don't see much of a show there.

[Ziv]

How about a 3 way throwdown between Mario's, The Broiler, and Al's in Del Ray?

[Dennis S]

Is Al's the cheesesteak place? I finally tried it about a year ago. Good stuff but it took FOREVER to get a cheesesteak. That stuff is supposed to be mellowing on the grill top for some time...

[Ziv]

Al's does it their way, and apparently that means you will wait for it. I think their Roman is pretty good, as is the mushroom steak. The owner has been there for 40 years if memory serves, getting your sandwich to you a few minutes late may not seem so bad if you have been doing sandwiches since Nixon was in office.

[Dennis S]

Ziv is on to a few things here. The B54 vs Thai Square is a real contender. 2 of the 3 normally top rated Thai places here one block from each other?

The best all around Pollo place? You either get the best pollo or the better sides. Caribbean Grill gets my vote.

But sorry - Pho 75 needs to lose their title. I haven't tried those other two, but there is so much better in the area.

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Thai Square
3217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

The Caribbean Grill
5183 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

[Bob W]

Regarding pollo, Guapo's in Manassas has yuca that is off the charts good. Their chicken is decent. You are right, there is no perfect pollo place.

[Dennis S]

I agree about the quality of Guapo's yuca. I'm familiar with the one in Herndon. But I hate the quantity they give. I feel they charge a little for everything driving up the price.

Finally made it to Pollos Inka again in Herndon last week. Great place. While they have Peruvian chicken and yuca, they have a full menu. My wife's steak was great.

-----
Guapo's Restaurant
4515 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

[hamster]

I also agree - went to Guapo's today and *loved* the yuca. I thought the chicken was good, but I'm not a frequent Peruvian chicken eater.

-----
Guapo's Restaurant
4515 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

[perries]

Oh yes! What about head to head on a standard like pad thai or tom ka gai or a curry? There's so much good Thai food in this area, there is great potential for competition.

[alkapal]

i volunteer to do testing for a pad kee mao feud!

[repete]

A Nava vs. Ruan would be an outrageous battle of very good Thai -- separated by two blocks -- but both within the region's top 5..

[woodleyparkhound]

I love the Nava vs. Ruan idea. I love both places and since they are so close together, I'm usually torn about which to choose.

[Dennis S]

But that's the same about B54 and Thai Square.

I used to live down the street before the B54 resto. When it opened it was impressive immediately, but still easily lost out to TS. Now, even to me, it's a toss up or an edge to B54 (though I obviously get to both with far less frequency).

-----
Thai Square
3217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

[repete]

B54 vs. Thai Square for third place, maybe. Ruan vs. Nava is a better battle.

-----
Thai Square
3217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

[Geeyore]

Of course. There is better. It's Pho Xe Lua at Eden, hands down.

Used to be Pho Tay Ho at Culmore but they changed ownership several years ago and an immediate decline (they also had the only pho ga long that I know of - pho with chicken livers and gizzards).

-----
Pho Xe Lua
6755-A Wilson Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22044

Pho Tay Ho Restaurant
6015 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

[ktmoomau]

Weenie Beenie

-----
Weenie Beenie
2680 S Shirlington Rd, Arlington, VA 22206

[Ziv]

I didn't see the Weenie Beenie comment til now, I really like that joint. The last of the tribe. A decent chilie dog, fairly good pulled pork, but the ambiance, or lack thereof, is the best part. Though when you bite into a chili dog and the casing pops, spraying scads of juicy flavor onto your taste buds, that is what Hebrew National and the current dogs of choice sadly lack.

-----
Weenie Beenie
2680 S Shirlington Rd, Arlington, VA 22206

[Davwud]

In fact, I think this may be the first place I look if I where Bryna.

DT

[Bryna]

Yes, this is for a Food Network show, a new one that hasn't aired yet.......thanks for the suggestions.

[chicken kabob]

Cupcake Places???

[MDicecreamguy]

In Baltimore, there is a deli war in Pikesville......Suburban House , Millers and Lennys being the contenders

[flavrmeistr]

Lenny's vs. Attman's. They're almost across the street from each other.

[melpy]

I was going to say that! YEAH CORNED BEEF ROW!

[elgringoviejo]

Attman's gets the Gold.

[Dennis S]

Baltimore: Pit Beef. Pioneer vs. Chaps.

[flavrmeistr]

...and The Canopy in Ellicot City. Does it have to be a two-way match, or could it be a full-on rumble?

[melpy]

Oh the Canopy, how i love thee!

[indcgirl]

Second the pit beef. Search these boards and you'll find heated discussions about pit beef. I've only had Chaps, so I can't really comment.

[elgringoviejo]

Ellicott City Canopy rulez with respect to pit beef.

[HowChowBlog]

Really? Ellicott City Canopy up there with Pioneer? I always find myself driving to Pioneer when I'm craving. Your opinion might have me try the close one.

[crackers]

G&M (Linthicum) crab cakes vs. Faidley's (Lexington Market, Baltimore) crab cakes vs. Prime Rib (Baltimore) crab cakes. I think that pretty much runs the gamut, and I won't comment on which way the gamut runs.

-----
Prime Rib
1101 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

[ktmoomau]

Crab Cakes are certainly a hot topic. Fadley's vs....

Burgers in DC the big debate would be between more than two places although Ray's Hell Burger vs. BGR might be the big contenders, but many other places might weigh in.

Smith Island Cake might be a big debate, but I couldn't tell you the companies other than the Sweet Shop in Crisfield.

Then there is the current cupcake war in DC....

-----
Ray's Hell Burger
1713 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209

[melpy]

Where I lived the debate on crabcakes was always Gunnings versus Timbuktu (and you could throw in G & M).

-----
G & M
804 N Hammonds Ferry Rd, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090

[elgringoviejo]

Cakes are so easy to make at home. Why go out for cakes? Just use the McCormick's crabcake mix a voila.

[Geeyore]

That sounds complicated. How about a pound of crab, some Hellmans, and a dash of Old Bay. Now that's a crab cake. ;-)