Vegetarian Burgers and Chicken Sandwiches

​Since the vegetarian burger came out and considering myself as a environmentalist advocate, I took the plunge and tried the "Impossible Whopper"  I know from what I read, the amount of colries wouldn't be any different from a regular beef burger but at lease by switching it will help mother earth to recuperate. Yoou know the amount of grazing area is needed to raise beef as well as the massive amounts of water needed. So, if I can contribute in the slightest ways I will.
To my surprise, the Impossible Whopper had the teture of beef and most importantly the flavor. It had the chewing texture of beef. Then you add the regular lettuce, tomatoes and onions, add some mayo and ketchup, you'll never know you were eating a vegetarian burger. Kudos to Burger King.  Now more and more fast food shops are testing the vegetarian burgers and I think its a wise move.
Chicken sandwiches have seem a chicken war. Going along the same lines that people are slowly being sriven off beef, chicken is becoming king. Now I have to say that KFC DID have an excellent sandwich but failed to advertise or build their dwindling reputation. They flunked miserable. So, we have Wendy's. and we have Popeyes and practically every fast food has their own version of chicken sandwich but right now Chic Fil A is the premium leader. Yes the chicken breast is very high in sodium, so those with high blood pressure, moderation is key here. I'm looking forward to the Popeye's chicken sandwich.

By Chef Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
#chefwoocanlovesimpossibleburger, #chickensandwichisnumber1  

Conrad's Seafood

For all my views know that I love seafood, all kinds of seafood and those establishment that  know how to make good seafood gets rave reviews from the one and only Chef Woo Can. These establishments focus on one thing only, to provide the best quality seafood to their customers. That's what they are in business for, for the customer and to establish their reputation to their customer base. That goal and only that goal will bring back customers forever.
Ok, seafood is going through a rough patch right now, over fishing has destroyed existing fishing grounds, mass production of seafood is treated with chemicals to ensure their longevity, most seafood is flash frozen and now demand exceeds supply. That means to get fresh seafood, your going to pay a lot, but if your a seafood lover, price matters but that seafood taste is one of a kind, the sweetness of sea scallops, the tenderness of bay scallops, the succulent savory taste of fresh Maine Lobster to our delicious Maryland crabs from the Chesapeake makes it worthwhile to juicy oyster and clams.
Yes, I will be the first to say that quality is being compromised with climate change affecting the seafood chain. Wild salmon may eventually be more expensive than caviar eventually. Over development of natural lands to satisfy the greedy is taking shape in the Northwest USA with wild salmon possibly being affected by mining of precious metals.
To open a seafood business is tough, to keep up with all these factors impacting price is difficult to say the least. Seafood entrepreneurs are losing their focus, focus is how do they manage a business expenses while making a profit.  Do they compromise on quality? portions? hike up rates? all to pay for expenses, payroll etc...… or is the thinking of expanding the company name and hopefully the reputation may reach a broader customer base?
I choose Conrad's Seafood Restaurant and take out because I've been there a few times. I know Conrad's has been in Maryland for quite sometime but within a year  or two, the company has decided to expand.
Let me first tell you of my experience there first. One time it was a company luncheon and I had a crab cake sandwich. What I got was a semi sort of warm crab cake on a huge roll. When I say huge roll, it was bigger than the crabcake. Now, if I wanted bread, I would pick up a loaf of bread at the local market. When you go to a seafood restaurant, whether for lunch or dinner, I expect seafood and it should be hot off the presses. What, in the kitchen the crab cakes are sitting under the warmer light?
Very disappointed but thank God I didn't have to pay. But other had ordered the snow crab legs and they said it was watery and "Where's the meat"
This was before Conrad's was planning to open up 2 more places in Harford County.
Another time my friend and I decided to try out the new Conrad's by Wegmans, used to be the Ocean City Brewing Company.    
As a self proclaimed food critic, I usually, let me change that I rarely go back to a restaurant that's terrible.
Well Conrad's was the lucky one to get a second chance. Boy, oh boy am I stupid!. I ordered Fried Calamari and stuffed shrimp with crab imperial. The Fried calamari tasted like it was frozen. You can tell by the coating and the texture. The stuffed shrimp, I was really expecting at least six stuffed  shrimp and I don't think I was wrong expecting that with a nice creamy flowing crab imperial with lump crabmeat. What I got at the time was 4 small shrimp with a glob of so called crab imperial , not much lump crabmeat and it was a smooth sauce but rather coagulated and rough. It's hard to explain but it didn't have the flowing effect like melted cheese, rather it wasn't hot rather warm and been sitting around I guess it was a popular dish.
To top it off, when the bill came, It was ridiculous. I could have gone to my fiends local Chinese restaurant for the price and had a banquet meal.
So, Conrad's has massive payroll expense, 3 leases, utility bills, inventory for 3 restaurant/carry out and boosting the price to pay for all these expenses. In the final analysis, they will lose customers, quality will become poorer, professionalism will be hit and the price will be out of range for most and those that love seafood may think twice of paying for something that is considered sub par.
Inventory, seafood is highly perishable, what do they do with the slow moving dishes?  that I can only imagine is sitting for a long time especially food that is not turning over very quick. What? do you actually think they will throw out seafood that's been sitting around, no they will probably sell it as one of their specials! DO NOT BUY ANY SPECIALS!!!!! They are trying to move the slow moving seafood inventory. Conrad's has lost their focus, expanding? why? I'd rather have them not expand but I'm not originally from Maryland but I think it was a bad move.
I have to say, I don't have anything nice to say about Conrad's Seafood Restaurant, Everything is terrible, just saying so on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being poor, I give this place a
(negative -100)

By Chef Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
#Conradseafoodpoor, #chefwoocannotlikingconradseafood, #conradsseafoodterrible 

Wok To Go (If you don't visit them, your missing good Chinese food!)
Bel Air, MD

I wrote about this place a couple of weeks ago and I gave rave reviews but tonight I have to say that I ordered Ginger chicken with string beans. Expecting not to see slivers of ginger and no ginger flavor, I was completely wrong. Wok To Go has managed to take pride in all their dishes. The dish I ordered had lots of ginger slivers and there was a authentic ginger taste. It was an amazing experience and a pleasure enjoying this dish.
On top of that the pan fried dumplings as always was delectable. They managed using a thin skin that was gently pan fried was delicious.
I had to tell you my delicious experience!
On a scale of 1-5 and 5 being excellent, well for the ginger chicken with string beans I gave 5 starts.
I have never had any dish where it says they put garlic or ginger in a dish and after tasting it, there was nothing. 
When Wok To Says they have ginger, they surely do have it in the dish and it taste like ginger chicken flavor. 
Go visit Wok To Go in Bel Air, MD

By Chef Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
#chefwoosaysyestowoktogo, #ordergingerchickenwithstringbeans

Jimmy's Famous Seafood
Baltimore, MD

I have to say that Baltimore offers the best selection of seafood restaurants. These established restaurants have been a mainstay in Baltimore for quite sometime and I have appreciated their freshness in everyway. 
I have expanded my take on reviewing of restaurants that now encompass Baltimore. Sorry Harford County but Baltimore is my new focus.
At my friend's advice I went to visit Jimmy's Famous Seafood in Baltimore. As many know I'm a seafood addict and the only way to eat seafood must be FRESH.
Sometime ago I had gone to G & M Seafood and the test of seafood freshness I ordered raw little neck clams on the half shell. Well, the shucked clam was done cleanly with no shell fragments, clean and fresh and to top it off the clams were brinely. Excellent. 
Going to Jimmy's Seafood, was another great restaurant and I ordered the top neck clams, a bigger clam on the half shell. They were deliciously fresh, cleanly shucked and so fresh and this was on a weekday. The other test was to order the Cream of Crab soup and to my amazement, I ordered a bowl. Now, some restaurants offer a cup of bowl but usually the bowl is wider and more shallow but the image of getting more is not really there. At Jimmy's, I ordered the bowl and boy, the quantity of soup was well worth it. I could have had it as a meal in itself. It wasn't too think, just perfect. This is their way and their way is delicious. Chunks of crabmeat in every spoonful.
It was a wonderful experience. Now, I went against my attitude towards ordering fried shrimp but I wanted to try it. The fried shrimp I know is pre-frozen and dep fried but the French fries were made on premises with a nice slight batter, very tasty.
I'm looking forward to going back and try their dinner menu.
My rating of this restaurant based on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being excellent, I give this restaurant a "5". I highly recommend this place.
For  weekday, I was very impressed with service, freshness of food and great value for the money.

By Che Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
​#chefwoocansaysjimmysseafoodisexcellent, #freshseafoodinbaltimorejimmys 

The Rusty Scupper
Baltimore, MD (Inner Harbor)

Today, our team was invited to a happy hour at the rusty Scupper. For the times my wife and I celebrated various occasions here, they were always fond memories. I anything, the view of the Inner Harbor is spectacular!
There's nothing like a restaurant with an awesome view. What better way to enjoy with some delicious food. That's where things go drastically downhill.
Our waiter was very accommodating and our company was fun and very sociable. What's missing? Maybe some great appetizers? You think. Well, the first appetizers provided was popcorn shrimp. What is popcorn shrimp? popcorn shrimps are little shrimps with no flavor in a heavy bread crumb batter that was very very salted. Ok when your having a beer or two but  I would expect from the Rusty Scupper some fresh seafood appetizers, not frozen. The cocktail sauce just added more flavor to an otherwise tasteless shrimp hidden by salty bread crumbs and cocktail sauce.
They brought out a basket of Fried Calamari.  The quantity was embarrassing. Now I know its not the best of times for business but management has to realize that by providing sub par food whether it be appetizers or entrees, there is a certain reputation that they must uphold. But if its cutting expenses by offering cheaper fare at crazy prices and compromising on the quality, then its a lose lose situation. Clientele will only visit for the excellent view and first impressions never diminish, so one taste of their appetizers may be the last time they visit the Rusty Scupper. Word spreads and customers will avoid the place and that's the restaurants bread and butter. No revenues, reduce payroll, reduce menu items and reduce quality.
On a scale of 1-5 and 5 being excellent, I regret that I must give a rating of "1". Very disappointed!
By Che Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
#rustyscupperappetizersdisappointing, #chefwoocansaysavoidrustyscrupper, #rustyscrupperdoesntliveuptoreputation      

G & M Seafood Restaurant
Linthicum Heights, MD

Yep, everyone has heard about G & M. I have to say, its the place to go for FRESH SEAFOOD. They take pride in their food, service and reputation.
The weekend during lunch hour, the place was packed.  No problem getting seated. Waitress was very professional, attentive, and punctual.
I started with 1 dozen clams on the half shell, cream of crab and a crab cake with baked potato.
I'm talking fresh clams on the 1/2 shell. So, chilled and fresh and so delicious and chewy with a little briny taste. The cream of crab, listen to this, chunks of jumbo lump crab meat, not 1 piece but many pieces, the consistency wasn't overly thick but just right and the topping on the soup had fresh sherry in it. I tasted it and I was in heaven. Where can I get cream of crab with sherry. Not too think and no to thin but perfect.
The crab cake, what can I day, now I know why they are the best crab cakes in MD, very little breading, so delicious, truly sensational. 
No wonder this establishment has definitely earned their reputation as one of the freshest places to go for seafood!
On a sale of 1-5 and 5 being excellent, I have to give this place a 5+.
It's that good!

By Chef Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
#Chefwoocansaysgandm is fantastic, #you wantfreshseafoodgandmistheplacetogo

Wok To Go/Carry out and eat in too
Bel Air, MD

Sometimes I have to change up our favorite Chinese carry out place. Our favorite is The Orient on Main Street, Bel Air, MD so I wanted to go to "Wok To Go" and I have to say it may be my new favorite place on  Friday night.
Why? ok, for example, I love pan fried dumplings and most of the time, the skin is thick and chewy, but when Wok To Go makes their pan fried dumplings, the skin is thinner and still chewy which I enjoy very much.  I ordered the Orange Chicken. Even when it was ordered by the time I got it home, rather than being soggy there was still a crunch from the chicken. To top it off, I ordered the Beef Chow Fun (wide rice noodles) and it was very close to authentic like in Chinatown. Nice portion of bean sprouts, chewy wide rice noodles and a perfect combination of sauces. and the beef was so tender.  I also ordered Shrimp with cashew nuts and I was disappointed, lots of diced celery and carrots with only 6 medium size shrimp. The hot and sour soup was perfect.
I'll tell you other than the shrimp with cashew nuts, this place will definitely be my favorite. There's even room to eat there and it has a nice atmosphere. clean and inviting. You want sushi, they have that too.
Rating: On a sale of 1-5 and 5 being excellent, I give Wok To Go a 4 1/2.
I highly recommend this place. I just felt they didn't overwhelm each dish with lots of sauces.
By Chef Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
​#Chefwoocanloveswoktogo, #woktogoisuniquechinesefood, #woktogopanfrieddumplingsdelicious  

Vincent's Crab House & Restaurant
​Fallston, MD

In my opinion when Fallston Seafood was around, I thought it was the best seafood restaurant. My wife and I frequented the restaurant before they built out that section for th bar. At the time the combination of delicious fresh crabs were never disappointing, always fresh and heavy males. I like the their version of the coating. Most places use the pure Old Bay, their seasoning combination never overwhelmed the flavor of the crab, always complimented it. 
Since the change in ownership, we decided to order our traditional favorites, the cream of crab, although kinda thick, thick like sticking to my ribs. The crab flavor was still there and the Old Bay was just perfect to compliment the soup. The menu showed the fresh seafood from various region of the country, I tried the sea scallops from Maine with a cream sauce. There was too much sauce that it overwhelmed the scallops.  My daughter had the New York Strip steak at medium and it was good, my wife had the crab cake, and it was ok. However on another occasion we went to Vince's again and I have to say, their steamed crabs were delicious, so fresh and full. The seasoning was great, not too spicy, just right.
The staff was very professional, friendly and attentive. I know that Vince's has to live up to what Fallston Seafood offered but I'd say so far, there are doing a pretty good job.
Rating: On a sale of 1-5 and 5 being excellent, I give Vince's a 4.
Go and visit them.
By Chef Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
#Vincescrabhouse, #Chefwoocanreviewsaysyesto vincescrabhouse