Eats: Sabor de Cuba

The Cuban restaurant in downtown has been opened since early 2012, and we have not tried it until late September of this year. Previously an Ethiopian restaurant, it is across two of our favorite Asian places, Sumittra and Lazy Fish.

There was also another Cuban restaurant in Frederick before until it closed down when one of the owners died in February of 2015, That Cuban Place.

From a Saturday photoshoot by the mister at Gravel & Grind, we planned on going to the last day of the Frederick Fair. We were outside the gates of the Frederick Fairgrounds when I asked the mister if he had enough cash. He had a $5 and I had a dollar which was not even enough for one fair ticket. The mister wanted to eat just a funnel cake, but I said it'll be a bit costly if we pay $8.00 per ticket just to eat one funnel cake. 'di ba?

When we decided to try this Cuban resto for the first time, it was around 5ish already, and just in time for an early dinner.

From the outside, it looked so small with probably about four tables only inside. I didn't know that the interior is big.



The server suggested for us to try their appetizer, shrimp ceviche.

The fried green plantain was surprisingly delicious with it. But the ceviche? It was just too sour for us. I still think the Filipino ceviche (kinilaw) is the best among the many versions of this dish.

I had Beef Enchilado, $17 (Marinated top sirloin, sautted with fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and jalapeno. Served with white rice and green plantains.)

This was spicy, but it had enough kick for me to enjoy the dish.

The mister had Pernil (Roasted pork leg), $15. (citurs marinated pork shank thinly sliced with garlic and onion. Served with white rice, black beans and fried sweet plantains.)


On the first Saturday of October, the young lady was home for the day. The mister needed to have his haircut done so we went to downtown. The boy was kind of unenthusiastic of trying Cuban, but he had no choice. It was three of us versus him. The children didn't come with us on that previous week we were here.


We were seated by the window. Thank God! I wished for it before we came in.


The first time the mister and I dined in, we were seated in the middle (check photo below, that table against a wall with a server standing up) and it was kind of dark. Taking photos of food in a not well-lit space does not produce a better photo especially that I used my phone camera only.


Milanesa de Pollo. $16 (Lightly breaded chicken breast topped homemade marinara sauce, served with white rice, black beans and sweet plantain)


Masitas de Puerco. $15 (Marinated porsels of pork deep fried until golden brown, served with white rice, black beans and sweet plantain)

This tasted like Filipino fried pork adobo.

The young lady decided to try their Pernil. $15.


Ropa Vieja (pulled flank steak), $16 (pulled and slowly cooked in tomato based sauce with olives and capers, served with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains)


Sabor de Cuba's dishes were good. However, I wasn't impress with my last dish, the Ropa Vieja. It would be better if the sauce was thicker. The best we've tried was the Pernil. It tasted closely to the Filipino lechon or roasted pig.

On a summer trip to Miami, Florida in 2012, our friends treated us to lunch at a Cuban resto near their place, and that was the first time we've tried Cuban oxtail stew. It was sooooo good. I don't know if they do serve it in downtown. It wasn't in their menu.

What I also noticed was that they served their food without fresh garnishes, just like how traditional Filipino food is served too. I really thought only Filipinos do that. I preferably want my plate with the fresh greens, some carrot or beet strings, or a few slices of cucumber. But even without it, I still love their plate because there were sweet plaintains in it. Love bananas!


Sabor de Cuba Restaurant
9 E Patrick St.
Frederick, Maryland
Tel. No. (301) 663-1036

Artifact Coffee

Artifact Coffee is an independent rustic coffee shop in Union Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland. The mister took me to lunch here one Saturday in June. It is located in an old stone mill built in 1866 that was considered the largest producer of cotton duck in the world. Now, the Union Mill houses commercial and living spaces.




Vietnamese iced coffee ($4.50) and  Japanese style iced coffee ($4.50).


Asparagus, fish pepper, scallion quiche. $8.


White chili, chicken, hominy, charred onion served with corn bread. $11.


Vegetable Bahn Mi (marinated tofu, mayo, cilantro on baguette). $11


First time I tried hominy. I honestly wondered why the corn kernels were huge, and how they cracked them. I thought it was a different type of corn. Then, I learned it's dried corn kernel, then treated by soaking it in lye bath. I don't know what's a lye bath, but that's what it says on the internet. Lye bath?! That sounds poisonous. Hehehe.


Macchiato. $3


Everything here was love. We didn't expect to get enormous servings. One dish was actually enough for the two of us. I can't wait to take our human cubs to dine here in our next trip to Baltimore.


Artifact Coffee
1500 Union Ave
Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: (410) 235-1881

Kittiwat Thai Kitchen

We haven't been to this side of town for a very long time. We also don't come here to eat. I don't know why but we always look for places to dine in downtown.

Kittiwat Thai Kitchen opened in Frederick a couple of years ago. I remember the mister telling me about a new Thai restaurant that opened near our friends' neighborhood.

Last month, we finally had a chance to try this restaurant.



The interior is not your traditional Asian restaurant. Mismatched dining furniture, and minimal decor.



Thai iced tea was served differently than what we've tried in all our Thai dining experiences.



Taro Crispy Rolls (Glass noodles, vegetables, and taro, served with carrot-pineapple sauce . $6)


From their lunch special which is available everyday until 3:30 pm. A complimentary first course with choices between Chicken Tom Yum Soup or Mini Crispy Rolls.

I had the Chicken Tom Yum Soup with my Chicken Panang Curry.


The mister's Chicken Pad Thai, and it also came with soup.


The boy had flat rice noodles that also came with a complimentary first course. His choice--mini crispy rolls


Chicken Pad See Euw (flat rice noodle, egg, Chinese broccoli, with black bean soy sauce)


Their lunch specials was so worth it for just $12. Service was quick. Food was great. I just find their iced tea weak in taste. It needed oomph! It was just "lasaw!"


Kittiwat Thai Kitchen
5205 Presidents Ct.
Frederick, MD. 21703
(301)631-0999

The Weekend

The mister got a text message on Friday from our friend, Verner for an intimate Saturday dinner invitation at their house. So, I told the mister that we'll bring two trays of cassava cake. They always request me to bring this everytime we see each other.

Broiling for 2 more minutes and it's done. #cassavacake - 1tray for @extrafunky and 1 for me. 😆😅😃 #homebaking #homebaked #homebaker #pinoyfood #kakanin

A video posted by Hi! I'm Lili. (@missnalupa) on Feb 20, 2016 at 1:38pm PST

Grilled fish (pompano), grilled squid, grilled pork belly, two varieties of Palabok (one had chicken and another had shrimp), cassava cake, coffee cake, cheese, and cured and smoked meat platter, coffee, red wine, and beer. All were instagrammable, even our water.




The following day we came back at the Abella's for more. Again!? Hahaha. So, basically we spent most of our weekend at their house. We had Saturday's left overs, and Rema's (Verner's wife) steamed rice Dimsum Style for dinner.



I didn't exactly know the reason for the gathering, so I asked my friend, Yengyeng on Friday evening.

She said, "Great weather!"

I disagree. It wasn't great. It was perfect.


P.S. Yes! We finished the two trays of cassava cake.

Firestone's

I didn't know that the mister had plans for Sunday's dinner. He made reservations at Firestone's in downtown. It is owned by Kimball Firestone, the grandson of Harvey Firestone, founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. We wanted to dine here so many times in the past, but somehow we haven't had the chance yet for reasons I forgot until last night. I have heard wonderful reviews of the place.



Before our orders came in, we were served with Chorizo salad or something that sounded like that compliments of the chef.


Elderflower Old Fashioned


First course:
Lobster Bisque (Lemon Mascarpone cream)


Tuna Tartar (Yuzu Vinaigarette, cucumber, white corn shoot salad, served with sesame crisps)

I didn't know that corn shoots are edible. This dish was to die for, and in our opinion, Firestone's tuna tartar is the best in town!

Then we were served with Mixed berry sorbet to cleanse our palate.


Second Course:
Pork Chop Au Poivre  (Winter root vegetable gratin, grilled white asparagus, au poivre sauce)

The sauce that I had a hard time saying was really good. "oh pwah-vruh", I really needed to remember how to say that. Hahahaha.

Striped Bass Linguini ( Hand rolled pasta, roasted fennel, arugula, grape tomatoes, capers, soubise)

I do not enjoy pasta, but I wanted to eat fish. So, I thought why not try a pasta dish at the Firestone's. Another to die for dish!

Then after the second course, the server asked us if we wanted coffee (or tea) while waiting for dessert.

We said yes to coffee because it'll be perfect with our desserts.

Third Course:
Blood Orange Mascarpone Tart (Candied zest, mascarpone sorbet)

It was our first time to have candied orange zest. It was lami! (delicious)

Mixed Berry Short Cake (Crème anglaise, angel food cake, berry compote)

A really delicious dessert, and it looked like a Jackson Pollock's original art on a plate.

Then they gave us a couple of French macarons. This was the first time we've seen and tasted one that's so white. I thought they were steamed buns.


It seemed like we had so much food, but after eating them all, it didn't felt like we were over satiated. We both loved everything we had. All I can say is that this is the best dining experience I've had.  I'd really like to come back again. And oh, the service was outstanding.

Firestone's Culinary Tavern
105 North Market Street
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 663-0330