Royal Taj: Authentic Indian Cuisine and Fast Service
January 13, 2015 by
Royal Taj is one of Columbia’s busiest Indian restaurants, thanks to the quality of its food. Locals say you can’t say no to Royal Taj, whether you’re ordering a la carte or having the lunch buffet. Here you can enjoy the relaxed ambiance and the modern décor as you tuck into flavorful dishes served by cheerful staff. Order the lamb vindaloo, the chicken tikka masala, the vegetable korma or the chicken curry. Vegetarians and vegans will find plenty to eat here.
You may need to wait for a table at this popular restaurant, but if you show up earlier in the evening, you have a better chance of being seated right away. Royal Taj is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays and 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.
Royal Taj
8874 McGaw Road
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 381-1111
www.royaltajmd.com
www.yelp.com/biz/royal-taj-columbia
Greenberries: Where Parents Can Shop for All Things Kids
January 6, 2015 by
Columbia’s Greenberries sells new and gently used children’s clothing, toys, games, baby supplies, and books to local parents. You can also take a class or workshop on parenting-related topics at Greenberries – workshops and classes here cover a wide range of topics including breastfeeding, babywearing, birthing, Ayurveda, cloth diapering, and estate planning. Regulars like to shop at Greenberries for high-end children’s clothing, nursing products, and baby supplies at deeply discounted prices.
Regulars say that if you see an item you like on consignment here, it’s worth waiting a few days to see if the price drops – Greenberries management has a habit of dropping consignment prices after the item has been on sale for a certain number of days.
Greenberries is open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Greenberries
6925 Oakland Mills Road
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 290-6253
www.greenberriescompany.com
www.yelp.com/biz/greenberries-company-columbia
Healthy Seafood Recipes for Lunch or Dinner
December 23, 2014 by
Many home chefs are often intimidated by preparing seafood, either because of its delicate texture or because they simply don’t know which types to buy. These tasty and nutritious recipes can take the guesswork out of cooking with fish, shrimp and other types of seafood.
Baja-Style Salmon Tacos
Unlike many restaurant tacos, this recipe adds up to just 325 calories and is packed with 24 grams of necessary protein. The grilled salmon and whole wheat tortillas give these Baja-style fish tacos a healthy makeover that’s still a flavorful treat.
Fish Veronique
A traditional dish with a healthy, modern twist, this recipe for Fish Veronique creates a comfort food that won’t break your diet. By removing the fat from the chicken broth and using low-fat milk, you can create a decadent, creamy sauce with none of the extra fat or calories.
Baked Red Snapper With Zesty Tomato Sauce
Create an elegant dinner for your family or your guests with this low-fat, low-calorie Italian fish dish. Use your choice of either red snapper or bass to find the taste you prefer, and top with zesty tomato sauce for major flavor.
For more nutritious meals using seafood, visit the NIH website here.
Chutney Indian Restaurant: Fresh Food and Quality Service
December 9, 2014 by
Columbia’s Chutney Indian Restaurant serves North and South Indian cuisine to an appreciative clientele. Customers say the food here is well-spiced and appropriate for even for the pickiest of diners. If you like your Indian food authentically spicy, just let the waiter know. Regulars love the lighting and décor here, and many say it’s their favorite Indian restaurant in the area. Popular menu items include the meat samosa, the goat curry, the lamb biryani, the spinach chicken, and the chicken hyderabadi.
Regulars say the spacious dining room here is large enough to accommodate big groups, and the servers are friendly and cheerful. If you’re the type of person that has a difficult time deciding on one dish, make sure to stop by and take advantage of the lunch buffet. That way, you can sample a little bit of everything – and go back for seconds!
Chutney Indian Restaurant
9400 Snowden River Parkway
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 381-3600
www.chutneymd.com
www.yelp.com/biz/chutney-indian-restaurant-columbia-2
Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park: Jump and Play in Columbia, Maryland
December 2, 2014 by
Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park might just be one of the most fun attractions in Columbia, Maryland. Activities to try here include Open Jump, Ultimate Dodgeball, and the Foam Zone, where you can jump and flip into a pit filled with foam cubes. Guests can also burn calories in Sky Zone’s Skyfitness and Skyrobics classes.
Local families say their kids and teens love Sky Zone, but parents have a good time here, too. Book your child’s birthday party or make Sky Zone the destination for your next corporate event, family reunion, or group outing.
Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park
7175 Oakland Mills Road
Columbia, MD 21046
(443) 546-4477
www.skyzone.com/columbia
www.yelp.com/biz/sky-zone-columbia
Healthy, Hearty Pancake Recipes
November 25, 2014 by
Pancakes aren’t normally considered a healthy food, and adding high-calorie butter and sugary syrup certainly doesn’t help. With just a few small substitutions, however, pancakes can become a healthy and hearty indulgence for brunch or breakfast. These websites are full of nutritious pancake recipes that you can make at home.
Health.com
Health.com’s list of pancake recipes includes unique options that are much more interesting than the usual buttermilk. They also include fat-free milk, whole-wheat flour and other healthy ingredients to keep the calorie count low. Try the Carrot Cake Pancakes for a sweet and spicy weekend brunch, or whip up some Oatmeal Pancakes with Wild Blueberry Sauce for a summer breakfast that the whole family will love.
Cooking Light
Cooking Light magazine’s website features delicious pancakes that are a bit easier on your diet than the usual recipe. Buttermilk-Banana Pancakes with Pomegranate Syrup are quick to make and full of nutrients from fruit, but they’re so delicious that your family will think you spent hours in front of a hot stove. The site also features blueberry pancakes, coconut pancakes, oatmeal pancakes and a number of other delicious and healthy breakfast options.
Great Harvest Bread Company: Stock Up on Fresh Baked Goods
November 18, 2014 by
Since 1976, Great Harvest Bread Company has grown from a single shop in Great Falls, Montana to a nationwide franchise, which includes a Columbia location. However, Great Harvest hasn’t allowed success to compromise its commitment to making fresh, simple whole grain breads. The breads and baked goods here are made with the highest-quality ingredients and are free of preservatives and additives. Order a tasty fresh sandwich, or try sweets including scones, cookies, brownie bread, and apple cake. Regulars say the fresh baked breads and sweets are some of the most flavorful they’ve ever had.
Grab a fresh loaf of bread or order a sandwich – popular sandwiches include the power house, the turkey sandwich, the monster focaccia, and the Swiss. Enjoy free samples of bakery items to help decide which loaves and sweets to buy. Great Harvest Bread Company is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Great Harvest Bread Company
8835 Centre Park Drive
Columbia, MD 21045
(443) 542-5912
www.greatharvestcolumbia.com
www.yelp.com/biz/great-harvest-bread-company-columbia
Hickory Ridge Grill: Breakfast And More
November 11, 2014 by
The owners of Columbia’s Hickory Ridge Grill aren’t satisfied just making some of the best breakfasts and brunches in the area – they’re also looking to serve up great Mediterranean food as well. And when those two categories intersect, like the delicious omelets with gyro meat, something truly special happens.
The omelets here draw raves from locals for how precisely the eggs are cooked – fluffy and moist, they serve as a great platform for the bevy of fresh ingredients the kitchen stuffs them with. If you have a sweet tooth, the Hickory Ridge Grill provides a selection of pancakes, waffles, and other breakfast treats. Lunches and dinners are also quite well-liked, with a bunch of sandwiches winning special praise as well as some very good pasta dishes.
Visit Hickory Ridge Grill's website to learn more about this Columbia restaurant!
Hickory Ridge Grill
6420 Freetown Road
Columbia, MD 21044
(443) 535-9876
http://hickoryridgegrill.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hickory-ridge-grill-columbia
Daedalus Books Warehouse Outlet: Shop Thousands of Remainder Books
November 4, 2014 by
Daedalus Books Warehouse Outlet in Columbia calls itself the best remainder bookstore in America, and it certainly is popular among local budget-conscious readers and holiday shoppers. Here you’ll find 10,000 square feet of warehouse space packed with remaindered books, DVDs, and CDs. Regulars like the great selection and low prices, though you won’t find a café or any other bells and whistles in this bookstore. The books sold here are publisher leftovers that didn’t sell during the first weeks of their print run, so you can pick them up new for a fraction of the list price.
While regulars love the selection at Daedalus Books Warehouse Outlet, they do warn that if you see something here you want, you’d better buy it before it disappears. There’s no guarantee Daedalus will ever stock the same book, CD, or DVD again. Daedalus Books Warehouse Outlet is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
Daedalus Books Warehouse Outlet
9645 Gerwig Lane
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 309-2730
www.daedalusbooks.com/Main/Stores/Col/WareHouseOutlet.asp
www.yelp.com/biz/daedalus-books-warehouse-outlet-columbia
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