Your guide to Asian food in Westminster

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Annie Brown

I found that living in a suite this past year made life seem a lot like a sitcom sometimes. We always had friends over, and we ate some form of takeout or delivery at least a couple times a month. As a result, I had the chance to try three different Chinese and Asian restaurants. Here’s my take on them.

Forbidden City is the best Chinese restaurant in terms of food; it’s even been voted one of “Carroll’s Best” by the Carroll County Times for nine years in a row, according to the Forbidden City website. It’s located within walking distance of campus in the same shopping center as Westminster Station, a coffee place, and Rite Aid. While their food is good, they don’t deliver, so you have to be willing to walk or drive. As a result, it’s not always the most ideal option for eating in a dorm, but I have found that it’s fun to go to Forbidden City with a few friends, order takeout, and then enjoy it in Westminster Station along with some coffee and optional homework and studying.

If you’re looking for a cheaper place that does delivery, try China Inn. It’s the least expensive of the three Chinese places I’m highlighting in this post, and they deliver. You’ll probably have to order with some friends though, because because there’s a $20 minimum order for delivery. Of the three Chinese restaurants, China Inn is my least favorite in terms of food. I find their fried rice to be bland. However, their lo mein is pretty good, so I mixed it with the rice to even things out.

Asian Sakae is probably my favorite of the three nearby Chinese restaurants, and it was also voted the best Asian place by members of the McDaniel student body in “McDaniel’s Choice,” sponsored by the McDaniel Free Press. Their prices are comparable to Forbidden City, but they deliver with a $15 minimum order. Their menu isn’t limited to Chinese food either; they have Japanese food, including sushi, and Thai food as well. I have found Asian Sakae to have the greatest value of all of these three restaurants. They deliver and their food is pretty good.

If you’re looking for Asian food in Westminster, you have plenty of options. There are even more Asian restaurants than the ones I’ve listed here. However, the three restaurants I’ve highlighted are ones that you’ll probably want to try. Happy dining!

Surprise parties are the best parties

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Annie Brown

Today, I had the opportunity to throw a surprise party for one of my best friends on campus, and things turned out great!

Earlier in the week, my friend’s mom, who lives in Boston, called me to ask me if I could pick up a birthday cake from Starry Night Bakery in Westminster and surprise my friend with it. I knew with the help of some friends that we could totally pull off a surprise party, but we definitely had to plan it as we went along.

Before going to get the cake, another friend and I drove to the dollar store by the Food Lion to pick up some decorations. For under $5, we got plenty of decorations to spruce up the Forlines common room where we held the party. If you’re trying to hold a party on a budget, the dollar store is the first place to go for great deals.

Then we went to the bakery to get the cake. I didn’t realize this until we got there, but Starry Night Bakery won Food Network’s Cupcake Wars in 2011. This was no surprise; as soon as I saw the cupcakes, I nearly cried tears of joy because they looked so delicious. The cupcakes we picked up were chocolate with a coffee flavor and espresso frosting, and they were absolutely delicious.

After picking up the cupcakes and a yellow cake with butter cream icing, my friend and I had to rush to decorate the common room and get our friend assembled before the cake got too warm. (Neither the cake nor the cupcakes would fit into our microfridges.)

Eventually, we got everyone rounded up and we texted one of my friends to bring the birthday girl to us.

My friend was totally surprised to see us waiting for her and even more surprised to see the cake! We pulled off a low-key but very fun party with some great music to boot. Planning and celebrating a surprise party for one of my besties was an awesome way to spend my Saturday!

Friday night at Westminster Station

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Annie Brown

I’m not one to go wild and crazy on Friday nights, but I still like to have fun over the weekend. Often time, my friends and I will hang out in my suite’s common room (like we do on most nights), but tonight, I went with a couple of friends to Westminster Station, a local coffee shop.

Westminster Station is nice because it’s in walking distance from McDaniel (though we drove because it was cold and dark out) and because it’s open until 11 or so. They have a variety of drinks including tea, smoothies, and of course, coffee, and they’re quite tasty. They also have a gift shop with some pretty random and entertaining items. The atmosphere is nice–there’s plenty of tables but also plenty of sofas and there are more secluded and areas that are more out in the open. The bathroom is also worth mentioning, as it has a chalkboard wall. A lot of live music takes place here too.

There’s also plenty of books to read and look through. I was pleasantly surprised to find a copy of last year’s issue of Contrast, McDaniel’s literary magazine sitting on the coffee table where my friends and I situated ourselves for the evening. (I highly recommend perusing through the 2012 edition of Contrast if you ever get the chance–it’s a beautifully designed book with phenomenal prose, poetry, and artwork.) We spent a lot of our time looking through an astrology book that was also there, learning about our signs, our friends’ signs, and various interpersonal compatibility factors of each sign.

I had a lovely time and the fact that I was with a small group of friends was a nice change of pace for me. I have so many friends on campus who all like to hang out as one big group that I don’t always get to interact with my friends on a more individual basis. There’s nothing like being in a coffeehouse with good fun and good friends, and I would love go out for coffee more often.

Local lunches

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Amber Slater

It seems, when catching up with friends, that protocol is to go out to lunch. I did a lot of catching up over the break, so I bought a fair amount of lunches. I’m also a local student, so I was reminded how many good places to eat are right in town! Here are a few that are on Main Street, within walking distance from campus:

J Café

What I like most about going here is the element of comfort. The walls are a bright green and the benches are strewn with pillows. The menu offers a great variety of fare, and I’m always impressed with the freshness of the food. If you go here, it is absolutely necessary that you get a cupcake. Some of their flavors include chocolate coconut, key lime pie, and sweet potato with a caramel icing.

Raphael’s

While you should be prepared to pay a little more here, the food is excellent and I’ve always had great service. One of my favorite options is to do tapas here with friends. When the weather is nice outside, they have a back deck where you can eat. Dining out there always makes me feel like I’m at the beach!

Thai Classic

You’re guaranteed to get delicious food fast when you go to here. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive. Though I’m obsessed with their vegetable Pad Thai, everyone I’ve ever gone with has loved their choices as well. I also recommend getting a Thai iced tea if you pop in.

Besides these, Main Street offers a ton of great dining locations worth checking out! Eating out is a great way to shake up your normal dining routine and explore town if you’re not from the area.

Spring is coming!

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Annie Brown

Spring break is close, but spring seems even closer! The weather on campus was beautiful this weekend. A small number of students made their way to the quad on both days for some sunbathing and studying and playing catch, and as the weather gets warmer, more students (including me) will join them.

Because the weather was so nice, nine and my friends and I walked to Baugher’s for dinner. This was a lot of fun and the food was delicious (I had a hot turkey sandwich with a chocolate peanut butter sundae for dessert), but next time, I would go with a smaller group or on a different day in order to get seated faster–ten people on a warm Sunday evening is a recipe for a long wait at Baugher’s.

I’m looking forward to the emergence of warmer weather because it means I’ll be able to get off campus by myself more. Though I have friends with cars, I only ride in them when we go on group outings. I don’t have a car on campus, so my only solo means of transportation is walking, and in though there are plenty of things within walking distance from campus, when the weather is freezing, walking off campus usually isn’t worth it for me. (I also don’t like to rely on others to drive me places.) But with spring weather, I’ll be able to allow myself to go on more errands and go get coffee off campus. And with only eight weeks in between spring break and summer, it will be those little things that will give me something to look forward to when spring break is over : )

Expect the unexpected

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Annie Brown

A lot of unexpected things have been happening on campus over the past couple of weeks. On Tuesday night of last week, gastroenteritis, which came to be known on campus as the McVirus and the McPlague showed up unexpectedly. (In our college campus bubble, not many people were aware that gastroenteritis had been going around Carroll County for a couple of weeks.)

This week, something more delightfully unexpected happened: yesterday at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the College announced that we would be having a snow day today in anticipation of several inches of snow. While many people on campus had been expecting snow for a couple of days, none of us expected McDaniel to declare a snow day so early.

To celebrate the snow day announcement, four of my friends and I went to Denny’s for “second dinner” yesterday evening before the snow started falling. It was nice to go out, since I hadn’t seen much of my friends because I had been sick, and I ordered enough food to have leftovers for today so I wouldn’t have to go outside to get lunch.

Though the snow ended up being not as dramatic as we thought it would be, having a snow day today has been nice. I spent a lot of time sleeping today, so tonight I have to work on returning to reality by getting some homework done. Fortunately however, since the school is closed, I don’t have any activities to go to tonight, so I still have plenty of time to accomplish things!

An Unexpected Journey to Denny’s

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Annie Brown

What’s one way to reduce some of the insanity that comes along with the week before finals? Drop everything you’re doing and go to Denny’s in the middle of the night!

This evening I found myself feeling cabin-feverish and unmotivated to do even more work. So when some of my friends showed up to my suite saying that they wanted to go to Denny’s, I was all on board for it. I needed to get out of my room and enjoy myself a little, and a lot of the rest of us did too. In the 20 minutes before we left, I banged out 3/4 of a page of the paper I’m currently working on so I could sort of justify such an outing.

Since the epic trek to Denny’s was made by foot, my friend Sam (who’s taking a class called The Hero’s Journey with me) and I decided that it would be our own hero’s journey for tonight. After all, we had to cross a highway in order to get there. (Luckily, at one in the morning, there aren’t many cars, which makes crossing relatively safe if you remain alert and aware of your surroundings.) I also joked that he should do his creative project for The Hero’s Journey on our trip to Denny’s.

I think Sam and I must have been on to something, for when we and the other seven members of our group got to Denny’s we were greeted with The Hobbit-themed menus that said “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” on the front. This made my friends happy, since they’re Lord of the Rings fans and watched a couple of the movies last night in preparation for The Hobbit‘s release in theaters next week.

I ordered some pumpkin pancakes that were special to the Hobbit menu as a part of a Grand Slam, which gave me enough food to heat up and enjoy over the next few days when finals hunger gets the best of me. (Finals hunger is very real, and if not controlled appropriately, can be very fattening.)

Like all heroic journeys, my journey to Denny’s had to end with my return to my home “world” of McDaniel. Though my trek took two hours out of my late-night that would have otherwise been spent doing homework (incidentally for The Hero’s Journey), I’m actually feeling a lot more sane than I had been earlier this evening. Thank goodness for good friends and 24-hour restaurants!

The Worst is Over! (For Now…)

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Annie Brown

I’m very happy that all of my midterms wrapped up yesterday! I handed in my take-home midterm for my evening class, took an in-class science midterm, also turned in an essay draft for my rhetoric class. It was definitely overwhelming that all of this had to happen in one day, but now it’s over, I have a feeling of freedom!

To celebrate the end of midterms week, some of my friends and suite mates and I went out to IHOP for dinner. IHOP is easily within walking distance from campus, but since a couple of my friends have cars, we drove. My strawberry crepe was delicious and I had a really nice time unwinding with some of my favorite on-campus people! I’m also glad we planned our trip to IHOP in advance; I liked having something to look forward to immediately after my midterms ended at this afternoon. And while I was there, I even saw a TARDIS-inspired Smart Car. I’m not a big Doctor Who fan, but it was an exciting find!

But even better, fall break this weekend, and I get to go home! I’ve been using that as motivation as well. Though I have some assignments I’ll need to accomplish over break, I’m very excited to have some time of with my family and my new corgi puppy through Tuesday! In terms of schoolwork, things tend to get a little more intense during the second half of the semester, so having a few good days to rest up will be nice.

Only packing, a better night’s sleep, and my badminton class separate me from break now!

Local dining

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Amber Slater

Eating with friends is one of my favorite things. Whether in our dining hall or a nearby restaurant, a meal always just tastes better when I’m around my favorite people. Luckily, Westminster has a ton of family-owned dining options that are great for the college budget. Here are some of my favorites:

CUP Tea Bar and Cafe

Located on Main Street within walking distance from school, CUP offers both seasonal teas (fall flavors include Spiced Mango Chile and Swamp Water) and light fare. During colder months, it’s awesome to pop in for a pot of tea and grilled cheese sandwich. They also make their own desserts, and after ordering five cups of tea, you get a free scone!

Classico Pizzaria

My cross country team goes here after every single meet, and we often joke that we race just for the awesome food that we get after we run. They have great appetizers such as baked macaroni and cheese bites and cheese fries as well as pizzas, pasta dishes, and subs. Also located within walking distance from campus, this restaurant has a family feel and food that makes you sad when you’ve cleaned your plate because you are already craving more.

Legends Cafe

This restaurant just moved from a freestanding location to the Town Mall, and business is going incredibly well for them due to their awesome food. While entrees can be a little more pricey than the previously mentioned establishments, there are also soup and sandwich options. Plus, the theme of pop culture legends lends to a nostalgic atmosphere. While eating, you can jam to pop songs of the 60′s while watching a classic movie on the big screen TVs. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for date nights, family dinners, or just hanging out with your friends!

For more on Westminster dining, check out http://westminster.patch.com/listings/category/food-dining.

My Fun Family Weekend

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Annie Brown

It’s been a pretty good week so far, but I can’t help but think back to how awesome this past weekend was for me. On Friday night, I went to the Family Weekend pep rally and watched six episodes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus with my friends.

My parents came on Saturday for Family Weekend, an annual weekend for family and friends to visit campus and have a good time.

The first half of my day with my parents was centered largely around the fact that I was getting inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society for first year students, in the afternoon. As a result, my time with them when they first got here was a little limited, but we were still able to squeeze in a trip to Panera Bread for lunch and a trip to Baugher’s, a local orchard store and restaurant in walking distance from campus, for some desserts to last me through the week.

The induction ceremony lasted around an hour, so we were able to go catch some of the football game. Because it rained though, we only stayed for half of the third quarter.

I had my parents take me to Target on 140 for some snacks and needed items before going to dinner at Full Moon Pub and Grill in nearby Reisterstown—my parents’ excellent choice of restaurant. Full Moon has some of the best cream of crab soup I’ve ever tasted. It’s not too sour, not too spicy, and full of chunky crab meat. I highly recommend it! (The chocolate cake was also pretty good!)

After dinner, we went to Westminster’s Town Mall to hang out some more and do some recreational shopping, before they brought me back to McDaniel to hang out some more before returning home.

After they left, I had one of the most memorable evenings with my friends and suitemates ever. One of my suite mate’s parents brought pizza for all of us, which was very kind and wonderful. Once they left, things got very fun. (Somehow, we managed to sing Christmas carols for at least 20 minutes.)

As you might imagine, on Sunday, I had to catch up on my homework since Saturday was devoted to Family Weekend. But it was still a good day, since I got a lot done and was in the company of my friends. And I have to tell you, the best part about the day after a visit from family is the leftovers!

I’d have to say that this was one of the best weekends I’ve had on campus for a long time. I was surrounded by great fun, great family, great friends, and great food! As I work through this week, thinking about this past weekend and the fun weekends to come is something that’s keeping me smiling!

Stories from the Hill

Tag Archives: Restaurants