One of our family traditions is to dine out for a special meal together during Howard County Restaurant Weeks. Over the years, we’ve created memories of trying different restaurants, exploring a variety of neighborhoods, and tasting new dishes. In my opinion, Howard County has some of the most diverse and delicious cuisine in Maryland!
From January 16-January 29, 2023, Howard County Restaurant Weeks is a wonderful time to try a new dish, choose from special prix fixe menu items, and support restaurant service workers. Recently, I attended the kick-off to Winter Restaurant Weeks, which was live streamed to Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s Facebook page.
In the video below, Howard County’s tastemakers share what Restaurant Weeks is all about this year.
One moment that caught my attention was when Phillip Dodge, Executive Director of the Downtown Columbia Partnership, spoke about the incredible Bollywood fries and Naan pizza at the location of the press event, Clove n Cardamom. I ordered them afterwards, and they were well deserving of the praise! The Bollywood fries tasted more like a samosa (which are one of my favorite Indian appetizers) than a traditional french fry, and they were topped with delicious mint Chimichurri and Tamarind BBQ.
Although this was the first time I attended the kick-off press event for Restaurant Weeks, for years, our family has dined out during the bi-annual, two-week celebration of local food, drink, and community. My children enjoy this special meal. Between our busy work and school schedules, taking the time to indulge in a meal together as a family makes this event memorable. Having fantastic restaurants readily available in this area helps make it a satisfying culinary experience.
Located between Washington DC and Baltimore, Howard County has a hip and happening restaurant scene, from the bustling Merriweather district of downtown Columbia to the community of Fulton/Maple Lawn and the more serene farmland of Western Howard County.
Howard County is known for its farming heritage, which is nice to see within many of the restaurant’s decisions to source food locally, or even to grow their own food. Years ago, I received a behind-the-scenes tour of the Elkridge Furnace Inn, where I walked through their on-site garden, which is used to grow the fresh produce used in their meals.
Finding a memorable meal as a family has also meant traveling with our taste buds. In the Korean Way area of Ellicott City on Route 40, finding a restaurant serving authentic Korean cuisine and shopping for Korean baked goods is convenient. Whether we stop in my daughter’s favorite Boba Tea location, Tiger Sugar, try something completely new at Kim Bob Na Ra, or experience the excitement of a hot pot meal at Honey Pig, we always seem to come back to this area for an interesting excursion.
With Howard County consistently ranking as one of the happiest and safest areas, according to WalletHub, it’s a fantastic place to bring your whole family out for a meal. Although some people prefer to experience Restaurant Weeks with coworkers or friends, we’ve always taken a family approach to the event, and that’s #HowIHoCo. 🙂
Restaurant Weeks is the perfect time to keep the service industry workers in mind too. When I’m able to, I try to give a more generous tip and to be more understanding and gracious as a customer.
How do you HoCo during Restaurant Weeks? Let me know in the comments, and use #HoCoRW and #HowIHoCo to share your photos or story!
Disclosure: I am employed by Visit Howard County, but it in no way influenced my opinion.
