Tom and I work from home and once in a while -- after staring at each other from across our shared desk for too long -- we just have to get out for lunch. Then the discussion begins about where to go. Tom whips out his handy dandy iPhone and checks the UrbanSpoon App (which is great by the way). Up pops local TacoLove Grill with a whopping 94% approval rating with rave reviews. Well, let's go!

Lucky for us, it's right up Philadelphia Road, in White Marsh, located in the newer "L" shaped shopping center just south of Allender Road. It's kind of a sleepy spot and so we were a bit apprehensive. But that all changed once we entered and were greeted by the genuinely friendly waiter, the warm red painted walls and the huge chalkboard over the counter. So cute and clean. Perfect!

But looks aren't everything, it's really the food that counts. So would TacoLove impress us? I ordered the 3 tacos with a sampling of marinated pork, chicken and fish. Tom got a burrito stuffed with huge shrimp. Delish! The waiter also gave us a trio of condiments -- a mild salsa verde, a spicier salsa and this amazing corn salsa loaded with fresh cilantro, chopped tomato and sliced green onions. I'll tell you not a smidgen of food was left!

Next was dessert. I tried so hard to be good and not to order it, but the moment the waiter suggested their homemade Chocolate Flan -- and Tom gave me that look of his that says "Oh, come on!" -- I succumbed. Wow, it was so good. The flan sat atop a spongy chocolate cake soaked with some sort of subtly sweet liquid and little drizzles of a raspberry sauce. Ummmmhhhhh....

That afternoon we casually mentioned it to our oh so jealous kids and so the next night I ordered more food over the phone and they delivered!! Jackpot! No more pizza for this family (well, maybe not so much). Then, come to find out a bunch of my friends and neighbors have told me they also love it! One friend in particular is a real foodie, so that's a good endorsement. To make it all the much better, it's BYOB. And for delivery you can even order online.

So come on, show some love to TacoLove. They really deserve the all the business they can get.

TacoLove Grill
11550 Philadelphia Road Suite 120
White Marsh MD 21162.
410-256-0406
http://www.tacolovegrill.com/

​Hours:
Monday thru Thursday 11:00am to 9:00pm
Friday 11:00am to 10:00pm
Saturday 11:00am to 9:00pm
Sunday CLOSED

As if Richardson Farms Farm Market in White Marsh wasn't cool enough, they have a free holiday Train Garden this year. It's been set up by Harrison Trains and any donations collected go to the John Hopkins Children's Center.

I've written about this unique farm store before ("Fresh Local Produce and Luscious Plants at Richardson Farms"). Not only can you get great produce, it's become a community destination for meeting for lunch or attending one of their fun events (the spring Easter Egg hunt was so well done).

The train garden is housed in their giant greenhouse filled with a large selection of wonderfully smelly XMas trees for sale. It just oozes Christmas! The highlight of the set up is the Walt Disney World Castle with the iconic monorail making it's rounds every few minutes. Other personal favorites were the 1950s Diner and the band of Hobos camping out next to a box car. Not sure how, but their little pot boiling over the fire jiggled back and forth. The steam engine puffed out real steam and see if you can find Snoopy canoeing with his peeps....

SPECIAL TIP: My Mom and I took my youngest during the week so it wasn't crowded at all. In fact Eamon was able to madly chase the trains around without bothering anyone. We got to chat with the train master who showed us how to switch out the engines and divulged some inside scoop about how often they need to change the batteries in the monorail - 45 mins to be exact.

While you're there you can pick up some fresh farm produce, locally made goodies and of course your Christmas tree! Have fun and Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

I'm hoping by now most college students have gone back to school. I can't wait for fall weather so the newbies disappear under jeans and baggy sweaters and the regulars migrate outside so the Perry Hall Y is mine, all MINE!! (evil, maniacal laugh). But, alas I must share. I love this Y so much I can't help writing about it, therefore sabotaging my desire to have it all to myself. Sigh....