Best Pizza and a Movie

After only a sliver of a taste at the Best of Annapolis Party, we just had to try the Best Pizza. Rocco's Pizza has won the Best Pizza category for at least four years now, and happy Annapolitans have been eating for 35 years.

The Best Pizza of Annapolis

Rocco's pizza doesn't look like much at first glance, but what it lacks in beauty it makes up for in deliciousness.

Rocco's cheeze pizza is yum

The pizza crust was thin, true to New York style, but substantial and not soggy at all. Top that with juicy sweet tomato sauce and melted mozzarella with just a hint of smokiness and there you have it - survey says: best pizza.

The best pizza has gotta with a good movie. I'm a sucker for both romance and action, so we took a chance on The Adjustment Bureau.

The Adjustment Bureau is ©Universal Pictures

The movie kept us involved and on the edge of our seats. After the climax, the husband was dying to know the screenwriter. Who wove together this thrilling story? The screen went dark and the words "Based on a story by Philip K. Dick" appeared.

Oh, that makes sense.

The Beauty of Whole Foods

I've had the pleasure of attending several events catered by Whole Foods Annapolis. The food has always been good, but the desserts stand out above all else. Their tarts, cakes, and mousses are beautiful, delicate, and just as delicious as they look. The best part is that you don't have to go to a fancy dinner to get the same pretty sweets. You can have your own party any day of the week by picking up ready-made desserts in the prepared section at Whole Foods.

I couldn't resist one bite...

The choco-coffeeholic cake has layers of moist cake and light, fluffy mousse. Coffee and chocolate coexist peacefully. The decorative chocolate garnishes are very edible, in fact, those chocolate coffee beans pack an espresso punch and a bit of crunch.

Perfect right out of the package

In the small lemon charlotte, spongy cake soaks up sticky sweet lemon glaze. Even the whipped cream on top has a little spike of tart lemon flavor. It's all in the details.

The amazing desserts at Whole Foods Annapolis are available every day and come in almost any flavor you can think of. Lemon bars, Tres Leches, and chocolate Oreo parfaits were just a few of the temptations that took all my willpower to resist. Of course, custom desserts can also be made-to-order at their bakery for special occasions. And if you're sneaky, you can always bring one home and take the credit. O.o But I'll know. It'll be our secret.

Sweet Dreams.

Thursday's Father's Day?

I really want to know what hunger, what desperation was going on in that first native's mind when they first looked at one of these little buggers and thought: "Hey, I could eat that." What other food produces twice the trash as it does edible fodder, has parts so sharp they can make you bleed, and requires you to burn as many calories as you earn? Crabs are crazy creatures, but we're Marylanders and we love them. They are a part of not only our cuisine, but our identity.

Tools of the Trade

So what would any good Annapolitan daughter do for her daddy on Father's Day? Take him crab bangin'.

So your first thought, of course, is our own Cantler's Riverside Inn. Yes, you and every other Annapolitan daughter. That's why I took my Dad a little further down the West River to Thursday's in Galesville.

Thursday's

The West River is a bit quieter than the other rivers of Annapolis. Beautiful sailboats glide by Thursday's wrap-around deck while boaters, bikers, and families enjoy crabs, steaks, and some fun Tex-Mex inspired appetizers along with their seabreezes and ice cold beers. In case you can't tell, I love this place.

A pretty sailboat on the West River

Dad got half a dozen local males and Mom got a broiled crab cake... so, about the same amount of crab meat but without the work. But c'mon, crabangin' is half the fun. It's the second official sport of Maryland after jousting.

Awesome right? So save the bay!

And of course, there was some beer to wash down all that Old Bay and crab meat. Dad likes 'em hoppy so he got a Harpoon IPA.

A crabby mess

About two messy hours later, six empty shells were in the bucket and Dad reached for the wet naps. He enjoyed the feast of crabs as much this year as every year we've had this family tradition. Two years now have been spent at Thursday's, and I have a feeling it's going to stick.

Best of Annapolis Party

The Best of Annapolis Party by What's Up? Magazine was hoppin' tonight. A crowded party is usually not my scene, but a food lover just can't resist a tasting party.

The theme was Paris to Annapolis... which I didn't quite get, but the decor was super-cute with red crabs crawling up an Eiffel Tower.

I got a few shots as we quickly grabbed food from the "Best" restaurant food stations. Paladar was serving their famous fresh guac with homemade yucca and plantain chips. These chips are so addicting!

Tonight I got my first taste of Davis' Pub - and I liked it. I knew I would, everyone has been telling me a visit is long overdue. At the party, Davis' featured pulled pork on a red cabbage slaw. The barbeque sauce was surprisingly light and not at all heavy and syrupy. This was more like a Carolina-style.

The real show-stealer was Main Ingredient's burnt sugar cheesecake. The perfect marriage of two of my favorite desserts. Speaking of marriage, I wouldn't mind this for a wedding cake. It was so good, and I ate it so fast that I barely got a picture!

Party on, Annapolis, and keep making that awesome food. (So I can eat it.)

Your Regularly Scheduled Programming

Sunday is Service Industry Night at Ram's Head, a little way to give back to the hard-working cooks and servers that make our culinary dreams come true whenever we eat out. Employees of the service industry bring their pay stubs and get special deals on drinks and food on S.I.N. night.

My night was sinful for another reason: I satisfied my craving for some good old fashioned bar food.

Crisp Fordham Light

This night, I was in the mood for meat. Only the Tavern Burger could satisfy my longing for beef. With their burger, Ram's Head suggests a pairing of Fordham Light, which I gladly took to heart.

Prankster Perogies

No SINful food odyssey at this bar would be complete without an appetizer of the "prankster" potato perogies. 

cool sour cream

Light, fluffy potato and cheddar are encased in a crispy shell that is salty with just the right crunch. Sour cream is served on the side for dipping and a tangy kick.

"It's so fluffy I'm gonna die!"

The Tavern Burger is what a burger should be: cooked to order, topped the way you want it, and meaty with all those savory juices locked in. This isn't a lean, wimpy burger. It's 100% ground beef heaven cooked on a flat griddle in its own awesomeness. I say: craving satisfied.

White American Cheese melts deliciously

The bun is also toasted, which I think is a very nice touch. Toasting the bread helps it to stand up to the cheese, juices, and any other toppings you may put on your burger. Like me and my ketchup smiley face... because I eat like a kid and at heart I am one too.

Yes, I'm still a child.

Ram's Head has healthier and more sophisticated dishes, but it's also the perfect place for your good ol' bar food. And home to the area's best happy hour, with free - yes, that's right you heard me - free - no there's really no catch I promise - free food on weekday evenings.

So as you discover the wonderful food our town has to offer, please remember to tip your waitperson. Then later, you can join them at S.I.N. night and see just why they need that hard-earned gratuity.