Kooper's introduces roving 'Burger Wagon'

Los Angeles has its taco trucks, but now we can do them one better. As of a couple of weeks ago, Baltimore has the Kooper'sTavern Chowhound Burger Wagon. You can find out where the roving hamburger stand is going to be on any given day by checking its Web site (KoopersChowhound.com) or Facebook, or signing up for Twitter updates. Last Wednesday when it landed at Tide Point, more than 100 people were standing in line at one point, according to an owner, Patrick Russell.

What are they standing in line for? A burger freshly grilled on the truck with sweet potato or seasoned regular fries for $7.95. You have your choice of a beef, turkey, bison or veggie burger. Add one of a number of imported cheeses and other toppings like grilled onions or roasted red peppers.

Feeling hungry yet?

Soda, ice tea, lemonade and water are $1. Handmade chocolate milkshakes are next on the horizon.

The 15-foot truck is painted to look like the inside of Kooper's, with the wood bar on the bottom half and the top like the walls hung with pictures of Kooper, the owner's dog.

It's been so successful, says Russell because "you don't have to get in your car or walk somewhere. We pull up to your office." Two more food trucks with different concepts are in the works.

Thriving sushi scene I was amused to get an invitation recently to a press tour of Towson sushi restaurants. There was no real news involved, just free sushi at four restaurants and a chance to discuss why Towson had so many of them (10 or 12 at last count, depending on where you set the boundaries of the Towson area). I personally vacillate between thinking it's because Towson has become a college town and sushi is the new pizza, and the Little Italy theory, that like restaurants attract like.

At a time when many restaurants are closing, places that offer sushi continue to open - and as far as I can tell, thrive. The latest one is Umi Sake (9726 York Road, Cockeysville, 410-667-6584), which opened this summer. It's not in Towson, but it is fairly close by. Like many of the other places in the area, it's not strictly a sushi bar. "Asian cuisine" is served in the dining room, a mix of Korean, Thai, Japanese and Chinese; but sushi is the specialty.

Signature dishes include lobster mango ceviche, crispy spicy tuna and tuna pizza. (Pizza is also the new pizza.)

Hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

BSO partnership One of the frequent questions I get is where to eat before a concert at the Meyerhoff or a show at the Lyric. Now the Baltimore Symphony has teamed up with several downtown restaurants to offer freebies and discounts if you show your concert ticket on Thursday nights.

City Cafe offers a free appetizer with an entree.

You get a glass of wine on the house at the Prime Rib with dinner.

Donna's in Mount Vernon and Sotto Sopra are taking 20 percent off dinner before or after the performance.

Night of the Cookers is giving customers who order an entree either a glass of wine or dessert.

Morton's the Steakhouse has a prix fixe menu for $55 (normally $74) and complimentary valet parking if you show your ticket.

Check the BSO Web site at bsomusic.org/symphonyspecial to see if more restaurants have been added to the list.

The Deal of the Week

Where: The Wine Market, 921 E. Fort Avenue, Suite 135, Locust Point

The Deal: Fifth-anniversary three-course menu for $25

When: September

Call: 410-244-6166