The long and short of Eric's Eatery

The Baltimore Sun

The name is long, Eric's Eatery and "Simply Delicious" Carry Out, but the menu is short and sweet. It's a new breakfast and lunch spot opening next week at 2334 N. Charles St.

Linda Stewart-Byrd, who left a job with the state Department of Transportation to take the plunge with her husband, chef Eric Byrd, said the food will be American and Caribbean, and the focus will be "wholesome, nutritious and delicious food." She mentioned omelets, Belgian waffles, salads, grilled seafood, shrimp and jerk chicken.

Hours, subject to change, will be 6 a.m. to 3 p.m Monday through Friday.

TAPAS IN FULTON --And yet another husband-and-wife team: Linda Doolittle and her husband, Carlos Venegas, are opening Ranazul (8171 Maple Lawn Blvd., Fulton) in mid-August. The two aren't restaurant novices. They also own Sierra's Grill in Beltsville.

Doolittle said she hopes Howard County's new tapas place will feel like a friend's house, where people will be comfortable table hopping. The focus will be the bar-lounge area.

Ranazul will offer "international" tapas, fine wines and a few entrees "for those who care for a large meal."

COFFEE BY THE CUP --BaltimoreChop.com's new bricks-and-mortar bookstore (625 Washington Blvd.) may be the only place in town where every cup of coffee is made to order Americano-style.

"We don't have any airpots with coffee sitting around for hours," says owner Andy Rubin. He starts with organic, fair trade, shade-grown and micro-roasted espresso and adds water. (Of course, you can also get espresso.) Rubin swears it's the best cup of coffee in town.

He's from New York, so he takes bagels seriously (sometimes bringing them from his favorite supplier in New York City). His pastries come from Patisserie Poupon.

NEEDED: A STRONG STOMACH --Ever wonder how clean your favorite restaurant really is? It's a matter of public record. You can now look up that information for yourself at the Baltimore City Health Department's Web site. Just go to baltimorehealth.org/foodclosures. I figure every place gets a second chance, but I'm going to avoid repeat offenders.

Send restaurant news, trends, questions of general interest or observations to me at elizabeth.large@baltsun.com or fax me at 410-783-2519. Snail mail works, too: Elizabeth Large, The Sun, Box 1377, Baltimore 21278.

In the photograph published with the Table Talk column in the Taste section Wednesday, the identification of the two chefs of Eric's Eatery was reversed. Chef-owner Eric Byrd is on the left, and chef Voldi Campbell is on the right. Also, co-owner Linda Stewart-Byrd has not left her job with the state Department of Transportation.The Sun regrets the errors.
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