Update: A representative from Royal Farms informed us today that the Gaithersburg location will be opening this February. We will let you know the exact date when it becomes available.
12.6.21: Signage has been installed at the upcoming Royal Farms at 690 Watkins Mills Road in Gaithersburg.
The gas station/convenience store will be located in the Spectrum Town Center, next to the I-270 Watkins Mill exit.
Last month construction began on the car wash that will also be a part of the new Royal Farms.
Progress also continues on the interior of the gas station, as soda machines and coolers were recently installed.
Patio benches and chairs have also been set up on the side of the main building and the majority of the landscaping appears to be completed.
Latest photos below:
Below is a list of restaurants that will be open for dinner service this Thanksgiving. Most restaurants are requiring reservations so please call the restaurant or check availability online before visiting.
- Founding Farmers – 12505 Park Potomac Ave, Potomac
MoCo’s Founding Farmers will be open 11am–8pm for a Thanksgiving prix fixe menu for $42.99. Make a reservation at www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/location/moco/
—- - Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant –1403 Research Blvd Rockville
Cooper’s is currently taking reservations for this Thursday and will be offering a special Thanksgiving dinner starting at $28.99 for adults. You can also order a “heat and serve” Thanksgiving package for carryout.
—- - Clyde’s at Tower Oaks Lodge– 5441 Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase & 2 Preserve Pkwy, Rockville
Clyde’s is offering a traditional Thanksgiving menu at both their Chevy Chase and Rockville locations for $39.99, as well as a three course dinner for $75. You can make a reservations for here.
—- - Copper Canyon Grill- 928 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring
Copper Canyon’s Silver Spring location will be open on Thanksgiving Day from noon-8pm. The Gaithersburg location will be closed. “Eat, drink, and support us, your favorite restaurant, this holiday season. We are open for dining, curbside pickup and delivery!”
—- - The Irish Inn – 6119 Tulane Ave, Glen Echo
The Irish Inn in Glen Echo will be offering a special Thanksgiving Menu for $50 per person that includes your choice of a classic Thanksgiving dinner, Braised Lamb Shanks, Vegetarian Rissoto, and more. Make your reservations at www.irishinnglenecho.com
—- - Royal Tandoor Whiskey Bar – 820 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg
If you are looking for something besides a traditional turkey and stuffing dinner, Royal Tandoor in Gaithersburg will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11:30am-2:30pm and 5pm-9pm.
—- - Ruth’s Chris Steak House: 7315 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda & 106 Crown Park Ave, Gaithersburg
This will be one of the last time’s you’ll be able to eat at the Bethesda location, as it is scheduled to close on Christmas Eve. Reservations start at $42.95
Visit www.ruthschris.com/promotions/thanksgiving-at-ruths for more info.
Best Thanksgiving Pies in MoCo 2021
It’s not too early to start planning what’s for dessert this Thanksgiving. Many shops sell out in advance of the holiday so it’s a good move to place a pre-order whenever the option is available.
Here are a few local bakeries and restaurants to consider so you’re not stuck waiting hours in line at Costco for a last-minute Pumpkin Pie.
MASTIHA Bakery – Kensington
MATISHA Greek Bakery offers Baklava Pumpkin Pie as part of their Holiday Collection, available for pickup beginning Nov. 19! Golden, flaky phyllo pie crust filled with an aromatic, silky pumpkin spiced custard filling, topped with crumbled baklava. Click here to order.
Classic Bakery- Gaithersburg
Classic Bakery, a MoCo staple since 1991, is offering Bourbon Pecan, Pumpkin, Cherry, and Apple. In-store pickup and delivery options are available. Pickup and deliveries start 11/15 but pre-orders are already live at www.classicbakery.com
Patisserie Manuel – Silver Spring
End your Thanksgiving with a Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse (pictured above), Pecan Tart, or Apple Pie from an authentic French bakery. You can place your orders with Patisserie Manuel online or call them at (301)-460-1045.
FlanCake By Gaby – Rockville
Part flan, part cake, and part pumpkin pie, Gaby’s Pumpkin FlanCake is a great choice if you are looking for something less traditional this year. Gaby (the FlanCake Queen), started her business at the beginning of the pandemic and has been steadily growing it throughout the past year. The Pumpkin FlanCake will be available in regular and bundt sizes throughout November & December for pickup/delivery throughout MoCo. Deadline to place your holiday orders are 11/12 and 12/10. Visit her website for a full list of flavors.
Butler’s Orchard- Germantown
You can’t have a list about Moco pies without mentioning Butler’s. This year they are offering Country Cinnamon Apple, Apple Crumb, No Sugar Added Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Cherry Crumb, Pecan, Chocolate Chip Pecan, Pumpkin, Strawberry Rhubarb and Apple Caramel Walnut Pies. Orders can be placed up to 3 days in advance of the pickup date, and they will be accepting orders up until November 19! Click here to order.
Gardenia’s Café – Gaithersburg
This cute family run café off of Snouffer School Rd. is offering Pumpkin and Apple Crumb pie this year (both can both be made gluten free)! Orders can be emailed to [email protected] or by calling (301) 355-7144 by November 23rd at 5pm. Gardenia’s also offers complete Thanksgiving dinner packages which are available here.
Sunflower Bakery – Rockville / N. Bethesda
Sunflower Bakery is staffed by young adults with learning differences with the goal of helping them obtain a career in food or hospitality services. This year, Sunflower Bakery is partnering with Rainbow Community Development Center to donate pies to families in need this Thanksgiving. The online deadline for orders is Thursday, Nov. 18th at 5pm. Order at www.SunflowerBakery.org Pictured above you’ll see their Chocolate Pecan Pie. Click here to see their full Thanksgiving menu and to learn more about the “Donate-a-Pie” program.
Dangerously Delicious Pie – Olney Farmers Market / Delivery
Dangerously Delicious Pies have been a staple at the Olney Farmers Market for years. They offer traditional Pumpkin and Pecan, as well as savory meat pies, quiches, and some not-so-traditional pies.
They’re known for their Baltimore Bomb, a chocolate pie made with Berger cookies. Find them at the farmers market or order through their Pie Valet delivery service.
Beiler’s / Lancaster Dutch Market – Germantown
In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, Beiler’s sells over 3,000 Pumpkin and Pecan Pies. Sweet Potato, Apple Walnut, Cherry, Blueberry and Coconut Crème are just a few of the other options that are available. They carry a variety of different desserts as well, like Pumpkin Rolls and their famous doughnuts.
Breads Unlimited – Bethesda
Breads Unlimited is offering Blueberry, Apple, Pumpkin, Cherry, and Pecan this year. They will be available to preorder for the holidays by stopping by the store, accessing an order form www.breadsunlimited.com or by calling them at 301-656-2340. Pies are available in-store on the weekends and they can have pies ready for next-day orders Monday-Friday.
Lil’ Cakes & Creamery – Gaithersburg
Lil’ Cakes & Creamery isn’t just cupcakes and ice cream. They have macarons, cake jars, cookies, and around Thanksgiving, you can get Apple, Pecan, and Pumpkin pie. Preorders can be made through their Instagram, Facebook, in store, and online at www.lilcakesandcreamery.com! Order by November 17th.
Lao Sze Chuan, a Chinese restaurant with most of its locations in the Chicago area (as well as locations in Minnesota and Connecticut), is opening today in the space formerly occupied by BRIO Tuscan Grille at 20 Paseo Drive, in North Bethesda.
Brio closed in 2017 after five years in the location
Lao Sze Chuan will offer Peking duck, beef, chicken, vegetable dishes, rice and noodle dishes, soup, seafood, and more, according to it’s menu.
Google lists the restaurant hours as 5pm-10pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and 12pm-11pm on Friday and Saturday (closed Monday).
Per the Lao Sze Chuan website:
The very first Lao Sze Chuan opened in 1998 in Chicago’s Chinatown and has since become one of the most beloved Chinese restaurants nationwide. The brainchild of Sichuan-born Chef Tony Hu, Lao Sze Chuan prides itself on providing traditional Sichuan cuisine with high-quality ingredients. In 1999, Lao Sze Chuan was recognized by the Chicago Tribune as “One of the Best,” receiving a “three fork” rating that was considered a prominent accomplishment for Chinese restaurants at that time.
Chick-Fil-A in Olney Offering Free “Bonus” Sandwich With Purchase Today, September 29
Chick-Fil-A at 18115 Georgia Ave in Olney is running a promotion where you receive a free Original Chicken Sandwich with purchase of any sandwich.
You must mention the phrase “bonus sandwich” when placing your order. Full details below courtesy of Chick-Fil-A Olney’s Instagram page. This promotion is only available at the Olney location.
South Block, a smoothie and juice bar best known for their acai bowls, shared that they are opening a new location in Pike & Rose. Per their Instagram announcement, they are hoping to open by summer 2022. They will be taking over the space currently occupied by the Residences At Pike & Rose leasing office, right next to the newly opened Call Your Mother Deli. (The leasing office will move to the spot formerly occupied by Nava Health.)
Along with their acai bowls, South Block offers other fruit and vegetable-based bowls, a range of smoothies, and cold pressed juices. They currently have eleven locations throughout DC and Virginia– their Pike & Rose spot will be their first location in Maryland. In addition to their brick and mortar locations, South Block has an online storefront where they sell pre-blended smoothie bowl kits that they deliver throughout the continental United States.
South Block places an emphasis on giving back and doing good– they donate a portion of all juice sales to Fruitful Planet, an organization created by South Block’s founder that brings fruits and vegetables to underserved communities. Per their website, they also use organic, fair trade acai in order to help fight deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest.
You can learn more about South Block by checking out their website.
Featured photo courtesy of South Block’s Instagram.
By: Michelle Katz @pike.and.rozay
Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival Happening in Rockville This Saturday
This Saturday, September 25, the Taiwan Sister Cities will host the Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival. The event will be held from 10am-5pm in Rockville Town Square, right in front of the library. The festival is free (no tickets are necessary), and all are welcome.
There will be different vendors selling Bubble Tea as well as Taiwanese style snacks. Taiwan Republic Band, a local Taiwanese rock and pop group, will be performing during the festival. In addition, there will be yo-yo performers, drummers, and more.
Along with the food and entertainment, the festival aims to educate the local community, provide connections for outreach, as well as strengthen connections within the community.
The first Taiwan Bubble Tea festival happened in May of 2019, the same year that Yilan City, Taiwan was established as a Sister City of Rockville.
You can learn more about the event here.
Featured image courtesy of the Taiwan Sister Cities facebook page.
By: Michelle Katz @pike.and.rozay
Chilean Independence Day Event This Saturday September, 18 in Silver Spring
Patisserie Manuel will be hosting an outdoor Chilean Independence Day event this Saturday from 2-8pm in their parking lot at 8810 Brookville Road in Silver Spring.
Full details courtesy of their Facebook page:
“As many of you know Chef Claudia is a French trained Pastry Chef born in Chile. She has been serve the Chilean community for over 14 years in the DMV. Is for that reason that Patisserie Manuel will be hosting a Chilean Independence Day on September 18,2021.
Where? At our Parking lot 8810 Brookville Road Silver Spring MD 20910, from 2pm to 8 pm.
We will have delicious Chilean food, drinks and music. This event will be outside at our parking lot, so we will have tents, tables and chairs to eat here and have a nice time with the Chilean community and all over the world friends (you can order to carry out as well)
Important: Our Menu will be available to Pre-Order until September 16th. Due high demand On September 18th we won’t be taking any orders by phone or online. We will be working on first come first served basis, so make sure to come early.
www.patisseriemanuel.com”
Latest Progress at Royal Farms in Gaithersburg
Below are the latest photos of the Royal Farms construction in Gaithersburg. You’ll notice since our last update that the building has added its trademark weathervanes and Royal Farms signage has been added to the gas pumps.
The store will be located in the Spectrum Town Center, next to the new I-270 Watkins Mill exit.
Signage has been installed at 24B Vital Way in Silver Spring (Colesville) for carry out / delivery only restaurant Sweet Block. Sweet Block will offer tropical desserts along with traditional treats only found in the streets of various Latin countries.
The owners tell us that they are looking to open this fall and that the one stop dessert shop will feature Latin food, art, and culture from various countries such as Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Peru.
Some of the menu items will include Mangonadas, Esquites (corn in a cup), in-house ice cream, carved/prepared fruits, and juices/smoothies.
More at www.sweetblockco.com
City of Gaithersburg Announces the Great Pumpkin-Off
Per the City of Gaithersburg:
Calling all pumpkin lovers! It’s time to dust off your pumpkin spice & show us what you’ve got! Submit your best pumpkin-based recipe to the first ever Great Gaithersburg Pumpkin-Off for your chance to be named the Great Pumpkin of Gaithersburg. The winner will receive a Gaithersburg prize package, a blue ribbon & title of Great Gaithersburg Pumpkin-Off Champion.
This contest is open to adults, age 18 & over, located within driving distance of Gaithersburg, MD. Find the entry form, rules, judging criteria & regulations by visiting http://gburg.md/PumpkinEntry. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
| DATE | EVENT |
|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Recipe submissions due |
| September 24, 2021 | Finalists announced |
| October 7, 2021 | Finalist recipe tasting & judging at Casey Farmers Market; winner announced |
Recipe submissions are due by September 10, 2021, and the finalists will present their finished recipes at Casey’s Farmers Market on Thursday, October 7, 2021, at 1 PM. Pumpkin-lovers, good luck!
