CHILDHOOD FAVORITE: FRIENDLY FARM

Okay, so many would say I am biased to this placed just because this was the IT place for my family and I while I was growing up. We would go here for any birthday, any celebration, or anytime a family member would visit from Greece. To us (growing up), foreigners had to come to this place because the trip EXEMPLIFIED what we wanted them to think of America: TONS of food, TONS of land, TONS of trees and ducks lol. I remember always being excited about going to their cute little gift shop and getting gum cigarettes and "smoking" them on the ride back home after a great meal.

My Graduation Celebration

But thats not the main point! Even after all these memories, the food is simply amazing! It is work the 30-45 minute trip from Towson to go here every once in a while! I even chose this place for my celebration dinner after I graduated college (regardless of their lack of alcohol serving...haha). Anyways....so here's how it works! So you drive to this place in Upperco, MD...pass a couple horses, and bunch of cows, and TONS of trees. Immediately you see the pond on the left of the driveway and drive up to what use to be a farmhouse.

So..the first thing you do when you walk in is order! Crazy right?! Right even before you sit. They have anything from steak, to crab cakes, to fried chicken, to fried shrimp, to ham, to pork chops, to orange roughy...anything! So you order...and you pay! Oh yes...this is family style all-you-can eat! lol...Not literally...but you'll see.

So you order and pay and then you wait in their waiting room which is surrounding with windows through which you can see the farm (many perfect family pictures were taken here). Finally, when they call you, the waitress takes you o your seat and gets your your drinks. After a bit, she/he comes back our with plates/bowls of homemade beets, cottage cheese, apples butter, bread rolls (you have to try the sugar coated ones!) french fries, corn, green beans, peaches, cole slaw, etc. and you feast! Mind you, once they empty...more come out! Everything is wonderful! My personal favorite is the cottage cheese with their homemade apple butter on the sugar rolls! I can never get enough! And then, once you think you are done, the waitress/waiter comes out with your entree! All portions are very generous and always cooked perfectly. My personal favorites are the fried shrimp (12, which are always large and not over greasy), ham (which they give you two-three huge slices), or the pork chops (2, which are simply marinated with lemon, and cooked just perfectly, where it is tender and juicy!). My family members either get the crab cake or the steak (but I don't care for either of those, in general). Of course, I never finish everything, and am delighted to take the rest home for dinner the following day!

Ducks at the Pond

But wait! When you think you'r done once more, the waitress/waiter comes out once more and asks if you would like some ice cream! TAKE IT! Remember? You have already paid! They serve great Hershey's ice cream (try the Moose Tracks!) Always wonderful!

As you can tell with all my exclamation points, I get really animated when I talk about this place... but seriously, Take your family!

TRICK: Don't eat all of the plain bread rolls...I know it will be hard because they are soo good...however, resist! When you are finished with your meal, take them with you and go to the pond and feed the ducks! They love it! As do children!


http://www.friendlyfarm.net/

Stay young,
Your Tasty Bud