Saturday, September 5, 2009

What’s the Buzz…I’ll Tell YOU What’s Happening..




The Queen Bee and her trusty Worker Bee are cooking up some pretty darn good fare at The Buzz in the Green Valley Shopping Center in Monrovia. Never would have heard of it had there not been an article in the FNP about this sandwich shop. As you may be aware, I’m not a big fan of the dining “reviews” in our local paper. However, I sat up a little straighter and paid attention to teacher when the reporter, Wendy Lerner, noted that the baked goods were made fresh daily.

Historically the Frederick paper is loathe to critique, so I was more than a wee bit skeptical about the laudatory review. But, for the sake of my devoted diva followers, I figured I would sacrifice myself and take the risk. Especially with the allure of onsite baking – that sounded pretty promising.

Oh my my. Promise Kept!! The sandwiches? Full figured, and guaranteed to help you get that way, too. Turkey, cheddar, avocado, bacon with garlic aioli on sundried tomato bread. Or…chicken salad – big chunks of meat held together with real mayo and seasoned with fresh herbs. Or maybe this will get you salivating: - Turkey, walnuts, fig, and goat cheese on raisin walnut bread . Baby greens w/sugared pecans, gorgonzola cheese, figs w/balsamic vinaigrette - served with banana bread

Toto – are we still in Frederick County???

The breads? Delicious. Dense, flavorful, firm. Just like I like my ..oh, never mind. The Stone Hearth Bakery in Shab Row delivers fresh, interesting bread 3 times a week to keep the Buzz supplied with yeasty wonders.

The apprentices and I had a little chat with the Queen Bee, Minda Metz (that’s right, Minda not Linda), who introduced us to her business partner and head baker, Worker Bee Allison McGaw. Allison makes the amazing baked goods that tempt and torture you from behind the glistening glass case. Every single one of the desserts is made on the premises – and they are fantastic. Butter. Brown Sugar. Chocolate. Butter. Brown Sugar. Coconut. Butter.

As the apprentices and I were gabbing merrily away – Minda, in a well-received and much appreciated gesture of gratuitous sucking-up, brought us a plate of coconut pecan bars. Imagine a pecan pie (not the gloppy corn syrupy kind, but the good kind Great Aunt Agnes from Georgia used to make), with a crust made not out of Crisco and flour but from butter, brown sugar & coconut. Yowza.

Let me also note, that because I suffer for you, I forced myself to buy 3 more bakery items to take home for scientific testing purposes. Oh, the things I do for you. As for the test? Well, I’m happy to be able to give a well deserved “A”.

As you can tell, I am now a fan of Buzz. I only wish they were closer..On second thought, it’s probably best that they aren’t. Frequent forays to this friendly shop will guarantee a lifetime of job security for my Weight Watcher meeting leaders

The Buzz

* 11801 Fingerboard Road * Monrovia, MD * 21770 * 301-865-4900 *

http://www.thebuzzgreenvalley.com//index.html

6 comments:

Unknown said...

We are looking forward to some pies from the Buzz in Monrovia on our Thanksgiving table this year.
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Liz Olson

Liz said...

I drove by last night and it looks like this place is gone. There was brown paper on the windows and a sign for an Asian restaurant above the windows.

Liz said...

Never mind. It's the place next door that is the Chinese restaurant.

SAHMof2 said...

The baked goods are tasty. The chai tea and lattes lacked flavor. However, I am most disturbed by the way the owner treated me and a friend while dining with our children. Clearly, children are NOT welcome. I have been out when parents let their children run wild. This was NOT the case with us. Our children were ...seated at the table, and perhaps got a little loud, as children will occasionally do. We are responsible and considerate parents and capable of taking appropriate action with our children (we had two infants and two toddlers). However, that does not give the owner the right to speak harshly to a two-year old! My friend adn I were sitting next to our kids and the owner never addressed us. I was offended and have NEVER received such treatment while out with my children. In fact, we usually are complimented on how well behaved our kids are. I am usually happy to support small businesses, but I am sad to say that I'll be taking my business elsewhere. Beware if you plan to take your children to this establishment.

Dining Diva of Boca said...

Sorry that you had an unpleasant experience. In all of the times we have been there, I have never seen anybody treated rudely. Everyone has always been warm and welcoming. I guess everyone can have one bad day...I would hate for you to miss out on all of the goodies due to what may have been a one-time occurrence...

Unknown said...

hhmmmm yummy