Hey guys. Happy holidays and New Year weekend! I hope everyone had a happy, healthy and fun holiday! I can't believe we're officially in 2018. It's so crazy to me. I feel like we were on a really calm, fun ride, like a kid's train ride at an amusement park, nice and slow, easy going and sometimes a little scary because it got a little dark... but mostly just slow moving. The ride was called 2017.
Suddenly, that smooth ride turned into fastest coaster on the East, as advertised. My hair was whipping around my face, I began re-thinking my ticket. The ride was going so fast that my eyes started watering and I couldn't quite catch my breath. Yep, 2018 is RIGHT HERE.
With that said, I think it's time to end my Cross Street Market series with one of my favorite foods of 2017: Prescription Chicken.
That's right. When we went for the first time, I was sick. My little boy was sick. And we needed a prescription; a prescription for comfort food, and the ultimate comfort food for when you're sick? Duh. Chicken soup.
But not just any soup. I don't want your canned crap, or your condensed stuff. I want the real deal, and no, no I don't feel like making it. I'm also not going to force you to make it. No. I don't want YOUR soup. Bye. Thanks. I just don't.
So - my word. What amazing timing it was when I learned there was a pop-up stall part of the revival of Cross Street Market that had all to do with what would save the sickness at my home.
SOUP. Not just any soup. PRESCRIPTION CHICKEN SOUP. And it was just what the doctor ordered.
So, as I mentioned in the first 3 posts of this 4 part series, the historic Cross Street Market in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, MD, is getting new life with adding 4 new grub-spots at once, just before an epic renovation of the entire market occurs.
In addition to Cookie Dough and Co., Sundays Donuts and Smoke BBQ, there's Prescription Chicken, a place that serves up super homemade, super fresh and super tasty soup straight to your hungry belly. Their slogan is "chicken soup, for whatever ails you," and the day that I decided to walk over to Cross Street to finally try Prescription Chicken, my younger son was really sick. Snot everywhere, constant coughing and even a fever sick.
I thought it was the PERFECT day to try this new place, because seeing his little face so sad and hearing his sniffles and his yucky cough made me so sad. I knew that he needed some warm, cozy and comforting food, and I couldn't make it for him.
So we set off into the chill, and walked the short walk to Cross Street Market, beelining straight for the Prescription Chicken stall, just inside of the Light St. entrance. After studying the menu, I decided that Jack would need the most basic of the bunch, Grandma's Style: Rich chicken soup with onions, garlic, ginger, carrots, celery, pulled chicken, and dill. You have your choice of egg noodles or matzah balls, or if you really want, you can get both. I decided just to stay simple, and got egg noodles for him.
I had decided early on I wanted the Hangover soup, made with known hangover-killing ingredients such as ginger, horseradish, garlic, fresh turmeric, jalapeños, and other curing ingredients. Served with pulled chicken and egg noodles. I wasn't hung over at all, but I love spicy things and I loved the sound of it. But while I was in line waiting to place my order, I saw a woman sitting at the counter enjoying her soup, and the smell of it alone was intoxicating enough for me to be creepy as hell and ask what she was having. It didn't match up with anything that was on the menu that I could see.
Turns out, she was slurping on the Faux Pho, chicken broth infused with star anise, onions and scallions. Seasoned with fish sauce, hoisin, and sriracha and served with glass noodles, pulled chicken, scallions, and sprouts. Um, YES. I got it with a little extra squirt of the spicy sauce, and once our order was ready, we were on our way back out into the chill and back home.
It's not a long walk at all from my front door to the market, but holy cow, we got seriously cold during those 5 minutes, and I couldn't wait to dig in to the warm promises of comforting soup.
Now, before I let you know what Jack and I thought of our soups, I need to give you a quick disclaimer about Jack and his eating habits. He is ultra picky. He likes chicken nuggets, fries, hot dogs, cheese and chips.
And that's about it, with the exception of some really random foods, like mussels (for real), and tacos. So I didn't' expect much from him. I really just wanted him to get some cozy, good-for-you food in his little body to help him feel better.
Jack LOVED IT. He slurped his small sized Grandma Style soup down, and with each bite said, "Mmm!! CHICKEN!!! Mmmm! CHICKEN!!!"
It was adorable, but also made me really happy to see him eating something so nutritious when he needed it most.
I luckily got a sip in before he was finished, and I was really surprised with how much flavor there was. I'm not really a soup fan to begin with. I mean, it isn't something I hate, I just don't go out of my way to eat it. I usually find soup to be bland and boring, and to be honest, that's what I expected when I saw it.
But I was wrong. It was extremely flavorful. I don't know how they do it, but the broth was explosive with flavor. Insanely amazing. No wonder Jack loved it so much.
As for the pho? I have been back to prescription chicken 4 more times since this initial visit, and it's the only thing I've gotten. I'm obsessed.
The flavors are so clean and clear, and while you can taste the individual flavors separate from the bunch, they all married perfectly amazing together.
The heat was strong in the best way, and the sprouts added a crunch that made me happy. The chicken was flavorful and tender, and I seriously loved every single bite. I didn't expect to finish a large, but I did. Easily.
And like I said, I've been back to Prescription Chicken several more times, and I swear, the addiction is real. The Faux Pho is my life-blood, and I want some RIGHT NOW.
Michael got down with the Grandma Style too, this time with matzah balls, saying how good it was.
Too bad it's 9 a.m., but at least there's promise of them being open later today. I think I need a pho fix.
The point here is this: This soup is insanely good. It's thoughtfully prepared with all fresh ingredients. The flavors are strong and exciting. The women who run the place are amazing, friendly and very clearly love what they're doing. Thank you to Prescription Chicken for doing what you do. Keep it up!
Check out their menu here, and order online if you can't make it to the market or to any of their pop-ups in The District! Check out their find soup site here!
