Love is in the air in Baltimore, swirling about like the faint scent of cinnamon on a sweet spice day at McCormick. Local restaurants are ready for the season with tons of Valentine’s and Galentine’s plans on the books – among other things. Here’s a look at what’s on tap this week:
Announcements
Happy 8th anniversary to Ampersea, which will mark the occasion on Saturday, Feb. 7 with $8 bottles of select wine – reservations are required.
Friday, Feb. 6 is the last ever Greek Fest at Ouzo Bay before the Harbor East restaurant closes its doors for a renovation and to become a new concept.
One of the biggest and saddest stories this week has been the abrupt closing of The Brewer’s Art. News about the closure broke early in the week, after employees received a text message from the owner saying that the restaurant was closing for financial reasons. Over the course of its three decades in business, the Mount Vernon fixture was beloved for many things, including its gorgeous architecture, famous beers, and those incredible garlic rosemary fries.
In more news about longstanding members of the local restaurant community, the building that houses the Fells Point restaurant The Black Olive is scheduled to be auctioned on Feb. 18, as part of a foreclosure. As of now, the restaurant remains open – and is still participating in Restaurant Week through Feb. 7.
Valentine’s crafts at True Chesapeake
This month’s second Sunday crafting party at True Chesapeake is V-Day themed. During brunch service, guests can also make Valentine’s Day cards and paint oyster shells – which could make sweet Valentines themselves.
Soul Food Sundays at BLK Swan
BLK Swan in Harbor East has a new pop-up dinner series celebrating the family tradition of Sunday dinners. The series, which is in partnership with DC’s Chef JR, kicks off on Feb. 8 with a menu designed to pair with football – think fried chicken, jerk turkey wings, oxtail, and more.
WK All Stars
Woodberry Kitchen has a new pop-up series – WK All Stars – featuring its staff members’ special interests and projects. On Monday, Feb. 9, Woodberry welcomes The Smoking Swine – a BBQ pop-up run by Fionn Pumphrey, son of the original Smoking Swine proprietor, the late – and very missed – Drew Pumphrey.
Max’s 22nd Annual Belgian Beer Festival
It’s Belgian Beer time, once again, in Fells Point. Max’s Taphouse’s annual festival of Belgian brews – now in its 22nd year – takes place from Feb. 13 to 16.
The party includes over 100 Belgian beers on draft, plus rare bottles, Belgian-inspired food, and a visit from a representative from the Embassy of Belgium.
Galentine’s Day
Galentine’s – the sweet girl-friend holiday created by the Parks & Rec character Leslie Knope – is just about as big as its V-Day cousin is these days. So why not celebrate both? Baltimore restaurants certainly will.
Harbor East’s 4th annual Galentine’s Paint & Sip takes place on Thursday, Feb. 12 at Kneads Bakeshop. The party includes a paint-your-own-wineglass activity, a flower bouquet bar, and apps, desserts, and drinks.
There’s also paint involved in Wicked Sisters’ Galentine’s plans. On Thursday, Feb. 12, the Hampden spot is hosting a Galentine’s night featuring candle-painting, permanent jewelry, and Valentine’s drink and food specials.
Atlas Restaurant Group’s Fells Point spots are teaming up for its third annual Galentine’s bar crawl. The event includes stops at The Choptank, Admirals Cup, and Waterfront Hotel and tickets include drink deals and great swag.
On Friday the 13th, Of Love & Regret is hosting a special happy hour, just for Galentine’s.
From Monday through Thursday, Prima Dopo will have a photo booth, special menus, and champagne towers, all in honor of Galentine’s.
Ammoora is hosting its annual Galentine’s party at 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13.
Midlina is celebrating Galentine’s on Tuesday, Feb. 10 with “girl dinner,” movies and friendship bracelets.
Valentine’s Day planning
With just a week to go before Valentine’s Day hits, now is the time to book those reservations.
Ethel’s Creole Kitchen is offering jumbo chocolate-covered strawberries, available to preorder and pick up to give as gifts.
Hersh’s is getting the party started early with a dinner showcasing sparkling wines of Italy on Feb. 12. The restaurant is also open for the rest of the weekend, so if you can’t make the wine dinner, you still have a chance to celebrate there.
At Rye Street Tavern, the Valentine’s menu includes multiple surf-and-turf options, including filets paired with colossal shrimp or a jumbo lump crab cake.
Rusty Scupper’s Valentine’s Day menu is a three-course, prix-fixe menu, available from Friday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 15, and featuring options like lobster tail, short ribs, and jumbo shrimp cocktail.
Gertrude’s has a special “aphrodisiac” dinner in the works, available on Feb. 13 and 14. The three-course prix-fixe tasting menu includes dishes like baked oysters and pistachio-encrusted lamb lollipops. A vegan menu is also available.
Chef’s Expressions is hosting its 25th annual Valentine’s Day wine supper on Feb. 13. The dinner, which sells out every year, is held at the Gramercy Mansion. This year’s menu includes dishes like grilled tuna steak with beurre blanc paired with a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and pan-roasted venison tenderloin with rosemary mole, paired with an Australian Cab.
Petit Louis’ Valentine’s prix-fixe includes classic French dishes like escargots in puff pastry and grilled lamb with red wine reduction.
Linwoods has extended hours on Friday, Feb. 13 to kick off Valentine’s weekend and will offer a special menu on Saturday including dishes like goat cheese ravioli and the restaurant’s popular grilled tenderloin salad.
Valentine’s weekend specials at Limoncello include a luxe seafood tower and lobster pappardelle.
CookHouse is offering its Valentine’s menu all week long – and it has both a la carte and prix fixe options.
Cece’s has a big lineup of drink and food specials ready for Valentine’s Day, including roasted oysters in butter with paddlefish roe, and the Cupid’s Bramble, a cocktail of Woodford Reserve bourbon, Chambord, Fernet Branca and blackberries.
If you’re interested in a quick trip out of town for the holiday, The Wildset Hotel in St. Michael’s has a lot planned, including an oyster shucking class with wine pairings, or a Galentine’s-themed lineup of event for the ladies. The Wildset’s restaurant, Ruse, is a special favorite of many Baltimoreans – and is helmed by Bel Air native (and James Beard Semifinalist) Michael Correll.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
Feb. 20: The Long Table Supper Club with H3irloom Food Group
Feb. 25: Sazerac dinner at Cece’s
March 5: British Classics Cooking Class at The Corner Pantry
