Halloween is the big news everywhere this week but here in Baltimore, there’s a lot more happening than the traditional trick-or-treat. From food-friendly fundraising to wine and whiskey dinners, November in Charm City is starting with a bang. Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
Openings & announcements
Lexington Market’s newly remodeled space hosted another soft reopening last week, to welcome vendors that have recently transitioned into the new space.
Water Song Yunnan Kitchen’s new Towson location has opened on West Chesapeake Avenue.
Happy anniversary to Ejji Ramen, which celebrated eight years in business in Belvedere Square this past week.
Keep an eye out for upcoming news about the opening of Marta. The restaurant, owned by Matt and Martha Oetting, has been in the works for a while, and is located in the Butcher’s Hill space that formerly housed Salt Tavern.
Fall Fiesta at Prigel
On Saturday, head up to Prigel Family Creamery for the farm’s fun annual fall party. The event includes hay rides and pumpkin painting plus lots to eat and drink, like cider, donuts and chili.
EKIBEN x Café Dear Leon
On Sunday, the EKIBEN crew will pop up – for the second time – at Café Dear Leon in Canton. The theme of the pop-up, which starts at 4 p.m., is sandos and sides and the menu promises to be a good one.
Halloween treats & fall flavors
Monday is, of course, Halloween. In addition to the many parties happening throughout the weekend, local restaurants have added spooky specials to their menus, alongside new dishes showcasing sweet and savory fall ingredients.
Johnny’s transformation into Hogwarts is complete, including a menu stacked with everything from cocoa bomb snitches to butterbeer.
At The Corner Pantry, snag a slice of chocolate cake covered in marshmallow “spider webs” from now through Halloween itself.
Sotto Sopra’s pumpkin cake doesn’t actually look scary but it is perfect for jack-o-lantern season.
Heritage Smokehouse has a savory take on pumpkin season with a salad of roasted kabocha pumpkin, crispy porchetta spiced belly, smoked and pickled hen of the woods mushroom, celery and parsley.
Cosima’s new fall menu launched this week, with dishes like ground lamb cooked in a cast iron pan with potatoes and onions and butternut squash ravioli sauteed in brown butter.
At True Chesapeake Oyster Co., autumn is on display in a dish of fried chicken served over butternut squash broth, beans and leeks.
La Gerla at Cinghiale
On Tuesday, Cinghiale highlights the wines of Tuscany’s La Gerla with a multi-course wine dinner. The menu sounds terrific, with pairings like chestnut tortelli stuffed with porcini ricotta, leeks and chestnuts plus pasta with pheasant ragu, paired with two La Gerla Brunello di Montalcinos.
Día de los Muertos
On Wednesday, Maxímon celebrates Día de los Muertos with a ticketed party including tequila and mezcal cocktails and tastings, passed appetizers and carving stations, and an artist doing traditional sugar skull makeup face painting.
The Black Olive gives back
Also on Wednesday, The Black Olive is hosting a special tasting dinner in support of the Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. The five-course meal includes dishes like baked oysters Xenocrates and a shaved lamb shank dish; each course is paired with a Greek wine.
A Baltimore Whiskey Affair
Also on Wednesday, The Tilted Row is teaming up with Baltimore Spirits Company and Jinji Chocolates for a multi-course meal pairing BSC whiskeys (neat and in cocktail form) with dishes from the Tilted Row kitchen. The meal will close with a BSC whiskey flight paired with chocolate by Jinji.
Barrels & Bonfires
On Thursday, the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) at Kennedy Krieger hosts Barrels & Bonfires, a fundraising event at Farmacy Brewing in Reisterstown. The party, which starts at 6 p.m., features Farmacy’s own beers (and fires) along with wine, bourbons and craft beers from The French Paradox Wines and food from Caviar and Cupcakes.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
Nov. 5: Oyfest at Union Craft Brewing
Nov. 12: 5th Annual Patterson Park Brewfest
Nov. 13: Oysterfest at Ryleigh’s
