This week in Baltimore’s bar and dining scene is filled with events featuring international flair–and lots of wine, plus a few donuts. Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
Openings and announcements
Clavel celebrated four years in business last week. Congratulations to the entire team there! We’re lucky to have you in Baltimore.
Wild Kombucha opens its brand new brewery on Friday with a ribbon cutting and party starting at 3 p.m.
Thread Coffee Roasters is releasing a canned cold brew product and celebrating with a launch party on Sunday at the Sandlot, starting at 1:30 p.m.
Italian wines at Cinghiale
Cinghiale’s Summer Vacation Wine Series is back with dinners all summer long. The series starts today with a three-course wine dinner featuring cuisine of the lake region.
The meal will start with antipasti paired with Franciacorta Bellavista Brut 2013, and will be followed by dishes like lamb-filled saffron casunsei and stuffed, spit-roasted rabbit.
Feastival
On Saturday, the Sandlot hosts one of the most fun food events of the year: Feastival, benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland.
Feastival is a super fun food festival including drinks and bites from some of the city’s best spots, including Gunther & Co., Duck Duck Goose, Vida Taco, Wayward Southern, Cosima, Blue Pit BBQ and more.
Donut Bike Crawl
Today is technically National Donut Day, but the cyclists of Baltimore will celebrate on Saturday during the city’s annual Donut Bike Crawl event.
The ride starts at Roosevelt Park on Saturday morning and moves around the city, stopping at a handful of donut shops from the traditional to the brand new. Proceeds from the ride benefit the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute’s efforts around pediatric ophthalmology research.
Hampden weekend
This weekend is a big one in Hampden. For one thing, it’s Honfest, which means there will be fun festivities happening along The Avenue all weekend long.
To help celebrate, the bar at Dylan’s Oyster House will be open early both days. Starting at 11 a.m., visit for Molly’s Early Bar, featuring heavily garnished Bloody Marys to wash down your oysters (the raw bar will be open, too).
In addition to Honfest, on Saturday, you can hit Hampden for its brand new Craft Brew Walk event. The ticketed walking tour includes stops at Nepenthe Brewing Co., Union Craft Brewing and Waverly Brewing Company. Tickets include tours, tastings and drinks at each location, plus some snacks at Nepenthe and Waverly.
Khao Sapp at Salt
On Sunday, brothers Kiet and Harry Philavanh team up in the Salt space for a night of Lao home cooking and inspired cocktails. There’s not much Lao food in Baltimore, so this is a great opportunity to learn about the cuisine and culture–and to have fun eating some terrific food.
Chilean wine tasting
On Wednesday, June 12, head to Alma Cocina Latina for a guided wine tasting exploring several wines from Chile.
The event is hosted by ProChile and the Embassy of Chile and will include discussion of Chilean wine culture along with tastings from 11 boutique vineyards. These all-natural wines have not been tasted in the US before, so it’s an especially exciting opportunity.
Italian al fresco
On Wednesday, Cosima hosts its monthly cooking class, this one focused on what to make for a fun summertime picnic.
Dishes featured include marinated vegetables and a torta rustica, a baked rustic tart with meats and cheeses. During the class you’ll learn how to prepare the dishes, and get to enjoy them alongside paired wines.
Summer of Champagne Soiree
Add some sparkle to your week on Thursday at Magdalena’s Summer of Champagne Soiree.
The party, which takes place in the courtyard at The Ivy Hotel, features champagne and seasonal cocktails, live music from FUNSHO, and oysters and hors d’oeuvres.
Prep for Pride
Baltimore’s Pride celebration is next weekend and Bar Vasquez is kicking off the festivities early with a Thursday night party. The event includes drinks, drag and dancing. It’s all free (thanks to an anonymous donor), but there are also VIP tickets available, with proceeds benefiting the Pride Center of Maryland.
Check back here next week for more details about what’s happening at local restaurants for Pride weekend.
Rosé in the Garden
Mark your calendars for June 23, when the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore hosts a summertime afternoon party in Preston Gardens.
Partygoers will sip rosé and snack on food from downtown restaurants, including The Elephant, Points South Latin Kitchen and Sobo Café, while listening (and dancing) to music by DJ Cory Banks. Guests are invited to wear their garden party best and will take home fun flower crowns.
Planning Ahead
Here are a few events to look forward to over the next few weeks:
June 22: Manor Hill Farm Fest
July 3: Tacopalooza at La Food Marketa
August 10: Flower Farm Dinner at Two Boots Farm
