From Chesapeake Bay crabs and oysters to Baltimore’s own Cow Tales, this week, the Baltimore food scene celebrates its own. Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
Openings & announcements
D.C.-based steak frites chain Medium Rare is taking over the old CineBistro kitchen space at the Rotunda in Hampden. The company has three locations in Washington; this will be its first spot outside the district.
Local candy darlings Goetze’s have a new project in store: milkshakes. The company has partnered with Sheetz on a seasonal series of Cow Tales-inspired caramel and cream and strawberry cream milkshakes. The flavors will evolve with the seasons – and they’re available now at all Sheetz locations.
Oysterfest
On Saturday, head to The Manor Tavern for Oysterfest, a ticketed party featuring oysters served a variety of ways, plus more seafood, burgers, pulled pork and more. There will be live music, specialty cocktails, and a lot of good cheer.
Unity for Ukraine at Bondhouse Kitchen
On Wednesday, LinkedIn Local teams up with Bondhouse Kitchen for an event raising funds for Ukrainian families and troops. The event includes Ukrainian music and a speaker, an auction and raffles, and food and drink with 20% of sales going to the cause.
Summer drinks
Clavel has rolled out a new summertime cocktail menu full of drinks that sound both delicious and interesting. The menu is influenced by Filipino-Mexican foodways and the historical impact the Philippines has on the production of mezcal in Mexico.
Softshell season
Softshell crab season is back and local restaurants are making the most of it.
They are on the menu (for now) at Towson Tavern.
At Perennial, Chef Jay Rohlfing has created a tempura-fried softshell served with Haitian-style black beans.
And at The Local Oyster, you can still order the Colossal Crab, which stacks a softshell with a crab cake for double the crabbiness.
CSA time
CSA season is in full swing – but there’s still time to sign up for one. Richfield Farm’s CSA, which includes boxes of produce and flowers, has a pickup spot at Johnny’s, starting this Thursday.
Preakness prep
The 147th running of the Preakness Stakes takes place next Saturday, May 21. While there won’t be a potential Triple Crown winner this year, since Derby winner Rich Strike is not racing, the race and events surrounding it still offer tons of opportunities for fun – and to eat well.
As per usual, festivities will be in full swing at Mt. Washington Tavern before, during and after the races on Friday, for Black Eyed Susan Day and Saturday, for Preakness itself. The Tavern will serve Black Eyed Susan cocktails both days and will have a shuttle running from the restaurant to Pimlico.
For all of Preakness weekend, Silver Queen Café will have $10 Black Eyed Susans, $15 crabby fries and $15 crab dip (made with Maryland crab), plus a softshell crab benedict special for Sunday brunch.
On Friday and Saturday, at the races themselves, local restaurants will be front and center, as the Preakness LIVE Culinary, Art and Music Festival takes over the Infield.
The “culinary” part of that festival includes main stage appearances from the chefs behind Blk Swan, The Urban Oyster, and Fishnet (along with TV food stars Tom Colicchio, Marcus Samuelsson and Gail Simmons).
Plus, the festival’s “Restaurant Row” includes local spots Breaking Bread, Blue Caribbean Bar & Lounge, Crust by Mack, Fishnet, Land of Kush, Shareef’s House of Wraps and Underground Pizza Co.
Ekiben collabs
Keep an eye out for a new late-night dinner series from the Ekiben crew. The series, called “Little Jumbo” as an homage to pre-Ekiben dinners hosted by owner Steve Chu at his family’s restaurant, Jumbo Seafood, kicks off on May 28.
That first dinner is a collaboration between Ekiben and chefs Danny Lee, of D.C., and NYC’s Lucas Sin, and it benefits EmbraceRace.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
May 28: Brew at the Zoo
June 11: Chesapeake Seafood Festival
June 18: Solstice Festival at Old Westminster Winery
A previous version of this story said The Choptank was hosting a crab feast. That event has been canceled.
