From menus filled with spring flavors to tasty opportunities to support good causes, Baltimore’s restaurant scene is filled with fun this week. Here’s a look at what’s on tap:
Openings & announcements
The owners of Birds of a Feather, the Scotch bar that has been a Fells Point fixture for over 40 years, announced this week that the bar had closed. However, the co-owners of of Le Comptoir du Vin are taking over the space and have plans to open a pub with a menu along the lines of what is offered at Le Comptoir. They hope to reopen sometime this year.
Happy 8th birthday to one of the Baltimore food community’s unanimous favorites: Ekiben. In honor of the restaurant’s April 9th birthday, all three locations will celebrate with birthday pricing: $7 buns and $14 bowls.
Clavel has advanced to the finalist round of the James Beard Awards. The Remington mezcaleria is nominated for Outstanding Bar – and as anyone who has been to the bar knows, it’s a well-deserved honor.
Café Gia has launched an updated catering menu – and they are also open to off-menu requests.
National Caramel Day
Friday, April 5 is National Caramel Day – and Baltimore’s own Goetze’s Candy Company is making the most of the occasion.
Goetze’s, which has been around for nearly 130 years and is nationally beloved for its Caramel Creams and Cow Tales, is adding a new flavor to its Cow Tales lineup: Honey Bun. The new treat will feature honey bun-flavored caramel, cream and “hints of cinnamon.”
Eating local at the Lord Baltimore Hotel
The Lord Baltimore Hotel is deepening its community ties with a bunch of new local partnerships. The culinary team at the hotel will now be working with and offering products from a variety of Maryland purveyors, including the bakery Charmed., South Mountain Creamery, Wight Tea Company, and MFG Toffee and Bark.
Items from each of these companies will be available at the LB Bistro & Bakery, so both hotel guests and the general public can take advantage.
Chefs Cycle Benefit Cocktail Party
On Tuesday, Gunther & Co. is hosting a cocktail party to benefit the non-profit No Kid Hungry. Gunther Chef Jerry rice is gearing up to ride 200 miles in California to raise money and awareness for the organization; all proceeds from the party will support the cause.
Gunther isn’t the only restaurant participating in the party, either. They’ll be joined by Kneads Bakeshop, La Cuchara, Marta, Rize & Rest, True Chesapeake Oyster Co., The Capital Grille, The Food Market, and Victoria’s Restaurant Group.
Mama’s giving back
On Wednesday, both Mama’s on the Half Shell locations (Canton and Owings Mills) and both Nacho Mama’s locations (Canton and Towson) will donate a portion of all proceeds to support the families of the victims of the Key Bridge collapse. The donations will be made to Construction Angels, a non-profit that provides “immediate financial assistance” and other support to families of construction workers who have lost their jobs while working.
Gertrude’s big week
On Thursday, Gertrude’s in the BMA will donate 10% of all bills to the non-profit Art with a Heart. The museum is open late on Thursday nights, so it’s a great opportunity for dinner, philanthropy, and a stroll through one of the best art collections anywhere in the world.
The restaurant is following that up on Friday with the 10th annual Rebel Rally Keg Party, which benefits Moveable Feast.
Ramps, soft shells & more
Ramps only make an appearance for a few, glorious weeks – and their time is right now. The seasonal delicacy is popping up on a few menus around town, including at La Cuchara, where they have been paired with roasted salmon, English peas, and tarragon vin blanc. Also keep an eye on the menu at Foraged, where the kitchen always makes the most of the brief ramp season.
Soft shell crabs – another hyper-local treat – are also starting to appear on menus around town, like at Thames Street Oyster House, where they are served with housemade fettuccine in crab tomato sauce.
At Silver Queen Café, both treats are on the menu. This past week, the Hamilton restaurant offered an Agrodolce Ramp & Mushroom Pizza and a soft shell entrée pairing crabs with vegetable couscous and lemon caper sauce.
Café Campli has updated its menu for early spring, including dishes like trumpet mushrooms with sweet pea risotto, and rosemary beef with sweet onion cipollini sauce.
Feastival plans
One of the most fun food events of the year – Feastival – returns to West Shore Park on Saturday, April 13.
Feastival, which is now in its 8th year, is a fundraiser for the Maryland Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. During the afternoon event, some of the area’s best restaurants and food companies come together to offer bites, sips and a generally festive atmosphere to a crowd that is always fun and interesting.
This year’s participants include: Alma Cocina Latina, Ammoora, Ash Bar, Atlas Fish Market, And 4 Dessert, Baltimore Waffle Company, BLK Swan, Blue Pit BBQ, Bunny’s Buckets & Bubbles, Duck Duck Goose, The Capital Grille, The Food Market, Italian Disco, James Joyce, Kora Lees, La Cuchara, La Scala, The Local, Marta, Poet’s Modern Cocktails & Eats, Rec Pier Chop House, Sydney’s Ice Cream, Taharka Bros, Treats4Eats, and True Chesapeake Oyster Co.
There will also be local beers and cocktails created by members of the Baltimore Bartenders’ Guild.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
April 13: Atwaters turns 21
April 17 & 18: Boujee Junk Food Dinner at The Food Market
April 23: Oysterfest Week at Manor Tavern
