From wine and whiskey to creative takes on seafood, this week is an exciting one in Baltimore’s food scene. Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
Openings & announcements
The Little Hungarian Bake Shoppe reopened this week on Fleet Street.
Marta al Mare officially opens on Thursday in Harbor Point.
Lib’s Grill’s newest location, in the former Grill at Harryman House space in Reisterstown, will open later this month.
Café Fili’s new Locust Point location is just about ready to open – it’s a matter of days, not months now.
Little Ian’s Bagels is opening – softly – this weekend. The Patterson Park bagel shop is owned by the team behind the uber-popular Café Dear Leon.
Fells Point Farmers Market’s winter hours – Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – start this weekend and last through late April.
Bel Air is getting a new coffeehouse and cocktail bar, Social on Bond, in December. This will be the spot’s second location; it’s first, Social on Fenwick, is in Leonardtown.
Congratulations to Amadeo’s in Little Italy, which celebrated a year in business last week.
Unfortunately, Taco Love’s Cross Street Market stall has closed. The shop’s Locust Point location is still open.
In brewing news, local craft brew pioneer Heavy Seas Beer has filed for bankruptcy. The company’s founder, Hugh Sisson, is planning to retire after thirty years at the helm of Clipper City and Heavy Seas. However, this does not necessarily mean the end of the Heavy Seas brand; Inc. reports that the company will stay open during restructuring and that Sisson hopes the business will continue to operate.
Winning whiskey
Congratulations to Baltimore Spirits Company, which just received San Francisco World Spirits Competition’s Best of Class and Best in Show awards for its 6-Year Cask Strength Epoch Rye. The spirit bested over 1,000 other whiskies to win and is the first American whiskey to win since 2019.
Homebrew contest at Patterson Park
On Saturday, the annual Patterson Park 5K is followed by a fun homebrew contest and beer garden festivities at Patterson Park Public Charter School. The event is organized by B More Global and supports the organization’s efforts to expand Baltimore’s global citizenship.
Holidays on Harford Cocoa Crawl
The Hamilton-Lauraville stretch of Harford Road is getting festive this weekend with an afternoon Cocoa Crawl on Saturday, Nov. 14. Shops and restaurants along the road will offer hot cocoa while you browse and shop and you can pick up a bingo card to mark your stops and enter to win a prize.
Baltimore Soul Food Festival
On Saturday afternoon, Power Plant Live! welcomes the Baltimore Soul Food Festival, featuring karaoke, a DJ, a band, vendors, and lots of food.
Origins with Amy Sherald
On Sunday, Nov. 15, Woodberry Kitchen welcomes artist Amy Sherald for a brunch and discussion with Chef Spike Gjerde. The menu includes some of Sherald’s favorites from the restaurant – plus a $10 donation to the Farm Alliance of Baltimore’s Black Butterfly Farm.
A Taste Aquatic at Soundbar
On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Soundbar Chef Patrick Morrow presents A Taste Aquatic, an “interactive culinary experience” pairing multiple seafood courses with wines and Champagne from Moet Hennessy.
Le Beaujolais Nouveau êtes arrive
On Nov. 19 – the third Thursday in November – wine lovers around the world will celebrate the release of the year’s Beaujolais Nouveau.
Here in Baltimore, oenophiles have two opportunities to taste the young wine.
Petit Louis marks the occasion with a special menu designed to pair with the wine, starting with escargots in puff pastry, followed by coq au vin and a poached pear dessert (the regular a la carte menu will also be available on Nov. 19.
And at La Jetée in Harbor Point, a tasting event will feature appetizers, charcuterie, live jazz music, and tastes of Cru and Village Beaujolais.
Italian mountain wine at Hersh’s
Also on Thursday, Hersh’s celebrates the cuisine and wines of the Italian mountains during a four-course wine dinner. The meal will be meat-focused, with dishes of duck, pork, and beef paired with the region’s wines.
Friendsgiving at The Food Market
Also on Thursday (and Friday), The Food Market hosts a pair of ticketed Friendsgiving dinners featuring all kinds of Thanksgiving flavors packaged in creative approaches – think fried stuffing dippers with gravy and cranberry sauce and roasted turducken.
Top Chef Redo dinner
And if Thursday wasn’t busy enough, Sally O’s is hosting a Top Chef ‘redo’ dinner in which Top Chef contestant and Sally O’s chef/owner Jesse Sandlin recreates some of her faves from her time on the show.
Pearls & Prosecco at Ryleigh’s
On Friday, Nov. 20, Ryleigh’s kicks off Oyster Fest weekend with an evening of oysters, bubbly, hors d’oeuvres, and live music. The restaurant’s festivities extend throughout the weekend with tons of oyster specials, music, vendors, and more.
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Thanksgiving prep
Thanksgiving is still a couple weeks away but now is the time to make menu plans and order food from local spots offering take-home options.
True Chesapeake has teamed up with Eddie’s to make it easy to order and pickup the company’s oysters in time for Thanksgiving. They can be ordered online and picked up at either Eddie’s location on Nov. 24 or 25.
To add an interesting international twist to the table, Alma Cocina Latina is offering traditional Venezuelan stuffing for pick-up the day before Thanksgiving.
Cece’s take-home menu includes sides like truffle mushroom brioche stuffing and green bean casserole.
For more take-home Thanksgiving options, check out last week’s Hot Plate.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
November 21: Oyster Fest at Ryleigh’s
November 21: Christmas Village Opens
December 2: Woodberry Kitchen + Rocklands Farm Wine Dinner
