From al fresco figs to espresso martinis, this week is full of autumnal flavors and festivities. Here’s a look what’s happening in the Baltimore food scene:
Openings & announcements
Decatur Tavern’s kitchen is now up and running.
Unfortunately, Bushel and a Peck Kitchen & Bar has closed after six years in business.
Negroni Week
There are still a couple days to catch the tail end of Negroni Week, the annual celebration of the classic cocktail – it runs through Sept. 27.
A handful of local spots are offering Negroni-focused specials, including Costiera, Dutch Courage, Pink Flamingo, Benny’s, Sisu, Mera Kitchen Collective, Neatfreak, Bunny’s, Patterson Pins, Cosima, Gunther & Co., Birroteca, and Maggie’s Farm.
Plus, in an interesting twist, Flour and Wood and Love, Pomelo, who have teamed up to create six cool Negroni variations and a passport system with prizes to give you extra incentive to try them all.
Lady M Confections at the casino
Luxury confectionery Lady M Confections is popping up at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland through this weekend. The shop will offer the company’s popular Mille Crepes cake.
Mooncake Festival
Late September means it’s Mooncake Festival time – the Asian celebration of the brightest full moon of the year.
In Baltimore, this means a multiday party at West Covington Park. From Saturday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27, the park will host over eighty food vendors featuring all kinds of Asian treats, along with live music, games, and more.
Plus, Nine Tailed Fox is honoring the occasion with a special menu available now through Sunday.
Party on the Plaza
On Friday evening, the area outside Lexington Market will come alive during Party on the Plaza. The event includes live music, vendors, and lots of food.
Trifecta Food Truck & Music Festival
Trifecta, the annual festival celebrating live music and food trucks, returns to the Fairgrounds this Saturday. The gates open at 11 a.m. for a day full of music and food from over thirty trucks.
Avena Maryland Italian Festival
Maryland’s biggest Italian festival takes place this weekend in the parking lot at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. The event features all kinds of Italian festivities, from a Heritage Village and live performances to live food and wine demonstrations from some of the area’s best Italian chefs and wine lovers.
Fig Picnic
On Saturday and Sunday, Juniper Farm hosts a fun figgy weekend, with fig-oriented food and drinks – plus all the usual farm treats, like flowers, vegetables, and honey.
Flavors of Maryland
Tastewise Kids annual fundraiser, Flavors of Maryland, takes place on Monday evening at Gertrude’s. The event, which is always full of culinary delights, will include food from H3irloom Food Group, Ekiben, Chef’s Expressions, Heritage Kitchen, Gertrude’s, Rooted Rotisserie, The Urban Oyster, Swill Apothecafe, and Tortuga Kombucha.
The evening’s lineup also includes ingredients sourced from local farms, including Liberty, Stoecker, Moon Valley, Albright, Havilah, Charlottetown, Filbert Street, and Whitelock Farms.
Ryleigh’s x John Brown
Ryleigh’s Oyster has announced a collab with John Brown Coffee. The restaurant now has an espresso martini, made with John Brown products, on tap – and is celebrating the launch with a party on Monday, Sept. 28.
Campania wine dinner
On Wednesday, Sally O’s goes Italian with a wine dinner showcasing vino from Campania. The multicourse meal includes dishes like spaghetti with clams and fried eggplant Napolean.
Autumn at Cosima
Also on Wednesday, Cosima dives into autumnal Italian cuisine with a cooking and cocktail class exploring the flavors of Sicily. The menu includes an heirloom tomato and goat cheese tartlet, grilled swordfish, and an olive oil pistachio cake.
Vehicles for Change tickets on sale
Tickets are available now for the Vehicles for Change Gala at The Hall at MD Live! Casino. The event is on Saturday, Oct. 17 – but if you order general admission tickets before Oct. 1, you’ll receive a $100 discount using the code ‘Heidi’ (courtesy of Heidi Klotzman).
The evening includes dinner and cocktails – plus a lot more.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
October 15: Spirit Series Dinner at Silver Queen Café
October 21: Chef Carlos Raba at Boordy Vineyards
October 24: Culinary Walking Tour of Greenmount Cemetery
