From nachos to risotto, this week has a lot to offer Baltimore food lovers. Plus, many local restaurants have started thinking about Thanksgiving, coming up with creative menus for dine-in and carryout customers.
Here’s a look at what’s coming up this week and for Turkey Day later this month:
Openings & Announcements
Farmers’ market favorite Dmitri Olive Oil has opened a new storefront in Timonium.
After many months of planning and construction, 818 Market in Catonsville will open to the public on Monday, Nov. 16.
National Nacho Day
Friday, Nov. 6 is National Nacho Day – which sounds like exactly the kind of holiday the country needs right now.
In Towson, Felipe’s Taqueria is celebrating the day by giving away free nachos to guests between noon and 2 p.m.
In the barn at Boordy
Boordy Vineyards is lovely in the fall – and lots of fun. On weekends during November, Boordy will host musicians in the barn, where guests can reserve a table to safely enjoy the tunes (and the wine). Reservations, which require a small fee, allow use of the table from noon to 5 p.m. – but tables are limited, given the need to safely social distance, so if you’re hoping to head up to Boordy, make those plans now.
Fall updates in the kitchen & on the patio
Until Conditions Improve, the burger shop that popped up in The Bluebird Cocktail Room’s downstairs space over the summer, is moving upstairs for the winter. Bluebird has updated its menu to include hearty dishes like slow-cooked chili as well as “adult” hot chocolate drinks made with Valrhona Chocolate.
Ouzo Bay’s new fall menu includes dishes like a swordfish chop with truffle-caper crust and Loch Bar’s fall menu, which goes live Friday, includes dishes like a sumptuous Chilean sea bass bouillabaisse over saffron rice.
La Cuchara has also made some changes for the season. The Basque restaurant has tented and heated its patio, creating a lovely and comfortable space for outdoor dining.
Ampersea has adopted a creative approach to ensure warm and safe dining outdoors without impeding its fantastic harbor view. The restaurant installed open-air greenhouse-like structures on its promenade. They look cool – and comfortable.
Cosima cooking
Cosima’s cooking classes, helmed by Donna Crivello, are back this Sunday. This week’s class will focus on fall risotto.
Learn about local traditions
Kara Mae Harris, the terrifically talented writer and historian behind the Old Line Plate blog, has partnered with the Enoch Pratt Free Library to host a Zoom talk about Maryland cooking traditions. The talk takes place at 5 p.m. on Monday and will cover the “foodways and cooking traditions of Maryland.”
Giving back at True Chesapeake
On Wednesday, True Chesapeake Oyster Company will donate 10% of the proceeds of all dine-in and take-out orders to the Maryland Food Bank to support their efforts to combat hunger.
Local Country Cuisine Wine Supper
On Thursday, head to Manor Tavern for a wine dinner, presented by Chef’s Expressions, focused on modern takes on local country cuisine. The multicourse meal will be paired with specially selected wines – and is sure to be fun.
Dinner & a Movie Fridays
Nick’s Fish House kicks off a series of Dinner & a Movie on Nov. 13, with a screening of “Nightmare Before Christmas.” Each week, the restaurant will show a holiday classic along with a seafood (or non-seafood) dinner.
Thinking about Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is just three short weeks away, so if you’re thinking about dining out or ordering your dinner, sides or desserts from a local restaurant to enjoy at home, now is the time to make those plans.
The brand new company H3irloom Food Group – from industry vets David and Tonya Thomas (formerly of Ida B’s Table and Herb & Soul) – have a Thanksgiving catering menu including everything from blackstrap molasses butter to potlikker cornbread stuffing. It’s a terrific menu full of interesting choices.
Charleston will be open from noon until 8 p.m., serving a special three-course holiday menu.
Tersiguel’s has created a special to-go menu including four courses covering all of the Thanksgiving bases (plus more).
The Corner Pantry’s catering menu includes everything from caramelized onion dip to Scotch eggs to gluten-free gravy (and just about everything else).
Cindy Lou’s Fish House, the new Foreman Wolf spot, will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with Thanksgiving specials in the lineup.
Gertrude’s Thanksgiving “Curbside Menu” includes a dinner for four and – maybe even better – a leftovers kit with just enough for sandwiches for four people.
Linwood’s is offering a variety of tempting sides to go.
The Tilted Row’s takeaway Thanksgiving dinner serves four and includes all the classics.
Cunningham’s Café will be open on Thanksgiving Day. The café and restaurant are also offering a catering menu including traditional holiday entrees, sides, sauces and desserts.
SoBo Café’s catering options run from whole turkey to individual sides and pies.
Heritage Smokehouse is taking pre-orders for Thanksgiving dishes like smoked Heritage ham and cherrywood smoked turkey, as well as non-smoked dishes including sauerkraut and tater-tot casserole.
Johnny’s in Roland Park is offering a three-course menu with options like traditional turkey or blackened rockfish with collards and a cheddar grit cake. The menu is also available for takeaway – as are Johnny’s Thanksgiving pies, which can be pre-ordered before Nov. 20.
The Charmery is taking pre-orders for Thanksgiving ice cream pies in flavors like spiced pumpkin caramel and brown sugar molasses pecan pie.
Rusty Scupper will offer a buffet with traditional Thanksgiving fare as well as Chesapeake-inspired dishes.
If you just need a side dish, you can order that from Classic Catering, but the venerable caterer also has full feast options available. Each feast is designed to serve five to ten guests and includes a variety of traditional Thanksgiving dishes.
Eddie’s also offers everything from hors d’oeuvres by the dozen to a “holiday in a box” with a complete meal for six. Plus, you can easily add wine pairings to the menu.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
Nov. 14: Crush Wine Tasting 2020
Nov. 20: Wild Game & Whiskey at Elkridge Furnace Inn
Dec. 9: Best of the Best Wine Dinner
