Summer is now (unofficially) here and Baltimore restaurants are full of seasonal surprises and exciting plans. Here’s a look at what’s happening this week:
Openings and announcements
Atlas Fish Market and the indoor/outdoor seafood spot Watershed – both owned by Atlas Food Group – open in Cross Street Market Memorial Day weekend. Watershed has indoor and outdoor seating and looks like lots of fun.
Keep an eye on The Woodberry, which is slated to get a new Dunkin’ Donuts this summer…but not just any Dunkin’. The new store will be one of the chain’s “next generation” restaurants with a focus on technology, modern design and sustainable features.
Get a head start on Father’s Day shopping with a trip to the Gertrude’s gift shop; the BMA restaurant has a couple fun, dad-friendly gift options available.
RoFo + Heavy Seas
Two beloved Baltimore brands – Royal Farms and Heavy Seas Brewery – have teamed up to re-release World Famous, a pilsner tailor-made to pair with RoFo’s sublime fried chicken.
The beer will be available at the brewery June 25 and at the Royal Farms stores that carry beer and wine later this summer, just in time for RoFo’s fourth annual Chicken Palooza. While most of the stores that carry alcohol are located outside the Baltimore region, the Keswick Rd., Bowleys Quarter Rd., and Taylor Ave. stores have beer and wine available.
Memorial Day Weekend fundraiser at Gunther & Co.
Gunther & Co. is hosting a weekend-long fundraiser supporting No Kid Hungry, a cause near and dear to the Gunther team’s hearts. Throughout the weekend, guests can help support the organization by bidding on food and drink baskets online and/or by drinking Tito’s Vodka cocktails at the restaurant.
Big Softy at Dutch Courage
This Sunday’s Dutch Courage Sunday Supper features the one and only Big Softy and his soft shell and shrimp salad sandwiches, as well as his new Detroit-style pizzas. You can pre-order and make your reservation online now.
Soft shell season
Dutch Courage isn’t the only place to snag a softie right now.
Bar Vasquez just added a crispy soft crab served with a potato cake, local asparagus and spicy aioli.
At The Corner Pantry, soft shells are fried and served over a cucumber and red onion salad tossed with green papaya vinaigrette, miso seaweed aioli and chili peanuts.
Summer cocktails
With Memorial Day upon us, local drinks menus have evolved, with sunnier, brighter options designed for warm weather quaffing.
At Ouzo Bay, the summer drinks menu includes options like Mykonos Ruins, which combines tequila, pineapple, lemon and ginger.
One of Magdalena’s new concoctions, the Produce Stand to Table, mixes vodka (or gin, if requested), cucumber, basil and lime.
Silver Queen Café’s strawberry basil vodka lemonade looks festive, fun and perfect for the start of summer.
Summer salads
It’s not just drinks menus getting a seasonal overhaul. Local spots are also taking advantage of the seasonal influx of fresh produce to refresh their menus.
At Thames Street Oyster House, a burrata, tomato and onion salad includes produce from Hummingbird Farms and Hillside Meadow Farm; it’s full of color and sounds terrific.
La Cuchara’s salads include everything from tomatoes to flowers culled from local farms.
At La Food Marketa, the Farmers First Veggies dish tosses asparagus, radishes and cucumbers with cilantro oil and jalapeno crema for a dish that’s fresh and interesting with a little kick.
Dylan’s Oyster Cellar’s menu includes a gorgeous green salad of gem lettuce, peas, fava beans, sunchokes, lovage and garlic chives, featuring produce from Karma Farm.
In case you missed it
The New York Times profiled Baltimore’s own Chef Cindy Wolf this week. The article is thorough and does a great job conveying how hard working and impressive Chef Wolf is (and what a good business partner Tony Foreman is, as well).
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
June 19: Peter Pan Literary Tea at Elkridge Furnace Inn
July 9: Maryland Food Truck Week
August 7: Crabs, Wine & Beer Festival
