It is easy being green this week in Baltimore – in the culinary world, at least. Ramps, asparagus and other springtime favorites are popping up on menus and several spots have specials and events celebrating the earth. Here’s a look at what’s happening around Charm City this week:
Reopenings
This week is a promising one for reopenings, with announcements from a couple much-loved spots.
Though Hersh’s remained open for carryout during COVID, its loyal fans missed dining onsite. It’s now reopened for dining, with new spring specials (asparagus!) and old favorites abound.
True Chesapeake Oyster Co. reopens on April 21 with a new spring menu from the talented Chef Zack Mills and a fresh lineup of cocktails from beverage director and general manager Clare Yost. Yost is new to the True Chesapeake team; the former beverage director Chelsea Gregoire is one of the partners in the soon-to-open Old Goucher spot, Church.
Congrats to Sotto Sopra
Sotto Sopra celebrated 25 years in business last Friday. On Facebook, longtime customers have shared pictures and memories of their times at the Mount Vernon restaurant over the years. Congratulations to the Sotto Sopra team and the community they’ve created.
Baltimore County Restaurant Week
Restaurant Week is in full swing in Baltimore County. Dozens of restaurants are participating in the promotion, which lasts through May 2, including ever-popular spots like The Manor Tavern, which is offering a three-course lunch for $29.21 and three-course dinner for $39.21; dinner includes options like shrimp hush puppies, smoked pork chop and pan-roasted monkfish with lemon asparagus.
Wawa Week is here
The beloved mid-Atlantic convenience shop Wawa celebrates 57 years in business this week and to celebrate, the stores are hosting a weeklong ’80s throwback celebration, including a limited edition Garlic Chicken Cheesy Parm hoagie, inspired by the show The Goldbergs, which is set in 1980s Pennsylvania and regularly features Wawa.
As part of the week, The Wawa Foundation will also make a donation to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. The check will be presented the morning of April 16, in a ceremony at the Boston street Wawa.
Chesapeake food on MPT
Chesapeake Bay Week on Maryland Public Television kicks off on Sunday – and that means lots of great local food programming. On Sunday starting at 6 p.m., catch a two-hour block of the channel’s Eatin’ series focusing on crab cakes, crabs and oysters.
Going green
In honor of Green Week (April 15-26), Gunther & Co. has created a gorgeous gimlet featuring McClintock Distilling’s Forager Gin. Throughout the week, a portion of proceeds from any drink made with a McClintock spirit will help fund the planting of mature trees in appropriate spots throughout Maryland.
Speaking of greens, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar has gotten its hands on some ramps foraged by their neighbors at Foraged Eatery, and are serving them sautéed on toast with ricotta, honey, benne and pink peppercorn.
Speaking of Foraged, this week, the menu there is all about fiddlehead ferns, which only make an appearance for a short time, so get them while they’re here.
Cooking with THC
On Tuesday (aka 4/20), Hotel Revival’s Director of Culture and Impact Jason Bass will host a virtual talk with Chef Porter-Berger (@gudsnakpatisserie) about cooking with THC and hosting THC dinners.
Take Out Get Down – Earth Day style
The Take Out Get Down, the fun carryout-and-virtual gathering that popped up on New Year’s Eve and again over Valentine’s weekend, is back again this month – this time, for Earth Day.
Here’s how it works: on Friday, April 24 (Earth Day), head outside to help clean up your neighborhood, a park, or anywhere else that needs some extra love. Don’t forget to snap a pic while you’re cleaning.
Next, order from a participating restaurant and receive a “takeout ticket” – a QR code to scan for access to an online performance by Baltimore artists. If you show that photo of you cleaning up, you’ll also receive free Wild Bay Kombucha or Mr. Trashwheel beer.
Participating restaurants include Verde Pizza, Peabody Heights Brewery, Dooby’s, Blue Pit BBQ, Golden West Café, Kitsch Café and Maggie’s Farm. Lots of other organizations are in on the action, too, including ACE Hardware, which is offering big Earth Day discounts, Waterfront Partnership, and artist Sara Tomko, who has created a coloring book page for kids to print and color.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
April 24: OMGFood Benefiting The League for People with Disabilities
April 25: Oysterfest at The Manor Tavern
April 28: Wine and Bourbon Tasting at Peerce’s
