A new cocktail bar called Church in Baltimore’s Old Goucher neighborhood is inviting visitors to commune with holy spirits in a different way.
Founder and ex-theologian Chelsea Gregoire, formerly the beverage director at True Chesapeake Oyster Co., created Church in an effort to use cocktails and hospitality to generate community and opportunities for others.
The bar’s cocktail list includes items like a bottle of “The Host” martini, designed to share among three or more people; the “St. Vincent,” a brandy and concord grape cocktail that’s topped with a mint foam; and the “Charming In Its Youth,” a cognac beverage with apricot and cardamom. Some drinks also have non-alcoholic versions.
“This being the first cocktail menu, I found myself ruminating on symbolism,” Gregoire said. “How has history employed this fruit, flavor, herb? How have societies around the world assigned meaning to these flavors? All of us rely on sense memories and this was an opportunity to engage with memory in a warm and curious way.”
Gregoire was named “Beverage Director of the Year” by Esquire Magazine in 2019.
The food menu will be modified regularly as it will be designed by culinary experts accepted into Church’s quarterly chef residency program.
“This is an experiment in creating a new kitchen paradigm that fosters mentorship, experimentation, and Church’s vision of community,” bar officials said.
“As the daughter of a Chef, I know how hard and thankless that work often is,” Church partner Marisa Dobson said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to give proper credit and compensation to the chefs participating in our residency. These first three Chef Residents represent homegrown talent at its finest.”
Current resident chef, Chef Dwight Campbell, has over 15 years of experience. He was a chef at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and is the co-founder of vegan ice cream brand Cajou Creamery.
Following Campbell will be Chef Melanie Kerr, a Baltimore native who competed on the cooking competition show “Chopped,” catered for more than 90,000 people at Coachella, and has a spice line called Chauncey’s.
Next year’s residency will kick off with Baltimore’s Chef Anna Kent, a teacher, award-winning bartender, vice president of the Baltimore Bartender’s Guild, and owner/operator of Tom Cat’s Kitchen.
Church will also offer a private meeting room for free reservation, named “The Fellowship Hall.”
The bar’s owners plan to host classes and training in skills such as banking, personal taxonomy, mental health, knife skills, and more.
“We hope to make The Fellowship Hall a community hub,” Church partner Martha Lucius said, “and become a rich resource for non-profits, social justice groups, and community leaders. I look forward to hearing from our neighbors on how the space can be useful to them and evolving the space to meet the need.”
Visit www.filledwiththespirits.com for the menu or to make reservations during their normal business hours, Wednesday to Sunday 5 to 10 p.m.
