From French wines to locally grown peaches, this week Baltimore’s food world is bursting with flavor. Here’s a look at what’s going on:
Openings and announcements
Locust Point is getting a new food incubator, market and restaurant. The operation, which is slated to open next spring in the Hull Street space it previously housed Port Public House AND JR’s Bar & Grillis the brainchild of Digital Bay Center, a local technology incubator and accelerator.
Stuck inside Crossbar The beer gardenof sausage grass is a new speakeasy-style bar opening in Federal Hill. Opening day is Friday, August 12.
Breakfast and boards
On Saturday morning, kids — and their grown-ups — can head to Jake’s Skate Park in Rash Field Park for a free skateboard demo and workshop plus breakfast. The workshop, led by Baltimore pro skateboarder Joey Jett, is for kids under 12, but the breakfast, which includes iced coffee from Babe Beans Coffee and waffles from Good food (all available for purchase) is open to all.
Puppy brunch at Of Love & Regret
All month long, take your best guy or gal out for a potluck lunch Of love and regret. On Saturdays and Sundays throughout August, OLAR welcomes pups with “doggie tail” drinks for the dogs, unlimited mimosas for their owners, and food for both.
Sunday of the festival
Sunday promises to live up to its “funda” name in neighborhoods across the city.
The area around 4700 Park Heights Ave. will come alive with Taste of the Northwest, an outdoor festival featuring music, activities and food from neighborhood businesses. Entertainment will include performances by the Baltimore Steel Trinidad and Tobago Orchestra and a YBI African Apparel fashion show, and food options include goodies from Jazz Juice, Pimlico Market Cafe, Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm, Sobeachy Haitian Kitchen, Taharka Brothers Ice Cream, Tov Pizza AND Wild Heart Bistro.
In Patterson Park, the organization Komite Ayiti, Inc. is teaming up with Friends of Patterson Park for the second annual Haitian Caribbean Festival. In addition to music, vendors and other cultural activities, festival options include a “Taste of Haiti Experience” with Haitian food and drink (including rum punch).
Pop-up water song
Wednesday, Song of water Yunnan cuisine headed for R. The house for a pop-up event. During the pop-up, customers will have the opportunity to try some of Water Song’s signature dishes.
Uji Song has been busy this summer. In addition to a thriving business on East Cross Street, the restaurant has plans to open a location in Towson.
Thursday summer in the country
Thursday, August 18, is a great day for wine lovers; a pair of wine dinners highlights some of the best flavors and varieties from America and France.
At the Gramercy Mansion, Boss expressions will host a dinner to celebrate the famous Judgment of Paris of 1976, during which California wines outperformed Old World wines, to the surprise of the contemporary wine community.
At the Chef’s Expressions dinner, French and Californian wines will be paired with courses like French Atlantic cod poached in jasmine jus and a cocoa-rubbed rack of lamb with fennel and caramelized onions. With some courses, two wines will be served simultaneously for comparison; other courses will feature either a French or Californian product.
That evening, Milton Inn will showcase the wines of Provence with an Été en Provence wine dinner. The menu includes pasty pairings and garlicky prawns paired with a white and a rosé from Château Simone Blanc.
Drag in the market
Also on Thursday, Belvedere Square opens the doors to a “market crawl” during which market vendors will prepare small plates of some of their best dishes for sampling. Tickets to the event include a specialty cocktail plus access to all those great small plates.
There are many flavors of wine
Mid-August is prime produce season in the Chesapeake watershed, and this week, local menus are making the most of what’s available.
IN Food Marketlocal peaches top a toast with burrata, prosciutto, hazelnuts and honey.
IN Magdalena, the peaches are in the glass. The Ivy Hotel restaurant’s new Caipirinha Luxo features Novo Fogo Tanager, white peach sugar and lime.
Forage Restaurant is also experimenting with summer fruit cocktails, including the Black Raspberry, which includes raspberry stomach, brandy, Banyuls and fizzy duck.
spoon puts a Basque spin on classic Maryland flavors with crab, crunchy green tomatoes, squash blossoms and corn.
Upside down honors the season with dishes like fried baby eggplant with crème fraiche and fettuccine Toscana in cream sauce.
The silver queen the current menu is all about summer produce, including a pizza stuffed with peaches and house-cured pork belly and a wonderful stuffed zucchini dish.
Dylan’s Oyster Cellar Baked peaches topped with basil are bright, sweet and showcase fruit just in time for summer.
Heritage Smokehouse is making the most of Karma Farm heirloom tomatoes by tossing them with Calabrian chile breadcrumbs and olive oil, adding olives and picholine herbs, and serving it all over tzatziki.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
August 19: Vegan SoulFest begins
August 31: Summer food series pairings with Sagamore Spirit and Lib’s Grill
September 30: Passion for Food and Wine benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland
Kit Waskom Pollard is a contributing writer to the Baltimore Fishbowl. She writes Hot Plate every Friday at the Baltimore Fishbowl.
- Hot Plate: Water Song at R. House, summer dinners at The Milton Inn & Gramercy Mansion, summer menus and more – August 12, 2022
- Hot Plate: National Oyster Weekend, Chuck’s Annual Luau, The Charmery turns nine and more – August 5, 2022
- Hot Plate: Lobsterama at Gertrude’s, Shuckin’ in the Streets, National Oyster Weekend and more – July 29, 2022
