Mid-August might be the best time to eat locally in the Chesapeake region. This week, Baltimore restaurants are going all-in on local produce, seafood and more. Here’s a look at what’s happening:
Openings & announcements
Atlas Restaurant Group has been granted the necessary licensing to move forward with its newest Fells Point venture, The Undefeated, a Key West-inspired cocktail bar (named for a Hemingway short story).
Sotto Sopra has a big deal happening through the end of summer: buy two pasta dishes and get a third free.
Red Pepper Sichuan Bistro celebrates five years in Towson this month – congrats to the Red Pepper team!
BSC + Chuck’s Tropical BBQ
On Friday, Aug. 16, Baltimore Spirits Co. and Chuck’s Trading Post team up for a Tropical BBQ at BSC headquarters. The menu includes BSC cocktails designed to accompany fun tropical food, including suckling pig.
This event was supposed to take place a few weeks ago but had to be postponed – fortunately, it’s made its way back onto the calendar this week.
Miss Shirley’s Etiquette Brunch
On Saturday, Miss Shirley’s Café is reprising its popular etiquette class for children ages seven to 15. The class, which has two sessions broken out by age, includes education around appropriate dining behavior and the reasons behind the rules.
Classes take place on Saturday morning, over a two-course brunch.
Frozen desserts at Cosima
On Wednesday evening, Cosima chef Donna Crivello will lead a class in how to make frozen Italian desserts, including gelato and sorbetto – an excellent topic for steamy end-of-summer days.
End of summer goodness
Local spots are all about late summer produce and proteins right now, on the plate and in the glass.
True Chesapeake Oyster House’s snakehead (an invasive species) is paired with fried green tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, basil bread crumbs and roasted tomato beurre blanc – all kinds of summertime bounty.
At La Cuchara, fried green tomatoes with oregano, Dijon, wildflower honey and Rosette de Lyon is back for a bit.
The Food Market’s Peach-a-loma is a perfect summer cocktail for any time of day.
The Corner Pantry is reaping the summertime pepper harvest with a dish of charred shishitos paired with burrata, lime and peanuts.
Gertrude’s summer dessert menu includes treats like Charlottetown Farm cheesecake topped with cherry-orange compote.
Silver Queen Café is leaning hard into local seafood right now, from blue catfish to Maryland crab to scallops. Plus, now through Sunday, Aug. 18, all teachers and administrators get 20% off their total check at the restaurant’s new bar (with a valid school ID).
At Tagliata, one summery dish is a mezzaluna stuffed with eggplant parm and smoked mozzarella, then topped with local Sun Gold tomatoes and basil from Atlas Farms.
The kitchen at Of Love & Regret has been lucky enough to work with overflow from a friend’s urban garden – including a batch of fresh figs. Speaking of figs, a recent steak special included the sweet fruit, seared and served alongside melted Brie, caramelized onions and crispy potato croquettes.
Heritage Smokehouse had a gorgeous peach melba cake on the menu this week.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
Aug. 24: Ekiben Night Market
Aug. 27: Cosima Wine Dinner
Sept. 13: Fells Point Oyster Fest
