Baker’s Dozen / Liz and Kevin Irish of The Local Fry and Toki Tako

I remember when I first met husband and wife team Liz and Kevin Irish, it was at their original location of The Local Fry in Federal Hill. I was coming in to take some photos for a piece I was writing about them. I was super excited – I thought, wings and fries? – please and thank you. They were incredibly gracious and made so many things for me to shoot and taste and I was smitten. That was 2015 and HERE is that piece.

I’ve really enjoyed watching their businesses grow and I can’t believe we’ve known each other for almost 10 years! Now, with their home base in Hampden at the Rotunda, a stand at Oriole Park (OMG) and a location at Morgan State University opening this fall, they seem to be hitting their stride. And it must be said that their wings are my personal favorite in Bmore. I know a lot of influencers talk about other places, but the dry rubbed wings at The Local Fry (I order all flats) are my absolute favorite in the city. I’m a hometown girl, so Old Bay is my go-to, and my second fave is the Garlic Lemon Pepper.

I hope you enjoy this one. It’s becoming clear as I do these interviews, how long I’ve known a lot of these super talented food folks. Time sure does fly. And, Liz and Kevin are such nice people – I’m so glad to know them!

Thanks for being a part of this series, Liz and Kevin!

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Cake or Pie? And what kind?

Liz: Cake, chocolate cake with a fudgy chocolate icing with a glass of cold milk

Kevin: I wouldn’t say no to either but I would have to say pie. I’m a texture
guy so a nice flaky buttery pie base with any filling will do it for me.
My mother always makes apple tarts in Ireland so that’s my go to.

Your most prized possession?

Liz: I don’t think I have a most prized possession.

Kevin: I don’t really put importance into possessions. I have what I need and
take pleasure in experiences and living in the moment. I do have a
selfie with Justin Tucker and Adam Jones though. I think that’s cool 🙂

What’s your favorite thing to order out at restaurants?

Liz: French fries.

Kevin: Foie gras. Nothing better than a toasted baguette, some pickles and
foie gras.

What’s your favorite to cook at home?

Liz: I love making spaghetti or white rice with a bunch of different
vegetable ban chans.

Kevin: As someone with a sweet tooth, I tend to go towards making desserts at home and
leave my wife Liz with the savory. I make a lot of pavlova.

What’s your morning beverage and how do you take it?

Liz: Hot coffee black at home, or iced coffee black if i pick up coffee to go.

Kevin: Black coffee. I have been trying to live a healthier lifestyle over the last year (if you haven’t noticed, I like everything with cream, butter and fat :)) I cut out dairy in my coffee and just stuck to it.

What’s your personal motto?

Liz: Be better. There’s no place for mediocrity.

Kevin: Nobody cares. Work harder! Made famous by our great no.8 Lamar Jackson. I take it to mean that everyone has personal stuff going on in their life but don’t let that interfere with what your goals and
ambitions are.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

Liz: My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love the festive atmosphere surrounding Christmas, the music, the food, gift giving, family time, etc. I like that it falls at the end of the year and gives you a little break from your regular busy life to just enjoy being with friends and family before everything starts all over again in the new year.

Kevin: Christmas. It’s a little different for me. Christmas in Ireland is like Thanksgiving in the States. It’s the same meal and family get together. The young kids are excited to open their presents and it’s the
one day where you can sit at home all day relax, eat, drink and have a great time with friends and family.

Best advice you were ever given? And from whom?

Liz: Actions speak louder than words. Not really advice given from somebody specific, just learned through experiences in life.

Kevin: Work on your business, not in your business. In the past, I have been guilty of trying to do too much as a worker in my businesses at times leading to not being able to effectively run and market it as I am too busy doing the work. I’m happy to say that now I am fully focused on working ON my business.

What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?

Liz: Creating The Local Fry and the life that I live with Kevin and having my mom be proud of us.

Kevin: Opening The Local Fry with my wife. That’s a place and menu that you can’t find anywhere and something that came from our minds into real life. Now, we have a HQ in Hampden, two spots in Camden Yards and another location opening soon by Morgan State University with a lot of interest from outside of Maryland, also.

The last text you sent?

Liz: Inviting our general manager to the movies.

Kevin: Dinner suggestions with Liz. We ended up getting Peruvian chicken.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Liz: Being loved.

Kevin: A meal with friends or family without phones. We live in the times where we are one text away from your plans completely changing. Especially in the food industry, if a get a text, I’m thinking did a
compressor fail?, did the grill break down?, did someone not come in to work?

What do you love most about food?

Liz: I love that food creates moments and memories. I associate specific dishes and flavors with specific memories from my past or reminds me of certain people. And new food experiences create future memories. Food is such an integral part of life and life experiences.

Kevin: Food brings everyone together. It’s an ice breaker. I always ask my staff what their favorite food is and what restaurants they like. That usually leads to them recommending places they like in the neighborhood and the conversation just goes from there.

What’s your favorite place in Baltimore?

Liz: Petit Louis Bistro in Roland Park. I like to dine there solo, just to have some me time for a short while in the middle of a busy work day. For me, going to Petit Louis is like taking a little trip abroad or far away, but still being home in Baltimore.

Kevin: M&T Bank Stadium. We got season tickets a few years ago and always look forward to football season. If it’s not in football season, I like being by the water in Fells point and Canton.

Baker’s Dozen is an occasional column highlighting some very talented, hardworking and kind folks in the Baltimore food + beverage community. I hope you will make a point to support their businesses.