| Really, really good nachos at Sobo Market – outside, heated, lovely. I created this newsletter as a way to keep people in Baltimore informed on ways we all can support our favorite local restaurants and food & beverage businesses. No ads, no memberships, just info. All I ask is this: forward it onto a few of your friends in Baltimore who love food. SOBO CAFE IN THE COUNTY  Another chance for folks to get some delicious SoBo Cafe food without going to Federal Hill! Thursday, February 25 Pickup location: White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company 4:30-6:00pm Call Sobo Cafe by Wednesday, February 24 at 4:00pm to place your order — please mention SoBo Cafe in the County — then pick up your food on Thursday, February 25 between 4:30-6:00pm at the White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company (close to I-95 Exit 67.) Wine & growler delivery are also available. A $5 donation will be added to each order for the White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company. (Past locations include Carney and Timonium, follow Sobo Cafe to stay in the loop!) THE PROP UP SHOP BALTIMORE    Local stylist Giulietta Pinna of Limonata Creative has opened The Prop Up Shop in Parkdale Studios in Woodberry — and it is amazing! I went for a little sneak peek today and she has everything from tableware, glassware and books to cake stands, cutting boards and so much (literally, so much) more. She also has a space with huge window with incredible light streaming in for in-house photo shoots. If you or someone you know is ever in need of photo shoot prop rentals or styling help, please check this out! And, this is not a forever situation (ie: “pop-up”), so I would book a private visit soon. Follow on IG. NIXTAMALERIA COMING TO CLAVEL  While the pandemic has been (and still is) incredibly difficult for restaurants, it’s also given them time to think, recalibrate and more. The folks at Clavel have often led the way on creativity within their spaces, and they are currently renovating an adjacent space into a Nixtamaleria, which will serve as a place for them to grind corn and make masa for their tortillas. In addition (God bless you, Lane and Carlos) it will also have a carryout counter that offers lunch and bottles of mezcal to-go. HOOOOORAY. Follow Clavel on Instagram for updates. And drop Lane a line if you want to check out their newest mezcals, which they are selling in smaller bottles so you can try multiple styles to see what you like. A few years ago, I was one of those people who said “I don’t like mezcal.” Then I went to a mezcal tasting with Clavel’s bar director, Dre Barnhill and quickly found some I really loved. Dive in, you might be surprised. These talented people have been recognized nationally for the food and drinks they create, so make sure you order some takeout soon. The burritos are insane. GREENMOUNT SCHOOL NIGHT AT MOLINA PIZZA  Please support my employer, The GreenMount School! Thursday, February 25 4:00-8:00pm Two years ago, I left self-employment (food/bev social media, marketing consulting) behind and returned to my career in development at The GreenMount School in Remington. Turns out, I had missed working on behalf of a mission, having co-workers and a steady paycheck and health benefits! (That first paycheck was like OH, I forgot what this feels like!”) Now, I am also handling marketing for the School, too. It’s a really special place. Anyway, we’ve been doing these takeout nights from Hampden and Remington restaurants and the next one is Molina Pizza at R. House this Thursday night. When you order takeout that night, The GreenMount School gets 20% of your order! Brick oven pizza, sandwiches, salads and more. You can even buy pizza dough to make more pies at home. Take the night off from kitchen duty and help GreenMount at the same time — Thank you! And, thank you J.J. Reidy of Molina and STEM Farm + Kitchen for your generous support. OUTDOOR DINING   Outdoor dining “shuck shacks” and a small first-come-first-serve outdoor bar at Dylan’s. Two weeks ago, I asked folks on Instagram and Facebook about places where they have dined outside with heaters. Here is the IG post — I plan to keep adding places to the list in the post. Please send me more places where you have dined outside — we have a few more weeks of cold weather and I gotta say, dining outside a little bit bundled up feels like an adventure! Petit Louis Johnny’s Orto Cindy Lou’s Fish House Cinghiale The Capital Grille Woodrow’s Bar-B-Que Tapas Teatro Rocket to Venus Dylan’s Brewer’s Art Sobo Market Sobo Cafe Full Tilt Brewing Gypsy Truckstaurant Nepenthe Holy Frijoles Marie Louise Bistro Cosima Sally O’s Dutch Courage Kooper’s Riverside Taphouse R. House Checkerspot Brewing DESSERTS TO GO  Recently, I asked for restaurant dessert suggestions and specifically asked for things that people ordered along with their dinner that traveled particularly well. Here are some: Daniela’s — tiramisu The Food Market — Heath Bar bread pudding Cookhouse — Nutella doughnuts El Trovador — tres leches cake La Scala — tiramisu Orto — chocolate hazelnut pave, pistachio cake Dutch Courage — banana bread pudding Sotto Sopra —crème brûlée Clavel — flan, tres leches cake Dylan’s — Basque cheesecake Nihao — cookie boxes 1157 Bar + Kitchen — chocolate peanut butter tart La Cuchara — chocolate mousse (pictured), vanilla pear tart, butterscotch pot de crème Souvlaki — baklava Silver Queen Cafe — peanut butter pie (multiple mentions!) Cocina Luchadoras — flan Thai Arroy — mango sticky rice Petit Louis — pot de crème, crème brûlée TAKEOUT RECOMMENDATIONS  Fuzzie’s Smash Burger (OMG) Here are some takeout suggestions I’ve received (and, new ones continue to be added!) Please email me or message me via IG with more suggestions! Soups On — “Veggie soup + tofu banh mi is my go-to for a soup-sandwich combo.” Good Neighbor — tahini chickpea toast Thread Coffee — free local delivery! Fuzzie’s Burgers — “Ghost” kitchen, amazing burgers, chicken sandwich and fries! Motzi Bread — “everything they make is wonderful.” Artifact Coffee — fantastic tofu banh mi, grilled cheese, breakfast bowl Hersh’s — Ricotta crostini, Caesar salad, carbonara, wings, kale + pistachio pizza Spoons Cafe — “House roasted coffee, really great breakfast” Limoncello — “Owners are from Naples, the best Italian food, especially the seafood. Also their limoncello!” Tapas Teatro — seafood paella, grilled lamb chops, shrimp with garlic, littleneck clams and the best is the sangria pitcher (or quart to go) of sangria for $10 on Tuesdays 29th Street Tavern — Great simple burger, chicken cheesesteak, wings Chiyo — “All the rolls.” (I have to agree!!) Heritage Kitchen — Arroz Caldo, Chicken and Short Rib Adobo, Shrimp & Pork Belly Laing, Coconut + Crab soup, Butternut Squash Soup (or really, ANY soup Chef Rey makes.) Cindy Lou’s Fish House — Biscuits, fried green tomatoes, rockfish bites, shrimp and grits, fried chicken. Very nice cocktails. The Food Market — “Amish soft pretzels always, always”, Fast Food Market (weekend special), spaghetti and crab meatballs, lamb chops and crispy lobster fingers. “I love ordering from The Food Market because we all can use some comfort right now.” Chuck’s Trading Post — Wednesday burger special, “every burger is fantastic.” Nihao — Peking duck, Grand Marnier shrimp, fried rice, cocktails (non-alc, too!) La Cuchara — Soft pretzels, mussels, salmon niçoise, rockfish, cinnamon buns Orto – Friday pasta club, chicken parm for two “and make sure you get an extra Caesar”, “just order the whole menu.” The Cacio e Pepe is my go to. Dylan’s — “The menu is so tight that everything on it is really, really good.” Burger and fries, Caesar salad, kale salad, shucked raw oysters, fried oyster sandwich, killer drinks. Ethel’s Creole Kitchen — “Consistently my favorite.” Foraged — “We order EVERYTHING.” “I mean, just order anything on the menu, it’s that good.” Mizu Sushi — “The 3-roll lunch special is such a good deal.” The Helmand — Kaddo Borwani (pumpkin), Banjan Borwani (eggplant), chicken kabobs, Dwopiaza lamb The Prime Rib — “The best takeout, what a treat. Get prime rib (obviously), potato skins, mashed potatoes and you have to get martinis.They come in pouches like Capri Suns!” Also, I have to add that their cheeseburger is one of the best I’ve ever had and it’s on the takeout menu. Petit Louis — Cucumber salad, friseé salad, whole roasted chicken, eggplant napoleon, steak frites, steak au poivre, extra fries always. The whole menu. Papermoon Diner — “I love the Spring Egg: potato cake, prosciutto and spinach tossed in olive oil served with 2 over-medium eggs and hollandaise.” (omg, that sounds good!) Thai Street — Soups, noodles, Khai Soi, spring rolls, crab fried rice Annabel Lee Tavern — Grilled tuna panini Mt. Everest — Saag Paneer, Chana Masala with naan Snake Hill — Three mentions of their wings! Bullseye — Scallion pancakes, Szechuan pork, “OMG, any dumplings they make” The Local Fry — “Tofu Bahn Mi, Asada fries. So good.” I also LOVE their dry rubbed wings in a many flavors and I love that you can order all flats! (team flats over here.) Isabella’s — “Best Italian Cold Cut in the City!” Souvlaki — Pantzarokeftedes (beet wrap), Bifteki with Greek fries Hersh’s — Crispy chicken sandwich, Caesar salad, Americano pie, crostini, wings, carbonara — “Literally everything is good here.” Sobo Cafe — Ranch garden salad, short rib, salmon, mussels, spicy feta, mac ‘n cheese Well Crafted Kitchen — “We love all of their pizzas and the family style salads. Best people, too.” Clavel — Margaritas, all the tacos, burritos. “For real, everything is good here.” Sushi Sizka — Pingpong roll, spicy salmon roll, Caribbean roll Fuisine — “Get the short rib toast!” Koko’s — Crab cakes and wings Alma Cocina Latina — “The arepas are the best.” Jasa Kabob — Curry and vegetable samosas Paulie Gee’s — “Their Wednesday wood-fired special is great. It’s 2 pizzas for $22 or 4 pizzas for $44.” The Tilted Row — “Pasta dishes and Andy’s Mac ‘n cheese, a carryover from his days at Donna’s in Charles Village” Wet City — “The Bahn Mi Dog, Ribeye Cheesesteak, Hot Chicken Sandwich — plus amazing beers in crowlers.” Kitsch Cafe — “Incredible breakfast sandwiches. Plus, when you order a ‘Givewich, it goes to someone who needs a meal.” Ekiben — Neighborhood Bird, tempura broccoli (now GF), tofu brah, shrimp snacks, tons of creative and delicious collaborations. And you can also “Buy a Hero a Bun” for a healthcare worker if you’d like to help folks on the front lines. Ramen Utsuke — “Consistently excellent ramen.” Le Comptoir Du Vin — “We love their sandwiches and the lentils.” I have to add that I could absolutely eat their chicken liver pâté on sourdough once a week. WEEKLY RECIPE This week’s recipe is one I did not create. (Again.) I made this today and just have to share. I am in love with the Tom-Kha Soup (coconut soup) from the new Mona’s Super Noodle (where Nori used to be, on the Avenue) in Hampden. I’ve gotten it twice. The mushrooms in it taste like candy! Not kidding. And it has a really subtle kick. Well, I found a highly-rated recipe online and made it today. I think I will add a little more heat next time…but in general, it came close to Mona’s. The flavors (and heat) will likely intensify as they sit in the fridge, so I think tomorrow’s lunch will tell me more about whether or not I need to add heat. ps. I also like Mona’s pho very much, too. Best Ever Tom Kha Gai Soup (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)  RESTAURANTS NEED US. I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO SAY IT AGAIN. PLEASE… • order takeout for yourself (or even as thank yous for your friends who are healthcare workers and in other key frontline services, or for friends who welcome babies, etc • give positive reviews on dining sites and social media • share your favorite takeout meals you’ve had during COVID on your social media channels (it really helps!) • order your meals via the restaurant directly, please avoid apps that charge the restaurant up to 40%. And, picking up your food in person gives you a chance to say hello and thank the owner and staff in person. We all can use a lift., huh? • tip as much as you can on your takeout • buy merch, gift cards, etc • Venmo your favorite server Will you please share this to THREE people? THE MORE PEOPLE ORDERING TAKEOUT, THE BETTER! And, be sure to follow me on Instagram for lots more daily food and Bmore inspo!  I LOVE YOU, BALTIMORE.  One more thing…this was part of my takeout from The Helmand last week, the beloved pumpkin appetizer Kaddo Borwani. And I went old school and called my order in, it was ready 20 minutes later! Thank you, thank you. Amy ps. If you are receiving this newsletter via a forward from a friend, here is how to signup.  |
The Helmand, La Cuchara’s Market, Pho in Hampden, Valentine’s Day Takeout + Lots More
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