A culinary compendium of restaurant, food, and beverage news and trends from the Chesapeake region
Sip, Sip, Hooray!
We can say from personal experience that Crooked Crab Brewing Co. is always packed, so it’s welcome news to hear that the Odenton brewery plans to expand by more than 8,000 square feet. The enlarged space, which will be nearly 15,000 square feet, plans to be open early next year, and it means that there will be room for live music and entertainment acts. Crooked Crab also plans to boost its barrel-aging process, as well as its overall production of beer.
“We are currently operating at our maximum capacity,” co-owner Dan Messeca told Baltimore Business Journal in mid-August. “The primary purpose of this expansion is to increase our production, which we expect will slowly ramp up to the range of 5,000 barrels annually.” 8251 Telegraph Road, Odenton | crookedcrabbrewing.com
If you’re over in West Anne Arundel County and need a little pick-me-up, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company has you covered. The company recently debuted its Big Orange Coffee Service, a bright-orange truck that serves up drip coffee, espresso-based drinks, and cold brew at locations throughout the county, including Sundays at the AA County Farmers' market. For specific dates and locations, follow the company's Facebook page. 2100 Concord Boulevard, Suite J, Crofton | cbrccoffee.com
What about if you’re on the Eastern Shore? Take advantage of Rise Up Coffee Roasters’ new drive-through location in Easton, right across the street from the company’s roastery. “In truth, our new Easton drive-thru represents our ongoing response to COVID-19,” the Rise Up team shared on social media. “As an exact replica of our St. Michael’s location, it gives us another convenient and safe service option for our Easton neighbors.” 618 Dover Road, Easton (Roastery) | riseupcoffee.com
Back to booze for a moment: Next time you’re on a weekend vacay down to the beach, you might have another reason to stop by (or stay in) Berlin. In late August, the town’s Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the proposed site plan for a new distillery, Forgotten 50. The distillery will be headed up by Cody Miller, who is currently the distiller at Ocean City’s Seacrets. He told The (Salisbury) Daily Times that the property would include a tasting room and, in the future, hopefully a cocktail lounge. Forgotten 50 still needs state and federal approval before it can come to fruition.
Good Eats: Fall Food Favorites
Hear ye, hear ye! The Maryland Renaissance Festival is back after taking a year off for a small obstacle known as the COVID-19 pandemic. Behind the gates, you’ll find one of the main reasons to attend: the food. We’re partial to classic smoked turkey leg, but there’s a lot more that we’ve been waiting two years to chow down on, from Hot Apple Dumplings to Canterbury Pork Pockets and more.
Tiffany and Brian Biven snack on fried mac ‘n cheese at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.
What’s your favorite fall food? Perhaps you’re partial to the Apple Cider Donuts that Homestead Gardens traditionally sells during the harvest season. Maybe you’re a purist who prefers all things pumpkin, starting with the basics, a Pumpkin Spice Latte at your choice of coffee shops. Do you go apple-picking every year, carefully plucking the sweetest, crispest fruit off the tree with your very own hands? (Kent Fort Farm in Stevensville has u-pick apples, as well as pumpkins, hayrides, and a petting zoo on weekends this month; call 410-643-1650 first for availability.)
We’d love to hear what you’ve been indulging in this autumn. Share your faves on social media by using the hashtag #favoritefallfoods
From the Bar: Perk Up While Winding Down
The morning hours call for a strong cup of coffee. Once the day is done, however, you can still turn to the coffee for moral support—coffee-flavored spirits, that is. Try this one out:
Grant Brulot Black Manhattan
Serves 1
- 1 oz. Grand Brulot
- (coffee-flavored cognac)
- 1 oz. bourbon
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- 3 dashes orange bitters
In a mixing glass, stir all ingredients together. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with ice or serve up. Garnish with an orange twist and two cocktail cherries.
*Recipe and photo courtesy of Grand Brulot (www.grandbrulot.com)
