Restaurant news and culinary trends throughout the Chesapeake Bay region
The year is not only what’s new in the area. We have new bakeries, coffee shops, ice creameries, and bars to enjoy now that our schedules have cleared a bit. Fill your calendar back up with lunches, dinners, happy hours, and desserts at local businesses and give back to our community!
On the Dining Scene...
It is not quite the weather for Capital SUP to show their skills on the water, so they decided to pivot for the winter. While the business gets ready for the 2024 season, Capital SUP decided to relocate their Nautilus Point trailer to open CapCafe at Quiet Waters Park Ice Rink. All winter, CapCafe will be serving hot cocoa, coffee, tea, treats, and positive vibes, as well as cold-weather Capital SUP merchandise to enjoy while you are on the ice. CapCafe serves The Big Bean Coffee! Find more information at capitalsup.com.
Believe it or not, we have a lot of ice cream news this month. Tasty Toucan, an ice cream shop in Stevensville, has been recognized as the 2023 Paleta Champion. This award is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence in frozen desserts. Tasty Toucan has handmade ice cream with all-natural ingredients. Tasty Toucan also has an array of ice pops and spiked ‘poptails’! Find more information at tastytoucan.com.
And are 150 ice cream flavors enough? Visit the newest Bruster’s Real Ice Cream in Odenton to find out! Bruster’s opened their 10th location in the Seven Oaks Shopping Center across from Fort Meade. This is the fourth Bruster’s in Anne Arundel County. Visit brusters.com for info.
Need even more sweet, cool confections? Haagen-Dazs opened a new location in the Annapolis Mall. Haagen-Dazs opened in the middle of the main food court in the mall during November and is the newest destination for the sweetest and creamiest of all the treats. During their grand opening, the creamery gave the first 500 guests free mini cups or cones.
One of the restaurants we know and love in the heart of Annapolis and elsewhere is expanding once again. Iron Rooster announced that they are opening their fourth location this winter in College Park. The newest installment will operate out of The Hotel at University of Maryland, just steps away from the iconic terrapin entrance. Get ready for more breakfast all day and, of course, the famous homemade Roostarts. Find more information at ironroosterallday.com.
Just before Thanksgiving, the newest Titan Hospitality-managed restaurant opened in Annapolis. The Lodge opened on Jennifer Road the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, introducing the dining concept of “where rustic meets farm freshness.” The Lodge is similar to The Blackwall Barn and Lodge already located in Gambrills (and in Columbia). The Lodge showcases simplicity in rustic dining with wholesome ingredients. Find more information and a full menu at lodgeannapolis.com.
At the end of October, Blondie’s Doughnuts opened their first store front in Edgewater. Michelle Diggs opened Blondie’s Doughnuts, a pop-up shop, in 2019 and has appeared at farmer’s markets and events in the region. Now, Blondie’s will offer doughnuts, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee at their permanent location at 8 Mayo Road. Find more information and food truck locations at blondiesdoughnuts.com. ™
One of our favorite recent additions to the hybrid dining/entertainment space, GameOn Bar + Arcade, is opening their third location in Howard County. Eli and Casey Linthicum, a couple from Columbia, will open a location in their hometown! The retro wonderland is family-friendly during the day and becomes 21 and over at 8 p.m. Enjoy a game of Pac-Man while sipping on an ‘adult’ Capri Sun. Best of both worlds right? The bar-cade is planning to open mid-January. Find more information at gameonbararcade.com.
Fake It ’Til Ya Make it...
It is that time of year for a change in habits and a healthier perspective. This just means that we should enjoy even tastier drinks, albeit nonalcoholic. Below is a list of mocktails that are worth bringing to your next home happy hour.
Peppermint White Russian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Strong Brewed Coffee
- 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/8 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
- 2 ounces Heavy Cream
- 1 Peppermint Stick
Instructions
Fill the glass with ice. Pour the brewed cold coffee over the ice. Add vanilla and peppermint extracts. “Float” cream over the coffee, stir gently, and add peppermint stick.
Photo and recipe courtesy of artfrommytable.com
Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Blood Orange Juice
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 4 ounces Lime Sparkling Water
- Blood Orange Slices for garnish
Instructions
Squeeze the blood orange juice into a mason jar with a lid or cocktail shaker. Add the honey and vanilla extract to the unchilled juice. Shake. Add ice to cool it down. Pour evenly into two ice-filled glasses. Top with lime sparkling water and a slice of blood orange on top. Cheers! Enjoy right away.
Photo and recipe courtesy of marisamoore.com
Winter Kiss Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 ounce White Cranberry Juice
- 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup
- 1/2 ounce Lime Juice
- 1 ounce Pomegranate Juice
- Club Soda
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a glass with ice, top with club soda.
Photo and recipe courtesy of wildberrylodge.com
