Restaurant news and culinary trends throughout the Chesapeake Bay region
We have a lot to celebrate and many ways to do it this season. We have plenty of new restaurants to check out, support, and appreciate, and, of course, some cocktails to drink. How will you end your year with a bang? We have a few suggestions.
On the Dining Scene...
Good news. While you can enjoy Mexican street food at Senor’s Chile Cantina in Edgewater or Arnold, owner Fredy Salmoran and his family are opening Senor’s Chile Café in Severna Park. Senor’s Chile Café is inspired by the fresh ingredients of Mexico and will use the highest quality ingredients. Keep an eye out for when Senor’s Chile Café opens at 594 Benfield Road in Severna Park. In the meantime, check out one of the other locations and the menu at senorschile.com.
After much anticipation, Garten in Severna Park is officially open. The husband-and-wife team behind Preserve in Downtown Annapolis opened their sister restaurant in October. Garten features natural wine and beer selections and a menu made with locally- and sustainably-sourced ingredients. Garten also serves Pherm Brewing (Gambrills) beers and has plans for an on-site production garden coming summer 2023. The food at Garten is a modern take of German and northern French cuisines, including cheese and charcuterie boards, schnitzel with shaved garden vegetables, and much more. Find a full menu at garten-eats.com.
In mid-August, a new fine dining restaurant with an urban flair opened in Bowie, BLVCK COW. Owners Chef Neville Nugent and Chef Ed Reynoso bring a twist to American classics with options of different sauces and preparations to transport dining guests on a journey of deliciously incredible food: big, juicy steaks, fresh seafood, and unique, handcrafted cocktails. BLVCK COW is open for dinner at 6133 Highbridge Road. Find the full menu at blvckcow.com.
At the end of September, Beefalo Bob’s in Curtis Bay suffered a fire with $1.5 million in damage. Beefalo Bob’s catering location is still open at 107 Mountain Road in Pasadena offering sandwiches, meat by the pound, sides dishes, and more. Show your support while they rebuild. Find more updates on their Facebook page or at beefalobobs.com.
Mouthwatering flavors, rebellious passion, and never-ending fun...what does this make you think of? Banditos Tacos & Tequila perhaps? Banditos has locations in Federal Hill, White Marsh, and Towson, and is in the process of opening their newest location on Merriweather Drive in Columbia. Enjoy classic shrimp, steak, or chicken tinga tacos, or go bold with dynamite fish, cheeseburger, fried avocado, or cheesesteak tacos paired with tequila or mezcal. Find more information and a full menu at banditostnt.com.
The Gift Experience...
Our favorite gift-giving holidays are quickly approaching. Do you have all your gifts ready? Lucky for you, I have some last-minute gift ideas. Not every gift has to be a physical item. Maybe try an experience. Maryland is full of wineries, craft breweries, and, even, distilleries. Take your loved ones on a culinary adventure along our state’s wine trails, to a tasting room, or sign them up for a loyalty program.
Chesapeake Wine Trail: Over a dozen Eastern Shore wineries are a part of the Chesapeake Wine Trial. Each stop has spectacular wide-open spaces with beautiful scenery and peaceful energy. Visiting a few of these stops along the way is a great way to spend your weekend:
Blue Elk Vineyard
Bordeleau Vineyards and Winery
Broken Spoke Vineyard & Winery
Casa Carmen Wines
Cascia Vineyards
Chateau Bu-De Bohemia Manor Farm
Crow Vineyard & Winery
Dove Valley Vineyard & Winery
Far Eastern Shore Winery
Great Shoals Cellars
Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery
St. Michaels Winery
Triple Creek Winery
Turkey Point Vineyard
Windmill Creek Vineyard & Winery
Craft Breweries: Many local craft breweries offer tours, happy hours, live music, and entertainment. Take your friends for a brewery tour or sign them up for a membership to the following establishments:
Jailbreak Brewing Company, Laurel
Crooked Crab Brewing Co., Odenton
Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House, Halethorpe
Pherm Brewing Company, Gambrills
Calvert Brewing Company, Upper Marlboro
Bull and Goat Brewery, Centreville
Evolution Craft Brewing, Salisbury
Tall Tales Brewing Company, Parsonburg
Township Meadery, Odenton
Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery, Crofton
Cult Classic Brewing, Stevensville
Eastern Shore Brewing
Ten Eyck Brewing Company, Queenstown
Heavy Seas Brewery, Halethorpe
Forward Brewing, Annapolis
RAR Restaurant/Taproom, Annapolis: Coming Soon
Drink Up...
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a great way to keep warm with holiday spirit as well as making your house smell like the perfect winter wonderland.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of your favorite dry red wine
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 8 whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 2–4 tablespoons sugar, honey, or maple syrup
Instructions
Combine ingredients in a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine. Cook the mulled wine over medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. Avoid letting it bubble, you don’t want to boil off the alcohol. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours. Using a fine mesh strainer, remove and discard the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Give it a taste and stir in extra sweetener if needed. If preferred, garnish with fresh orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.
Photo and recipe courtesy of gimmesomeoven.com
Have culinary news to share? Send an email to the editor at editor@whatsupmag.com.
