COMING SOON
MidnighTreats: The owners of this Virginia-based vegan cookie chain—which also has a location in College Park—are bringing their sweet shop to Fells Point. They recently got the keys to their space across from Broadway Market, and are getting ready to roll out their gooey cookies, in flavors like Birthday Bash, Cinna-roll, and classic chocolate chip, in the coming months. The bakery will also offer deep-dish cookie pies, cookie nachos, and a lineup of milk teas and dirty sodas.
NEWS
Burnt Hill Lands on The New York Times‘ List of 50 Best Restaurants in America: On the heels of celebrating one year in Clarksburg, the 12-seat Chef’s Counter at Burnt Hill was the only Maryland dining destination to land on The New York Times’ list of the 50 Best Restaurants in America this year. Critic Eric Asimov praised chef Tae Strain’s tasting menu, writing that it “shows off the beauty of local ingredients, many from the farm itself, presented with Asian touches on ceramic dishware made from clay dug at the farm.” In only five months since its official opening, Burnt Hill’s food program has also been named among the Best Winery Restaurants in the World by Wine Enthusiast magazine.
The Club Car Plots Expansion: In an effort to elevate “what a queer bar can be,” The Club Car co-owners Darius McKeiver and Ryan Haase recently signed a 10-year lease for a bigger space in the historic North Avenue Market, only a block away from the bar’s current home in Station North. Operations will continue as normal until January, and then the team will transition to pop-ups at The Parkway Theatre across the street while the new space is renovated with a dance hall, train car-themed bathrooms, and a cocktail lounge called The Caboose. “Believe in Baltimore and believe in the power of queer-owned spaces,” the owners summed up on Instagram.
OPEN
Top Nach: After serving up gourmet nachos from their food truck for a decade, Shane and Missy Loomis have cut the ribbon at a brick-and-mortar eatery in Aberdeen. The couple tops their freshly fried chips with melty cheese and goodies like grilled chicken, ground beef, chorizo, roasted corn, cotija, a signature hot sauce, and Natty Boh queso. Aside from the namesake nachos, Top Nach is also known for its burritos, tacos, and other Mexican-inspired dishes.
EPICUREAN EVENTS
9/25-9/27: Mooooncake Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival honoring the fall harvest is one of the largest holidays in Asia, with the date marking the biggest full moon of the year. To celebrate, head to the annual Mooooncake Fest in West Covington Park, highlighting DJs, vendors, cultural workshops, and of course, mooncakes—the customary sweet and savory-filled pastries.
9/25-9/27: Maryland Italian Festival
Head to Harford County for the third-annual Avena Maryland Italian Festival at Ripken Stadium. Started by the Society of Italian American Businessmen, the three-day fest highlights locally led wine seminars and cooking demonstrations, as well as every Boot Country bite you could imagine—from pizza and pasta to gelato and cannoli.
9/26: Sweet Tooth Saturday
This free-admission event at Rash Field Park, from Monesha Phillips of Pandora’s Box Boutique in Federal Hill, is a dessert lover’s paradise. Stroll around local vendor booths to find treats of all kinds, and don’t forget to check out the cake-decorating contest and snag a sip from the sweet cocktail bar.
9/26: The Outpost 10-Year Anniversary Block Party
This South Baltimore pub has been a staple on Riverside Avenue for a decade, which is like a century in restaurant years. Gather your crew and celebrate with the staff at their block party blowout this weekend, featuring bites, beer, boozy snowballs, and birthday cake.
9/25-27 & 10/2-4: Oktoberfest at Guinness Open Gate Brewery
Oktoberfest is a three-weekend affair at Guinness. Make your way through the gates in Halethorpe to tip back new brews and sample Bavarian-inspired bites like house-made sausages, pretzels, and schnitzel. The debut beers for this season include Urbock, a smoked lager, and the Bärenzweig Kolsch brewed with local Bear Branch Pilsner
10/22: Hofstatter Wine Dinner at Seppia
Mark your calendars for the debut wine dinner at Seppia in Hampden. To mark the occasion, the team has partnered with Hofstatter Winery, which has been operating since 1907 in the Alto Adige region of Italy. Each of the five courses will be paired with a Hofstatter pour, featuring dishes such as halibut gnocchi, rabbit boudin blanc, and venison bolognese tagliatelle. .