OPEN

The Red Boat Viet Fusion Restaurant: This Vietnamese-fusion spot is in the midst of a major expansion. The Eutaw Street eatery has plans to open two new locations in College Park and Boca Raton, Florida next year, and it recently debuted a second Charm City cafe in Mt. Vernon. The North Charles Street spot officially opened its doors last week, serving The Red Boat’s signature spring rolls, tacos, and banh mi sandwiches. The Mt. Vernon iteration will also feature a full bar, and kimchi fries with DIY toppings like bulgogi beef, lemongrass chicken, fried eggs, and toasted seaweed. 334 N. Charles St., 443-885-9162

Jazz + Soju: Adding to the city’s Asian-fusion options is this new Korean restaurant inside the Anthem House apartment complex in Locust Point. Now in soft opening mode, the spot will offer dinner service for the next two weeks and begin to serve lunch when it officially cuts the ribbon later this month. As its name implies, the artsy hangout combines live jazz music with a selection of soju—a Korean iteration of vodka. The food menu showcases traditional twice-fried chicken, as well as bulgogi burger sliders, kimchi fries, and garlic fried rice. 900 E. Fort Ave., 410-244-8600

NEWS

Charles Village Pub: This beloved Charles Village dive—best known for its affordable drinks and relaxed atmosphere—suffered a grease fire earlier this week. Luckily, no one was hurt. But the bar will be closed indefinitely as management oversees cleanup efforts and necessary repairs. In the meantime, neighbors have started a crowdfunding campaign to aid CVP employees while they are out of work. The GoFundMe has seen an overwhelming outpouring of support, raising $3,985 of its $5,000 goal in only two days. Stay tuned for updates. 3107 St. Paul St.

COMING SOON

Ceremony Coffee Opening at Cross Street Market: Ceremony Coffee Roasters has become a local go-to for craft coffees and Instagram-worthy eats since it opened in Mt. Vernon two years ago. The Annapolis-based shop later expanded with a second Baltimore location at Harbor Point, and now, it’s planning to unveil a stall at Cross Street Market in Federal Hill—which is currently in the midst of a major overhaul. The market’s renovations are being done in phases, and Ceremony will be located in the portion closest to Light Street that is expected to be finished first. Be on the lookout for seasonal java drinks, granola bowls, and breakfast sandwiches when the stall debuts this fall. 1065 S. Charles St.

The Hoof Cafe: Speaking of coffee shops in South Baltimore, this new spot is preparing to open its doors in Locust Point this spring. A partnership between neighborhood locals Rebecca Friedman and Jason Schiavone, the community hub will offer local Pfefferkorn’s Coffee, bagels, pastries, oatmeal, and other cafe fare. Friedman recently told SouthBMore.com that she is targeting an opening later this month. 1648 E. Fort Ave. 443-961-1039.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

5/5: Brunchin’ for a Benefit at La Food Marketa
Chef Chad Gauss is putting a charitable twist on his Cinco de Mayo celebrations at La Food Marketa in Pikesville this weekend. A portion of all brunch proceeds on Saturday, May 5 will be donated to Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Maryland’s upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Featured brunch plates include Mexican chocolate pancakes, steak omelettes, and Gauss’ take on a classic croque madame with ham, cheese, flour tortillas, and white enchilada sauce. 2620 Quarry Lake Drive, 410-415-0606

5/3-6: Phub’s Pop-Up at R. House
R. House is kicking off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a pop-up from Phub’s—a Hanover-based Vietnamese restaurant that specializes in bowls of pho and banh mi subs. Throughout the weekend, the shop will be serving up dishes like fried spring rolls, barbecue pork sandwiches, vegan pho bowls, and organic salads topped with citrus sesame chicken. 301 W. 29th St., 11:30 a.m.- 9 p.m.

SHUT

Corner Charcuterie Bar: Owner Bernard Dehaene has officially closed this small plates staple on the Avenue in Hampden. He took to Facebook to announce the closure earlier this week. “Due to my deteriorating health, I have decided that today will be my last day opening Corner,” he posted Monday. “I need the time to prepare for knee, hip, and back surgery, as well as mind, body, and health.” Dehaene—who opened the business in 2011 and expanded it to include the property next door two years later—goes on to thank his customers, describing the experience as “one hell of a rollercoaster ride not to be forgotten.” 850 W. 36th St.

Modern Cook Shop: In Fells Point, this all-day eatery will also be shutting its doors this week. “Over the past few months, we’ve worked hard to roll out pop-up dinner concepts and new seasonal menu offerings each week, and we’ve seen some traction in patronage,” owners Andy Gruver and Jason Sanchez wrote in an announcement on Facebook. “Unfortunately, the clock has run out though. The costs of operating such an ambitious concept from morning to midnight, along with declining visitation to Baltimore and Fells Point has left costs far outweighing revenues.” The restaurant’s final night of service will be Saturday, May 5. No word yet on what will become of the space, which is equipped Gruver’s handmade designs of light woods, industrial shelves, and furniture. 901 S. Wolfe St.

These days, there’s certainly no shortage of authentic Mexican food in Charm City. And chef Valentino Sandoval is planning to put his own spin on the real-deal delicacies when he opens his new restaurant, La Calle, this summer.

A native of Puebla, Mexico, Sandoval moved to Philadelphia in 1996, and cut his teeth working under the likes of Italian chef Marc Vetri, and Michelin-rated chef Walter Abrams—formerly of Napa Valley hotspot The French Laundry.

“Growing up in Mexico, I learned how to put food together,” Sandoval says. “But here in America, chefs are more like artists. I’ve learned how to be creative and put little touches here and there. I want to do something different and fuse all of the techniques that I’ve learned—from French and American to Italian and seafood—into classic Mexican cuisine.”

In 2015, Sandoval relocated to Baltimore and took a gig as chef de cuisine at Corner Charcuterie Bar in Hampden. Though he never went to culinary school, he says that his 20-year career working in various kitchens has given him ample experience to run his own restaurant.

“La Calle means ‘the street’ in Spanish,” he explains. “It’s personal to me, because I feel like I learned more on the street than I ever would have in school.”

Expected to open in late May, La Calle will take over the former home of Sydney’s Cafe on the first floor of the 10 South Street building downtown. After a long search, Sandoval and his three brothers recently landed on the 80-seat space and began to transform it from a Mediterranean-style eatery into a Mexican restaurant with orange walls, dark woods, brick accents, an open kitchen, and a bar and lounge with two television screens. 

Despite the influence of his heritage on the interior, Sandoval says that the restaurant won’t be a typical taqueria. In fact, he will only offer one taco (a classic al pastor) on the menu. Other globally influenced dishes will include ceviches, salads, tostadas, and entrees like pan-seared salmon with huitlacoche (Mexican truffle) aioli and fava bean salad. The chef hopes to use locally sourced meats and vegetables, and make all of the restaurant’s salsas and mole sauces in-house using his mother’s recipe.

“The menu is going to be small,” he says. “But we want to make sure that everything is fresh. The portions won’t be huge, but with two courses, you won’t leave hungry.”

In keeping with the chef’s values, the bar program will highlight margaritas made with fresh-squeezed juices and a sizable collection of authentic tequilas and mezcals.

Sandoval describes opening a restaurant as a lifelong dream. He is looking forward to teaching his own staff, and introducing diners to his unique take on classic Mexican fare.

“I read somewhere that food doesn’t have a soul,” he says. “We have to add soul to the food when we cook it. That way your customers can feel the love you put into it. When I make people smile, that means I’m doing something right.”

With the opening of Mt. Vernon Marketplace, upscale food halls (think grown-up food courts) have become the next big thing to hit Baltimore’s culinary scene. Located on the site of the historic Hochschild Kohn’s department store warehouse, the Mt. Vernon gastro hub provides a stylish way to eat—and shop—from a multitude of vendors all amassed under one roof. From the industrial-chic vibe to the hustle-bustle atmosphere and free (!) parking, this market mecca is yet another example of why we heart Baltimore. Here are some highlights:

Pinch: This adorable D.C.-based stand makes delicate dumplings, steamed or fried, from scratch daily. We mixed and matched with pork and cabbage, lamb and shredded carrots, and a vegan version crammed with cabbage, carrots, and cilantro (six dumplings for $8). Sides ($2 apiece) are anything but a footnote. Consider some combination of pickled daikon, crisp garlic cukes, and boiled peanuts. Chopsticks are on hand if you want to go pro. Lines can be long, but don’t cave. Sit. Stay. (And play Ping-Pong at Pinch’s table.)

The Big Bean Theory: Beans might be good for your heart, but at this legume-themed spot, they’re also good going down. With winter here, we sampled several house-made soups, including a soul-satisfying cup of yellow split-pea ($5) thickened with butternut squash, parsnips, and carrots; then picked up a quart of Mama’s Rock ’n’ Moroccan Stew, $13, (a tomato-based blend packed with roasted vegetables) for the road. Hours later, it was the star of the dinner table.

The Local Oyster: For a while now, we’ve been following local oysterman Nick Schauman, a one-man bivalve band, and his traveling stand rife with sweet Skinny Dippers and Choptank Sweets (a few bucks a shuck). Thankfully, at this cute countertop, Nick’s stand is now standing still. Schauman has added shrimp, mussels, clams, and even lobster to his lineup. Paging Poseidon.

Cultured: This countertop-cocktail bar is the breakaway effort of Andrew Cole, the former chef from Hampden’s Corner Charcuterie Bar. Create your own charcuterie board or consider a well-composed sandwich. We scarfed down The French Venetian ($9) with spicy house-cured soppressata, nutty Ossau Iraty (French sheep’s-milk cheese), and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, all stuffed inside a lovely loaf from Stone Mill Bakery.

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›› Mt. Vernon Marketplace: 520 Park Ave. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 8 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Prices: vary according to vendor. For more information, go to mtvernonmarketplace.com.