OPEN

Trinacria Cafe: Mt. Vernon locals no longer need to flock to Trinacria’s flagship on West Paca Street to get their fix of overstuffed sandwiches, antipasti, and old-school Italian pastas. After an eight-month hiatus (owner Vince Fava abruptly closed the shop with little explanation back in March), the Centre Street location across from Mount Vernon Marketplace has made its return to the neighborhood. Operating in soft-opening mode this weekend, the spot is expected to be officially back up and running next week featuring all of its signatures. Look out for plump chicken parm subs, filling red-sauce dishes, and, of course, plenty of wine pairings.

NEWS

Esquire Praises Baltimore in Best New Restaurants List: The national acclaim keeps on coming for the Charm City dining scene. Earlier this week, Esquire released its picks for the 21 Best New Restaurants in America, and, not surprisingly, a few familiar names were included on the list. Le Comptoir du Vin—which was also ranked among Bon Appetit magazine’s national selections this year—came in at No. 18, with shoutouts given to its house-baked sourdough and celery salad with pistachios and dates. Additionally, industry veteran Chelsea Gregoire, general manager at True Chesapeake Oyster Co., was named Beverage Director of the Year for her top-notch bartending programs and her “generous-spirited approach to inclusiveness,” according to food and drinks editor Jeff Gordinier. And we’d be remiss without mentioning Enrique Limardo, former executive chef of Alma Cocina Latina, whose new Washington, D.C. hotspot Seven Reasons took the No. 1 spot on Esquire’s list.

DuClaw’s Sour Me Unicorn Farts Returning This Summer: In perhaps the most clever promotional campaign we’ve seen in quite some time, DuClaw Brewing and Diablo Doughnuts recently announced that their collaborative ale, Sour Me Unicorn Farts, will be back on shelves and taps in June 2020. Taking inspiration from Lizzo’s viral Instagram in a Skittles-filled bathtub, head brewer Brandon Stanko and Diablo owner Michael Roslan climbed into a tub filled with Fruity Pebbles in the middle of Graffiti Alley to plug the return of the glittered sour—which is brewed with mashed fruity cereal. Inspired by the local LGBTQ community, the beer is part of DuClaw’s “Sour Me” series and gets its name from Diablo’s cereal-crusted rainbow doughnut. We’re looking forward to its return just in time for the city’s annual Pride festivities this summer.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

11/16: Tire Shop Pop-Up: Burn and Churn BBQ Part II

Bark BBQ is setting up shop inside the former home of Parts & Labor in Remington yet again for this afternoon pop-up highlighting smoked brisket, al pastor pork belly, spare ribs, beef ribs, and scrumptious sides. To wash down all of the eats, there will be plenty of Diamondback beers, as well as seasonal cocktails from the shop’s neighbors at R. Bar. The pop-up is part of a recurring series aimed at activating the space while the property managers at Seawall Development continue their search for a permanent tenant.

11/19: Make Your Own Genever Class at Gunther & Co.

Learn the ins and outs of Genever—a predecessor to gin that is ultra-popular in the Netherlands—at this DIY cocktail class with Frederick-based McClintock Distilling. Settle in at Gunther & Co. to learn about the production process, make your own custom gin blend, and snack on light bites throughout the evening. In addition to a bottle of whiskey and your own botanical jar, the $45 price of admission also includes a complimentary cocktail.

SHUT

Points South Latin Kitchen: Though details are still unknown, this Fells Point destination lauded for its traditional South American dishes and recurring Sunday drag brunches remains closed. Brooklyn Heights, the host of the weekly shows in the restaurant’s downstairs bar, confirmed to Baltimore last week that the restaurant had shuttered suddenly earlier this month. Luckily, with the help of Points South co-owner and managing partner Bryson Keens, Brooklyn has found a new home for the Sunday performances at Bookmakers Cocktail Club in Federal Hill. There’s no word yet on what will become of Thames Street spot, but, rest assured, the show will go on. As Keens told Brooklyn: “It’s not the end [of the brunch]. It’s just the end of an era.”

Brewers have drawn inspiration from a ton of things about Baltimore—its history, its landmarks, its sports teams. And this spring, two local breweries will be debuting progressive pours that shed light on Baltimore’s LGBTQ community.

Adding to its year-round, core lineup for the first time in two years, Union Craft Brewing is releasing Divine IPA in March, a “perversely hoppy ale” with notes of orange, guava, and tropical fruit hops. That same month, DuClaw Brewing is debuting Sour Me Unicorn Farts, a collaboration between the Rosedale brewery and Diablo Doughnuts that tastes like a familiar fruity cereal.

“Yeah, I mean we sat around the bar and ate cereal. We had to start there,” says brewer Mike Kulha of DuClaw. “We then did research on what the flavors actually were, and this took a fair amount of trial and error. Drinking a beer is also very different than eating a doughnut. We used real fruit puree, which adds a fuller mouthfeel so the texture is more like a doughnut. It was an interesting process for sure.”

Unicorn Farts is the latest iteration of DuClaw’s “Sour Me” series and its most unique yet, drawing inspiration from the dessert of the same name at Diablo Doughnuts. The pilsner and wheat grain base includes Fruity Pebbles notes and edible glitter mixed in for a colorful, slightly tart sour with a bouquet of fruits and hint of biscuit. Similarly, for Union, it was about doing something special and standing out from the crowded IPA pack.

“When adding a beer to our core lineup, there are a lot of boxes to check,” says Union co-founder and creative director Jon Zerivitz. “It has to draw from Baltimore culture and have a unique story. We really wanted this brand to stand out amongst all the competition, especially in the IPA category. Divine checks those boxes and more.”

He notes that the pink and purple color palette and more “feminine” look of the beer sets it apart and avoids some played-out branding cliches in the beer world. This idea is also echoed in the flavor profile of Divine IPA, which is described as a “bright, juicy, hop-forward beer with a soft pillowy malt background.” Kegs of the beer will be tapped in the DMV area in March, followed by cans in April. DuClaw will be releasing its unicorn-themed beer at a party on March 16 at the brewery with hopes of additional events during Baltimore Pride.

“We are hoping this beer can do even more for Baltimore once it’s released this spring, specifically in support of our LGBTQ community,” says DuClaw’s director of marketing Madeline Caldwell. “We’re talking with GLCCB/Pride about a potential partnership, and are sponsoring TechniQ, the monthly queer dance party on the third Friday of every month at The Crown. I think we’re just scratching the surface here, though.”

While Union says this beer wasn’t made specifically for any demographic, they like that the ethos of Divine—both in name and spirit—is a fitting symbol for more inclusivity in the beer world and beyond.

“We didn’t set out to market to women on the LGBTQ community, but wanted to recognize their place in the consumer market,” Zerivitz says. “Divine, the actor and character, represents an open-minded, free to let your freak flag fly, more progressive and tolerant Baltimore.”

COMING SOON

Stanford Kitchen: Owings Mills residents will be happy to hear that a grand opening date for this swanky steakhouse, which operates two other locations in Columbia and Rockville, has been set for Monday, May 28. The restaurant takes over the former home of Stone’s Cove Kitbar near the Stevenson University Campus on Owings Mills Boulevard. Equipped with dark woods and comfy booth seating, the spot will feature its signature New American dishes including grilled salmon, rotisserie chicken, Eastern Shore crab cakes, a classic cheeseburger, and its “rattlesnake” linguini pasta in a Cajun alfredo sauce. 10997 Owings Mills Blvd., Owings Mills.

CH-CH CHANGES

Shaheen of Baltimore: Earlier this month, this 45-year-old Pakistani restaurant in Catonsville celebrated a grand reopening, rolling out interior upgrades and a brand new menu with improved recipes. Be sure to check out the $5 biryani (spicy rice) lunch special, as well as classic kebabs, tandoori chicken, veggie curries, and authentic Indian desserts like house-made jalebis (Maida flour batter fried and soaked in sugar syrup).  1111 N. Rolling Road, 410-747-1431

OPEN

Diablo Doughnuts: After many months of delays and a successful GoFundMe campaign, this Fells Point doughnut shop has finally made its move across the harbor to Federal Hill. Now open in the former home of Felici Cafe on Light Street, the shop features funky wall murals, table seating, and a larger kitchen for owner Michael Roslan to prepare his fan-favorite flavors. Since opening on Broadway Square in 2015, Diablo has become known for Roslan’s creative varieties like maple-bacon, cinnamon toast crunch, s’mores, blueberry basil, and the famed Unicorn Farts doughnut coated in Fruity Pebbles. 1035 Light St. 410-892-3251

Sascha’s & The Elephant at Center Stage: Center Stage theatregoers don’t have to look far for a good pre-show meal, now that The Elephant in Mt. Vernon—which recently took over Sascha’s Catering from longtime owner Sascha Wolhandler—has opened a new cafe onsite. Located on Baltimore Center Stage’s mezzanine level, Sascha’s & The Elephant will offer dinner service starting two hours before each show. The menu features eats like pork belly tacos, seared salmon fillet with cauliflower couscous, spring vegetable manicotti, and a dairy-free spicy Thai salad with cashew dressing. 700 N. Calvert St., 410-332-0033

EPICUREAN EVENTS

5/19-20: Second Annual Biggie Brunch at The Outpost American Tavern
Chef Jesse Sandlin hosted her first brunch dedicated to the Notorious B.I.G. last year, and had so much fun that this time around, she’s making it a two-day event. This Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sandlin invites neighborhood locals and old-school hip-hop lovers alike to celebrate the late rap icon at her restaurant The Outpost American Tavern in Federal Hill. In celebration of Biggie’s birthday on May 21, the tavern will be offering an entire food and drink menu inspired by his lyrics, (a “Juicy” burger, perhaps?)  trivia about his life, and, of course, selections from the Notorious B.I.G. catalogue blasting in the bar and dining room all weekend long.  1032 Riverside Ave., 443-388-9113

5/19: Haenyo at Diamondback Brewery
This Saturday, head to Diamondback Brewery in Locust Point to chow down on Haenyo’s locally sourced Korean-fusion cuisine from 2-9 p.m. The pop-up, which is headquartered at the communal Share Kitchen just around the corner, will be serving bulgogi rice bowls, fried chicken katsu over multigrain rice, classic scallion pancakes with gochu mayo, and sweet hotteok (fried dough with brown sugar and a sesame filling.) If you can’t make it to Diamondback this Saturday, Haenyo will also be offering delivery via UberEats throughout the evening. 1215 E. Fort Ave. 443-388-9626

SHUT (SOON)

Grano Emporio: This Neapolitan trattoria on Chestnut Avenue in Hampden—a spinoff of the original Grano Pasta Bar on the Avenue—will be shutting its doors for good on June 30. “I could give many reasons for giving up Grano Emporio, but for what scope,” owner Gino Troia posted to Facebook last week. “We had fun, made a lot of friends, and certainly enjoyed Hampden, but we are not leaving.” The post goes on to assure that Grano’s BYOB pasta bar on The Avenue is still going strong, and mentions that the owners’ family is  looking forward to continuing its Towson restaurants Cafe Troia, Zia’s Cafe, and Plantbar. “We will enjoy visiting the other restaurants and spending more time with friends and relatives,” the post reads. There’s no word yet on what will become over the Chestnut Avenue rowhome, which Grano has occupied since 2010. 3547 Chestnut Ave., 443-438-7521