Liv2Eat – Baltimore Magazine

Baltimore City Winter Restaurant Week Returns One Week Early

Lauren Cohen — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 14:24:00 +0000

Editor’s note: Winter Restaurant Week has been extended until Sunday, January 29.

Local foodies might recall getting their hopes up for the kickoff weekend of Winter Restaurant Week last year, only to be disappointed by the massive storm that blanketed the city in more than two feet of snow.

Due to last year’s inclement weather, Downtown Partnership and Visit Baltimore are bringing back their annual Winter Restaurant Week promotion—January 13-22—one week early this season.

“This will be an experiment, but it’s a nice way to keep the holidays going,” says Michael Evitts, Downtown Partnership’s vice president of communications. “We’re always soliciting input from restaurants and looking for ways to make it better.”

Now celebrating its 12th run, the annual dining-out initiative aims to bring business to local eateries during a time of year when locals typically hunker down. More than 100 city spots, both old and new, are participating this time around, trotting out special prix-fixe menus to be offered throughout the 10-day culinary event.

Evitts says that the promotion will continue the new pricing guidelines that were adopted during Summer Restaurant Week last year. After feedback from diners, organizers are now allowing restaurants to choose within a range of $12-20 for two-course meals and $20-35 for three-course meals.

“Introducing the new flexible price point last summer was a trial balloon, but it worked out very well,” Evitts says. “It allows both higher-end restaurants and more affordable neighborhood spots to provide the most value for their patrons.”

Also new this year—organizers are encouraging eateries to add beer and wine pairings to their menus in order to give diners a more holistic culinary experience.

“Baltimore’s bar scene is at the top of its game,” Evitts says. “Dining out isn’t just about the food anymore. The mind of the consumer is changing to see that it can be just as much about the beverage pairings.”

Among the many spots returning for Winter Restaurant Week is Indigma, the Mt. Vernon mainstay known for its creative takes on classic Indian fare.

Chef/owner Tony Chemmanoor says that, although his neighborhood spot has been around for decades, he sees Restaurant Week as an ideal opportunity to demonstrate how the menu has changed with the times.

“We always get a lot of regulars who come in to support, but also a lot of new faces,” says Chemmanoor, who has participated in the promotion since it began. “It’s great for people who are looking to try something different.”

For lunch, Indigma will offer a special “thali”—a traditional Indian platter made up of eight small tasting dishes. The three-course dinner menu will highlight dishes such as vegan samosas, herbed chicken kabobs, fish vindaloo, vegetable masala, and authentic rice pudding. Chemmanoor is enthusiastic about the new wine pairing promotion, mentioning that each of the featured items will be accompanied by a different suggested international pour.

In Federal Hill, Restaurant Week veteran Liv2Eat is also gearing up to participate again.

“I’m religious about it,” says Cecilia Benalcazar, who co-owns the cozy dinner spot with her husband, chef Kevin Perry. “You can’t do it more than twice a year because it becomes anti-climactic, but it’s really great for people in suburban areas who need that catalyst to make the trip downtown.”

Benalcazar says that some of the well-received dishes on Liv2Eat’s New Year’s Eve prix-fixe will roll over to its three-course Restaurant Week menu, which will feature sunchoke-apple soup, roasted squash salad with kale and Allegheny chevre cheese, Wagyu beef carpaccio, black truffle gnocchi, mandarin panna cotta, and a chocolate torte.

While plenty of established dining destinations are returning, a number of newbies are also getting involved for the first time this season.

Though a flood on the property prohibited Argosy Cafe, located inside the Munsey Building downtown, from partaking in its inaugural Winter Restaurant Week last year, owner James Shaffer says he’s excited to make up for lost time.

“On the restaurant side, it encourages us to push the envelope,” he says. “Less established places get the chance to really show what they can do.”

Argosy’s three-course dinner menu lists worldly options such as spicy shrimp and grit cakes, risotto balls with house-made marinara, duck leg with a bourbon-maple glaze, tahini-yogurt chicken with Israeli couscous, and basil pesto penne with spinach and tomatoes. In keeping with the café’s beer-centric bar program, Shaffer says he is looking forward pairing dishes with a variety of local brews like Diamondback Brewing’s Bamb Black IPA.

Mediterranean-influenced Twist, which recently joined the Fells Point dining scene, will also be getting in on the deal for the first time this year.

Chef/owner Jose Molina has participated in previous Restaurant Weeks at the other Twist locations in Washington, D.C., and he’s excited to see how the initiative catches on with diners in Fells Point. The eatery’s lunch and dinner menus will showcase dishes like braised lamb shank, Moroccan couscous, shakshouka, pumpkin gelato, and vanilla-infused crème brûlée.

Though the restaurant is BYOB, Molina plans to offer complimentary small pours of local beer and international wines to pair with the dishes.

“For us, the goal isn’t financial,” he says. “It’s more about bringing people from other neighborhoods and introducing our cuisine to different palates.”

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Venues Perfect for Hosting Holiday Parties

Lauren Cohen — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:30:00 +0000

Although we still have Thanksgiving to get through before the winter holidays officially kick in to gear, it’s time to start thinking about where to host your festive gathering once December rolls around. Whether you’re planning an office party for the masses or an intimate hang-out with friends, here are some of the best private dining options available this season.

Boathouse Canton 2809 Boston St., 410-773-9795
Space: Take in the killer waterfront views from one of the seven secluded indoor/outdoor spaces at this multi-level Canton spot. Options include a mezzanine level party room, a sunroom, an outdoor lounge, or a large event tent on the water.
Accommodates: 20-100 guests.
Eats and Drinks: Customized menus can be created based on the guest list with fare ranging from mini crab cakes with Dijon aioli to tomato mozzarella bruschetta. Open bar packages are also available.
Pricing: Range from $25-$45 per person based on the menu of your choosing.

The Charmery 410-814-0493
Service: For a sweet finish, allow The Charmery’s expert scoopers to cater the dessert at your seasonal soiree. The team will set up a full-blown ice cream social with all of the fixins’ at parties within 20 miles of its shop in Hampden.
Accomodates: A minimum of 50 guests.
Eats and Drinks: Hosts can choose two holiday-inspired flavors including Tell Tale Chip (dark chocolate), Old Bay Caramel, Candy Cane, Winter Wonderland (coconut tinsel and white chocolate chips), Cookies for Santa (milk base with Christmas cookie pieces mixed in), Rye Whiskey Eggnog, and Sufganiyot (a jelly donut flavor in celebration of Hanukkah.) Or, for an extra fee, co-owner/master creamer David Alima will create a custom flavor specifically for your event.
Pricing: The all-inclusive sundae bar is $7 per person. (Each guest is served two scoops.)

Ristorante Firenze 2 Hanover Road, Reisterstown, 410-394-5577
Space: This Reisterstown newbie boasts a large main dining room, an intimate dinner party space, and a cozy lounge complete with its own fireplace.
Accommodates: Anywhere from 24-60 guests.
Eats and Drinks: Hosts are able to mix and match Firenze’s Italian classics to create a signature prix-fixe menu, or they can opt for a buffet-style reception. Alcohol offerings, including the restaurant’s 100-bottle wine collection, are not included in the fixed menu prices.
Pricing: $12-14 per person depending on a sit-down or buffet-style party.

Heavy Seas Alehouse 1300 Bank St., 410-753-1403
Space: The private room inside this historical building is accented with mahogany tables and chairs and has its own bar. An adjacent beer garden is also available for small private gatherings.
Accommodates: Ranges from 10-150 people.
Eats and Drinks: A cocktail party menu is available for guests to indulge all-you-can-eat appetizers like mini Portobello sliders and antipasto platters. Three-course pre-fixe menus can be customized before the party, with entrees like roasted chicken or house-made ricotta cavatelli. Drink packages, including all of the classic Heavy Seas brews, are also available.
Pricing: The cocktail party menu is $20 per person; group dining ranges from $29-$49 per person.

Joe Squared 33 W. North Ave., 410-545-0444
Space: This neighborhood pizza joint is settling in its new home just in time for the holidays. Located one block east from the old Joe Squared space in Station North, the new building features an entire private basement section with plenty of room for live music.
Accommodates: A maximum of 50 guests.
Eats and Drinks: A special all-inclusive holiday package offers guests a full buffet complete with the eatery’s signature square pizza, risotto, salads, and appetizers plus a wide selection of wine and craft beer.
Pricing: The fixed price of $1500 includes venue rental, all food and drink, tax, and tip for 50 guests.

Liv2Eat 1444 Light St., 443-449-7129
Space: From intimate dinner parties in the small dining room to larger cocktail receptions in the front bar area, this elegant Federal Hill spot accommodates groups of any size. You can also ring in the holiday season by renting a heated tent overlooking the garden on Liv2Eat’s back patio.
Accommodates: Anywhere from 16-80 guests.
Eats and Drinks: A multi-course winter menu includes dishes such as butternut squash soup, roasted beet salad, grilled swordfish, and pork loin with potato puree. Hosts also have the option to simplify the menu by eliminating an appetizer, or to upgrade it by changing the entrees or adding Cava and Prosecco pairings.
Pricing: A minimum of $35 per person depending on the menu and day of the event.

The Oregon Grille 1201 Shawan Rd., Hunt Valley, 410-771-0505
Space: Located inside a 19th-century farmhouse, this Hunt Valley mainstay offers four unique spaces for guests to mingle. Amenities include a private wait staff, flickering fireplaces, outdoor decks, and a private bar.
Accommodates: 12-50 attendees.
Eats and Drinks: Based on the size of the guest list, hosts can choose 2-3 entrees from lengthy brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. Appetizers, salads, soups, desserts, and passed hors d’oeuvres can also be added for an additional price.
Pricing: Appetizers run from $11-18 per person; entrees range from $11-56 per person; desserts range from $5-11 per person.

Verde 641 South Montford Ave., 410-522-1000
Space: Decked out with modern hanging light fixtures and wooden furniture, this Canton spot boasts a private 14-seat dining space and a second floor party room perfect for invite-only functions. The entire restaurant can also be rented out for larger affairs.
Accommodates: Anywhere from 12-150 guests.
Eats and Drinks: Organizers can create their own menus with Verde’s award-winning pizzas, platters of house-made cheeses, and a variety of olives and salads. Bartenders will also work with you to create a special cocktail for the occasion.
Pricing: Prix-fixe menu options range from $20-40 per person. Open bar packages can be added starting at $16 per person.

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