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B-More Kitchen:: After months of setbacks, Charm City’s first communal food incubator is officially on its feet. The 28,000-square-foot building in Govans has been completely revamped, now boasting state-of-the-art commercial kitchen space for local food startups to mass produce their artisanal products. The incubator also features a library of communal cookware, cold and dry storage, office space, and an events venue on the top floor. Small-batch makers that have already taken up residency inside the space include Bottoms Up Bagels and Pie Time Baltimore. 5604 York Road

ELLICOTT CITY REOPENINGS

Judge’s Bench: Just shy of five weeks after raging flood waters wreaked havoc in Ellicott City, this Main Street haunt officially reopened its doors last weekend with a celebration that drew in the likes of County Executive Allan Kittleman and Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford. The corner pub, named after its location near the original Howard County Courthouse, is back up and running, slinging pints of craft beer and serving up its signature pub grub. The bar’s live music schedule, including its signature open mic nights, will pick back up throughout September. 8385 Main St., Ellicott City, 410-465-3497

The Wine Bin: Just across the street, The Wine Bin also celebrated a grand reopening last week. As the stalwart shop gets back into its regular routine, it’s also re-launching various community events including the Ellicott City Old Towne Market on Saturday mornings and its outdoor movie series on Saturday evenings. Though the market has been temporarily relocated to Mount Ida, The Wine Bin will host its dog-friendly Yappy Hour tasting event tonight from 6-9 p.m., and resume its summer screenings with a showing of My Big Fat Greek Wedding Saturday at 8 p.m. 8390 Main Street, Ellicott City, 410-466-7802

COMING SOON

Angela’s Seafood: The first-floor site that previously housed Obryki’s Crab House in Fells Point has sat vacant since 2011, but next month, an emerging seafood spot will breathe new life into the space. Slated to open in the beginning of October, Angela’s Seafood will seat 130 in its bar and dining room and offer everything from mussels and clams to steamed shrimp and local blue crabs. 1727 E. Pratt St.

Baltimore Soup Co.: Husband and wife duo David and Lisa Redmond, the couple behind Towson’s Cafe Gourmet, plan to launch this new soup-centric concept in the coming months. Not only will the owners open a location in Downtown’s Charles Plaza food court this fall, but they have also snagged a portion of retail space on the first floor of the 2 East Wells apartment complex in South Baltimore, which will debut in 2017. Conveniently arriving just in time for the chilly fall temperatures, the Charles Plaza soup shop will highlight eight daily varieties—including favorites like Maryland Crab, tomato bisque, and loaded baked potato—alongside a slew of sandwiches and salads. 222 N. Charles St.

Restaurant B: Earlier this week, Maggie’s Farm owners Matt and Andy Weaver launched a new crowd-funding campaign to open a sister spot at the yet-to-open Soha Union development in Hamilton-Lauraville. Though specific details have not yet been released (the owners are referring to the new eatery as “Restaurant B”), Andy recently told us that the spot will offer a fusion of American and International cuisine, as well as next-level wines and cocktails. The 100-seat space is expected to debut in November 2017, highlighting an open kitchen, woodfire grill, outdoor patio, and spacious bar and dining room. 4801 Harford Road

Chef Malcom Mitchell to Open Second Local Restaurant: Though the name has yet to be revealed, former Food Network Star contestant Malcolm Mitchell recently announced plans to open a second local eatery in Butchers Hill later this month. Mitchell, the Columbia native who quietly opened Ryder’s Bistro last May in Upper Fells Point, plans to focus on shareable plates with next-level wine pairings at the new restaurant, which will seat 80-100 guests. 32 N. Chester St.

CH-CHANGES

B&O American Brasserie: A massive $250,000 renovation project recently got underway at this fine-dining den inside the Hotel Monaco. Led by Los Angeles designer David Hill, the redesign will eventually yield a revised floor plan, 40-seat private dining space, and a fresh look highlighting brass accents, subtle lighting, and a warm gray color scheme. The restaurant and bar will remain open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service throughout the renovation process, which is expected to be complete by mid-October. 2 N. Charles St., 443-692-6172

Pazo: Foreman Wolf Restaurant Group, the brand behind city spots Charleston, Cinghiale, Petit Louis, and Johnny’s, announced earlier this week that its Sicilian hangout in Harbor East will be undergoing major changes in the coming months. Pazo will close on September 17 to make way for Bar Vasquez—an Argentinian concept featuring authentic cuisine, a carefully curated list of malbecs, and nightly live music. Co-owner Tony Foreman estimates that the new restaurant will be ready for a debut in October. 1425 Aliceanna St., 410-534-7296

Bluegrass Tavern: Later this month, the brick façade on the corner of South Hanover Street and West Fort Avenue in South Baltimore will boast an entirely new logo. Now under new ownership, Bluegrass Tavern—the Lowcountry mainstay best known for its fried chicken and crawfish mac and cheese—will transform into a spinoff of Downtown breakfast spot Saturday Morning Cafe. Owner Will Sterling recently told SouthBMore.com that he intends to keep some of Bluegrass’s best-selling items (think braised beef short ribs and raw oysters) on the menu, while also implementing kid’s offerings and breakfast and lunch service on the weekends. 1500 S. Hanover St., 410-244-5101

SHUT

Family Meal: Earlier this week, celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio’s modern diner concept shuttered its doors in the Inner Harbor. The news of the closure comes on the heels of Voltaggio’s decision to close three other Family Meal locations in Hagerstown; Ashburn, Virginia; and Richmond, Virginia. Though the concept didn’t materialize the way the he had hoped, the Frederick-born restaurateur tells us that he isn’t ruling out another Charm City restaurant in the future. Stay tuned.

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After operating Pazo for the last 12 years, Foreman Wolf Restaurant Group has decided to rebrand the space as Bar Vasquez—an Argentinian concept featuring authentic cuisine, next-level cocktails, and live music. Pazo’s last day of service will be September 17.

Co-owner Tony Foreman—who also manages Charleston, Cinghiale, Johnny’s, and Petit Louis alongside James Beard-nominated chef Cindy Wolf—says that the new concept is meant to serve as an homage to the late Marcelo Vasquez, Wolf’s Argentinian-born mentor.

“Argentina is a big deal to both of us,” Foreman says. “It’s been a part of Cindy’s cooking career from the beginning. Going back and forth to taste the wine, I gained affection for the people, the culture, and the approach to food.”

Known for fusing natural ingredients with fired meats, that Argentinian approach will shine through on the new restaurant’s menu, which has not yet been finalized, but will also focus on seasonal ingredients.

“Of course, there will be meat and fire,” he says. “But if there is a holy trinity of Argentinian cooking, it’s meat, fire, and whatever else is provided for the season.”

Chef Mario Cano Catalán, a native of Southern Mexico who has been with Foreman Wolf for more than 15 years, has been appointed as executive chef—a decision that Foreman says was a no-brainer based on Catalán’s experience working with global cuisine.

This isn’t the first cuisine change for the restaurant, which transitioned from Spanish-influenced plates to Southern Italian fare in 2014 under the helm of chef Julian Marucci, who now cooks exclusively at Cinghiale.

The bar program will also get a makeover, featuring a carefully curated cellar of Argentinian malbecs and other wines, as well as a cocktail list inspired by the region.

Foreman Wolf has brought on local interior designer Katie Destefano to add some South American flair to the 11,000-square-foot industrial space, which currently highlights marble accents, plush lounge areas, and candlelit chandeliers hanging from its soaring ceilings. Destefano is also the owner of home furnishing shop Curiosity, which sits just next door to Charleston in Harbor East.

“My valets actually helped her move into her shop,” Foreman says with a laugh. “Cindy and I have asked her to do a couple of small projects for us, which turned out beautifully, so we wanted to give her a chance to do something on more of a large scale.”

Looking back on Pazo’s run, Foreman says that some of his fondest memories include hosting a benefit for The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults with Sheryl Crow in 2008, and overseeing countless weddings and private events at the restaurant over the years.

In addition to the introduction of live music on a regular basis (plans call for everything from tango to 10-piece bands), he says that he is most excited about unveiling the new cultural concept to diners.

“I think people are going to be very satisfied by how grounded the cooking is,” he says. “And they’re going to love seeing the space updated with a different mood.”

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The proceeds from Celebrity Waiter Night, which costs $300 per person, will go to the Lardarius Webb Foundation, an organization that focuses on bettering the lives of underprivileged youth.

In addition to being able to ask Justin Tucker for a water refill, patrons will have a chance to bid on specialty items during the live and silent auctions. Among them: tickets to the Grammys and Country Music Awards and, of course, Ravens memorabilia.

While the Foreman Wolf restaurant group is famous for its top-notch service and staff training, Pazo dining-room manager Kevin Ricker says he’s not going to put the teammates through the same paces prior to the event.

“They’ve done enough training camps for the summer,” he says. “Our guests will just be excited to see their faces and interact with them. We have a well-trained staff to handle the details and set them up for success. Whether they want to pour water or run the food, what they want to do will depend on the person.”

With players partnered with a Pazo pro, it will be up athletes to define how they want to handle the gig.

“Pazo’s waiters and waitresses will still do the food portion, but the players will complement with beer and wine and bread baskets,” says Jenna Raglani, COO of Vibrancy21, who is marketing the event. “Justin Tucker is very vibrant. Lardarius is fantastic with fans, and Brandon Williams is a great singer and really funny. It’s a pretty good cast of characters.”

Even though the players won’t have to study the Foreman Wolf employee service handbook, Pazo co-owner Tony Foreman has confidence that the gridiron gang will rise to the challenge.

“Prioritizing the outcome for the team over individual accomplishments is the basic lesson of service we teach,” explains Foreman, a former college football player. “Success comes from being able to trust everyone is doing their job—this should be a familiar theme for the Ravens.”

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Reeling from the news, Foreman Wolf issued a statement today about their beloved employee, who hailed from Peru. “Claudia Parodi was a bubbly, vibrant, gracious and intelligent young woman,” reads the statement. “We were blessed to have known, and worked with her for three years. Claudia was a very popular server and beloved team member. We are incredibly sad and will miss her greatly.”

Later today, Pazo co-owner Tony Foreman remembered Parodi personally. “Claudia was not a boisterous or judgmental person,” Foreman says. “Because of that peace, she made staff and customers comfortable, too. She only had kind intentions.” 

Before taking the job at Pazo, Parodi waited tables at Café Gia in Little Italy. “I’m so sad and distressed,” says Gia’s owner, Gia Daniella. “She was a very positive person and all-around nice lady. She was very knowledgeable as a server about Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and trends.”

Parodi was also a frequent customer at Café Gia even after she moved on to work at Pazo, sometimes visiting with friends and family from out of town. “She was just here within the past few weeks,” says Daniella. “This hits close to home.”

The homicide is under investigation.  

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This time, the chef heads south—of Rome, that is. (Basically, he’s got the country covered.)

We’ve always loved sitting in this Patrick Sutton, Amalfi-coast inspired space, but we like the idea of updating the Mediterranean tapas menu to focus on a more specific region.

“Julian has had a passion for the food of the south of Italy for years,” stated Foreman in a release. “Having visited the south with Julian many times over the years, I am confident his creative spark will give a very specific point of view and an honest take on the cooking south of Rome to the beautiful islands.”

Diners can chose from a traditional menu of antipasti, pasta, and secondi, or stick with lighter fare such as pizza. Highlights of the menu, which unveiled this week, include: house-made ricotta with honey and almonds, lamb polpetti sliders with yogurt and cucumber on brioche, and seven different types of pizza.

We’re most excited by the prospect of house-made pastas (Marucci has already more than proven his way with a noodle on Cinghiale’s pasta plates) and a whole grilled lobster with asparagus and salsa verde.

The wine list, which features southern Italian wines that make their U.S. debut here, also sounds promising.

We’re already feeling the culinary amore. 

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