Southern Provisions – Baltimore Magazine

Best Bites to Try at This Year’s Baltimore Seafood Festival

Lauren Cohen — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 09:00:00 +0000

There are so many things to love about the annual Baltimore Seafood Festival at Canton Waterfront Park. The end-of-summer tradition, which returns on Saturday, September 15 from 12-7 p.m., offers a blend of live music (this year’s headliners include local favorites The Scotch Bonnets and Honey Extractor), cooking demonstrations, crafters, and family-fun activities against the backdrop of the sparkling harbor. But, at the heart of the five-year-old fête is its wide array of seafood specialties.

With more than 35 area restaurants and food trucks participating this year, the event will have plenty of diverse dishes paying homage to the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. Among the purveyors returning is The London Chippy—a can’t-miss food truck (just look out for the massive Union Jack logo) that specializes in authentic fish and chips. Owner Anthony Robinson, who was born and raised in London, says that he was pleasantly surprised by the adventurous palates at the Seafood Fest last year.

“Typically, we get a lot of customers who stick with fried catfish or trout, but at the festival last year people were like, ‘No we want the cod and the traditional fish and chips,’” Robinson remembers. “It was a great feeling knowing that people really understood who we are and what we do.”

Despite potential cloudy skies, Robinson is looking forward to serving up his authentic delicacies to festival-goers rain or shine: “Fish and chips in the rain is very London,” he says with a laugh. “We welcome every single drop.”

Whether you prefer fish, crab, oysters, shrimp, lobster or a sampling of them all, here are a few highlights on the menu this weekend.

CRAB

Flash Crabcake Co.: This mobile crab company prides itself on peddling its signature six-oz. cakes at an affordable price ($10 with saltines and $11 as a sandwich on a potato roll). Flash will also be selling its classic cream of crab soup—an ideal snack to warm your soul in the potentially soggy weather.

Jimmy’s Famous Seafood: No Bawlmer seafood event is complete without hard-shell crabs. This Dundalk favorite—which has been particularly vocal about its love of crabs in response to the controversial PETA billboards that recently sprouted up in the city—will be slinging half-dozen orders of premium males while supplies last. Jimmy’s will also feature steamed shrimp and crabby fries for attendees who are down to get their hands dirty.

FISH

The London Chippy: The regional food truck, which makes stops everywhere from Northern Virginia to North Baltimore, will be frying up its signature cod and haddock and serving it alongside crispy “chips” and creamy coleslaw. Specials for the day will include mini lobster rolls, crab fries, and hush puppies.

RA Sushi: Harbor East diners are probably familiar with the colorful rolls at this dimly lit sushi spot. Catch RA at the festival to sample the Rainbow Roll (a classic California roll topped with tuna, yellowtail, shrimp, and salmon) and the Tootsy Maki, which mixes crab, shrimp, cucumber, and crunchy tempura bits and tops it in a sweet eel sauce.

OYSTERS

The Local Oyster: Head to the red, white, and black tent to slurp oysters from this fan-favorite seafood spot headquartered at Mount Vernon Marketplace. The Local Oyster will be shucking Skinny Dippers on the half shell from partner True Chesapeake Oyster Co. farmed in Southern Maryland.

The Urban Oyster: Swing by this local pop-up to visit chef Jasmine Norton, who will be hawking her oysters prepared three ways. Sample them raw, chargrilled, or fried and tucked into a taco with cilantro and lime.

SHRIMP

Nick’s Fish House: At this Port Covington staple, regulars typically start their meals off with an order of the chef’s famous “Boom Boom Shrimp”—crispy fried shrimp in a spicy Sriracha aioli. Try it at the festival alongside Nick’s crab balls and soft shell crab bites.

Southern Provisions: This Canton Square bar will be showcasing its Lowcountry influences with a warm shrimp gumbo over rice. Get your barbecue fix by pairing the gumbo with SoPro’s one-bite pulled pork sliders.

LOBSTER:

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls: Chow down on mounds of Maine meat from this Annapolis favorite, which is widening its Baltimore footprint with a new stall in Belvedere Square and a yet-to-open Inner Harbor location. The brand will feature its classic rolls (chilled lobster salad with mayo and lemon), warm Connecticut-style rolls with butter, New England clam chowder, and signature “lobstah” bisque.

SNACKS

Alexander’s Tavern: Crab tots are an essential part of the Seafood Fest experience, and Alexander’s has some of the best in town. Dig in to the orders of crispy tots smothered in cheesy crab dip, or go handheld with a classic crab pretzel from the Fells Point pub.

Dessert Fantasies: If you happen to save room for dessert, local baker Tosha Williams will have plenty of cupcakes to satisfy sweet tooth cravings. Her Locust Point bakeshop highlights flavors ranging from to classic strawberry shortcake to chocolate fudge cakes topped with Berger cookie bits.

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Weekend Lineup: March 30-April 1

Kaitlyn Pacheco — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 17:46:00 +0000

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

EAT

April 1: Eggstravegent Easter Brunch

Wit & Wisdom, 200 International Dr. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free-$69. 410-223-1456.

Leave the chocolate bunnies at home and let the city’s best chefs do the cooking for you this Easter Sunday. With an epic view of the Inner Harbor, Wit & Wisdom will be featuring a fixed-price brunch at the Four Seasons Hotel with an endless buffet including everything from traditional brunch fare, like made-to-order omelets and crepes, to specialty items, like prime rib and picks from the raw seafood bar. Satisfy your sweet tooth with self-serve gelato, a make-your-own s’mores station, and even freshly baked cookies for the kids (or kids at heart) to decorate and add to their Easter baskets. Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, it will be worth a visit.

DRINK

March 31: Budweiser Clydesdales on the Square

3000 O’Donnell St. 3-5 p.m. Free. 410-675-4029.

For centuries, we relied on horse-drawn carriages stacked with crates of beer to deliver brews to bars and stores before the automobile age made them obsolete. This Sunday, return to simpler times and watch the iconic Budweiser Clydesdale horses—yes, you know the ones—as they clip-clop through the Canton Square to make old-fashioned beer deliveries. Take pictures with the majestic horses and then sidle up to SoPro’s garage doors, where they’ll be selling two-dollar Buds all afternoon.

SEE

April 1: Edward Scissorhands

The Senator Theatre, 5904 York Rd. 10 a.m. $7. 410-323-4424.

If you don’t celebrate Easter (or even if you do), find yourself skipping the bustling brunches and sugar-crazed egg hunts to take in a special morning screening of this 1990 Tim Burton classic, featuring a young Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder at their best. In this darkly sweet film, follow the story of a gentle-natured outcast with scissor blades for hands as he falls in love and navigates life as an eternal outsider. You can catch it again on Monday at 1 p.m. or Tuesday at 9:30 p.m.

HEAR

March 31: FLAT OUT

Pipe Dreamz, 407 N. Charles St. 10 p.m. $8-10. 443-475-0097.

Since its early days as a small zine, the Baltimore-based True Laurels magazine has gained a local following for its coverage of the African-American community in the local arts. With an emphasis on the Baltimore rap scene, the publication will host its fifth annual music showcase and party this Saturday to highlight the city’s burgeoning scene. Catch local female talent like acclaimed young rappers Lor Choc and Deetranada, Baltimore’s Best DJ of 2017 Trillnatured, R&B artist Styles Bond, and DMV-based DJ Tomiyeyo. Get to the show early to snag a copy of True Laurels’ Issue 03 with cover stars Lor Choc and local rapper Young Moose.

DO

March 31: Free Yoga

Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church and Asbury House, 10 E Mount Vernon Pl. 8:30-9:45 a.m. Free. 410-685-5290.

After months of shoulder-to-shoulder yoga classes in smelly, sweaty studios, it’s finally warm enough to practice those downward dog and tree poses outside in the great outdoors. Whatever your skill level, grab a mat and head to Mount Vernon Place for this free 75-minute class lead by local instructor Jude Asher. Find a grassy spot facing the Washington Monument, breathe in the fresh air, and revel in the first warm Saturday of spring.

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Jokers N’ Thieves Rebranded as Southern Provisions

Lauren Cohen — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:25:00 +0000

As the longtime home of JD’s Smokehouse, the venue for a short-lived Smoking Swine pop-up, and most recently, the yearlong residence of Jokers N’ Thieves, the corner property at 3000 O’Donnell Street in Canton Square has been a revolving door the past few years.

Now under new ownership, the space recently debuted as Southern Provisions—a Lowcountry restaurant that emphasizes smoked meats, live music, and a sizable selection of bourbon and whiskey.

Although the Southern Provisions concept doesn’t differ drastically from the restaurant’s previous inhabitants, general manager Larry Romanowicz says that significant upgrades have been in the works since new owner Matthew Lasinsky (who also owns Blue Agave in Federal Hill) took charge in December 2015.

“We’re still Southern inspired, still trying to offer the same great service, the place just needed a few tweaks,” Romanowicz says. “Jokers N’ Thieves didn’t feel like the kind of name that could really connect with the neighborhood, so we wanted to change it to something a little more inviting.”

In addition to the name change, the transition has allowed executive chef Anthony Eppolite, formerly of Mackey’s Bayside Bar and Grill in Ocean City, to enhance the menu. Top Chef alumna Jesse Sandlin, longtime executive chef at Jokers N’ Thieves, recently moved on to serve as director of culinary operations at Mama’s Group.

While old Jokers favorites—like caramel-bacon popcorn and pimento mac and cheese spring rolls—will still be offered, the revamped menu now includes additions such as a Cajun chicken chopped salad, cedar-wrapped salmon with candied beets and a red pepper coulis, and the new signature Meat Sweats entree—a massive platter featuring a half rack of ribs, one pound of smoked brisket, a quarter pound of crispy pork belly, sliced Andouille sausage, six wings, and two sides.

“We’ve only been open for a few days, but the look on people’s faces when you bring out this sheet pan full of food has been priceless,” Romanowicz says. “With the menu we kept a lot of things that we noticed people in the neighborhood really loved, and slowly eliminated things that didn’t sell as well.”

The rebrand also highlights changes that have been made to the space itself. While the interior design (think rustic woods, bare bulb lighting, and pops of sky blue) hasn’t been altered, the front bar area now boasts three garage-style doors that can be opened to create more of an open-air vibe during the spring and summer months.

Lasinsky has also renovated the second-floor dining area, replacing the ceiling and lighting to reveal exposed beams and give the space more of an industrial feel.

Romanowicz says that the transition also coincides with the launch of the restaurant’s new weekday happy hour, and that plans to improve the brunch menu are a priority.

“We just want people to know that we’re a part of the square as much as anybody else,” he says. “Our new slogan is, ‘You’re just a friend we haven’t met yet.’ We want people to come in and really feel like they’re a part of the family.”

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