La Food Marketa Opens At Quarry Lake

September 17, 2016 Randi Rom

Here’s a look at what’s happening at restaurants around town: Executive chef Chad Gauss from The Food Market in Hampden recently opened La Food Marketa at Quarry Lake, previously the home of the Italian restaurant Bella Vista. Although it’s a Food Market spinoff, the concept is different as is the menu (check out www.lafoodmarketa.com).

There is seating for 150, including an outdoor patio and a front counter that faces the kitchen. Keep an eye out for updates on the La Food Marketa Facebook page.

Canadian-based chain Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar will open early next year in the former Vellegia’s Restaurant in Little Italy, which has been vacant for seven years. It will serve gourmet pizzas, pastas, burgers and game-day specials (check out www.bostons.com).

I prefer the locally owned and operated businesses in Little Italy — not a huge fan of incoming chains. Especially in Little Italy. That’s just my two cents.

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

Bruce Bodie and Gino Cardinale, owners of City Cafe in downtown B-more, will take ownership of Tark’s Grill in Green Spring Station on Oct. 1.

And ya know what that means? City Café’s seriously popular ala carte brunch is coming uptown!

James Jennings, executive chef at City Café, is a partner with Cardinale and Bodie on this new venture. Jennings has the creds, as he was chef de cuisine at The Food Market and sous chef under Michael Mina in San Francisco.

FYI: Tark’s staff will be retained and Tark’s gift cards will still be honored. Renovations will include a very cool outdoor area with a fountain that features fire and water.

Fun Factoid: Tark’s Grill took over the restaurant spot that used to be Harvey’s Restaurant in 2008, owned by Harvey Shugarman. It was also Shugarman who was the food and beverage guru at the old Girard’s nightclub that occupied the same space as … wait for it … City Café. (Check out www.tarksgrill.com.)

Fells Point hot spot Pazo is closed. The upscale restaurant, owned by the famed Foreman Wolf Restaurant Group — also owners of Charleston, Cinghiale, Johnny’s and Petit Louis Bistro — will reopen as Bar Vasquez, a “New World Argentinian Bar.” Taking the helm in the kitchen will be chef Mario Cano Catalán, who has been with the company for over 15 years.

No word yet on the reopening date (check out www.foremanwolf.com).

And in more FWRG news, they recently hired a new executive pastry chef. Michael Brown, a native of South Africa, previously served as assistant pastry chef at the Willard InterContinental in Washington and head banquet pastry chef at the Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Fla. Not a bad resume, eh?

Also in Fells Point, Kali’s Court got a makeover and is now the Fells Point Tavern, a casual dining spot. The upscale Mediterranean menu, garden patio and romantic atmosphere have been replaced with an open courtyard with wooden tables, and a menu that features sandwiches and flatbreads. A more chill vibe that kinda fits in with the Fells Point scene, the tavern offers live music four days a week, an upstairs lounge and happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Monday-Friday (check out www.fellspointtavern.com).

The Main Street Oyster House in Bel Air (or Blair for all youse Hons out dere) has closed and will reopen this month as Black-Eyed Susie’s. The new owner is Brian Acquavella, who also owns Blue Agave in Federal Hill.

Black-Eyed Susie’s will have a comparable concept to Main Street Oyster House but will be more food-centric, serving both lunch and dinner featuring a raw bar and American food showcasing local vendors. No website or Facebook page yet.

Open for Biz

Co-owners and cousins Michele Mavias and (I love me some) Christa Bruno-Rossi, both with extensive restaurant backgrounds, opened Canèla (Spanish for cinnamon) at the corner of Lombard and Ann streets in Upper Fells Point.

If the name Christa Bruno-Rossi sounds familiar, it’s b’cuz she was an owner of the seriously successful Pazza Luna Restaurant in Locust Point.

The menu includes salads, pastas, soups — hitting on the Mediterranean flavors from Italy to the Middle East as well as a nod to local Maryland fare.

Try Christa’s home-styled soups, pastas and to-die-for tiramisu.

Amusing factoid: Christa introduced my mother, Ruth (aka Mom Rom) to Limoncello (an Italian lemon liqueur) at Pazza Luna. Since they were tiny li’l drinks, Mom had a few and she was very … happy!

THAT was one amusing ride home. Check out their Facebook page — Canela Baltimore.

Randi Rom is the president of R J Rom & Associates, a marketing, branding, events and public relations firm specializing in the hospitality and entertainment industries. She is a freelance columnist and writer who represents some of the region’s top restaurants and food-related events.