Restaurant News: Old Bay, Can’t You See?

December 10, 2018 Randi Rom

Chef John Shields (Handout photo)

Chef John Shields’ new cookbook offers tasty and healthy recipes with a decidedly Chesapeake twist.

Here’s a great idea for some fabulous and tasty recipes, courtesy of local celebrated chef/restaurateur John Shields. In his new cookbook “The New Chesapeake Kitchen” (Johns Hopkins University Press), Chef John takes the best of what grows, swims or grazes in the watershed and offers such “bay and body friendly” recipes as “Wide Net Blue Catfish Coddies,” “Hutzler’s Cheese Bread” and “Aunt Bessie’s Crab Pudding.”

Written in the aftermath of John’s heart attack seven years ago, this collection of recipes was assembled with an eye toward being good for the body and the environment.

Well folks, Baltimore’s Winter Restaurant Week is back! This is the time to try out all of those dining hot spots you’ve been reading about in Jmore. The special week runs Jan. 11 to 20.

Some cool spots to check out? I recently went to Avenue Kitchen & Bar in Hampden and totally enjoyed an excellent Creekstone Farms steak (my favorite), and they have jammin’ jazz musicians. Also, a big plus — they have their own parking lot in the back.

Also, Le Bistro Du Village in Mount Washington (formerly Crepe Du Jour) offers authentic French cuisine in a cozy, casual setting. Their crepes (yes, you can get the gluten-free version) are outstanding, especially the Crepe Marie-Antoinette (seafood in a creamy sauce) and the Crepe Au Chocolat, a homemade chocolate ganache (which is an absolute slice of heaven!).

Baltimore County Restaurant Week runs from Jan. 18 through Feb. 2. Among the participants is the Manor Tavern in Monkton, which offers a sophisticated/country setting and a seasonal menu. Or in the mood for burgers and beer? Maybe shrimp tacos or funnel cake fries tossed with cinnamon? The Charles Village Pub & Patio in Towson is a neighborhood go-to place that’s participating.

(Please note that the dishes mentioned may not be on the restaurant week menus, so visit the websites listed above for RW menus.)

The Red Star Bar and Grill in Charles Village (the original location is in Fells Point) debuted a new winter menu, courtesy of executive chef Francisco Lopez, formerly of Ryleigh’s Oyster in Federal Hill. Crispy tuna tacos, veggie spaghetti, buffalo chicken wraps and craft cocktails are served in this upscale casual bar and grill.

Serving homemade baked goods and entrees, Charm*D Kitchen recently opened on Chester Street in Butchers Hill. A Bawlmer native, executive chef Christa Bruno will present an eclectic array of American-Italian treats, embracing her Sicilian grandmother’s heritage. Christa has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 26 years, with stints at properties in Maine, Maryland and Milan. You may remember her from one of my all-time favorite spots, Pazza Luna in Locust Point. I’ll definitely be checking this one out.

The owners of Sugarvale and Dooby’s in Mount Vernon opened Noona’s, a new restaurant in Midtown-Belvedere. They serve pizza, sandwiches, entrees, burgers, craft beer and cocktails.

Coming Soon

Wit & Wisdom, the restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel, is closing at the beginning of this month after seven years. Locally owned Atlas Restaurant Group will take over the space with a not-yet-announced restaurant concept.

Atlas currently runs three other restaurants in the waterfront hotel — Azumi, Loch Bar and The Bygone. Zack Mills, Wit & Wisdom’s chef for more than five years, is slated to open his own restaurant — True Chesapeake Oyster House — early this year inside the historic Whitehall Mill development near Hampden.

Attention, Food Truck Lovers!

A trio of popular local food trucks — The Green Bowl, The Smoking Swine and Dizzy Cow Pizzeria — are joining forces to open a bricks-and-mortar tavern.

The tavern, slated to open this spring or summer on Hanover Street in Brooklyn at the site of the former O’Flynn’s Crab & Cask House, will have a menu featuring dishes from each truck as well as some collaborations.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Donna’s, a Cross Keys institution, recently closed its doors after 19 years of operations. Tell me, who hasn’t grabbed a bite at this spot?

Thanks for the memories, Donna Crivello and Alan Hirsch!

Randi Rom is president of RJ Rom & Associates. She is a freelance columnist and writer who represents some of the region’s top restaurants and food-related events. Contact her at randirom@comcast.net.

Share your memories about Donna’s with co-owner Alan Hirsch Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m. on This Week in Baltimore Eating on facebook.com/jmoreliving.

Also see: Alan Hirsch of Donna’s on This Week in Baltimore Eating, Dec. 13, 2018