Visit this week to Baltimore

[Rebecca263]

Hi! I've been resting up for a stem cell transplant now that I've come to the finish line with my disease- it's not a cure, or anything like that, but the researchers are going to learn so much and that's what makes this worthwhile for me. Anyway, I'm suddenly feeling pretty good from all of the chemotherapies and steroids, etc. that I'm getting in preparation, Yay! SO, my daughter and I are heading to Baltimore for a sudden midweek roadtrip, we so miss traveling, this will be an awesome time for us to share, another Yay moment! We'll be in town from Wednesday through at least Friday.

It's my first time there, and we intend to find a hotel IN town so that I can rest a lot without having to leave the center of things. PLEASE, ANY EATING SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME. all we're thinking of doing is getting in some shows of indie sound art in the evenings(charm city art space etc.). hitting the zoo on late Thursday afternoon, a few museums and thrift shops during the days, and the outdoor showing of "Bueno Sera Mrs. Campbell" in Little Italy on Friday night. Money isn't important, neither is trendiness, EXCELLENT QUALITY FOOD is all we care about. Also, I can eat NO raw vegetables or fruit(I'm having lots of immune system issues from chemotherapy/organ failure/etc.), so the salad/raw route is out for now. I see that it's restaurant week, too! NO Morton's et al, chains bore us! Please, help a fellow eGulleteer out, amd give us the info on your favorite places!

Edited July 23, 2012 by Rebecca263 (log)

[LindaK]

My Baltimore dining experiences are mostly outdated and today when I’m there I generally treat myself to blue crab, either steamed with Old Bay or in crab cakes. During peak crab season—now!—it doesn’t get any better.

Otherwise, I tend to seek out old favorites from my (poor) graduate student days. A couple that might appeal:

Brewer's Art: gastropub/microbrew specializing in Belgian-style ales

The Helmand: Afghan food, unusual and delicious. The pumpkin and the leek-stuffed ravioli with yogurt sauce are must-tries.

Finally, if you are looking for interesting art with your food, check out the American Visionary Art Museum. Fascinating place with a very good restaurant on the 3^rd floor.

Hopefully others can suggest some fine dining ideas. Enjoy your well-earned vacation!

[DTBarton]

Some of my favorites in Baltimore include:

Cindy Wolfe's restaurants - Charleston http://www.charlestonrestaurant.com/ The most fancy and pricy of the three, 3 to 6 courses prix fixe. Pazo http://www.pazorestaurant.com/ more casual with both small and regular plates in a cool old building

(I'm eating there this Friday). Cinghiale http://www.yelp.com/biz/cinghiale-baltimore (web site wasn't responding just now) Upscale Italian.

Attman's deli - http://www.attmansdeli.com/ Old school deli with excellent corned beef. The corned beef is much better than the pastrami. it can be very crowded at lunch time, best to go a little earlier or later.

Cross Street Market - http://www.bpmarkets.com/crs1.html A real Baltimore experience is to go walk around the market and sample different foods.

[Hassouni]

Also having been a student and giving up on cafeteria food after the first month, I can recommend the following:

Second for the Helmand - this is probably the most distinctive place Bmore has. Also, you get the novelty of eating at a place owned by Hamid Karzai's brother.

Go to Alewife, their smokeburger is absolutely ridiculous, beer selection very eclectic and interesting.

Brewer's Art has far fewer beers but they're all made on the premises and very reasonably priced. They do good cocktails too.

Haven't been in a while, but I remember Kumari having pretty good Nepalese food (similar to North Indian but appreciably different to make it interesting).

Blue Agave in Federal Hill has a rather good, mostly-authentic Mexican menu

If you want crabs, Bmore's favorite place, I guess, is Obrycki's, but you should head to Annapolis for Cantler's Riverside Inn, the real deal.

[Rebecca263]

Oh, thanks you guys! More suggestions, please, we've got days to fill! Yes, we're familiar with AVAM- nice folks!

[Rebecca263]

Oh, dear, while I ADORE a good drink, I'm on 4 chemotherapy drugs at once, and myriad side medications, no alcohol for me. And, my daughter remains tiny in part by not spending any calories on alcohol, ever. The Helmand is a YES for me, I'm hoping for a meal there on Thursday night. I really WISH more places served lunch, that is our big meal-we eat a lot of small breaks each day, usually breakfast is EARLY- 8-9- after having had juice and coffee at 6 when we arise, then we have elevens, then lunch at around 2, a snack at 4 or so, and then we have a small meal at 6 or so, then we like to eat again, VERY late, after 9 at least, but 10 or 11 is the best time, for our "dinner". Did I mention, we like to eat, and we're both slender? It's because we eat often, I think. We're always grazing, too.

[DTBarton]

Cinghale web site is back up http://cgeno.com/

I believe Obrycki's is closed. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-11-05/entertainment/bs-md-obryckis-closes-1106-20111105_1_ed-obrycki-rob-cernak-lump-crab-meat For crabs in Baltimore, there is Bo Brooks in Canton http://www.bobrooks.com/

Not an eat in spot, but for some great kielbasa (fresh or smoked, I love the fresh) to take home, try Ostrowski's on Washington Street in Fell's Point. http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/352012/restaurant/Fells-Point/Ostrowskis-Famous-Polish-Sausage-Baltimore

[Rebecca263]

Unfortunately, I am headed into the hospital right now, might not get my road trip in after all. I'll be saving these suggestions in my Baltimore file, for the future! Especially Ostrowski's, THAT had me hungry the moment it was posted!