A special post: regarding the potential loss of a great friend

On Tuesday, July 28th, my 2002 Volvo S60 suffered a damaging blow to her front bumper. Her left headlight shattered, glass shards strewn in the intersection of 29th and St. Paul Street. The front plate reading “Dyer and Dyer Cars” that she once wore proudly, now trampled by ongoing traffic. The bumper clung to the car desperately, trying to keep himself together during the moment of peril.

After five happy years with my precious 2002 Volvo S60, her future is at stake.

Exhaustion hit following a long day of sitting on my ass in front of a computer screen at my magazine internship for the summer. I don’t understand how I can be so tired from moving so little. I thought I would take a nap when I arrived at my apartment, and then go for a run later. I thought of my soft bed, laden with pillows and a fluffy comforter. “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z played on the radio, at least I think it did. To be honest, all I remember is black, then a flash of yellow. No, not the shining light at the end of the tunnel, but the back of a taxi cab. When I realized what was going on, it was already too late for my Volvo. I remember the crunch, as I came out of my daze, powerless to help her.
I didn’t think the damage could have been much. I don’t remember feeling much when I hit the taxi. It was quite similar to the way it feels when my dad shakes me awake in the morning whenever I’m home. I tried to brake at the light, so I wasn’t completely oblivious. But the last few seconds before I struck were lost.

The repercussions were far worse than I anticipated. The complacent expression that once served as the front of my car was unrecognizably mangled. My only thought – “I’m an idiot.” Dozing off at the wheel? Pathetic. And the taxi? Unharmed, except for a small scrape near the rear tailpipe. Typical. Luckily, the cab driver spoke English and was quite nice about the situation.

My car now sits in a body shop, awaiting its potentially morbid fate. When the inspector mentioned the word, “totaled” my head began to spin as I thought about life without my Volvo. I learned to drive in that car, I survived my melodramatic teenage years in that car. I had driven that car to my new home in Baltimore to spend the summer with me. She had been a reliable companion, taking me where I needed to go, when I wanted. The South Carolina license plate was a minority up here, and made me feel proud to be among the few from the South. The rainbow colored palm tree window sticker, my high school parking sticker from 2006-2007 that I still hadn’t removed – all of these were reflective of me.

I am now driving a rental Hyundai while my car is held captive. Let’s just say it’s no Volvo.

UPDATE: the Volvo is offically dead as of August 3rd, 2010.

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Another rainy day activity: Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

Yesterday was truly a disgusting day - deathly hot, and then a waterfall of rain unleashed from the sky, complete with thunder, lightning and all that fun stuff. I could only think of one thing to do and that was to make cupcake infused with alcohol. Where on earth did I get this idea? I read an article last week about a bakery in NYC that sells alcoholic cupcakes, Butch Bakery. Apparently their cupcakes contain enough alcohol to give you a real buzz, which is impressive.

My aspiration? To create a cupcake with the same effect. My roommate found this recipe for Guinness Chocolate cupcakes with an Irish whiskey ganache filling and Bailey's cream frosting:


Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes


For the Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes:
1 cup stout (such as Guinness)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

Ganache Filling (Updated to double it, based on many commenters suggestions — thanks!)
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 to 2 teaspoons Irish whiskey (optional)

Baileys Frosting (see Recipe Notes)
3 to 4 cups confections sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup or 4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperatue
3 to 4 tablespoons Baileys (or milk, or heavy cream, or a combination thereof)

Special equipment: 1-inch round cookie cutter or an apple corer and a piping bag (though a plastic bag with the corner snipped off will also work)

Make the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners. Bring 1 cup stout and 1 cup butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter among cupcake liners, filling them 2/3 to 3/4 of the way. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, rotating them once front to back if your oven bakes unevenly, about 17 minutes. Cool cupcakes on a rack completely.

Make the filling: Chop the chocolate and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until simmering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then stir until smooth. (If this has not sufficiently melted the chocolate, you can return it to a double-boiler to gently melt what remains. 20 seconds in the microwave, watching carefully, will also work.) Add the butter and whiskey (if you’re using it) and stir until combined.

Fill the cupcakes: Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped (the fridge will speed this along but you must stir it every 10 minutes). Meanwhile, using your 1-inch round cookie cutter or an apple corer, cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes. You want to go most of the way down the cupcake but not cut through the bottom — aim for 2/3 of the way. A slim spoon or grapefruit knife will help you get the center out. Those are your “tasters”. Put the ganache into a piping bag with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

Make the frosting: Whip the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, for several minutes. You want to get it very light and fluffy. Slowly add the powdered sugar, a few tablespoons at a time.

http://www.chewonthatblog.com/2009/02/25/irish-car-bomb-cupcakes/


My thoughts:
Good lord. They were perhaps the most involved cupcakes I've ever made, requiring us to poke a hole in the cupcakes after they were baked so we could pour whiskey infused ganache into it. We may have gone a bit overboard with the ganache, as it actually burned my throat when I ate the cupcake. The frosting was the crowning jewel of the cupcake, and came out really well. We used just enough Bailey's to make it just strong enough.

As it rained torrentially outside, my roommate and I enjoyed making these cupcakes as alcoholic as possible without ruining the flavor. It worked out perfectly too, we finally got to use our leftover alcohol from St. Patrick's day!

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My Favorite Finds of the Summer

While I am in no way an expert on food, I think I have some sense for what's good around here! I've spent the entire summer trying places around Baltimore, and I think I've found some good ones. Here is a recap of my finds!

Cool Treats:
-Dominion's Spinach Ice Cream
I love this flavor because of its remarkably smooth, subtly sweet taste. It is one of the most refreshing flavors of ice cream I have tried this summer, not to mention, its apparent health benefits! Dominion is known for its "Eat Your Vegetables" ice cream, and they truly have a unique operation in the Blackstone Apartments (Charles Village) lobby. I'm going to be moving into this building next year and I know where all my money will be going.

-Pitango's Mojito sorbet
The first time I tried this flavor, I was blown away by the fresh blast of lime against the gelato's lightly sugared base. The taste is vivid and as refreshing and the gelato itself is even lighter and sharper in flavor than Dominion's spinach ice cream. Mix it with the mango sorbet for an even more colorful combination of flavors.

Cheap Places:
-Grano Pasta Bar
This tiny Hampden cornerside cafe is better than any of the Italian restaurants I've tried in Little Italy. Their pasta is fresh, their sauces are to die for, and the italian bread is outstanding. Grano makes for a cheap dinner too, with most of the pasta dishes $10 or less. I've tried the bolognese sauce and the carbonara, both of which I loved. The portions are enough to stuff you plenty, too.

-Grilled Cheese and Co.
While a bit off the beaten path, this place is unique in its creative variations on an old favorite. Every sandwich here is good, I don't think you could be disappointed with the combination of melted cheese and bread. The Cordon Bleu grilled cheese is very good, combining chicken, ham, swiss cheese and dijon mustard (the cordon bleu is a traditional French roll-up sandwich). This is the only place where I've seen grilled cheese for dessert too. If you have enough room, at least try "The Sweetest Thing," Brie cheese, raspberry flavored marscapone and chocolate chips in between two pieces of toasty bread.

-Stuggy's and Kooper's Tavern in Fells
These two places are great lunch spots - Kooper's Tavern has more of a restaurant atmosphere, whereas Stuggy's is more or a order and take outside to eat kind of place. I ordered the pulled pork BBQ sandwich with sweet potato fries at Kooper's and was quite impressed. The BBQ claims to combine the flavors of pulled pork from North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, whatever this means the synthesis is successfully sweet and tangy. Kooper's also has an impressive beer selection, which I'm sure would pair perfectly with one of their popular burgers. Stuggy's, on the other hand, sells beefy hot dogs loaded with cheese, even more beef, cole slaw, mushrooms, pretty much whatever you're in the mood for. On a nice day, the benches outside Stuggy's make for a picturesque lunch spot.

Dinner
-Tapas Teatro
I love this place on a nice night - it's great to sit outside and enjoy a pitcher of sangria and several tapas plates. I've also been to the more expensive tapas restaurant in Baltimore, Pazo, but I've found that Teatro's selections are more reasonably priced and a better value. I'm a fan of the fried manchego cheese, and especially the Albondigas, or lamb meatballs. I'd love to try to paella someday as well, I'm sure it's delicious. Even better, if you have room for dessert, Sofi's Crepes is a few doors down, or if you want to catch a movie, the charles theater literally connects to the restaurant.

-XS Sushi
It's quite a scene here, with its four levels in this loft-style restaurant. Lowly lit with DJ style music pumping at night, this is a great place for sushi, or just drinks as well. The sushi is good, but the atmosphere is reason most to go - it's young and charged with energy, making it ideal for a dinner spot before a night out.

-Petit Louis Bistro
I love this restaurant because I love all things French. I've found the simple French fare that I loved when I was abroad in Paris here, such as Duck Confit, Streak Frites and Poulet Fermier (chicken). I love the frites, especially after dipping them in the dijon mustard on every table. The extensive wine menu is a bit steeply priced, so order wine by the glass instead. Petit Louis is delightfully simple, yet full of savory, satisfying flavors.

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Mr. Yoagato in Fells

I'm getting the impression that frozen yogurt shops are a growing trend in the restaurant world these days. Apparently the cold treat has become popular due to rising need for indulgences that are healthy - for example, frozen yogurt is now advertised as containing probiotics, which are "live mircroorganisms, which administered at a certain amount contain health benefits" (haha, thanks wikipedia). Sounds a bit gross, in my opinion, ingesting live microorganisms?

Anyway, while enjoying my lunch outside today in Fells, I had the idea to try out Mr. Yogato, the frozen yogurt shop I've been hearing all about lately. After reading about the vibrant interior of the place in multiple reviews, i have to say that he space was a bit large for a yogurt shop. I felt a bit awkward being the only customer inside.

I ordered the "creamy" yogurt, which has a taste resembling vanilla. I chose to top it off with fresh raspberries and blackberries. I was impressed with the lightly sugared taste of the yogurt itself, it was not at all too sweet but just right. However, I was a little irked by the uneveness of it, there seemed to be little ice chunks in it. However the raspberries and blackberries were a delicious, soaking up the creamy base.

Mr. Yoagto has a large menu of frozen yogurt flavor, usually offering about 4 different ones each day (2 of them being the original and the vanilla). There's even a mojito flavor I saw on the website, and I am curious to know how it fares against Pitango's version. You can also add in multiple kinds of toppings, healthy and unhealthy, like oreos, m&ms, granola, and fruit.

I'll probably go back, because unlike most ice cream places, I finished my yogurt not feeling sick or overly full. The fruit was a brilliant addition.

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Baltimore magazine intern on assignment

Last night, I represented Baltimore magazine at a screening of Ryan White’s new documentary, Pelada, at the Charles Theatre near Penn Station. Here’s a short recap: The film follows two former college soccer players, Luke Boughen (Notre Dame) and Gwendolyn Oxenham (Duke) as they travel the world, playing what they call “pick-up soccer” with the locals. Pelada, meaning “naked” in Brazilian, describes this bare bones form of soccer, which can be played anywhere – on rooftops, a prison, a gas station parking lot – and by anyone. Luke and Gwendolyn travel to Argentina, Italy, Germany, Kenya, Ghana, China, Israel and even Iran in search of people who simply love to play. Many of their travels are dangerous, as they must face the cultures and differences of certain countries. By the end of the film, By the end of the film, Gwendolyn comes to a conclusion about soccer all over the world - “The game stretches and changes, but stays the same.”

My job was to attend the screening, producer/director/cinematographer Ryan White’s Q&A afterwards as well as the cocktail reception. I took a few notes, but mostly just watched and enjoyed the film. During the Q&A, White praised his aunt, Kathy McCabe, who planned the screening for Baltimore. White also spent much of his childhood in the city, so I’m sure it was very cool for him to enjoy the film with nearby family and friends. White mentioned the film had already had about 40 screenings across the country, but he also had plans to show it in many of the countries shown in the movie.

After he finished speaking, I looked for Rick, the short but enthusiastic photographer I needed to follow at the reception. I’m glad he knew what he was doing, because I was pretty lost. We had to move fast because it was a bit late, and we weren’t sure how any people would stick around. I stayed with Rick as he bolted back and forth in the lobby, throwing a group of people together for a photo. Thanks to Kathy, we were able to pinpoint a few notable people at the event. My job was to get everyone’s names in the photo, left to right and spelled correctly in the “Parties” section of the magazine. This was not such an easy job, as most groups immediately dispersed as soon as Rick took the photo. And believe me, getting names from little children is no easy task either (me: what's your name? kid: uhhh..um, Michael? me: and how do you spell that? kid: i don't know... me: um, really? kid: i like soccer!!!)

Last night was the film’s only night in Baltimore, but there is an upcoming screening in DC at the Avalon Theatre, 8 PM on July 27th. It's not exactly nearby, but if you're in the area, it's worth checking out.

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Legomania

It's raining in Baltimore.

It's a song by the Counting Crows, but it was also the fate of the day last Saturday. It was gross and humid outside, definitely a day I wanted to spend inside. I tend to go stir crazy if I'm indoors for too long though, so something stimulating was necessary. After brainstorming numerous ideas - watching a movie (boring), watching my boyfriend Paul program a computer for 5 hours (incredibly boring) - I finally struck gold. Remember the tiny multi-colored bricks you played with as a kid? The ones that fit together perfectly? You could build anything, a house, a car, a helicoptor...the only limit was your imagination (that's a cliche if I ever saw one). Yes, it's Legos, the perfect solution to any rainy day.

I used to always ask for Lego sets for Christmas. It was the perfect activity for an only child like me - it would entertain me for hours, days upon end.

We jumped in my car and zipped off to Target, heading straight for the kids section. Two 21 year olds closely inspecting every type of Lego set offered must have been quite a sight. After much debate, we decided on the City themed 963 piece Police Station. Dead God, it was beautiful. It had everything - a watch tower with spotlights, an interrogation room with a lie detector, a K9 mobile with a plastic dog inside and even a jail cells with toilets! The amount of detail was almost unbelievable.

So maybe it wasn't our most practical purchase (these things aren't cheap!), but we bought it. Later that day, we go to work. With the help of two of our friends, we pieced together the set in just a few hours. The set came with instruction manuals, complete with step-by-step directions for how to build each part. We had a great time, hunting for the pieces we needed while enjoying a beer as well (sure didn't do that when we were kids).

You'd think the Police Station would have quenched our Lego thirst. But no - less than a week later, Paul bought a Lego Mindstorms set off of Craigslist for a price too good to pass up. I don't know much about these, but apparently you can build robots with giant claws and make them do things. The box emphasized the robot was for ages 10 and older, but Paul assured me that the majority of users were computer geeks our age or older. Who knew?

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Otterbein's Cookies

My affinity for the cookie is a longterm relationship. I can't remember the last time I ever turned one down. My standards are high, especially for the chocolate chip cookie. I usually like my chocolate chip cookies thick, chewy in the middle but cripsy on the edges, threaded with chunks of high quality chocolate chips. I'm always looking for the best, and when I read about Otterbein's repuation for having the tastiest cookies in Baltimore, I had to try them. The Baltimore based bakery, in business since the late 1800s, was originally known for its homemade, thin but flavorful sugar cookies. The original owner, Adam Otterbein, came to Baltimore from Germany, and the business has remained in his family since.

At first, I was skeptical of the thin, almost frail looking cookies. I don't usually like cookies that are too hard or crunchy. So I took my first bite with little expectations. How I was wrong though - instantly the flavor permeated my mouth, the richness of the chocolate chips mixing with the subtley sweet flavor of the crunchy cookie. I had to say I almost prefered them to the gigantic fat cookies I had always flocked to. These were so light, and didn't leave me feeling ill afterwards. Can't wait to buy more, and what's better than supporting your local Baltimorean bakery? You can find Otterbein's cookies at most grocery stores such as Eddie's or Superfresh.

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Return of the Lake Trout

I decided to give lake trout a second chance, believe it or not. If you're gonna live in a city like Baltimore, you gotta appreciate the local cuisine. With that said, I knew there had to be somewhere better out there than Sea Blue on Greenmount. That was some truly terrible lake trout, soggy and mushy and tasteless. I had heard about another place in Baltimore, actually I had seen it mentioned on Anthony Bourdain's series No Reservations a few months ago - The Roost on Reisterstown Road has the reputation as being Baltimore's best lake trout.

Honestly, I can't stand Anthony Bourdain, but he does know his food, even his lake trout apparently. The Roost's lake trout is a clear winner.

I've never seen anything like this place in my entire life. After driving through an interesting part of town (by Pimlico race track), we approached the tiny roadside establishment. We walk inside, there's no where to sit, just a counter from where you order. The menu consists of "soul food" options ranging from fried chicken, collard greens, fried catfish, mac n' cheese and of course, lake trout. As we waited for our food, we browsed through a man's collection of pirated DVD's and CD's he was selling inside.

Our order arrived, we grabbed the plastic bag filled with lake trout and got in the car and ate it back home (if you care to stay, there are a few picnic tables outside). Instantly the aroma of freshly fried crispy lake trout filled the car.

This was serious lake trout - everything about it was world's better than my past experience. The fried part was crisp and crunchy and flavorful, unlike Sea Blue's soggy mess. With some catsup on the side, the flavors of my lake trout came alive. I ordered mine with fries, which I found underneath the lake trout. They were soggy, unremarkable. Next time I would order the lake trout dinner, and choose from The Roost's side options (not to mention you also get cornbread!).

This place is an institution among Baltimoreans. No, it's not something I'd eat everyday, but I admire the pride The Roost puts into not only their lake trout, but the rest of their food as well. The name of their website, thebestlaketrout.com says it all (but I couldn't get the link to work for some reason..oh well).

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Grilled Cheese and Co. is sheer brilliance

When I first read about this place I nearly jumped out of my pants. My affinity for the grilled cheese sandwich is endless. I grew up living off of my mom's grilled cheeses, literally. I'm pretty sure most everyone did as well, which is why this place is so incredibly brilliant. To evoke fond memories of home while enjoying a cheesy and savory treat is pure marketing brilliance.

If you can avoid getting lost in sketchy areas of Baltimore, Grilled Cheese and Co. in Catonsville is more than worth a visit. The interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting, but also pretty loud especially during peak lunchtime hours. The menu is pretty straightforward - various types of gourmet grilled cheeses. Immediately the "Crabby Melt" caught my eye, which piles Monterey Jack cheese on top of more cheese and blue crab. My roommate ordered this one and loved it. I was concerned about the sandwich being too rich, but the crab and cheese blend was not overpowering in the least. The subtle flavor of the creamy crab in between 2 thick slices of toasty golden bread was outstanding.
I went for the "Cordon Bleu," Swiss cheese, smoked ham and grilled chicken with Dijon mustard, a classic French treat. The combination of chicken and ham on the sandwich was an unlikely one, but it worked quite well. The swiss cheese was a winner as well, however I was disappointed that I couldn't taste the Dijon better. Perhaps it was too many flavors, the Dijon was neglected a bit. Overall, this sandwich is kickass.

Add regular or sweet potato fries to your meal plus a drink for only $2 more, not a bad deal! The portion of fries was more than I could eat in one sitting, but they were crispy and flavorful, definitely freshly made.

And to finish off the meal, my roommate ordered the "Sweetest Thing" (pictured below), Brie cheese, raspberry flavored Marscapone and chocolate chips smooshed between two slices of bread. The entire thing is an oeey, drippy mess, and is truly one of a kind. How creative to include a dessert grilled cheese...it reminded me of chocolate chip pancakes, interestingly enough.

Grilled Cheese and Co. calls their product "one of life's great pleasures" on their website. I have to agree, I honestly can't wait to go back. If you go, don't rely on your GPS to get you there though...mine sure crapped out on me.

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Unleash your inner francophile

My mother, my father and myself included are a family of Francophiles. We love anything French, whether it's food, art or wine. And ever since I spent my semester abroad in Paris last year, I've been spoiled in the most French way possible. I am especially picky when it comes to French food in the US - my standards are perhaps a little too high, but what can I say? Here's one place that passes the test - Petit Louis in Roland Park is a French-inspired bistro that doesn't disappoint.

The food is very French indeed - the menu options reminded me of typical items I saw in Paris, such as Salade Nicoise (with grilled tuna), Steak Frites (steak with "pommes frites," refer to my earlier blog post: http://elizabethlaseter.blogspot.com/2010/06/french-inspired-lunch.html), Croque Monsieur (a grilled ham and gruyere cheese sandwich essentially) and more. Reading the menu is a lesson in French cuisine - thankfully, English descriptions accompany the french names of the dishes.

I decided on the Confit de Canard, a leg of duck cooked in salt and its own fat. Perhaps that sounds a little unappetizing but if you have ever tried anything cooked in duck fat, you will understand the savory, rich and buttery flavor that results. The duck confit comes with a mushroom reduction sauce and spaetzle, or crispy thick pasta noodles, that soaks up the sauce and duck flavor perfectly. Duck is likely one of my favorite meats to order at restaurants, and Petit Louis' dish was outstanding.

My mother loved her steak frites, especially the accompanying pommes frites. We all loved the dijon mustard on the table, dipping the whole wheat sourdough loaf or frites into it. I usually hate mustard, and I loved this stuff.

With our meal, we enjoyed a bottle of French red wine from the Languedoc region. It was one of less expensive bottles on the menu, being $44 if you can believe it. My parents liked it, but I found the flavor a bit diluted and weak. I recommend buying the wine by the glass, and choosing a nice Bordeaux or Cotes de Rhone. Savor it slowly!

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Grab some Lunch in Fells

My mom visited Baltimore last Friday, I thought where to take her? Immediately I thought of a new hot-dog joint on Broadway called Stuggy's. This place had won acclaim for its all-beef, savory gourmet dogs and I was dying to try it.

Fells, with its colonel style row houses and harbor backdrop make for a picturesque setting for an al-fresco lunch. If you want to impress a visitor in town, I recommend taking them to Fells for lunch, especially on a nice day.

Stuggy's seating is extrmely limited, with about 4 tiny bar stools, that you're better off finding somewhere outside to eat. Even on a hot day, there's usually enough benches in the shade. Stuggy's offers an impressive menu, featuring traditional all-beef dogs, bison sausage dogs and turkey sliders as well.

Go for one of the specialty dogs or sausages - such as the Carolina Slaw Dog, which piles Stuggy's chili and cole slaw inside a dog that's been split open. The chili is excellent, complete with generous portions of beans and meat, and the cole slaw, well, I'm not sure why they choose to call it "Carolina slaw" but that's beside the point. Disregard the bizarre purplish appearance of the cole slaw and just eat it, it's actually pretty tasty. Also try the "Motor City Coney" dog (pictured left), with chili, melted cheddar cheese and diced raw onions (which I could do without but that's no problem). Nothing is better than melted cheese on meat, nothing.

After lunch, you can enjoy ice cream at Maggie Moo's, gelato at Pitango or frozen yogurt at Mr. Yogato - take your pick. I haven't tried Mr. Yogato yet, but the place is popular for its apparently healthy, pro-biotic enriched frozen yogurt. You can also add various toppings to it, such as fresh fruit, granola and other less healthy options, such as peanut butter cups, brownies and even Baltimore's own Berger cookie crumbs!

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Classy in College? No way...

13.5% Wine Bar in Hampden makes for a sophisticated, classy evening (which is often hard to come by in college at least). I went with my roommate and a few girls from my sorority last night. Located on the upper end of W. 36th Street along the “Avenue,” the wine bar’s modern, low-lit interior set the mood for the evening. Developing an affinity for wine while abroad in France last semester, I insisted on ordering the wine. The menu features wines by the glass and bottle, organized by price and type. Wine can also be ordered in flights, which allows you to sample three (3 oz. each) different wines of a similar breed (such as French wines). We decided on 2 bottles to start, a white and a red. I ordered the red for the table, impressing the waiter with questions like, “describe the aroma of this wine,” “does it have a strong aftertaste?” “which one is the most fruity?” He gave me a funny look, and recommended an Italian wine over the French wine I had picked out. I decided to go with his advice, and I’m glad I did.

The red, a Codici Montepulcianao from Italy (means nothing to me) was light and refreshing, with an aftertaste of fruitiness, very nice for the summer. It’s not horribly expensive either - $22. We ordered a Pinot Grigio for our white, but honestly I was so focused on the red, I didn’t have a chance to have more than half a glass of this one. Everyone who drank it seemed to enjoy it, though.

We also ordered a plate of 5 different cheeses, wine’s essential companion. Our waiter brought us selections such as goat cheese, cheddar, brie and others (I can’t remember their names), as well as a plate of toast to eat them on. If you’re going to order wine, you have to order cheese – the cheese was outstanding, all of it. Paired with the wine, it was divine.

13.5% was my first wine bar experience in Baltimore, and I loved it. All of the wines on the menu are available for purchase, minus the $8 corkage fee too. I couldn’t leave without buying a bottle of the red, either.

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