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Tom Noonan, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore, www.visitmybaltimore.com
My favourite spots in Baltimore:
Top three restaurants
1. Charleston is one of Baltimore’s finest restaurants, led by Chef Cindy Wolf, a James Beard Foundation nominee. The cuisine is a great mix of French fundamentals and the low country cooking of the South. The restaurant features a prix fixe menu allowing guests to choose between three to six courses. The best part, desserts don’t count as a separate course and are always included. The restaurant also features a 600-plus label wine list.
2. If it’s fresh seafood you crave, don’t miss Kali’s Court in historic Fell’s Point. This upscale Mediterranean restaurant is perfect for a business dinner or romantic evening. They are known for their grilled whole fish, but you really can’t go wrong with any of their menu items. A special feature is the restaurant’s outdoor garden.
3. Then there is Italian food. Aldo’s in Baltimore’s Little Italy is both beautifully appointed and deliciously satisfying. The southern-influenced Italian cuisine features fresh, seasonal ingredients. One of my favorite dishes is the Wild Boar Ragu. Private dining areas include a below-ground private Tuscan Wine Cellar.
Top three bars
1. Slainte in Fell’s Point is the perfect place to drink a pint and watch a soccer (futbol) match. The bar features matches on Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer Plus, Gol TV, Premium Sports, UEFA Channels and MLS Direct Kick on 10 flat-screen televisions. Daily specials feature both drink and food discounts, and happy hour is offered Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
2. Mother’s Federal Hill Grille is the perfect neighborhood bar. Located in the heart of Baltimore’s historic Federal Hill neighborhood, Mother’s is a multigenerational hangout by day and great watering hole at night. The restaurant is also serious about food. If you are feeling adventurous, try the Heart Attack on a Plate: a plump, beer-battered burger stuffed with cheddar and then deep-fried.
3. Pazo never fails to wow guests as they walk in the door. The bar and restaurant are simply gorgeous. The bar at Pazo features comfortable lounge seating and great options for tapas.
Top three hotspots
1. From free outdoor concerts to comedy performance, the Power Plant Live! entertainment complex has everything you need for a perfect night on the town. It’s a one-stop shop for dining and retail. Catch a comedy show at the Baltimore Comedy Factory, a live band at Rams Head Live! or spend the night checking out the 10 bars that range from piano bar to lounge.
2. Woodberry Kitchen is a beautiful, cozy farm-to-table restaurant located in an old foundry in Clipper Mill near Hampden. The husband and wife owners place a major emphasis on seasonal ingredients from local growers, organic meats and sustainable agriculture. It’s very popular so you need to plan ahead, but the planning is well worth it. Mouthwatering menu items include the Wild Rockfish with organic mushroom gratin and the Cider-Brined Pork Chop with fresh greens and new potatoes
3. Located in Baltimore’s newest waterfront neighborhood of Harbor East, Cinghiale, Italian for wild boar, celebrates Italian cuisine. There are two styles of dining within the restaurant – a lively Enoteca, with a beautiful wine bar, or the more formal Osteria dining room. Cinghiale was recently named one of the best Italian restaurants in town by local residents.
www.visitmybaltimore.com