Fells Point Baltimore

14
Sep
2017

Night Brunch at Modern Cook Shop

Brunch is definitely my favorite meal on the weekends. I get to sleep in late and wake with the anticipation that breakfast food and mimosas are on the horizon. Even though it’s the highlight of my weekend, I can’t always make it to brunch because like most people I have errands to run and obligations to fulfill. Scrolling through Instagram I was super excited to see a post from Baltimore entrepreneur, Jason Bass , about a new Night Brunch series he was hosting with Martell Cognac at Modern Cook Shop. I thought this was a great concept for those who aren’t able to enjoy brunch on the weekends and for those who want something different to do on a weeknight. Modern Cook Shop, per their website, is a “restaurant, market and bar, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

I made reservations on Open Table for the event because it was strongly suggested and I’ve never been to Modern Cook Shop so I didn’t really know what the set-up would be. When I arrived to the event the hostess and staff were very friendly and accommodating. My friend was already there waiting for me so they showed me to my table. I must say, Martell sure knows how to brand their events! The long tables were set with large bottles of Martell, menus and the signature Martell blue pillows. The price of brunch was $40.00 plus tax and gratuity and that included bottomless mimosas and one entrée item. The menu had 13 entrée items and that I definitely liked because I love variety. The options included Blueberry Waffles, Traditional Two Eggs any style with a side of meat, Breakfast Sandwich, Omelet, Peach Cobbler Scrapple, Corn Cakes, Breakfast Scramble, Corned Beef Hash, MCS Burger, Cuban Sandwich and Chicken & Biscuits. In addition to the fixed entrees, there was another menu with A la Carte items that included small salads, toasts, side items and Martell specialty cocktails from the bar.

I ordered the Chicken and Biscuits, my friend ordered the Breakfast Scramble and we both wanted something savory so we ordered the Ricotta & Jam Toast. Normally with breakfast chicken and biscuits I’ve seen it served with a sausage gravy, but this brown gravy was a pleasant delicious change. The Ricotta toast I also liked because it was made with rye toast. The house made ricotta was perfectly soft but I do wish the jam was a bit sweeter. I sat next to the kitchen o I got to snap photos of other menu items as they were coming out.

House made scrapple over rye bread with soft egg

In addition to brunch and booze the event also included beats by DJ Impulse – it was essentially a brunch party with music and I must say I had a nice time. I used to be able to party into the wee hours on the weekday but not anymore and at the Night Brunch I got to eat, drink, two-step and socialize all by 10:00 pm. It was a mature crowd and there were some very attractive men at this event, OooKaaayy.! (insert emoji eyes).

And always follow my foodie and cocktail adventures on social media …

17
Dec
2015

Brunch Review: Waterfront Hotel

categories: RESTAURANTS

Fells Point is definitely one of my favorite neighborhoods to enjoy a great Sunday brunch. Last Sunday I visited Waterfront Hotel (1710 Thames Street, Baltimore MD). With a name like Waterfront Hotel, you would think it was a hotel, but it isn’t. It was once a private residence in the 1700’s and a hotel at one point in the 1800’s.

I’ve been to Waterfront Hotel before but only for happy hour and dinner. I remember them having a different food special for each day of the week, I like variety and that shows commitment.

I arrived early at 10:30 am and the restaurant wasn’t open yet. The staff was arranging the outdoor seating and bustling about inside taking care of daily preparations. I parked outside and waited for 30 minutes with the other patrons that had arrived early. Once inside my friend and I were greeted promptly by a friendly waitress that took our drink orders and brought out a fresh batch of bottomless mimosas.

The bottomless menu consists of bottomless mimosas, bloodies, screwdrivers or Natty Boh and the cost is $10.00 per person.

The brunch menu has many options – omelettes, benedicts, sandwiches, salads, bar snacks, entrees and breakfast sides. When in doubt I tend to go for an omelette. My omelette of choice was the Mexican Omelette -$13.00 (house-made chorizo, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and chipotle salsa). It’s served with toast, tots or grits, bacon or sausage. I ordered the tots and sausage option, chorizo and sausage links…double meat, I love it! What I loved most about my omelette was the size, it was fat and full like an omelette should be.

My friend ordered a breakfast bowl with and over easy egg, potatoes, peppers, onions and crabmeat – $14.00.

We also had a taste for something sweet, so we ordered the Stuffed French Toast -$12.00 (cinnamon cream cheese, warm maple berry compote, with a choice of sausage or bacon). My friend doesn’t eat pork or red meat, so we ordered bacon for me 🙂 More Meat!

The French Toast wasn’t actually stuffed with the cinnamon cream cheese, it was spread between the two slices. It was yummy and different because I was expecting it to be stuffed inside the toast slices.

Brunch at Waterfront Hotel begins at 11:00 am, make sure you get there early to get a seat because the place fills up quickly. When we left around 2:30 pm and it was standing room only, some patrons were standing in the front area eating their food.

Waterfront Hotel also hosts live music on the upper level. All live shows start at 10:00 pm and there is never a cover charge. For more information on events of the menu please visit http://www.waterfronthotel.us/

02
Jan
2014

Darbar

categories: RESTAURANTS

A hankering for Indian food and a coincidental suggestion from a friend recently led me to Darbar located on Aliceanna St in the heart of Fells Point. Just shy of one year in business (opened in April 2011), this quaint restaurant is slowly picking up momentum as the newest and best in traditional Indian cuisine in Baltimore.

It’s pretty hard to overlook Darbar while driving on Aliceanna St; it’s oddly located in the middle of a residential neighborhood and the exterior resembles a city storefront more than a restaurant. Colorful holiday lights and bright white spotlights border the windows at the front entrance of the restaurant, however once inside, the lights are dim and the mood was subdued, an immense difference from the outer appearance of the restaurant. Traditional Indian artwork adorns the walls and pristine white tablecloths are neatly draped on every table beneath properly placed silverware and glassware. The restaurant has two main dining areas, one larger than the other, separated by a single large arch doorway.

The hostess greets my party of two at the door and we are escorted to the larger, more populated dining area and seated in a quiet corner. Our waiter dressed in formal black pants, white top, and a bowtie, strikes a match to light the dinner candle in the center of our table. As I looked around I noticed pairs of patrons and I understand why… low lights + candles = romance. The waiter quickly brings out the complimentary papadums served hot with an assortment of tamarind chutney, mint chutney, and onion chutney. Papadums, for those who may not know, is a thin wafer-like flatbread with the texture of a cracker. The papadums was very colorful with visible sesame seeds and grains fried into the dough, this makes for a healthy texture and compliment to anchor the chutney. The tamarind chutney was especially delicious with its red color and unique sweet & sour flavor; often called “ketchup of the east” it gave a tangy kick to the papadums and reminded me of a slightly upscale version of chips and salsa.

On to the main course, we stuck with the basics of Middle Eastern cuisine and ordered naan ($3.95) curry shrimp ($14.95), and chicken tikka masala ($14.95) served with rice and peas. The curry shrimp was the correct consistency of spicy; enough spice to please my palette, but not too spicy or overpowering. The highlight of my meal was definitely the chicken tikka masala, this dish absolutely blew my mind – it was just that good. The tikka masala sauce had a smooth buttery sweet flavor that reminded me of southern cooking or comfort food. Not all Indian restaurants make their sauce that sweet, but I personally enjoyed it. The servings were very large, enough for myself and my friend to eat and still have leftovers to take home.

The service our waiter provided was great, and management also checked in on our table to confirm the dining experience was going well. As we left Darbar around 9:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night, the dining area was full of patrons and that’s certainly a good sign that this restaurant is doing something right.