Travel filled me up this year—Budapest, Berlin, Vancouver, Kyoto—but so did cranberry pecan bread from Ovenbird, Italian subs from Scittino’s Italian Marketplace, and many a gin martini with green olives from Dutch Courage and Petit Louis. In these turbulent times, when the world has sometimes felt tilted on its axis, communing with friends and family over a great meal remains one of life’s surest pleasures.
I’ve covered Baltimore’s food scene for more than a decade, yet it still feels new. That’s because it’s endlessly dynamic: new openings, familiar places reinventing themselves, and cooking that follows the seasons. I love talking to chefs, watching them work, and eating everywhere—from bars and docks to gardens and even parking lots (as I did while downing chicken gyros at Aleko’s in Middletown with my oldest son).
This was the year that comfort food soothed my soul (and stomach) and made everything feel just a little bit lighter. Here are 10 of my most memorable bites.
Dining and Cooking