Foodie Road Trip

Baltimore, Charlotte, Atlanta & New Orleans!

Road Trip Alert!! Me & my first born son (who also happens to be a budding foodie) recently hit the road to close out his summer home from college. We had a blast exploring Baltimore (where I went to culinary school), Charlotte (his birth city), Atlanta & New Orleans! There’s no better way to experience a city than through its food.  It’s more than a meal but a glimpse into the history, culture & local flavors! 

BALTIMORE

Charm City holds a huge piece of my heart! Not only is it the first city that me & my husband lived in after leaving NYC, it’s also the city where I became a chef. We fell in love with the historical & walkable neighborhoods, the Inner Harbor and of course the food scene, which is heavy in seafood due to its coastal location. Let’s get right to the food! 2 words…. Blue Crab! This crab can be found along the East & Gulf Coasts of the U.S. but the largest population is in the Chesapeake Bay. Crabcakes are on almost every menu (expect to see my version of this Maryland staple soon) but our first stop was L.P. Steamers. It's a casual place located in the neighborhood of Locust Point & it’s where we brought everyone who came to visit us in Balto. It has the vibe of a corner bar mixed with the best steamed crab that you can find in the area. We indulged in local oysters & a pile of crab we could barely finish! Yum! 

The next day we walked from our hotel in Fells Point & explored the Inner Harbor. We visited the Aquarium (outside of San Francisco, my favorite National Aquarium) & worked our way over to Federal Hill, the neighborhood we lived in for 3 years. One of our favorite things about this area was the walkability to so many local food options. Fed Hill is home to the Cross Street Market. If you know anything about the city, then you have heard of the neighborhood markets. Baltimore is home to the oldest public market system in the US. Cross Street was blocks from our apartment & housed various places to grab a meal. (Think sushi, seafood, pizza, sandwiches, etc…) but you could also grab groceries, visit a fish monger, deli, butcher or local merchant. It was a great place to meet people, chat with locals & always high energy. We went for lunch & realized that it had been completely renovated. If you had never been there, you would love it. For me, the reno took away some of the old school charm I once adored. That said….of course we found a place for some amazing East Coast Oysters @The Watershed) & then grabbed some authentic NY Style pizza (@Pizzadijoey)! We trekked a few miles back to the hotel to research where we would be having dinner! (Did I say we love food??) 

I really wanted Owen to see more of the Fells Point Neighborhood, so that's where we headed for dinner.  It is dripping with charm & visual history. Picture waterfront cobblestone streets, gas lamps, taverns & a maritime vibe. It’s home to The Broadway Market which has been around since 1786. Unfortunately, it was closed by the time we got there, so we consoled ourselves with fresh sushi! (@Sushibruce Ya) Originally, we had planned to walk back through Little Italy for dessert, but we were exhausted & planning to be up early for our next city…so we decided on sleep over food. Honestly, I wish we had time for another day in Balto.  We didn’t have time to see Mt. Vernon. Another amazing neighborhood, boasting its own marketplace, restaurants & is home to the original Washington Monument. We missed the Lexington Market, which is the country’s longest continuously operating public market, open in Balto for 230 years!!  I had also hoped to catch an Oriole’s game with my baseball-obsessed son, but sadly the O’s were away. It’s one of my favorite stadiums with some of the best food offerings I have tried! Not to worry though, we caught another game along our travels! 

CHARLOTTE

We arrived in the Queen City on a Friday evening. Our time in Charlotte would be short. We had only 2 goals in mind. (1 -) Get Carolina BBQ (2 -) Show Owen the city he was born in & see the first house he ever lived in. (OK, that was my goal) We had a favorite place for BBQ when we lived here & I was excited to see that the place was still thriving 18 years later. Enter Midwood Smokehouse. There are several locations around Charlotte now, but we checked out the location in Plaza Midwood which is located closest to EADO, which is where we used to live. For those friends from Texas, where BBQ is a way of life,  Carolina BBQ is equally revered but different.  Carolina BBQ is focused on pork. Eastern NC has a thin, tangy, vinegar based sauce where as in Western NC, you will find a thicker, tomato-ketchup based sauce. SC focuses on a mustard based sauce referred to as “Carolina Gold”. I love them all! Living in TX, BBQ enthusiasts frown upon adding sauce. I’m very much a condiment queen so this realization when we first arrived was rough! (I had to hide my sauce addiction from certain friends!) No need to hide in Charlotte! Various sauces are brought to the table with your meal & I couldn’t have been happier. 

ATLANTA

Quick trip in! Quick trip out! We didn’t get to experience much food because we were able to score Braves tickets!! We had such a fun night @ Truist Park. The stadium is about 10 miles NW of downtown Atlanta. We watched the Braves beat the Marlins 8-6 in the first game that a woman was an umpire! (How cool!) We also watched a few home runs!! (See the video) Followed the game with some jalapeno margaritas & a great pizza @EATaliano Kitchen & Bar, located at the Battery which surrounds the park.  Even if you don’t have tickets to the game, you can find a restaurant or bar to watch just steps outside the stadium! So much fun! 

NEW ORLEANS

We have been to the Big Easy many times over the years but this time I was so excited to snag reservations @Hotel Monteleone since we were in town on a Sunday. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the historic Hotel Monteleone has been around since the 1880’s. The Hotel is home to the famous Carousel Bar & is absolutely beautiful. Fun fact, the hotel is known to be haunted by the ghost of a young boy who wanders the 14th floor. Little Maurice was staying at the hotel with his parents when he developed a sudden fever and passed away at only 3. His mom would visit the hotel annually in hopes of reconnecting with his spirit. Over the years, guests have seen little Maurice standing at the foot of their bed. (For the record, we did NOT stay on the 14th floor!) 

After checking in, we headed to @Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar for our favorites! Typically, when visiting Nola, the line here pours out onto the street. This evening we went early & slipped right in to devour fresh & chargrilled oysters, crab fingers & gumbo. If you are in town, you have to wash it down with a hurricane, of course. After meandering the French Quarter for a while, we wrapped up our night @ the Carousel Bar with a martini & bbq shrimp! Yum!

Before heading back to TX the next day, we had to get a beignet fix @ the infamous @Cafe Du Monde. 

Expect more “Routey Foodie” blogs, exploring great food in fun places! Maybe I’ll start in Chicago Or Boston or Seattle….and meander back home to HTX! Cheers Friends!  

TINNED FISH! The Pantry Staple is suddenly Chic!

You heard it here first (Or maybe Tik Tok beat me to it!) Tinned fish is IN now! You know that little can of sardines or anchovies collecting dust in your pantry because you were afraid to add it to your recipe??  It's ready to take center stage! We’re in the middle of a full blown tin fish renaissance & honestly, I’m here for it all!

What’s the scoop?

It’s not just convenient, though yes, you can eat it from the tin in your pajamas! (and I have!) there’s more though….

• Sustainability - small fish = smaller environmental impact! Many of the brands i love are focused on ocean- friendly sourcing

• Serious Nutrition & Yummy Flavor Combos - Omega 3’s, protein, calcium & some super delicious flavor combos (think spicy peppers & legit olive oil)

• Fancy Way to Serve - you can pop a can & eat at your island for lunch or create a jaw dropping board with toast points, french butter, a drizzle of oil, flakey sea salt & feel effortlessly European!

• Shelf Stable Goodness! No fridge, no worries! These tins are ready for the next major storm but can also be fun @ your next dinner party! 

OK, you are intrigued! (I hope!) How do you eat the goods without feeling like you are eating your parents 1950’s sardines smashed in a tiny can?? 

• Create a board…. 2 or 3 tins with crusty sour dough, french butter, flaky salt, pickled onion & pickles

• Anchovy Tip…melt a few in a pan of olive oil, add roasted veg or your favorite sauce & toss with pasta!

Which ones to try?

Some of my favorite brands! Check them out! (I will circle back & report on a few more as I try them!) 

• Fishwife - super trendy, great flavor combos, & female founded! Yah! 

• Natural Catch - simple, varying flavors, huge chunks of tuna

• Ton Ninno - Wow! Beautiful packaging, large filets of tuna, & lovely olive oil infusions of flavor

• Scout - All wild caught, offers so many fish (still searching for the lobster!), fantastic flavor combos with different fish & shellfish

My Final Thoughts….(there will be more as I taste a few more)

Tinned fish is the glow up your pantry didn’t know it needed! It’s healthy, tasty & oddly elegant! So, go ahead & pop it open, pour a glass of something cold & savor the briny, salty & yes, let’s say bougie deliciousness!

Cheers friends!!