Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore

Went this weekend to one of the new hot restaurants in Baltimore, Woodberry Kitchen, located in the renovated Clipper Mill area of town. The restaurant specializes in local and seasonal food of the Chesapeake region.

We started with a snack of popcorn with butter and sea salt. The item was simple, but just right.
I also got a soup of stinging nettle as a starter. The flavor was interesting- nice- reminded me of the taste of fresh spinach (before it is cooked). It was light and delicious.

My date, Kelly, got the vegetable with dumplings entree. It had some seasonal asparagus, mushrooms, bok choy, and nice delicious dumplings.

For my entree, I got one of the specials, braised lamb shoulder with bread pudding and an orange rhubarb compote. The lamb was cooked so it was moist and flavorful, and the bread pudding was a pleasant side to the dish.

For dessert, we shared a chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream- again simple, but just right to end a great meal.
I look forward to going back to try more items from their broad menu including flatbreads and oysters.


2010 Clipper Park Road, No. 126
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 464-8000

Locopops, Chapel Hill NC

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, I visited the amazing Locopops, a local chain of gourmet Mexican popsicles called paletas that had a writeup in Food & Wine last year.
They specialize in two kinds of popsicles, paletas de aqua made with water/juice and paletas de crema made with milk. They use local organically grown ingredients in many of the flavors.
When I went one day, we tried two of the aqua flavors: pomegranate tangerine & mango hibiscus. Both were really good, but I definitely favored the mango hibiscus which was a great flavor combination.

I was compelled to try more Locopops, so on the following day, I went back, and this time, I went for a crema flavor, chocolate curry coconut. Again, the flavor combination was delicious.
There were numerous other interesting flavors available when we went: apricot chipotle, mojito, thin mint, pineapple basil, and Mexican chocolate. But alas, no time to try them all on this trip.
What can I say, "I'm loco for Locopops".