Tom Noonan
President and CEO
Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association
What are three of the most quintessential dining experiences you would recommend for groups in Baltimore?
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Crab Feast: Perhaps nothing says Baltimore more than a traditional crab feast. While the Baltimore crab feast is a classic, variations in presentations can fit any occasion. Reserve a table, a room, a dockside deck at one of the many local crab houses or a picnic grove in a park and hunker down over a steaming bushel of spicy crustaceans. Maryland crabs are most plentiful in summer and early fall, and a traditional feast includes corn on the cob and ice-cold beers. Some also feature Maryland fried chicken for non-crabbers. A dinner cruise and visit to the National Aquarium in Baltimore is a great pairing with a crab feast.
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Farm-to-Table Dining: Many of Baltimore’s charming eateries today provide patrons with fresh farm-to-table cuisine paired with hometown hospitality. Derived from the sustainable kitchen concept, these restaurants serve the best seasonal ingredients, all locally grown and cooked with deep-rooted Chesapeake tradition. Woodberry Kitchen is one such restaurant that focuses on delighting its guests with traditional cooking and ingredients of the Chesapeake region. The menu features the best seasonal products from local growers with an emphasis on organic meats and sustainable agriculture. Mouth-watering menu items include wild rockfish with organic mushroom gratin and cider-brined pork chops with fresh greens and new potatoes.
- Lexington Market: The world’s largest, continuously running market for more than six generations, Lexington Market is regarded by many as a place that shows the personality of the "real" Baltimore, as opposed to the more generic and tourist-oriented attractions found at nearby Inner Harbor. Lexington Market has many shops featuring deli sandwiches, friend chicken, Chinese food, pizza and gyros. Faidley’s Seafood, however, is perhaps the best-known eatery in the market. It’s known for its crab cakes. Shortbread cookies topped with fudge, sold by DeBaufre Bakeries and known simply as "Berger Cookies," are a Baltimore favorite.