The Menu: Baltimore Hometown Guide -- The Food Market
Once upon a time, before I started giving the interwebz the gift of my writing for free (you're welcome), I wrote the odd restaurant review here and there for some local publications. One time, one of my pieces was deemed "too mean" to publish because the higher-ups were worried about offending potential advertisers (hello food poisoning, goodbye journalistic integrity).
Call me an asshole, but this is a fact about myself I happen to be immensely proud of. I tell you this so that you know that when I give you restaurant recommendations, it's because I genuinely like the food, paragon of journalistic honor that I am. (Though let's be real, if ANY LOCAL RESTAURANTS WANT TO GIVE ME A MEAL TO DO SOME REVIEWS ON HERE, TWEET US A HOLLER, I'LL BE HAPPY TO EAT FOR FREE, AND I'LL EVEN 'GRAM THE CRAP OUT OF IT TOO.)
Something I've noticed in the last few years is that Baltimore has been having a bit of a culinary renaissance. In particular, the neighborhood of Hampden on the outer edge of the city has some particularly great spots. We've written about Hampden before...it's the type of neighborhood that brings you such gems as this...
Charm City...always charming. Buy this for me here.
...this...
Um. Harsh. Don't buy this for me. Give a shit for me, OK?
..and of course, this...
So Hampden is this weird parallel universe made of equal parts townies and hipsters, vintage and pawn shops and upscale boutiques, pretentious coffee shops with $10 drinks and really great hipster coffee shops that carry almond milk and have decor that says "Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks" (I'm looking at you -- with adoring eyes -- Common Ground).
Having had two jobs in Hampden, I've spent a decent amount of time there and the restaurant scene just keeps getting better and better, which leads me to this post's guest of honor -- The Food Market.
Over the last few years, the Food Market has become one of my favorite spots -- not just in Hampden, but in Baltimore. The website says they focus on "approachable, serious comfort food," and I really can't think of a better way to describe it. It's become one of my go-to spots; I've visited for one of my birthdays, a pre-wedding brunch, and I even took Jen here for brunch when she was home for her annual Thanksgiving visit.
There are a number of things about Food Market that give it an edge in my opinion. For one thing, they have brunch on Fridays (#bowdown). For another, even though the comfort food is "serious," the Food Market doesn't take itself too seriously, as evidenced by quips on the menu like this:
Amen, Chef. Amen. I'll be sure to repeat that someday too.
Most of all the food and drinks are just fucking GOOD. They put chocolate in their iced coffee and have blueberry muffin, pancake, and french toast BREAKFAST SHOTS. The dinner menu is divided up into "Little," "Small," "Big," and "In Between" portions while the brunch menu is divided up as "Funchies," "Brunchies," and "Lunchies."
I mean...
As evidenced by my love for tapas and my extreme enthusiasm over the mini food at Cammy's wedding, I am all about small, shareable dishes. This is how you get to try all the foods, not get stuffed, go back for seconds (and maybe thirds), and THEN land yourself in a food coma. #LIFEGOALS, amirite?
So this weekend when I ventured out into the hurricane that wasn't for brunch at the Food Market, I thought I should share the tales of the noms there with you. Lucky for you, I have pictures of my pre-HTJL trips there because if iPhones existed in 1985, I would have come out of the womb compulsively taking photos of food. Enjoy the mouthwatering 'grams, and don't be too jealous!
-Staci
