Local Food Finds

Fresh Fruit, Bitty & Beau’s Re-Opening, Mother of All Markets, AYCE Seafood, and Colonial Cocktails

Your weekly dose of some cool food and dining finds around town!

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All photos courtesy of Sarah Amyot

What do you get when you cross a watermelon and coconut? Coco-melon! IYKYK – shout out to all the toddler moms out there. All jokes aside, if you’re looking for fresh fruit for a great price, head down Forest Drive in Annapolis to the local fruit stand in the parking lot of El Rincon and a coin laundry, across the street from the old Annapolis Seafood Market. Under two blue tents are containers of fresh cut watermelon, yellow mangoes, and pineapple; nanches (like small golden cherries), ciruelas (like small green plums), and peeled small green mangoes. If you like sweet, sour, and spicy flavors, I recommend getting the fruit street style, where they add chamoy, tajin, Valentina hot sauce, salt, and fresh lime juice. In the back of the pickup truck is where the magic happens – just ask for fresh coconut water. They will literally machete a fresh coconut and cut a hole to pour the coconut water into a container, scoop out the coconut flesh, and then hand you a straw. The fruit ranges from $5 to $10, depending on what you choose. The stand is cash only and they’re usually open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Local favorite, Bitty & Beau’s is back open after being closed from the floods! If you didn’t know, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is a human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop, where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are valued in the workplace. It’s a place where diversity isn’t just appreciated, it’s celebrated. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee proudly employs 400+ individuals with disabilities nationwide, in 18 shops across 11 states (including here, in downtown Annapolis, MD!). Oh, and they also serve tasty frozen hot chocolate. Be sure to place a pin on the map wall where you’re from!
Heroes’ Mother of All Markets is happening this Sunday, April 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For three hours, you get to shop and support over 37 local vendors, featuring the best food, drinks, treats, art, jewelry, and home décor our community has to offer. Highlights include Bontanas Fajardo’s tamales and queso; Phil’s Dills Gourmet Pickles’ fire garlic pickles; Rooted’s vegan hummus and pressed juices; Coastal Canyon Seafood’s fresh catches; Chef Big Money’s apple pies; specialty cocktails featuring Cane Collective mixers and Grey Wolf Spirits; brews from Pherm Brewing; and more! You can also purchase a $10 raffle ticket (or more) to enter into the Mother of All Raffles. You’ll support the Chesapeake K-9 Fund and may be one of five lucky winners to share the loot, ranging from adventures, home services, art, jewelry, food, gift cards, and more.
AYCE (All-You-Can-Eat) Seafood (is back)! Pit Boys has five AYCE options to satisfy your seafood cravings: 1) steamed crabs; 2) steamed crabs, steamed shrimp, and corn on the cob; 3) steamed crabs or steamed shrimp, fried chicken, hush puppies, and coleslaw; 4) steamed shrimp, corn on the cob, and hush puppies; and 5) Alaskan snow crab legs and hush puppies. There’s a two hour limit, while supplies last!
- P.S. If the name didn’t give it away, they also sell delicious pit beef and BBQ.
A good drink is crucial for morale! Historic London Town & Gardens is hosting monthly “Colonial and Cocktails”, where you can make and enjoy historical drinks and learn about colonial drinking culture. Tickets for these events are $25 for members and $33 for non-members.
- Wednesday, May 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. = Sample drinks that were available to sailors and soldiers during Colonial times, and learn how to mix the naval classic, Gorg, and a fruity Sangaree.
  - Note: Thursday, May 16 is already sold out
- June 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. = Find out what made some drinks a treat for the top of society and others denounced for destroying the nation. Learn to concoct the elite and exclusive Fish House Punch and stir up the corrupter of the poor and unfortunate, the Gin and Tonic.