Local Food Finds

Gourmet Toast, Dim Sum, Drag Brunch, Winery Happy Hour, and Ben’s Chili Bowl

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

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Mark your calendars! A fresh new restaurant is opening under Target in the Annapolis Town Center. Originating in DC, Toastique is a boutique gourmet toast and juice bar, offering seasonal, fresh food; responsibly sourced products; and most importantly, good vibes. It’s perfect for an early on-the-go breakfast, corporate lunch, or post-sweat session fuel up. Head to their grand opening this Saturday, May 11 at 8 a.m. – the first 100 guests will receive $50 reward dollars with any purchase. See ya there!
DYK (Did You Know) that May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month? Families across the nation will be recognizing and celebrating the contributions of AANHPIs to the history, culture, and achievements of the U.S. One way to take part is by experiencing different Asian foods and supporting small businesses, like Mai Dragon in Hanover, who serves delicious dim sum fare every day. Dim sum is a traditional Chinese meal (Cantonese to be specific) served during brunch hours, made up of small plates accompanied by tea, family, and friends. On weekends at Mai Dragon, they serve food off push carts in round metal steamer baskets and tabulate your order using stamps. It’s an experience everyone must try at least once! A dim sum menu can be quite overwhelming – here’s some dishes on my “must-order” list: Chrysanthemum tea, shumai (pork, shrimp, and veggie dumpling), har gau (shrimp dumplings), charsiu bao (bbq pork buns), har cheung fun (steamed rice noodles rolled around shrimp), wu gok (deep fried taro dumpling), bo lo bao (baked buns with a sweet yolk cream filling), Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce, and the soy sauce chow mein. Don’t forget to dip all of these in soy sauce and chili oil!

The Annapolis Pride Parade is June 1 – keep Pride going at The Graduate Hotel’s Trophy Room with a special performance by Miss Annapolis Pride 2024, Jalah Nicole, and her friends at Drag Brunch! The event starts at 10 a.m. with a full breakfast buffet and the main event begins at 12 p.m. Enjoy $5 mimosas by the glass, $25 mimosa pitchers, and specialty cocktails in partnership with Absolut Vodka. Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. A portion of ticket sales will benefit Annapolis Pride. Don’t worry about parking because it’s free for all show-goers with validation.
What pairs nicely with warm weather? Happy hour wine outdoors! Starting in May, The Vineyards at Doden are offering Friday evening happy hour at their pavilion. Dodon wines will be available for purchase by the glass, flight, and bottle; along with a snack menu for on-site ordering. Guests can BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic). The pavilion has an outdoor bar, vintage metal tables, and Adirondack chairs for use. Happy hour is weather dependent, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made for up to 12 guests, including kiddos and dogs (on a leash)!
- For Saturday and Sunday reservations check out Weekend Wine Club member hours.
Have you ever found yourself wandering down U Street in DC and suddenly sitting in a booth at Ben’s Chili Bowl enjoying a delicious half smoke with chili? For all the Ben’s Chili Bowl lovers, you don’t have to drive to DC anymore! Just head to your local Giant store to their prepared food section and hot bar for their turkey chili, chili con carne, chili sauce, and the infamous half smokes (original and spicy).
- Fun fact: Ben’s Chili Bowl has been a pillar of the DC community since 1958.