Baltimore’s underground dinners with Chef Beej Flamholz[classic article]

If you’ve been reading about the trend in chic urban centers of underground dinners and wondered if there’s something like that in Baltimore, wonder no more! Chef Beej Flamholz has resumed his underground multi-course tasting dinners. You don’t know the location until 48 hours ahead of time. They’re always in interesting, unknown spaces in the area. This past dinner was at the new Morgan Stanley building at the edge of Fells Point. Tickets run out quickly and it’s BYOB. Live music plays in the background. I lucked out this time sitting at a grand table with several people from France: they had exquisite wines.

Chef Beej uses the best seasonal and in many cases, local, produce and proteins. With the underground format, the chef is not tethered to some tiresome restaurant concept . . . even throughout the meal, there are fusions of cuisines and styles. Chesapeake, Cajun, Italian, Southern all meld together in one gourmetdinner!

Here was the menu from the latest dinner that I attended:

Duck Fat Chips
Cherry Glen Goat Fondue – Chives

Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Maryland Crab Hushpuppy

Forest Mushroom and Cauliflower “Risotto” – Maplebrooke Ricotta Parmigiano-Reggiano | Winter Truffle

Smoked Duck Confit Gumbo

Braised Local Kale | Crispy Duck “Cracklins”

Spicy Catoctin Mountain Farm Lamb Meatballs
Marcona Almond Romesco | Manchego Micro Basil

Pan-Seared Local Rockfish

Fennel, Local Apple and Heirloom Radish

Ciabatta Panzanella

Coturnix Pastured Quail

Brioche | Foie Gras | Rosemary Butter

Bourbon Glazed Hereford Babyback Ribs

Sweet Potato Cake | Dinosaur Spinach

Apple Cider and Ham Hock Jus | Bib

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Deconstructed Pumpkin Pie