There’s nothing like understanding the culture of a city through its local food. With its close proximity to seafood and an array of cultural cuisine present, Baltimore’s culinary scene is equally unique and thriving. The Charm City Food Tour is a perfect way to get in depth knowledge of the city through the eyes of a local tour guide, while sampling some of the best quality cuisine in town. The Charm City Food Tour offers tours in certain neighborhoods, including Fells Point, Little Italy, Federal Hills and Mount Vernon.

The first stop on the Fells Point walking tour is at Ze Mean Bean Cafe. Serving traditional Eastern European cuisine with a wine bar, this welcoming cafe in the heart of Fells Point is a charming restaurant that offers the opportunity to taste the flavors of countries a world away. The pierogi appetizer dish is a perfect few bites of traditional Eastern European ingredients. While most cultures around the globe have their own version of a stuffed dumpling, cultures of Eastern Europe have the pierogi.

Ze Mean Bean Cafe’s pierogi appetizer comes with a trio of them, stuffed with sauerkraut, potato, and farmer’s cheese. The outer dumpling shell of the pierogi is sauteed and served with caramelized onions and a dollop of sour cream. The savory flavors of the potato and farmer’s cheese pierogis are both smooth, while the acidic sauerkraut pierogi blends well with a bit of the cooling sour cream. Slavic, Hungarian, and Ukrainian cultures are among the ones represented at Ze Mean Bean Cafe, and its serves as a tasty first course on the Charm City Food Tour.

The tour continues on to its second stop at neighboring Hungry Andy’s, where their slogan reads “Come Hungry, Leave Full.” Hungry Andy’s takes traditional American fare to the next level with their skilled preparation of the finest ingredients. For a perfect taste of Baltimore styled food, Hungry Andy’s serves their version of pit beef. Pit beef is Baltimore’s answer to barbeque, originating in the working class section of the city. The pit beef at Hungry Andy’s is a top round beef piled high on a kaiser roll. It is topped with mayonnaise, horseradish, barbeque sauce, and fresh onions. An extra kick of heat comes along with the horseradish, but it is tamed by the mayonnaise. The sauces coat the beef well, making for a juicy sandwich.

Accompanying the pit beef sandwich is Hungry Andy’s fresh cut fries. Using only #1 Idaho potatoes, the french fries at this restaurant are amazingly crunchy without being greasy. Dining at Hungry Andy’s small storefront comes with a laid back atmosphere and is a delicious way to taste a local tradition in Baltimore.

After leaving Hungry Andy’s the Fells Point tour continues on to The Point in Fells. Located just steps away from the water, The Point in Fells is an unpretentious restaurant and bar with a solid menu. At this stop on the food tour, diners are welcomed with their choice of local beer, along with a crab crostini and a spiced mushroom edamame salad. The crab crostini is a highlight of the dish, with locally sourced Maryland crab as its centerpiece. Its velvety texture pairs well with the crunch from the crostini. Along side is nice portion of mushrooms and bits of bright green edamame, resting on a bed of noodles. Diners can choose to sit at a table or up at the wraparound bar, the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a bite of these delicious samples.

A walk through a bar lined with shelves of Grand Marnier opens up to an elegant back dining room at the tour’s next stop: One Eyed Mike’s. This restaurant and tavern is popular for its Grand Marnier Club, where members can join and always have a bottle of Grand Marnier reserved for them in their name.

One Eyed Mike’s food sample on the Charm City Food Tour is an artistically plated Caprese salad. Sweetly ripe tomatoes are stacked with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese and basil. It is drizzled with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, and served with a side of toasted bread. Along with it comes a dish of wonderfully prepared tuna, sliced into cubes, and served with a creamy sauce.

The fifth and final stop along the Charm City Food Tour in Fells Point is at Todd Conner’s, for a rich dessert. This restaurant gives diners a cooling drink in the form of a white Russian. Todd Conner’s takes the simple notion of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and brings it to the next level by deep frying it in a french toast batter. Served with a dusting of powdered sugar and sweet whipped cream, it’s a decadent way to end the food tour on a sweet note.

Not only is the Charm City Food Tour a unique way to understand Baltimore’s cultural past and culinary establishments, it is also a one of a kind way to feel a part of the neighborhood. A friendly, local tour guide takes visitors through the historic streets of Fells Point, pointing out the charm and history of the area. The small group atmosphere makes for an intimate, personalized tour and leaves people full of tasty food and local knowledge.

For more information on making a reservation on a tour, visit Charm City Food Tour or call the Zerve ticketing agency at 800-979-3370.

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About the author

Sarah Dayan
I'm a Brooklyn native with a strong love for New York City, traveling, photography, writing, and music. I have my Bachelors degree in psychology and communication, and my Masters degree in school counseling. Through my writing, I want to share all my fun experiences in New York City.

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