Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Baltimore Restaurant Week: Alchemy

Stuffed acorn squash
Nick and I almost missed Baltimore Restaurant Week! What were we thinking? Luckily we were able to make reservations, just in the nick in time, for a hip American eatery in Hampden called Alchemy. It was a beautiful day so we walked over. Alchemy lies right on 'The Avenue' (i.e. 36th Street).

Crab bisque and French onion au gratin
What we ate:
Appetizer/Soups-
French Onion au Gratin (caramelized onions, toasted croutons, and Gruyere)
Crab Bisque (seafood fumet, whipping cream, fresh thyme, lump crab meat, and sherry)

Main Dish-
Stuffed Acorn Squash (containing multiple grains, smoked almonds, and dried cherries with a salad on the side)

Dessert-
Tiramisu
Chocolate brownie with Bailey's Irish Cream liquor

Chocolate brownie with Irish Cream
The service was superb and the food simply excellent. Everything was fresh and the combination of flavors was definitely drool worthy. The crab bisque was so smooth and creamy and had a gigantic lump of crab meat in it. I didn't try it due to the onions (yuck!), but Nick said the French onion au gratin was wonderful. He said the gruyere gave the soup a pleasant creaminess and the broth was salty, but perfectly so. The acorn squash (which we both ordered) was roasted to just fork tender and the stuffing was wonderful. I don't know what they rehydrated the cherries with in the stuffing, but it really made the dish. The desserts were amazing. I can never turn down tiramisu and I wasn't disappointed. The brownie was very rich and the Irish Cream drizzled over the top just made it even more delicious.

Tiramisu
Such a good night for a date! I give you two thumbs up, Alchemy, on your fantastic food and service!

Friday, August 2, 2013

Peach Cake


It's finally not four thousand degrees anymore in my Baltimore apartment! Do you know what that means? It means it's baking time! Baking is by far my favorite form of food preparation. Peaches and nectarines are in season and Nick picked up a few of them recently for us.

Mixing batter for the interest of my super excited
(and nosy) 4 month old kittens, Oscar & Cinna
You can find the recipe I used here. This recipe is quick, easy, and very tasty. I did not have any sour cream, which the recipe calls for, so I substituted plain Greek yogurt instead. It's the perfect cake for just two people or a small family.

Peach cake complete (and cooling)!