Eating Good in the Neighborhood

No, we didn't go to Applebee's for our anniversary. Instead we went to "Alchemy" up on the Avenue. For the non-Baltimoreans in the readership, "The Avenue" is a stretch of a few blocks in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore City. It is also conveniently located very, very close to my apartment.

A few months ago, my parents were visiting and wanted to grab some food nearby. It was close to Christmas, so we also wanted to check out the notorious Christmas-light display on 34th Street in Hampden. Seriously kitschy. But as we were trying to figure out a place to eat afterward, nothing seemed to be open that Sunday.

Enter "Alchemy".


In what seems to have been a miracle or the result of some wizard's spell (See what I did there?), "Alchemy" had opened just the previous Thursday and was executing its brunch service for the first time. And they had me at their crab bisque. It was seriously rich, creamy and luscious, with lumps of crabmeat you would swear were illegally large. Seriously, look at those chunks of sweet, sweet crab below.


Thus and therefore, "Alchemy" became the go-to place for special occasions. Matt's birthday in January? "Alchemy". Anniversary? "Alchemy" again.


So last night, we had more of the crab bisque that keeps us coming back. Matt had some Sockeye Salmon Strudel. Lots of loveliness wrapped up in little empanada-like packages. He reports that the salmon was tender, the filo dough was flaky and the spinach was perfectly creamy. The surprise was the raspberry sauce which gave the dish an "exciting sweetness". I went back to my roots and had the Chicken and Dumplings. Very simple, but the best darn broth and fluffiest dumplings I've had in my life.

Another success for eating in the neighborhood!
Alchemy on 36th