Hot new trend...Italian?
I just learned that the Brass Elephant in Mount Vernon has a new chef (more about him in next Wednesday's Table Talk) and, as of the beginning of March, will introduce a new menu of Italian dishes.
What's interesting about that is the Brass Elephant made its mark in Baltimore as a northern Italian restaurant, and then gradually morphed into what it is now -- most accurately described, I guess, as New American with some Italian accents.
That got me thinking about the Charleston Group's opening a traditional Italian restaurant as its latest project (Cinghiale)...
...and Pazza Luna in Locust Point, where the owner is trying to recreate a traditional Italian trattoria with considerable success. Come to think of it, Sammy's Trattoria in Mount Vernon is probably the restaurant that's done best in that particular location -- and there have been several of them.
Who would have guessed that Italian might be the Next Big Thing in Baltimore?
(Gene Sweeney Jr./Sun photographer)
Comments
I guess everything old ends up new again?
Personally, I think it's great. I'd much rather try a new place that's dedicated to cooking the best traditional cuisine than a place that'll do a mediocre job with a crazy, but new, concept.
Posted by: Kit | January 24, 2008 12:43 PM