Baltimore: Cinghiale and 2 Amys
Editor's note: New York Times best-selling novelist Laura Lippman, author of the upcoming Another Thing to Fall, is passionate about all aspects of Baltimore life, including food. In fact, having read all her books, I can tell you that her characters eat in all the best places in Baltimore. So when I asked Laura to become a Serious Eats Baltimore correspondent, she graciously agreed. Laura travels frequently promoting her books, so I have a feeling she might be filing dispatches from all over the globe. —Ed Levine
WORDS BY LAURA LIPPMAN | I've had some reason to think about reviews lately. A good friend, one with a palate far superior to mine, didn't like Cinghiale, the latest addition to Cindy Wolfe's burgeoning empire in Baltimore. But I had a hunch that I would love it—if I ate in the bar, Enoteca.
The fact is, much of my dining out is centered on Baltimore's bars—Nasu Blanca, Mezze, Tapas Teatro—because I live in a household where the only reservations we have tend to center on our own characters. I also love small plates because I like lots of variety in a meal.
I've been to Cinghiale three times in the past month and loved everything I've tried—the green salad, the tonno with poached quail egg, the grilled calamari. I've taken bites of a couple of pasta dishes and antipasti as well. It's just my kind of place, where the bartenders are happy to recommend wines by the glass, and there's cheese for dessert. My only criticism is of the bread, which I found a little blah, but that simply means I don't waste time eating it. Maybe one day I'll make it into the main restaurant, but I'm not sure why I'd need to.
