NIHAO
CANTON
CRUST BY MACK
HAMPDEN
Amanda Mack’ s first permanent space for her pie-focused bakery Crust by Mack was set to open in Whitehall Market, a new food hall in Hampden. But the spring opening was delayed again and again. So, she pivoted to offer quarantine-friendly packages of cookie dough and boxes of treats. Now, her stall has opened in the new market, serving up delicious hand-crafted goodies like Old Bay-infused chocolate chip cookies, oven-fried chicken biscuits, crab pies and yeasty doughnuts.
Much excitement surrounded the pending opening of NiHao, a new Canton Szechuan spot from Lydia Chang— the daughter of Peter Chang, who has built an empire of lauded restaurants in the Washington region— and pastry chef Pichet Ong. When the March launch slipped away, they pivoted to offer elevated takeout options like a Peking duck kit( complete with all the fixings, from buns and housemade noodles to the makings for broth— duck carcass included) and ready-to-bake cookie doughs. Ovaltine snickerdoodles, anyone?
CAFÉ DEAR LEON
CANTON
This Canton cafe opened quietly in August and almost instantly garnered a major following. The small shop’ s menu of interesting pastries and sandwiches debuts by the hour— and sells out nearly as quickly. Owned by a trio of chefs whose resumes include time at Le Coucou and Le Bernardin, the cafe offers a constantly changing menu. Samples from one recent list: Honeynut squash galette with bacon; hazelnut babka; and a Japanese egg sandwich called a“ tamago sando.”
MOON CHOII
BALTIMORE. ORG 25