Apropoe's in the Marriott Hotel

It's hard to believe that 15 years ago, there was precious little in Harbor East besides a few restaurants and the Marriott Hotel. The Minx and I would venture down there occasionally for dinner at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion or Charleston, but most of the area was parking lots and office buildings. It wasn't long, however, before the area was transformed into a destination spot for shopping and dining. And now with the towering edifices of the Legg Mason building and the Four Seasons Hotel. the Marriott seems tucked away like a cozy corner table in a large restaurant. One might forget that the hotel has an expansive, modern restaurant with an impressive view of the Harbor.

During Light City Baltimore, we were invited to the Marriott's restaurant, Appropoe's, to sample some of their cuisine and take in some of the flashy sights going on in the Harbor. We were more than happy to accept.

We decided to order four items that might represent a cross-section of the menu. From the appetizers section, we ordered the jumbo lump crab cake with corn relish, wilted spinach, micro sorrel greens, and tarragon aioli. You can also order two crab cakes as an entree, but this cake is quite large and filling unto itself. The cake is mildly seasoned, allowing the natural crab flavor to come through, while the tarragon aioli is a nice touch for the relish.

Burgers are always a go-to meal for people who might be dropping in after work for a cocktail and the Marriott burger is a solid choice. The patty is thick and luscious with crisp strips of smoked bacon, melted cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and red onion to round out the flavor and texture profile. Also, it's served on a proper hamburger bun rather than a brioche bun that usually dissolves in your hands, leaving you holding a pile of meat and condiments. Herb fries are a great side as well.

From the pizza options we chose the white crab pizza because...Baltimore. The crust is coated with a tasty pesto and topped with gooey fontina cheese, Old Bay seasoning, and giant chunks of crab. The crust is crispy around the edge and has a nice chew in the middle.

The Minx and I are quite fond of wedge salads and Apropoe's has one of the prettiest we've ever seen. A small head of baby iceberg lettuce is sliced in half and set side by side. Then blue cheese dressing is applied and equal stripes of Nueske's applewood smoked bacon, finely chopped egg, and chopped parsley are layered on top. We each devoured an entire half, savoring the perfectly caramelized, thick cut bacon. I could see myself ordering this salad every time I go to Apropoe's.

The day we went to Apropoe's had been rainy and cold. We had dragged ourselves into the restaurant, weighed down by the dreariness of the day. But the meal warmed our spirits with its diversity and heartiness. Stepping out into the chilly air, the Minx and I felt renewed. As we walked the promenade toward the Inner Harbor festivities, the gray clouds cleared away and we were greeted by a spectacular sunset. Funny how a good meal can turn your day around.

Apropoe's
700 Aliceanna St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 895-1879

Posted on Minxeats.com.

Cinnamon Tree at the Hunt Valley Inn

When Baltimoreans of a certain age hear the words "Cinnamon Tree," they think of brunch. At least we do. The Cinnamon Tree restaurant at the Hunt Valley Inn, once famous for its lavish brunch, has been around forever, and...it still is. Marriott no longer owns the facility; new owners, the Laurus Company, have turned the hotel into a Wyndham Grand and sunk some serious money into renovating the entire place.

Northern Baltimore County is horse country, so of course there's a horse theme at play in the decor. It's pretty subtle though - no hunter greens or plaids to be seen anywhere. Instead, the hotel is decorated in soothing neutrals, lots of browns, grays, black, and white, with a horse sculpture here and there. The Cinnamon Tree, too, is done up in neutral shades, with interesting lamps and chandeliers to catch the eye. We appreciate the carpet and padded seats, which will absorb the noise that 100+ people eating brunch can make.

While that signature brunch is held on both Saturday and Sunday, we came in for dinner one evening. We started the meal with two of their race-themed cocktails, the whisky-based Belmont and the vodka-based Black-Eyed Susan (official drink of the Preakness!). Mr Minx had originally ordered a Mint Julep, but the bar had run out of mint. Partway through our meal, mint had been obtained and two juleps were brought to our table. All three drinks were generously sized and quite tasty.

We started off our meal with a creamy she-crab soup with a pronounced sherry flavor and a decent amount of crab lumps. Think cream of crab, but without that soup's normal overly-thick quality.

We also tried the crab and corn fondue, which while thicker than a fondue and meant to be a spread rather than a dip, it had the customary Swiss cheese flavors, but with crab and corn added. Both the soup and fondue came with crusty garlic crostini, which were also delicious on their own.

We shared a classic wedge salad, which was light and refreshing with just the right amounts of bleu cheese dressing and bacon bits.

For our entrees, Mr Minx enjoyed the beef short ribs in a rich cabernet sauce...

...while I had the crab cakes with bearnaise sauce. Both dishes came with a slab of what the menu calls au gratin potatoes, but is actually a very rich potato pavé loaded with cream and butter, and sauteed asparagus and grape tomatoes.

We were quite full, but couldn't turn down the desserts that chef Patrick D'Costa himself brought to the table: a creamy almond cheesecake with a sturdy butterscotch-flavored crust, and a rich key lime pie. Both made in house, both delicious, both taken home in doggie bags to be enjoyed when we had some room to appreciate them.

It's nice to see an old classic being reborn like the Cinnamon Tree. Even the famed cinnamon tree sculpture itself, once a fixture of the dining room, will be given new life in the form of a waterproofing treatment and a new home in the courtyard of the hotel, visible through the restaurant's large windows.

Other dining establishments at the Hunt Valley Inn include the Polo Bar, on the other side of the lobby from the Cinnamon Tree. This cozy bar serves tapas like flatbreads and empanadas. Cafe 245 offers Starbucks coffee and light bites like pastries, sandwiches, and salads. And later in the year the Black Horse Pub will open, serving casual fare.





Posted on Minxeats.com.