The word “best,” according to Webster?s Dictionary, means ? among other things ? “surpassing all others.”
Which is exactly what the readers of Steve Geppi?s Baltimore Magazine had in mind when considering the area?s best burger, best French cuisine, best Mexican restaurant, best crab cake and best place to have a beer.
For 31 years this much-anticipated “best of” issue not only gets the word out about great food, but also celebrates with a party.
Last Thursday, food-lovers poured into Power Plant Live! and Port Discovery to taste delicious samples from more than 50 local restaurants.
Of course, there was plenty of beer, wine and exotic drinks to help make this the best party of the summer.
Included among the partygoers were top doc Michael Cohen, WBAL Channel 11?s top dog Jordan Wertlieb and a top judge in Baltimore County, the Honorable Robb Banks, who was accompanied by Mary Sue Candies? Billy Buppert, First Horizon Bank?s Baron Scarlett and Gildea & Schmidt LLC?s Cristen Pascucci.
But I had the best company with Examiner publisher Michael Phelps and his wife, Adrienne, who got to meet the famous Eddie Applefeld and “Downtown” Diane Macklin.
Proceeds from the party?s tickets went to support The Family Tree, which, according to its Web site, is Maryland?s largest nonprofit organization “dedicated to breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect through child, family and community-focused advocacy and outreach services.”
This cause is near and dear to Geppi, who is an honorary board member.
Can?t wait to go to some of the places that supplied what we sampled. Our top five places to eat: The Cameleon Cafe in Parkville; Maggie Moore?s Irish Pub on North Eutaw Street; The Capital Grille on Pratt Street; The Babalu Grill on Restaurant Row at Market Place; and Ruth?s Chris Steak House at the Baltimore Pier V Hotel.
Anne Boone-Simanski is the social columnist for The Examiner and can be reached at [email protected] or 410-878-6131.
