AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace
It’s been fascinating for drivers who travel Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard to follow the transformation of a three-decade-old restaurant property into a new restaurant to be called Garten.
In June, Preserve and Harmony Hospitality purchased the landmark, Cafe Breton at 849 B&A Boulevard. The property is being restored/reimagined by Annapolis-based Preserve restaurant proprietors Jeremy and Michelle Hoffman as a modern European-style beer garden. Bright, bold artwork by Jahru Studios has been a first step in altering the restaurant’s former French chateau-like exterior to something more modern.
The words “Wine – Beer Garden” emblazoned on the side of the building facing B&A Boulevard leave no doubt about what the restaurant’s main focus will be while the colorful murals hint at the natural environment behind.
According to the owners, ongoing interior construction is meant to open up and update the appearance of the restaurant, evoking a European biergarten sensibility while exterior construction behind and to the side of the building is intended to provide outdoor seating in a garden setting.
A conversation with Michelle Hoffman confirmed that, in keeping with the farm-to-table concept used at Preserve, the couple’s plans include restoring the once productive garden in the back by adding herbs, vegetables and additional fruit trees as well as indigenous plants and wildflowers. As a first step, Michelle has been anointed beekeeper and hives have already been installed in the garden to pollinate future crops and flowers while providing honey.
She affirms that construction is moving at a fast pace with well-designed spaces that flow easily into one another nearing completion. The restaurant is scheduled to open in September, though an exact date has not been set. It’s already been determined that Garten’s hours will be 11 am to 9 pm Wednesday through Sunday and later expanded, depending on the neighborhood’s response.
Obviously, the Hoffmans are excited to see everything coming together and can’t wait for the moment staffing is completed and they can open their doors to the public.
“Taking into consideration the amount of parking available, our indoor and outdoor areas should provide room for us to seat 140 customers at a time,” Hoffman said.
She’s aware that locals are, understandably, curious to know what the food will be like. Some have actually dined at Preserve which serves a unique menu that combines foods fermented or preserved in-house with farm-raised meats, vegetables, fruits and baked goods from local or regional purveyors like Maidstone Harvest, Roseda Farm, or Seven Hills Food Company. Among Preserve’s most popular entrees are unexpected dishes like fried duck tongues or braised beef cheek fajitas.
“Our menu at Garten will be a little different,” Hoffman said. “Our Chef de Cuisine Greg Anderson, who has worked at Preserve since it opened, will implement a modern take on Northern French or Alsatian region beer garden food. He’s already experimenting with various dishes.”
But there will be no strict set of rules for the beer garden’s cuisine. “As with Preserve, we’ll carry some fermented products like sauerkraut, or the [Korean] fermented cabbage dish Kimchi. We’ll make them available as part of a meal or for takeout. We want to make sure everybody feels comfortable,” Hoffman added.
Locals have also wondered how prices for food, wines and local or imported European beers will compare with standard beer garden prices.
According to Hoffman, management did some local market research and concluded that Garten’s prices will be comparable to those of other Severna Park restaurants.
“We’re trying to appeal to everyone, so we’ll offer takeout to go and have a small retail area for beer and wine sales,” she said. “But, if folks want a full dining experience, we encourage them to come on in… or enjoy our revitalized outdoor dining.”
Until the Garten website at https://www.garten-eats.com is complete, you can follow the progress of Garten on the Preserve website at Preserve (preserve-eats.com) or on Facebook at Preserve | Facebook.
Langton Green Community Farm receives $100,000 grant
Millersville-based Langton Green Community Farm was just awarded a $100,000 grant through the Kubota Inc. Hometown Proud program. They were one of five awardees from hundreds of nonprofits around the country who applied.
The only nonprofit of its kind to own and operate a community farm, Langton Green’s mission is to provide vocational training and work opportunities to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities while serving as an educational resource for the wider community.
Langton Green director John Iaquinta and a group of the farm’s trainees and workers enthusiastically received the $100,000 check from Kubota, Inc., a well-known farm and construction equipment manufacturer.
The grant will be used to build, among other things, a community garden for seniors – especially those who are isolated or in assisted living. The funds will also be used for a tractor and construction projects at the farm.
Rotary Club of Annapolis Crab Feast tickets on sale
Following a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the 77th Annual Rotary Club Crab Feast will be held at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Friday, August 5th, from 5 to 8 p.m. Attendees will be able to enjoy all-you-can-eat large crabs, corn-on-the-cob, BBQ, and other treats.
Tickets for general admission seating are $90 per person. For those who’d like to sit in the reserved President’s Tent with its private entrance, the price is $120 per person. For Preferred Dining in the private Class of ’53 Pavillion with full service, a table for ten is $1,800, a table for twelve is $2,160 and a limited number of individual tickets in that area are $180. Tickets for children ages 3 through 12 are $25.
Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.annapolisrotary.org/crabfeast and are also available at Admiral Cleaners on Taylor Avenue, Bay Ridge Wine and Spirits, J. Gordon and Company, Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, Long & Foster in Severna Park, McBride Gallery, and Fastsigns Annapolis.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated by the Rotary to local charities and non-profit organizations.
Around The Park Again is brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. known for its wide selection of wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet cheeses, European style charcuterie, pate, olives and other specialty items perfect for a summer party.
