Shh! It's a Secret

One thing I do love about Baltimore is its thriving food scene.  We have tons of great restaurants and loads of fun food events like the Emporiyum or the Food Truck Gatherings. This year yet another awesome event has been added to the roster: Baltimore Secret Supper. Sponsored by the Baltimore Sun, diners reserve a seat and pay a set price.  Then on the very morning of the event, diners will finally find out where the dinner will be held.  And not until you're actually at the restaurant, will you find out what you'll be eating. It's a risky concept if you're picky, but my friend and I were up to the challenge.

We were quite lucky to find out that the supper we would be attending this evening was being held at Aggio (also known as one of the restaurants in Bryan Voltaggio's fleet of restaurants, and the one I've been dying to try!)  When we first arrived we were given a signature cocktail (something with carbonation, vodka and mint - not my thing) and shown to a communal table.  From there, we were served the best food of the night.  And these were just the appetizers. The Parmesan funnel cake and the foccacia with whipped burrata and mortadella mousse were out of this world. I literally could have been content to eat nothing else but more of the same for the rest of the night.  But there were 4 more courses with wine pairings to come.  Well not wine pairings for me, I stuck with iced tea (as usual...)

First up was fluke marinated in beet juice, with chile, lime juice and wasabi burrata.  I was willing to go with them on the fluke but the beet juice and wasabi were just a little too much for me. 

Then it was on to more beets - roasted this time with burrata, grape leaves, and pistachios.  Way too many beets for me - in that the entire dish was one big warm beet.  When did beets become the next big ingredient?

Finally the pasta dish - now you're speaking my language.  This dish was handmade pasta boiled in red wine (instead of water) with chicken sausage and a 63 degree egg.  My favorite of the evening.  Runny eggs just make everything that much richer and more delicious!

Last up was a dessert of pannetone, pistachios and gelato.  Good, but where's the chocolate?  Every dessert needs chocolate in my opinion.

Even though I wasn't crazy about the menu, I have to admit it was quite fun getting a chance to try these fancy schmancy dishes.  I never would have ordered them myself but I loved getting a chance to see how beautifully plated and conceived they all were.  All in all, a great event and I'm anxiously awaiting the next to see where it will take us.