#43. Eat roasted vegetables at Donna's ... wearing black.

It’s trendy to be a vegetarian right?

Well, at Donna’s Restaurant it is. Donna’s, originally just one café in Mount Vernon, is credited for introducing trendy eats and coffee to Baltimore. Former art director of the Baltimore Sun Donna Crivello opened the first Donna’s Café in the ultra-chic Baltimore neighborhood Mount Vernon and a star was born. Seven Donna’s Restaurants were opened in Baltimore in quick succession. The current number has shrunk to three almost 20 years after the nativity of the original café, and the menu’s still offer many of the same dishes they first made popular (such as roasted vegetables and gourmet coffee drinks) but Donna’s reputation and only grown and still attracts a young and (keyword) trendy crowd.  

Cut to my friend Gina. A trendy little haute hippie since our high school days, Gina has always been a step ahead both in fashion, hairstyle and her gourmet vegetarian tendencies. This blog adventure was so perfectly suited for her that I was not shocked in the least when she volunteered to accompany me.

While the cuisine or concept at Donna’s is not authentic or original to Baltimore, the restaurants flair and gourmet delicacies are in line with the cultural identity of the Mount Vernon district and the growing reputation of Baltimore as an up-and coming, artsy city. Mount Vernon, the highest point in Baltimore city, was donated by the Howard family in the 19^th century as a memorial for George Washington (the very first one, in fact). The area around the monument became home to the wealthy and influential as well as a major cultural center, being home to the Peabody Conservatory, the Walters Art Gallery and the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The area continues to be a wealthy one, with a plethora of upscale restaurants and bars as well as fashionable boutiques surrounded by the fabulous and original architecture of past indulgence making one feel glamorous just walking down the street.

Similarly, Donna’s makes one feel glamorous just walking into the place. Tastefully and artistically decorated with soft indie music playing over the speakers, one immediately feels as if they have entered into a small Parisian café or an art gallery. The late lunch crowd was very small (i.e. Gina and I), so the atmosphere was extremely private and cozy. My blog list recommended eating Donna’s famous roasted vegetables while, for no particular reason, wearing black. Well, I was wearing a black t-shirt and some jean shorts so Gina and I decided to split a small plate of roasted vegetables, an appetizer of balsamic mushroom bruschetta and sweet potato fries. Completely vegetarian, very healthy, very trendy.

The food was served in large portions and to die for. Perfectly roasted cauliflower, carrots, peppers, eggplant and onions were artistically arranged on a plate, colorful and barely seasoned allowing for a very natural and crunchy taste. The bruschetta was rich and delicious; thick rye toast topped with portabella mushroom pieces, fresh goat cheese, roasted red peppers and balsamic vinegar made up the non-traditional but delicious dish. Finally, the sweet potato fries, although familiar and not as gourmet as the other dishes, were the best I have ever had; crispy, hot and naturally sweet, the fries were served with a dill aioli dipping sauce as well as the traditional ketchup.  We finished all three plates of food, mine being washed down with an incredible blackberry Italian soda, as well as a chocolate hazelnut biscotti each for dessert.

Although neither our server nor the manager really knew why wearing black was critical to the Donna’s experience, I think I have an idea. Donna’s is the quintessential trendy gourmet bistro.  Like its original location in Mount Vernon, eating at Donna’s makes one feel effortlessly elegant and sophisticated with its gourmet menu, casually elegant atmosphere, healthy menu and stellar reputation. Just like slipping into a little black dress, slipping into Donna’s for lunch induces feelings of sophistication.

Or, if you’re like me, wearing black could just make you look a little more sophisticated as you get goat cheese and balsamic vinegar all over your face trying to bit through a particularly chewy piece of mushroom. Maybe just a little.

References:

http://www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/dining_article/d_dinesout_n04/
http://www.livebaltimore.com/neighborhoods/list/mountvernon/