Christina Tkacik is a food reporter for The Baltimore Banner. She joined the staff of The Baltimore Banner in August of 2022 to cover all things food. Prior to that, she spent more than six years at The Baltimore Sun, including three years as the newspaper's dining reporter and restaurant critic. After all this time in Charm City, she can pick a crab but still can't shuck an oyster.
Canton’s Café Dear Leon is a semifinalist in the category of outstanding bakery, Marta chef and owner Matthew Oetting was recognized in the category of best chef in the mid-Atlantic region, Doug Atwell of Southpaw is a semifinalist in the outstanding professional in cocktail service category, and Remington’s Pink Flamingo was named in the best new bar category.
These are the best meals I ate while covering Baltimore's dining scene, from a cheesesteak at Frank's Pizza and Pasta to The Duchess' pancit bihon hollai.