{"id":1905,"date":"2017-08-14T07:00:20","date_gmt":"2017-08-14T07:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citywalkerapp.com\/cw\/?p=1905"},"modified":"2017-09-12T12:41:36","modified_gmt":"2017-09-12T12:41:36","slug":"spotlight-on-encantada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citywalkerapp.com\/cw\/spotlight-on-encantada\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight on: Encantada"},"content":{"rendered":"

Baltimore is not known for its vegan restaurants. That\u2019s not to say it\u2019s not a vegan-friendly city; there are a handful of notable places that serve vegan cuisine. Some are completely vegan. And several of them are even planning a Vegan Restaurant Week from August 18th – 26th<\/span><\/span> (check out https:\/\/www.mdveganeats.com<\/a> for more info). I\u2019m not vegan, or even vegetarian, but have always felt that a well-rounded food scene is beneficial for the city\u2019s residents and visitors alike. Plus I understand that the high level of meat consumption in the US is not doing anybody any favors, physically on an individual level and climate-wise on a global scale.<\/p>\n

\"<\/p>\n

Encantada, in the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is a restaurant that pleases both vegans and consumers of animal products alike. But first, let\u2019s talk a little bit about AVAM. If you haven\u2019t been there, you must go. Seriously. It\u2019s the most interesting, fun, mind-boggling, amazing art museum in the city (and we have two pretty fabulous museums in the Walters and the Baltimore Museum of Art). The term \u201cvisionary,\u201d when applied to art, refers to works created by persons with no formal art training who are guided solely by their own inner voice. These folks may or may not march to the beat of a different drum in their public lives, but whatever it is that influences their work, it doesn\u2019t follow the constraints of \u201clearned\u201d forms of art like went-to-art-school art or even the traditions of folk art. Think 25-foot-long ship models made entirely of toothpicks, or complex masks created from knitted and crocheted yarn. Amazing stuff. I consider AVAM to be in the top five places to visit in Baltimore<\/a> (the others being the National Aquarium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards<\/a>, Walters Art Museum, and Fells Point<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"encantada<\/p>\n

Now, on to the restaurant. The word \u201cencantada\u201d means \u201ccharmed, enchanted, bewitched,\u201d which seems appropriate for a restaurant located in such a delightful museum. Apropos of its setting, the decor at Encantada is, shall we say, eclectic. Furniture and fabrics are purposely mismatched, walls may sport royal blue and black vertical stripes, or black and white diagonal ones. Art from the museum is hung here and there, adding still more color to the elegant cacophony of the restaurant\u2019s interior. The menu is much more focused. The food at Encantada is grounded in the restaurant\u2019s partnerships with local farmers, watermen, and ranchers to provide the freshest seasonal meat and produce. The animal proteins used by the restaurant have been raised humanely without GMOs, and while that still might not please PETA, it makes us carnivores feel a bit less guilty about indulging in meat. Vegetarians and vegans will be happy, however, that vegetables and grains play far more important roles at Encantada than at many other restaurants where they may be relegated to mere \u201cside dishes.\u201d<\/p>\n