Nationally acclaimed Chef and Wine Connoisseur, Jerry Pellegrino, founder of CORKS RESTAURANT in Federal Hill since 1997, is planning a new venture in Fells Point, a restaurant in partnership with the local non-profit LIVING CLASSROOMS. Pellegrino's restaurant partnership is planned to be located in the Frederick Douglas Museum, pending liquor license.

Under Chef Jerry's direction,Corks has been named one of Baltimore’s top 50 restaurants ever year since opening in 1997 and has been given “The Wine Spectator” award of excellence. Jerry is also the co-host of WYPR’s food program Radio Kitchen. He has an intense understanding of the connection between wine and food. Chef Jerry tells us that the details of the new restaurant including menus are still being mapped out as they await a liquor license by one of its partners.

Note: CORKS remains open and vibrant hosting 50% off steak Mondays-Thursday, phenomenal choices of boutique California and Oregon wines and ports, bistro menus and upscale cheese, amongst other specials that the locals savor.

The Frederick Douglas Museum, located at 1417 Thames Street, celebrates African American maritime history, specifically the saga of enslaved Frederick Douglass and that of Isaac Myers, a free born African American who became a national leader.

LIVING  CLASSROOMS mission "strengthens communities and inspires young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training, using urban, natural, and maritime resources as “living classrooms.”

"In partnership with the City and State, LIVING  CLASSROOMS Foundation manages the Historic Ships in Baltimore, Friends of Fort McHenry, the Inner Harbor Paddleboats and the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park. These sites and campuses are "living classrooms" for education programs, and employment venues for our job-training graduates." (source http://www.livingclassrooms.org)

Not since Mr. Rain's Fun House opened to great delight and success in the American Visionary Arts Museum, about 2 years ago, has a museum paired up with a restaurant. This seems like a win-win to the community!

When one door closes another opens-ABACROMBIE closed!

After three years and "falling in love with the neighborhood and people," Chef Jerry has decided to leave his Abacrombie Fine Foods perch located in the Bed & Breakfast, ABACROMBIE B&B. There have been a number of maintenance issues, like two floods just this month, that have forced him to make this decision. With a sad heart, Jerry tells me he is closed at the Abacrombie location. The site is for sale.

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