First, you inhale the fragrance. Then, you sip the liquid for brightness and body. No, it’s not a wine tasting. It’s a coffee cupping—one of the latest food trends to hit the Baltimore area. At a recent cupping, Allie Caran, a barista at Woodberry Kitchen, led a group of mostly novices through the intricacies of sampling various kinds of coffee. But this was no gulp and run. Participants sampled the brew at various stages—from sniffing the grounds to “breaking the crust” to slurping the coffee with spoons.

Many diners have raved to us about Fallston’s Basta Pasta, which specializes in Italian fare and seafood—even Mickey Cucchiella of 98 Rock, a man about town who enjoys a good meal out.

But before we could make it to the Harford County outpost to see what all the fuss was about, Basta Pasta owners Mike Sakellis and Yianni Livaditis opened a branch in Timonium. Since the new place was closer, we headed there.

It seems appropriate that pastore means shepherd in Italian. Meandering through Pastore’s Italian Delly & Grocery (8646 Loch Raven Blvd., Towson, 410-825-5316), one is guided through an array of authentic Italian fare. Precisely stacked shelves demonstrate the care that this 30-year-old salumeria (at this location) lavishes on its diminutive enterprise. Seldom seen bucatini (fat spaghetti) and large cans of Saporito plum tomatoes (great for making pizza) are among the myriad imported foods sold at the compact store.

While deciding on holiday desserts, we thought of the delectable bread pudding at 13.5% Wine Bar in Hampden. We asked chef Sarah Acconcia for the recipe, and she happily shared it with us. “I like this recipe because it is a smooth-textured bread pudding without being too dense,” she says. “Sometimes, bread pudding can be too heavy, but this one has a nice balance between flavors and textures—especially with the crunchy brûléed sugar topping!”

Chocolate-Cinnamon Bread Pudding

After taking a guided tour of Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Ridgely’s Delight resident and graphics designer Sharon Reuter had an epiphany. “Bing! The light bulb went on. I knew in my mind this was something I could do,” she says. The result? Charm City Chews, which launched in May.

Harford County is a burgeoning exurb, better known for its family-friendly chain restaurants than its locally owned fine-dining venues. That’s why wandering into a polished gem like Pairings Bistro in Bel Air is like discovering gold in the New World.

Ale Mary’s, 1939 Fleet Street, 410-276-2044. The restaurant’s irreverence toward religious paraphernalia (a holy-water font doubles as a mint dish, for example) doesn’t transcend to the kitchen, which turns out inventive fare like crazy-good tater tots (the crabby tots, dappled with thick crab dip, are a favorite) and the incredible “Krispy Kreme” bread pudding. You’ll also find a steak deal: two fist-sized, black Angus USDA choice filet mignons with garlic mashed potatoes, fresh veggies (sautéed squash one night), and a giant Caesar salad for $22.95.