National Aquarium Says "I Do" to Baltimore's Food Scene for Voyages: Chapter 8

The National Aquarium's Voyages series returns July 16 with Chapter 8—an after-hours event for adults blending conservation, science, and the art of food, featuring a delicious creative, collaborative experience led by Tim "Chyno" Chin, aka @thebaltimorefoodie / @boywiththebluebeard. Chyno, a culinary content creator and food personality, has assembled a team of award-winning Baltimore chefs to create an edible interpretation of the Aquarium's environment. Guests will examine the relationship between Baltimore, the blue food movement, and the city's flourishing culinary scene.

This relationship will be brought to life through a metaphorical union between the National Aquarium and Baltimore City itself, as Chyno's immersive Voyages event transports guests into a wedding reception unlike any before. Guests will be welcomed with music performed by Chanel Kelly, also known as the Trap Cellist, as they pose for a wedding photographer and toast to the bride and groom.

Throughout Blue Wonders, food stations will serve easy-to-eat food inspired by the diets of the animals nearby. From meaty proteins to charming veggies, the night's menu, created by four talented chefs, will delight every palate. Chyno's culinary team assembled for Voyages includes Chef Amanda Mack, Chef Cia Carter, Chef Samara Greene-Scott, and Chef Kiara Young, four dynamic Black female chefs leading the charge within Baltimore's culinary scene.

"Baltimore is experiencing a culinary renaissance," said Chyno. "And I think it's paramount to uplift Black women in Baltimore City because they're at the forefront of our food spaces. These four chefs have proven time and time again that not only is their food amazing, but their passion extends to the people they serve and the community they build."

Through food, Chyno and his culinary "wedding party" will showcase the diets of different animals at the Aquarium to encourage guests to put sustainable eating back on the menu. To connect with the animals at the Aquarium, Chyno and his culinary team visited the animals' food prep kitchens at the Aquarium's Animal Care and Rescue Center (ACRC). From fish to veggies, the team's honed knife skills made meal prep a breeze for the ACRC's residents.

Chyno met with National Aquarium experts across teams—from Animal Health and Welfare to Life Support—to get a holistic view of what it takes to care for and feed a building full of animals, and explored what it takes to feed a million guests annually, meeting with experts to learn about sustainable seafood and reduced waste practices already in place at the Aquarium.

"Whether I was learning about the Aquarium's pump system, how to cultivate microorganisms for fish food or policy drafting to bring something back from extinction, I was inspired by Aquarium staff's passion and love for their work," said Chyno.

The event will also feature a few extra surprises along the way, including an original poetry performance by Tafisha Edwards, an interactive oyster reef with support from Oyster Recovery Partnership, and a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community with a specially curated playlist by Baltimore's Queen of the Underground, Kotic Couture. The night will conclude with the wedding dance party to end all wedding dance parties, featuring USVNI and the Bloom Orchestra with special guest vocalist Black Assets.

Voyages: Chapter 8 will take place on Thursday, July 16, from 6 to 11 p.m. Unlike previous Voyages chapters wherein food and drink were available for purchase throughout the evening in addition to the ticket purchase, this chapter's ticketing includes the food and drink prepared by the chefs and vendors as part of Chyno's artistic vision.

Support for the Voyages series is provided by the Marjorie Lynn Bank Endowment. The after-party is supported in part by Open Water. Guests are encouraged to join in the fun by donning wedding finery. Learn more at the Voyages: Chapter 8 event listing.