10/25 National Pasta Day with Luna Blu by Garry Muggs

Today is National Pasta Day, and what better way to celebrate than by spotlighting one of Annapolis’s most beloved Italian restaurants, Luna Blu. The restaurant came highly recommended by a local business owner friend and a few Italian friends, so I decided to see for myself what makes it so special. I had the pleasure of interviewing the owner, Erin Dryden, to learn more about her story and, of course, to taste some of her delicious dishes. It’s been 5 years since Luna Blu was last featured in a social media newsletter, and I thought it was time to bring this Eastport favourite back into the spotlight – not that it ever left the hearts of its loyal patrons.

Erin has been running Luna Blu since December 2001 and remains deeply involved in the local community. She hosts monthly charity dinners and personally knows most of her customers like about 85% of them! Whether patrons stop by because they don’t feel like cooking or are celebrating something special, Luna Blu has become a local gathering spot filled with warmth and connection. She’s also one of the few women-owned restaurant owners in Annapolis and has collaborated with Monica from Bread and Butter Kitchen on the Feed Anne Arundel project.

When I asked about the name Luna Blu, Erin said there wasn’t a specific origin story behind it. From my artistic interpretation, though, Luna means moon in Italian, and Blu means blue. Together, they form “Blue Moon”. The colour blue evokes tranquility and calmness while the moon represents reflection and beauty. Combined, it symbolizes something serene and timeless much like the experience you get when dining at her restaurant.

Erin said her biggest contribution to the community has been her charity wine dinners, which she hosted for 16 years. During the pandemic, she shifted them online, drawing between 100 and 150 participants per event. These dinners gave patrons something joyful to look forward to during an uncertain time while also helping support local charities that were struggling. Even now, the dinners continue with strong community support – a true testament to both her generosity and the loyalty of her patrons.

Authenticity is a cornerstone of Luna Blu. Erin has travelled across different regions of Italy to research flavours and traditions, and she surrounds herself with local Italian friends who inspire her. She’s also a wine enthusiast who takes pride in pairing her dishes with exceptional Italian wines. Most of her ingredients come from Italian importers, complemented by fresh local meats and vegetables when possible.

When we talked about “Dinner Under the Stars”, she shared that the event started about 15 years ago as a way for West Street businesses to bring locals back downtown during summer. Locals had been avoiding the area due to the tourist crowds, so the restaurants decided to create something special – outdoor dining, live music, and community gatherings every Wednesday night with themed Saturdays like salsa or Motown once a month. It’s one of those rare events that perfectly captures the heart of Annapolis.

When asked about her favourite memories, Erin said it’s seeing people laughing, celebrating, and enjoying themselves over the years. Because she knows so many of her patrons personally, she’s become part of their stories – sharing in their milestones and joys. Many of her kitchen staff have been with her for over 15 years, and her front-of-house team is known for being warm and welcoming. Erin’s goal is simple: She wants every guest to feel like a regular, even on their first visit.

Off-topic, but too fun not to include - I asked Erin about her pizza preferences. She’s a fork-and-knife kind of person and loves eggplant and melanzane toppings. For the record, some Italians do fold their pizza – I learnt this in Germany!

For my meal, I started with the Burrata – burrata cheese with dried figs, pistachios, and prosciutto over baby arugula with balsamic glaze. It was a perfect balance of creamy, salty, and sweet. For my main dish, I chose the Penne Vesuviana with Italian sausage, a pasta I occasionally make myself. I’ll admit that Erin’s version was better. The sauce was silky, the texture of the sausage was perfect, and every bite was rich and satisfying.

And honestly, Luna Blu is the real deal! Forget Olive Garden’s “When you’re here, you’re family” slogan. At Luna Blu, you don’t need a gimmick – You can feel it. The pasta’s authentic, and nobody’s trying to pass off cardboard sticks as Italian cuisine.

Luna Blu isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an Annapolis treasure. With Erin’s warmth, her team’s loyalty, and the restaurant’s continued dedication to the community, it’s easy to see why locals, especially Italians, rave about it. On this National Pasta Day, raise a glass of Italian wine to Luna Blu, a true-Blue Moon that continues to shine in the heart of Eastport.

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Community Leadership Award

Erin has been in the restaurant industry for 27 years, and has spent the past 20 years building Luna Blu into a neighborhood place with familiar faces, great for all celebrations or dinner after a long week. The restaurant has provided so many wonderful opportunities and relationships within the community. She has met so many people who dedicate their time to giving back, which inspired her to start her monthly charity wine dinners in 2012, benefiting different local charities.

In 2020 everyone had to pivot, so Erin moved the dinners to virtual, holding two monthly, which she still continues today. In turn, Erin was able to double the charities she supports, raising money for many groups who rely solely on in-person events, giving her customers a bit of normalcy at the same time, while logging in online to see some see familiar faces and friends! Luna Blu continues to thrive due to the support of our amazing community and dedicated staff.

Erin is so honored to receive the Community Leadership Award from CASA and looks forward to her future partnership with CASA! In recognition of continuous commitment to ensure that every child in our community has the opportunity to live in a safe, stable, permanent home.

“There is no better feeling than knowing you have had a positive impact in someone else's life. Whether it's a passing smile, words of encouragement or support in a time of need. I have been so blessed with an amazing family, friends and community who constantly encourage and support me. I love being able to pay it forward.” Erin Dryden Owner, Luna Blu Ristorante

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Dining Out: Why is Luna Blu so likable? It's the real deal

By TERRA WALTERS, For Capital Gazette 

Outside, a variety of vehicles negotiated the narrow traffic lanes on busy Inner West Street. Inside, two friends were doing something decidedly decadent — savoring a leisurely lunch, splitting a bottle of wine, eating dessert and easing into the weekend without going back to a Friday afternoon of work.

Lovely.

And what better place to play hooky than Luna Blu. With its serene and intimate ambiance, it’s the perfect venue for getting “far from the madding crowd.”

There are some skills present in restaurant management that can be learned through experience and proper mentoring, but there are some that seem to rely on intuition and astute observation. Knowing how to pace service is one of the latter, and it’s a particular accomplishment to figure out when two guests are there for a very leisurely lunch while most other tables are filled with people who need to eat and get back to the office.
We were served some hot bread (they make their own) and our bottle of Quattro Mani Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($30). Then we were left to sip and sop (the bread in the olive oil) for a while. As soon as we were ready to order antipasti, our server appeared as if by magic to record our request for Lumache alla Luna ($11) and Frittura di Pomodori Verdi ($8).

You know those party questions that people ask sometimes — questions having to do with books and CDs you’d take if you were stranded on a desert island? A variation of that question, and one that my foodie friends are fond of asking, is, “If you could only eat one type of cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?” (A lot of people would pick Italian.)

If someone asks you to choose an appetizer that you could be happy eating every day, don’t reply until you’ve tried Luna Blu’s Lumache alla Luna. That might become your answer. This marvelous dish starts with tender escargots that are sautéed with mushrooms in butter. Next, a bit of marsala wine, some marinara sauce, and a touch of cream. This ethereal concoction is then baked in puff pastry and brought to the table piping hot. Be still, my heart.

The Frittura di Pomodori Verdi (fried green tomatoes) were, lamentably, not as good as they usually are at this restaurant. The menu mentions fresh buffalo mozzarella, but we didn’t detect any. Additionally, the breading was somewhat on the tired and heavy side. Surely, a temporary aberration because that dish has always been one of our favorites from the Luna Blu list of antipasti.

If you’re already skipping work and drinking wine (not to mention planning to eat dessert) in the middle of the day, might as well pull out all the stops. With that in mind, one member of our party went directly to the Spaghetti alla Carbonara ($11 at lunch, $16 at dinner). This exquisite dish mixes al dente spaghetti with tasty prosciutto ham, egg and a delectably creamy alfredo sauce. As good as Luna Blu’s other pastas are (and the Penne alla Vodka and the Farfalle alla Boscaiola are special favorites), this wonderful dish hit the mark squarely.

Considering that our trips to Luna Blu are usually for dinner, the other diner in our party decided to try one of their homemade paninis that are only available at lunchtime. Served with your choice of potatoes or pasta salad (and you can substitute one of their generous and tasty house salads for an additional $1.50), the sandwiches are large and packed with ingredients. The Italian Sausage and Peppers Panini ($9) included lots of sautéed green peppers with plenty of sweet Italian sausage piled between two sizeable slices of their homemade Italian bread. Quite a treat, as was the amazing pasta salad. Not usually fans of pasta salads, we each gave this one high marks.

There’s something very special about restaurants that make everything in-house. It adds authenticity and credibility to any kitchen that follows that policy because following that policy requires additional skill, planning and work for the staff. Even though it makes more work for the kitchen, it makes less work for the diner because one doesn’t have to pick and choose with that in mind.

Consequently, when we were ready to order dessert, it wasn’t necessary to ask which ones were made there because they all were.
We went right to our standby, the Tiramisu ($6). This is not a dessert we’d order everywhere, but with its light and delicious layering of mascarpone cream and espresso-dipped lady fingers dusted with cocoa (they throw in some chocolate chips, too), this version is off the charts.
Luna Blu, a local favorite since it opened more than 11 years ago, continues to be popular with regulars and first-timers alike. Why? It’s the real deal.

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When You Go

• WHAT: Luna Blu Ristorante Italiano.
• WHERE: 36 West St., Annapolis.
• PHONE: 410-267-9950.
• WEBSITE: www.lunabluofannapolis.com
• HOURS: Lunch: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (and seasonally from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday). Dinner: 5-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
• EXECUTIVE CHEF: Erin Dryden.
• APPETIZERS: $6 to $12.
• ENTRÉES: $14 to $26.
• RESERVATIONS: Walk-ins are always welcome, but reservations are recommended because of the limited number of tables.
• CREDIT CARDS: All major cards accepted.
• ACCESSIBILITY: Yes.