Bits & Bites: Maryland marks ‘Kimchi Day,’ chocolate-and-shoe shop returns to Hampden and diner plans to open in White Marsh

It’s Thanksgiving week, that one time of the year where the whole nation is focused on the dinner plate. I’ve always preferred the sides to the main dish. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy a traditional roasted turkey and gravy. But there’s something special about creamy mashed potatoes, aromatic stuffing, sweet corn pudding and broccoli topped with decadent hollandaise sauce. They’re even more satisfying when you combine them all in one bite.