Hippodrome Theatre Announces 3rd Annual Foodie Event

Who will be the big culinary star for this year’s Foodie Experience. Year one was Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert, last year was Alton Brown and this year Travel Channel’s Bizarre Food host Andrew Zimmern takes the stage, Saturday, May 12, 2012. Read all the details HERE

Tavern on the Square, O’Donnell Square that is - now open

You know the restaurant space on O’Donnell Square, sure you do!  Formerly Razorbacks, Rick’s American and the last incarnation was Fins on the Square.  The boys, because if you are under 30 to me you are still boys, Mel Carter and Brett Lockard of Blue Hill Tavern renown are partners in Tavern on the Square (TOTS).  Top toque is Blue Hill Tavern’s former executive sous chef, Jeremy Thatcher, who isn’t afraid of showing his penchant for bold flavors.

The partners took over ownership of Fins on the Square in the early fall. Carter took the first week of 2012 to refurbish the space and change over to Tavern on the Square.  An extended bar, black wood trim and seating combined with the “rosemary sprig” color paint for the walls create a subdued back drop to A.  Audrey Bodine’s Baltimore photographs. 

Read the full story and check out the slideshow HERE

Baltimore food news

A lot of food related news, especially for the Baltimore region so rather than doing a gazillion posts this is a mini e-newsletter:  One stop shop for the food gossip.

Read all the news HERE

Capital Grille introduces their winter 3 plate lunch special for $18

The Capital Grille kicked off their winter version of their 3 plate luncheon specials today.  Having enjoyed the summer version, I said yes very quickly when they invited me to preview their winter version.

For the office worker who wants to eat well but can’t linger this is ideal.Indulge yourself, go and enjoy a wonderful lunch rather than blowing $10 on the routine lunches you eat every day. Read the full story and watch the slideshow HERE

Joe Squared Pizza at Power Plant - new curbside pickup

The new curbside pickup from Joe Squared Pizza at Power Plant Live makes getting not only the delicious thin crust pizzas to go easier but also risottos, wings, appetizers, soups, salads and sandwiches. Cleverly called “Take Joe Home”, one calls in their order at 410-962-5566. Once again they call when they pull up at Take Joe Home sign at the Power Plant Live! circle and a Joe Squared staffer will bring it right to your car. The service is available seven days a week. Get all the details HERE

B & O American Brasserie - new season, new menu

While writing my posts of what the 2011 food trends were to my post on the 2012 trends in food will be had me reflecting  on the media menu tasting at the B & O American Brasserie. Seasonal menus, farm-to-table still remain high on many of these lists so being invited in to taste the new winter menu additions at B & O American Brasserie was a tantalizing new start to the culinary year.

Shrimp Noodles Scampi

Read the full story and check out the photo slide show HERE

Food trends for 2012 - top 12 lists that predict our food future

The New Year, 2012, is here – day one and a time to look forward, to look forward to the food trend predictions for the year. Last week I took a look back and posted my top ten list of top ten list of 2011 food trends. As you review these lists you will see some overlap on the 2012 food trend predictions.

Still rock solid is local resourcing, chefs growing their own and what our children are eating.Check out the 12 lists of 2012 food trend predictions HERE

The best of Baltimore's hospitality is alive and awaiting your votes

Baltimore is on the map, the culinary map.Right now there are numerous ways your votes will highlight and help local hospitality businesses.Your vote is needed at The Destination Guide's Best of Baltimore, Baltimore Magazine's Best Restaurant Poll and Southern Living's The South's Tastiest Town Award.

The Destination Guide, a national television show and video travel log was in Baltimore filming the best places to eat, sleep, drink, work and play. Read the full story HERE

2011 food trends top-ten list of top 10 lists

Were the pundits correct in their 2011 forecasts of food trends for the home, restaurant and supermarket shelves?  This is the time of year where we look back at the year ending.  There are so many top ten trend lists that I have put together my top ten list of the top five, ten or twenty lists of 2011 food trends.
 

1 StarChefs.com:  "Another year of tastings has come and gone. And we’re excited to announce the publication of the StarChefs.com...Check out all the 2011 food trend list HERE

Cookbook Corner: The Silver Spoon New Edition - Italy's Joy of Cooking

Known in Italy as Il cucchiaio d’argento, The Silver Spoon cookbook is a compendium of Italian cooking.  Translated to English in 2005 for the first time The Silver Spoon: New Editionwith 2,000 updated and revised recipes and illustrated with 400 brand new, full-color photographs and 1500 pages is one of the more comprehensive Italian cookbooks. It is to the Italians what the Joy of Cooking is to us in the United States. 

Carrying on the decades long tradition of revisions executed in Italian, The Silver Spoon: New Edition has once again been painstakingly revised and adapted for Americans...Read the full story and get the recipe HERE

A delicious endeavor - TEN TEN Bistro in the Bagby Building

For me, a foodaholic, the plethora of new restaurant openings in Baltimore’s downtown neighborhoods the past couple of months is the best of times and the worst of times. The worse being my ever growing waistline from dining around town.  The best of times is finding a gem the likes of TEN TEN American Bistro in the Bagby Building.

The entrance is located in an alcove next to Bagby Pizza at 1010 Fleet Street. TEN TEN  (@BagbysTenTen) takes the former warehouse space and works with its original materials to create a current and welcoming atmosphere. Reclaimed wood floors, exposed bricks and ceiling, marble bar, and black and white photographs add to the atmosphere...Read the full story HERE

Buy $100 gift certificate get a $50 gift certificate free at Sotto Sopra today

Sotto Sopra’s customers signed up on their e-mail mailing list and Facebook fans awoke this morning to find a generous offer for them. Purchase TODAY ONLY, (Wednesday, December 21, 2011) between 6 a.m. and midnight EST a one hundred dollar gift certificate ON LINE and they will automatically receive a fifty dollar gift certificate for free.

Get more details HERE.

Frosty the Cheeseball Ball Man - Holiday entertaining fun

On the go, rushing to get out the door to my kitchen slave job at 4:42 a.m.  No time for original copy I have completely cut and pasted this story.  Not usually in my nature.  Fun video, fun recipe..be sure to click through to the video. Check out the full story HERE

Cookbook Corner: Cook This Now by Melissa Clark

Cook This Now by food columnist, the New York Times Dining Section Melissa Clark should be on the holiday gift list for anyone who loves shopping the farmers markets or who wants to but isn’t sure how to prepare a number of the fresh products.

There are 100  recipes, broken down not just seasonally but monthly reflecting what is available at the farmers markets. Cook This Now guides you how to bring fresh items home and create tasty,... Read the full story HERE

The Baltimore Food and Drink Week Ahead -Dec 12th thru Dec 15th

The week ahead in food and drink in Baltimore.  Going over incoming press releases, Facebook invites etc here are two choices for the week ahead. The Wine Market has a Jolly Happy Hour - enjoy the door prizes and complimentary hors d'ouevres - bring  unwrapped toys.

Taste the difference between Champagne and Sparkling Wine in time for your holiday gift giving or entertaining at Sotto Sopra Restaurant.

Get all the details HERE

The Mallet Restaurant & Crabhouse - food and entertainment for all

There is so much being offered at The Mallet Restaurant and Crabhouse in Fallston at the crossroads of Bel Air Road and Route 152 that it is hard to compress it all in one story.  It is a fine dining restaurant, a martini/tapas bar, al fresco dining deck (weather permitting), a raw bar-sushi, lites bites, steamed crabs, and a large entertainment center called the Tiki Bar, which has multiple TV screens, food and holds 300 people.

Connections!!!

For me, my connection was Christa and Davide Rossi, former chef/owners of Pazza Luna Restaurant in Locust Point, which was one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore. Chef Rossi has a deft hand, a good sense of flavors and textures and has never disappointed me with any dish he prepared.

Read the full story and check out the snaps HERE

THIS WEEKEND: Beverage event picks Dec 10th

With the holidays coming the big push is on for wines and alcohol.  Here are three events this weekend that are focused on the spirits and wine. Remember to drink responsibly and pick a designated driver.
 
Saturday, December 10th Gypsy Soul Presents:  Smirnoff's "Master of the Mix" Viewing Party

Join Teavolve for the official viewing of Smirnoff's "Master of the Mix" Episode 6.  Master of the Mix is a reality TV show created by Smirnoff and features DJ's battling it out for the crown.

This viewing party is hosted by Hip Hop Cleopatra along with DJ Harvey Dent & will feature Complimentary Smirnoff Cocktails--Including cocktails created with Smirnoff Blueberry and their newest flavors Fluffed Marshmallow & Whipped Cream.    Must Be 21 and older--RSVP is required to enter

Read about more beverage events HERE

The Week Ahead: Food and Wine - Baltimore

My pick for food and wine events in Baltimore for this week.

 
Tonight:  Mr. Rain's Funhouse repeal day dinner, Chefs Expression's Best of the Best dishes and wines from all their food and wine dinner the past year rolled up in one and the opening of the first Harris Teeter supermarket in Baltimore.

Get the scoop, dates and neccessary info  HERE