Thinking ice cream, think Italian ice cream

Italian Ice Cream by Carla Bardi

Mostly Food Journal is probably the largest Europe-based cookbook review site, with more reviews added every day. The editor/writer, Chrissie Walker, has received popular acclaim for her book reviews, food articles and restaurant reviews, and was recently nominated for a prestigious food writers' award. Chrissie is currently working on a project about Korean food and culture. Chrissie has generously agreed to share her review of the cookbook Italian Ice Cream by Carla Bardi just in time for summer enjoyment.

Read the complete story:

Thinking ice cream, think Italian ice cream

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Great recipe, slow cooked and easy on the purse

While my clients have me inundated with work and deadlines, my food friends are donating stories, recipes and tales to keep you entertained. They are as diverse in their backgrounds as they are in their subject matter, so I hope you’ll jump in and give them a read.

Today’s guest poster is chef and restaurant consultant, Anthony Marini:

Great recipe, slow cooked and easy on the purse

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Aaaah chocolate, food of the gods

Baking is not my forte, though my friend, Maria Springer is amazing and she has agreed to share some of her baking and chocolate wisdom today in this column.

Maria Springer excels in creating Viennese pastry and I have been the lucky recipient many times as well as a attending a selection of her cooking classes. Maria started her Maja’s Viennese Kitchen Cooking School 16 years ago in Baltimore County. She has been an active member of IACP (Internatonal Association of Culinary Professionals) for a number of years interfacing regularly with other renowned cooking instructors. Here is Maria's story. She is a great teacher and what a baker!

Read the entire story:
Aaaah chocolate, food of the gods

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Do you remember and whatever happened to?

I should be doing one of my tidbits columns but I’ve become fixated on food items of the past and wonder where they are now.

I think about those ready-made hamburgers you would get from a vending machine and put it in a special oven (precursor to microwave). How about the hot soup from the vending machines that tasted like Lipton’s chicken noodle soup? I miss the old time coddies, the really good ones and fountain cokes with chocolate or cherry syrup. A select number of people would add ammonia to cokes but I never had the heart to taste one.

Read the entire story:
Do you remember and whatever happened to?

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Johnny Depp leaves a waiter a $4000 tip

Hot off the internet is a post on Radaronline.com, an exclusive story that Johnny Depp left a $4,000 tip for his waiter at a Chicago restaurant.

Read entire post:
Johnny Depp leaves a waiter a $4000 tip

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There is .com, .edu now .food - new food domains

Food entrepreneur and Chef Wolfgang Puck has partnered with Mind+Machine to create .food domains. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Meals on Wheels. Dot food will show you how to eat healthier, meet the farmers and will help with healthier life style.

Read complete bulletin:
There is .com, .edu now .food - new food domains

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Chicken Cacciatore – rant and recipe

Chicken cacciatore was the first dish I fixed for my boyfriend who eventually became my husband. And after all these years together he remembers that was the dish I prepared. If it sealed the marriage deal I don’t know but it surely helped.

Read the full rant and get my recipe:
Chicken Cacciatore – rant and recipe

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Before you could say farm-to-the-table, there was my daddy

My daddy, never dad or father but daddy, loved to grow vegetables that along with fishing were his joys. I can’t rant and rave about his cooking skills, he could ruin a steak or burger on the grill in a New York minute but he could grow veggies. It was never one variety of tomatoes it was plum, big boy, cherry, yellow and other varieties or the cucumbers were the regular ones you know from salads, pickling cucumbers and lemon cucumbers. Corn and peppers, you name he grew it, out in our backyard in suburban Baltimore county.

Read the entire story:
Before you could say farm-to-the-table, there was my daddy

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Good food, good cause

Dr. Dean Kane is stepping into the chef’s clogs on Thursday, June 25^th at Sotto Sopra Restaurant to help raise funds for Race for the Cure. Under the tutelage of the restaurant’s executive chef Bill Crouse, Dr. Kane will be preparing a four course Italian dinner with portions of the proceeds going to the charity. Local and internationally recognized singer/songwriter, Tony Scuitto, has donated his time and will be performing throughout the evening. Dr. Kane will be auctioning off a selection of his Photo Pop Art as well.

Check out the menu and details:
Good food, good cause

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Photo Pop Art courtesy and created by Dr. Dean P. Kane

Roy Rogers' Come and Get It Gang in Westminster

Tweeting has its advantages. This morning I get a tweet from Roy Roger's that their "Come and Get It Gang" chuckwagon looking truck will be in Westminster, Maryland today and tomorrow near Westminster City Park. I am assuming there will be coupons or food. Updates if and when they come in.Roy Rogers' Come and Get It Gang in Westminster

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Colorado Health Department warning on raw Nestle cookie dough

I was reviewing my other Dining Examiners stories from around the country and the St. Louis Restaurant Examiner had posted a warning from the Colorado Department of Public Health warning Coloradians not to eat RAW Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough because of a possible contamination with E. Coli 0157:H7. I thought it was worth mentioning here, don't you?

Read the complete story here:
Colorado Health Department warning on raw Nestle cookie dough

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Photography courtesy of Jelene Morris

TapaTini Fridays - five dollar tapas and martinis

What to do tonight, what to do? Need to find the place to go and things to do? If you are open to suggestion, let me tell you about TapaTini Fridays at TapaBar. They have recently started TapaTini Fridays where they offer five dollar tapas and five dollar martinis from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m every Friday evening.

Check it out:
TapaTini Fridays - five dollar tapas and martinis

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NEW video clip from Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia is movie that chronicles the lives of the great Julia Child and Julie Powell, the young lady who cooked every recipe in Julia’s cookbook and blogged her way to celebrity. I’ve posted the movie trailer previously but this is new, a brand new clip, an amuse bouche as one would say in the food industry- something to whet our appetites.

Catch the video:
NEW video clip from Julie & Julia

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Velleggia’s – Oldest Italian Restaurant in Baltimore - Est. 1937

Enrico and Mary Velleggia came to the United States from Porto San Elpidio, a village on the Adriatic Sea. They opened a small tavern where Mary prepared the dishes that she grew up eating. She made the sauces that her mother’s mother made; food from her homeland, a city by the sea. Enrico’s friends would come and dine and eventually others from the neighborhood that is now called Little Italy.

Read the entire story and view photo album:
Velleggia’s – Oldest Italian Restaurant in Baltimore - Est. 1937

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Don't miss Top Chef Masters tonight

It’s Wednesday night and I am so looking forward to Bravo’s Top Chef Masters second episode. The premiere last week rocked Bravo, becoming its top rated program. If you are lucky enough to have Bravo then you should tune in at 10 p.m. this evening. If you don’t have Bravo you can get the BEST up-to-date news from local gal whose non de plume is The Minx.

Get the full story and special video of former cheftestant, Michael Midgely:
Don't miss Top Chef Masters tonight

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Your favorite food celebs coming to NYC Wine & Food Festival

New York City Wine and Food Festival is the Food Networks big bash presented by Food & Wine and Travel & Leisure magazines for the public where one can buy one ticket or a package of tickets to attend cooking demonstrations, wine tastings or lectures featuring all the Food Network stars plus other culinary luminaries. The events run from October 8th through October 11th.

Learn what food celebs will be there and for a small dollar amount you can to to a number of cooking demonstratios: Your favorite food celebs coming to NYC Wine & Food Festival

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What are the Plain White T’s having for lunch today?

Watching my tweets, like a good reporter should do, I get a tweet from Bridget Forney (@bridgetforney) who says the Plain White T’s (@PWTS) are doing a private concert at Mix 106.5FM (@Mix1065FM) today and having lunch sent in. I sent a direct message back asking her to give me a call with the details, tweets tend to lack important details with the limited 140 characters.

Read the complete story and watch music video of Plain White T's
What are the Plain White T’s having for lunch today?

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Dad's day food-related gift list

Ideas for different gifts for father’s day are coming in fast and furious so I’ve created a list of unique or creative food giftings for dad. Not all of them are for all dads but hopefully this will give you a good selection.

1. Virginia’s most renown Bar-B-Que: Get it shipped to dad. The container holds 4 pounds of the famous Bar-B-Que enough to make 16 regular sized sandwiches.

Read the complete list:
Dad's day food-related gift list

Photograph courtesy of Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que

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Tidbits – coming soons, winners

You still have today to get to the Italian and Greek Festivals. I’m hoping to get out to one or both this afternoon. I was amazed at the response to my video interview with Top Chef’s –Season Five, Carla Hall – she is well-loved, that is for sure and quite generous with her time.

Read the complete story:
Tidbits – coming soons, winners & week in review

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Go Mediterranean this weekend - Greek and Italian Festivals

I love the summer and all the outdoor festivals and this weekend offers up the best of the Mediterranean with the Greek and Italian Festivals. Aren’t we blessed, a FREE event with entertainment plus great food – how can you miss? The tough choices are what to eat at each; Domathes or Calzone, Pastisto or Lasagne ---too many choices.

Check out the festivals:
Go Mediterranean this weekend - Greek and Italian Festivals

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It is getting ugly in grilled chicken land

El Pollo Loco has a beef with KFC and if you don’t eat beef, so will you. It seems that El Pollo Loco has discovered the use of beef powder and rendered beef fat in KFC’s grilled chicken. El Pollo Loco is clucking their tongues and scratching the dirt by going viral with a web campaign on the beef in the Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Grilled Chicken.

Read the whole story and check out the beefy chicken campaign: It is getting ugly in grilled chicken land

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You’ll never look at dinner the same

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

The turnout to hear Michael Pollan, author of Omnivore’s Dilemma-An Eater’s Manifesto, at the Enoch Pratt just last month was over 900 people. That is telling you that we are becoming enlightened to what food has done to us. Food allergies abound, obesity and diabetes are almost at plague levels and eating processed foods, fast food is killing us.

Read the entire story and watch the movie trailer
You’ll never look at dinner the same

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250th post contest – Win a Weber Q

It just seems like yesterday that I was posting my 200^th story here at the Examiner and I turn around and this is my 250^th. I think we need to celebrate with a contest. The grand prize is a Weber Charcoal Q Grill and stand that was used in the filming of Steven Raichlen’s Primal Grill. It was used once during the series and has been sitting in my breakfast room for over a year. I will not be shipping the prize so the winner must be able to pick it up-it is partially assembled. I have an assortment of cookbooks for other winners.

Read the contest details and questions:
250th post contest – Win a Weber Q

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Where should President Obama eat when he comes to Baltimore?

A friend sent me a link to a photojournal of Barack Obama eating at various diners, hamburger franchises, pancake houses, rib shack and chili establishments. I thought it might be fun to come up with our own recommendation for the president as to where he should dine when he comes to Baltimore.

Where should President Obama eat when he comes to Baltimore?

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FREE Coffee for Dads on Father’s Day

Dad can kick off his Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21st with a FREE medium coffee at Baltimore Coffee & Tea’s three retail locations. Hot or cold, frozen or frothy, dad can choose from eight flavored coffees brewed each day.

Read more and watch video:
FREE Coffee for Dads on Father’s Day

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A different gift for Father’s Day

Mother’s Day is a big day for the restaurant industry and Father’s Day seems to be a big day for the grilling industry – two diverse trends. I believe I found the perfect gift that combines both, thinks about the younger children, thinks locavore and has entertainment included. This is a way the entire family can enjoy the special event and have fun.

Read the details:

A different gift for Father’s Day

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The tanks are full - lobsters $5.89 a pound

Popped into store on way home from DC to find the tanks full of lobsters at $5.89 a pound as well as other shellfish:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: The tanks are full - lobsters $5.89 a pound

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Baltimore Dining Examiner: Top Chef Carla Hall – up close

Before Top Chef, there was the premiere of the Food Network's Food Fight series at the French Embassy and that is where I first met Carla Hall. She had been a Washington, DC competitor and I, a Baltimore competitor. She was teamed with Chef Janis McLean and they won their competition. For the Baltimore competition, I was teamed with Chef Nona Nielsen-Parker, unfortunately we didn’t quite have the same results.

Watch the video:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Top Chef Carla Hall – up close & personal video

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Tidbits - comings, trivia, review

Yet another week has slipped by, probably because of all the rain. Here is my weekly recap of my posts before they hit the deep, dark dungeon of archive oblivion. But before the recap, here is foodie news:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Tidbits - comings, trivia & review

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Rockfish consumption warning: High levels of PCB’s

State of Maryland issues a warning about high levels of PCB's

Read story:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Rockfish consumption warning: High levels of PCB’s

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FREE food giveaways addendum - healthy or not?

There seems to be controversy between the Restaurant Examiner and myself about whether the FREE food giveaways are healthy for us or not. Her response to my post was a post on a FREE chocolate dessert, Sugar Free Crownies, designed for those on a sugar free diet.

Apples to Oranges - Read more:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: FREE food giveaways addendum - healthy or not?

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FREE Food - Have you noticed none of it is healthy?

The only ones making out on these free food giveaways are the doctors with people eating these cholesterol and calorie-laden foods. Today is free donut day, we had free ice cream day, we had free root beer float day. And we have Mars weekly free chocolate candy Fridays. KFC wanted you to think the chicken giveaway was healthy but really, did you look at the sides?

Read my complete RANT:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: FREE Food - Have you noticed none of it is healthy?

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Ellicott City charm and Jordan’s Steakhouse (video)

There is much talk about staycations this year and celebrating your own locale. Let me recommend Historic Ellicott City. Because I live so close, I tend to forget that for others, out-of-state visitors, this is a vacation location-a destination worth visiting. Main Street Ellicott City has had its disasters, flooding – more than once but it bounces back – maintaining its historical charm. Main Street and side streets bustle with shops, something for everyone. When is the last time you were there?

Dining at Jordan's Steakhouse - read the review and watch the video:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Ellicott City charm and Jordan’s Steakhouse (video)

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Baltimore Dining Examiner: Where do all the foodies meet?

I must admit, I don’t know where foodies meet all the time but I can tell you where a large number will be converging this weekend and you are invited to come. This is the 2^nd annual Food and Wine Festival at the National Harbor being held Saturday, June 6^th and Sunday, June 7^th starting at noon each day. I checked the weather forecast for DC and it will be approximately 79 degrees and sunny both days – ideal to come taste new foods, see cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, drink some vino and commiserate with fellow foodies.

Read more for details and directions:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Where do all the foodies meet?

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Kitchen slaving in Washington DC

How do I shorten this fairly long story to short? My friend is the chef at the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington DC. Last December she needed help with the big gala dinner she creates for the fellows and as a friend, I offered to help. Roll the cameras forward to present day, I am still helping her out, being her kitchen slave, on average once a week so she can get a little ahead on her job demands.

Read the entire story:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Kitchen slaving in Washington DC

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Ice creams that don't melt but turn into pudding

Can you believe an ice cream that instead of melting turns to pudding? Well Cold Stone Creamery has developed the new product. I don’t know about you but I’m curious to see the ingredients in this item, aren’t you?

Read the complete story:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Ice creams that don't melt but turn into pudding

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Toilet Themed Restaurant Has 10 Locations

Toilet Themed Restaurant Has 10 Locations

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FREE Ice Cream Float at Sonic – Wednesday, June 3rd

I remember making ice cream floats at birthday parties as a kid. Put a dip of ice cream in a glass, add carbonated soda and watch it fizzzzzzzz. As an accoutrement, I would add some M&M’s for the pièce de résistance. These little concoctions likely would overflow on to the table and screw up the kids tummy along with all the other sugar that comes with the birthday parties.

Read the details on how to get your FREE ICE CREAM FLOAT:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: FREE Ice Cream Float at Sonic – Wednesday, June 3rd

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Celebrate Italy’s Festival of the Republic – June 2nd

The 63^rd Anniversary of the Festa della Repubblica Italiana was celebrated a little early, this past Sunday. The Consul of Italy in Baltimore, Dr. Francesco Luigi Legaluppi, hosted the 400 plus guests at Maserati of Baltimore for an afternoon of Italian song, music and of course, food and wine.

Read the entire story and enjoy the recipe links at:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Celebrate Italy’s Festival of the Republic – June 2nd

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Lobsters at $5.89 pound

Can you believe $5.89 a pound. Check out the other bargains I got today at Lotte:
Baltimore Dining Examiner: Lobsters at $5.89 pound

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