Forget your shovels Baltimore all you need is pickle juice

With sleet and ice at our doorsteps this evening this might be the tip of the day – pickle juice. Bergen County New Jersey is using brine, similar to pickle juice to pre-treat roads and walkways. With four snow storms they have just about exhausted their budget for salt and have come up with this cost effective means of solving their snow / ice situation.

Read about the whole situation here: Forget your shovels Baltimore all you need is pickle juice

Rachel Ray’s Look + Cook - beginner to well-seasoned cook will benefit - Recipe included

Rachel Ray’s latest entry to the cookbook world, Rachael Ray’s Look + Cook has been sitting in my office for about two months. Overwhelmed with business at hand had delayed me reviewing this cookbook and a couple others who made their entry just prior to the big holiday season.

All-in-all, the delay until there was time to look at this cookbook was to the cookbook’s benefit. My review of Rachel Ray’s Look + Cook was focused on how universal, broad stroked the book is to all cooks, beginners and well seasoned (forgive the pun)

Read the full review and get the recipe: 
Rachel Ray’s Look + Cook - beginner to well-seasoned cook will benefit

Ranked Baltimore’s best – Matthew’s Pizza “deal of the day”

So many places to turn with discount dining, Groupon, Eversave, Chewpon, LivingSocial but do you know about CBS local? Make sure you are signed up to get their e-notices. They have some amazing local restaurants offers. Today’s is Matthew’s Pizza.

Located on Eastern Avenue, Matthew’s Pizza has been around since World War II, 1943 to be exact when émigrés came to the US and brought the foods of their motherland.

Get the full details on hte dining deal of the day:  Ranked Baltimore’s best – Matthew’s Pizza “deal of the day”

Pop Up Cooking Class at Pierpoint Restaurant - Baltimore

This is a very last minute cooking class that Chef Nancy Longo is doing this Saturday, January 29th at Pierpoint Restaurant. Chef Longo has been offering hands on cooking classes way before all these Johnny come lately cooking classes. She’s quite the experienced teacher, the class is full value for the dollar and Chef Longo will make the class entertaining as well as educational.

Saturday, January 29th – Southwestern cooking - get all the details - if you love cooking classes, especially hands on - check this out:

Pop Up Cooking Class at Pierpoint Restaurant - Baltimore

Snowbound….what you gonna cook?

Snowbound….what you gonna cook?

First question is do you have power, but if you don’t you aren’t reading this any hooooo. Hope you all faired safely after the treacherous snow storm(whiteout) of last night. That you are safely home and you didn’t spend hours upon hours in your car locked on the Jones Falls Express or any other roadway.

At this point, I’m land locked with downed wires on my car.

Read the full story:

Snowbound….what you gonna cook?

Baltimore Restaurants that are extending Restaurant Week Specials.

Baltimore Restaurant Week is going on now! It started Friday, January 21st and officially ends Sunday, January 30th BUT a number of the restaurants that are participating are extending the three course lunch at $20.11 and dinner at $35.11 yet another week.

Keep up with the list of restaurants extending their restaurant week promotions:
Baltimore Restaurants that are extending Restaurant Week Specials.

Another view of the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s corkage survey-BYOB

Earlier this past week I posted the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s official stand on the case for corkage in Maryland Restaurants. The Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws has responded that the Restaurant Association of Maryland Industry Survey supports the case for Corkage though in their press release they stated they would advise against it.

Read the full story HERE

Finding Dim Sum near Baltimore – Red Pearl Chinese Restaurant

I heart Dim Sum. Love the rolling carts of small individual steamer baskets serving a selection of Chinese dishes. Actually the translation of Dim Sum is “to touch your heart” or “little heart.” Dim Sum is traditional served as brunch/lunch food. Neighboring Northern Virginia and Maryland’s Montgomery County have a number of places for Dim Sum; the closest we have to Baltimore is Howard County.

Out to lunch

My food partner in crime, Jeff, was in from Florida and thought it a perfect excuse to go try Red Pearl Chinese Restaurant for Dim Sum. Get the full story and check out the slide show:Finding Dim Sum near Baltimore – Red Pearl Chinese Restaurant

Which restaurant chain has the worst food?

This post is inspired by The Village Voice’s post The Six Worst Chain Restaurants in New York. If you lived in New York City, land of a million independent restaurants, why would you even consider a chain other than two dine for $10 options for those less fortunate financially.

Of course, bad meals can be had at independently owned restaurants, that goes without saying.
Read the entire post and let your voice be heard: Which restaurant chain has the worst food?

Restaurant Association of Maryland stand on the current Wine Corkage (BYOB)

It was only a couple months ago a notice came out from the Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws about trying to change the corkage laws in the state of Maryland. The law will allow you, the consumer, to bring your own bottle of wine to a restaurant with a Maryland Liquor License- you would be charged a corkage fee. Those restaurants without the Maryland liquor license are allowed to let customers bring wine and beer (BYOB) but they must charge a corkage fee.

Interestingly enough, it contained a situation where at Volt Restaurant in Frederick, owned by Top Cheftestant Bryan Voltaggio.....

Read the full story: Restaurant Association of Maryland stand on the current Wine Corkage (BYOB)

Three restaurants – one night: Baltimore City’s Winter Restaurant Week

It’s back! Baltmore City’s Restaurant Week. How can you miss that come this Friday, January 21st launches the sixth year Baltimore City’s restaurants are offering you dining deals – three course luncheons for $20.11 / three course dinners for $35.11. Let Baltimore City’s Restaurant Week begin!

A handful of media were invited to sample Restaurant Week offerings from restaurants in the North Charles Street corridor/Mt. Vernon last night and share our experience with you. Personally, the Mt. Vernon area is a favorite for dining and I believe it gets overshadowed by downtown’s Harbor East and downtown’s big boys but in reality it is home to the city’s finest eateries.

Join me as I take you on Dara’s edible tour of Baltimore City’s Winter Restaurant Week at City Cafe, Sascha’s and The Prime Rib. Do not read if one is hungry.

Let the fork be with you - Check out a night of 3 restaurants and what they are offering for Restaurant Week-slide show inclusive:

Three restaurants – one night: Baltimore City’s Winter Restaurant Week

Indulging in chocolate all night long provides health care for the homeless

Can someone in the background hum the theme from the television show Bonanza. Thank you! Why bonanza? Well it is time for the Chocolate Affair, Thursday, February 3rd, in fact, a milestone Chocolate Affair, 20 years and for those who attend, it is a chocolate bonanza. Over fifty restaurants, caterers and chocolatiers put out their most creative, edible chocolate creations, both sweet and savory, for attendees to enjoy and for the glory of having the best chocolate dish of the night.


Last year over 1,600 guests enjoyed the early evening cocktail bash raising $180,000 for homeless healthcare needs.

Get all the details, look at the mouthwatering snaps of chocolate offerings.:

Indulging in chocolate all night long provides health care for the homeless

Roy’s Harbor East: New cooking class – new chef

Hurray and sign up for the new cooking demonstration class to be held at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant in Baltimore’s Harbor East to be held Sunday, February 20th at 7 p.m. Hurray, because the last class sold out very quickly.

The class last Monday had 30 students who watched as Chef Patrick (Opie) Crooks demonstrated a four course menu: Smoked Salmon Ravioli, Crispy Lobster Potstickers with Togarashi MIso Butter, Misoyaki Glazed Butterfish in a sizzling Soy Vinaigrette and the finale, Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle.

 



Get the full details on the upcoming class and look at the slide show:
Roy’s Harbor East: New cooking class – new chef

New culinary club for Baltimore: food, drink, history, conversation, new friends

Culinary clubs have come, some have stayed and many have gone especially now that restaurants organize their own food and wine dining events. The events are pretty typical, a set menu, a set venue – you come, you eat/drink and you leave. There is a new kid in town!

Read the full story, check out the slide show: New culinary club for Baltimore: food, drink, history, conversation, new friends - Baltimore dining | Examiner.com

Ruby Tuesday Restaurant blunder

When composing my post on free birthday gifts from restaurant chains one needed to sign up as a fan/follower at various restaurant chains’ websites. So, from time-to-time, promotional emails from these chains are in my email inbox.

On Tuesday, January 11th Ruby Tuesday sent a birthday offer, “we wrapped your present in a bun” – a free birthday burger. Generous but guess what, my birthday is in May.

Continue reading: Ruby Tuesday Restaurant blunder

Assorted Baltimore food news and gossip

Okay, so I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to post. It doesn’t mean I haven’t been hearing food news and unsubstantiated gossip. So here is the scoop for now!

Tonight, I head down to Roy’s Restaurant to take part in the cooking class being offered by their new chef and partner, Patrick (Opie) Crooks.

For the full story and news continue reading: Assorted Baltimore food news and gossip

Lunch and dinner specials $11 and happy hour drinks $1.11 on 01/11/11

Shrimp and Grits

I’ve written about them before, down in Canton about my lovely lingering lunch. Time flies and they are celebrating their one year anniversary in a big way. Well I think so!

On 01-11-11, which is next Tuesday, get yourself specially priced luncheon and dinners for just $11. Come in for happy hour from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for drinks priced at the amazing price of $1.11. You won't go wrong, good food at a great value.

Read the full story HERE

The Dining Examiner’s 2010 top ten list

It has been an exciting year for Dining Examiner/Dining Dish. Your generous votes during the 2010 Mobbies–Best Baltimore Blogs contest through the Baltimore Sun ranked my Dining Dish blog the 2nd best foodie blog in the city and the fifth best blog in Baltimore - not too shabby considering blogs keep multiplying.

Predictions


There have been multiple list about trends for 2011, will they be right we’ll see at the end of the year.

Check out my top ten:
The Dining Examiner’s 2010 top ten list

A Groupon you don’t want to miss

A number of you have already figured out that I’m tethered to my computer 90% of my waking hours. Of course there is a down side to this but it is a New Year, so let us look to the positive. Being one with the computer allows me to catch food news that most don’t receive or have time to catch in a timely fashion.

Enter Facebook and a Facebook E-mail - get all the details:

A Groupon you don’t want to miss