Food phobias – what are yours?

As children a majority of us grew up with food hang ups. Hamburger wasn’t my thing but I have grown out of that as well as being a picky eater. The question is have we truly out grown them? I can’t help but think of Everyone Loves Raymond’s character Robert Barone who would touch his food to his face before eating it. Yes, it was a character on a television program although these strange hang ups exist. I remember a friend who couldn’t have his foods touch each other on the plate. My sister’s friend had to smell everything before she ate it. Another friend's child would only eat cereal or lettuce. Have our childhood food phobias overlapped into adulthood, why can’t we get past them?

What is your take on food phobias? Read more: Food phobias – what are yours?

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Wine and dine to help the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County

The ideal family is one who sits down to the table and shares the stories of the day over a meal. In many families there is no norm, there is domestic violence, abuse beyond your wildest concepts. It seems appropriate that the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County is building their fundraiser this year around the concept of sharing food.

Read more about this special dining event and how you can attend: Wine and dine to help the Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County

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Ripert and Bourdain – the good, the bad, the calories – Part 1

Had you suggested 10 years ago to offer a show with two chefs sitting on stage chit-chatting and have it sell out a theatre, people would have said you should stop drinking. The reality is that last night the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore was filled, jammed with fans of Anthony Bourdain of the Travel Channel’s No Reservations and Eric Ripert of the PBS series Avec Eric.

A friend, who is passionately in love with Bourdain, sent her advanced ticket sale notice from Broadway Across America to me bemoaning she couldn’t go because of her son’s college graduation. Opportunity knocked but the best seats available were center row K. How could so many tickets for chefs just talking sold so, so fast? At the theatre Jody and Angela Lamberti discussed how they manage front row tickets and Jody replied she ordered the tickets the instant the e-mail came into her in box.

Read the story, catch the snap and watch the video: Ripert and Bourdain – the good, the bad, the calories – Part 1

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Make your reservation for a FREE Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Restaurant chains are getting a bit smarter in the execution of FREE food offers and creating a more manageable way to make everyone happy. Chick-fil-A is offering a FREE Spicy Chicken Sandwich with a reservation. Consumers are asked to make reservations NOW for pick up from May 31st to June 5th. Chick-fil-A’s new entry to the product line, spicy chicken sandwich, will not be available to the general public until June 7th so the only way you get to taste one before hand is signing up for the FREE sandwich.

Learn how to get your FREE sandwich: Make your reservation for a FREE Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich

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Soft shell crab week is coming to downtown Baltimore hon

What a great way to show off one of Baltimore’s and Maryland’s regional specialties by creating Soft Shell Crab Week in downtown Baltimore. Let’s give a hand to the Downtown Partnership. This isn’t the first Soft Shell Crab week, it kicked off last summer and was so successful it has become an annual event. Soft shell crab lovers, dig in!

Get to the crustacean of the matter - read more, get restaurant list and watch video: Soft shell crab week is coming to downtown Baltimore hon

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Culinary anthropologist Joan Nathan comes to Baltimore - don't miss her talk

You might recognized Joan Nathan’s name from her public broadcasting’s television series,Jewish Cooking America with Joan Nathan based on her book, Jewish Cooking America. A can-do gal of many talents has worked for the mayor of Jerusalem as well as being the guest curator of Food Culture USA at the 2005 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Get all the details about Joan Nathan's lecture in Baltimore: Culinary anthropologist Joan Nathan comes to Baltimore - don't miss her talk

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Photograph by Dara Bunjon©
picture: l to r- Judith Jones, Chef Jean Pierre Xiradakis & Joan Nathan

What’s old, what’s new at the Mt. Washington Tavern

The consideration now is to go in chronological order or just take you on my own special tour of the Mt. Washington Tavern. Hmmm, not sure, jumping in with both feet. Here goes.

30 year anniversary

The Mt. Washington Tavern is celebrating its 30 year anniversary and so are my husband and I. That doesn’t mean a hill of beans to you except that I met my husband at the Mt. Washington Tavern.

Read the full story and catch the snaps: What’s old, what’s new at the Mt. Washington Tavern

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Where do you go to eat once your horse has won the 135th Preakness?

Hot off the press release, here is the poop and the scoop on where Looking at Lucky owners and their VIP friends dined after wining the 135th Preakness. Where you ask? Get all the details:
Where do you go to eat once your horse has have won the 135th Preakness?

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Two totally different wine dinners on Thursday, May 20th - which one will you choose?

Love wine – check. Relish a well prepared gourmet meal – check. Enjoy stimulating dinner conversation – check. What do you do when there are two excellent choices for multi-course wine dinner with excellent paired wines? How does one choose? How does one choose?

The decision is yours, and yours alone – I will not skew you either way. The price point is about the same the locations are diametrically apart: downtown Baltimore or Monkton, Maryland. These two events are being listed in alphabetical order to show no preferential treatment.

Check out the menus and see which wine dinner you will choose: Two totally different wine dinners on Thursday, May 20th - which one will you choose?

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Teach your children well – Baltimore children involved in KIPP Harmony garden project

'Teach your children what you believe in. Make a world that we can live in.’ These words of the 1970 Crosby Stills Nash & Young song Teach Your Children are words we all should live by. Our future is in our children.

KIPP Harmony Garden Project Engages Kids, Adults in Making Urban GreenSpace

Read how this inner city garden project is kicking off and how the young children are taking part: Teach your children well – Baltimore children involved in KIPP Harmony garden project

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Dining discount to men and women in Armed Forces on May 15th

Yes, this coming Saturday is the Preakness Race here in Baltimore, a great event that unfortunately overshadows Armed Forces Day, which is celebrated nationwide. On Saturday, May 15th, Sotto Sopra Restaurant would like to honor the men and women in Armed Forces.These brave souls have and are putting their lives on the line to protect this country and our way of life we have grown to expect. Freedom is a privilege not something to be taken for granted.

Get all the details: Dining discount to men and women in Armed Forces on May 15th

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Spaghetti Dinner - $8 adults $3 children

Don’ t you love church dinners, bull roasts and spaghetti dinners? If the answer is yes, do I have a spaghetti dinner for you this coming Sunday. Bring the whole family, children 6 or under eat for FREE and proceeds go to worthy causes.

Click for all the details: Spaghetti Dinner - $8 adults $3 children

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Great recipe – simple, no cooking – you will love it

Here is a recipe I got to try while working my part-time kitchen slave job. My chef friend, Sylvia, was testing the recipe out for the big dinner party she does for scholars she puts together twice a year. I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT, it was light, refreshing and perfect for spring and summer and it was easy. Did you hear me, EASY and it can be prepped ahead of time.

Learn more about this delicious recipe: Great recipe – simple, no cooking – you will love it

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Lovely lingering lunch at Langermann’s – great addition to the Baltimore restaurant scene

I’m unable to resist the alliteration but a lovely lingering lunch is what was enjoyed with local gal pal promoter for Langermann’s, Merritt Dworkin. Langermann’s, a recent addition to the Baltimore restaurant scene has revamped the old Kiss Café into a modern venue with an open kitchen format, linen covered tables and a sleek stylized bar. The high ceiling industrial space allows for a 2nd floor dining space – great for private parties.

Read the whole review: Lovely lingering lunch at Langermann’s – great addition to the Baltimore restaurant scene

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Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament - you can be a judge

Kicking off on Monday, May 10th is the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament where our top regional chefs go head-to-head in a competition where they have one hour to prepare a three course meal. Like March Madness, the winners of each competition move on to the next round of culinary competition. This is happening every Monday and Tuesday with our local talented chefs from the likes of Sotto Sopra to Bistro Blanc- come root your favorite chefs on.

Get all the details - READ ON:Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament - you can be a judge

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Michelin-starred Chef Fergus Henderson of St John Restaurant's offal food takes Manhattan

Chef Fergus Henderson of London’s St John Restaurant was in Manhattan yesterday, at Chef Jonathan Waxman’s Barbuto Restaurant in the West Village. This is one of four stops in the United States for the chef who took the awful out of offal. The architect-turned-chef is promoting the forthcoming opening of his London St John Hotel in September.

Yesterday was the east coasters only chance to dine on Fergus’s cuisine.

Check out the video, photo slide show and details on this unique luncheon:

Michelin-starred Chef Fergus Henderson of St John Restaurant's offal food takes Manhattan

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Chefs – unsung heroes – one in particular

Dean Batlas, executive chef. Dean was the president of the Central Maryland Chefs and Cooks Association for numerous years, an organization that has supported many a charity in the Baltimore region. If you have dined at Harryman House or Jordan’s Steakhouse he probably prepared your meal. Most recently, Dean has worked for Marriott as a food and beverage manager but that is no longer the case.

Read more about Chef Dean Batlas:
Chefs – unsung heroes – one in particular

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¿Qué estás haciendo por el Cinco de Mayo – what are you doing for Cinco de Mayo?

Tell us what you are doing to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Don’t know, haven’t made a decision? Are you open to suggestion?

Señoras y señores obtener en los sombreros de su partido

Ladies and gents, get on your party hats here is my recommendation:

Come join us:

¿Qué estás haciendo por el Cinco de Mayo – what are you doing for Cinco de Mayo?

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