Dylan's Oyster Cellar officially opened in Hampden

The long awaited Dylan's Oyster Cellar is open at 3601 Chestnut Avenue. Finally in their permanent home, the soft opening was a success, so much so they needed to take a day to re-stock and prepare.  Located in the old florist shop at the corner of Chestnut and 36th Street, Dylan's offers up a diverse menu. Keep in touch via social media.

Facebook and Instagram: @dylansoystercellar

Twitter: @dylansoyster

Waldo is still missing but we found Harvey Shugarman in a little chocolate shop in New Mexico

Baltimorean Harvey Shugarman first came on the scene back in the 80’s when he was the chef at Girard’s Disco and then started rocking it out in the newly opened Greenspring Station with his Harvey’s Restaurant. 

A trend setter, feeding the crème de la crème in Baltimore, the “place to go and be seen” he instituted a lavish brunch buffet back in the day before “brunch” was the hot trend.  Eventually, Shugarman left the day-to-day operation of his own restaurant to go into restaurant consulting, but by 2008 it was hard.  The Shugarman’s Little Chocolate Shop is thriving in New Mexico and has been since he opened it 4 ½ years ago. Read the full story, watch the slideshow and give Harvey a call, he is accepting chocolate orders up through to Monday December 19th no later than 3 pm. The story is at Baltimore Post Examiners Dara Cooks Blog 

Amazing beer and food pairing at Fleet Street Kitchen

Honestly, I thought I hated beer but a recent food and beer pairing from MillerCoors turned me around. 

The only beer I remember having that tasted any good was at the Bluebird Bar on South Carolina Avenue in Atlantic City circa 1968. Not a far walk off the beach to the bar with a friend who treated me to a beer, it was cold, it was wet and it had been a sizzling 100 degrees out in the sun.    

Circa 2016 and an invite by MillerCoors to their Tasting Room,  a multi course beer and food pairing  at the highly touted Fleet Street Kitchen arrived.  Normally I don’t do beer or coffee – I have too many bitter receptors.  A friend and mentor, Antoinette Bruno of StarChefs.com had recently encouraged me to taste EVERYTHING when we were at a local coffee shop, even if it isn’t in my culinary roundhouse 

Check out the slideshow and menu at my Dara Cooks blog post at Baltimore Post Examiner.

Mama’s on the Half Shell will be open Christmas Day

Mea culpa in my list of restaurants open Christmas Day I forgot put down that Mama’s on the Half Shell in Canton which will be open from 11 am and operating regular hours.  The kitchen will be open from Noon-8pm and offering out their regular menu.

Perfect if you want to carry over the Italian tradition of 7 fishes on Christmas eve through to Christmas day.  It is a great way to get your seafood on for the holidays; a nice bouillabaisse, crab imperial or a solid crab cake platter.    

Mama’s on the Half Shell – 2901 O’Donnell Street- Baltimore, MD 21224 Reservations (410) 276-3160 https://www.mamasmd.com/MamasSite/ Facebook and Instagram: @mamasonthehalfshell Twitter: @mamashalfshell

Check out the other restaurants that are open on Christmas Day at my column at Baltimore Post Examiner 

Baltimore area restaurants that are open Christmas Day

When you just want something different for Christmas brunch or dinner. As in years before, I have put together a list of restaurants that are open on Christmas.  I don’t know about you, but all I want for Christmas is Dim Sum from Asian Court in the morning and for the first day of Hanukkah, which falls on Christmas Day, brisket and potato latkes for dinner from Regi’s American Bistro in Federal Hill. Guess what, both are available, as is Italian fare at Sotto Sopra Restaurant in Mt. Vernon or Indian cuisine at Akbar Palace in Randallstown.  Dare to be different and wear your PJ’s and you will get 20% off your tab at Blue Moon and Blue Moon Too in Fell’s Point / Federal Hill.  

Read the full listing and watch the slideshow at my post on Baltimore Post Examiner.

Ellicott City's Asian Court has moved - Dim Sum for Christmas

My go to Asian restaurant for Hong Kong Style Dim Sum, Asian Court, has just moved from its original digs in the Home Depot / Chatham Station Shopping Center just off Baltimore National Pike to Turf Valley Towne Square, 11105 Resort Road  in Ellicott City. 

A recent visit to the new digs on the weekend when dim sum is served from the carts from 11 am to 3 pm offered out too many temptations. Having dim sum with friends, both who have lived in China, is even more fun as metal steamers baskets stacked up upon each other as we delved into dim sum Nirvana. 

Local Chef Brian Cieslak on Food Network’s Chopped

A mere 24 years old and chef Brian Cieslak has worked at a number of the top kitchens in Baltimore; Fleet Street Kitchen, Bookmakers and Waterfront Kitchen.  Currently yu can find Chef Cieslak working at the highly regarded Preserve in Annapolis.

Cieslak has worked with Chef Chris Amendola for the last 4 ½ years who is known for his foraging skills and passed that passion on to Brian.

Cieslak’s episode of Chopped will air Thursday, December 15^th on the Food Network

Cha cha changes: B & O American Brasserie

They say timing is everything; well mine might just be a bit off sync in my review of the newly renovated B & O American Brasserie in the Hotel Monaco. Off sync or on sync, as I sit to write my take on a recent meal, The Baltimore Sun food reviewer Suzanne Loudermilk just published her review of the B & O American Brasserie and I concur with her 4 stars.  

Read the full story and watch the slideshow  in my Dara Cooks Baltimore Post Examiner column

The Milton Inn continues to impress

It all adds up! Take a historic 1740 fieldstone building, an inn for travelers for 100 years, one that was a school for boys for 50 years, a private residence and then in 1947, a restaurant, The Milton Inn.

People plan vacations around where they dine and The Milton Inn, which is located in Maryland’s Hunt Country, is just one of those unique establishments where everything from the award winning wines, the local Maryland edibles from the Chesapeake tributaries to rolling lush hills of county farms, rich décor and service make gatherings there so memorable.

On a recent visit to the Milton Inn, a media dinner for the press, we tasted dishes from their C. 1740 Lounge Small Plates menu (starting at $12 per plate) available in the C. 1740 lounge, mingled at a small cocktail reception and toured the restaurant taking in all the recent renovations.  The Milton Inn and Chef Boston’s vision of décor and cuisine always impresses. Being November the Milton Inn, refreshed from the extensive exterior and interior renovations was decked out to ring in the holiday season with panache.

Meatballs, Mustaches and Movember, Oh My!

November, designated Movember, is when men grow mustaches to heighten awareness of men’s health issues.  With that in mind, my charity pick and fun evening choice for this coming week is Eatmore (Meat) Balls for Movember. 

Mark your calendar, one of Baltimore’s leading Instagrammers @EatmoreBaltimore and Fell’s Point restaurant 8Ball Meatball  have combined forces to raise awareness of men’s health issues, supporting the Movember Foundation .

There will be no ta-ta’s talk during this evening, it’s about challenging men to be cognizant of their physical and mental health: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide prevention plus a lot of balls (meatballs).  

Participants will enjoy a selection of appetizers, their choice of a complimentary draft beer or specialty cocktail, and Movember swag for a mere $20 donation.

• When: Wednesday, November 30^th from 5:30 to 8:30pm.
• Where: 8 Ball Meatball – 814 S Broadway – Baltimore MD 21231
• Purchase Tickets: http://bpt.me/2712611 $20 per person donation  

Prizes will be awarded for the best Movember mustaches! 

Gourmet holiday gift item picks

It was only a couple months ago that I attending Natural Products Expo East and fell in love with a number of unique, natural products that will make ideal gift giving for the that person in your life who just goes crazy for new flavors, tastes and textures.

Everyone has that friend or family member whose life centers around food and what their next bite might be. They eat, they drink and they Instagram every morsel that goes in their mouth.  It is with that in mind this curated list of new edible choices from the Natural Products Expo East has been created for holiday gifting, entertaining or if you are the gourmand, epicure who wants a superlative taste treat, for you as well.

Check out the complete story, my picks  and slideshow at Baltimore Post Examiner

Grand Opening of Fells Point Tavern Benefits the Living Classroom Foundation

Everyone is invited to the “official” grand opening of Fells Point Tavern on Friday, November 18^th which is split in two parts. A buffet and drink pre-event from 6 to 9 pm – purchase your ticket for $30 or come later, from 9 pm to 2 am, where one can sway, hum, or tap their toes to the live music, drink a cold brew or classic cocktail and peruse local vendors promoting their wares to benefit the Living Classroom Foundation.

Dining Dish's Facebook Live Interview with Chef John Shields - mark your calendar

LIVE VIDEOS SAVED - PART 1 AND PART 2 - We had some technical difficulties, henceforth, two videos.  Great time with an amazing chef.  Enjoy the videos.


Tomorrow, Thursday, November 3rd at approximate 12:15 pm Dining Dish will be streaming a live Facebook video interview with Chef, Cookbook Author and Television Personality John Shields from his restaurant Gertrudes and the Baltimore Museum of Art. No technical difficulties withstanding, it should be fun and informative.If you have specific questions you would like John to answer, please send them my way diningdish @ hotmail.com.

Be sure to go to the DiningDish Facebook Page www.facebook.com/DiningDish/ to catch the live interview, with your questions and say hello.  While you are at the DiningDish Facebook page, give it a "LIKE."

John Shields has been an ambassador not only for Chesapeake Bay seafood but all coastal seafood and an early, early supporter of sustainable, farm-to-table. Those of you in Baltimore see him regularly at the local farmers markets and enjoy the bounty at Gertrudes Restaurant whether lunch, brunch, dinner or your very special event.

John Shields's Chesapeake Bay Cooking 25th anniversary edition celebrates a year since being published - be sure to grab a copy for your cookbook library.