ProStart high school students walk away with culinary honors. Video and snaps

Imagine yourself 15 years old, dreaming of a career in the culinary world but where do you go to follow this dream. Across the country there are high schools offering a program called ProStart which allows these dreamers to make dreams a reality. These ‘wanna cook’ kids are able to make their dreams come true early.

Check out the video and snaps, get the full story on a day in the life of a high school culinary competition:
ProStart high school students walk away with culinary honors. Video and snaps

Posted using ShareThis

Who will be Maryland's best chef, best restaurant, best bar? It is up to you to vote now

The Restaurant Association of Maryland announced this afternoon their nominees for the annual “Stars of the Industry.” The awards honor the Maryland hospitality industry’s best in categories such as Maryland’s Favorite New Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Caterer of the Year and more. Winners of these prestigious awards will be revealed at the 56th Annual McCormick & Company “Stars of the Industry” Awards Gala on Monday, April 26, 2010 from 6pm to midnight at Martin’s West in Baltimore

Check out the nominees and how you can vote:
Who will be Maryland's best chef, best restaurant, best bar? It is up to you to vote now

Posted using ShareThis

Last Sunday of the month: ½ price burgers at Alizée

This is a pretty simple deal; Alizée Boutique Bistro and Wine Bar offer a selection of the hamburgers half price the last Sunday of the month. Don’t have plans for Sunday, February 28th you just might want to consider their signature Bistro Burger. Check out the details:
Last Sunday of the month: ½ price burgers at Alizée

Posted using ShareThis

Local chef semi-finalist for the James Beard Awards

If you don’t know what the James Beard Awards are let me tackle that first. In each industry like the films, music, Broadway shows there are awards. There are the Oscars for the movies, the Grammys for music, Tony’s for Broadway and then there is the James Beard Awards for the restaurant industry. At this time of the year the James Beard Foundation issues its list of semi-finalist for the top restaurateur, top restaurant, top chef, regional chefs, best service, best beverage etc. It is then narrowed down to finalist with the awards taking place in New York City on May 2nd.

Read the whole story and learn the Baltimore Chef semi finalist for the James Beard award. Local chef semi-finalist for the James Beard Awards


Posted using ShareThis

What if Martha Stewart came to your house? Martha in Baltimore

It isn’t all that far fetched. The marvelous Martha Stewart amtracked it to Baltimore with friends on February 14th for a very special Vietnamese celebratory dinner at Mr. and Mrs. Phung Doan home for Chinese New Year. Many Asian cultures celebrate this holiday, not just the Chinese.

Read the full story: What if Martha Stewart came to your house? Martha in Baltimore

Posted using ShareThis

Clack your castanets – 50% OFF FOOD at La Tasca – Ole!

We’re done with Super Bowl’s, Valentine’s Day and Fat Tuesday’s food. What do you do in-between now and St. Patrick’s Day’s Irish cuisine? Think Spain, think Spanish tapas and go to La Tasca at Baltimore’s Harborplace and get 50% off food Monday through Sunday until April 1st.

Get the full details here: Clack your castanets – 50% OFF FOOD at La Tasca – Ole!

Posted using ShareThis

Seeking competitive eaters – cash prize

Doesn’t it seem a number of winners of competitive eating contest like Nathan’s Hot Dogs and others are always tiny people? Being a previous tiny person, short and thin---I did say previous, I was known for my healthy appetite. My late mother-in-law used to say I had an appetite of a longshoreman but it was never so huge that I would consider competitive eating. Well maybe if it was lobster.

Read the full story and get all the details:
Seeking competitive eaters – cash prize

Posted using ShareThis

Dinner for one - fun video

Please enjoy this video in the spirit it is presented. It is refreshing, clever and everyone needs a smile added to their day. I’m not sure I want what was eaten but I would love to sit across from the diner at a table at Per Se

Dinner for one - fun video

Posted using ShareThis

Top 30 Restaurants in the US - my new bucket list

For those who aren’t aware of what the bucket list means, it is a list of the things you want to do before you die, i.e. hence the phrase “kick the bucket”. I do have a “kick the bucket” story before I get on with the top 30 restaurants in the United States as determined by Opinionated about Dining poll. When my neighbor’s daughter was 4 years old she admired a ring that I wore. I told her if she was really good that when I kicked the bucket she can have the ring.... Read the full story and see the list of the Top 30 Restaurants: Top 30 Restaurants in the US - my new bucket list

Posted using ShareThis

Oceanaire extends Restaurant Week dining through end of February

Who knew we would loose so many dining days due to the snowpocalype that covered our streets and homes. A number of restaurants in Baltimore have extended the pre fixe menus from the Winter Restaurant week I just saw a post on my Facebook page that the Oceanaire Seafood Room is extending through the end of February. It is a great menu and they were on my list before all this snow started.

Check out the pre fixe menu for $35.10...it is quite good:
Oceanaire extends Restaurant Week dining through end of February

Posted using ShareThis

Cinghiale hosts Marchesi di Barolo wine dinner with special guest Anna Abbona

On Thursday, February 18th at 7 p.m. Cinghiale Restaurant will host Anna Abbona, proprietor of Marchesi di Barolo vineyards for a very special evening of great food and fine wines from the Piedmont region of Italy. In the Marchesi di Barolo cellars one can find the birthplace of the Barolo tradition. Now in its fifth generation, Ernesto and Anna Abbona are two of the leading voices from the Abbona family and spokespeople for the Langhe.

Review the menu and paired Marchesi di Barolo wines, photo slide show and video:
Cinghale hosts Marchesi di Barolo wine dinner with special guest Anna Abbona

Posted using ShareThis

Acupuncture for fish – PETA will love this one

In the Globe and Mail out of Toronto comes a piece that describes that chefs are using acupunctured fish that enhance the freshness. A needle insertion technique renders the fish paralyzed while it is being transported. The fish is alive although brain dead which keeps its flesh from decomposing.

Read the complete details: Acupuncture for fish – PETA will love this one

Posted using ShareThis

Seafood is for lovers - perfect for Valentine's Day - Recipe

You have all heard the story about oysters being an aphrodisiac and that really isn’t true although they are high in zinc, in fact, the highest rated food for zinc along with crab and lobster. What does love got to do withit? Let’s pipe in some Marvin Gaye singing Sexual Healing, you have the earworm now? Good. Zinc helps sperm develop and is needed for ovulation and fertilization. If you are planning a Valentine dinner at home here is how you can put the umpfh into your meal and evening of romance.

Read the full story and get the recipe:
Seafood is for lovers - perfect for Valentine's Day - Recipe

Posted using ShareThis

Valentine Day restaurant specials

Valentine’s Day is upon us this Sunday, February 14th and it is time to leave your igloos and get out and dine, dine, dine. Also upon us in the Baltimore area is the largest snowfall in the city’s recorded history. If you live in the city you might have had the opportunity to walk to your favorite bar or restaurant during the blizzard. And if their staff was able to get in you were well served with food and drink.

See the special Valentine Day offerings: Valentine Day restaurant specials

Posted using ShareThis

Love Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen and Chopped?

Can’t get enough reality food television? Enjoy when it comes down to the wire when the chefs put their hands up in the air when time is up? Enthralled by the ability of the chefs to adapt to unusual working restraints? How would you like to come see the real deal? It is FREE and YOU are invited.

Love Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen and Chopped?

Posted using ShareThis

Snowpocalypse FREE cooking HELP LINE – send your questions

Okay you are stuck at home, hopefully you are a survivor of your neighborhood food store and you bought all these items but you might be missing an ingredient or haven’t a clue how to use them or want a new recipe. Reach out to me in the comment section OR via email at snomg@diningdish.otherinbox.com OR on Twitter @daracooks - I will get you answers.

Get all the details: Snowpocalypse FREE cooking HELP LINE – send your questions

Posted using ShareThis

The Baltimore Sun's restaurant critic retiring – who is next in line?

The grand dame of Baltimore’s food scene, Elizabeth Large, has posted that at the end of the month she will leave her position as The Baltimore Sun’s restaurant reviewer after 30 plus years. It has been a long ride, filling and I hope fulfilling and I wish her only the best. The Baltimore Sun will keep a food blog though the name will change. Elizabeth, a personal thank you for your efforts over the years.

Get the full poop and the scoop - who is next? The Baltimore Sun's restaurant critic retiring – who is next in line?

Posted using ShareThis

Baltimore's Restaurant Week extends and Annapolis Restaurant Week starts

Starting February 15th and running through February 21st, Annapolis restaurants are participating in their own Restaurant Week. From Yellowfin, Cantlers, Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, over 30 restaurants in all are offering lunch and dinner.

Check out the Annapolis Restaurants prefix and see which Baltimore Restaurant's have extend Restaurant Week due to inclement weather

Baltimore's Restaurant Week extends and Annapolis Restaurant Week starts

Posted using ShareThis