Inspired by Diner en Blanc, a Baltimore-style white picnic

By Luc Legay from Paris, France (White Diner Paris - Diner en blanc 2012) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Mark your calendars for August 22^nd, a Saturday evening, 7 to 11 pm for the Lord Baltimore Hotel/French Kitchen’s “Picnic Le Blanc” at Center Plaza.  Inspired by and modeled after Diner en Blanc where guests are dressed in their finest “white” apparel and do a pop up dinner in a public space. It has been done in Paris for over 25 years. You now get an opportunity to experience it Baltimore style. Tables and white linens are supplied BUT you are asked to bring your own white table décor – best décor and best dressed Le Blanc couple will win $100 gift cards to The French Kitchen.

WHEN:          

Saturday, August 22, 2015

7:00-11:00 p.m.

WHERE:        

Center Plaza

222 N. Charles Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

ATTIRE:        

All white clothing and table décor only.

TICKETS:        

Tickets are required and must be purchased in advance through Eventbrite.com. Tickets are available beginning August 3. For more information call 410-659-5257.

PARKING:

Complimentary self-parking in the Lord Baltimore hotel’s garage.

COST:            

$50 per couple (guests will bring their own food)

$100 per couple (includes a picnic basket for two with roast chicken, couscous salad, fruit and cheese, baguette and petit fours)

Cash bar available.

All tickets include white-covered table/white chairs; guests are responsible for white tabletop décor.

*No outside alcohol will be allowed into the event.

By Luc Legay from Paris, France (White Diner Paris - Diner en blanc 2012) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Chef Sarah Simington is rocking it: Food Fighters, radio and her Blue Moon Cafes

ONE: Tonight, Thursday, July 23^rd if you tune into NBC’s Food Fighters at 8 p.m. you will find Blue Moon Café’s Chef Simington in a head-to-head competition with a home cook contestant who is battling professional chefs for a grand prize of $100,000.  This will make Simington’s 2^nd appearance on the show, once last year and this episode – though she will be returning in another episode in a couple weeks to do battle once again.  If you are in the neighborhood of Dog Watch Tavern at 8 p.m. they are having a viewing party. 

The full story, slideshow and podcast are assessable through Dining Examiner. com  

Waterview drinking and dining: Baltimore's Wit on the Water

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” Well, it sure is a whole lot better at Wit and Wisdom’s Wit on the Water patio overlooking Baltimore’s inner harbor.  Executive Chef Zack Mills has added a new outdoor kitchen with its own smoker and raw bar. There will also be a pig roast on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in addition to live entertainment on Thursdays and Sundays, making Wit on the Water the prime destination throughout the summer and into early fall.

Guests are invited to “shuck it, shake it and smoke it” with shellfish and bivalves from local and regional waters, light and breezy cocktails created by master mixologist Aaron Joseph and of course the pulled pork and brisket from Chef Mills. The festivities kick off daily at 4:30 p.m. on Wit on the Water’s 85 seat patio. Even during the dog days of summer, guests enjoy the breeze off the water, the shade of the canopied tables and a tremendous view of the harbor’s waterway and of course, libations and wondrous edibles. Read the full story and view the slideshow at Dining Examiner.com

Evolution Craft Brewing and Nickel Taphouse special event

Mt. Washington’s Nickel Taphouse hosts Evolution Craft Brewing on Thursday, July 23rd for EVO Flights and Bites Night for $15.00.  From happy hour on to closing guests get a prix fixe pairing of 3-5oz. beers and 3 beercentric bites. 

Value added pluses; meet the owners of Evolution Craft Brewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Also tap into a special limited release, RIS (Rise-up Imperial Stout), that evening as well. 

Nickel Taphouse – 1604 Kelly Avenue – Baltimore MD   www.nickeltaphouse.com  443-869 6240 Facebook Twitter @NickelTaphouse Instagram @thenickeltaphouse #EVRBTR

Summer Restaurant Weeks kicking off: New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington DC and more.

It has been my policy to always post a listing of Mid-Atlantic cities’ restaurant week promotions which you will find below. Personally, I’m frustrated looking at the participating restaurants in my area as well as other regions who have not posted in any way, shape or form their menus/prices on-line. With the restaurant week promotions imminent and not having your restaurant week menus available to make a educated decision – isn’t that counter-productive to the whole promotion of driving business in on the off months. No menu on-line, I don’t go.

Also, another peeve about recent restaurant week promotions, what started out with pricing reflection the current year i.e. 1999 – lunches were $19.99 – it is now a total free for all.

Howard County Restaurant Week - Monday, July 20th to Monday, August 3rd Menus are priced from $14.15 - $45.

New York City Restaurant Week – Monday, July 20th to Friday, August 14th Lunches are three courses and $25 - Dinners also three courses for $38

Baltimore City Restaurant Week - Friday, July 24th to Sunday, August 2nd – Two course brunch or lunch $15 and three course dinners $20 or $30.

Baltimore County Restaurant Week - Friday, July 31st to Saturday, August 15th Pricing is all over the board – each location chooses – they make up their own from $15.15 lunches to $38.15 dinners and everywhere in-between.

Center City District (Philadelphia) Restaurant Week - Sunday, August 2nd to Friday, August 7th AND Sunday, August 9th to Friday, August 14th. Three course lunch $20 and three course dinner $35.

Washington DC Restaurant Week - Monday, August 17th to Sunday, August 23rd - Lunches $22 and Dinner $35

Alexandria Restaurant Week - Friday, August 21st to Sunday, August 30th. More than 60 Alexandria restaurants feature a $35 three-course dinner or a $35 dinner for two during Alexandria Summer Restaurant Week. More than two dozen restaurants are also offering lunch specials at $10, $15 or $20 per person in addition to their dinner specials.

Where to celebrate National Ice Cream Day in Baltimore: Sunday, July 19th

Where to celebrate National Ice Cream Day? Where else, Baltimore’s own The Charmery on the Avenue in Hampden. Why? It’s their two year anniversary and they are celebrating with a video game theme well worth your remote controls.

David and Laura Alima, owners, are partnering with MAGFest to bring you a free to play video game tent where you can challenge others who scream for ice cream – top gamers win what else, The Charmery's ice cream prizes.  

Continuing the celebrations, free baby scoops with each scoop purchased, a raffle for all you can eat ice cream ---say what!!!, and the background beeps and squawks of video game music.

So here is the final scoop – sorry, couldn’t resist. Laura Alima advised, “Our dipping cabinet is taking on a uniquely video game feel with at least six special flavors including: Donkey Kong (banana base with crushed root beer barrels), Fireball Mario (sweet cream base with a fireball whiskey and atomic fireball candy swirl), Princess Peach Traverses the Rainbow Road (fresh peach base with rainbow mochi bits) and one mystery flavor known only as UpUpDownDownLeftRightLeftRightBAStart.”

Party starts at 12pm and goes until at 10pm.

The Charmery – 801 W. 36^th Street – Baltimore, MD 21211  www.thecharmery.com  410-814-0493 Twitter & Instagram @TheCharmery Facebook