Thursdays Meats and Beats at Gordon Ramsay Steak House

Meet, meat, and enjoy the beat at Gordon Ramsay Steak in Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore every Thursday night when they extend the happy hour an additional hour to 8 pm with a DJ spinning music that will have you bouncing in your seats.  

Happy hour kicks off normally Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm with $5 bites and sips. 

Bites

• A5 Fries
• Pimento Cheese
• Pork Belly Bites

Sips

• Domestic Beers - Coors Lite, Miller Lite, Blue Moon
• Sunny G - Absolut, Patron Orange Citronage, Triple Sec, Mango Purée and Sprite
• Honestly Eye - Jim Beam, Sweet Vermouth, Amaretto and Simple Syrup
• Gemini Moon - Rumchata, Ginger Liqueur, Half & Half with Cinnamon Sugar Rim

Grey Goose is the sponsor for Meat and Beats Thursdays,  so indulge in the tasty concoctions featuring their vodka. 

Free parking at the casino makes an ideal spot to pop in and avoid the evening rush hour home.  Stay for dinner and partake of their dry aged beef (the meats in the Meats and Beats Thursdays).  

Gordon Ramsay Steak at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore
1525 Russell Street - Baltimore
443.931.4254
www.caesars.com/horseshoe-baltimore/restaurants/gordon-ramsay
Instagram  @gordonramsaysteakbaltimore
Facebook: @GRSteakBmore
Twitter: @gordonramsayGRR

Where is Giada de Laurentiis opening her Baltimore restaurant?

Revealed during a live Facebook interview, the Italian chef and television personality Giada de Laurentiis let it be known she is opening a restaurant in Baltimore in 2018 but not the specific location.  My best guess, and guess it will be, is Baltimore Horseshoe Casino.

1.       Horseshoe Baltimore Casino has 3 banners showing the chefs/restaurateurs (see photograph) on the front of the casino: Guy Fieri with his Guy Fieri’s Baltimore Kitchen + Bar, Gordon Ramsay taking over the Jack Binion’s Steak House location with his  eponymous steak house and the 3^rd, a silhouette of what looks like a woman --- could it be Giada? My guess is yes!   

2.       Giada has a relationship with Caesars Entertainment Corporation with her Las Vegas restaurant in the Cromwell Hotel and Caesars is affiliated with the Horseshoe Baltimore Casino

So a second question arises, why there is no banner for the celebrated chef duo of Aaron Sanchez and John Besh for their Johnny Sanchez Restaurant – is that the space Giada will be taking over?  This is all speculation on my part; I have no confirmation on any of this. If Johnny Sanchez Restaurant remains, then where does Giada’s restaurant go? Not the tiny Asian Fύ Noodle House – so again, my guess, Johnny Sanchez’s location. The Baltimore Horseshoe Casino opened in August, 2014 – so are we looking at 4 year contracts on the restaurants?  Again, this just conjecture, no real facts to support any of what I have posted here. Let me know if you think she is opening elsewhere in Baltimore.

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.

Bryan Voltaggio’s Family Meal opens Friday, January 2nd

We wrote about this just before the holidays that Chef Voltaggio was close to opening his Family Meal restaurant at the Harbor at the end of Pier 4 in the old Houlihan’s space.  It seems they are ahead of schedule and opening their doors for lunch and dinner on Friday, January 2^nd. Come Monday add breakfast to their mix – they will be open 7 days a week.

As stated in their press release, “Offering re-invented classic American diner fare, the first location of the Family Meal concept opened in Frederick, MD. The 6,000 square-foot Baltimore restaurant, with additional outdoor dining space, will serve Family Meal classics such as Hoecakes with Pimento Cheese, Maple Bacon Jam, Pickle Relish; Shrimp & Grits; and Fried Chicken, as well as regionally-influenced dishes like Lobster Risotto with English Peas, Maitake Mushrooms, Parmesan; and a Soft Shell Crab Sandwich with John Cope’s Corn, Tomato, Old Bay, and Bacon.”

“This restaurant is all about family,” says Chef Voltaggio. “My wife, kids and I eat together at Family Meal in Frederick, MD all the time, and I’m thrilled to bring a concept that’s so personal to me to the families of Baltimore. Adults will love our unique approach to classics that they may have grown up with, and kids go crazy for items on our ‘Happy Campers’ section.”

Family Meal, reiterates what is important, families dining together, sharing the day-to-day joys and conquest along with a great meal.  

This is the second restaurant in Baltimore by Chef Bryan Voltaggio, the other is Aggio at 614 Water Street - around the corner from Power Plant Live.

Family Meal – 621 E. Pratt Street – Baltimore, MD  www.voltfamilymeal.com

Giada De Laurentiis and husband call it quits

The Food Network star of Giada at Home, cookbook author, chef  Giada De Laurentiis has been separated from her husband of 11 years since July.  In a statement on her Facebook page De Laurentiis commented that her husband, Todd and her have decided to end their marriage

It was approximately 16 hours ago when Ms De Laurentiis posted on her Facebook timeline.

“After an amicable separation since July, Todd and I have decided to end our marriage. Although our decision to separate comes with a great deal of sadness, our focus on the future and overwhelming desire for our family's happiness has given us the strength to move forward on separate, yet always connected paths. Todd and I share a beautiful daughter and a lifetime of great memories that we both treasure more than anything. We are so thankful for our friends and family, and really appreciate the support in this time of change”

Her most recent endeavor is her first restaurant, Giada at the Cromwell Las Vegas Boutique Hotel and Casino part of the Caesars Entertainment Corporation.  The Rome, Italy native, Giada, is the granddaughter of film producer Dino De Laurentiis and daughter of actress Veronica De Laurentiis.  Ms De Laurentiis studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

Duff Goldman launches new television series Duff Till Dawn

Duff Till Dawn, a new cake competition show, from the Food Network will premiere Thursday, January 29^th at 10:30easterm/9:30central. It will feature two professional cake decorators along with their assistants going for the win and bragging rights. The host of the Duff Till Dawn, none other than the Food Network’s pastry boy wonder, Duff Goldman of the successful Ace of Cakes series and owner of Charm City Cakes – Baltimore and Charm CityCakes West  – Los Angeles.  

The underground after hours competitions go to the wee hours at Duff’s bakery as competitors battle it out with their most creative, tastiest over the top decorating skills.  

"The one-of-a-kind Duff Goldman is the master of dazzling and astonishing cakes," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President Programming, Food Network. "In Duff Till Dawn, he tests the bakers on these same talents and abilities, as well as their ability to pull all-nighters."

Competitors must amaze rotating judges Haylie Duff (Real Girl's Kitchen), Elena Fox (Ace of Cakes), Carrie Keagan (Television Personality), Geof Manthorne (Ace of Cakes), Catherine McCord (Guy's Grocery Games), Alysia Reiner (Actress), Kelis Rogers (Musician and Host of Holiday Feast with Kelis), Aarti Sequeiria (Aarti Party), Kevin Smith (Writer/Director) and Sherry Yard (Cutthroat Kitchen) with the boldest, tastiest and most impressive cakes for the chance to win bragging rights and the coveted golden whisk.

The Food Network reports that this is a six-episode series, each episode is themed from dream ships, outer space, magical fairy cakes and medieval manors. 

After graduating from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with degrees in history and philosophy, Duff Goldman went on to study at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, California. He worked at several acclaimed culinary destinations, including French Laundry, Vail Cascade Hotel and Todd English's Olives before returning to Baltimore in 2000 to become a personal chef. In March 2002, he opened Charm City Cakes, and it soon became a household name on the hit Food Network show Ace of Cakes, which aired for 10 seasons.

Tune in for a sneak peek on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 11|10c before the series premiere on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 10:30|9:30c.

Washington DC’s first EmporiYUM: Win a pair of VIP tickets

Back in April, Baltimore experienced the first ever EmporiYUM, a pop up marketplace featuring restaurants, local artisan food purveyors and celebrity chefs - it was a sellout crowd. EmporiYUM is back, with numerous purveyors of fine foods for your day-to-day table and your holiday entertaining on Saturday, November 15 from 11 am to 4 pm and Sunday, November 16^th from 11 am to 3 pm in Washington DC adjacent to Union Market.

As their website states, EmporiYUM is a way to introduce people with a passion for food to a curated selection of artisans both local and from around the country.  There will be food and beverages to sample as well as purchase from the many featured vendors. Who will be there? The organizers have done an amazing job of giving you an outstanding cross section of food purveyors like Milk – momofuku milk bar, Woodberry Kitchen, Luke’s Lobster, Mouth Party, Pho Wheels, Kinderhook, Neopol Smokery, Bread Furst, Chef Geoff’s, Kapnos, Cure, Ryleigh’s Oyster, Shake Shack and many more. 

Expect to see Bravo’s Top Chef alumni: Bryan Voltaggio, Mike Isabella and Paul Qui meandering amongst you.

EmporiYUM is offering two workshops, a new element to their marketplace:

11 a.m. Saturday, November 15^th Mast Brothers Chocolate Tasting at the nearby Dolcezza’s NE Factory 

11 a.m. Sunday, November 16^th  Chef Erik Bruner-Yang of Toki Underground and Maketto – Learn to make ramen from your home kitchen – seminar at the nearby Dolcezza’s NE Factory

If you like to get a jump on the crowds grab a VIP Ticket for $40 which gets you in the doors at 10 am, an hour earlier that general admission along with VIP Gift Bags, complimentary snacks and beverages. Children under 12 are free.

You can win a pair of VIP tickets for Sunday, November 16th simply by Tweeting a link to this story with the hashtag #EmporiYUMcomestoDC. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, October 26th. You will be asked for your email address so the ticket QR can be sent to you.  Enter as many times as you like, but be sure to link to this story with the above hashtag.   

General Admission Tickets are only $20 with access to EmporiYUM at 11 a.m., a complimentary tote, along with food and beverage samples from select vendors.  Children under 12 are free.

Emporiyum – Union Market – free parking – Washington, DC  www.emporiyum.com   Facebook ,Twitter and Instagram: @TheEmporiyum  Saturday, November 15^th and Sunday, November 16^th.  Purchase Tickets Now

Crab Cake 2014: Expat Maryland celebrities throw Los Angeles crab feast

photograph courtesy of Crab Cake 2014

On Sunday, August 17^th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. an array of displaced, Los Angeles living Maryland celebrities are throwing their 2^nd annual crab feast with all the trimmings at Hollywood’s  No Vacancy Bar and Lounge. 

During a recent interview with celebrity chef Duff Goldman of Food Network’s Ace of Cakes fame and Charm City Cakes the question about missing steamed crabs now that he lives in Los Angeles was brought to the table. Goldman lights up and says, “Funny you should ask that.”  Duff continued on to say that last year a handful of Maryland expats put on a full blown crab feast to benefit the Los Angeles Mission. Crab Cake 2013 was a huge success with steamed crabs, crab cakes, peel-n-eat shrimp, hush puppies, corn on the cob, potato salad and Duff’s Smith Island Cake.  There was even Flying Dog Beer from Maryland to whet everyone’s spicy crab seasoned whistle.  

Get the full story, watch the slideshow HERE.

The Hundred-Foot Journey: A hunger provoking, visually stunning film

A sneak preview to the well-publicized Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey produced “food themed” The Hundred-Foot Journey film had me craving Chef Floyd Cardoz’s Indian and French food creations and more of Linus Sandgren’s luscious cinematography. With the official world premiere just held in New York and general release of the movie today, The Hundred-Foot Journey is well on its own path.

The Hundred-Foot Journey directed by Lasse Hallström, a former cinematographer himself, has put his special visual stamp on his movies; The Cider House Rules, Chocolat, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and now The Hundred-Foot Journey. Given the locales of India, rich with bright colors and earthy tones and southern France’s quaint village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val’s green valley and L’Aveyron River one wants to grab their passport and visit both.

There is no denying that food is one of the leading characters in this film of a budding Indian culinary talent who learns French technique from a cookbook, finds a mentor and Michelin stars. Chef Cardoz, the former executive chef of New York City’s Tabla Restaurant and 2011 Top Chef Masters’ winner had never styled food for a movie previously; it was his connection with the book’s author that had him based in Paris for five days creating the Indian and French food filmed in the Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val scenes.
Read the full review and watch the slideshow HERE.


#my100FootJourneySweeps

The culinary roster at Horseshoe Casino grows with “Ace of Cakes” Duff Goldman

Baltimore's  own Food Network star, Duff Goldman of Ace of Cakes and his sweet treats from his Charm City Cakes is joining the ever growing culinary lineup at the Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore scheduled to open its doors August 26.

Making the announcement official today, Chad Barnhill, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore's Senior Vice President and General Manager joined Duff Goldman at Charm City Cakes located in Baltimore’s Remington neighborhood. Goldman’s bakers at Charm City Cakes, known world-wide for their creativity and artistry, created a giant slot machine cake to kick off the announcement.

Read the full story and watch the slideshow HERE.

Binge watching The High Road with Mario Batali

There are just some days and in my case the past couple weeks that inspiration is hard to come by for a food based story. Press releases come in; new food items, a wine dinner or a very worthy charity event and it all feels so old and tired. Where is my muse? Enter Mario Batali.

Back in December, 2011 Batali told Robin Leach known for his television series Life Styles of the Rich and Famous, that he was starting his own on-line TV Network Via Alta Productions. If you know your Italian you will know that via alta translates to high road, hence the name of the series, High Road with Mario Batali. The Batali series launched the first of its 10 to 15 minute episodes June 12, 2014 on Hulu featuring numerous celebrity friends from all walks of life. The first episode was George Stephanopoulos and earlier this morning, like every Thursday morning, a new episode became available, this one the Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon (episode seven).  

Read the full story HERE.

Emeril Lagasse’s free holiday cookbook – easy to download

Chef Emeril Lagasse has gathered up and put into a downloadable format a cookbook of his favorite recipes from his restaurants and home kitchen. His recipe for banana layer cake from his Nola Restaurant caught my eye, it looked intriguing. As I delved a bit further on his website I found that he had assembled absolutely eye-catching, mouth-watering holiday recipes.

 Since the recipes are downloadable in a PDF format they can be shared easily with family and friends. Maybe you are splitting up the holiday food preparation responsibilities or just care to share.

Get all the details and watch the video HERE.

The Food Network’s Ted Allen Q & A and Dining Out for Life

It has been 20 years since the inception of Dining Out for Life, a charity event that benefits over 60 service organizations nationally and here in Baltimore, Moveable Feast.

Moveable Feast, a non-profit which offers meal delivery programs to homebound people living with HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, transportation and in addition, a culinary training program.

Dining Out for Life/Baltimore is just around the corner, Thursday, September 19. Your cost to participate and be a good do-bee will just be cost of your meal at anyone of forty five plus restaurants in Baltimore.

Restaurateurs are donating portions of the evening’s proceeds from 100% at Woodberry Kitchen; Brewers Art, Clementine, and Gertrude’s are donating 50% of proceeds; and 35% at Alchemy, B Bistro, and Sauté Restaurant and Bar. The remaining restaurants are donating 20%.  If you are planning on dining out, Thursday, September 19 than choose anyone of these numerous restaurants and support Dining Out for Life (DOFL). If you have plans for that evening don’t let that deter you, feel free to donate.

The Food Network’s James Beard Award winning host of Chopped Ted Allen has been a spokesperson for Dining Out for Life for the past six years.  Ted Allen shared time to chat with Examiner.com about his commitment to Dining Out for Life, how Queer Eye for the Straight Guy evolved, Top Chef, Iron Chef America and more.

Read the entire question and answer interview with Ted Allen and watch the video HERE. 

Why you should make a reservation for Heavy Seas Alehouse guest chefs dinner

If your calendar for Wednesday, June 26^th is open and you want to experience a unique evening of food and diverse beverages then you should make a reservation for the Heavy Seas Alehouse guest chef dinner.

Reason one – an amazing line up of chefs who will create your five course dinner. These aren’t your average run-of-the-mill chefs:

• Chef & Restaurateur Cathal Armstrong – Restaurant Eve – Alexandria, VA – 2013 James Beard Finalist – Cathal’s restaurant empire includes Eamonn’s, The Majestic and Virtue Food and Grain.

Read the full story and check out the amazing chefs and the diversity of beverages HERE

Chef Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray’s new seasonal cookbook

Diversity is the name of any restaurant kitchen with all ethnicities cooking cuisines not their own. Award winning, James Beard multi nominated Chef Todd Gray, a Virginia homeboy marries an urban raised Jewish girl and they make history with their Washington DC restaurant Equinox. The cookbook is The New Jewish Table – Modern Seasonal Recipes for Traditional Dishes. Yes the book is just in time for Passover although the recipes are fit for any table.

Read the full story HERE

Culinary Review os 2012: My perspective

This is the time of year when so many reflect on the year past and what the future might hold. I’m no different. There were many highs this year with a couple of lows but all-in-all, “it was a very good year” in my food world. It wasn’t a good year for the Guy Fieri and his Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar restaurant review that went round the world by Pete Wells of the New York Times. The whole review was written in questions the likes of “What exactly about a small salad with four or five miniature croutons makes Guy’s Famous Big Bite Caesar (a) big (b) famous or (c) Guy’s, in any meaningful sense?”

Check out the full review of 2012, the slideshow and video HERE

The Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten is coming to Baltimore: It's foolproof

The Food Network star and cookbook author Ina Garten is coming to Baltimore kicking off her cookbook tour for Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust which hits the shelves on October 30.

Get all the details of her visit, recipe link and video HERE

The Queen of Food - Antoinette Bruno

 Chef José Andres, Antoinette Bruno, Chef Daniel Boulud - Photograph by Will Blunt -www.StarChefs.com

One of my favorite people in the world is Antoinette Bruno. I am always awestruck when I'm around her. A brilliant woman who has taken www.StarChefs.com to the stratosphere.  My story on Antoinette is being featured on BMoreMedia.com this week. Read about this Baltimore native and her many accomplishments both in the culinary and the financial worlds.

Read the full story HERE

No Kid Hungry Benefit dinner with the Voltaggio Brothers

On September 13, Chef Bryan Voltaggio of VOLT, Lunchbox, Family Meal and Range will host a very special multi-course benefit dinner for Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood hunger in the U.S. Voltaggio will be joined by chefs, including his brother, Michael Voltaggio, Chef at ink. in Los Angeles, CA and Matt Orlando, Chef de Cuisine of the world-renowned Copenhagen restaurant Noma, under founder Chef Rene Redzepi to prepare a multi-course meal with a cause: ending childhood hunger in America.

photograph by Ken Goodman - courtesy of No Kid Hungry

Read the full story, check out the video and slideshow HERE

The mother of farm to table Chef Alice Waters comes to Baltimore

Before the Michael Pollans of the world there was and still is Executive Chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkley, California. In 1971, Waters with her partner Paul Aratow founded Chez Panisse Restaurant. They struggled at first with the concept of buying local, buying organic but they eventually found farmers to grow for them.

The James Beard Award winning chef, author and restaurateur is recognized as the mother of California cuisine. The vice president of Slow Foods International, Waters started her Edible School Yard program laying ground work for others who believe that our children should be eating healthier and better.

Read the FULL story and watch the video HERE