Apropoe's new spring menu tells a story

The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel Apropoe’s restaurant and bar, plays tribute to the city’s most renowned author, Edgar Allen Poe.  Poe wrote mysteries, even a food-related short story, The Duc de L’Omelette , who ate an ortolan (a rare tiny bird, eaten whole in one bite) and then damned to hell’s fire. Apropoe’s story is different, if you partake of their comestibles, you will be heaven bound.

Watch the slideshow and read the complete story at Baltimore Post Examiner - Dara Cooks Blog

Top-notched Virginia hospitality at the historic Jefferson Hotel

From the moment my car approached the impressive 19^th century Jefferson Hotel, pulled into the cobblestoned drive lined with well-manicured topiary, greenery and flowers, I knew then that a luxury stay was eminent. Weary and road tired from a week long culinary road trip through the Carolinas, we were looking forward to our stay at the historic, AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. This stay would be the cherry-on-the-top, the icing-on-the-cake, and the crème-de-la-crème in sumptuous creature comforts especially in contrast to our trip’s previous Air BnB and Comfort Inn accommodations.

One cannot but be gobsmacked by the beauty of the Jefferson’s Palm Court lobby with its centerpiece, a statue of Thomas Jefferson, the focal point under the skylight of stained glass, with a selection of 1907 Tiffany  side windows.  The beaux arts continue as we peered down the 36 step grand staircase to the rotunda level from the mezzanine with its 70 foot decorative pillars. It surely feels like a step back in time, stunning – one can almost feel the exuberance of past guests and revelers. 

Watch the entire slideshow and read more at the Dara Cooks blog at Baltimore Post Examiner.

Adult vacation playground: Virginia

For a couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to focus on writing my story about a recent trip to Williamsburg, Virginia, finding a focal point.  First, Virginia is core to our American History, over 400 years since the landing of the first English colony, Jamestown, and of course historic Colonial Williamsburg, where one steps back in time to what life was like in the days of yore. Virginia is steeped in the roots of America’s history. 

Virginia boasts an ever growing aquaculture, the largest producer of oysters on the East Coast.  Oyster lovers can indulge by following the Virginia Oyster Trail to 8 distinct locations throughout the state.  As aquaculture grows, so does the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. 

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The Lord Baltimore Hotel's The French Kitchen new seasonal menu kicks off.

Seasons change and so do the menus, with that, new menu tasting invitations start to arrive as did the one from the French Kitchen Restaurant in the Lord Baltimore Hotel.  This was a great opportunity at the same time to visit the LB Skybar on the 19^th floor of the Lord Baltimore Hotel. LB Skybar seats 60 people and is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-11:00 p.m., on Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to midnight and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. Pick your libation from the specialty cocktail list created by the hotel’s bar team exclusively for LB Skybar or choose from their beer and wine selections. Have a lite bite of sushi or antipasti before you head out to dinner.  We went before our dinner, so we were too early to enjoy the sunset and had headed home after our meal, missing downtown  all lit up against the night sky. 

Read the full story and watch the slideshow at Examiner.com / Dining

Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association’s 25th Annual “Stars of the Industry”

It wasn’t quite the Oscars, there were no fashion police picking out the “worse” or “best” dress nominees but what this award ceremony highlighted were those in the Maryland hotel and lodging family for jobs well done. Nominees and industry professionals converged on the Grand Historic Venue for not only a trade show but their awards to those who personified all that is positive in the hotel and lodging industry.

Five (5) hotels and fourteen (13) Individuals were recognized for excellence at the Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association's 25th Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Program. The 2014 award categories and award winners are:

Find out the winners HERE.