Baltimore Restaurant Week choice for beer lovers

Baltimore City Restaurant Week starts today, Friday, January 12rh and runs through Sunday, January 21^st – great dining deals abound.  If you are a beer lover, then the choice must be Heavy Seas Ale House’s three course dinner for $35 which includes their brand new release,  AmeriCannon. 

Not only are the desserts accompanied by Heavy Seas Peg Leg, each dessert in some way is infused with one of their liquid libations.

First Course / Choice of:
Beer Pairing: Accompanied by 10oz Cutlass
*Cup of Crab Soup- Traditional Maryland Crab Soup
*Cilantro Lime Salad - Mixed greens, tomatoes, red pepper, red onion, black beans, corn, cilantro, cilantro lime vinaigrette, with cheddar cheese, avocado, crispy tortilla strips
*Beer Battered Crab Dip - House crab dip beer battered and deep fried served with tortilla chips
*Loaded Tots - Choice of: Bacon & Cheddar, BBQ “Tot-Chos”, Old Bay Crab Dip

Second Course / Choice of:
Beer Pairing: Accompanied by 10oz AmeriCannon
Served with your choice of house made chips, fries, or field greens
*Alehouse Burger - Marinated in Powder Monkey and topped with house smoked cheddar, crumbled bacon, house made pickle, lettuce and tomato
*The Portobello Burger -Grilled Portobello mushroom cap topped with roasted red pepper, honey grilled onion, avocado, Swiss cheese, arugula, and red pepper aioli on brioche roll
*Crab Cake - Traditional jumbo lump crab cake
*Blackened Salmon -Wild caught Atlantic salmon, blackened and wood grilled

Third Course / Choice of:
Beer Pairing: Accompanied by 10oz Peg Leg
*Tropicannon Bread Pudding - Peg Leg and Tropicannon infused bread pudding with a Tropicannon infused vanilla cream sauce
*Golden Ale Mouse - An airy chocolate and Gold Ale Mousse
*Peg Leg Chocolate Lave Cake -with Peg Leg whipped cream and Peg Leg ice cream

Heavy Seas Ale House – 1300 Bank Street on the corner of Central Avenue – Baltimore

410-522-0850 Reservations

http://heavyseasalehouse.com/baltimore.html  

Howard County Restaurant Week kicks off

PRESS RELEASE: Visit Howard County’s Summer Restaurant Weeks run July 24 - August 7, 2017. Howard County’s top restaurants are serving up savings with special menus that feature refreshing twists on summertime favorites that will feel light on your wallet. Participating restaurants will offer fixed price chef’s menus ranging from $15.00 to $45.00 (beverages, tax, gratuity not included, promotions and menus vary.)

“Our Restaurant Weeks are a highlight of the summer. The variety and options are fantastic – 30 restaurants offering fixed price meals and innovative dishes,” said County Executive Allan H. Kittleman. “We look forward to this opportunity every year to try out new restaurants and visit favorite spots. I encourage residents to get out and support local restaurants and enjoy a fabulous meal in the process.”

Amanda Hof, Director of Tourism Development for Visit Howard County coordinates the program and adds “we have a great variety of restaurants participating this year. There is truly something for everyone. All the familiar favorites are back as well as many new restaurants. Restaurant Weeks is a great opportunity for visitors and residents alike to experience the local culinary scene.”  

Also not to miss during Restaurant Weeks is the 7th annual Film ‘Feast’ival, July 25, at Clark’s Elioak Farm from 4:30 - 8:30 pm. This year’s event will include a farmers market, food trucks, samples from restaurants participating in Restaurant Weeks, music and an artisan market. In addition, ‘Feast’ival goers will have the chance to taste locally produced beer from Manor Hill Farm Brewery and spirits from Lost Ark Distilling Co. The featured film is “Forgotten Farms.”  It is the real-life story of New England Dairy Farms and talks about the challenges they face with today’s dairy industry.  These are the same challenges that Howard County family owned dairies face. It is a must-see film.  In between the two showings there will be a panel discussion of the film.  There is a $5 charge for each seating of the film, one at 5:00 pm and one at 7:00 pm.  Proceeds from the film showings will be donated to the Howard County Farm-City Scholarship Fund.

HOWARD COUNTY SUMMER RESTAURANT WEEKS, PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS as of July 18, 2017:

5485 Restaurant and Bar
AIDA Bistro
Alexandra's American Fusion
Baldwin's Station
BOLDER food/drink
Centre Park Grill
Clyde's Columbia
Elkridge Furnace Inn
Great Sage
Grille620
Kelsey's Restaurant and Catering
Kloby's Smokehouse
La Palapa
LongHorn Steakhouse
Maggianos Little Italy
Nora's Kabob
Petit Louis
Ranazul
Season's 52
Stella Notte Ristorante
Tersiguel's French Country Restaurant
The Alehouse Columbia
The County Cork Wine Pub
The Grill
The Iron Bridge Wine Co
The Kings Contrivance Restaurant
The Melting Pot
The Turn House
Town Grill at Fosters Country Store
Victoria Gastro Pub

An up-to-date list of participating restaurants is available at www.HoCoRestaurantWeeks.com along with behind the scenes YouTube videos of top chefs preparing their farm-to-table and dock-to-dish feasts.  

Tag For Swag Photo Contest

Diners enjoying Howard County Restaurant Weeks are encouraged to post pictures of their meals with the hashtag #HoCoRestaurantWeeks. Participants could win dining certificates from local restaurants!

Winter Restaurant Weeks are kicking off - Baltimore, Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia

Just as you have made your New Year’s resolution to take off, work off the holiday indulgences here I am pushing food with the upcoming  regional winter restaurant weeks. Winter Restaurant Week kicks off with Baltimore City’s January 13^th.  The restaurants are just starting to pop up their menus.  Baltimore City’s Restaurant Week  has Sotto Sopra Restaurant proffering their large and diverse Italian menu. Check out their cioppino, just recognized by the Food Network as one of the top cioppino outside of San Francisco. 

Here is my bi-annual listing of regional restaurant weeks being held in Northern Virginia, Center City Philadelphia, Washington DC, Maryland(Baltimore and surrounding counties)  and the Big Apple, New York City.  The list below is set up chronologically with links to their 2017 Winter Restaurant Week websites.  Prices and deals vary at each location.  

Read the FULL STORY and watch the slideshow at my Dara Cooks Blog at Baltimore Post Examiner.

Dine well in August with Summer Restaurant Week promotions

Sotto Sopra's 2 Course Restaurant Week lunch - $15 thru Aug 7th

Baltimore City’s Restaurant Week which kicked off last week has numerous restaurants that have extended through to Sunday, August 7^th while Baltimore County Restaurant Week will start this Friday, August 5^th and run through Sunday, August 20^th.  A number of restaurants both in the city and county are offering special brunch options for the weekends. There is a little overlap, some county restaurants participate in the Baltimore City’s promotion and vice versa. 

Traveling during August, check your destinations for their summer restaurant week promotions.  NewYork City started their restaurant week in July,  July 25^th, and it ends August 19^th – 2 course lunch $29 and 3 course dinner $42.  

Frederick Restaurant Week March 6 th to March 12 th

Frederick Restaurant Week Dates and Restaurants Announced! Frederick Restaurant Week is a 7-day promotion that features unique and fine dining options available in Downtown Frederick and the surrounding area. Participating restaurants will offer diners multi-course meals at mouth-watering prices the week of March 6-12, 2016. Featuring 20 restaurants, Frederick Restaurant Week is the perfect ti me to visit a favorite restaurant or try something new. Chefs will prepare delicious multi-course menus. During Frederick Restaurant Week, lunches and dinners are offered at various special prices. All costs are exclusive of tax, beverages and gratuity.

2016 Participating Restaurants:  Alexanders Restaurant L/D Ayse Meze Lounge  L/D Brewer's Alley  L/D Bushwaller's  L/D Cafe Nola D Cellar Door D  Family Meal  L/D Firestone's Culinary Tavern L/D Il Porto  L/D Isabella's Taverna & Tapas Bar  L/D JoJo's Restaurant & Taphouse L/D Lazy Fish L/D Mayta's Peruvian Cuisine L/D Pistarro's  L/D Red Horse D Reina Bar & Restaurant L/D Sumittra Thai Cuisine L/D  Tasting Room L/D Volt D Wine Kitchen L/D L = Lunch D = Dinner     During Frederick Restaurant Week, no tickets or special passes are needed. However, reservations are strongly recommended. Contact the individual restaurants to make your reservations. Restaurant menus and contact information can be found on the website.

Restaurant weeks extended in Baltimore City and County

Due to the Blizzard of 2016 – Jonas, a selection of Baltimore County and Baltimore City restaurants have extended their restaurant week offerings.

Baltimore City has sent this list of restaurants that have extended their restaurant week through February 7th – go to the website   www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com to access the menus. Here is the list for Baltimore City:

Alizee
Alchemy
Blue Agave
BlueStone
Da Mimmo Italian Restaurant
Germano’s Piattini
Kona Grill
La Tavola
LIV2EAT
Le Garage Beer Bar & Frites
Marie Louis Bistro
Mortons
M&S Grill
McCormick & Schmicks
The Food Market
Mothers Grill Fed Hill
Sotto Sopra
Sabatinos Italian Restaurant
The Helmand
Tio Pepes
The BoatHouse
Sullivans Steakhouse
Wine Market Bistro
RA Sushi
Terra Café
Verde
Bo Brooks
Watertable

Baltimore County

Half of the 58 participating Baltimore County restaurants in Restaurant week have decided to extend their lunch and dinner discount dining through February 6th. A full list of restaurants can be found at www.baltimorecountyrestaurantweek.com. Be sure to contact your selected restaurant regarding their participation in the extension.

US Winter Restaurant Weeks - January through March, 2016

I’ve sorted through a number of restaurant week celebrations for January, February and March throughout the country – the dates and cities are especially handy if you are traveling to any of  these cities or municipalities or you call them home.

The holidays are over, winter is kicking in and business slows down for restaurants. Since the inception of New York City Restaurant Week many cities and states have adapted their own restaurant weeks, each with varying discount dining.

Get the full list and links to the Winter Restaurant weeks around the country at the Examiner.com/Travel.

Baltimore City annouces the dates for 2016 Winter Restaurant Week

Visit Baltimore informs us, “Hungry patrons can take advantage of this opportunity to explore their own backyards and try new cuisines each year. Restaurants offering lunch will feature a two-course, prix-fixe menu for $15 or $20 (not including liquor, tax or gratuity). For dinner, a three-course, prix-fixe menu will be offered for $25 or $35 (not including liquor, tax or gratuity).”

I know it is hard to think winter when summer is just behind us. Possibly the freezing temperatures last night will put us in the correct mindset.  Getting restaurant reservations during Winter Restaurant Week will heat up starting Friday, January 22nd and concluding on Sunday, January 31, 2016.  A number of restaurants do extend the promotion but that won’t be posted until we are in the promotional dates.

Restaurant week is a combined effort of Visit Baltimore and Downtown Partnership of Baltimore to promote our restaurateurs during the slower weeks of the year. 

Not all participating restaurants will offer BOTH lunch and dinner prix-fixe pricing, and some restaurants do exclude weekends. 

The official website is still reflecting Summer Restaurant Week but will change soon with a full list of the participating restaurants -  www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com.  

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.

Get a taste of historic Frederick Maryland - Winter Restaurant Week.

Less than an hour’s drive from Baltimore and Washington, DC, historic downtown Frederick shines – a bright star offering mountain vistas, a mini metropolis with a vibrant Main Street community, theatre, hiking trails, culinary food tours and a plethora of historic sites to engage all ages.   

Over the years, downtown Frederick has become a vibrant restaurant town offering local farm-to-table fare to Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s high end, culinary artistry on a plate at Volt.  Each year, the first full week in March, visitors and locals alike can enjoy specialty dining during Frederick’s Restaurant Week kicking off Monday, March 2^nd and ending on Sunday, March 8^th. 

It has been a while since I’ve been to Frederick and a quick walk down Carroll Creek highlighted both the old and the new.  Ice sculptures were all along the pathway, remnants of their Fire in Ice First Saturday celebration in February – an annual free event.  Grab yourself a reservation at one of 19 restaurants participating in Frederick Restaurant Week and indulge in March’s First Saturday celebration – Shop Small, Shop Local – featuring over 200 shops, galleries and of course, restaurants.

A number of the media met on an unusually balmy day in February at the Visit Frederick Tourist Center where we were introduced to Frederick County’s Distillery Lane Ciderworks and tasted their handcrafted ciders before a walking tour of a handful of the participating restaurants.  

Check out the full story and slide show HERE.

Baltimore County Restaurant Week has begun

Baltimore County Tourism and participating restaurants get together for a media launch on their Summer and Winter Restaurant Weeks. With microphone and recorder in hand I set out to interview a number of the participating restaurants, some of your favorites for Baltimore Internet Radio.  Baltimore County Restaurant Week started yesterday, Friday, January 9^th and goes all the way through to Saturday, January 24^th encompassing three weekends. 

Listen to Show 4: Dining Dish chats up Baltimore county restaurants participating in the Winter Baltimore County Restaurant Week kicking off Friday, January 9th (21:15)

• The 2014 Mobbies “Best Food Blog” winner Taylor Seidel of Good Eats discusses good bars for the under 25 set
• Chef Brian Boston of the Milton Inn and Highland Inn and why I was eating dessert first
• Dave Seel with Bagby Restaurants – Cunninghams talk about snow storm promotions
• Justin Windle of Pappas Restaurant in Cranbrook Shopping Center talks about some old time favorites
• Ryleigh’s Oyster Bar Hunt Valley updates on their new location in Baltimore City
• Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz informs about the restaurant industry's economic impact
• Marjorie Hampson, Director- Baltimore County Office of Tourism and Promotion offers the official welcome to Baltimore County Restaurant Week
• Dining Dish probes as to new and old trends on the dining plate. Can you say “kale?”

Be sure to check out Dining Dish's previous podcasts . Stay tuned for interviews with Chef Bryan Voltaggio and his partner Hilda Staples, next up on the Dining Dish podcasts.  

We are seeking sponsors for the Dining Dish podcasts - Reach out to Dave Custy @ BaltimoreInternetRadio.com 

The Mid-Atlantic Winter Restaurant Weeks - 2015

Baltimore County restaurants are the first to the table when it comes to Winter Restaurant Weeks 2015. Kicking off on Friday, January 9^th through Saturday the 24^th over 40 restaurants are offering up special, multi-course meals and special discounts. Hopefully the restaurants will have their menus up on their website now that the holidays are over.  From Artful Gourmet Bistro to Yasou Greek Bistro they have all the corners of the county covered.  Check out to see if your favorite restaurant is participating Baltimore County Restaurant Week

 

Starting Saturday, January 18^th through the Friday, January 23^rd and Sunday, January 25^th to Friday, January 30^th Center City Restaurant Week in Philadelphia puts it on the table with their three course lunch for $20 and three course dinner for $35 for Winter Restaurant Week. 

Alexandria Restaurant Week kicks off Saturday, January 23^rd through Sunday, February 1^st. You get to choose from lunch, dinner for two or prix-fixe three course menu at the vast selection of restaurants from fine dining to casual.  – Alexandria, Virginia Restaurant Week.

Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week pops on the calendar Sunday, January 19^th and runs through Sunday, January 25^th with lunches at $20.15 and dinners at $35.15. Choose from Art Smith’s Art and Soul, Todd Gray’s Equinox, Fabio Trabocchi’s Fiola Mare, José Andrés’s Jaleo locations, Mike Isabella’s Kapnos to Wolfgang Puck’s The Source with Chef Scott Drewno. Menus and details can be found at  Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week.

Howard County Restaurant Week starts the same time as Washington DC’s on Sunday, January 19^th but continues through to Monday, February 2^nd.  The website at this time is listing the restaurants participating with more information to come for each location – Howard County Restaurant Week .

Baltimore City Restaurant Week starts Sunday, February 15^th and runs through to Sunday, February 28^th. As in previous restaurant weeks, you will be offered two course lunch for $15 and multi course dinners for $20 and $30.  Their website hasn’t been updated yet from Summer Restaurant Week but keep checking for the changeover to Winter Restaurant Week – Baltimore Restaurant Week.   

New York City Restaurant Week dates are Monday, February 16^th through to Friday, March 6^th for 3 course lunch or dinner at over 300 restaurants. They have yet to update their website for Winter Restaurant Week but keep checking – New York City Restaurant Week.

 

Annapolis restaurants are the late arrivals starting Monday, February 23^rd through to Sunday, March 1^st.  The Restaurant Week promotion from the Annapolis Business Association gives one a choice of a 2 course breakfast for $12.95, two course lunch for $15.95 and a three course dinner for $32.95. Over 40 plus restaurants are lined up to participate. Check them out at Annapolis Restaurant Week.

Sunshine, blue skies: Regional summer restaurant weeks

Doesn’t it seem we just finished up with Winter Restaurant Weeks? Time flies on a full tummy. Summer months mean restaurant deals from Northern Virginia through to New York City. If you are traveling to any metropolitan city in the United States there is a good chance there will be discounted restaurant week offerings or possibly and taste of the city, i.e. Cambridge Maryland just had the Taste of Cambridge.

The birth of restaurant week started in New York City in 1992 it was a lunch promotion only and the pricing for a prix fixe lunch was $19.92 and pricing continued to increase for each year. Dinner was introduced along with the lunches and it kept the last two digits of the year. Dinner could be 3 courses for 30.14 (i.e. 2014). The concept of discounted prix fixe lunches and dinners is still offered but pricing is all over the boards for some cities and others are regulated.

Get all the details on summer restaurant weeks: Baltimore, Washington DC, Philly, New York, Northern Virginia and Maryland counties HERE

West Anne Arundel County Restaurant Week – make it a staycation

The popularity of Restaurant Weeks continues to grow – we are in the midst of Anne Arundel’s Annapolis Restaurant Week now – Monday, February 24^th to Sunday, March 2^nd.  Well that leaves out numerous restaurants in other parts of Anne Arundel County.  Anne Arundel’s West County Chamber of Commerce has initiated their own Restaurant Week which will kick off where Annapolis leaves off – Monday, March 3^rd to Sunday, March 9^th.  

The new area around Arundel Mills Mall has seen great growth including the Maryland Live Casino and the luxurious the Hotel  at Arundel Preserve.  

Check out the slideshow and full story HERE.

Baltimore County Restaurant Week kicks off January 10th

Now that you have had some time to become unstuffed from the holiday indulgences it is time fill back up.  Baltimore County’s Restaurant Week is back in full force from Friday, January 10^th to Sunday, January 26^th, a full seventeen days and over 50 restaurants to choose from for lunch, brunch and/or dinner. 

Get all the details HERE