Three Baltimore businesses featured on the Food Network

Reality shows reign supreme on the Food Network and Baltimore has been well represented in the past and March delivers a full plate of two Baltimore chefs and one food loving student of no-nonsense BBQ on three very different shows. 

First up for your viewing pleasure is BBQ traditionalist L. Drew Pumphrey owner of the food truck, The Smoking Swine. Pumphrey’s show airs  this Friday, March 11^th at 10 pm on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives – the episode “Smoke and Seafood.”  

The Waverly Brewing Company and The Smoking Swine invite you to the premiere party of the episode this Friday at 1625 Union Avenue - BBQ will be slung and brewery-fresh beers will flow.  Follow Smoking Swine:  Facebook    Twitter & Instagram @thesmokingswine.  

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

"The Supper" culinary competition announces names of competing chefs

The emcee, a James Beard nominee, celebrity chef and restaurateur Bryan Voltaggio, announced today the competing, award-winning Baltimore chefs for the Saturday, April 23^rd St. Agnes Hospital  Foundation “The Supper” fundraiser to be held at the Marriott Waterfront.

Similar to Chef José Andrés long-running Washington, DC ” Capital Food Fight” in its format, “The Supper” has four of Baltimore’s top chefs cook, Iron Chef style, in a kitchen arena, for guests to cheer on.  The emcees will dish out play-by- play commentary for guests as the 3 course culinary duels commence. Like March Madness’s tiered competition, the winning chefs from the first two courses will go sauté pan, chef knife and Microplanes against each other to receive the top toque bragging rights.

Full story on Examiner.com / Dining 

Fells Point’s Fat Tuesday cooking challenge – come taste.

If you have ever had the joy of visiting New Orleans you always remember the food from Gumbo to Po-Boys, Jambalaya to Muffletas, Beignets to Shrimp Creole and more! Spark you food memories with this Sunday, March 2^nd Fells Point’s Fat Tuesday cooking challenge as ten restaurants present their best version of New Orleans cuisine in a fork-to-fork competition.  

Gather at Woody’s Rum Bar and Sláinte Irish Pub & Restaurant from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Doors open at 1:45 p.m.) 

Get all the details, watch the video and slideshow HERE.

Win a Food Lion $100 gift card

Well I had to work hard for my $100 gift card, I was one of 12 food related bloggers  that competed in Food Lion’s “Frugal Cook-Off” at Talara Restaurant in Baltimore.  We were paired in teams; my teammates were Laura Harders of BeltwayBargainMom and  John Thomas of www.grilling24x7.com. Our challenge was to create and cook a wholesome, low-cost meal for a family of four using Food Lion’s Essentials brand products for less than $15.

You can win the $100 gift card to Food Lion by sending me an e-mail, darasgiveaway @ outlook.com answering the following questions that can be answered by reading my DiningExaminer.com stories.   

1.   What are the two top items stolen from restaurants?
2.     Shrubs are a trend at the Summer Fancy Food show, what is a shrub and what is the main ingredient?
3.    A gallon of BBQ sauce sold for how much?

Those entries with the correct answers will be put into a drawing.  Contest ends Sunday, July 28, 2001 at 5 p.m. Winner will be notified via email.  

Watch the slideshow, video and read the full story HERE

The best grilled cheese sandwich ever

Part 1 of 3: Do you make the best grilled cheese sandwich ever? 

If you do, do I have a contest for you. April is Grilled Cheese Sandwich month and in honor of this occasion the Mt. Washington Tavern is running a grilled cheese sandwich competition and one of the components is a contest for the home cook. You are asked to submit your original recipe for the best grilled cheese sandwich ever via e-mail and the folks at the Mt. Washington Tavern will choose three semi- finalists to prepare their recipes on Sunday, April 10th at the Mt. Washington Tavern to be judged by a panel of celebrity judges.

Deadline for recipes are April 1st, so don’t delay – scribble down your recipe and send it in. Not only do you get bragging rights your win $200, $25 gift card to the Mt. Washington Tavern and other goodies.

Read part 2 and part 3 and watch video: The best grilled cheese sandwich ever

Who will win the Taste of Guinness? Your taste buds count!

Eight Baltimore Irish dining and drinking establishments are going for the glory in the annual Taste of Guinness Cook-Off this Thursday, October 21st at the FOP Lodge #3 – Baltimore City. The popular Irish dry stout will be a required ingredient in this cook-off to raise money for the Irish Charities of Maryland.

There are two awards The People’s Choice - read more and join the fun: Who will win the Taste of Guinness? Your tastebuds count!