May brings new restaurant concept - Freshii from Dubai to Baltimore

Biodegradable, energy efficient, recyclable, natural equals Freshii, fresh food custom built. The restaurant has a build your own concept for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Freshii has 60 locations around the world, including Dubai, Vienna and soon to be Baltimore.

There will be two Freshii locations in Baltimore. Get the full story: May brings new restaurant concept - Freshii from Dubai to Baltimore

Ajisen Ramen and Szechuan Gourmet –two new finds

With inexpensive bus fares to New York City I find myself going more and more. March had me in New York City twice, once for the launch of Chef Grant Achatz’s book Life, On the Line and the other for Nathan Myhrvold’s cookbook tome, Modernist Cuisine. Of course for me it is always about food, isn’t that all there is in this world? Well for me it is.

Ajisen Ramen

The little snack I packed for the bus ride just doesn’t cut it. No matter what time of day I arrive I am always hungry. The Mega Bus from Baltimore to New York leaves you off at 7th Avenue and 28th Street. I always walk east on 28th to pick up the N or R subway. West 28th Street is a plethora of wholesale flower shops…not much else-devoid of restaurants BUT low and behold, a ramen noodle place had recently opened. It was pouring rain, a great excuse to pop in and get a bowl of hot ramen soup



Szechuan Gourmet

Dinner was Asian as well, Szechuan Gourmet in mid-town where I met a friend. It was still pouring rain so the restaurant wasn’t crowded as normal – there is usually a wait. My friend was drying out when I arrived and already ordered Spicy Sesame Noodles-they were spicy and they were good. This is not a American influenced Szechuan restaurant, know that with one chili pepper next to a menu item you can expect it to be hot…we didn’t go beyond two chili peppers. How hot is it? Frank Bruni’s review was titled, “Going for the Burn”.


Read the complete reviews: Ajisen Ramen and Szechuan Gourmet –two new finds

Life, On the Line – one chef’s passion redefining the way we eat

Life, On the Line is not a cookbook, it is the story about a driven chef who began working in his family’s restaurant at the early age of five and rose to worldwide prominence. It is written in two voices, one Chef Grant Achatz of Michelin starred Chicago restaurant Alinea and his partner, Nick Kokonas.

The book starts at a monumental moment in Chef Achatz’s life, when he was diagnosed with stage IVb squamous cell carcinoma. - Read the full commentary:
Life, On the Line – one chef’s passion redefining the way we eat

Two Baltimore pastry chefs compete at A Night O’Chocolate – you are invited

You are cordially invited to come to A Night O’Chocolate on Tuesday, April 26th from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Samuel Gompers Room, AFL-CIO at 815 16th Street NW in Washington D.C.

The competition focuses on women pastry chefs from the Virginia, Maryland and DC area who will present their chocolate culinary wares to a panel of judges including Chef Ris Lascoste of Ris Restaurant, myself and other DC women chefs and personalities.

As a participating guest you get to taste these delectable chocolate concoctions along with --Read the full story:

Two Baltimore pastry chefs compete at A Night O’Chocolate – you are invited

Take me out to the ballpark for Roma Gourmet Sausages

Why get a plain ole hot dog at Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards when you can get Roma Gourmet Sausages. An institution for great sausages here in Baltimore, Roma brands are normally available through Giant, Graul’s, Food Lion, Eddie’s, Mars, Pastore’s and Safeway. With grilling season starting you can take them home and fix them

Read the full story:

Take me out to the ballpark for some Roma Gourmet Sausages

Baltimore Raven’s Matt Birk Celebrity Server Night at Morton’s the Steak House

Last year Baltimore Ravens football players Matt Birk, Joe Flacco, Michael Oher, Ben Grubbs, Ray Rice, and Cam Cameron were the official servers at Morton’s The Steakhouse for the first celebrity server night to benefit the Hike Foundation. It was a sellout. Baltimore Ravens’ All-Pro Center Matt Birk is back this year for the benefit which is taking place on Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m.

Imagine Matt Birk and his teammates trading in their uniforms and helmets for plates and aprons and taking your order -- Read more:

Baltimore Raven’s Matt Birk Celebrity Server Night at Morton’s the Steak House

Café Gia’s Viva Italia Wine Dinner – food, wine and song

There is currently survey going around Facebook, what country would you like to visit and the number one country chosen is Italy so it is no surprise to me that Italian food is the most popular ethnic food in the United States. For all you Italian food lovers out there let me inform you of a very special evening being held at Café Gia Ristorante.

On Thursday, April 28th you are cordially invited to enjoy Viva Italia Wine Dinner - check out the menu, the wine, the singer:
Café Gia’s Viva Italia Wine Dinner – food, wine and song

The Chew replaces All My Children on ABC – Batali, Hall & Symon -

 Food, you can’t live without it but we can live without soap operas it seems. Two long standing soap operas have received cancellation notices from ABC - All My Children and One Life to Live were given their cancellation notices.

September, 2011 The Chew will premiere. The Chew which is following the format of The View and The Talk will cover all aspects of food, the trends from pop up restaurants to urban food trucks to more serious subjects of pesticides in our foods and what we are feeding our children in schools.

Read the full story and watch the video:  The Chew replaces All My Children on ABC – Batali, Hall & Symon

El Bulli: Cooking in Progress – the film

Alive Mind Cinema will be releasing El Bulli: Cooking in Progress which will be starting its national run at the New York’s Film Forum on July 27, 2011. The film will expand into other markets in the US during the fall.

Ferran Adria considered the world’s greatest chef for the new millennium is co-owner of the legendary Spanish restaurant known as El Bulli located in Cala Monjoi, a cove near Roses.

Read the full story and watch the video:
El Bulli: Cooking in Progress – the film

Wing Wah Chinese Restaurant – the new Friday night hangout for seniors

Many of you had your neighborhood’s “street” that hosted your favorite places to hangout: Frederick Road to the west, York Road to the north, Belair/Harford Road in the Northeast and Eastern Avenue to the east. Reisterstown Road was and is my hood, northwest Baltimore.


Hanging out or “to hang” hasn’t changed much over the years it still means the same thing - Read more: Wing Wah Chinese Restaurant – the new Friday night hangout for seniors

Tax Day Stimulus Food Deals

It is April and taxes loom heavily over the heads of the American people. This is a month we have to face our spending woes from 2010. If we are conscientious, we are trying to squeeze an extra 10 cents out of each dollar. As painful as taxes are, this is the time of year that food chains as well as a number of local restaurants offer a form of give away or discount for tax relief.

Get the full story: Tax Day Stimulus Food Deals

Pure foods – on my dining agenda and watch your honey HON

First, I guess I should define what I consider pure foods. Everything made from scratch – no canned chicken stock; home-made stock, sweets baked from scratch, no jarred condiments – make my own ketchup, teriyaki etc –you getting my drift?

Read the full rant:
Pure foods – on my dining agenda and watch your honey HON

New chef, new menu, new season – B & O American Brasserie

First things first, welcome to Chef Thomas Dunklin to Baltimore and to the top toque position at B & O American Brasserie. Originally from NOLA, this chef has worked there, New Mexico and the Pacific Northwest, many of the positions through the Kimpton Hotels. Dunklin has worked with many renowned chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Jan Birnbaum.

I had a chance to talk with him the other night in-between courses at a media dinner introducing his new seasonal menu. We talked about Seattle chefs, being organic and the mark of a chef who has worked on the line – burn marks on your arms. He laughed and said, “all the ink (tattoos) on his arms covers it well.”

Check out the new menu items, watch the slide show:

New chef, new menu, new season – B & O American Brasserie

Cookbook Corner: Scandinavian Classic Baking by Pat Sinclair

If you are a true cookbook collector, niche cookbooks, baking books, you will want to have Scandinavian Classic Baking by Pat Sinclair on your shelf, in the baking section.

Sinclair, a food consultant and recipe developer, takes you to the Land of the Midnight Sun for traditional baked goods of Scandinavia that hints of cardamom, almonds, and cinnamon. Swedish Limpa, Mini Princess Cakes, to Danish Aebleskiver are just a few of the tempting baked items.


Read the full review:  Cookbook Corner: Scandinavian Classic Baking by Pat Sinclair

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ

Tonight kicks off Beer, Bourbon and BBQ and add an outdoor cigar tent and this event has more testosterone than Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood combined. Don’t let that fool ya ladies, last year I saw a number of women attending, enjoying themselves.

Read the full story: Beer, Bourbon and BBQ

Wine shipping might finally be a reality

Congratulation to Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws for their persistent and unwavering work on the "Wine Shipping" law.

Read the full report: Wine shipping might finally be a reality

Eat, drink and be a good do-bee

This coming weekend will provide an opportunity to dine and drink well and be, in the vernacular of Romper Room, a good do-bee. The two charity benefits are the Kidney Foundation and the New Zealand Earthquake Relief – both worthy, both different. So if you don’t have plans for the weekend take the cash you would spend on your weekend and enjoy food, drink and music at either or both of these events – be the good do-bee that would make Ms. Nancy proud.

Get the full story and watch the video from Romper Room & Miss Nancy: Eat, drink and be a good do-bee

For the mushroom lover

Through a Facebook connection I was sent a sample of Snack N Shrooms, a dried, seasoned mushroom chip for mushroom lovers. From the mushroom capital, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania these little umami packed mushroom chips come in three flavors: garlic, original and spicy.

Learn where you can purchase these delicious little snacks: For the mushroom lover