When you want to dine rather than just eat – Wit & Wisdom

Wit & Wisdom, a tavern by Michael Mina, is the place to go when you want to dine.  You know the difference; eating can be the local bar, corner restaurant and carry-out. Dining to me is not only fine edibles but the whole experience – top-notched service and au courant libations – dining becomes the entertainment for the evening. Located in Baltimore’s Four Seasons Hotel, Wit & Wisdom offers that warmth travelers desire, spaciousness diners enjoy and the inexplicable feeling that you are very special.

The husband and I dined there as guests of Wit & Wisdom, they are promoting their seasonal multi- course tasting menus with optional paired wine and ale.  Seated at a table facing the harbor view through a large picture window we could see the reflection of all the activity in the open kitchen in the window as well as the harbor’s colorful lights.  

Watch the slideshow, video and full story HERE.

The Cookie Perfection Machine

Ben Krasnow has fun with science. He likes to build things like the ruby laser, DIY Custom LCD or tongue mouse; cursor control with your mouse. On most days, what he writes doesn’t interest me but today is different. Ben has built the Cookie Perfection Machine where he is testing chocolate chip cookies, one at a time.  Ben says in his blog, “This machine allows me to mix a single cookie and vary the recipe for each cookie on the sheet. Hence, I can test many different recipe variations with one batch of ingredients in one afternoon.”

Watch Ben's video and read the full story HERE. 

Noodles Nursdays at Clementine

First we were a ramen desert. Then there was Pabu’s pop-up ramen at Lamill for one night only.  Artifact coffee announced a guest chef/restaurant from Washington DC – Toki Underground with ramen this week through Saturday and next week, Jan 16^th, 17^th and 18^th while supplies last.

Drum roll please! I just found out that Clementine is testing noodled broths with Noodles Nursday – a promise of ramen awaits the east-enders and those willing to travel to Harford Road.  It won’t just be ramen.  Clementine’s note said, Noodles Nursday is where we debut exotic, global, warming, fantastic noodle soups. 

Clementine - 5402 Harford Rd., Baltimore, Maryland 21214  (410) 444-1497

Twitter: @BmoreClementime

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

Lunch With: Maryland Humanities Council’s Dr. Phoebe Stein Davis

It was cool to have lunch with Phoebe Stein Davis, Ph.D., Executive Director of Maryland Humanities Council where “opening eyes, opening ears and opening minds” is their mantra. To sit with a stranger at lunch, discuss and share ideas; philosophies, art and food and I get to share that with you in this “Lunch With column.” There is something about breaking bread with someone new, taking the time to get to know what makes their world rock.

• Dara: Instead of St. Peter at the pearly gates, you met Julia Child, what would she ask you?
• Phoebe: If you love French food so much, why don’t you ever cook it? I think she would tell me to be brave and bold in my cooking and try making French food. I’m intimidated by all the steps.

Read the full interview, watch the slideshow and video HERE:

Pork lovers celebrate - Cochon 555 announces the 2014 10 city tour

Do you love pork? Really love pork? Than here is an event you don’t want to miss. Coming to 10 cities throughout the US, find the one closest to you and grab your tickets now. From someone who has been a judge; the food and drink is well worth the price of admission.

Cochon 555 is an epic pork feast featuring top chefs preparing whole heritage breed pigs. Together with winemakers, brewers, distillers and craft food makers they create authentic culinary events while celebrating champions in the good food movement. The 6th annual 10-city tour starts Jan. 26, 2014, in New York City at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park.

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

Moonstruck, Five Easy Pieces at dinner at the local Jewish Deli

The husband and I were out to dinner at a local Jewish deli this evening. It is in the cycle of neighborhood restaurants that we frequent on Friday nights.  A couple is seated in a booth just behind us. When the waiter comes back to take their order the gentleman starts putting him through hoops with his questions. He, “I see you have Chinese chicken and rice dish special, what’s that like?”  Excuse me, really --- you are in a Jewish delicatessen why would you consider their Chinese chicken and rice dish?

Next it was like a scene from Five Easy Pieces.  He asks, “You have a fish sandwich?” The waiter replies, “yes.” “Can I get that without the bread and can you broil that?”  “No sir, it is battered and fried only” the waiter patiently responded. It was another five minutes of this gentleman breaking down each item. He ordered a salad with the dressing on the side and he wanted them to chop the salad for him. The husband and I are smiling but the best was yet to come.  

Watch the video, get the recipe and read the full story HERE.