National Armed Forces Day: Our heroes eat free

Locally owned Misson BBQ wants to honor those who have served in the military and those serving in the military this Armed Forces Day with a free lunch on Saturday, May 17^th between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Misson BBQ located at 3701 Boston Street in Baltimore’s Canton neighborhood. Our heroes will enjoy free sandwiches: choice of turkey, brisket or pulled pork.

Watch the slideshow and get full details HERE.

The Hard Rock Cafe redefined and refined

In all honesty, I had never been slightly interested in getting drinks or eating at the Hard Rock Cafe. The Hard Rock Cafe to me was a touristy venue that lacked anything that would be of interest to me whether in New York, London, Dubai or here in Baltimore at the Inner Harbor. Let’s face facts, I’m a food snob. Well food snobs can change their minds and I did.

After 14 months of redevelopment of the food and beverage offerings, the Hard Rock Cafe launched their new menu. This was no overnight decision, surveys of staff and clientele, new “from scratch” and “fresh” branding arrived and the results - 30 new items and the modifications of 28 existing menu items.

Watch the slideshow and read the full story HERE.

Italian lunch fare in Fells Point: Anastasia Italian Bistro

Anastasia Italian Bistro and Lounge is part of the Kali Restaurant Group and is located where Mele called home for a number of years.  I’m trying to think if there are any other Italian restaurants in Baltimore’s Fells Point and if there is, it escapes me. There are plenty of bars and restaurants but nothing I can remember that is Italian.   

Anastasia has been open since late 2013 redesigned with what I call Italian minimalistic touch of black, white and red.  Pictures of a motor scooter, Italian actresses and a large Barbara Wood print adorn the walls. There are bars galore in Anastasia two on the restaurant level and one in a lower level lounge. When the restaurant opened they only served dinner and made a name for themselves as a more upscale nightclub venue with dancing.  It was only recently that they have opened the doors at Anastasia for lunch between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  I was a guest of the restaurant to come in and enjoy what Anastasia offered for the midday diner.

Read the full story and watch the slideshow HERE.

The 4th Annual Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament starts to cook June 16

If you are hooked on the culinary competitions on television; Top Chef, Cutthroat Kitchen, Master Chef, Chopped etc  you can be a judge at this Mid-Atlantic competition to find 2014 Mason Dixon Master Chef or be a voyeur;  watch along with other audience members.  

Each year for the past three years, sixteen regional chefs competed in front of a live audience in an à la minute challenge of creating an appetizer, entrée and dessert.  The Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament is a bracketed competition, like basketball’s March Madness, executive chefs and assistants gain their seat in the next bracket as they win their competitions until it is down to the last two winning chefs and the finale as to who is 2014’s Mason Dixon Master Chef.  

Watch the slideshow and full details HERE.

Casting calls: Family Dinners and Guy’s Grocery Games

Involvement in the food industry on numerous levels brings e-mails of opportunities for reality shows. Just the other day I receive one for Guy’s Grocery Games that is casting for another season looking for chefs and professional cooks. I gladly posted on the WCR Women Chefs and Restaurateurs Facebook page and have the information below for any culinary professionals who might be interested.

Last night a casting call was in my In-Box for Family Dinners. Twofour America, a production company in Los Angeles and award-winning TV production company, is scouring the nation to find the biggest and best families who come together to celebrate their victories and overcome their struggles while cooking and eating their favorite family dishes.

Get all the details for casting for both shows HERE.

Mothers eat free on Mother’s Day

It seems that Mother’s Day has evolved into taking mom, mother, mommy, grandma, memaw,  gran,ma and bubbie out to eat. The choices are endless for breakfast, brunch or dinner for Mother’s Day, Sunday – May 11^th. Boston Market restaurant’s VIP notice says that on Mother’s Day, moms eat free.

Get all the details and watch the video HERE. 

Sloppy Bibs: BBQ and Beer at the Fork & Wrench

 

Whatcha going do on a hum drum Monday night? Are you going to be a couch potato watching television or are you going to head out for BBQ and brews with friends.

Sloppy Bibs - This is not going to be a "suit and tie" kind of party. It's all about digging into great food and tipping some unique brews. The Fork and Wrench doesn’t care if it gets a little loud and a little bit messy. As for the bibs for Sloppy Bibs night, it is (BYOB) Bring Your Own Bibs.

Get all the details for Sloppy Bibs night HERE.