Fork and Cork Dinner Series: Triple the food and drink

Put three of the city’s premier chefs and their restaurant’s sommelier together for a culinary pop-up event at their restaurants and you have the Fork and Cork Dinner Series.  The Fork and Cork series will include each of these chefs cooking at each others restaurant – each preparing dishes at each of the three dinners for a total of four courses each night.

This unique dinner series brings together Baltimore’s most sought-after chefs including Chef Zack Mills of Wit & Wisdom, Chef Bryan Voltaggio of AGGIO and Chef Chris Becker of Fleet Street Kitchen. Each chef will be accompanied by their restaurant’s sommelier, Julie Dalton, Chris Coker and Tim Riley, respectively, to allow guests to enjoy the full experience at each restaurant without leaving their seats. 

• Tuesday, August 18^th at 6:30 p.m. is the first in the series taking place at Wit & Wisdom at 200 International Drive.
• Tuesday, September 29^th at 6:30 p.m. is the second stop in the dinner series at Aggio Restaurant at 614 Water Street
• Tuesday, November 3^rd at 6:30 p.m. wraps up the Fork and Cork Dinner Series at Fleet Street Kitchen at 1012 Fleet Street.

As an additional challenge, the restaurant sommeliers will not have access to the menu until the day of the event, having them search in their wine cellars for the perfect wine for their chef's creations. 

Each dinner is $99 that includes a four course meal (food and drink), excludes tax, gratuity and ticket fee. Valet parking is not inclusive. 

For further information go to Eventbrite www.eventbrite.com/o/fork-amp-cork-dinner-series-8302064478#sthash.nXkyRcXv.dpuf

You can purchase for just one of the dinners or if you purchase tickets to all three dinners you will receive a $25 gift card to each restaurant and a chance to WIN Dinner For Two at all three restaurants! 

Non-GMO micro greens: Urban farming with City Hydro

Not only is City Hydro urban farming, they are growing the nutrient dense micro greens in their town house’s former back bedroom in the heart of the Fells Point/Canton neighborhood.  The no-GMO, micro greens grow in water, pure multi filtered H20.  Larry Hountz, founder and developer of City Hydro not only grows the micro greens, he teaches others to do the same – to start their own business of growing the micro greens whether for personal use, for restaurant owners and others who want to create a business for themselves. For example, one of his interns is moving to Dubai where she will set up her own micro green business.

Read the full story at Dining Examiner . com  and be sure to listen to the fascinating podcast at Baltimore Internet Radio.

Free oysters on National Oyster Day at the Mt. Washington Tavern

Celebrate National Oyster Day at Mt. Washington Tavern on Wednesday, August 5, from 5 to 9 pm

Shuck ‘til your heart’s content at The Mt. Washington Tavern on Wednesday, August 5 from 5 to 9 pm. Mt. Washington Tavern will celebrate National Oyster Day with FREE Tavern Salt Oysters – the Tavern’s very own oyster, specially priced hometown oyster shooters and live music. Oyster Shooters,
all prepared with one Tavern Salt Oyster, include Cucumber Mint, The Classic, Baltimoron and the Crazy Russian.

National Oyster Day helps raise awareness for and supports efforts to keep Oysters present in the Chesapeake Bay. Oysters serves as a habitat for plants, animals and fish in the Bay and they also serve as a filter to keep the water clean.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 5, 2015
5 to 9 pm
WHERE: Mt. Washington Tavern
5700 Newbury Street
Baltimore, MD

New BBQ Restaurant opens in Woodlawn

Friend and chef for many years here in Baltimore, Benny Gordon has partnered with Edrich Premier Foods to create GEB’s BBQ Restaurant.

Chef Gordon has volunteered numerous hours to working with kids interested in culinary and children at risk.  Ingredients for GEB’s BBQ are coming from CIA’s Youth in Transition (YIT) School which is within a five mile radius of the restaurant.  

The Youth in Transition serves as an educational and vocational training program for students with special education needs.  Per the website, “GEB’s Restaurant and the YIT Farm give students the opportunity to gain culinary and horticulture skills which will hopefully lead to a productive employment in the hospitality field and the community."

The website touts farm fresh food, guarantying farm fresh ingredients with a menu  and specials that change with the seasons.  Weekly specials will feature the bounty of the farm, i.e. this week it is zucchini and the zucchini are incorporated into 3 varieties of cole slaw and zucchini bread. 

Open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm one can indulge in the slow smoked beef brisket on a brioche bun, pulled pork, grilled marinated chicken.  Pick a side, any side: fries, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, collards and corn bread.  House made desserts pound cake, cupcakes and pies.  Prices are cost effective by anyone’s terms.

Can’t make if for lunch, they are prepped and already catering…so think your special party needs.

GEB’s BBQ Restaurant – 7205 Rutherford Road – Woodlawn, MD  21244 410 298 4634 www.gebsbbq.com  Twitter & Instagram @Gebsbbq  Facebook

August is Virginia Craft Beer Month

For my readers who just LOVE tasting craft beers and like weekend getaways this just might be ideal.

From the press release:

With more than 100 breweries in place and more opening every year, Virginia has become a magnet for the craft beer industry. Local love is on tap and August has been named Virginia Craft Beer Month.

The world is taking notice. Virginia's crafter breweries are receiving awards and accolades in many of the nation's top publications. And it's not just the beer that's drawing people to Virginia's craft breweries. These local watering holes are becoming destinations to spend the day by offering live music, great food, lots of fun and even entertainment for children.

San Diego-based microbrewery Stone Brewing Company plans to invest $74 million to construct its East Coast facility in Richmond, which will include a production brewery, packaging hall, destination restaurant, retail store and its administrative offices.

A sample of Virginia's craft breweries include:

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery operates in a 12,000 square foot building in the heart of a historic brewing district in Richmond. The brewery is equipped to produce a range of traditional European ales and lagers, as well as a host of innovative new styles with American, Virginian, and specifically Richmond influences. The venue includes public tasting rooms, food trucks, live music, special beer releases, cask-conditioned ales and a variety of festivals. The brewery recently announced it would expand operations into Goochland.

Wolf Hills Brewing Co. in Abingdon offers Growler Hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings where you can tour the facility and then sample the regionally-named flavors handcrafted at this old Ice House near the Virginia Creeper Trail.

In Fredericksburg, visit Blue & Gray Brewing Co. and Lee's Retreat Brewpub. A microbrewery offering free tours and tastings certain days of the week, Blue & Gray has four beers on tap all the time with specialty beers available seasonally.

Blue Mountain Brewery and Restaurant is located in Afton, just a short drive from Charlottesville. Enjoy one of their 10 handcrafted brews paired with a fresh, local menu. Beers are available by the glass, six-pack, growler, or keg. Its lush view of the mountains is fabulous and it has a cool kids' play area.

Garden Grove Brewing Company in Richmond claims the title for being Virginia's 100th craft brewery. Garden Grove's beers are strongly influenced by the Belgian and British brewing traditions and the brewery's small size will allow for experimentation and adjustments with recipes and production methods to make unique brews.

Historic downtown Lexington boasts Blue Lab Brewing Company. Sample the beers on tap, and when that certain one finds you, buy a growler or a keg.

St. George Brewing Company crafts 14 brews - some award-winning - in Hampton. Each season has its own beer, and then there are the mainstays - all available in kegs and bottles. Take a tour of the microbrewery, sample what's on tap, and visit the retail shop.

Plan your own themed trip at virginia.org/CraftBeer. It includes an interactive Virginia map plotting the locations of the state's craft breweries and a listing of upcoming Virginia craft beer events.

Stay connected with Virginia on Facebook at facebook.com/VirginiaisforLovers and on Twitter and Instagram at @VisitVirginia.

Baltimore Farm Fling dinner at James Beard House

Baltimore chefs are once again cooking at the James Beard House in New York City. The James Beard Foundation is the pinnacle of the culinary world, offering out awards yearly to the top chefs in the country – the equivalent to the Oscars but for culinary achievements.  To be asked to cook at the James Beard House is an amazing honor and we have Baltimore chefs and one of our farmers who have created the Baltimore Farm Fling this Wed, August 8^th .Read the full story at Dining Examiner . com