Chocolate Show kicks off with a Halloween themed chocolate fashion show in New York City

I was up before the crack of dawn, 3:25 a.m so I could make sure I would get to New York City in time for the press conference and unveiling of the Halloween chocolate fashion show. Four designers from around the world created edible, chocolate clothing - many painstaking hours of work. Of course there was a chocolate reward at the end of the fashion show, lots of chocolate, wonderful chocolate.

Watch the chocolate fashion show slide show:

Chocolate Show kicks off with a Halloween themed chocolate fashion show in New York City

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Women chefs gather for annual gala and awards-you are invited

Women Chefs and Restaurateurs are holding their annual conference in Washington DC starting Sunday, November 1st. What is unique about the conference is the women chefs preapre all the food as opposed to the hotel staff. This means awesome food by the country's leading women chefs. This year you have an opportunity to enjoy the Women Who Inspire Awards Reception and Dinner. If you are a foodie at heart and want to mingle with the creme de la creme of women chefs then you must attend. This is the first time they are opening the gala dinner and awards to the general public.

For details on the chefs participating and attending:

Women chefs gather for annual gala and awards-you are invited

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Bel-Loc Diner makes it to the South's Best Diners with recipe links

Check out the complete story and link to recipes:

Bel-Loc Diner makes it to the South's Best Diners with recipe links

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Man versus Food Baltimore episode premieres tonight on the Travel Channel

For a short, previously svelte person, I have a “healthy” appetite. My late mother-in-law used to say I ate like a stevedore. It was never an appetite large enough that I would enter an eating contest and make money, nor do I think I would admit it here if I did. Eating contests brings me to Adam Richman host, star and glutton of Man Vs. Food on the Travel Channel. Here is a man with an appetite who takes eating challenges seriously enough to tackle a 10 lb burger, a pizza the size of a conference table or the omelet that ate the world. “HUGE man,” I say and “HOT too” with habanero and scotch bonnet peppers, heat off the Richter scale.

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Man versus Food Baltimore episode premieres tonight on the Travel Channel

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Anthony Bourdain gets animated about the Food Network

You just have to love Anthony Bourdain. He has NEVER been shy about his feelings and his first animated episode of his Alternative Universe Robo-Chef doesn't hesitate to cut up the Food Network stars.

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Anthony Bourdain gets animated about the Food Network

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FREE Black Jack Taco on Halloween at Taco Bell

FREE Black Jack Taco on Halloween at Taco Bell

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My pick for celebrating Halloween is Hallowine 09

Is Halloween becoming the biggest holiday next to Christmas? I do believe so. In sorting through the many events for Halloween, I have chosen to promote Hallowine 2009 because if offers great Horror D’Oeuvres (you know there has to be food involved for me), wine bar and never ending cocktails, music (DJ WHO & Knowledge Featuring Live Percussion by Keith Meyer), costume contest BUT most importantly it benefits the Living Classroom – learning by doing.

Check out menu and the details:
My pick for celebrating Halloween is Hallowine 09

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Papa Bello signs letter to purchase local deli, restaurant bakery and create a franchise concept

Papa Bello signs letter to purchase local deli, restaurant bakery and create a franchise concept

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Taste of Emeril cooking competition debuts in Atlantic City - you can be a contestant

Are you the one who sits at home making snarky remarks about how lame the cooking contestants are on the reality show? You think you can do better? I just heard of an opportunity that might be of interest to you.

Taste of Emeril cooking competition debuts in Atlantic City - you can be a contestant

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Lollipop lollipop oh lolli lolli Ra-llipop

The title is not a new language just my own take on the Chordettes song in 1958, Lollipop – my way of introducing the NEW Ra Sushi Ra-llipop (see photo). If you are fond of sushi but watching the carb intake this is the dish to try on the new spiced up menu. Wrapped in Asian radish (lobok) instead of rice you will find tuna, salmon, yellowtail, spicy tuna mix, lettuce, asparagus and cucumber, skewered (lollipop fashion) with a garlic ponzu sauce for dipping.

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Lollipop lollipop oh lolli lolli Ra-llipop

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FREE cookie and hot cocoa at Barnes and Noble cafes

On Saturday, October 24th go to any Barnes & Noble book stores that have a café and present the coupon for a FREE small cookie and hot chocolate. Check out the Maryland locations and while you are at it, here is a link to all the coupons being offered this week on adult and children's Halloween books.

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FREE cookie and hot cocoa at Barnes & Noble cafes

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Top four list on the best rotisserie chicken

My stories, rants or reviews appear here at the Dining Examiner, at my Dining Dish blog and my Facebook page so the readers' comments appear a couple places. Here are your suggested places for the best rotisserie chicken that came from my story “Looking for the best rotisserie chicken” I had three responses. If you have other suggestions, please add them, let’s make this a top ten list.

For the list and complete story:

Top four list on the best rotisserie chicken

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What is your experience with dirty restaurant bathrooms?

I've seen some pretty bad restaurant bathrooms in my day. The ones with no towels, no hand driers and you look around the room looking for anything to dry your hands. At last you settle for the toilet paper that crumbles in to snow like pieces of air and half stick to your hand that you can't shake off. The partially flushing toilet and the trash can overflowing with paper, real turn offs.

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What is your experience wih dirty restaurant bathrooms?

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Seven personal and entertaining stories about food at Stoop Storytelling

Mark you calendars for Monday, November 2nd to go to Center Stage for Stoop Storytelling on cooking, eating and assorted food issues. Seven speakers get up and for seven minutes tell their personal stories centered on food. We all can talk about food; I know I’m good for at least eight minutes.

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Seven personal and entertaining stories about food at Stoop Storytelling

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Tidbits-old and new stories - Pama cooking contest, cooking classes and new cocktails

Tidbits is always a collection of foodie news, today we take a look back at this week's most popular stories with new foodie news.

Cooking contest with Pama Liqueur: If you are a creative cook this might be the cooking contest you can win. Grand Prize, a trip for two to The Food and Wine Classic in Aspen.

B & O Brasserie, in the Hotel Monaco at 2 N. Charles Street is launching their fall cocktail menu. Master mixologist, Brendan Dorr, never fails. Here is a sampling of the new cocktails:

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Tidbits-old and newstories - Pama cooking contest, cooking classes and new cocktails

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Maryland State House taking a stand on the hunger problem

Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown along with Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) volunteers will be at Maryland Food Bank today to bring awareness to the hunger problem in Maryland. They will help package food items for needy Marylanders. Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor will address the staff and volunteers on the issue of hunger in the state. The goal is to end childhood hunger in Maryland by 2015.

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Maryland State House taking a stand on the hunger problem

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Baltimore cooking and baking classes for Fall 2009

Bringing family and friends to the table and sharing food is what separates us from other life forms; it creates bonds, feelings of love and acceptance. To aid in the ritual of creating meals and breaking bread, I have put together an updated list of cooking and baking classes in the Baltimore and surrounding areas. This time I have set them up by area: Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County and Anne Arundel County. If you know of other classes being offered in the area please share and I will update this list.

Get the list of Baltimore area cooking and baking classes below:

Baltimore cooking and baking classes for Fall 2009

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Picture by Dara Bunjon - Pierpoint Restaurant Cooking Class

Looking for the best rotisserie chicken

At this time and place, Chicken Out has the best rotisserie chicken. My favorite all-time rotisserie chicken was at Poulet, which was located on Reisterstown Road in the heart of Pikesville. They used an incredible spice blend; the aroma drove me to distraction. My boss and I would drive from Lansdowne just to get the chicken for lunch. Eventually it seemed to change but was still the best ever for flavor.

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Looking for the best rotisserie chicken

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