Food Lovers' Guide to Baltimore: You are invited to the launch party

The Food Lovers’ Guide to Baltimore has its launch party on Thursday, February 7th 6 p.m. to 8 p.m at Chazz : A Bronx Original with a special extended Happy Hour offering discounts on drink and food selections. Come meet and greet the authors, Neal and Kathy Patterson (aka food bloggers and cooks extraordinare – check out www.Minxeats.com )

Read the full story and interview HERE

Paulie Gee’s Pizza from Jersey to Brooklyn and Brooklyn to Baltimore

Paulie Gee's

Fior di Latte, Italian Tomatoes, Berkshire Sopressata Piccante and Parmigiano Reggiano

You know me; I always start at the beginning and do a Seinfeld finish at the end. I’ve been missing on the scene since the beginning of January. My father-in-law passed away at 91 years of age, a long time Medfield resident – the neighborhood just north of Hampden on Falls Road. The memorial service was at Burgee-Henss funeral home in Hampden. Attendees were invited back to the Redman’s Hall on Hickory Avenue, a quick walk through the alley behind the funeral home for a mini-wake. Cousin Kim says as we’re walking, “Have you heard, Redman’s Hall has been sold and it’s going to be a restaurant?” She states, "Will Bauer (aka Lou Catelli) is involved in some way."

Read the full story HERE

Winter Restaurant Week: New York, Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia & more

Tis the winter season for Restaurant Week(s) in numerous cities and counties. It is where restaurants promote and create special menus and dining deals to lure you in to taste their wares or come back once again for discounted dining. Notably, Washington DC has a later date this year, probably because of the inauguration and the restaurants accommodating an additional one million people to the city.

So whether you are staying home around the Baltimore area or traveling to the Big Apple, Alexandria, Virginia or Annapolis, I have you covered with dates and links to the respective Restaurant Week pages

Check out the entire list HERE

Easta La Vista and Buca di Beppo open in Baltimore

Easta La Vista and Buca di Beppo are not tongue twisters they are new restaurants in Baltimore County.

Easta La Vista, opened in the heart of Pikesville on 1330 Reisterstown Road caddy corner to the old Fields Pharmacy and on the corner of the Alley Shops. The former Strapazza Italian Restaurant location has gone through numerous permutations but none had been Kosher (Star K) nor middle Eastern cuisine.

Read the full story, watch the video and slideshow HERE

Watch the Baltimore Ravens, feed yourself and help 'Team Ravens'

On Sunday where are you watching the Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis for his first game back since his injury and notably his last at M&T Bank Stadium? Are you open to suggestion?

You can choose an open buffet featuring Chef Nancy Longo’s Pierpoint Restaurant cuisine plus your first beer or wine for a small donation. Sounding good? You’ll also have a chance to bid on Nancy’s signed Ravens Memorabilia that she personally acquired over 17 years as the Baltimore Ravens’ representative at Taste of the NFL. And over the same years, Chef Longo has been the driving force behind raising money for Team Ravens Kick the Hunger Challenge that benefits the Maryland Food Bank.

Read the full story and get the Baltimore Ravens Purple Egg Recipe HERE

Ray Day Celebration - Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis

Kooper’s North welcomes all Ravens fans to a unique and exclusive event on Sunday, January 6th, 2013 starting at 7:30 AM

Kooper’s North invites you to celebrate the legacy of the greatest linebacker in the History of Football in his last ride. The 10-time All-Pro, 13-time pro-bowl linebacker, Superbowl XXXV MVP and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is for us the symbol of passion, hard work and generosity. We look forward to seeing all our patrons, friends and family in their #52 Jerseys!

Get all the details HERE

Full blown food whore

And it all began.  Thought that might catch your attention.  When was that defining moment when I went from a picky eater to a full blown food whore?  The defining moment was when I was a wee child, and I mean wee. Both my sister and I looked liked we came from a 3^rd world country; tiny and skinny.
My mother decided that others saw us as underfed and undernourished. Coming from a Jewish household, that was never the case but it was her Jewish mother guilt. Now that you understand my mother’s state of mind, here was her remedy to fatten us up.

Read the full story HERE

The Top 5 1/2 Pizza Parlors, Restaurants, Joints or Emporiums in Baltimore

This is the first of many Top 5 ½ columns to be written focused on restaurants, cookbooks and food – wherever my culinary curiosity will take me.  You are asking why five and a half? The half is for honorable mention but just shy of making the top five.

I have culled on line review sites, polled Twitter and Facebook fans to come up with the hot pizza joints in Baltimore.  Like crab cakes, pasta sauces or sushi houses, everyone has a favorite for a multiple of reasons.  If I left off your favorite let us know in the comment section and why they are your favorites.

Whether you fold your slice or eat it flat, whether you like thin crust or thick, New York style, pan, Neapolitan, brick oven – there is a pizza for every taste

My listings are in alphabetical order and no way reflect a ranking.

Read the full story and watch the video HERE

Culinary Review os 2012: My perspective

This is the time of year when so many reflect on the year past and what the future might hold. I’m no different. There were many highs this year with a couple of lows but all-in-all, “it was a very good year” in my food world. It wasn’t a good year for the Guy Fieri and his Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar restaurant review that went round the world by Pete Wells of the New York Times. The whole review was written in questions the likes of “What exactly about a small salad with four or five miniature croutons makes Guy’s Famous Big Bite Caesar (a) big (b) famous or (c) Guy’s, in any meaningful sense?”

Check out the full review of 2012, the slideshow and video HERE

McCormick & Schmick’s fresh new look for the New Year

Since 1998 McCormick & Schmick’s outpost has had their doors open at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. The recently acquired seafood chain is now owned by Landry’s and with that came a refresh in décor.

McCormick & Schmick’s reflects a commitment to culinary excellence by showcasing the rich bounty of the Pacific Northwest including an array of specialties from that region, along with an emphasis on serving the freshest quality seafood from the waters of the Atlantic.

Read the full story, watch the video and the slideshow HERE

Haute Dog's Daniel Raffel launches Divine Swine

Thanks to Harvey Kallen’s invite to lunch at Haute Dog, I learned about Daniel Raffel’s latest endeavor, Divine Swine. Just like the miracle of penicillin came out of mold so has Divine Swine. As a hobby, Daniel’s dad Jerry was curing Virginia style hams; they would cure for one year. Low and behold one ham cured longer just due to oversight. The senior Raffel took the ham to his son and asked what I can do with this? Well it turned out to be a beautiful mistake, offering up an Italian speck like prosciutto, lightly smoked.

Check out the slideshow and full story HERE

J. Paul's Harborplace: Renewed, Refreshed and Rewarding

Over the 30 plus years Harborplace has been open I can honestly say there hasn’t been a restaurant that was so fabulous that I wanted to return. Not to say in the early days that the husband and I enjoyed the stall vendors but most are gone. I preface all this to let you know should I be at Harborplace, should I crave a raw bar or tasty regional food with the equation of quality dishes, portion size and pricing, I would go to the recently renovated and reopened J. Paul’s.

Other than the expanding waistline that has come with writing about food the main benefit is public relations firms and restaurateurs invite me to sample new menu items or enjoy a meal which allows me to taste numerous dishes I might not normally order or try.

Read the full story and watch the slideshow HERE

New Lotte Asian Grocery and Honey Dumplings grand opening

The goal was to go for dim sum for lunch today but my friend wanted to try Honey Pig Korean BBQ. Since we were headed out to Ellicott City I suggested we check out the new Lotte Asian Grocery that is having its Grand Opening weekend. One reason to stop was Honey Pig was opening a dumpling stand inside Lotte which is located in the old Toys R Us location at Route 40 and Nuwood Drive.

It had the new store feel; fresh, clean and vibrant. I enjoyed taste testing all the foods being sampled and walked away with a fresh seafood noodle soup for the home fridge.

Watch the slideshow, get the video recipe for bibimbap and read the full story HERE

Fine Dining in Hunt Valley: The Oregon Grille

There is dining and then there is going out to eat. One goes to The Oregon Grille to dine when one wants the atmosphere, the superior service and exquisitely executed food. Just off interstate I-83, The Oregon Grille is in the heart of Maryland’s horse country and is so reflected in its décor. The pathway from the ample parking lot has lawn jockeys in their winning colors guiding your way to the garden and porch entrance of the restaurant. The wood paneling with saddles and bits in the foyer, the bar with foxes and game fowl, and the dining room with artwork featuring horses lays homage to the region.

Owner Ted Bauer and his executive chef Matthew Siegmund recently celebrated The Oregon Grille’s 15th anniversary which is a true accomplishment in the restaurant business. It says they are doing things right.

Watch the slideshow, video recipe and full story HERE

Give the gift of Italy: Enjoy the Amalfi Coast

So this story begins at the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s holiday party when I chatted up my friend Mary Ann Cricchio, owner of Da Mimmo Restaurant in Baltimore’s Little Italy. The question to her was what’s new since I last saw you? The dam broke as Mary Ann exploded with excitement about an Amalfi Coast tour that she and her executive chef Masood Masoodi had put together for 20 customers.

photo courtesy of Steve Filippi

I love Italy; have been twice on cost effective tours where we were packed liked sardines on tour buses. Do you remember the old movie If It’s Tuesday it must Be Belgium? That is what my tours were like, packing and unpacking, going from city to city. Mary Ann’s tour had her guests stay in one city, Maiori, where they relaxed and didn’t have that syndrome of being in a new city every other day.

Check out the slideshow, video and the full story HERE

Munching lunch on the Charm City Circulator Purple Route

I'm thrilled to say that my first story on dining at the restaurants on Baltimore's Charm City Circulator Banner route was such a huge success this summer. So I've come back for another tour, this time I took a closer look at the Purple Route that is like the United Nations of culinary treats.. 

Blue Agave

I'm going to link to the story and the gal you see in the photograph with the fuschia umbrella is me...it is my Mary Poppin's look.  So please click through to the entire story and sidebar at www.BMoreMedia

Shiso Tavern: Canton Square's Asian fusion dining

Shiso is an herb, predominately used in Japanese cuisine but also used in other Asian cultures like Vietnamese and Chinese. The name seems apropos as the name of the Canton Square restaurant Shiso Tavern that serves sushi, ramen, pad thai and wok specials like orange chicken and beef broccoli. Shiso Tavern is located in the former Te Amo space with the bar greeting you when you first enter. The upstairs dining room is subtle in décor with a kimono on one wall and crossed samurai swords on the other; one would think they used feng shui to aid the minimalist surroundings.

Watch the slideshow, video and read the full story HERE 

Verde Pizza Napoletana: a great addition for your dining wish list

Canton and the city have garnered a great new restaurant, Verde Pizza Napoletana. As a guest at the grand opening I had the opportunity to taste numerous styled pizzas, salads and chat up the owners. The space, formerly Birches has been revitalized and refreshed with reclaimed wooden beams, brick walls, tile floors, a coal fired / wood burning oven and a bar backed with a chalkboard menu. Stylized, fresh, cozy, urban and chic, one might find this on the upper east side of New York. The couple behind the vision is Edward Bosco and his wife Marianne Kresevich.

Read the complete story and watch the slideshow HERE