Come sample J. Paul's Inner Harbor new seasonal menu

On Thursday, May 30th you are cordially invited to J Paul’s to celebrate summer, sip on cocktails and enjoy their harborside bar and restaurant’s patio. The husband and I were lucky enough to sample the new summer seasonal items and were not disappointed. The quality of the food far exceeds big “chain” restaurants that populate Harborplace. The new outdoor bar is perfect for happy hour sipping and people and boat watching.

For just $25 enjoy the patio party on May 30th. You get to enjoy heavy appetizers, house wines, Natty Boh cans and rail drinks. See what all the talk about J Paul’s is about. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the scholars of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore.

Read the full story and watch the slideshow HERE

Dishcrawl - local, social dining in over 130 cities

In over 130 cities throughout the United States and Canada people gather for Dishcrawl’s local dining events. Baltimore is the most recent dining outpost for the young company started by Tracy Lee back in 2010.

Recently I had the pleasure of “dishcrawlin” as their guest through one of Baltimore’s downtown neighborhoods. Some might recognize the concept as a progressive dinner. Couples, young and old, singles, mothers and daughters were all afoot, as we walked to and from 4 restaurants to dine on one of their house specialties.

Watch the slideshow and read the full story HERE

Charm City Cakes offers up cake decorating class

Nationally recognized from the Food Network’s Ace of Cakes, Charm City Cakes is offering a cake decorating class this Sunday, May 19th at 1:30 p.m. This is for the baker who wants go way beyond the Wilton Cake Decorating classes.

Get class details and cost HERE

Gluten-free cooking in and dining out

You've heard the term gluten-free and the growth of those with celiac disease, gluten intolerance and those who want to just eliminate gluten in their diet has grown at an amazing rate in a very short period of time. And as the numbers multiply so do cookbooks focused to the gluten-free life. One of the forerunners in gluten-free blogging is Shauna James Ahern with her husband and chef Daniel Ahern of Gluten-Free-Girl and The Chef. Shauna was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2005 and her first cookbook

 was Gluten-Free Girl and the chef: A Love Story with 100 Tempting Recipes. Just released is their second cookbook Gluten-Free Girl Everyday tempting recipes for the gluten-free home cook.

When you cook for a celiac or gluten intolerant you should be aware that not only does your kitchen have to be cleaned thoroughly but there is equipment you should not be using or should be replaced that are porous or have scratches. Learn more about one restaurants food and wine dining event and the complete story HERE

Top 5 1/2 Pho restaurants in Baltimore

Pho, properly spelled is really phở but since most of us won’t write it or search for it with the Vietnamese accents it shall be written pho. Properly pronounced one would say “fuh.” Pho is a Vietnamese broth highlighted with cinnamon, clove and star anise, served with rice noodles, thin cuts of meat, herbs, bean sprouts, lime and optional hot sauces and hoisin sauce.

 Which are the top pho restaurants in Baltimore? These are my top five choices listed in alphabetical order. Know that I have eaten beef pho at each and every one of these restaurants, so the listing is based on my preferences with a look to Yelp and Urbanspoon for the public’s rankings. At the bottom of my listing is my honorable mention – the ½ star in my ranking of the top 5 ½ bowls of pho in Baltimore. Read the full story HERE

New chef at Fleet Street Kitchen with amazing credentials

Fleet Street Kitchens executive chef Chris Becker has moved up the chain at Bagby Restaurant Group and has been promoted to the group’s Chief Operation Officer. He is now busy with the opening of their 4th restaurant Cunningham’s that will open in Towson this summer. So who is this new chef, the one that is committed to sourcing local ingredients, an artisanal ethnic – his name is Chris Amendola.

Read the full story HERE

Cookbook Corner: FAMILY TABLE by Michael Romano and Karen Stabiner

FAMILY TABLE – Favorite Staff Meals from Our Restaurants to Your Home hit the cookbook shelves April 2nd. The cookbook is a compendium of recipes from the staff at Romano’s multiple and much loved restaurants – Union Square Café, Gramercy Tavern, Maialino, Blue Smoke The Modern, and more. These are the staff meals, served family style just before lunch or dinner service. Everyone in the restaurant kitchen gets to share their culinary heritage and skills from sous chef to the porters.

Romano has pulled together and refined numerous favorite staff meal favorites. Like all staff meals they are cost effective and the recipes in the book are easy for the home cook to put on the table.

Check out the recipes, full story and slideshow HERE

A Taste of Classic for Our Daily Bread

I knew spring had sprung as we drove into the driveway just north of Cold Spring Lane off Charles Street towards the Evergreen Museum and their carriage house. The daffodils and tulips were ready to burst into bloom.

The Classic Catering People were showcasing what they do best by creating an experience of fine food, exquisite themes that sets the tone for your enjoyment and libations that not only wet your whistle but makes them sing. They did so to benefit Our Daily Bread an organization that makes a profound impact on the lives of others simply by sharing a hot meal.

Check out the story and the slideshow HERE

Cirque de la Cuisine

Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland invite you to Cirque de la Cuisine. Stilt walkers, a one-man side show and gourmet cuisine from nineteen of Maryland’s finest chefs are yours to enjoy on Monday, April 29th at the Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Think decadent desserts…yum yum, regional brews and fine wine … “A glass in the hand’s worth two on the shelf—Tipple it down and refresh yourself!”, music…tap your toes and the excitement of a live auction..

Get all the details and join the fun HERE

Winners of the 2013 Restaurant Association of Maryland's Awards

The Restaurant Association of Maryland’s Fire and Ice Gala was held this evening honoring restaurateurs and chefs. Awards were given out in multiple categories like your favorite restaurants, food trucks, wine and beverage programs, craft brews, favorite new restaurant and more.

As the glitzeratti of the food industry gathered in all their finery they were the ones served this evening. An extended reception of food by Baldwin’s Station, Birroteca, The Classic Catering People – Raw Bar, EVO Public House, Kloby’s Smokehouse, Molly Masons, Quench, The Rumor Mill Fusion Bar & Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Shapiro’s Café.

Read the full story and learn who won HERE

Top items patrons steal from restaurants

What do you think the items are? From speaking to numerous chefs and restaurant owners from around the country and Canada nothing is sacred or safe. There are dining room sticky fingered guests and the patrons who like to pilfer out-of-plain sight from the bathrooms.

The dining room thieves are probably the most adventurous although there was one daring bathroom thief whose story was told by Chef/Owner Christopher Prosperi of Metro Bis Restaurant in Connecticut. Chef Prosperi responded to my inquiry, “The best story I ever heard was a restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island. A guest came to the restaurant in the middle of a packed Saturday night with a solid plan. He packed a bag of tools and some spare parts, and then headed to the restroom. During full dinner service, while pretending to repair the sink, he carefully removed the faucet, placed it in a tool box and replaced it with a cheaper Home Depot version. Then he walked out the door.”

Read the full story and watch the slideshow HERE

Eddie’s of Roland Park celebrates the Charles Street location's 20th anniversary

Before buying local was the “de rigueur” Eddie’s of Roland Park stores supported, stocked and sold numerous products manufactured in Baltimore and Maryland. Many of us bought Vanns Spices and Saval Foods brisket back in the day and still do.

You are invited to enjoy and be part of the shop local celebration this Saturday, April 13..for more details and slideshow click HERE

Free social media advice for all restaurants

I think this idea is of vital importance to restaurateurs (or any business). Is it that big idea like the fellow who told Coca Cola to “bottle it” when they were only fountain drinks? No, although it can only help and it is free advice.

 Let’s dial back to last night and this past weekend and my frustration of someone who LOVES to send photographs via Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Pinchit. Just last night I was at an event, a culinary event, and I had a lovely beverage and wanted to Tweet about it. So I began asking around what is your Twitter name (handle).

Get the full story and advice HERE

Can you say BBQ? Pork in the Park National BBQ cookoff

Follow your nose to the Pork in the Park BBQ Festival. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, this Eastern Shore staple will be served up April 19-21st at Salisbury, Maryland’s WinterPlace Park. Pork in the Park is officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and presented by the Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism.

Get the details HERE

April in Paris, the new Paris Ballroom in the Hotel Monaco

There were lots of ooh-la-las at the grand opening the Hotel Monaco’s Paris Ballroom. This makes the third ballroom for the historic building, taking special events space up to 9,500 square feet. Weddings, bar or bat mitzvahs, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, fundraisers all enjoy the beauty of this building - let’s not forget the grand marble staircase that is so breathtaking.

Check out the slideshow and read the full story HERE

Orioles' Baltimore opening day - Ripken Gourmet Burgers are on my home plate

Go O’s! Open day 2013 at Camden Yards and if the sports gods are with us the weather will hold out. Another winning season is extremely promising. It seems apropos to talk about a new culinary find, Ripken Gourmet Burgers, and yes the reference is to the Baltimore Oriole’s ‘Iron Man’ Cal Ripken whose name and punim (face) are on the product packaging. We all know that Cal Ripken is a man of integrity so you know this has to be a product of quality.

Read the full story and watch the slideshow HERE

Baldwin’s Station April pink specials benefit cancer resource center

Think pink, cherry blossom pink. Throughout the month of April, Baldwin’s Station in historic Sykesville is proud to support the Blossoms of Hope annual pink season by participating in their Pink Plate Specials program. During the blossoming season of Howard County’s cherry trees (each April) local restaurateurs think pink by adding “Pink” Plate Specials to their menus to help raise cancer awareness and support the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center at Howard County General Hospital.

Check out the menus and full story HERE

Miss Shirley’s Café Spring menu has arrived just in time for Easter

Spring itself hasn’t arrived weather wise here in Baltimore. The below normal temperatures and Passover snow has us yearning for the glories of spring. But it seems that spring has arrived on the plates at all three Miss Shirley’s Café locations.

If you are trying to decided what to do for Easter then you might want to consider Miss Shirley’s which is open their normal hours 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. I was told that some of the chefs like to feature peeps with the pancake or French toast offerings.

Watch the slideshow and read the full story HERE