Dining Dish

Hippodrome Theatre Announces 3rd Annual Foodie Event

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:14:00 +0000

Who will be the big culinary star for this year’s Foodie Experience. Year one was Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert, last year was Alton Brown and this year Travel Channel’s Bizarre Food host Andrew Zimmern takes the stage, Saturday, May 12, 2012. Read all the details HERE

Tavern on the Square, O’Donnell Square that is - now open

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:50:00 +0000

You know the restaurant space on O’Donnell Square, sure you do! Formerly Razorbacks, Rick’s American and the last incarnation was Fins on the Square. The boys, because if you are under 30 to me you are still boys, Mel Carter and Brett Lockard of Blue Hill Tavern renown are partners in Tavern on the Square (TOTS). Top toque is Blue Hill Tavern’s former executive sous chef, Jeremy Thatcher, who isn’t afraid of showing his penchant for bold flavors.

The partners took over ownership of Fins on the Square in the early fall. Carter took the first week of 2012 to refurbish the space and change over to Tavern on the Square. An extended bar, black wood trim and seating combined with the “rosemary sprig” color paint for the walls create a subdued back drop to A. Audrey Bodine’s Baltimore photographs.

Read the full story and check out the slideshow HERE

Baltimore food news

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

A lot of food related news, especially for the Baltimore region so rather than doing a gazillion posts this is a mini e-newsletter: One stop shop for the food gossip.

Read all the news HERE

Capital Grille introduces their winter 3 plate lunch special for $18

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:22:00 +0000

The Capital Grille kicked off their winter version of their 3 plate luncheon specials today. Having enjoyed the summer version, I said yes very quickly when they invited me to preview their winter version.

For the office worker who wants to eat well but can’t linger this is ideal.Indulge yourself, go and enjoy a wonderful lunch rather than blowing $10 on the routine lunches you eat every day. Read the full story and watch the slideshow HERE

Joe Squared Pizza at Power Plant - new curbside pickup

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:04:00 +0000

The new curbside pickup from Joe Squared Pizza at Power Plant Live makes getting not only the delicious thin crust pizzas to go easier but also risottos, wings, appetizers, soups, salads and sandwiches. Cleverly called “Take Joe Home”, one calls in their order at 410-962-5566. Once again they call when they pull up at Take Joe Home sign at the Power Plant Live! circle and a Joe Squared staffer will bring it right to your car. The service is available seven days a week. Get all the details HERE

B & O American Brasserie - new season, new menu

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:01:00 +0000

While writing my posts of what the 2011 food trends were to my post on the 2012 trends in food will be had me reflecting on the media menu tasting at the B & O American Brasserie. Seasonal menus, farm-to-table still remain high on many of these lists so being invited in to taste the new winter menu additions at B & O American Brasserie was a tantalizing new start to the culinary year.

Shrimp Noodles Scampi

Read the full story and check out the photo slide show HERE

Food trends for 2012 - top 12 lists that predict our food future

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:53:00 +0000

The New Year, 2012, is here – day one and a time to look forward, to look forward to the food trend predictions for the year. Last week I took a look back and posted my top ten list of top ten list of 2011 food trends. As you review these lists you will see some overlap on the 2012 food trend predictions.

Still rock solid is local resourcing, chefs growing their own and what our children are eating.Check out the 12 lists of 2012 food trend predictions HERE

The best of Baltimore's hospitality is alive and awaiting your votes

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:36:00 +0000

Baltimore is on the map, the culinary map.Right now there are numerous ways your votes will highlight and help local hospitality businesses.Your vote is needed at The Destination Guide's Best of Baltimore, Baltimore Magazine's Best Restaurant Poll and Southern Living's The South's Tastiest Town Award.

The Destination Guide, a national television show and video travel log was in Baltimore filming the best places to eat, sleep, drink, work and play. Read the full story HERE

2011 food trends top-ten list of top 10 lists

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:22:00 +0000

Were the pundits correct in their 2011 forecasts of food trends for the home, restaurant and supermarket shelves? This is the time of year where we look back at the year ending. There are so many top ten trend lists that I have put together my top ten list of the top five, ten or twenty lists of 2011 food trends.

1 StarChefs.com: "Another year of tastings has come and gone. And we’re excited to announce the publication of the StarChefs.com...Check out all the 2011 food trend list HERE

Cookbook Corner: The Silver Spoon New Edition - Italy's Joy of Cooking

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:14:00 +0000

Known in Italy as Il cucchiaio d’argento, The Silver Spoon cookbook is a compendium of Italian cooking. Translated to English in 2005 for the first time The Silver Spoon: New Editionwith 2,000 updated and revised recipes and illustrated with 400 brand new, full-color photographs and 1500 pages is one of the more comprehensive Italian cookbooks. It is to the Italians what the Joy of Cooking is to us in the United States.

Carrying on the decades long tradition of revisions executed in Italian, The Silver Spoon: New Edition has once again been painstakingly revised and adapted for Americans...Read the full story and get the recipe HERE

A delicious endeavor - TEN TEN Bistro in the Bagby Building

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:32:00 +0000

For me, a foodaholic, the plethora of new restaurant openings in Baltimore’s downtown neighborhoods the past couple of months is the best of times and the worst of times. The worse being my ever growing waistline from dining around town. The best of times is finding a gem the likes of TEN TEN American Bistro in the Bagby Building.

The entrance is located in an alcove next to Bagby Pizza at 1010 Fleet Street. TEN TEN (@BagbysTenTen) takes the former warehouse space and works with its original materials to create a current and welcoming atmosphere. Reclaimed wood floors, exposed bricks and ceiling, marble bar, and black and white photographs add to the atmosphere...Read the full story HERE

Buy $100 gift certificate get a $50 gift certificate free at Sotto Sopra today

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Sotto Sopra’s customers signed up on their e-mail mailing list and Facebook fans awoke this morning to find a generous offer for them. Purchase TODAY ONLY, (Wednesday, December 21, 2011) between 6 a.m. and midnight EST a one hundred dollar gift certificate ON LINE and they will automatically receive a fifty dollar gift certificate for free.

Get more details HERE.

Frosty the Cheeseball Ball Man - Holiday entertaining fun

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:59:00 +0000

On the go, rushing to get out the door to my kitchen slave job at 4:42 a.m. No time for original copy I have completely cut and pasted this story. Not usually in my nature. Fun video, fun recipe..be sure to click through to the video. Check out the full story HERE

Cookbook Corner: Cook This Now by Melissa Clark

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:53:00 +0000

Cook This Now by food columnist, the New York Times Dining Section Melissa Clark should be on the holiday gift list for anyone who loves shopping the farmers markets or who wants to but isn’t sure how to prepare a number of the fresh products.

There are 100 recipes, broken down not just seasonally but monthly reflecting what is available at the farmers markets. Cook This Now guides you how to bring fresh items home and create tasty,... Read the full story HERE

The Baltimore Food and Drink Week Ahead -Dec 12th thru Dec 15th

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

The week ahead in food and drink in Baltimore. Going over incoming press releases, Facebook invites etc here are two choices for the week ahead. The Wine Market has a Jolly Happy Hour - enjoy the door prizes and complimentary hors d'ouevres - bring unwrapped toys.

Taste the difference between Champagne and Sparkling Wine in time for your holiday gift giving or entertaining at Sotto Sopra Restaurant.

Get all the details HERE

The Mallet Restaurant & Crabhouse - food and entertainment for all

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0000

There is so much being offered at The Mallet Restaurant and Crabhouse in Fallston at the crossroads of Bel Air Road and Route 152 that it is hard to compress it all in one story. It is a fine dining restaurant, a martini/tapas bar, al fresco dining deck (weather permitting), a raw bar-sushi, lites bites, steamed crabs, and a large entertainment center called the Tiki Bar, which has multiple TV screens, food and holds 300 people.

Connections!!!

For me, my connection was Christa and Davide Rossi, former chef/owners of Pazza Luna Restaurant in Locust Point, which was one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore. Chef Rossi has a deft hand, a good sense of flavors and textures and has never disappointed me with any dish he prepared.

Read the full story and check out the snaps HERE

THIS WEEKEND: Beverage event picks Dec 10th

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:27:00 +0000

With the holidays coming the big push is on for wines and alcohol. Here are three events this weekend that are focused on the spirits and wine. Remember to drink responsibly and pick a designated driver.

Saturday, December 10th Gypsy Soul Presents: Smirnoff's "Master of the Mix" Viewing Party

Join Teavolve for the official viewing of Smirnoff's "Master of the Mix" Episode 6. Master of the Mix is a reality TV show created by Smirnoff and features DJ's battling it out for the crown.

This viewing party is hosted by Hip Hop Cleopatra along with DJ Harvey Dent & will feature Complimentary Smirnoff Cocktails--Including cocktails created with Smirnoff Blueberry and their newest flavors Fluffed Marshmallow & Whipped Cream. Must Be 21 and older--RSVP is required to enter

Read about more beverage events HERE

The Week Ahead: Food and Wine - Baltimore

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:11:00 +0000

My pick for food and wine events in Baltimore for this week.

Tonight: Mr. Rain's Funhouse repeal day dinner, Chefs Expression's Best of the Best dishes and wines from all their food and wine dinner the past year rolled up in one and the opening of the first Harris Teeter supermarket in Baltimore.

Get the scoop, dates and neccessary info HERE

The Sipping Point - everything you want to know about wine, spirits and travel

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:57:00 +0000

Chef Jerry Pellegrino of Corks & Waterfront Kitchen and Laurie Forster The Wine Coach

Local to the Maryland area but nationally recognized sommelier Laurie Forster now host a new radio program The Sipping Point on WBAL-AM Radio 1090 or streaming live online at wbal.com on Saturday afternoons from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. A group of “media” type folks gathered this week as Laurie kicked off the launch of the radio program at Cork’s Restaurant here in Baltimore. Chef Jerry Pellegrino of Corks and Waterfront Kitchen was an early mentor to Forster who wanted to change her career path to wine.

Continue reading The Sipping Point – everything you want to know about wine, spirits and travel . Check out snaps and video.

Bronx Tale stars De Niro and Palminteri reunite at Chazz: A Bronx Original

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:07:00 +0000

courtesy of Edith Williams of Diamond Digital Portrait

Award-winning actor Robert De Niro took a little side trip on his way to the Kennedy Center Honors program in Washington DC yesterday with a stop in Baltimore. De Niro long time friend of actor Chazz Palminteri was very much involved with bringing Palminteri’s story, A Bronx Tale to the screen.Baltimore's Chazz: A Bronx Original is Palminteri’s restaurant endeavor that recaptures the feel and taste of his youth.

Continue reading Bronx Tale stars De Niro and Palminteri reunite at Chazz: A Bronx Original - National Food | Examiner.com

Holiday gift solution plus a chance to wine $25,000 or an Audi

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:04:00 +0000

To me this is a no brainer. It is holiday time, you have gifts to buy for friends, family and business associates. You know you are going to spend the money, why not take that money and buy a raffle ticket with the Restaurant Association of Maryland for $300 and get 13 - $25 gift certificates to local restaurants and a chance to win either $25,000 or an 2012 Audi A3, you even have additional options of winning $10,000 or $5,000 in 2nd and 3rd prize drawings.

Continue reading on Holiday gift solution plus a chance to win $25,000 or an Audi

Knowing Beans About Coffee - Wednesday, November 30th

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:50:00 +0000

The American Institute of Wine and Food/Baltimore Chapter has created a very special event for coffee lovers. The program for the evening will include a presentation, "Knowing Beans About Coffee," about coffee roasting; a tour of the roasting facility; and a lesson about being a barista. Attendees can enjoy soups, fresh bread, wine and a hot drink of their choice, and they can take home a half-pound of coffee. Be prepared to participate in an educational scavenger hunt with the chance of winning an exciting prize.

When: Wednesday, November 30^th – 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Where: Baltimore Coffee and Tea Company

9 West Aylesbury Road

Timonium, MD 21093

Cost: American Institute of Wine and Food Members: $25 – Non-members $30

Call for reservations: 410-244-0044 or email: aiwfbaltimore@yahoo.com

Thanksgiving dinner in a box - But Dara you know how to cook

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:39:00 +0000

Thanksgiving at my house has a lot of testosterone; my husband, my brother-in-law and my father-in-law. The numbers have dwindled over the years and my attempt in the past at a “Martha Stewart” Thanksgiving with handmade napkin rings, multiple sides, homemade pies and whole roasted turkey just weren’t appreciated. The preference was canned cranberries versus home-made. No dark meat just white meat from the turkey. In recent years I did brine the turkey breast just for me, I knew it was moister, better tasting but alas, the boys didn’t notice the difference.

It was going to be even simpler this year, turkey breast, Stove Top stuffing, canned sauerkraut, canned cranberries, mashed potatoes, gravy not even a green vegetable. I was chatting with my friend Jeannie Siegel, a very talented cook, who misses the leftovers because she does Thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s home

Continue reading and watch the video: Thanksgiving dinner in a box – but Dara you know how to cook!

A little something on the side - 4 side dish recipes for your Thanksgiving table

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:53:00 +0000

Wild mushroom and spinach saute

Thanksgiving is such a joyous holiday in my mind. It is about the bounty of the harvest, about people sharing what foods that represent their heritage and of course the turkey. In recent cooking classes that I attended, each shared their recipe of a turkey roulade, one with a forcemeat stuffing and the other with a chestnut and bread stuffing. A whole turkey can be daunting to some. For me, I’ve given up on cooking a whole turkey and just do the turkey breast because my family members only eat the white meat.

Tante Marie Cooking School has a video out about cooking a f**king turkey.

Get the recipes, watch the video: A little something on the side – four side dish recipes for your table

Enjoy Happy Happy at TEN TEN-New Baltimore restaurant kicks off their Happy Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Dara Bunjon) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:44:00 +0000

Harbor East is just a buzz with new restaurants and one of the most recent is TEN TEN (@BagbysTenTen), located inside of the courtyard adjacent to Bagby Pizza Company at 1010 (hence the name) Fleet Street. The restaurant concept is bistro, new American and I have to say the menus for lunch, dinner and happy hour offerings are intriguing to my foodie soul. Happy hour starts at 3 p.m. and runs through 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Actually the menu for happy hour is a great way to taste a selection of items Executive Chef Mark Davis is offering on his lunch and dinner menu

Read the full story HERE