.

Someone here thinks that Princess Beatrice's hat looks like those new O-shaped pretzels at Camden Yards.

I think it's the best hat ever

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Richard Gorelick talked about the 50 best restaurants in the counties and other topics during a live chat earlier today. You can read the full transcript below.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

My Sunday review of The Corner, a new restaurant in Hampden, is up online. Has anyone been?

UPDATE: I forgot to mention in the review that The Corner doesn't take reservations. I wonder how long that will last.

Baltimore Sun photo/Gene Sweeney, Jr.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Let's see.

Who's dining where? Er, I guess you could start by looking at this gallery of 50 best restaurants in the counties.

Here's our Baltimore Weekend Watch page. What looks tasty?

The avant-garde Transmodern Festival is unfolding at the H@H Building on Franklin Street. Have you ever been? It's one of those things I'm glad to see other people supporting so I won't feel so bad if I end up not going. I only have one critical standard when it comes to live performance - it has to start on time.

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival begins today in Timonium and runs through the weekend. There are couple dozen food artisans there among the other crafts-folk. Who's been before?

The Highlandtown Wine Festival is on Sunday, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Pompei Convent Garden, 3600 Clement St. The festival features an amateur winemakers' competition, live performances, wine tastings, complimentary antipasti and food for sale from DiPasquale's, one of the festival's presenters. Tickets are $25. 

There's the Chrylser Towsontown Spring Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Who's a fan? I guess people going to that festival figure on eating something there.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining PLUS
        

It's done. My photogallery list of the 50 best county restaurants is now complete.

Check it out.

Remember, I'll be live-chatting at noon today. 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Check it out.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Suzanne Loudermilk has a post up on In Good Taste about a new new food truck.

Have a look.

Loudermilk says the food truck, which will be operated by Damien Bohager (the very), is tentatively being called Jeet Yet.

It kind of looks like it might not be the kind of food truck that keeps a regular schedule. It kind of looks instead like it might be the kind of food truck that goes to big festivals. It's debuting this weekend, apparently, at the Chrysler Towsontown Spring Festival.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Here's a photo gallery of great Maryland milkshakes.

Pictured here: the Berger Cookie milkshake at Abbey Burger Bistro.

What else belongs here? How about some bygone milkshakes?

Baltimore Sun photo/Lloyd Fox

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Baltimore will get its first Freshii soon. The fast-growing Chicago-based franchise will show up in Charles Village (in the old Gordon Florist, which relocated to York Road) in mid-May and Downtown on Light Street (in an old AT&T Wireless store) soon thereafter.

When you are hungry and there is only a candy bar in sight, do you grab for that candy bar?

Now, imagine if between your hand and that candy bar, we placed an apple? Might you choose that apple? Our goal is simple: Freshii wants to be that apple.
Through our vision of Fresh Food, Custom Built, Fast, Freshii is focused on becoming the most convenient choice for healthy and fresh meals and snacks served quickly in a cool, clean, and environmentally sustainable setting for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between.  

At a Freshii, you can choose your own healthful (three choices: light, balanced or classic, depending on the fat and carb content) or design your own salad, wrap or bowl. Everything is biodegradable and sustainable as much as possible.

And the more the read about Freshii, the more I want to say, "oh, Brother!"

Except for it's just the thing I'm always looking for.

Crazy Gorelick Time: The name -- I hate it so much. It's pronounced "Freshy"and I hate to say words that end like that, like "smoothie" and "veggie." I hate them so much I don't say them. Even worse, I just know my brain is going to make me call this place Fresh-Eye-Eye"

Who knows Freshii? There's on in D.C. and one at the National Harbor in Maryland.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Sam Sessa has a story in today's paper about the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association's stepped-up efforts to clamp down on boorish nightlife behaviors.

Are these vigilant citizens doing the unpopular work of representing the best interests of the neighborhood, or just a vindictive bunch of petty harassers?

Two facts theories worth considering:

There is no drunk worse than an entitled drunk.

The blocks on Light Street just south of Cross Street Market compose one the most hideous and degrading urban street-scapes in the city.

Lots of comments under the story. Join in. There or here.

Baltimore Sun photo/Colby ware

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

My list of the 50 best county restaurants continues today, with numbers 30 through 21. Have a look.

What are you getting panicky about, omission-wise?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Here's a first round of Mother's Day gift ideas.

Things to do with Mom

Boordy Vineyards  On Saturday and Sunday, from 1-5 p.m., Boordy invites families to picnic in Greenspring Valley. The cost is $12 for adults, $10 for teens, and $5 for children 2 to 12. Music by Ellis Woodward and Company; wine tasting; and tours of the vineyard.

Boordy is assembling picnic packages for the event, which include wine, food and tiaras.
The following picnic packages are available:

Maryland Film Festival concludes, as usual, on Mother's Day. The big food-related movie this year is Cafeteria Man, Richard Chishom's new documentary about Tom Geraci's attempts to improve the food in Baltimore City's school system.  That movie shows at 5 p.m. on Mother's Day at the beautiful Brown Center.

Give a gift certificate for a Charm City Food Tour, or take one on Mother's Day. It looks like tours wills be held in Little Italy, Federal Hill and Fells Point on the day itself.

Cooking classes - you could treat Mom to the class, take it with her, or take a class yourself and use what you learn to cook a meal for Mom.

► Cooking with Donna, the weekly cooking class Donna Crivello holds at her Columbia restaurant, will be devoted to A Spring Luncheon for Mom on May 4. 

► When I last checked, there were two spots left in Nancy Longo's Mother's Day cooking class, which she's holding this Saturday, April 30. But your best bet is probably to give Mom a Pierpoint cooking-class gift certificate to use when she wants.

► Chef's Expressions has gift certificates to its cooking classes and wine dinners at Gramercy Mansion.

► For the Love of Food has gift certificates for its adult cooking classes.

Food-related things you can buy her

► A Morton's Pewter Pig Table Lamp

► Food related things on Etsy by local artisans

Cheeseburger earrings from Clay by Shea

Chinese takeout earrings from JessJess385201

Things she can eat

The gorgeous handmade truffles and enrobed chocolates at Ruth Penn's Velvet Chocolatier are beautifully packaged.

One of the eye-popping coated apples from Lisa Anne's Decadent Gifts. These are typically ordered for delivery, but the Charles Village shop has walk-in hours on Saturday.

Baltimore, Maryland. Sargeant Franklin Williams, home on leave from Army duty, watching his mother cook, Delano, Jack, photographer, 1942 Mar. Library of Congress 
 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Cupcake Vodka is here (story from the Village Voice, via Gawker)

Cupcake Vodka is here (press release)

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Yesterday, we went and published the wrong phone number for the print edition of the Silk Road review. The phone number we had in there was for the subject of the previous Monday's review, Ethel & Ramone's.

For once it wasn't anything I had done, but I understood instantly how it happened. 

Ed Bloom at Ethel & Ramone's told me he's fielded about six dozen calls intended for Silk Road Bistro. Here's what he told me he's been telling the caller:

"No, this is not the Silk Road, the wrong number is printed in the paper. I'm sorry for your trouble, though, and if you ever come to Ethel & Ramone's, I'll give you a complimentary appetizer. But please call the Silk Road now, because they deserve your business, too."

Silk Road Bistro's phone number is 410-878-2929 

Ethel & Ramone's phone number is 410-664-2971

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Meet 27 opened last night on the border of Charles Village and Remington neighborhoods.

The new joint from Richard D'Souza, the owner of Sweet Sin, was close enough to being ready on  March 20 that I posted about it here.

What happened? 

Apparently, the project earned the support of both the Charles Village Civic Association and Greater Remington Improvement Association but not of the rival Remington association,  the Remington Neighborhood Alliance (RNA)

The Meet 27 team, which includes owner, Paul Goldberg, has only recently cleared the last hurdle the ever-vigilant RNA placed in its way. One hurdle to go - the liquor license, which the RNA has been contesting, too.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

So far, the biggest objection seems to be to the presence of  El Salto, a cheap-eats perennial that I found hard to ignore. But some of you  are saying that it's overrated.

The list, by the way, only includes restaurants with table service, which eliminates all kinds of deserving places ranging from Andy Nelson's BBQ to Arundel Seafood to Maiwand Kabob.

What other places would have made the list if counter-service joints had been included?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Here's what I know about so far. If you send me a listing, I will add it in.

Tomorrow, I'll try to round up some gift ideas. You know, local, food-related, easy to wrap. If you have good idea, send it to me:

richard.gorelick@gmail.com

Charleston - Cindy Wolf's "seasonal menu of the moment," along with the full fixed-price menu, will be available. Reservations are being taken for 4 - 8 p.m.

Cinghiale - The full a la carte menu will be available, 3-8 p.m.

Morton's - The Steakhouse is offering a special Mother’s Day menu including a choice of salad, entrée, side dish, and dessert, for $59 per person, not including beverages, tax, and gratuity.  Entree choices include a single-cut filet mignon; filet Oskar with asparagus, jumbo lump crab and béarnaise sauce; broiled salmon filet with beurre blanc sauce; colossal shrimp Alexander; or chicken Christopher. An a la carte dinner menu will also also available. Special Mother's Day  hours, 2-9 p.m. (regular hours are 5-10 p.m.)

Pazo - An extensive Mother's Day buffet, highlighting seasonal and local favorites, will be available, 5-8:30 p.m.

Petit Louis - The full a la carte menu will be available along with a special  $39 fixed-price menu. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served, 10:30 a.m.- 9 p.m.

The Prime Rib will start serving at 2 p.m. from the regular menu.  Live jazz.

Roy's will be serving a Mother's Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner a la carte from 5 to 9 p.m. "Any Mom" who dines at Roy's on May 6, 7 or 8 will receive a $20 Roy's gift certificate.

Regi's American Bistro is serving their "multiple award-winning brunch on Mother's Day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a full dinner menu from 3 to 9 p.m. All moms receive a complimentary mimosa. Reservations highly suggested.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

14 days until Mother's Day.

Who's taking the Old Girl out? Who's got a good gift idea?

Post about it here.

If you are a restaurant, or own or work in one, why not let me know what your Mother's Day plans are. Send them to richard.gorelick@baltsun.com

Tomorrow, I'll post the first batch of Mother's Day brunches.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Taverna Corvino has closed in Federal Hill.

Brian McComas tells me that heads are not hanging low about the Corvino's closing. In an emailed message, he says that "Corvino's was a favorite with the locals but just never reached the level we expected. 

The space/layout is a challenge, but we hope to correct that moving forward. We expect to open up (a) new concept midsummer  incorporating the space next door with a nice courtyard in the back..."

I never made it to Corvino, but here is Elizabeth Large's Monday Morning Quarterbacking post concerning her review of the Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Apparently, the review didn't show up online where Elizabeth was expecting it to, which might explain why I can't find it now. 

What did you think of Corvino?

Baltimore Sun photo/Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

John Lindner reviews Silk Road Bistro, an Uzbekistan restaurant in Pikesville.

On the menu - jiz biz!

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

What was your best meal this weekend?

My washing machine is on the fritz. So I reserved a Zipcar and went to that laundromat up on 21st Street. When my clothes were going through their cycles, I walked over to Nak Won and ordered a seafood pancake and soup with dumplings. They packed it up with two sets of  cutlery, but it was all for me.  The order also came with a full set of panchan, those little table appetizers. The seafood pancake (I think it's the best anywhere) gets packed up in pizza box.

You'll be so happy to know that I didn't eat the whole order in one sitting while watching almost all of season 1 of NewsRadio on Saturday night.

The sleeping pet of the week is Riley, about whom Riley's human friend says:

The picture is of my dog Riley and his littermate brother at the breeder’s in Mt. Airy.  I had been visiting all the pups at about the 6 week point - before they were old enough to go home with me - and, after a raucous play session in the puppy barn, they both got tired and went under a storage table for a little nap. All that was visible were their fat puppy butts and I just liked the visual. I have no idea which butt is which!

 Please attach a photo of your sleeping pet in an email to richard.gorelick@baltsun.com

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 8:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

My list of the 50 best county restaurants launches today, with numbers 50 through 41.

When I asked for suggestions, I said that the list would included restaurants in Howard, Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties. That's not the way it turned out, though. Harford County is not included in the list.

I lobbied for that change. I felt like I needed to do more eating up in Harford County first, (Carroll County, too).

So, go take a look at 50 through 41. Of course, you won't know yet whether a restaurant you don't see is ranked higher, or has been left off entirely. 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: 50 Best
        

► Eli reviews DuClaw on Adventures of a Koodie, and he's handing out stars like a kindergarten teacher. "It was crowded!It also smelled like beer," Eli writes.

He liked his dinner, but did he find DuClaw to be kid friendly? (Adventures of a Koodie).

I am okay with knowing that I am the only person on Earth who, every times he hears DuClaw, thinks of Louise DuArt.

►The cartoon is from here. Here are the site's sharing policies, which I'm pretty sure I've followed. Check out their merch. (via Eater)

► Liza boldly posts her crab cake recipe. It sure does look good. (Amusing Foodie)

 A brief history of White House Easter Egg rolls (Obama Foodorama)

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

At Redbrick Station, reviewed by Rob Kasper, where the English style ales are brewed on the premises, and the menu is foaming over with beer-infused and beer-battered items.

Rob liked it there, but there was this detail:

"A large glass wall running along one side of the dining room provides a view of the nearby shops, it but also allows the headlights of cars parking diagonally in front of the restaurant, to shoot annoying streams of light into the room. A van that pulled up in midmeal had its headlights trained on me for what seemed like an eternity."

►At Camden Yards, where Erik Maza's souvenir cup is half-full. The selection isn't bad, he says, but the new concessionaire still has more work to do.

Baltimore Sun photo/Monica Lopassy

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Let's see, it's Easter. 

► Here's a list of Easter dining specials, and here's a blog post that covers largely the same territory. You'd think the two lists would be identical. Wrong.

► Bluegrass Tavern is holding its own little farmer's market on Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. They say they're going to have ramps and local asparagus and they'll be selling their homemade bacon jam. 

I made up a song about bacon jam; it's sung to the tune of "Muffin Man," and it goes like this:

"Bacon jam, bacon jam, bacon jam, o bacon jam; bacon jam, bacon jam, bake-bake-bacon jam."

► Today is Earth Day. Here is a list of local Earth Day observations. Except for this dining promotion at B&O Brasserie, I haven't posted anything about Earth Day at all. Maybe if a certain planet would back off a little bit with all of the pollen, I'd be more willing to throw this blog's support behind it.

Here's Chef Sam Sessa's video rundown of the weekend:

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining PLUS
        

It just opened today in its new Hampden location.

Here's a photograph. The address is 3500 Chestnut Avenue, and the phone number is 410-235-4422

RPB&D is open Weekdays 7am-3:30 p.m. and Sat 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

photo by trusty scout Justine Maki

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

We've talked before about bad restaurant websites, and about what makes a good one. A friend sent along links to a few good ones he's seen recently.

I agree that Hattie's, outside of Dallas, is a smart looking, easy-to-navigate site. If only they'd put the phone number and address on the home page....

Campagnolo, in Vancouver, fits everything on one page. And it's super easy to read on a mobile device. You can't make reservations from the site, but the restaurant doesn't take reservations. 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I just heard from Girish Garg, the co-owner of Cafe Spice Indian Cuisine, which opened just this past Monday in its new Cockeysville home. The restaurant closed its original location, across from the Towson Library, back in late February. The daily buffet is up and running from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; the restaurant stays open for dinner until 10 p.m. every day but Sunday, when it closes at 9 p.m.

The new address is 10540 York Road, and the phone number is 410-891-8740

Who's a fan?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

John-John Williams has a story on the plans Baltimoreans are making for the Royal Wedding. Included among them, the early-morning (5:30 a.m.) opening at Union Jack's in Columbia. The fun there will include a champagne toast and manicures.

Slainte Irish Pub in Fells Point will also be hosting a wedding watch.

Are there other restaurants hosting viewing parties?

How about you, will you be watching? I watched the last one but all I really remember is Jane Pauley's hat.

Actually, this post is just an excuse to embed this French & Saunders sketch.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

The New York Times on rampsomania - apparently there's not enough of the newly beloved, spring-has-sprung, wild leek to go around

Casual dining restaurants will be beefing up their employee training and reviewing some procedures in response to the accidental serving of liquor to toddlers in separate incidents at an Olive Garden in Florida and a Detroit-are Applebee's (Nation's Restaurant News).

Coming this fall, a new VH1 reality show called Famous Food, in which celebrities will work alongside restaurant professionals to open a real restaurant. (TV Squad, via Eater)

People who were invited to the White House Seder instead of you (Obama Foodorama) and some of the special Passover recipes created for the dinner by well known chefs (White House office of public engagement).

The Tulip Folly, Jean-Léon Gérôme, The Walters Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Cyril W. Keene, 1983

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Three new options, all in the Ds.

Da Mimmo in Little Italy is offering a three-course, $37 brunch all day on Sunday, from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Dimitri's International Grill sent along its Easter menu. There's only limited space available (from 3 to 5 p.m.), maybe because the menu is so affordable, but the Catonsville restaurant is running its Easter menu on Saturday, too.

Dionysus Restaurant & Lounge in Midtown will be open for brunch from 10 a.m until 4 p.m.

I know there must be more Easter options than what I have listed below. You still got time; please send listings to richard.gorelick@baltsun.com

And if you find youself with a lamb and time on your hands, Susan Reimer tells you about some easy approaches to lamb.

Here's a roundup of Easter events in Baltimore.

Aldo's is in. The Little Italy
restaurant will open early on Easter Sunday, from 2 to 8 p.m., serving its full, standard a la carte menu in addition to a $55, 4-course, seasonal Easter menu. Children's options will be available, as well. 

Cinghiale is offering a $45 fixed price Easter menu along with its full a la carte menu. On the menu: spit-roasted lamb leg with baby carrots, celery root, and rosemary oil. 4 to 8 p.m.

Jack's Bistro will be open at 5 p.m. for Easter dinner and is accepting reservations for large parties - "normal happy hour at the bar, and entree specials all evening."

Langermann's in Canton is serving a special $21.95 ($10.95 for children) Easter buffet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A mimosa is included.  Entree choices include Charleston shrimp and grits and blackened catfish, and on the buffet itself - biscuit-battered French toast and biscuits with gravy.

Lebanese Taverna in Harbor East is serving a $24.95 Mezza Extravaganza ($14.95 for children) for Easter brunch, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Morton's wlll open at 4 p.m., an hour earlier than usual, and will be serving an a la carte menu until 10 p.m.

Pazo is serving an Easter Tapas Buffet from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The buffet "features cold and hot items as well as lamb from the wood fired grill, and "the menu was selected with the entire family in mind." $39; $25 for children 12 and under.

Petit Louis Bistro is serving an Easter Sunday brunch Petit Louis from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For Easter dinner, the Roland Park bistro is offer a #38 ($56 with wine) fixed-price menu option along with the full a la carte menu. 

Regi's American Bistro is serving its multiple-award winning brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 3 to 9 p.m., featuring holiday favorites among the regular items.

Roy's is open on Easter Sunday for brunch, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for dinner, 4-9 p.m. Dinner is from the regular menu, and brunch is a three-course Easter menu, priced depending on entree chosen.

The Rumor Mill in Ellicott City will be open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Easter Sunday, serving a special menu of brunch specials and "Rumor Mill favorites." The Easter menu is here. 

Sotto Sopra is open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Easter Sunday.

Spro will be open on Easter Sunday from 9 a.m to 6 p.m., serving its usual Sunday menu of coffee beverages and pastries.

The Wine Market in Locust Point is serving a $23 fixed-price, three-course brunch. On Christopher Becker's menu - roast leg of lamb and eggs Benedict with homemade porchetta.

See more Easter events.

Baltimore Sun photo/Kenneth K. Lam

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Remember my telling you about the plans for a Druid Hill Park farmers' market.

In her Garden Variety blog, Susan Reimer reports that plans are proceeding. A market committee is meeting every Wednesday night at the Recreation & Parks building in anticipation of a June 1 opening. 

Take a look.

What do you think? Would you go to the Druid Hill farmers' market?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

It's called TGD and it's in Canton, Ohio.

See ya!

(via Eater)

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

David Ansill will be the opening chef at Bond Street Social, Suzanne Loudermilk reports on the In Good Taste blog. Loudermilk makes reference to a press release she got from the owners of the restaurant that's moving into the old DuClaw space in Fells Point.

I got jealous - why didn't I get a press release? So I called up the Philadelphians who are bringing the Ladder 15 concept down to Baltimore. (They have renamed the concept for Baltimore.) These are some of, but apparently not all of, the same people behind the Mad River concept, which also started in Philadelphia.

(About once every other month, I'll have a phone call that goes haywire, and this was one of them. I don't think I actually said, "Don't you know who I am!?!" but close.)

UPDATE: Happy ending! I was sent a press release, it was inadvertently misaddressed. I am loved.

Ansill owned his own self-named, forward-looking restaurant in Philadelphia (lamb tongue, pigs' ears). A few months after its sudden closing, he was brought on board at Ladder 15, which struck some people as weird, like hearing that John Cage had taken a job as Mitch Miller's backup. But Ansill has been credited with turning things around at the upscale restaurant and club.

Back in Ansill's indy-chef days, he auditioned for Top Chef

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 4:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Noticeably absent from the Sun's coverage on the death of William Donald Schaefer was anything having to do with his appetite. Let's just say he was no Chester Arthur.

Erik Maza has a nice post on Midnight Sun about the restaurants Schaefer was said to frequent - the old Connolly's, Jimmy's in Fells Point, and, at one point at least, Werner's, which closed just this last Friday. I natter on in this story about what the closing of Werner's and Burke's means.

Werner's photos

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

You may have heard that the folks at Teavolve in Harbor East will be adding a second location. The second Teavolve will be in the John G. Rangos Building at the Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins. (That last sentence took about a half hour out of my life, and I'm still not sure I have it right.)

Anyway, Teavolve co-owner Del Powell told me that the new Teavolve won't be showing up until next spring, when there's "more density" at the science park, including new buildings and graduate housing.

The Teavolve news came out during a press conference held in the Rangos Building, at which Governor O'Malley also dropped the name of another future tenant, a Cuban fusion joint named Cuban Revolution. This will be the fourth link in the chain-ette, which has two locations in Providence and one in Durham, NC. Take a look. Anybody know them?

Meanwhile, a new eatery has opened in the original Teavolve space in Fells Point. It's called Einstein Cafe, and the owners are Christa Seiler and Claudia Phillips, whom you may recall from their ill-starred adventure in that Diner thing in Little Italy. The address for Cafe Einstein is 1705 Eastern Avenue. I'll have more on this later today, I hope, including a phone number.

UPDATE: The phone number is 410-675-1705, and the cafe's hours, for now, are Mon-Sat, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

I just spoke to Claudia Phillips, who admitted that the Diner thing was a "disaster." 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

 The #8 at Chick and Ruth's Deli is the William Donald Schaefer - salami, swiss, and sliced onion on rye.

Ted Levitt, who now runs his father's storied Annapolis eatery, gathering spot, said that Schaefer eventually switched to another sandwich, a hot dog with cheese and bologna. But once a politician's name gets attached to a Chick and Ruth's sandwich, it tends to stick.

Levitt grew up in his parents' deli. He remembers Schaefer sometimes coming at five in the morning, ninety minutes before the deli opened, for a heart-to-heart chat with his father. They'd sit in the Governor's Office," the booth seen in this photograph, with Marvin Mandel and an assistant.

Always the phone would ring, and Ted would have to tell the Governor that the state troopers, his security detail, were looking for him again. "Are you here?" Ted would ask him. Schaefer would either shake his head "no," or shrug his shoulders, (meaning "yes"). Either way, Levitt said, the troopers would come rapping on the window a few minutes later. "Governor," they'd say, "you have to stop giving us the slip."

"He was a good guy," Levitt said, who said that he had last seen Schaefer about seven months ago when he came in with former governor, Marvin Mandel.

Levitt said customers are taking photographs of the Governor's Office this morning.

Baltimore Sun photo

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I'm not a rabbi but I'm pretty sure roadkill isn't kosher.

But, is it safe?

Check out this story on Food Safety News

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

"It's a thing," Spike Gjerde said.

There had been rumors of a new joint coming from the team at Woodberry Kitchen. But the closing was just this past Friday, according to Gjerde.

This fall, the Woodberry team will open a new joint in Hampden, at 3801 Falls Road. If you drive by it today, all you'll see on the property is a 900 square-foot concrete service building, certainly nothing big enough to be a full, sit-down restaurant.

But that's the place all right.

The new, yet-to-be-named place will have no table service, although there will be limited seating inside and out. Gjerde said that the new place, like Woodberry, will be driven and inspired by the food of the region. Burgers will be on the menu, although Gjerde said it won't be a burger joint, as had been rumored.

The new place will have something Woodberry Kitchen doesn't have, a carryout component, which Gjerde said will be part of an overall appeal to the needs of families with young children.

That's about all anyone, Gjerde included, knows right now.

Gjerde sounded mostly relieved to have the real estate portion of the project settled. 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

The new chestnut is that everything's better with bacon, but obviously that's not going to work for Passover. But the old chestnut that everything's better with chocolate? That's a go.

It turns out that matzah is better -- way better -- with chocolate ... and toasted almonds ... and copious amounts of butter and sugar ... and a sprinkling of sea salt.

At our office holiday party last year, one of my coworkers brought brickle, basically sugar and butter and chocolate over saltines. Sounds weird, but it was a huge favorite, very addictive, and disappeared fast. I mentioned it to my husband, and he made some, too. At some point we were talking about what else you could use besides saltines, and it dawned on us: matzah! We were scarcely the only people to have that revelation -- plus, people have been making this stuff for a while. But after chancing across a couple of mentions of toffee matzah last week, I decided to give it a try.

The matzah isn't quite as absorbent as the saltines, but it's still good. And a vast improvement. Salty. Sweet. Chocolate. Unleavened. Bring it on. If saltine brickle can have a renaissance, surely this can, too.

Matzah Brickle

Adapted from this recipe from Serious Eats and this recipe from the NYT

5 sheets salted matzah (broken into large and small pieces to fit the pan)
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
1/3 cup toasted, slivered almonds
1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a sheet pan or large cookie sheet with sides with heavy-duty aluminum foil or parchment paper. Arrange the matzah in a single layer on the foil.

In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar and butter, stirring constantly until they bubble and the sugar dissolves. Pour evenly over the matzah and, using a spatula, spread to cover evenly.

Bake immediately. After 7 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the matzah. Return to the oven and bake for 2 minutes more. Spread the chocolate evenly over the crackers with a clean spatula. Sprinkle with the toasted almonds and sea salt.

Cool for 20 to 30 minutes before transferring the tray to the freezer. The next day, peel off the foil or parchment and break the brickle into pieces. Keep frozen or refrigerated.

Yield: About 2 pounds.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Recipes
        

I observed my birthday yesterday as a Day of Reflection on How did I get this damn old?

I slept in and missed the Farmers' Market.

But apparently asparagus is in! This, according to John Houser III over at Rouxde Cooking School. Who else saw asparagus at the Baltimore Farmers' Market (Having already seen asparagus at the 32nd Street Market doesn't count; it won't return to a growers' market until early June.)

Yesterday was also Eli's dad's birthday. Eli reviews a birthday brunch Clementine over on Adventures of a Koodie. He loved it of course. think we're all waiting for the day when Eli complains about other kids in a restaurant he reviews. Did you see the comment Eli's dad's dad sent in about Eli's review of Thanksgiving dinner at his house. 

The Wall Street Journal on preparing for Passover - with a blowtorch.

Read why soap opera fans are taking out their rage about the cancellations of AMC and OLTL on Mario Batali. If I remember correctly, it Batali that killed Marco Dane. (Eater)

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Remember the 50 Best Restaurants? That feature only included restaurants within the limits of Baltimore City.

Now, it's the counties' turn.

What are your favorite restaurants in Howard, Harford, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties?

What restaurant have you been meaning to tell me is fabulously overrated?

What would I be nuts to leave off?

What's would your Top 5 be?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (41)
        

Saturday morning sure blew chunks. I'm writing this on Saturday morning -- maybe it cleared up later? But right now, I'm feeling bad for everyone who had outdoor plans and especially for everyone who was counting on good weather for their outdoor events. I hope some of those events can be rescheduled.

A good day to stay in and finish your taxes, I guess.

So, who did make it out for dinner? Where did you go, and how was it?

I think I'm off to get some pho at Mekong Delta.

The sleeping, resting, and waiting pet of the week is Sister Faye.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Today is Eggs Benedict Day.

It just is.

That would have made a good Top Ten Tuesday list if I hadn't weaseled out of doing  Top Ten Tuesday lists.

But, now that I've mentioned it. Where do you go for good Eggs Benedict? Who's got the best variation on the theme.

Here's an idea: instead of Canadian bacon, how about putting crab meat on an eggs Benedict. We can call it eggs Chesapeake.

What? It's been done? 

Here are step-by-step instructions for making your own Eggs Benedict. The Hollandaise sauce looks easy enough, but toasting the muffing might be out of my skill set.

And, speaking of brunch (wasn't I?), McCabe's starts serving brunch tomorrow, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And Baltimore Sticky Rice recently unveiled a new brunch menu, too, featuring waffles and wings, Korean pancakes, shrimp and grits, and something they're calling the Maryland Benedict, which is like an Eggs Benedict, but with crab meat instead of Canadian bacon.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

I didn't even know that Ethel & Ramone's served lunch. But  it does, because John Lindner went there for his Sunrise Lunch Timed review. And it was, like, open and everything.

Did he like it? Nope, he loved it.

I'm pretty sure this is the first time John's doled out four stars for Food. And he was pretty happy with the atmosphere and service, too. 

Go read it.

photo John Lindner

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Here's the Sunday review of Mari Luna Bistro, which opened in late February in that tricky space across from the Meyerhoff.

(It still seems easier to refer to this as the old Spike & Charlie's place, even though Robert Oliver Seafood was the most recent tenant. Quick, what was the name of the place that opened in between those two? It's not easy to Google up.)

I say "tricky," because the restaurant in this space has to jump two high hurdles.

It absolutely has to cater to the Meyerhoff crowd, and there's no margin of error when it comes to getting symphony patrons to their seats on time.

And then, the place has to fill its own seats with customers when the symphony is dark.

I'll have more to say about my review of Mari Luna on Monday morning.

Who's been? 

Baltimore Sun photo/Kenneth K. Lam

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Saturday is Record Store Day. Various locations.

What is your favorite song about food? Or dining? Or restaurants?

Not a song with a foodstuff in its title (like "Brown Sugar") but a song that's about the pleasure of food or dining.

Extra points for making me smile. 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
        

I said in my story about the closing of Werner's that Downtown is now left without a single restaurant that opened before the original Charles Center revitalization, the first phase of what became known as the Baltimore Renaissance. I'm putting that date at 1962, the construction of One Charles Center.

I said that no such place remained downtown but added, in a dodge, "no place with the pedigree of Werner's."

But did I miss something? I can't think of any other place Downtown.

That's my real question, but, please, remind me of other non-Downtown institutions, too.

The Prime Rib (1965) and Tio Pepe (1968) opened later. 

And yes, outside of downtown, there are places like Jimmy's in Fells Point and Attman's on Corned Beef Row in the city and institutions like the Sunset Restaurant in Glen Burnie and the Candlelight Inn in Catonsville.

But what is Downtown's oldest continuing operating restaurant (or eatery)? in Baltimore City? these parts?

I'm really looking for places that have been operating in the same location and that haven't had radical shifts in concept or extensive renovations. You get the idea. I guess someone could make a case for Faidley's.

I just realized that I've been completely forgetting about the Owl Bar. Why is that the Owl Bar keeps flickering off my radar?  What makes me want to say it doesn't count? Anyway, it's not really Downtown.

We've been down the old-restaurant road before on Dining@Large

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Another weekend event:

Adriana Scott's Cupcake Rescue for the Children of Japan returns to the Violetville Volunteer Fire Department on Benson Avenue. Adriana is 5 years old, and the cupcake rescue was her idea, according to her Facebook page.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with music, face-painting, 50/50 raffle and door prizes.

All proceeds go to Save The Children.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I stopped by Werner's on the way into work for the last breakfast. The luncheonette (even the word sounds archaic) closes for good after it serves lunch today.

The reality is that Werner's had faded badly; the gleam was definitely off the chrome. 

What was impressive was how valiant the staff was. It sure looked to me like they'd been all but abandoned by the restaurant's ownership; lately, they'd been bringing in supplies -- and food -- themselves.

Not many customers were there at 8 a.m., when I stopped in. A handful or so. Pat Correa, who works in the building next door, was eating breakfast at counter. She told me the same thing I'd heard before, that the relocation of State employees from the building next door really took a bite out of Werner's business.

Correa said she she liked going somewhere where the staff knew her, and that she loved the way the waitresses bantered at Werner's - across the room, loudly.

A man no one knew had brought in a pot of coffee and even helped clean up the kitchen a little. Sheila Morris, the head waitress, was trying to figure out who he was.

Maybe more people will stop by at lunch to say good-bye.

Tell us about your last-day. Have you ever worked at a restaurant on its last day? Or made a point of stopping by somewhere to say goodbye.

Top to bottom: the original water fountain, Danny DeVito's chair, the interior.  More Werner's photos.

Baltimore Sun staff/Algerina Perna

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Let's see.

West Side Story is at the Hippodrome. Folks are always looking for good dining tips around the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. Often I've seen people wandering the neighborhood, singing, "There's a place to eat, somewhere a place to eat."

The Charm City Roller Girls are back in action tonight down in Canton.

On Saturday, the Maryland Wineries Association and the Maryland Jockey Club are partnering up to present Decanter: A Day of Maryland Wine & Racing on the infield Pimlico Race Course.

People headed down to Saturday's Privateer Day in Fells Point will be looking for someplace to eat in Fells Point. Of course, they can always hang out in the Thames Street Park beer garden and join the Pyrate Invasion Pub Crawl right after.

Some of those events, like tomorrow's JHU Spring Fair and the opening of Six Flags in Bowie have built-in eating options.

What are you doing this weekend? Who's planning a restaurant outing?

The sleeping pets of the week are litter-mates Stella and Sophie, who live with Ruth Kloetzli. whose family's old restaurant, Werner's, is closing today.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

From the Baltimore Sun, January 16, 2000

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

And then there were none.

Werner's luncheonette, a downtown fixture since 1950, is slated to close for good on Friday, April 15.

Coming just a few months after the demise of Burke's restaurant, the closing of Werner's creates an icon-free space in Downtown Baltimore.

A victim, depending on whom you ask, of an uncertain economy, increased competition, or its own indifferent management, the Redwood Street institution will not reopen again after serving its last lunch on Friday.

The staff said they were told about the closing on Wednesday. Sheila Morris, a waitress at Werner's for seven years, said, “We still serve real turkey, that we roast here.” “And real mashed potatoes,” added waitress Tonita Parham. Werner's was one of the last places downtown where a customer could still get a Braunschweiger sandwich.

The Redwood Street luncheonette was opened by Werner Kloetzli Sr. in 1950. But another eatery had been operating there even before that.

Werner's became a gathering spot for politicians and lawyers, and was a longtime favorite of movie and television location scouts, who found timeless appeal in the luncheonette's chrome and maple Art Deco interior  Barry Levinson filmed scenes here for Liberty Heights. Ladder 49 spent a week filming in and around the restaurant. More recently, Werner's could be seen on HBO's The Wire, as a lunch haunt for Mayor Tommy Carcetti.

 
Donna Beth Joy Shapiro was always sure to include Werner's on her architectural tours of Baltimore. “Every walking tour I gave of Downtown Deco ended with Werner's as the dessert. In 1987, I gave a city-wide bus tour of Art Deco buildings to members of the Society for Commercial Archeology, many hailing from places heavy on art deco architecture, but at the end of the day, Werner's was what they talked about.”

Hearing about the closing of Werner's a real-life Baltimore mayor, Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III, said, “What an institution. I remember they were filming a movie on that street, and you'd see Danny DeVito and Richard Dreyfuss sitting at the little table up front. You'd see everyone there, doctor, lawyer, movie star and Indian chief.”

The movie was Tin Men. Dreyfuss and DeVito signed the backs of their chairs. You can still see their signatures, although they're faded, dated 9-8-86. Ladder 49 filmed here, too, as have numerous television commercials, according to Ruth Kloetzli.

Morris said that Werner's fortunes started declining rapidly just this past Christmas, and she chalked it all up to the bad economy and to increased competition in the neighborhood. They mentioned places like the Big Apple Tree Cafe, Cafe Bombay (now closed) on Lombard Street, and even the nearby culinary school, which serves lunch daily.

Asked if there was anything in the restaurant she'd like to reclaim, Kloetzli mentioned the maple booths, a relic from an era when Americans had smaller bodies, and the neon Werner's sign that hangs in the back of the luncheonette. The sign is not original to the cafe, though - it was made for Tin Men.

Charles Kyle's name remains on the business's liquor license, but the staff at the restaurant say that last year Kyle had turned over its operations to another man. The restaurant property is leased from the building's owners, the law firm of Gordon Feinblatt. Kyle could not be reached for comment.

Malcolm Brisker and Tom Goss, lawyers who work nearby, came to Werner's on Thursday for a late lunch, their last. “This place was icon for the legal community," Brisker said, “you would always see judges here or attorneys general.” Goss, who said he had been coming to Werner's since 1981, said, “I will miss this place. It's the last of a dying breed.”

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

► Bmore has a good story about the growing presence in Baltimore of private dining clubs and parties. Take a look. And then please purge it from your memories in case I decide to write about the same thing someday.

► Also, take a look at this lovely HowChow post on Mark Bittman's pickled eggs.

► Canada isn't perfect.

Food Safety News reports that "a sharply worded editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal Wednesday takes Canada's public and private sectors to task for not doing enough to prevent foodborne illnesses." Still, I'm really want the Canucks to take the Stanley Cup.

► Also, via Food Safety News, a parent food safety guide for raw milk. 

► The New York Times on a bill before the Iowa legislature that would make it a crime to surreptitiously photograph or videotape the goings-on at a factory farm with the intent to show people the goings-on at a factory farm. And the Times' Mark Kurlansky takes reader's questions on sustainable seafood.

He says, "There are fish you should not eat but then if you are not careful you end up boycotting good sustainable fisheries and then these fishermen have no incentive to do it well. So before you do anything, try to understand what’s going on." Oy.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Some things I found on Google Reader.

This isn't directly food related, but I loved the Opening Day photo essay on Stone Hill Farm, especially because it gives me the chance to prove that I can present the blog author's name correctly. It's Nelle Somerville.

If you plan to grate your own horseradish for your Seder, you'll want to read this. Apparently, potency is all about the "hold time" (Serious Eats)

Here's a roundup of Thursday dining specials, as I know them.

The sleeping pets of the day are Charlie Bones (top) and Frankie Bones (bottom). Both are American Bulldogs. They are unacquainted with each other, as are their friends who submitted their respective photos. 

But Bones is a very common Baltimore name, for Bulldogs anyway.

Charlie Bones can "rack out in any position."

Frankie Bones doesn't know yet about the V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N everyone else in the house is going on.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

One reader, at least, noticed that Abacrombie Fine Foods and Accomodations was temporarily closed because of water damage.

True, Levi Briggs, the chef over there told me, who said the flooding came from the attached inn. Chef Briggs told me Abacrombie should be up and running again by next Thursday, April 20.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Rob Kasper reviews Cafe Hon, which, it turns out, is a restaurant! You know, tables, chairs, employees, food.

Honestly, everyone, with the possible exception of me, acted so silly about the Cafe Hon thing.

Now, aren't you all ashamed?

Baltimore Sun photo/Amy Davis

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

A few more Easter dining options. Please send more to richard.gorelick@baltsun.com

Cinghiale is offering a $45 fixed price Easter menu along with its full a la carte menu. On the menu: spit-roasted lamb leg with baby carrots, celery root, and rosemary oil. 4 to 8 p.m.

Jack's Bistro will be open at 5 p.m. for Easter dinner and is accepting reservations for large parties - "normal happy hour at the bar, and entree specials all evening."

Lebanese Taverna in Harbor East is serving a $24.95 Mezza Extravaganza ($14.95 for children) for Easter brunch, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pazo is serving an Easter Tapas Buffet from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The buffet "features cold and hot items as well as lamb from the wood fired grill, and "the menu was selected with the entire family in mind." $39; $25 for children 12 and under.

Petit Louis Bistro is serving an Easter Sunday brunch Petit Louis from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For Easter dinner, the Roland Park bistro is offer a #38 ($56 with wine) fixed-price menu option along with the full a la carte menu. 

Regi's American Bistro is serving its multiple-award winning brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 3 to 9 p.m., featuring holiday favorites among the regular items.

Sotto Sopra is open form 5 to 9 p.m. on Easter Sunday.

The Wine Market in Locust Point is serving a $23 fixed-price, three-course brunch. On Christopher Becker's menu - roast leg of lamb and eggs Benedict with homemade porchetta.

The PEEPSTER Car was in Baltimore yesterday; Hyun Chung shot this video:  

Baltimore Sun photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Following a McDonald's post with one about Charleston makes me feel like Irene "Wide Swings" Lewis at Center Stage.

Tonight, Charleston kicks off a new Wednesday night Cocktail Hour. The weekly promotion includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres and select cocktails and champagne by the glass from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the restaurant’s bar and lounge.

Tonight's event will feature Champagne, de Venoge Brut Rose NV, at $10 a glass, and the Sazerac Cocktail at $7 each. The complimentary hors d'oeuvres served for the debut Cocktail Hour might include such items as lamb empanadas, wild rockfish ceviche, Iberico ham and gougere, according to a Foreman-Wolf representative.

Baltimore Sun photo/Kim Hairston

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

This is a shot of the recently redone interior of the McDonald's of Lake Shore in Pasadena. There's a wider shot here.

This is the second time owners Barbara and Bob Houck have hired Steve Appel of Whitehead & Appel Interior Design to help with a redesign. The first, for their Pikesville location, was a complete rebuild from the ground up. This one was more of a cosmetic overhaul.

Houck first became aware of Appel (better known, probably, as the owner of Nouveau Contemporary Goods), from a Baltimore Sun article about his work, which she clipped and set aside.

The Houcks operate two other McDonald's - in Riviera Beach and on Ordnance Road. They used to operate 11 of them, but downsizing, Houck says, allows them to focus their energies better

The economy remains uncertain, and deciding whether or not to invest is always a risk. I suppose there's no good answer.

What's your take? Do you notice it when a restaurant keeps itself fresh?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The Souper Freak is here. The new food truck,  has been on the road for 3 1/2 weeks.

The van, done up in Orioles orange and black, is parked today near the corner of Calvert and Monument streets. The weekly schedule is posted on the (adorable) website.

The truck's operator is Irene Smith, who happens to be married to Scott Smith, the chef-owner of Big Bad Wolf Barbecue.

The weekly changing menu features four soups. This week the lineup is Moroccan spiced  chickpea, cream of asparagus, miso with shrimp and tofu, and Italian Wedding soup.

The truck serves baba hanoush sandwiches, too: a grilled cheese, the "Albuquerque is  a Turkey," and the Souper Power Wrap, an early favorite, according to Smith.

A rainy day like today is perfect for a soup truck, Smith said, who added that she's still  very much looking forward to the summer, when she can bring out her gazpacho and other soups made from hot-weather produce.

A cup of soup is $4, a bowl of soup is $6, and sandwiches range from $4 to $6. Not sure if the truck is cash only, but I'll know soon.

Who's been Souper Freaked?

Twitter@souperfreaky

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

Anyone recognize this recently remodeled cafe?

Answer coming at 11 a.m.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Wednesday night dining special around town are here. As always, let me know if you see a special that's expired, or if you know of something that's not listed. Dining special for other days are here.

The sleeping pets of the day are Lewes and Sullivan. They are pugs. One of them apparently is not so nice all the time. I don't believe it.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 7:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

On her Food Politics blog, Marion Nestle (not pictured)  is out with a beginner's resource guide for "anyone who would like to advocate for better school food."

The guide suggests that action can be taken on both the grassroots and national level. 

This is a tough problem, resistant to a magic wand approach.

Take a look at Nestle's suggestions. If you don't like them, what would you suggest instead? 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

I could swear I've posted this already? If so, consider it a reminder

Shore Night on the Hill is back at Ryleigh's Oyster  for the season. The promotion features $2 steamed crabs (when they're in), $1 select oysters, $16 grilled lobster with haricots vert, $10 clam bake bowl, $1 grilled corn on the cob with feta and Old Bay, $7 half-pound steamed shrimp, $5 Red Stripe beer and $10 Miller Lite buckets.

Ryleigh's has revamped a few of its other weekly specials.

Wednesday is Chef's Selection Night, with a $10 small plate menu, 5 new dishes each week. The Summer BBQ menu returns to Thursdays in June. 

Other Tuesday night dining special around town are here. As always, let me know if you see a special that's expired, or if you know of something that's not listed. Dining special for other days are here.

Baltimore Sun photo/Lloyd Fox

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 4:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

A new Chipotle is opening today in Pikesville, in the Festival at Woodholme Shopping Center. (The space's previous tenant was Renaissance Fine Arts. I guess no one cares about the Renaissance anymore.) The new Chipotle's phone number is 410-205-2854, and is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
 
And here's Amy Sedaris to tell you about Chipotle's $10,000 Wrap What You Love contest.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Here's some advice on the Baltimore Sun website for making your brisket extra tender.

Over on Serious Eats Recipes they're counting down to Passover with recipes by Olga Massov of Sassy Radish Here's a recipe for matzah brei with pear and sour cherries.

Here's a photo gallery of chametz, foods that are not allowed during the Passover holiday.

If you know of a restaurant that carries matzah for its customers, let us know here.

Who's got a good fried matzah recipe? Who spells matzah differently? What's the strangest place you've ever hidden the afikomen?

Chicago Tribune/Bill Hogan

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Here's Stephen Colbert on air-stuffed chocolate bars and bacon-scented cologne. (via EATER). I didn't know you could watch whole episodes of the Colbert Report online.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The Tuesday edition of the Bel Air Farmers' Market was scheduled to open today. I assume it operates rain or shine. Sorry for the late notice. Opening day for the Saturday market was last Saturday. The Bel Air markets are dog friendly and producer only - "Only agricultural products and food may be sold at the market."

So, if you like dogs and hate crafts...

I'd like to hear from a few of the veteran market-goers up there.

For information about location and times, go to the market's website.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The PEEPSster Car's visit to Baltimore has been delayed until Thursday, April 14. Keep checking here for updates.

PEEPS!!

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Entries from the Diary of Samuel Pepys, April 7-11, 1668

PEPYS!!!

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The PEEPSTER Car will be in Baltimore tomorrow, April 13 Thursday, April 14. Look for it! The PEEPSTER Car's visit to Baltimore is part of the Random Acts of Sweetness tour. The PEEPSTER Car will be sampling its new Easter PEEPS® and celebrating the new PEEPS® online store.

PEEPS®!!!

Meanwhile, The annual PEEPshow continues at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster through Sunday. Admission is free. PEEPshow is sponsored by a bank, a dentist (?) and PEEPS®

Amanda loves PEEPS®!!

Take it away Amanda!

It's really just subbing in one marshmallow substance for another so it seemed like a no-brainer. Yeah, it's pretty obvious, but when I started floating the idea around, it became apparent that it's not as commonly done as one would think.
 
Recipe: Follow the directions on the side of the Rice Krispies®, but instead of the suggested 40 regular sized marshmallows, I used 10 yellow bunny-shaped PEEPS® and 30 regular marshmallows.
 
Verdict: Judging from the end result, you could probably go all-PEEPS® and it wouldn't make much of a difference. I'm not sure if you could call this a success or a PEEPS®-fail because the finished product looked and tasted just like a normal, year-round Rice Krispies Treats®. If nothing else, it's a good use for your leftover PEEPS®.
 

photo by Amanda Krotki

Once I started with the ®s I couldn't stop - RG

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Eli, the author of  Adventures of a Koodie, was interviewed on WBAL-TV this past weekend. There's a link to the interview here.

Dining@Large has been a big fan of Eli and his tell-it-like-it-is reviewing style for a long time now.

I think his review of Thanksgiving dinner at his grandfather's house is still my favorite. 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Center for Science in the Public Interest launches an app that will bring its Chemical Cuisine food additive safety ratings directly to your mobile device. The app flags those additives that everybody should avoid, as well as a number of additives most people would do well to cut back on."

So, what about Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate?  

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Gee, that grilled cheese cook-off thing at the Mt. Washington Tavern was all over the place. You couldn't swing a cat without hitting some media coverage of it. Good job, you guys.

Frank Roylance wrote this story about the event, which raised $1,000 for Moveable Feast.

Pictured is Kevin Miller's winning creation, the Dutch Toasty with spring pea soup. Miller, formerly of Ixia, is now  with Widespread Concierge Services.

Here are more of Barbara Haddock Taylor's photos from the cook-off, and here is a sampling of grilled cheese creations from Grilled Cheese & Co. in Catonsville.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Here's the Sunday review of Chef Mac's and All That Blues

Chef Mac's was mobbed when I went to review it on a Thursday night. The restaurant was hosting a WEAA live  broadcast, and most of the patrons there  had obviously come to hear the live music.

Everyone seemed really happy at Chef Mac's, even when the servers got overwhelmed. But if you had come there just for dinner, I think you might have been frustrated by the pace.

I didn't elaborate on this in the review, but I did suggest that diners check the Chef Mac's website and even call first before they visit. Always better to know.

Baltimore Sun photo/Kim Hairston

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

So, how was that weekend?I'm writing this on Friday afternoon, so as far as I know we could all have been rounded up by aliens. But I hope not, because then who would be looking after Chairman Mau and Grand Canyon, who happen to be the first boneyfide celebrocats to be featured on the Sleeping Pet of the Week.

These lucky cats share living space with Karin and Bud Tiffany, your hosts at Peter's Inn.

To celebrate, this week there will be a Sleeping Pet of the Week every day.

(In other words, I have a backlog of sleeping pets photographs.) 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

Dining@Large will be a post-free zone this weekend.

But feel free to post about your hearts' desires here.

I found this photo for you to look at but couldn't decide whether to identify it for you or not.

Hm. I'll let it go unidentified  for a while. 

Stewart & Co., business in Reisterstown Rd. Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland. Restaurant IV (Chesapeake Room), foyer

Gottscho, Samuel H. (Samuel Herman), 1875-1971, photographer
 1962 Jan. 31. 

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Coincidentally, both restaurant reviews appearing in the Sun this weekend are of places on Harford Road.

First up, Rob Kasper reviews Arcadia's Koco's Pub in today's Live section. Koco's hardly needs an introduction to its fans, but not everyone knows about it.

See what Rob has to say. 

Next, my Sunday review is of Chef Mac's and All That Blues, four blocks up in Moravia-Walther.

Errr, and this past Monday's review was of Red Canoe, also in Moravia-Walther, on Harford Road.

Shouldn't someone at the Sun make sure that all three dining reviews aren't confined to four blocks along one stretch of road?

Someone'd be me!

And if you've got a beef with those neighborhood names: take it up with this.

Who's a Chef Mac fan?

Baltimore Sun photo/Kenneth K. Lam 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

I was still trying to figure out what to do with my asparagus earlier this week when Richard posted a link to this recipe on Facebook, Asparagus and Bacon on Toast.

It amuses me that the link gives credit to someone for "inventing" the sandwich's recipe. Can a sandwich really be invented? Well, either way, hooray for "Marion Zuchowski, the mother of a longtime asparagus farmer in western Massachusetts," because this was a great dinner. (I have a real photo I'll replace this one with once I get back to my camera card.)

Recipe: Asparagus and Bacon on Toast

Source: Saveur

1 lb. fresh asparagus
1–2 tbsp. butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 pieces toast, buttered
4 slices cooked bacon

1. Prepare asparagus by holding bottom half of each spear with both hands and gently bending it until it snaps where it naturally breaks, separating tough fibrous end from tender part (see Prepping Asparagus). Discard ends. Cut asparagus into 2" pieces. Steam in steamer basket set over a pot of simmering water over high heat until very soft, 15–20 minutes.

2. Transfer to a bowl, toss with butter, and season to taste with salt and pepper. To make sandwiches, divide spears evenly among 4 pieces of the toast, arrange 1 slice of bacon on top of each, and cover each with another piece of toast.

Notes: I made that amount of asparagus and bacon and ended up with only two sandwiches. Your mileage may vary. Also, I used less butter and a dash of olive oil, and I didn't cut the asparagus into pieces. I steamed them after breaking off the ends and then laid the spears across the bread. This was wayyyy better than I thought it was going to be, just a great mingling of flavors. Not gimmicky at all. 

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: CSA, Living in the CSA, Recipes
        

YAY, an opening.

Sweet Bakery is opening tomorrow morning, Saturday April 9, at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting. The new address is 239 W. Read St., and the phone number is 410-728-2253 (CAKE). When Sweet closed its original Ellicott City cafe and specialty bakery late last year to move to Baltimore, owner Chris Sikora said the new location would be much more convenient for clients planning weddings and other events in Baltimore.

Sweet will be open tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ribbon, Sikora said, will be made of cake.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

That's what I hear.

Multiple sources, including a few readers here, are saying that part or all of the Hollywood Burger Bistro ownership group are taking over the restaurant space in Little Italy that was very briefly The Diner and before that Tapabar, Cafe di Roma and Galeano's Restaurant and Lounge.

Hollywood Burger Bistro's last night of business in Canton was March 30. 

The new joint's name is Pacific Coast Dining, sources say.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

When Taste Mediterranean Grille closed suddenly last week, there was still a glimmer of hope that things would be worked out between the restaurant's ownership group and the company (Colliers International) that was leasing them the Allegheny Avenue restaurant space. 

But, barring a Hail Mary pass, Taste Mediterranean is out of business after a five-month run. This is according to Tim Hearn of Colliers International.

Hearn said that he is preparing to market the restaurant space, which he said saw approximately $400,000 in improvements before Taste opened its doors last fall. (This was the old Troia Cafe, which is now across the street). Hearn pointed to other successful restaurants on the Allegheny strip as evidence of the space' viability. "There were operator problems," he said, about the situation at Taste. 

Taste Mediterranean Grille was promoted as a showcase for the talents of the chef Luigi Palumbo, who is also said to run his own restaurant in Napoli. Palumbo, you may remember, was the chef who made a chocolate mousse adored by that Pope John Paul II.

I'm still putting in calls to the ownership group before I declare Taste a casualty. I want to make sure I have the players sorted out, too.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Tony Foreman and Cindy Wolf make their debut tomorrow on Midday with Dan Rodricks during the 1 p.m. hour .(WYPR-88.1)

This is the first of five scheduled visits to Midday for Foreman and Wolf who will be sharing their "inside perspective" and taking questions about the world of good food, wine and entertaining. 

Sounds like good listening.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

After a bit of a delay, I'm back with another CSA report. Last week, we were so busy for the weekend that I didn't get to do much experimenting at all. We ended up making a massive batch of vegetable soup with much of it.

I did make this yummy (albeit not that pretty in this iPhone picture) spaghetti squash dish, based on this recipe from Emeril Lagasse but adapted with what I had in my kitchen. The recipe follows after the jump. I'd had spaghetti squash quite a few times -- my stepdad used to make it for dinner when I was in high school -- but I'd never cooked with it. The hardest part was cutting the raw squash in half. I thought I was going to lose a finger there for a bit. After that, it was ridiculously easy.

Today, we'll be getting golden beets, sugar snap peas, green beans, spinach, mushrooms, yellow onions, blood oranges, apples, eggs and bread.

The only thing new to me this time will be the golden beets. Any suggestions?

Herbed Spaghetti Squash

From Emeril Lagasse

1 small spaghetti squash, about 2 1/4 pounds
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped mixed soft herbs, such as basil, chives, chervil, parsley and sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Using a sharp knife, cut the squash in half lengthwise and place, cut side down, in a baking dish. Add enough water to come 1/2-inch up the sides of the baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 45 minutes, until the squash is easily pierced with a paring knife. Turn squash over and cover with foil again and continue to cook another 15 minutes, until the squash is very tender. Remove from the oven, uncover, and allow to cool slightly. Using a spoon, remove the seeds and discard. Using a fork, gently pull the strands of squash away from the peel and place the squash strands into a mixing bowl.

Heat a skillet. Add the butter, spaghetti squash, herbs, salt and pepper and toss thoroughly but gently to heat and combine. Serve immediately or cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

Notes: My squash was a bit bigger than the suggested size, and thus, obviously, look longer to cook. I didn't have any fresh herbs, so I just used a variety of dried herbs. Fresh would have been better, but if I'd waited until I got to the store, it would have been days. I also used less butter and added a dash of olive oil instead. 

(Pic by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: CSA, Living in the CSA, Recipes
        

Over on the City that Breeds, they've posted a purloined copy of what purportedly is a new employee policy manual from the Kali Group (Kali's Court, Mezze, Meli, Tapas Adela)

About the rules, the blogger says, "For those of you in the service industry, you might enjoy the conversion of your position as server to that of servant, or similarly a prison guard from the way some of these rules are laid out."

Except that the rules don't really seem at all harsh to me (nor do they to the blog readers that have responded so far.)

Among the rules the blogger finds most draconian: 

► No employees are to have a cell phone on their person during service. Any employee found to be using said device during service will be disciplined as follows: First time: Warning. Second time: Dismissal.

► Employees are not allowed to smoke during their shift. Smoking is allowed before and after service only. There are no exceptions or changes to this policy and it extends to management as well.

The silliest rules, the post thinks, have to do with personal hygiene. Most people who work in customer service are used to these rules. In list form they might seem funny. There are different rule for male and female employees -- these are for women.

         * Make-up needs to be kept minimal. No colored eye shadow. No lipstick. No excessive blush.
        * Earrings are not to be larger than the size of a quarter.
        * No facial piercings will be allowed. If you have facial piercings, you will be allowed to wear clear inserts.
        * One bracelet and one conservative watch are allowed to be worn.
        * One conservative necklace is allowed to be worn.
        * No perfume/cologne is allowed.
        * Only clear nail polish is allowed to be worn.

There's more at the link. 

What do you think? And which rule was so intolerable to an employee that he or she decided to leak the manual?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)
        

The Bowie Baysox are holding monthly beer dinners again this year. The first one is during the opening homestand against the dreaded Erie SeaWolves.

Tickets for the Saturday, April 16 Festa d'Italia Beer Dinner have to be ordered by next Wednesday.

The event includes a two-hour buffet and three-hour open bar in the Diamond View restaurant. Fireworks will follow the game. 

Stadium gates open at 5:30 p.m. and food is served from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The buffet includes chicken parmesan, linguine with white clam sauce, grilled fish, cheesy garlic bread, meatballs, sausage and an antipasto salad station featuring grilled vegetables, assorted cheeses, Italian meats and other goodies. 

Beer is served from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., including Peroni and assorted bottles and draft beer.

Tickets for the Festa d'Italia Beer Dinner are $41, or $37 for Baysox ticket plan holders. For tickets, call Dana DeFilippo, the team's community programs manager, at 301-464-4855.

 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Eric Ripert now is checking out the radiation levels in the seafood Le Bernardin with a dosimeter. He spoke this morning with CNN's John King. (via Eater). There's a transcript of the interview at the link.

I'm actually working on a story about the precautions restaurants are taking, if any, concerning radiated food. 

Are you concerned? Have you changed your seafood-consuming behavior?

Are you more likely to believe what a government agency tells you, the media tells you, or what the the restaurant and seafood industries tell you? Or, are they all the same source of information? Just kidding.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Today's conversation in the Features pod is "My First Time"

Erik Maza over at Midnight Sun told us that bacon is virtually non-existent in Cuba, where he was born. It wasn't until his family moved to Florida that he had his first taste of it.

Sam Sessa, the quondam Midnight Sun blog author, said his wife Amie grew up in a broccoli-free house; the cruciferous vegetable never appeared in her family's Indian cuisine. She had her first broccoli when her family went out for Chinese food.

My podmate, PIttsburgh native Jill Rosen (Unleashed, among many other things) said she never had a corndog until she went away to college in Bloomington, Ind. Poor Jill. I can't wait for her memoirs of a corndog-deprived childhood.

I remember a trip to Ocean City when I was 16. My friends and I were at the Plim Plaza, ordering breakfast. The waitress asked me how I wanted my eggs. I had no idea what she was talking about. The eggs in my life, until then, had been either hard-boiled or scrambled.

Who has a first-time story about a late-in-life encounter with ordinary food the rest of us take for granted?

Baltimore Sun photo/Gene Sweeney, Jr. 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

You don't want to see the acronym TNTC on a letter from the FDA to your facility. In its letter to the Tifton, Ga.-based manufacturers of Dixie Mills Old Fashioned Yellow Grits (whch, OF COURSE reminded me of Aunt Martha's Old Fashioned Salad Dressing."

Caution: This letter is gross!  (Food Safety News)

TNTC stands for "too numerous to count," and the FDA isn't talking about compliments or kisses.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

So, what's everyone doing this weekend? Who's eating what where?

Cirque du Soleil is back in Baltimore, this time down at the Westport Waterfront. What and where is the Westport Waterfront? Answered. Unanswered: Where are people headed to the cirqueus going for dinner? It's a tough one, especially with the Orioles in town. Who's got a good idea?

The Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention is down at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel. Do you know anyone with a food-related tattoo?

It's Crabi Gras on Saturday down at Jimmie & Sook's Raw Bar and Grill in Cambridge. The food-and-music event is a benefit for the Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fishermen's Association. 

The National Cherry Blossom Festival ends officially on Sunday.

The Grilled Cheese Contest Sandwich Cook-Off at the Mt. Washington Tavern is sold out.

The now smoke-free Baltimore Farmers' Market is back for week 2.

Still stumped? Here's Sam Sessa:

About the Sleeping Pet of the Week: "This is Eddie, my super lovey rescued tabby.  He's about 12 years old and was rescued from the mean streets of Pigtown when he was two weeks old.  Back then he weighed in at one pound. Nowadays he is a 15-pound bruiser."

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Updated, 7:25 p.m.:

Gino’s is back, and Towson’s got it.

Maryland Executive Park, near the intersection of Joppa and La Salle roads, will be the setting for the first Baltimore-area Gino's Burgers and Chicken. The announcement was made this week by the office park’s developers, St. John Properties.

The Towson location is the first of 10 local franchise locations A&M Hospitality of Maryland hopes to build in the suburban Baltimore area. Scott Autry, an A&M principal, said, “We searched high and low, met with several different brokers, and after doing research into the fast-casual market we settled on this place.”

For Autry, the business park offers three major assets: “location, location, location. We’re close enough to Baltimore but not far from White Marsh and the northeastern market. We’re right in the middle.”

The new space’s size mattered to Autry, too. “Gino’s recommends 2,500 square feet for its locations,” Autry added, “and we’ll have 3,500 here, plus patio seating.”

Additionally, Autry said, “the business park offers plenty of parking.”

The last Gino's, located in Pasadena and owned independently, closed in 1991. Although Gino's was founded in Baltimore, the company relocated its headquarters to King of Prussia before it was acquired by Marriott Corp. in 1982.

When the company relaunched Gino's Burgers & Chicken in King of Prussia, Pa., scores of Baltimoreans who remembered the famous restaurant drove up to see if the food tasted they way they remembered it.

Autry and Jared Miller of the newly formed company A&M Hospitality were announced in February as the first franchisees for the relaunched Gino's Burgers and Chicken.

Autry said he hopes to have the Gino’s running by July but that the opening could come even sooner.

In his response to the news, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz took some artistic license with the memorable Gino’s jingle: “Everybody goes to Gino’s in Towson,” Kamenetz said, “because Towson is the place to go.”
 

Also check out:

-- The Sun Magazine interview with the man who started it all, Gino Marchetti

-- Laura Vozzella on the nostalgia for the Gino's franchise

-- The Baltimore Sun Gino's photo galleries

-- Gino's on Dining@Large

(Photo by Amy Davis, The Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)
        

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA) will announce today that the Baltimore Farmers' Market is now a smoke-free zone. Cigarette smoke, that is.

The change has the full support of the mayor and the Baltimore City Health Department.

"Self-policing and peer pressure" will enforce the policy for now, according to BOPA executive director Bill Gilmore.

The market and bazaar are located on Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay streets under the Jones Falls Expressway. 

What do you think about the change? 

Baltimore Sun photo/Steve Raurk

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

Apparently, it's real.

Although the marketing campaign (targeted to the Preakness infield crowd) manages to make it seem like it's a joke. 

See for yourself. It's bacon by Fargginay.

(via Eater)

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Read Laura Vozzella's story on the new independent grocery stores popping up across Baltimore:

"Inspired by the local-foods movement, a handful of small independent markets are on the drawing boards, nearly open, or already up and running. Even given the down economy and the thin margins typical of the supermarket industry, there's a sense that there is a market for a locavore grocery store."

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

A friend, let's call her Pip, needs our help. Read on:

I am the matron of honor at a friend's wedding, and we're all much too old to go vomiting all over the streets of Adams Morgan. But I still want to hold a fun event for her. I am thinking a brunch, lunch or dinner at a good restaurant in DC (she's in NW, specifically Columbia Heights, but anywhere in DC proper would be fine).

We'd like to do it somewhere civilized, not astronomically expensive, where we can reserve a small area of the restaurant and have a prix fixe for about 10-15 people. All the Yelping in DC either raves about hipster spots where you need to show up 3 hours prior to eating and no reservations are taken; dowager restaurants that go for $65 a person; or reviews like "Food's great, nice atmosphere, but surly and inattentive service."

Where should Pip go?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

...by looking at a photo you take of your meal.

See for yourself.

Who wants to test-drive this baby for Dining@Large?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Food Production Daily provides a useful side-by-side comparison with the agency's pathetically unhelpful database.

The new setup page looks to be good for searching but not for browsing. It's all organized by date of recall, but you can re-sort the list by Brand Name or by Company Name (although the sorting arrows are hard to see; I missed them the first time.)

I want to know at a glance what state these companies are located in and where the recalled food had been distributed.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

There are five Liberatore's still open and ready to serve you, in Bel Air, Perry Hall, Timonium, Westminister and the original in Eldersburg.

The Owings Mills Liberatore's closed back on March 7, after a 15 year run. Well, you know how people are, folks started to worry.

Dante Liberatore, who oversees the day-to-day operations at the Eldersburg location, told me that the Owings Mills closing was the result of "bad math."

You see, the Liberatore family believes that each location should be operated with hands-on attention.

There are four Liberatore brothers (including Dante) and two other relatives, making for a total of six family members. BUT, the Timonium location (pictured here) has two family members running it. Which means, that the maximum number of Liberatore's restaurants the Liberatore family wants to operate is not six, but five.

Sorry, Owings Mills.

There is a new restaurant operating in the Owings Mills location on Groffs Mill Drive. It's called American Bistro, and Dante Liberatore says that they're nice people but they're not affiliated with Liberatore'.

Who's a Liberatore's fan?

Baltimore Sun photo

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

Catching up with the blogs and other assorted food news. (I may be adding to this post throughout the afternoon, so check back, please.)

Food Day!

Mark your calendars. October 24 is Food Day, "a nationwide campaign to change the way Americans eat and think about food," organized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Day I think we'll be hearing more about it. Take a look a the website. Here's the gist of it via CPSInet.org

Modeled on Earth Day by Earth Day, Food Day is committed to:

    * Reduce diet-related disease by promoting healthy foods
    * Support sustainable farms & stop subsidizing agribusiness
    * Expand access to food and alleviate hunger
    * Protect the environment & animals by reforming factory farms
    * Promote health by curbing junk-food

Also:

The folks at Center for Science in the Public Interest have positive comments about the FDA's proposed menu labeling regulations.  (Center for Science in the Public Interest)

On the other hand, movie theater lobbied the agency successfully to be exempted from the new regulations.

Ronald's back! (Nation's Restaurant News)

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Fleming's has introduced the Memorable Meal for Two, a $125, 3-course dinner with Chateaubriand and Lobster En Fuego (includes salad, side dishes and dessert). The promotion runs through May 15th.

They're offering sushi rolling classes a Tatu, the first Wednesday of the month, at 7 p.m.. At Blitz Sushi (named after the Blitz Ono, pictured, the head sushi chef at Tatu), each participant is taught how to roll two different types of sushi roll which they can eat there or take home with them. They also receive an order of edamame and the class does a sake toast as well. 7 p.m./$35 per person/limited to 15 people. Call Tatu to reserve a space.

Gertrude's at the BMA will donate one third of Thursday evening's gross sales to the Senior Network of North Baltimore.
 

Here's a list of Wednesday dining specials around town. As always, if you see something outdated or something missing, tell us about it in the comments section, or email me at richard.gorelick@baltsun.com.

Baltimore Sun photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

My assignment at Camden Yards yesterday was to get reactions to the food from real fans and shoot pictures of them eating the new food. They gave me a point-and-shoot camera.

Now I know why photographers wear those vests with all of those pockets.

Pen, phone, camera, reporter's notebook. That's too many objects for me. You know what I HATE about modern electronics: is this thing ON or is it OFF??

One of the photos I managed to take was of Amanda and Justin Knight. Amanda is on the left.

I got there at Noon. I Tweeted a bit. I I realized pretty quickly that the typical fan buys food at a concession and takes it away.That made it hard, or at least weird, for me to get photos and reactions.

I ate a Natty Boh Brat.  I walked the lower concourse back and forth. I didn't go to the upper concourse.

By the time I left, the lines had gotten very, very long. I made a glancing reference in this story to the sluggish lines I saw. But, I've heard since that sluggish is a major understatement. I received an email this morning describing a two-inning wait for a diet soda and a scarcity of vendors in the stands.

A representative from Delaware North Companies Sportservice admitted that the day was beset by problems with the point-of-sale systems.

Other observations and comments:

Kosher - The Inglewood, N.J.-based Kosher Sports, an Oriole Park vendor since 2005, has returned but in a new location. Kosher dogs are now sold across from the entrance ramp to Section 46-52 on the Lower Concourse.

Attman's - Not back. This was Attman's choice, I was told.

Signage - The major signage is attractive and fresh. It looks like a corporation has managed it. There were problems, though, with ancillary signage, leaving fans confused about products (what exactly was a "Big Boog"), prices, and policies (only two beers for customers at the taverns).

Prices - Well. $7.50 is obviously a steep price for a 20-ounce Natty Boh. $14 is steep for a crab cake that I think is delicious but that looks small. (I'll find out the exact ounce-age for you.). But compared to what? Should the prices be compared to the corner pub, or to the fare at other sports venues in comparable markets? Natty Boh was a big hit yesterday. People were very happy to have a local beer to drink. And before someone writes in to tell me that Natty Boh is not a local beer - Natty Boh is a local beer because we say it's a local beer. You can still bring your own food into the stadium.

Biggest disappointment - Local and micro-brews. On the third base side of the lower concourse, the new Diamond State Tavern has a sad airport-lounge look. The tavern opened with two beers on tap (Blue Moon and Flying Dog Pale Ale) and another three brews in bottles (Magic  Hat #9, Heavy Seas Golden Ale and Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA.

At one point, I called back into the office and said, "you know, I really should be doing this story at the second home game." Fans have every right to judge Delaware North based on its performance yesterday -- everyone was paying full price. 

Sportservice will be making changes and implementing new features over the next several months. Tweaks will be made, and more changes are coming, including a Food Network Cafe in the warehouse and natural and organic options. I'll be watching, I'm sure you will be, too.

What was Opening Day like for you?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

I'm headed down to Camden Yards in a bit for Opening Day. I'll be on the Lower Concourse, mostly, eating. I was impressed with what I had at the media tasting Delaware North Companies Sportservice held a few weeks ago. But the real test is today.

High on my list: the "Big Boog," the National Bohemian bratwusts and the crabcake. Take a look at what else new awaits fans today.

Oh, I will also have prices for you.

I loved the story about the enigmatic Vladimir Guerrero that Kevin Van Valkenburg and Jeff Zrebiec have into today's paper, especially this passage.

In Montreal, (Guererro) started a tradition that continues to this day. Before each home series, Guerrero will write down the names of all the Spanish-speaking players and coaches coming to town. Then he will take the list to his mother, Altagracia Alvino, who has moved with him (along with the rest of his family) to every city he has played in during his career. She spends hours in the kitchen, cooking food for all the Latin players — typically beans and rice mixed with chicken, beef, pork or fish — trying to give them a little taste of home. Guerrero, who has made close to $118 million in salary during his career, will then take the food to the park in plastic bags and distribute it to the players and coaches.

Don't feel like spending money inside the stadium? Here's a photo gallery of restaurants nearby.

I just noticed this! The Baltimore Sun's new Home Run Database.

Baltimore Sun photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

In case you missed it, here's the review of Matsuri in Federal Hill.

I wish Matsuri was in my neighborhood. If it were, I'd go all the time. If I have a reservation about it, and I touched on this in the review, it's that it feels complacent to me. I want more from it, I want a server to whisper in my ear, "oh, but you have to try this!"

Absolutely you can get good, quality food there, but I hesitate to send someone across town for it.

Meanwhile, there are a few new restaurants in town that should be ready for a review soon, and a few others in the surrounding counties I've been wanting to get to. By all means, if you know of a place that merits a review, let me know about it here.

Is Matsuri's good good enough for you?

Baltimore Sun photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Monday Morning Quarterbacking
        

Here's John Lindner's lunch review of Red Canoe up in Lauraville.

I can't add much to what John said. I'm a Red Canoe fan.

Baltimore Sun photo/Colby Ware

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Carver Center Foundation's ninth annual gala in support of the Carver Center for Arts and Technology is this Saturday night, April 9.

Carver Celebration, as the event is known, will feature performances and demonstrations by students of the all-magnet Baltimore County Public School. For the fifth year in row, students in the school's culinary program will be preparing food for the event in collaboration with local chefs and restaurant managers, who have been mentoring them at the school in preparation for the celebration.

The chefs include Thomas Brown (Bon Appetit), John Walsh (Chef’s Expressions), Bill Crouse, pictured, (Kooper’s Tavern and Slainte Irish Pub), Rachid Eido and Josh Halbedel (Lebanese Taverna), Nancy Longo (Pierpont), Jay Caragy (Spro) and Richard Karoll. Longo and Crouse are veterans of the mentoring programs, which brings in a new roster of chefs every year.

The mentoring program was hatched by and still looked after by Carver Center Foundation board member Ron Furman (Max's on Broadway) when his older daughter was attending the school.

"The kids come at this with so much passion," Furman told me, "and the chefs love doing it."

Richard Karoll, who is back for the third year helping students plan and prepare desserts, told me, "I wish I could have done this when I was in high school. Some of these kids are amazing."

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Actually, they serve 15. Keep reading.

Fans of Ace of Cakes have always wanted two things. They wanted their own cake from Charm City Cakes, and they wanted to stop by the Remington bakery and have a look around. But even the most basic wedding cake costs $750 (never mind the sculpted specialty cakes), and the bakery has always been off limit to visitors.

That’s changed.

Today, Charm City Cakes is launching a new option on its website its calling Cakes for Two. (NOTE: The new feature is scheduled to go up sometime Monday morning.)

Each of the pre-designed cakes sells for $250 and can be picked up in person, which, for fans, is a big incentive.

But if it's not for you, it's for you.

Charm City Cakes will open itself up for pickups for one hour only every day from Tuesday to Saturday. The limited window is designed to allow the staff to stop working and interact with customers in the bakery’s reception area. From there, customers will be able to see the whole operation.

Take a look at the designs. I think they're charming. Most of the major-life occasions are covered — birthdays, weddings, new babies. Some designs, like a crab bushel cake and the Star Wars-inspired Imperial Stormtrooper cake, are just for fun.

The team is welcoming ideas for new cakes from its fans and customers, who can submit them on the website.

Who's got a good idea for the Cakes for Two collection?

 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

Who did what this weekend?

Who got on their bicycle, took a walk, opened the windows, planted something?

RoCK was off to the Beer Bourbon and Barbecue festival in Timonium. I'm all ears.

Anyone go to the Kidney Foundation benefit at the train museum. How was the food?

About this week's Sleeping Pets:"These are a few (of the many) sleeping photos I have of my cats. The gray one is Otis and he loves sleeping contorted on his back, where his mouth and eyes fall open. The white/brown one is Sumo who covers his eyes to block out the light when he sleeps."

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Here is is, the Sunday review of Matsuri.

I'll have a few words to add tomorrow on Monday Morning Quarterbacking.

But not many. Words, that is.

Who's a fan of Matsuri? I'm always curious about what it is people look for in a Japanese restaurant. 

Baltimore Sun photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

You could buy things from farmers.

Kale, lots of kale. Lots of collards, too. There was a little bit of spinach and the occasional wintered-over brussels sprouts. Zahradka Farm brought some brussels sprouts but sold out of it early.

But, no, asparagus isn't here yet, but it should be in a few weeks, before the traditional early May opening market date.

I'm sure some people were disappointed about the selection today but I didn't run into them. The people I ran into weren't disappointed because they weren't expecting much.

Whitney Sale of Federal Hill, buying kale at the Stoecker Farms stall (the one by the mini doughnuts). "I think they set expectations appropriately."

Jennifer Slingloff of Gardener's Gourmet (those big bowls of mesclun) said that, yes, there were a few people asking for tomatoes. "But we have people asking us for limes, too," she added.

Then, why open the market early? My response would be "Why not?" It's like Jackson Browne kind of said, "Now the promoter don’t mind/And the farmers don’t mind" - why should you mind?

Feels like a win/win to me. Besides, it was nice to get out of the house and see all the new   babies.

Basically, was a good day for the new vendors over in the western lot to introduce themselves to marketers, and for marketers to see what was new, like the quail eggs and French heritage chickens at the KCC Farms table. Kenny Lookingbill was staffing that table for his boss, who was feeding chickens back at the farm in Forest Hill, up in Harford County. Lookingbill just retired after 35 years as a meat-cutter at Giant. He's one of those people that loves putting good products in people's hands, and he almost had me carrying away one of those chickens.

Me, I would change only one thing. Please ditch the steel band. FOREVER.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Just announced for this year's Preakness InfieldFest - "The Great Preakness Pony Pig Out," which planners are calling the "first-ever race-horse themed eating competition."

"Some of America's biggest eating studs" will...compete for the title of National Preakness Pig Out Eating Champion and $500 in cash prizes.

This will be a sanctioned ALL PRO Competitive Eaters competition.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Sorry for any confusion about Caesar's Den. The De Francos are indeed looking for someone to lease their Litttle Italy restaurant. They simply want to retire.

But Guido De Franco told me that it could be "three, six, or nine months" before they find the right person to move in.

He did say that they will be retiring the "Caesar's Den" name.

So, go.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

On a rare day off yesterday, I actually go to go to the farm myself to pick up this week's CSA haul.

I didn't have much to report this past week because of the pine mouth situation (which is thankfully just about gone) and since we had a lot of familiar foods (green beans, carrots, apples) that we prepared in familiar ways.

As Richard noted in Table Talk this week, asparagus has one of the earliest seasons, and that was in our haul this week. I'm definitely interested to hear some favorite approaches to this veggie.

Less familiar was kohlrabi, but I got to try a sample of it roasted, which was described as "like broccoli, but milder." I'd agree with that. It was tasty cooked up with olive oil and sea salt. We'll probably try that with this batch, unless anyone has any other suggestions.

I was beyond excited to see we also got a spaghetti squash. I haven't had any in a while, but my stepdad used to roast them for dinner every so often, and I'm looking forward to revisiting that. 

Now that the markets are starting to open up, anything you are looking forward to eating?

(Photo by Jed Kirschbaum, The Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: CSA, Living in the CSA, Recipes
        

I just don't have any definitive news about either Hollywood Burger Bistro or Taste Mediterranean Grille.

I posted on the apparent closings of each here and here.

Continue to post there about your experiences at those restaurants. Note that I won't be approving comments that speculate about the reasons for the closings that are not directly related to the performance of those restaurants.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I've heard that Taste Mediterranean Grillle in Towson has apparently closed, at least temporarily, until the restaurant's management company resolves issues with the building's landlords. The chef, Luigi Palumbo, is currently in Naples, Italy, tending to his restaurant there.

I'm trying to nail down the particulars, and I'll keep trying to call the restaurant and the management company.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE, 2:20 p.m.: I just called Strapazza Management, the  management company responsible for Taste Mediterranean Grille, and was told that the problems there were in the kitchen and should be resolved by Monday.

Baltimore Sun photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

It's in the news. If you need to catch up, here's Marion Nestle's take on Food Politics.

"Food dyes have only one purpose: to sell junk foods."

Speaking of Marion Nestle, she'll be speaking at the University of Maryland SMC Campus Center (621 W. Lombard St.) on Monday, April 4 at 4:30 p.m. on "“Food politics, nutrition, and sustainable food production." This is the final lecture in the university's year-long series on The Hungry Mind.

Nestle is Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health () and Professor of Sociology at New York University.  

That's all the information I have on the lecture. And note that the Orioles' opening day game should be breaking up just about the same time as the lecture starts.

Baltimore Sun photo/Algerina Perna (the photo accompanied a 2008 story on food dyes and additives).

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Let's see. There's the Beer Bourbon and Barbecue festival pulls into the Timonium Fairgrounds. I would have blogged about it if they had sent me a press release. I've gone Divo.

Vinylmore opens at Atomic Books tonight. Who's going?

The circus is in town.

The Baltimore Farmers' Market opens on Sunday. You likely won't find that Spring has arrived there yet, but farmers will still have things to sell you. Here's a New York Times onion tart recipe to tide you over. Other tips for this in-between season?

The Jewish Film Festival continues on Sunday afternoon. Who has a good tip for breakfast or for a post-cinema dinner?

Here's a rundown on more weekend events. Here's the main weekend watch page (it's prettier).

I heard that City Cafe just got in their first soft-shell crabs of the season.

And here's Sam Seggasus with a weekend round-up in full-color video.  

The sleeping pets of the week are Margaret and Mr. Oliver.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)