I enjoyed the thread of comments about those questions different professionals get about their professions.

At the raucous and joyful wedding I attended Sunday (not in Edison, New Jersey, but in Monsey, New York), I got a scattering of "Hey, are you reviewing this?" comments, but not too many.

Where did you eat this weekend? Did you have fun doing other things?

The only restaurant visit I made was for late-night drinks at Jack's Bistro. Ted Stelzenmuller is experimenting with Buzz Buttons (Acmella oleracea, aka Szechuan Buttons, Sansho Buttons, Electric Buttons). Eating a whole bud does crazy things. Saliva cascades, and your taste buds are charged. Water tastes like electricity. Stelzenmuller was following the bud with a crab meat salad. Fun.`

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

It turned cold. And it gets dark so early. What a drag.

Some of you posted your own dining plans and queries, and you had great advice for my New York excursion. I'll be posting my own dining round-up a bit later. but I want to hear now about your dining experiences in Baltimore and beyond.

I was kidding about The Gates.

I have been hearing the Valley Inn news, too. The parties involved are fairly reticent about the deal, which I believe not to be complete. I've been waiting until I have firm information to share. 

Baltimore Sun photo/Gene Sweeney, Jr.

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

I'm off to New York City. The 6:12 a.m/ Northeast Regional 180 should be pulling out of Baltimore Penn Station right now, hopefully with me on it.

I haven't been up there for a while, and I really want to see those orange gates up in that park.

I am headed up for a friend's birthday party, and I have no firm food plans. But I'm sure I'll be eating something. Drop some suggestions for me here.

Continue reading "Your weekend dining -- I'm off to New York City" »

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (29)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

I took the weekend off from blogging. I've been telling friends that I feel like a new parent with the blog; I've been afraid to leave it alone. But the planet is apparently still spinning on its axis this morning. So, phew.

I didn't post the customary, "so, what's everyone doing this weekend" question on Friday (by that time, I figured you were already doing what you were doing). But, I'm asking now -- what did everyone do? Who made it out for dinner, on or off Thanksgiving Day. 

I know a few of you had been planning to take your Thanksgiving Day meal in a restaurant. I'd like to hear about your experiences.

I get asked often about good brunches -- anyone have one this weekend?

Continue reading "Your (long) weekend dining" »

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

So, where did everybody go?

A few of you posted last Friday about your weekend dining plans. (Even if you didn't post on Friday, we'd like to hear about your dining experiences now)

Michelle was headed to the Sakura in Hunt Valley, and Ryan97ou was hoping to get to Chameleon Cafe. Sarah G made my mouth water with her mention of the Eastern-Shore chicken at Big Bad Wolf's House of Barbecue. I remember Big Bad Wolf's Scott Smith telling me that he learned about what makes good chicken barbecue as a cook for Eastern Shore firehouses.

Continue reading "Your weekend dining" »

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

Where is everyone going this weekend?

I'm going to find the nearest spa. I'm completing my eighth week here at as the Baltimore Sun's Restaurant Critic. It has been more fun then I can say. Today, the adrenaline has worn off.

Keep talking, though -- I'm listening.

Baltimore Sun photo/Elizabeteh Malby

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

On Friday, as we do every week on Dining@Large, folks posted about their weekend dining plans. I always like to hear how things turned out. 

My restaurant dining was limited to a few bites at Tapas Teatro, which I posted about yesterday and a few more bites Saturday night at the upstairs bar at Bluegrass Tavern -- a bowl of white yam soup with nutmeg streusel bacon vinaigrette and grilled oysters with maitake mushroom butter. As you know, I like it at Bluegrass. I like how under control everything is. There was a promotional dispenser of Wild Turkey American Honey liqueur at my elbow. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. When I left Bluegrass, I somehow walked the wrong way on Hanover Street, headed toward where I can't tell you. I must have had some of that stuff.  

Here's what you all said you were planning. Even if you didn't post on Friday, tell us now about your weekend dining adventures.

Continue reading "Your weekend dining" »

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 7:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

What is everyone planning this weekend, food- and otherwise? The folks at 501 N. Calvert say they're committing to spend as much time outdoors as they can -- who know how long this dry, crisp weather will last?

When I leave work tonight, I am headed directly to a potluck dinner. Trouble is, I don't have pot or a dish or bowl to bring. I guess I'm bringing wine. It's an autumnal theme. Who's got a good tip?

It still feels kind of lame showing up without a dish though. I guess I'll have to be extra charming.   

photo by Marshall Astor via Flickr

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

That was a weird weekend, I thought. I blame the time change. It felt like everyone was taking a deep breath before the holiday-anxiety kicks in. Some of you managed to fit in a meal or two, I'm sure.

A few of you told us about your plans in advance. Even if you didn't, go ahead and tell us about your dining adventures now.

Continue reading "Your weekend dining" »

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 4:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

What will you be doing with this weekend's extra hour?

The elections are over, and it's not time yet to start panicking about the holidays.

Feels like a Free Parking weekend.

Who's dining where?

37 hours!!?!? Where did THAT come from. I wanted to just add one hour to the commonly understood number of weekend hours --48 sounds wrong to me.

How many hours do you say there are in a weekend? -- RG

Good lord, I mistyped the artist's name as Richard Woodhouse. I had just been talking with Unleashed blogger Jill Rosen about Barbara Woodehouse and "Walkies!"

Richard Caton Woodville, Politics in an oyster house, 1848, collection of the Walters Art Museum 

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

How was Petit Louis, B'More Cat and Costume Love; what were the costumes like this year? Was Sabatino's comfort food as comforting as you remember, DBJS?

Stagger Lee, did you finally make good on that trip to Jack's Bistro? How did the real flying ductchman like The Brewer's Art, 21224?

Tell us about where you went this weekend -- what was a treat, what felt like a trick?

Baltimore Sun photo/Colby Ware

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

Who's going where this weekend. Fall menus are peaking. I never did find a butternut squash soup as regularly offered menu item before posting the Top 10 cold-weather soups -- come to find that Brendan Tharp has it on his Fall menu at Canton's Blue Hill Tavern. He's lacing it with maple cream and topping it with candied walnuts.

Are any restaurants staffs dressing up in costume? Snap some shots and send them to richard.gorelick@baltsun.com

The RA Sushi Halloween Boo Bash on Sunday includes a scavenger hunt. I love a good scavenger hunt.

Continue reading "Your scary weekend Halloween weekend dining plans" »

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

WHAT a beautiful weekend, right. Almost too beautiful. Naturally, I decided to put new flannel sheets on my bed Friday night.

Even if you didn't post in advance of the weekend, tell us now what went right and what not so much.

Who ate what where? Did Michelle have her Chiapparelli's birrthday dinner yet? I'll want to know which restaurant near the Lutherville Light Rail stop TheMinx ended up eating at. How was that McCabe's dinner, Ernie -- anyone get the crab cake?

I agree with Karen that the Kennedy Center food offerings amount to highway robbery, at least they were the last time I was there. Hal's tip on Marcel's was a good one, I thought. Hope Salome was good, though. And I'm very curious about the mysterious CR Lounge.

Continue reading "Your weekend dining" »

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (37)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

Another weekend of good-eating weather.

So, what's everyone doing?

Where do Scorpios like to go for their birthday dinner? (Please tell us, Scorpios.)

Here's a handy wrap-up of things to do this weekend. And here's a link to the Free Fall Baltimore site. Maybe we can match up restaurants to activities.

What's a good choice for someone headed to going to Bengies for the "Grease" Sing-a-Long?

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (32)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining
        

Some of you posted your weekend dining plans. How did everything turn out? Even if you didn't post, tell us anyway.

How was that dinner at the Wine Market, Karen? A lot of us are curious about how Christopher Becker's doing.

How was your evening in Belvedere Square, Frequent Little Italy Restaurant Visitor? We don't hear too much about Crush on these boards, and not that I'm trying to plant any ideas, but I'm curious about the service you got at Grand Cru.

Lindsey! Hal Laurent! ryan97ou! Tell us how it went at the Running Festival (not to mention the pre-race carb-load).

Continue reading "Your weekend dining adventures" »

Posted by Richard Gorelick at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)
Categories: Your Weekend Dining