Restaurant Weeks around MD

Annapolis is having Restaurant Week February 16-20
$15.95 3-Course Lunches
$29.95 3-Course Dinners
www.AnnapolisRestaurantWeek.com for participating restaurants

Howard County! Enjoy Restaurant Week(s) February 23 - March 8
Featuring Prixe Fix Menus From $10.09 To $40.00. Click here for participating restaurants & further details!

$25 Super Bowl Party

Mt. Washington Tavern

Super Bowl Party
Sunday February 1st @ 5:30
Garden Room

$25 Super Bowl Party Includes:

all U Can Drink Bud Light, Burgers, Hot Dogs, MD Crab Soup, Pasta Salad, Chili, Chips, Snacks, Popcorn

10 Foot x 10 Foot Theatre Style Screen with Surround Sound

Reserved Seating

Party Starts @ 5:30
Call 410-367-6903 or email: mtwashingtontavern@comcast.net to reserve seats

Friday Food Lingo

Restaurant Lingo:
Eight-Six-If the kitchen runs out of a particular dish, the dish is “86.”

Diner Lingo:
Blue-plate special: a dish of meat, potato, and vegetable served on a plate (usually blue) sectioned in three parts. This can also refer to the daily special.

I made it

I made it into a few other places:

• Another popular blog that covers all over mentioned me. Check out the post on the outside.in blog
• I was interviewed by Elizabeth Heubeck for the Baltimore Business Journal for the article that was published Friday, January 2, 2009 called Taking a bite out of critics: Restaurants match wits with bloggers, other online foodies. (You'll be able to access the entire story online in a few weeks.)

Fiore Valentines Barrel and Library Tasting

Start your Valentines celebration with Fiore on Feb 14th, 2009 from 1-3:30 for a barrel and library wine tasting. Winemaker Mike Fiore will take you through his cellar to taste wine straight from the barrel before it hits the bottle. And also sample classic wines from the Fiore Library.
Cost $25.00 per person. RSVP required (410)879-4007 as space is limited for this event. Complementary light refreshments will be served.

Fiore Winery
3026 Whiteford Road
Pylesville,Md 21132

Art, Wine and Cheese

Join Miss Irene's for 1st Monday Art Opening- Monday February 2nd for a complimentary wine and cheese reception celebrating the photography of Charles Ashton from 6:30PM to 9:00PM.

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival Timonium

60 Beers, 40 Bourbons, Lots of BBQ and One Unforgettable Good Time! Timonium Fairgrounds on April 4 from noon to 6pm for an all-you-care-to-taste extravaganza.

Come hungry and get ready for some beer sippin', bourbon tastin', music listenin', cigar smokin' and barbeque eatin'!! With 50 percent more bars than last year, lines will be a thing of the past!

Do you know how to cook with Bourbon? Attend gourmet cooking demonstrations and seminars in our Tasting Theatre! Shop artist, memorabilia, crafter and exhibitor booths without leaving the fairground!

The 80's are back! It's time to take a trip back to the birth of MTV. When The B-52s, The Bangles, Bon Jovi and The Ramones ruled the airwaves. Enjoy live music all day featuring The Reagan Years!

And don't forget about the contests! Win CASH prizes!! How many BBQ beans can you eat? Do you have what it takes to be Ms. Bar-B-Cutie? How does winning your weight in beer sound?

Get your tickets before they sell out! Visit our website for tickets at www.beerandbourbon.com!


ADMISSION:
VIP Tasting Glass - $40 Advance Only
Valid from Noon-6pm. Includes admission into the event, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling.

Regular Tasting Glass - $30 Advance Online or $35 On-site
Includes admission into the event, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited samples from 2pm - 6pm

Designated Driver Ticket - $20 Advance and On-site
Valid from Noon-6pm.
Includes admission into the event only.

Kids 12 & Under - FREE


PARKING:
Hundreds of FREE Parking Spaces available or take the the Light Rail to the Timonium Fair Grounds.

More Restaurant Week Extensions

Baltimore Winter Restaurant Week Extended Through February 8th- At select restaurants, enjoy a variety of three-course dinners, in just about any cuisine that strikes your fancy, for only $30.09 for a second week!

The following have extended till February 8th:

• A Germano's Trattoria
• Aldo's Ristorante Italiano
• Amicci's
• b- Bolton Hill Bistro
• Babalu Grill
• Bicycle
• Blue Sea Grill
• Bo Brooks Restaurant
• Caesar's Den
• Capital Grille
• Cinghiale
• Da Mimmo
• Elkridge Furnace Inn Restaurant
• Frank & Nic's West End Grille
• Gin Mill
• Grille 700
• Helmand Restaurant
• Ixia Restaurant Bar Lounge
• James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant
• Lebanese Taverna
• Luna Del Sea Steak and Seafood Bistro
• Marie Louise Bistro
• Matsuri Restaurant
• McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant
• Meli Patisserie & Bistro
• Mother's Federal Hill Grille
• Mt. Washington Tavern
• Pazo Restaurant
• Petit Louis Bistro
• Phillips Harborplace Restaurant
• Regi's American Bistro
• Restaurante Tio Pepe
• Rocco's Capriccio
• Rusty Scupper Restaurant
• Ruth's Chris Steak House Water Street
• Sascha's 527 Restaurant
• Tabrizi's
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room
• The Prime Rib, Inc.
• The University Club at Towson
• The Wine Market
• Uno Chicago Grill

Restaurant Week Extensions

I already posted about Rush Chris extending but I just learned from Dining Dish about some more:

Da Mimmo’s and Caesar’s Den are extending their Restaurant Week specials through Sunday, February 8th. Sotto Sopra Restaurant and Pazza Luna initially set up the extension on Restaurant Week to February 8th as well.

Cold Weather, Hot Music!

Thursday @ 7pm--Singer, Songwriter Joy Ike.

Voted "Best Artist" & "Best Solo Artist" by The Pittsburgh City Paper, Joy Ike's music is an indie-infused mix of jazz, pop, and neo-soul and has often been compared to the likes of Fiona Apple, Corrine Bailey Rae and Norah Jones. The Pittsburgh grown, Nigerian singer/songwriter has only been writing and performing for 3 1/2 years but in that short amount of time has garnered much success in the independent music scene. Joy will be touring Baltimore for the time and making Teavolve Cafe & Lounge her first stop. Come out for an excellent show with local opener Teporah. Complimentary Admission

This Saturday @ 7pm-- KREation Jazz Ensemble.

Their mission is to decompose all we know about sound, dimension and existence and reinvent it all into an untold array of marvelous things starting at the tip of your ears, then resonating on through your soul. Formed in 2003, The Kevin Robinson Ensemble (KREation) is lead by Baltimore born saxophonist, Kevin Robinson. The ensemble has challenged itself to explore the "art of conversation" through combining group improvisation, original compositions and rearrange jazz standards. Complimentary Admission

Starting Sunday, February 1st--Happy Hour from 5pm-8pm @ Teavolve Cafe

Sunday--Desserts & Bellini's

Dessert Menu Paired With Lambic Beer, Dessert Wine & Bellini's Made With Strawberry, peach or mango puree

Monday--TBD

Tuesday--Beer & Wings

Specialty Wing Menu paired with Beers from local vendors, microbreweries & reduced priced beers,

Wednesday--Wine & Cheese

Highlight wines by the glass from around the world at a reduced price

Thursday--Margarita & Quesadilla

Quesadilla menu paired with Margaritas made with strawberry, peach or mango puree

Friday--Martini

Reduced priced specialty martini

Pre-Super Bowl Brunch

From 9am-4pm this Saturday & Sunday, come out and enjoy fluffy three egg omelets, hot buttery Belgian Waffles with your choice of toppings along with 1/2 priced Mimosas, Bloody Marys or their house-made Tea Infused Sangria. And as always, you'll be able to enjoy a live acoustic performance this Saturday @ 1pm.

plimentary Admis

Thursday Good Deals

Here are some good deals for a Thursday:

* Around Federal Hill, you haven't had a cheesesteak if you haven't had a Magerks cheesesteak. And, if you haven't visited on Thursday, well, you're paying too much. Thursdays, the pub offers cheesesteaks for just $4, as well as $1 Coors Light bottles (7 p.m. to close) and $1 domestic bottles (9 p.m. to close).
* Sure, you can head to happy hour, pound some brews and add some girth to that swelling waistline, but so long as that's the plan, consider Baltimore Cupcake Company's happy hour instead. For what you'd pay for a bottle of Miller Lite at other happy hours, you can get this more delicious treat instead. From 5:30–6 p.m. all cupcakes are just $1. Watch out for checkpoints, though, you don't want to have to explain to some flat-topped rookie cop what that white glob is on your cheek.
* Typically, happy hour is all about drink specials. Sure, Ra offers some of its specialty drinks at reduced prices, including $1 sakes, but the reason you'll want to stop by this happy hour is for cheap sushi rolls. To get an idea of what's available, consider $2.38 shrimp nigiri, $3.25 California rolls and $4.88 crispy spicy tuna rolls.
* Feeling crabby? Little Havana has the cure. Choose from half-priced crabcakes, crab quesadillas and crab dip every Thursday. $10 pitchers of Margaritas until 8pm
* On Thursdays, make a day of Mother's. During lunch, grab a half-priced cheesesteak and come back during dinner for a $10 entree.
* Join Ze Mean Bean Cafe-You're so full of borscht, your eyes are brown. And pierogi or holupki (gulumki), too. And the best part: it's only $9.95.
* Good ... Mexican ... Cheap. Get $7 quesadillas, $6.50 nachos, $3 Coronas at Camden Pub
* Enjoy Bill's Original, BBQ or Atomic Sauce wings for a $.50 a piece on Thursday nights when you sit in the bar area and purchase a beverage. Or check out each location for their Thursday night special
*Stop at Slainte for Prime Rib $1 per Oz 12, 16 & 22 Oz Cuts 5 til 10- $10 off All Wines by the Bottle with Entree
*A reliable combo is made even better, when Portside offers $0.50 wings and $2 Miller Lites.

Barrel Tastings

Beginning February 14 and extending through Sunday, March 29, Woodhall Wine Cellars will be conducting public barrel tastings of the wines of 2008 and some reds from 2007 between the hours of 2 pm and 4 pm each Saturday and Sunday. All wines tasted will be available by the case (which may be mixed with two different varieties) at a discounted price on a futures basis. After the barrel tasting, you retire to the Tasting Room where you can put your order together while you enjoy the best of Kirchmayr chocolates and a glass of Woodhall red wine. The event costs $15, which is rebated with the purchase of your first case of wine. All you need to do is assemble your group, pick the Saturday or Sunday of your visit and call 410 357 8644 or email them to let them know the size of your group and the date of your visit. Remember that the first couple of weekends are heavily attended, so if you have a large group or intend to bring food, we can serve you better if you select one of the later weekends.

Patricia Della Casual Fine Dining will be serving lunch and dinner from 12-3 pm and dinner from 5-9 pm each weekend by reservation, so consider having lunch or dinner as part of your visit. To make a reservation. Call 410 357 5078.

Coming Up At The Bridge

Monday February 9th – Iron Bridge University Red Rhone Tasting
Join Wine Guy Vince as he hosts a tasting of Amazing Rhone Red wines and leads a lively discussion about them. Plus the Chef Guys will prepare some tasty treats as well. And if you stay for dinner you'll receive 10% off you entire check! How's that for a deal? The cost is $20/person inclusive of tax and gratuity. Pre-Paid Reservations are required and spots are filling up fast. Please call (410) 997-3456 for more information. Or go to Website for Reservations

Tuesday February 10th: Wines Of Love Wine Dinner
The Tuesday Night Wine Club is back with annual Wines Of Love Wine Dinner. Join Wine Guy Rob as he hosts a wine dinner featuing some amazing wines, all with love stories behind them! Chef James has been hard at work designing the perfect menu to complement the wines. The cost is $80/person inclusive of tax and gratuity. Pre-Paid Reservations are required and spots are filling up fast. Please call (410) 997-3456 for more information. Or go to Website for Reservations

Saturday February 14th: Valentine's Day Celebration
They still have availability for the amazing Valentine's Day Celebration. Chef has created a 4-course menu that will WOW your sweetheart! And they will have 2 very special wine pairing options available to match with your menu. Can you think of a more romantic place to celebrate? The cost is $75/person inclusive of tax and gratuity. Wine/Alcohol is in addition, and you can choose what you'd like to drink when you come for the Celebration. Pre-Paid Reservations are required and spots are filling up fast. Please call (410) 997-3456 for more information. For those of you who aren't able to make it to The Bridge on Valentine's Day proper, we will be extending the celebration throughout the weekend. On Friday and Sunday evenings, they are offering a special 3-course Valentine's menu in addition to the regular menu, so make your reservation now by calling 410-997-3456 or go to Website for Reservations

Love is in the Air

Need some romance for Valentine’s Day? Then check out some great things going on…

• Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the BMA! Surprise your sweetheart with twilight tours that explore the theme of love in art and sip champagne while you make Valentine’s Day cards inspired by your art and romance-filled evening. Single? Let the BMA play matchmaker at a gallery rendezvous. As in love, there are no guarantees, but you might meet your soulmate while contemplating Rodin’s The Kiss! Call 443-573-1832 or e-mail programs@artbma.org for more information and to register.
• For Valentine's Day weekend, Birches transforms itself into a French bistro. Visit Birches Web site for menu details.
• February 12, 2009- For $25, you get food, a belly dancing show and drink specials at Lebanese Taverna
• February 21, 2009- Learn about the Mayan history of chocolate rituals in Honduras and Belize at The Walters Art Museum
• February 5, 2009- Baltimore's culinary gods unite to fight poverty, and for a price, you can reap the benefits: Savory hors d'oeuvres, entrees, and enough chocolate to make Charlie Bucket jealous18th Annual Chocolate Affair

Wednesday Wacky Food Art

Punk's Backyard Grill

Punk’s Backyard Grill, a new, contemporary, fast casual restaurant that re-creates the classic American backyard cookout, opens at the Westfield Annapolis mall in Annapolis, Md., located at 2188 Annapolis Mall facing Bestgate Road. The official restaurant opening is Sunday, February 1. Punk's Backyard Grill will occupy approximately 3,800 square feet, including an outdoor patio, and will seat 125 guests.

Punk’s Backyard Grill serves fresh-grilled skewers, such as barbecue chicken, rosemary lamb, and “Farmers Market” veggies, as well as Vande Rose Farms all- natural burger, a sliced flat iron steak sandwich, and grilled chicken and artisanal sausages, among other items. In addition, Punk’s menu includes garden salads with homemade dressings, including a Chesapeake cobb salad, baby spinach salad, and a traditional Caesar salad, among others. Punk’s also serves all the classic backyard cookout sides, such as garden macaroni salad, red bliss potato salad, three-color cole slaw, and white cheddar mac-and-cheese, all of which are made in-house. Desserts include freshly baked seasonal pies, an ice cream cookie sandwich, Ellery’s Cream Cheese Brownie, and an ice cream flavor of the week. A children’s menu is also available. View the complete Punk’s Backyard Grill menu online at www.punksbackyardgrill.com/Grill/index.html

Punk’s Backyard Grill also serves alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and specialty cocktails, such as Red Sangria, Bloody Mary, Margarita, and Punk’s Winter Punch. Non-alcoholic drinks include Boylan’s all-natural sodas, fresh-brewed Royal Cup iced tea and sweet tea, and other non-alcoholic beverages.

The three co-founders of Punk’s Backyard Grill, Sheila Laderberg, David McCabe, and Jeffrey Sloan, developed the concept for the restaurant while students at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in New York in 2005.

“This is our first Punk’s Backyard Grill location, and we are excited to become a part of the Annapolis community,” said Sheila Laderberg, co-founder of Punk’s Backyard Grill. “We specifically chose to open the first Punk’s in Annapolis because it is a vibrant, up and coming area, with young professionals and families, as well as many visitors to the city. We think this combination will work out well for Punk’s fast casual concept.”

“We are also looking forward to expanding and opening other Punk’s Backyard Grills throughout the region,” added Laderberg.

To mark the grand opening of Punk’s Backyard Grill in Annapolis, the restaurant is hosting two special grand opening events.

• On Thursday, February 19 from 5:30 – 8 p.m., Punk’s Backyard Grill hosts a grand opening evening with proceeds benefiting the YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. Guests can enjoy a variety of Punk’s menu items, and a grilling package will be auctioned off to benefit the YWCA. A ribbon cutting ceremony and brief remarks will be made at the event by Sheila Laderberg, Co-Founder and General Manager of Punk’s Backyard Grill; Molly Knipe, Executive Director of the YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County; Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer; and Alexis Henderson, Representative from County Executive John Leopold’s Office. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased by calling Emilia Poiter at the YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County at 410-626-7800, ext. 115.

• A free, public grand opening celebration takes place Saturday, February 21 beginning at noon with an appearance by Mix 106.5 FM DJ Reagan Warfield at Punk’s Backyard Grill. There will be giveaways, including Punk’s Backyard Grill gift certificates. In conjunction, Punk’s is offering a complimentary slice of key lime pie with the purchase of any entrée from noon – 4 p.m.

For more information about Punk’s Backyard Grill, visit www.punksbackyardgrill.com or call 410-571-7744.

Tuesday Today in Food History

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Today in food history:

• National Chocolate Cake Day
• 1521 The Diet of Worms begins. Not a fad diet, but the assembly of the Holy Roman Empire at which Martin Luther made his famous appearance.
• 1832 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was born. Dodgson's pen name was Lewis Carroll. He was an English mathematician and creator of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice had a habit of eating and drinking unknown substances.
• 1984 Michael Jackson's hair catches fire while filming a Pepsi commercial.

Free Coffee

Come in for FREE coffee and then stay for breakfast and try out Panera Bread new breakfast items on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.

When you visit on January 28th for free coffee and delicious breakfast samples,they also invite you to donate $1 to support their Operation Dough-Nation^® Community Breadbox^TM program. Participating bakery-cafes will match the amount raised, up to $250 per bakery-cafe, with funds going to support local programs that address community needs.

Bike and Build

On Thursday January 29, 2009 from 7-10pm a friend of Portside Tavern (Kerri Socha) will be hosting a fund raiser. Please stop in and show your support and help raise money for a good cause.

Upon graduating from University of Maryland's School of Social Work this May, Kerri Socha is going to spend the summer volunteering for a nonprofit called Bike and Build. She will spend nine weeks riding her bike from the East Coast to the West Coast of the USA while building houses with organizations like Habitat for Humanity along the way. The purpose of the trip is to fundraise for and raise awareness of affordable housing. Please visit www.bikeandbuild.org for more information or to make a donation.

If you make a $10 donation (all door proceeds go to the cause) you will receive a wristband and 1 free drink ticket (any domestic beer or rail drink). Also, with the wristband you will receive $2 domestic bottles and $3 stoli drinks from 7-10pm.

Fried Sage

I found this at the Baltimore Sun

Here's an idea for an eye-catching garnish that will add pizazz to many dishes, including creamy soups and rice dishes.

Fried Sage:
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed for ½ inch depth
Whole medium-sized fresh sage leaves
Dash of salt

Heat the oil in a small saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot so that drops of water sizzle when sprinkled into the oil, add the sage leaves. Fry for about 15 seconds, turning occasionally with a slotted spoon or tongs. (Don't let the leaves brown, or they'll become bitter.)

Transfer the leaves onto a paper towel-lined plate. The leaves will become crisp as they cool. Sprinkle lightly with fine-textured salt.

Advance preparation:  The fried sage will keep for up to 2 days in a tightly closed container at room temperature.

RA Sushi Celebrate First Anniversary

RA Sushi Celebrate First Anniversary with Mardi RA

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Baltimore will commemorate the first anniversary of its first east coast location with a Mardi RA party on Thursday, February 26, 2009 starting at 8:00 p.m.  Party like it's Fat Tuesday (but on Thursday) and dance the night away as RA brings in a special guest DJ.  Adorn and give away Mardi Gras beads and enjoy RA's special Hurricane cocktail, on the menu for one night only!

WHAT:
Mardi RA: RA Sushi's First Anniversary Celebration
            
WHEN:
February 26, 2009
8:00 PM - Close

WHERE:
RA Sushi Bar Restaurant
(Located in The Eden building in Harbor East)
1390 Lancaster Street
Baltimore, MD 21231

DETAILS:
RA Baltimore
(410) 522-3200
www.RAsushi.com
            
ADMISSION:
This event open to the public.

RA Sushi is located at 1390 Lancaster Street in Harbor East's The Eden. Open seven days a week beginning at 11 a.m., the sushi bar and kitchen close at 11 p.m. and the bar is open until 1 a.m. or later every night.  Happy Hour food and beverage specials are offered Monday through Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. and The Flying Fish Lounge, a reverse Happy Hour held on Sundays, has food specials from 8 to 11 p.m. and drink specials 8 p.m. to midnight. 

For the Love of Wine

Do you love wine?  Then I have the place for you to check out and sign up for their newsletter called "The Juice"

ABOUT 'THE JUICE':

• "The Juice" is a free newsletter and event notification calendar published by LocalWineEvents.com.
• "The Juice" is sent by e-mail every week.
• There are over 480 localized editions of "The Juice," covering the world.
• Each edition of "The Juice" lists upcoming food, wine, beer and spirits events for a specific city or region in the world.
• You can subscribe to as many editions of "The Juice" as you wish.
• Each edition of "The Juice" is sent as a separate e-mail.
• The e-mail addresses we receive from subscribers will not be shared.
• To repeat, "The Juice" is sent at no charge.
  

Good Deals Sunday

Here are some Good Deals for Sundays:

• You don't know Jack about good dinner specials. Learn something Sundays at Jack's Bistro in Canton, when quality dinner entrées are served for only $12 at the bar.
• Sunday mornings, the cool kids that hang out at Rocket to Venus never get up before noon. Their Saturday night was filled with PBR, cigarettes and rock and roll, and it takes awhile to recover from that sort of thing. That's more than likely the reason R2V's Sunday brunch special doesn't liftoff until 2 p.m. For $12.95, choose one of ten brunch entrees and settle in for all-you-can-drink bloody Marys, mimosas and sangria.
• Spice up brunch with Geckos $14 Southwestern buffet. Brunch includes mimosas, champagne and all non-alcoholic beverages, but feel free to add even more heat to your meal with $2 bloody Marys and screwdrivers.
• Enjoy a day of rest, and grab some half-priced appetizers from La Palapa. Specials include $2 domestics and $1 cheeseburgers as well. (in the Bar)
• Provided you don't have one of those debilitating hangovers, check out Ze Mean Bean's Sunday Jazz Brunch. A live band performs (11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.) while you eat and the menu ranges from breakfast burritos to seared rack of lamb.
• Though we're pretty sure that food is in some way involved in No Idea's weekend brunch, the focus should be the all-you-can-drink mimosas and bloody Marys for $7. Though brunch last until 4 p.m., the sun sets on the all-you-can-drink special at 1 p.m.
• Sunday Funday Brunch  $14.95 per person Bottomless Bloody Marys & Mimosas 11am to 3pm at Sunday Funday Brunch at Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina
• What better way to spend a Sunday evening than eating a delicious three-course meal for only $29? Cinghiale's atmosphere changes from upscale to casual during its Sunday Supper event, which features dishes such as la bruschetta with gulf shrimp and green almond.

Friday Food Lingo

Restaurant Lingo:
Chaffing Dish- A metal dish that is filled with water and kept warm with a candle or fuel cell underneath. These are typically used on buffets.

Diner Lingo:
Blowout patches: pancakes

Memorial Bull & Oyster Roast

2nd Annual Joseph Curreri Memorial Bull & Oyster Roast

Hosted By: The Omega Club
Sunday, March 8, 2009
1:00pm - 6:00pm
Tall Cedars Hall
2501 Putty Hill Ave
Parkville, MD

Tickets are $40 per person in advance/$45 at the door. $350 per table of 10 people. (The event will sell-out in advance!) Proceeds to benefit The Omega Club, as well as charities important to us: Special Ops Warrior Foundation and the JFC Memorial Scholarship at Loyola-Blakefield High School.

Food is served until 5:00pm. Menu to include: Pit Beef & Ham, Oysters on the Half Shell, Maryland crab soup, sausage w/peppers & onions, bar-b-que pork ribs, shells in tomato sauce, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, string beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, fresh fruit, cheese & crackers, veggies & dips. Cake and dessert will be served after 4:00. Draft Beer, Soda, Coffee, & Iced Tea are also included. Coolers and bottles may be brought in at our discretion. Cups and Ice will be provided.

Entertainment will be provided. There will be door prizes and raffles, as well as some games of chance (money wheel, plant wheel).

New this year: The O'Mega Jackpot! $20 per ticket, only 300 tickets will be sold! All tickets will be drawn at the event (you do not have to be there to win). Many prizes will be given; Prizes range from $50 to a Grand Prize of $2,000!

Please contact Dan at dgiannattasio@gmail.com or info@omegabetaphi.org

Ruth Chris Extends Restaurant Week

January 23rd - February 8th The most delicious week 2 WEEKS of Winter!

Restaurant Week is back in Baltimore and Ruth's Chris Steak House can't wait to see you! Beginning Friday, January 23rd and due to overwhelming demand they have EXTENDED it through Sunday, February 8th. Come enjoy the tradition of excellence that is Ruth's Chris Steak House with a sizzling three-course dinner for $30.09.*

Lower your spending without lowering your standards.

Participating Baltimore Locations:

• Baltimore - Pier 5
• Baltimore - Water Street
• Pikesville - Reisterstown Road

Beer & Oyster Fest

Embrace Your Inner Shucker!
At Clipper City Brewing Company
February 27th
6pm-9pm

 

Join them at the Brewery for the 2nd Annual Beer & Oyster Fest for an ALL-YOU-CARE-TO-TASTE extravaganza complete with a behind the scenes brewery tour and live music! 

Tickets are $45 and limited to the first 300 ONLY!

Click HERE to purchase yours today! or Call 800-830-3976

What You Should Expect:
Bottomless samples of Clipper City and Heavy Seas favorites; Over SIX different oysters shipped in from around the world, compliments of Ryleigh's Oyster; Special cask ales while supplies last; Pit beef and Frites; A Souvenir Glass… and Much More!

Clipper City Brewing Company
4615 Hollins Ferry Road
Suite B
Baltimore, MD 21227

Wednesday Wacky Food Art

Free Cup of Starbucks Coffee

What if you gave 5 hours to help your community?
What if we all did?
Your small commitment could add up to something BIG.

Starbucks and HandsOn Network are launching a campaign to support the President-elect’s call for national service. Working together, we can create the change we all wish to see.

From January 21-25, 2009, you’ll be able to find local volunteer opportunities at http://pledge5.starbucks.com.

You’ll see how you can:
- support a local food bank
- provide skills to a nonprofit
- clean up your community
- walk or run for a cause
- mentor a child or teen
- help a local family in need

And during those five days, when you pledge 5 hours for the charity or cause of your choice, Starbucks will salute your work and dedication with a free Tall brewed cup of coffee in participating U.S. Starbucks stores (not valid at airports or Barnes & Noble locations). It’s just a small token of gratitude for the big work we can all do together.

Parkside's Inauguration Day Dinner

The Parkside's Inauguration Day Dinner Menu
Tuesday January 20, 2009
Dinner Hours 2PM - 9PM

-= A Little Taste of Barack Obama’s Geographic History =-

Each plate is $10.

• Kansas - Coffee-rubbed BBQ Beef Ribs with sweet BBQ sauce. Served with apple fritters.
• Kenya - Garlic-rubbed Goat Skewers. Served with a potato & pea cake.
• Hawaii - Braised Pineapple Pork in banana leaf with sticky rice, banana cake & macadamia nuts.
• Indonesia - Vegetarian Green curried fried rice.
• Chicago - 2 loaded foot-long all-beef dogs with those crazy Chicago toppings.

-= Biden Sez “Eat Rapa Scrapple” =-

Delaware Scrapple done Three Ways on one plate ($10):

1. Scrapple Corndog with Syrup
2. Scrapple Hash with American Cheese
3. BST-Blackened Scrapple with Fried Tomato

!! Happy hour all day on Inauguration Day !!

They will have the wall screen TV on for the Swearing-In Ceremony.

The Parkside - Fine Food & Spirits
4709 Harford Rd. • Baltimore, MD 21214
410-444-6004

Tuesday Today in Food History

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Today in food history:

• National Buttercrunch Day
• 1910 Joy Adamson was born. Naturalist and author of 'Born Free' about Elsa, a lion cub. She had also researched culinary and medicinal uses of various plants in Kenya.
• 1920 The 50-50 Club opened, supposedly the first 'speakeasy.'
  
• 1964 The world's largest cheese was made, a 34,000 pound cheddar. It was created by the Wisconsin Cheese Foundation for the 1964/65 New York World's Fair. It took 170,000 quarts of milk from 16,000 cows. It was eaten at the 1965 annual meeting of the Wisconsin Dairymen & Cheesemakers Association.
• 1998 American researchers announced they had cloned calves that could be used in the production of medicinal milk.
  

Parkside Specials

-= Dinner Specials =-

Tuesday: "$8 Flat Breads" - Discounts on their delicious flatbreads.

Wednesday: "Sushi and Trivia Night" - Sushi rolls from 6 pm-10 pm, culminating in a Trivia Challenge from 9 pm-11 pm. WINNER GETS $25 OFF BAR TAB!!

• Spicy Tuna Roll ($7)
• Salmon & Avocado Roll ($6.75)
• Tuna & Green Onion Roll ($6.75)
• Eel with Cucumber & Wasabi ($5.50)
• Philly Roll ($6.25) ~ Lox & Cream Cheese
• Veggie Roll ($5) ~ Avocado, Cucumber, Green Onion, & Pickled Carrots
• Parkside Roll ($13) ~ Spicy Tuna, Avocado, Pineapple, & Eel, wrapped in Nori, Rice & Domestic Prosciutto

Thursday: "Vegetarian Menu Specials" - Special Vegetarian Menu options.

-= The Parkside Happy Hours =-

Tuesday: $3 Red Stripe Bombers
Happy Hour 4 pm-6 pm • Late Night Happy Hour 9 pm-10 pm

Wednesday: $2.50 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Happy Hour 4 pm-6 pm • Late Night Happy Hour 9 pm-10 pm

Thursday: $1 Natty Boh Cans
Happy Hour 4 pm-6 pm • Late Night Happy Hour 9 pm-10 pm

Friday: English Beer Specials
Happy Hour 3 pm-6 pm • Late Night Happy Hour 9 pm-10 pm

Saturday: German Beer Specials & ALL DAY $1 Natty Bohs
Happy Hour 3 pm-6 pm • Late Night Happy Hour 9 pm-10 pm

Sunday Brunch: New $15 Special - Bottomless Bloody Marys or Mimosas with a Brunch entree
All day • 11 am- 4 pm


The Parkside - Fine Food & Spirits
4709 Harford Rd. • Baltimore, MD 21214
410-444-6004

Swan Song Spirits Wine Tasting

Have the winter blues....come out on Friday night to sample wine from the old world (Spain) and the new world (California).

Date:	Jan 23, 2009 (Fri)
Time:	5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Cost:	Free
Place:	Swan Song Spirits 9639 Belair Road Perry Hall, Md 21236

Good Deals Mondays

Here are some good deals for a Monday:

• Monday through Thursday, Birches offers a variety of bar specials. Pair $1 mini burgers with $1.50 Miller Lites, and finish up with $1 s'mores.
• It's tough to find wings cheaper than a quarter, but on Mondays Canton Station offers $0.20 wings. Try the hot, but make sure you have a couple of $1 domestic drafts near by.
• Cheap burgers are a cornerstone of a healthy life. Scarf a James Joyce burger for only $6.95 every Monday starting at 5 p.m.
• Half-priced burgers aren't the only special at Mad River on Mondays. If you've got the appetite, you can also score 20 wings and a pitcher of Coors Light for $13.95. Don't forget to wash it all down with $2.50 domestic bottles and $3.50 call drinks.
• Sure, you can head to happy hour, pound some brews and add some girth to that swelling waistline, but so long as that's the plan, consider Baltimore Cupcake Company's happy hour instead. For what you'd pay for a bottle of Miller Lite at other happy hours, you can get this more delicious treat instead. From 5:30–6 p.m. all cupcakes are just $1.
• You have to sit in the bar area and you must order a drink to get your six-ounce strip steak, baked potato and salad bar for a whopping $2.99 at Bill Bateman's.
• Sandwiches are so last week, and full-priced wraps are for suckers. Head to Camden Pub on Mondays for half-priced wraps ($3), and you'll be cool again.
• Get over that terrible case of the Mondays with cheap beer and burgers. Half price wings and burgers, $1.75 domestic beer and $2.75 imports, microbrews and shots at The Rec Room in Towson
• Austin Grill's happy hour features two-for-one margaritas, $2 draft beers and half-priced quesadillas.
• Sandwich Night at Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina -Select sandwiches and drafts are discounted until 10pm!

Tea Party Events

Needles & Tea Party, Jan 30th at 6:30pm

Please join us for a Needles and Tea Party for anyone who wishes to knit, cross-stitch, needlepoint or indulge in any other sewing while you enjoy the comfort of our tea room and the company of other needle friendly ladies!

A set menu will be offered for $10.50 a person. Please call for further details. 410-472-4566

Valentine's Tea,Feb 14th

Spend an afternoon with someone special while you enjoy our lovely tea service! Heart shaped shortbread, lavender cookies, fruit tarts, tea bread, finger sandwiches, fruit scones, Scottish cream scones and your choice of tea. Afternoon Tea is $17.95 per person and High Tea is $21.95 per person. Reservations are required, seatings at 11am and 3pm. Please call 410-472-4566.

Crown & Thistle Tea Room

10 Fila Way
Sparks, Maryland 21152
410-472-4566

Annapolis Restaurant Week

Annapolis Restaurant Week
February 16 - 20, 2009
Three-Course Menus
Lunch $15.95 | Dinner $29.95

Enjoy special three-course, prix-fixe lunches and dinners at participating restaurants. Click here to see a list of participating restaurants. Prices are per person and do not include beverage, tax or gratuity. You can also go to opentable.com to make online reservations.

Restaurant Coupons

Baltimore.org has posted their 2009 coupons for dining, attractions, cruises, museums, retail, etc- click here to print them. They expire 12/31/09 unless noted

Here are the restaurant ones:

• Akbar Restaurant 10% off entire purchase
  
• Caesar's Den Restaurant 10% off entree
• Café Hon free glass of wine with entree
• California Tortilla buy 1 entree get one
• Chiapparelli's Restaurant free glass of wine with entree
• Ding How Restaurant 10% off purchase
• Grille 700 10% off purchase
• Hard Rock Cafe Baltimore free souvenir
  
• LaScala Ristorante free appetizer with entree purchase
• La Tavola Ristorante Italiana15% off purchase
• Lebanese Taverna 15% off purchase
• Lucys Irish Pub and Restaurant free glass of wine with entree purchase
• Miltons Grille buy 1 get 1 50% off
• Minato Japanese Restaurant 10% off purchase
• Sotta Sopra 10% off dinner
• Tabrizis free dessert with entree
  

Veal Chop Night

DA MIMMO'S - Little Italy

January 2009 Da Mimmo celebrates being in business for 25 years.

Wednesday, January 21st:
Veal Chop Night-Our Signature Dish:
The Veal Chop: Two and a half inches thick, this white milk fed veal chop is butterflied and charbroiled to perfection in garlic, olive oil, and rosemary. Usually priced $45.00, it will be $25.00 this evening.

Monday Good Deals

Here are some good deals for a Monday:

• Monday through Thursday, Birches offers a variety of bar specials. Pair $1 mini burgers with $1.50 Miller Lites, and finish up with $1 s'mores.
• It's tough to find wings cheaper than a quarter, but on Mondays Canton Station offers $0.20 wings. Try the hot, but make sure you have a couple of $1 domestic drafts near by.
• Cheap burgers are a cornerstone of a healthy life. Scarf a James Joyce burger for only $6.95 every Monday starting at 5 p.m.
• Half-priced burgers aren't the only special at Mad River on Mondays. If you've got the appetite, you can also score 20 wings and a pitcher of Coors Light for $13.95. Don't forget to wash it all down with $2.50 domestic bottles and $3.50 call drinks.
• Sure, you can head to happy hour, pound some brews and add some girth to that swelling waistline, but so long as that's the plan, consider Baltimore Cupcake Company's happy hour instead. For what you'd pay for a bottle of Miller Lite at other happy hours, you can get this more delicious treat instead. From 5:30–6 p.m. all cupcakes are just $1.
• You have to sit in the bar area and you must order a drink to get your six-ounce strip steak, baked potato and salad bar for a whopping $2.99 at Bill Bateman's.

Italian 101 Tasting

Monday January 26th – Italian 101 Tasting- The Iron Bridge Wine Company

Join Wine Guy Vince as he hosts a tasting of Italian wines. He'll take you on a tour of one of the most prolific wine producing countries in the world. Plus the Chef Guys will prepare some tasty treats as well. And if you stay for dinner you'll receive 10% off you entire check! How's that for a deal?

The cost is $20/person inclusive of tax and gratuity. Pre-Paid Reservations are required and spots are filling up fast. Please call (410) 997-3456 for more information. Or go to the Website for Reservations

Saturday Good Deals

Found some good deals for a Saturday bite to eat!

• Spice up Saturdays with Mother's Federal Hill Grille half-priced nachos and wash them down with $8 Miller Lite pitchers.
• Park Avenue offers not just one, but three burger nights each and every week. Head downtown Saturday, Sunday or Monday for an eight oz. Black Angus burger and a 16 oz. beer and pay just $7.
• From the sea or from the air, Shuckers has got it covered. Saturdays enjoy $1 oysters and $3.95 wings.
• I pretty sure that food is in some way involved in No Idea's weekend brunch, the focus should be the all-you-can-drink mimosas and bloody Marys for $5. Though brunch last until 4 p.m., the sun sets on the all-you-can-drink special at 1 p.m.
• This well-priced fish 'n' chips special could be a good excuse to start Saturday nights a little early. For $6, Mick O'Shea's serves a lunch portion of the classic UK meal.
• Saturdays, you can score half-priced burgers at Canton Station from noon-6 p.m.
• Head to Paolo's in Towson for your choice of three cocktails (each costing $3), you're up for three hours of free parking, too. Also, enjoy free pizza and half-prized appetizers.
• Typically, happy hour is all about drink specials. Sure, Ra Sushi offers some of its specialty drinks at reduced prices, including $1 sakes, but the reason you'll want to stop by this happy hour is for cheap sushi rolls. To get an idea of what's available, consider $2.38 shrimp nigiri, $3.25 California rolls and $4.88 crispy spicy tuna rolls.
• Enjoy a free 10 inch cheese pizza with the purchase of two bottled beers at Joe Squared
• In addition to two-for-one drink specials, Eden's Lounge offers wings for $5 and a chicken breast sandwich or a quesadilla for $6.
• Add a little Mediterranean flair to the nightlife with Cazbar's late night menu, $5 wines and Cazbarpolitans and, of course, plenty belly dancing.

Friday Food Lingo

Restaurant Lingo:
Bussing- Term used for clearing off and resetting tables after guests have left. In busier restaurants this is done by the busboy (also called a busser).

Diner Lingo:
Bloody: very rare

Inauguration Celebration Menu at Ruth's Chris

As President-Elect Obama makes his way to the Capital, following in the tracks of many previous Presidents,one of his stops along the way will be Penn Station in Baltimore. Ruth's Chris Steak House is honored to have the opportunity to join in this commencement. So come celebrate this momentous occasion in style at Ruth's Chris Steak House!

Friday, January 16th - Tuesday, January 20th

In commemoration of the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America, President-Elect Barack Obama, Ruth's Chris Steak House is proud to offer a special Inauguration menu. For $44 you will receive a four-course meal including Appetizer, Salad, Entree, and Dessert, as well as your choice of a complimentary glass of champagne, white or red wine

Participating Locations

 

Annapolis - Eastport 301 Severn Avenue Website • 410.990.0033 Reservations Directions	Baltimore - Water Street 600 Water Street Website • 410.783.0033 Reservations Directions
Baltimore - Pier 5 711 Eastern Ave Website • 410.230.0033 Reservations Directions	Pikesville - Reisterstown Road 1777 Reisterstown Road Website • 410.837.0033 Reservations Directions