ProStart high school students walk away with culinary honors. Video and snaps

Imagine yourself 15 years old, dreaming of a career in the culinary world but where do you go to follow this dream. Across the country there are high schools offering a program called ProStart which allows these dreamers to make dreams a reality. These ‘wanna cook’ kids are able to make their dreams come true early.

Check out the video and snaps, get the full story on a day in the life of a high school culinary competition:
ProStart high school students walk away with culinary honors. Video and snaps

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Who will be Maryland's best chef, best restaurant, best bar? It is up to you to vote now

The Restaurant Association of Maryland announced this afternoon their nominees for the annual “Stars of the Industry.” The awards honor the Maryland hospitality industry’s best in categories such as Maryland’s Favorite New Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Caterer of the Year and more. Winners of these prestigious awards will be revealed at the 56th Annual McCormick & Company “Stars of the Industry” Awards Gala on Monday, April 26, 2010 from 6pm to midnight at Martin’s West in Baltimore

Check out the nominees and how you can vote:
Who will be Maryland's best chef, best restaurant, best bar? It is up to you to vote now

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Last Sunday of the month: ½ price burgers at Alizée

This is a pretty simple deal; Alizée Boutique Bistro and Wine Bar offer a selection of the hamburgers half price the last Sunday of the month. Don’t have plans for Sunday, February 28th you just might want to consider their signature Bistro Burger. Check out the details:
Last Sunday of the month: ½ price burgers at Alizée

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Local chef semi-finalist for the James Beard Awards

If you don’t know what the James Beard Awards are let me tackle that first. In each industry like the films, music, Broadway shows there are awards. There are the Oscars for the movies, the Grammys for music, Tony’s for Broadway and then there is the James Beard Awards for the restaurant industry. At this time of the year the James Beard Foundation issues its list of semi-finalist for the top restaurateur, top restaurant, top chef, regional chefs, best service, best beverage etc. It is then narrowed down to finalist with the awards taking place in New York City on May 2nd.

Read the whole story and learn the Baltimore Chef semi finalist for the James Beard award. Local chef semi-finalist for the James Beard Awards


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What if Martha Stewart came to your house? Martha in Baltimore

It isn’t all that far fetched. The marvelous Martha Stewart amtracked it to Baltimore with friends on February 14th for a very special Vietnamese celebratory dinner at Mr. and Mrs. Phung Doan home for Chinese New Year. Many Asian cultures celebrate this holiday, not just the Chinese.

Read the full story: What if Martha Stewart came to your house? Martha in Baltimore

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Clack your castanets – 50% OFF FOOD at La Tasca – Ole!

We’re done with Super Bowl’s, Valentine’s Day and Fat Tuesday’s food. What do you do in-between now and St. Patrick’s Day’s Irish cuisine? Think Spain, think Spanish tapas and go to La Tasca at Baltimore’s Harborplace and get 50% off food Monday through Sunday until April 1st.

Get the full details here: Clack your castanets – 50% OFF FOOD at La Tasca – Ole!

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Seeking competitive eaters – cash prize

Doesn’t it seem a number of winners of competitive eating contest like Nathan’s Hot Dogs and others are always tiny people? Being a previous tiny person, short and thin---I did say previous, I was known for my healthy appetite. My late mother-in-law used to say I had an appetite of a longshoreman but it was never so huge that I would consider competitive eating. Well maybe if it was lobster.

Read the full story and get all the details:
Seeking competitive eaters – cash prize

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Dinner for one - fun video

Please enjoy this video in the spirit it is presented. It is refreshing, clever and everyone needs a smile added to their day. I’m not sure I want what was eaten but I would love to sit across from the diner at a table at Per Se

Dinner for one - fun video

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Top 30 Restaurants in the US - my new bucket list

For those who aren’t aware of what the bucket list means, it is a list of the things you want to do before you die, i.e. hence the phrase “kick the bucket”. I do have a “kick the bucket” story before I get on with the top 30 restaurants in the United States as determined by Opinionated about Dining poll. When my neighbor’s daughter was 4 years old she admired a ring that I wore. I told her if she was really good that when I kicked the bucket she can have the ring.... Read the full story and see the list of the Top 30 Restaurants: Top 30 Restaurants in the US - my new bucket list

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Oceanaire extends Restaurant Week dining through end of February

Who knew we would loose so many dining days due to the snowpocalype that covered our streets and homes. A number of restaurants in Baltimore have extended the pre fixe menus from the Winter Restaurant week I just saw a post on my Facebook page that the Oceanaire Seafood Room is extending through the end of February. It is a great menu and they were on my list before all this snow started.

Check out the pre fixe menu for $35.10...it is quite good:
Oceanaire extends Restaurant Week dining through end of February

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Cinghiale hosts Marchesi di Barolo wine dinner with special guest Anna Abbona

On Thursday, February 18th at 7 p.m. Cinghiale Restaurant will host Anna Abbona, proprietor of Marchesi di Barolo vineyards for a very special evening of great food and fine wines from the Piedmont region of Italy. In the Marchesi di Barolo cellars one can find the birthplace of the Barolo tradition. Now in its fifth generation, Ernesto and Anna Abbona are two of the leading voices from the Abbona family and spokespeople for the Langhe.

Review the menu and paired Marchesi di Barolo wines, photo slide show and video:
Cinghale hosts Marchesi di Barolo wine dinner with special guest Anna Abbona

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Acupuncture for fish – PETA will love this one

In the Globe and Mail out of Toronto comes a piece that describes that chefs are using acupunctured fish that enhance the freshness. A needle insertion technique renders the fish paralyzed while it is being transported. The fish is alive although brain dead which keeps its flesh from decomposing.

Read the complete details: Acupuncture for fish – PETA will love this one

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Seafood is for lovers - perfect for Valentine's Day - Recipe

You have all heard the story about oysters being an aphrodisiac and that really isn’t true although they are high in zinc, in fact, the highest rated food for zinc along with crab and lobster. What does love got to do withit? Let’s pipe in some Marvin Gaye singing Sexual Healing, you have the earworm now? Good. Zinc helps sperm develop and is needed for ovulation and fertilization. If you are planning a Valentine dinner at home here is how you can put the umpfh into your meal and evening of romance.

Read the full story and get the recipe:
Seafood is for lovers - perfect for Valentine's Day - Recipe

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Valentine Day restaurant specials

Valentine’s Day is upon us this Sunday, February 14th and it is time to leave your igloos and get out and dine, dine, dine. Also upon us in the Baltimore area is the largest snowfall in the city’s recorded history. If you live in the city you might have had the opportunity to walk to your favorite bar or restaurant during the blizzard. And if their staff was able to get in you were well served with food and drink.

See the special Valentine Day offerings: Valentine Day restaurant specials

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Love Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen and Chopped?

Can’t get enough reality food television? Enjoy when it comes down to the wire when the chefs put their hands up in the air when time is up? Enthralled by the ability of the chefs to adapt to unusual working restraints? How would you like to come see the real deal? It is FREE and YOU are invited.

Love Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen and Chopped?

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Snowpocalypse FREE cooking HELP LINE – send your questions

Okay you are stuck at home, hopefully you are a survivor of your neighborhood food store and you bought all these items but you might be missing an ingredient or haven’t a clue how to use them or want a new recipe. Reach out to me in the comment section OR via email at snomg@diningdish.otherinbox.com OR on Twitter @daracooks - I will get you answers.

Get all the details: Snowpocalypse FREE cooking HELP LINE – send your questions

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The Baltimore Sun's restaurant critic retiring – who is next in line?

The grand dame of Baltimore’s food scene, Elizabeth Large, has posted that at the end of the month she will leave her position as The Baltimore Sun’s restaurant reviewer after 30 plus years. It has been a long ride, filling and I hope fulfilling and I wish her only the best. The Baltimore Sun will keep a food blog though the name will change. Elizabeth, a personal thank you for your efforts over the years.

Get the full poop and the scoop - who is next? The Baltimore Sun's restaurant critic retiring – who is next in line?

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Baltimore's Restaurant Week extends and Annapolis Restaurant Week starts

Starting February 15th and running through February 21st, Annapolis restaurants are participating in their own Restaurant Week. From Yellowfin, Cantlers, Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, over 30 restaurants in all are offering lunch and dinner.

Check out the Annapolis Restaurants prefix and see which Baltimore Restaurant's have extend Restaurant Week due to inclement weather

Baltimore's Restaurant Week extends and Annapolis Restaurant Week starts

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The tweets are in and the Super Bowl ad winner is-watch video

SQUAWQ is an analytic engine for Twitter. It tracks and aggregates information about brands and trends. They tracked all the commercials presented during the Super Bowl and have broken the ads down to as cost per twitter versus the dollars spent on the ad. Below is the winner, the most tweeted brand from the Super Bowl and the video.

See who won the Twitter ratings and watch the video:
The tweets are in and the Super Bowl ad winner is-watch video

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The gauntlet – the chocolate avocado cake - RECIPE

My friend, co-conspirator in all things food, Jeff Spear of Studio Spear threw down the baking gauntlet. The e-mail went like this “Here’s an interesting recipe. Thought you might like to give it a whirl. Not me – I’ll stick to my tried and true.” There was also a phone call in reference to this recipe teasing and chiding me to make the cake.

Read the whole story and get the recipe: The gauntlet – the chocolate avocado cake - RECIPE

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Oysters, Beer, Wine and Me – Win Two Tickets

If you love oysters, food, beer, and wine this just might be the contest for you. I have two tickets valued at $150 for the Chesapeake Oyster and Beer Festival on Saturday, February 20th at the National Harbor in Washington DC.

From noon to 4 p.m. eat as many oysters that you can consume, ten differents types shipped in from around the world. There will be raw, grilled, Rockerfeller and Charleston’s roasted oysters. Taste over 30 beers, 30 wines and a few spirits. There will be at least 20 restaurants offering assorted dishes beyond the oysters and seafood.

Learn more about the Oyster and Beer Festival and how you can win tickets:
Oysters, Beer, Wine and Me – Win Two Tickets

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Snowapocalypse open forum food column – what’s on your mind?

Other than being locked up in your homes, shoveling snow and some romance, I figure you still have some down time. Today I turn the column over to you, it is yours to discuss any of the following topics:

Join in the discuss and see photo album of foodie memories: Snowapocalypse open forum food column – what’s on your mind?

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A Chocolate Affair to remember - the winners are!

This affair lacked Gary Grant and a missed meeting at the Empire State Building. It still was quite memorable. Being a judge at the 19th annual Chocolate Affair isn’t an easy task, you have to taste everything from chocolate savory dishes to chocolates, to non-chocolate foods, drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and be ready to vote. It might sound like a dream but a small taste of everything is a lot and my blood sugar was in the upper stratosphere. And not every dish was a hit, if you get my drift.

When I turned in my judging clipboard so went my notes and I am bereft that I can’t pay homage to all the wonderful participants properly and my memory, that my friend comes and goes.

Find out the winners and look at the photo album: A Chocolate Affair to remember - the winners are!

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FREE bowl of soup today if you can say SUPER

For today only, billed as a Snow Stress Reliever, if you say SUPER when purchasing a platter, a whole wrap, entrée salad, panini or healthier burger you get a FREE bowl of soup. You have a choice of homemade chicken noodle soup, vegetable, or potato corn chowder. This offer is only good today, Thursday, February 4, 2010. It's cold outside and wouldn't a nice hot bowl of soup warm your soul. Get full details and locations: FREE bowl of soup today if you can say SUPER

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Snowapocalypse – what you gonna cook?

The snowapocalypse is upon us with a potential of 15 to 30 inches of snow and unless you are in walking distance of a bar/restaurant that has enough staff to open you are going to be home fixing food or eating a lot of pre-planned carryout. Personally, I’m sick of the white stuff, I stopped enjoying it when I stopped enjoying laying in it creating snow angels and making snowballs with the fresh snow and vanilla.

Read the full story: Snowapocalypse – what you gonna cook?

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Social media comes to Valentine's Day candy hearts - I LUV IT

You know the candy Valentine hearts; they go back to your childhood along with exchanging Valentine’s Day cards in elementary school. They are the multi-colored heart shaped candies with abbreviated messages like I LUV U, HUG ME etc. The Sweethearts® are manufactured by the same people who make NECCO Wafers, the New England Confectionery Company, hence NECCO. They have embraced social media and technology this year letting you design your own private message using technology and social media.

Read more to see how to play and have fun designing your own personalized message:
Social media comes to Valentine's Day candy hearts - I LUV IT

photo courtesy of Morgue File - Lady Heart - Indigo Photos

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Food Network's Chef vs City casting call Baltimore, DC

The Food Network’s Chef Vs City is casting is in Baltimore today, tomorrow (February 3rd) and Thursday (February 4th) , they are moving on to Washington DC this weekend and then on to Philadephia the beginning of next week. If you haven’t watched the show it is Amazing Race meets Iron Chef. As a team of two chefs representing your city, i.e. Baltimore, Washington DC and Philadelphia, you are put through challenges which could be eating unusaly food items to a related challenge that represents your city. The show is filmed in your city with challenges pitting you against the Food Network Chefs Aaron Sanchez and Chris Cosentino.

Get all the details and contact information:
Food Network's Chef vs City casting call Baltimore, DC & Philadelphia

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Top 10 ‘exotic’ tastes – not your Super Bowl food

Contemplating my Super Bowl party food for this year while reviewing numerous food e-mails newsletters. At first I thought I would have the winning chili recipe to share with you from the National Aquarium chilly chili cookoff but the winner has not as yet decided to give it up. In it's absence let me recommend my 'Rock the House' spicy New Orleans style shrimp recipe

Read the full story for the recipes and the top 10 exotic tastes: Top 10 ‘exotic’ tastes – not your Super Bowl food

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Lidia Bastianich says ‘Waste not, want not and make it delicious!” - Recipes

Renown chef, author, restaurateur, television star Lidia Matticchio Bastianich has something to say about how we waste and how as consumers we over indulge. Let me share her reflections to the past and what we can do to change, even in our cooking habits.When you mention Lidia, you know there are great recipes to be found. With Lidia’s permission, I am posting a story she and her daughter, Tanya Bastianich Manuali have written that include recipes for Fresh Cavatelli with Cauliflower and Chocolate Bread Parfait.

Read the full story and get the recipes: Lidia Bastianich says ‘Waste not, want not and make it delicious!” - Recipes

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Dim sum, sausage sandwich and Taco Bell $5 Buck Box

Of course there is ‘the price’ and then there is ‘the price to be paid’. Who am I fooling; the cast iron stomach of my youth has rusted away. It is 2 a.m. and I’ve been up since 1:30 a.m. with acid reflux.

Today I was a tour guide for two newbies who have never had dim sum – they were not sure what to order....Read the full story: Dim sum, sausage sandwich and Taco Bell $5 Buck Box

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