Kali’s Court and Orchard Market and Café dining deals – don’t miss out - Baltimore dining | Examiner.com

I should be doing my real job, the one that earns me a living but I am compelled to let you know about these dining deals at Baltimore Half/Off today.

I’ve used both of my coupons and you might just find others that you want at Baltimore Half Off Today and probably today only there are fifty ½ price $50 coupons available for Kali’s Court ( sales starts at 10 a.m.). Get the poop and the scoop as well as check out the slide show:

Kali’s Court and Orchard Market and Café dining deals – don’t miss out - Baltimore dining | Examiner.com

New restaurant opens in Fells Point tonight – Welcome Sticky Rice

Hot off the press or should I say off the e-mail from Phil Rodriguez, one of the owners of Sticky Rice that it is opening tonight in Fells Point. Sticky Rice is a sush/pan Asian restaurant whose goal is to create delicious food in a fun atmosphere and they are excited to be joining the food community.

Get all the details:
New restaurant opens in Fells Point tonight – Welcome Sticky Rice

The Next Food Network Star – A tale of an open casting call – video

The dream, their own television show on the Food Network, their aspirations, to be a star and the reality, do they have what it takes?

They came from all over for this past weekend’s open casting call – Richmond, New Jersey, Washington DC, Charlotte, North Carolina and Baltimore. The casting call started at 10 a.m. but when Kevin Miller, executive chef and food stylist from Baltimore arrived at 4:30 a.m. there were three wannabees already waiting.

Read the full story, watch the video and check out the slide show:

The Next Food Network Star – A tale of an open casting call – video -

Baltimore is a hot food town today – Zimmern & New York Times

MSN’s Appetite for Life Andrew Zimmern is in town today filming his video travel series. Word has it he’ll be filming down in Fells Point and we think local food trucks are one of his targets. Downtown Diane tipped us off- here is the tweet from Andrew Zimmern:@andrewzimmern driving to Baltimore for #appforlife.

Get the full story:

Baltimore is a hot food town today – Zimmern & New York Times - Baltimore dining | Examiner.com

The Prime Rib celebrates it’s 45th Anniversary with a special dinner deal

Nineteen sixty five was a huge turning point; it was when I graduated high school (yup I’m that old), the London music invasion had the Beetles, Stones, the Zombies, The Yardbirds knocking the Temptations, folk music and Elvis off the music charts and Sound of Music and Dr Zhivago filled the movie theatres.

Another chart topper was the opening of the Prime Rib Restaurant. Well maybe the Prime Rib opening was not as earth shattering-- get all the details and check out the menu:
The Prime Rib celebrates it’s 45th Anniversary with a special dinner deal

City Café gets props from the press and offers free parking

Approximately a year ago this Dining examiner wrote about City Café, their new chef Chad Gauss, menu and the recent renovations. My previous visits prior had been in the morning and I thought they were just that, a coffee house/café. They are a full on, restaurant and bar along with early morning and lunch selections. If you haven’t been you should put it on your list of new restaurants to try.

Check out the details and the slide show:
City Café gets props from the press and offers free parking

Restaurant birthday freebies-La Madeleine, Country Kitchen, Ruby Tuesday & more

Don’t you love birthdays? All the fuss and muss over your special day, it is really nice. Enjoy it a bit more with birthday freebies from a number of restaurant chains. Sign up to be on their e-mail list and watch the rewards come in. These are large restaurant chains but if you dig closer to you local restaurants' e-mail list I’m sure you will find more.

Check the restaurants giving away birthday freebies:

Restaurant birthday freebies-La Madeleine, Country Kitchen, Ruby Tuesday & more

Award-winning cookbook authors the Lee brothers at Baltimore Book Festival today

It was unprecedented; The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook won two James Beard Awards and two International Association of Culinary Professionals awards. It was the talk of the cookbook community and if you don’t have a copy on your cookbook shelf you just don’t have a good Southern cookbook.

Matt Lee and Ted Lee arrive in Baltimore today at the Baltimore Book Festival’s Food for Thought stage- learn more, watch video:

Award-winning cookbook authors the Lee brothers at Baltimore Book Festival today

Schools can apply for grants for salad bars for their cafeterias

Parents, do you know what foods are being offered in your children’s school? Is there enough fresh produce and fruit? Now is a great time to check because schools that are participating in the National School Lunch Program are able to apply for grants for funding salad bars.

Get all the details so your child's school can benefit:

Schools can apply for grants for salad bars for their cafeterias

Party in the Park – family and pocket friendly

Mark your calendar for next Saturday, October 2nd for a fun day for the whole family at the Annual Baltimore Party in the Park that benefits the Nikki Perlow Foundation. Pack up the family because there is plenty entertainment and activities for the kids.

Get the details on the music, activities and FOOD:

Party in the Park – family and pocket friendly

Meals on Wheels benefits and you get a free celebrity cookbook

Who knows more about pasta than Mario Batali? Yes, maybe your Italian grandmother but all in all Chef Batali is recognized as a leading authority on Italian food. Chef Batali and actress Julianne Moore have teamed up to create The Celebrity Pasta Lover’s Cookbook along with 10 other celebrities and it can be yours FREE to download through October 15th. It takes two clicks of your mouse on-line and it is yours.

Read the full story and get all the details:
Meals on Wheels benefits and you get a free celebrity cookbook

Hors d’oeuvres at Tiffany’s

No breakfast but hors d’oeuvres at Tiffany, the NEW Tiffany & Co.’s that opened this month inTowson Town Center.

Julekha Dash, writer for bmoremedia.com and friend, invited me to come along as her guest. For the grand opening gala many were dressed up to the nines, I managed a five and a half in my standard black ensemble.

Read the full story, look at snaps and video: http://www.examiner.com/dining-in-baltimore/hors-d-oeuvres-at-tiffany-s

The Mason Dixon Master Chef Competition is over – don’t you want to know who won

You have been reading about it for months, a March madness formula chefs competition from the Mason Dixon region. They started with 32 chefs in May and now there is one, the winner. Find out the answer:

The Mason Dixon Master Chef Competition is over – don’t you want to know who won

Hands-on cooking classes for adults and children at Pierpoint Restaurant

Executive Chef Nancy Longo, Pierpoint Restaurant, has been offering cooking classes longer than anyone else in Baltimore. What is special about her classes is that they are hands-on where everyone participates in the preparation of the dishes. Everyone gets involved, down and dirty creating the recipes.

Personally, I love a hands-on class;

Check our the adult class schedule, link to the kid's class schedule and watch video:
Hands-on cooking classes for adults and children at Pierpoint Restaurant

Is on-line discount restaurant couponing the death knell for Restaurant Week?

The more and more on-line restaurant discount couponing companies that are appearing the more one has to consider if this is the death knell for Restaurant Weeks held in many cities throughout the country. It sure makes one stop and go hmmmmmm

Join the conversation: Point and counterpoint ----:

Is on-line discount restaurant couponing the death knell for Restaurant Week? - National food | Examiner.com

Are you dining out on Thursday, September 23rd? : Dine Out for Life

You already have it on your calendar to dine out on Thursday, September 23rd whether with friends or family, whether for special celebration or for business. Take this opportunity to dine out and do good. There is no extra out of pocket cost to you, the participating restaurants are donating a portion of their proceeds for that day to Moveable Feast.

Moveable Feast is a charitable organization that provides life-sustaining nutrition at no charge to people living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and other life-threatening conditions throughout .... Check out the details and the slide show

Are you dining out on Thursday, September 23rd? : Dine Out for Life - Baltimore dining

New find on an old Baltimore restaurant - snaps and video

So, the husband and I are on vacation in the hotel room watching these travel log food shows at the end of our evening. Yes, I know we should consider other activities but this is a food column. Guy Fieri of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives offers up an episode tease for burgers and dogs saying he is going to a Baltimore restaurant that serves up the best Coney Island hot dogs. Like a real dog whose ears perk up at hearing cellophane food wrappers, the husband sat upright and started to salivate.

Read more on this new find - check out snaps and watch video


New find on an old Baltimore restaurant - snaps and video

Casting call in Baltimore for the Next Food Network Star

Have you ever watched any of the food reality shows and said to yourself, I could do that?Now you get a chance to prove it. The Food Network is casting for the 2011 season for the Next Food Network Star here in Baltimore

It will be an open casting call on Sunday, September 26th, 2010. It will be there first time in Baltimore and they seemed pumped to meet new, potential candidates!

Get all the details:

Casting call in Baltimore for the Next Food Network Star

Hurry up Baltimore get your FREE desserts today

Today is Just Desserts Day – FREE desserts everywhere in the country and even here in Baltimore. The promotion kicks off the premier of the Top Chef new series Just Desserts tonight at 11 p.m. on Bravo. Where as Top Chef Just Desserts partnered with restaurants and OpenTable around the country for FREE desserts they didn’t partner with Baltimore restaurants........BUT

Check out local Baltimore Pastry shops that are giving away free desserts today:

Hurry up Baltimore get your FREE desserts today - don’t miss out

Cure for the ’stuck in the downtown evening traffic’ blues

Are you frustrated, aggravated with the downtown traffic especially with Lombard Street being torn up? Want to bypass the stadium crowds? Morton’s - The Steakhouse is offering an edible and potable solution.

Drive over or keep your car parked and walk over to Morton’s – The Steakhouse for their Power Hours (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

Get all the details and read the story:

Cure for the ’stuck in the downtown evening traffic’ blues

Get your free desserts compliments of Top Chef’s new series Just Desserts

What a great publicity partnership and you are the winners. Top Chef’s new series Just Desserts premieres tomorrow, Wednesday, September 15th. If you make your reservation through OpenTable.com and order an entrée at anyone of over 800 restaurants nationwide you get a FREE dessert to be shared by two. Waiter, bring an extra spoon!

The promotion seems to cover key cities but this writer has gotten wind that there might be special deals in other cities ....Read the full story and watch video:

Get your free desserts compliments of Top Chef’s new series Just Desserts - National food | Examiner.com

When life dishes up plain food, spice it up and shake it on

As the former marketing and public relations director of a Baltimore based spice company, I can pontificate on the wonder and beauty of the world of spices. A little of this and a little of that and you can take that humdrum boneless chicken breasts to new heights of gustation.

Spice companies have already done ¾ of the work for you with the spice blends so no guess work needed.

Read the full post:
When life dishes up plain food, spice it up and shake it on - Baltimore dining | Examiner.com

Hard Hat Lunch: sneak peek at Kona Grill

A handful of media and Visit Baltimore folks gathered today for a sneak peek at the soon-to-open Kona Grill. Why call it a hard hat lunch? Well it is still under construction as the photographs show you at the bottom of the story. Construction has been going every day through the Labor Day holiday so they can make the opening date of Monday, October 4th. This will be the 25th Kona Grill in their group.
Kona Grill will have am extensive patio area for dining and drinking with a direct view into the restaurant’s bar and action accomplished with its roll up garage door wall.

Read the full scoop and check out the snaps:

Hard Hat Lunch: sneak peek at Kona Grill - Baltimore dining | Examiner.com

School lunches: world renowned chef Norman Van Aken shares a humorous tale

A shout out for school lunch memories to chef friends and acquaintances brought a funny story from Florida’s celebrity chef, Norman Van Aken, known as the godfather of New World Cuisine. New World Cuisine is a blend of Latin, Caribbean, African, Asian and American. Chef Van Aken's acclaimed Norman's - New World Cuisine is located in the Ritz Carlton in Orlando, Florida.

From appearing on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations Island Hopping in the Caribbean to being recently named to the James Beard Foundation’s National Advisory Board Chef Van Aken still had time to respond to my request I'm quite grateful.

Read Chef Van Aken's memoir on school lunches: School lunches: world renowned chef Norman Van Aken shares a humorous tale - National food | Examiner.com

Chefs share their memories of school lunches: the good, the bad and the funny

Executive Chef Jamie Leeds of Hanks Oyster Bar and Commonwealth Gastro Pub in the nation’s capital spied me at the Share Our Strength breakfast for the seven hundred plus chefs who had gathered for Michelle Obama’s Chefs Move to Schools. Leeds, the president of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs organization, remembering a video I created of women chefs answering the question “Why Food” and suggested another topic, “School Lunch Memories.”

Celebrity chefs, cooking instructors and personal chefs all gathered at the White House that very warm and toasty day..........

Be check out the full story, the video and the snaps: http://www.examiner.com/food-in-national/chefs-share-their-memories-of-school-lunches-the-good-the-bad-and-the-funny

More Italian Cooking Classes: Da Mimmo Italian Restaurant offers a series

Normally I put out one list of cooking classes in the fall and spring but since Examiner.com is in the midst of changing their operating systems I’m afraid it might disappear, hence the individual posts on the classes as their schedules arrive. You can always search my column to find out all the classes under the category “cooking classes.”

Italian cooking classes are ever so popular and you have a series of classes being held at Da Mimmo’s Italian Restaurant in Little Italy.

Get the details and check out the menus:

More Italian Cooking Classes: Da Mimmo Italian Restaurant offers a series - Baltimore dining | Examiner.com

photograph of Chef Masood - Da Mimmo Italian Restaurant

Havre de Grace's 1st Annual Food & Wine Festival: One woman's review

It would be nice if I could keep up with all the fabulous food and wine experiences in the Baltimore and surrounding areas but my pocketbook is too small and my waist is too big. When a foodie friend offered to write a review for my column, including an impressive slide show, I said yes. Let me introduce Kellie Reardon, an avid cook and wine enthusiast and her review:

Read the full review and look at slide show: http://www.examiner.com/dining-in-baltimore/havre-de-grace-s-1st-annual-food-wine-festival-one-woman-s-review

Take a look at The Dizz at GrandView - photo slide show

This is a follow up to my earlier story about the The Dizz opening up in Hampden, called The Dizz at Grandview. They have taken over the rooftop location of The GrandView Restaurant at St Mary’s Roland View Towers at 3838 Roland Avenue, a senior high rise building. The Dizz at GrandView opened last night so the husband was antsy to go check it out. The husband is a Medfield boy, the neighborhood just north of Hampden. When I met him he made it perfectly clear he was from Medfield not Hampden.

Check out the slide show and the scoop on the just opened restaurant:
http://www.examiner.com/dining-in-baltimore/take-a-look-at-the-dizz-at-grandview-photo-slide-show

Learn to roll Baltimore - sushi 101 classes

Years ago the Baltimore Sun would list cooking and baking classes but it has been years since any media has done a focus on cooking classes. For the past couple of years I’ve made every effort to keep you informed about the assortment of cooking classes from demonstration to hands-on in and around the Baltimore region.

Get all the details on Sushi 101 classes

http://www.examiner.com/dining-in-baltimore/learn-to-roll-baltimore-sushi-101-classes