When you think of extra virgin olive oil do you think of California?

For most people, quality extra virgin olive oil comes from Italy, Greece and Spain. Few think of California as being a hub for quality extra virgin olive oil but it is.

The olives arrived on California soil in the late eighteenth century when Spanish missionaries planted olives at each of their 21 missions from San Diego to Sonoma. A growing industry, olive oil thrived through the 19th century but its growth seemed to stand still during the 20th century, when eventually health conscious Americans discovered the flavor and health benefits of olive oil. Since then the California Olive Oil industry has been flourishing and producing superior quality extra virgin olive oils.

Read the full story and enjoy the slideshow HERE

Lunch With: Restaurateur Gino Troia at 2 Amys

 This is the second in a series where I shared lunch and stimulating conversation with one of Baltimore’s interesting personages, today Gino Troia. The menu for you is a bit of Lunch With’s backstory on our guest, delicious bites of lunch, a generous portion of stupid food questions and answers with tidbits of conversation.

• Dara: You can choose anyone to have lunch with living, fictional or dead – who would it be and why?
• Gino: I would choose James Beard, he was the only American gastronomic expert to write an accurate recipe for Pasta e Fagioli, the patron of Neapolitan dishes. 

Read the full story, enjoy the Q & A and the slideshow HERE.

Bumble Bee's Free Bee Well for Life - A Living Guide

Summer is finished for 2013 and fall is here. With the kids back in school and holidays knocking at our door, Bumble Bee Foods wants to help you get a step up on the new season with its latest edition of “BeeWell for Life – A Living Guide.”

The fall issue is filled with articles from our expert partners including cold weather workout tips to keep you active all season long, healthful brown bag lunches, plus kid-friendly recipes that are sure to have the kiddos happy to help in the kitchen! 

You can check out and download the eBook for free .

Free baking classes from King Arthur Flour – Baltimore, Greenbelt and Fairfax, VA

For the baking challenged here is your chance for free baking classes from the folks at King Arthur Flour, America’s oldest flour company.  Perfect Pies & Savory Scones is one class and the second is Baking with Yeast & Whole Grains. 

King Arthur Flour will bring FREE traveling baking demonstrations to the Hilton Garden Inn White Marsh in Baltimore on Thursday, October 3. 

Get all the details and other two locations HERE

The many sides of the Elkridge Furnace Inn

This Howard County historic gem bordering the Patapsco State Park and overlooking Deep Run stream is visually stunning. Circa 1744 the Elkridge Furnace Inn was resurrected by Chef Daniel Wecker when it was a shell of itself back in the 1980s. Since that time the Elkridge Furnace Inn has grown under the keen eye of Chef Wecker.  The restaurant is steeped in French culinary technique utilizing “organically” grown produce from their multiple gardens on their 10 acres.  

Along with the multiple gardens, there are fruit trees and a smokehouse where charcuterie is created by chef’s deft hands. The building itself has been resurrected into formal dining rooms and a small tavern area, each with its own personality and charm.  The linen tablecloths, subdued lighting and service staff who know when and where to be seen create an evening of intimacy – quite romantic.  

Watch the slideshow, video and read the full story HERE

One year anniversary celebrations at Birroteca and Fleet Street Kitchen

Both Birroteca and Fleet Street Kitchen took Baltimore by storm when they opened last October; both have achieved critical acclaim and packed seats. Birroteca-craft beer, wine and artisanal pizzas and Fleet Street Kitchen with their fine dining based on animals and produce raised on their farm.

Choose one or both, each sounds like it will be a great evening of food and libations. Get ready to party - click HERE for all the details.

Crabs, chefs, charity – 4th Annual Crab Bash

My event pick for the week of September 28^th is the Crab Bash hosted by B&O American Brasserie on Thursday, September 26^th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. As a former judge and attendee, it is great fun tasting all the crab offerings  by chefs local and from afar. This year the event will benefit the Pratt Contemporaries.

Learn more and get the complete details HERE

Are you America's greatest home cook? New television show is casting!

If you have been a devotee of reality cooking shows and thought it should be you up there on the television screen well here is your chance!

I received an e-mail from the folks at Relativity Television who with the producers of The Great Food Truck Race are putting together America’s Greatest Home Cook. “I wanted to let you know about a fun new cooking show that I am working on in the hopes that you or someone you know might be perfect for it. It's a fun competition show for home cooks with a cash prize! Feel free to pass along to anyone who might be interested. We will be planning a trip out to the east coast later this month to meet people, so we want to get in touch with anyone who is interested ASAP!”

Get all the details HERE

Chefs and farmers compete - you eat and drink!

This is the 4^th year for the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF)Baltimore, MD Chapter’s culinary competition, Farm to Chef. Over 30 of Baltimore’s most talented chefs will partner with local farms to create innovative recipes for 300 plus food enthusiasts. It is the AIWF’s mission to advance the understanding, appreciation and quality of what we eat and drink. They are proud to present this one-of-a-kind event, designed to highlight the local talents of Maryland’s chefs and the bounty of our local farms. 

 In addition to the chef creations, top mixologists from The Baltimore Bartenders Guild will serve innovative and unique libations using premium quality spirits from regional distilleries. Brendan Dorr, President of The Baltimore Bartenders Guild said, “The Baltimore Bartenders' Guild is excited to be part of the AIWF's Farm to Chef event.  The bartenders of the BBG, like the chefs, will be using the freshest produce from the best local farms to create seasonally, exciting cocktails. 

Check out all the chefs and farmers and get the details HERE.

30th anniversary of the Maryland Wine Festival - get your vino on!

It is pretty astonishing how far Maryland has come in wine production in the past 30 years; quality, number of emerging wineries and growing economic boom. For the vinophile this is the weekend to enjoy the fruits of these vineyards efforts at the Maryland Wine Festival. Choose from Saturday, September 21- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m or Sunday, September 22 – noon to 6 p.m. to attend. Forty vintners, music, food, and artisan crafts will fill your day.  Bring your lawn chairs or blanket and enjoy.

Get all the details and watch the video HERE.