Fresh and refreshed Severna Park's Cafe Mezzanotte

Trip Advisor lists Cafe Mezzanotte as the number one restaurant in Severna Park and after dining there over the holidays I can understand why.  First impressions always count and I had a lovely young hostess greet me with a smile and warmth that initially set the tone for what was to come.  There was something about her sense of caring that made me feel she might be related to the owner, Kosmas “Tommie” Koukoulis.  Koukoulis is also the owner of Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz in Harford County.

Cafe Mezzanotte recently went through six weeks of renovations, opening up spaces, new furniture, artwork and interior décor.  Large photographs of scenes from Italy and farms overlooked tables in multiple dining rooms.  The farm theme in the photographs supports the restaurant’s strong commitment to buying from local farms, seasonally and wherever possible eliminating supplies that are GMO. There is a strong sense of supporting the local community – in fact, 50 cents is added to each check as a donation to The Food Project that educates and trains southwest Baltimore youth in food-focused skills.  Read the full story Dara Cooks at Baltimore Post Examiner.

Winter Restaurant Weeks - Catch them if you can!

During what is considered the restaurant doldrums; cities, counties and municipalities put together discounted dining to get you into your favorite restaurant or for you to try a new restaurant.  I always like to post the restaurant weeks throughout the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland & Virginia) with the added bonus of Philadelphia and New York City. 

Winter Restaurant Week officially launches Friday, January 11 in Baltimore City – so don’t hesitate, the best reservations are going fast.  Lunch, Dinners and Brunches….check out the menus and deals.

Baltimore Restaurant Week

January 11 – January 20

http://www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com/

Bethesda Restaurant Week

January 11 – January 20

https://bethesdamagazine.com/restaurant-week-winter-2019/

Philadelphia Center City Restaurant Week

January 13 – January 25

https://www.centercityphila.org/explore-center-city/ccd-restaurant-week

Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week

January 14 – January 20

https://www.ramw.org/restaurantweek

Harford County Restaurant Week

January 18 – January 27

http://harfordcountyrestaurantweek.com/

Alexandria Restaurant Week

January 18 – January 27

https://www.visitalexandriava.com/restaurants/restaurant-week/

Baltimore County Restaurant Weeks

January 18 – February 2

https://www.baltimorecountyrestaurantweek.com/index.html

Howard County Restaurant Weeks

January 21  - February 4

https://www.visithowardcounty.com/howard-county-restaurant-weeks/

New York City Restaurant Weeks

January 21 – February 8

https://www.nycgo.com/restaurant-week

National Harbor Restaurant Week

January 26 – February 1

https://www.nationalharbor.com/restaurantweek/

Annapolis Restaurant Week

March 2 – March 10

http://www.downtownannapolispartnership.org/participating-restaurants

Frederick Restaurant Week

March 4 – March 10

https://www.visitfrederick.org/restaurant-week/

A Taste of Baltimore is back - Santé

A New Year and the flush of charity events begin.  Santé is the Kidney Foundation of Maryland’s annual fundraiser taking place Thursday, February 28 at the Visionary Art Museum, 6-9 pm. An evening filled with food and drink from Baltimore’s top restaurants and caterers.  Adding to the festivities will be celebrity judges, the People’s Choice competition, entertainment, raffles and a silent auction. Admission to this business causal evening is $100/person or $2,500 for a table.  Actually $100 per person for an array of unlimited food, libations and entertainment is pretty much a steal for an evening out……more information and tickets HERE.

I have always supported the Kidney Foundation, in memory of a girlfriend, Peanut Kassel, who was the first live kidney transplant at Johns Hopkins.  Also, my cousin Debby… both, who for long periods were on dialysis and had their lives prolonged with a transplant.  Both are gone now, but I am ever so grateful for the strides the Kidney Foundation has made for patients in the past 40 years since they passed. 

Santé – A Taste of Baltimore

WHEN:    Thursday, February 28, 2019
TIME:       6:00pm to 9:00pm
WHERE:  American Visionary Art Museum
The Jim Rouse Visionary Center, 3rd Floor
840 Key Highway
Baltimore, MD 21230

Individual tickets are $100.00 per person.

Gypsy's Truckstaurant cruises into Hampden Woodberry

I bet you are asking what is a truckstaurant?  In essence, it is a former industrial garage, converted into a restaurant and bar with the kitchen being outside in what seems to be a large car carrier. And who better than the winner of numerous tri-state food truck cook-offs than Chef Anne Langton of Gypsy Queen Café to bring her casual cuisine to this unique space. Now add, Chef Tom Looney, her former partner from Helen’s Garden in Canton and you have another big time winner.  Looney’s Bar Liquorice has just garnered Baltimore’s Best Cocktail Bar by the Baltimore Business Journal. Of course, one can find the same creativity at the bar at the truckstaurant.  Now that is not to say that Looney’s creativity is limited to cocktails – his culinary creations are probably 50% of what is on the menu.  Continue reading at Baltimore Post Examiner Dara Cooks.