Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode 4: Tuesday, August 19 2008- The Wine News Show Inaugural Episode!

Still working out sound with the new microphone and did this show solo (no cameraman!), but here’s the first episode of the Monday (a day late) Wine News Show! If you have news worthy you’d like to see broadcast, please send to Michael@foodandwineblog.com.

Enjoy

Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode 3- Food, wine, culture TV- Wine News Show! This first episode features Michael Mohammadi of foodandwineblog.com giving an overview of many of the top headlines in the wine world over the last week. Unedited and unscripted, the once-per-week show will take on issues from wine politics and wine region weather to new restaurants and wine gossip. Tune in to this first (rough!) episode and please come back for more! Read more

Korean food: Jong Kak and Wong Gal Bi

by Greg B.

If anyone is ever in the mood to go stuff themselves silly on good food with a bunch of friends, Korean restaurants are the place to go. I had never had Korean food until this past winter, but since then it has become at least a monthly event. And, if you have never eaten it, it certainly is an event. I listed two restaurants because these are the only two I have been to, and both are excellent. Read more

Baltimore Food and Wine Events: Chef-Wine Experience, Restaurant Week, Dining Deals Website

Now is an exciting time to live in Baltimore if you’re a food and wine enthusiast! This Sunday will be the Baltimore Chef’s and Wine Experience (at which I’ll be attending!), July 26- August 3rd is Baltimore’s Restaurant Week, and through outstanding chef and author Dara Bunjon’s “Dining Dish” blog, I have found a great Baltimore dining site that offers gift certificates for half-price to many of Baltimore’s best restaurants. Information on these events can be found below. Also, check back soon for my “Best Bets for Restuarnat Week” where I’ll give recommendations for the best bang-for-your-buck restaurants that are participating this time around!

• Baltimore Dining Deals- Eating great for half the price!
• Chef’s and Wine Experience - At the Tremant Grand, Sunday July 13, 2008
• Baltimore Restaurant Week- Make your reservations soon!
• Dara Bunjon’s Dining Dish Blog - Great writing, lots of Baltimore information, recipes and more!
  

Breaking news: Sunday, July 20, 2008 - Foodandwineblog wine tasting- Sushi and Loire Valley Wines!

Title says it all. We’re capping the event at 12 people! For more details and to RSVP: http://foodandwineblog.com/forums/index.php?topic=158.0

Maryland Food and Wine Events: JULY 2008

Wine Source Tastings:

Free Winemaker’s Tasting:
Braida of Italy
Tuesday July 15, 5 - 7 pm

Free Wine Tasting:
New Gems from Neal Rosenthal’s Portfolio
Friday July 18, 4:30 - 7:30 pm
Saturday July 19, 1:30 - 5:30 pm

The Wine Source: Beer Dinner Featuring:
The Beers of Merchant du Vin
Monday July 14, 6:30 pm

The Merchant du Vin is built upon the idea that beer should be tasted and enjoyed like a bottle of fine wine, and there may be no better way to explore the finer nuances of a finely crafted beer than with a stellar meal at the Capital Grille.

John Brown, your host for the evening and a representative of The Merchant du Vin, will guide you through a historical narrative of some of the most exotic breweries throughout the world. Breweries featured will include: Samuel Smith, Lindemans, Pinkus, Westmalle, Ayinger, and Orval.

We kindly ask you to RSVP by Monday July 7, 2008 to the managers of The Capital Grill at 443.703.4064.

Visit The Wine Source website!

Baltimore Summer Restaurant Week: July 26 - August 3, 2008

Enjoy a variety of three-course dinners, in just about any cuisine that strikes your fancy, for only $30.08. Or try three-course lunches at select restaurants for just $20.08. And new this summer, many restaurants will also offer special culinary experiences, such as wine pairings, cooking classes, tasting menus and more. Plus, select Baltimore City garages are offering special $3-7 parking, and many hotels have special summer discounts and packages. So don’t just eat and run. Stay awhile, and see what else is cooking in Baltimore.

Baltimore Chefs and Wine Experience

Explore delicious restaurants, talented chefs, and fine wine at the Baltimore Chefs and Wine Experience hosted by the Food Network’s Sandra Pinckney. Find out more at www.chefsandwine.org.

Weeknight Dining: Eating Great In Baltimore - 16 Restaurants across town suitable for any budget!

With gasoline at $4.00 a gallon (or more), it seems that everyone is trying to cut back on spending. For many this includes eating out less and cooking meals at home. While cooking at home is always a great, healthy and cheaper way to eat, sometimes it’s just nice to not have to cook and do dishes. But does eating out have to cost significantly more than eating in? Or are there delicious options in town that will not break even the most sensitive budget?

Below is a list of some of the best restaurants in town that provide great food (and wine) for the price. A few of these aren’t necessarily cheap, but they are the most “bang for your buck” restaurants offering a great meal on any and all budgets. The list is arranged by neighborhood and provides summaries of each restaurant as well as what you can expect to spend per person. Chain restaurants were not considered for this list. Special thanks to Dae Chang who offered his expert analysis on a few places on this list! For another great list, check out the Dining Dish Blog’s Ten Inflation Busting Specials!

To nominate a restaurant to be on this list, e-mail me (michael@foodandwineblog.com) or leave a comment and I’ll check it out!  And don’t forget to check out these great wines that are budget friendly! Read more

Restaurant Review: Petit Louis (Baltimore - Roland Park): Outstanding French cuisine, wine list and service.

Overview

Ambiance: Upscale, bustling classic French Bistro.
Wine List: Impressive selection of French wines, sommelier available to lend a hand.
Corkage: Not available
Service: Very good to exceptional food and wine service.
Food: Classic/Elegant French Cuisine, good to very good.
Pricing: $$$ (Appetizers $7-$14, Entrees $17-$24, fair wine pricing).
Attire: No specific dress code but most patrons in business casual to business attire
Overall Rating: Highly recommended; great food, good service, great wine list.
Location/Contact Info: http://www.petitlouis.com

Review: A small French bistro situated in the beautiful Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, it’s easy to fall in love with Petit Louis. The classic decor, traditional French cuisine and impeccable food and wine service make Petit Loius one of Baltimore’s best restaurants for a casual dinner or birthday celebration. While not cheap, compared to other restaurants of this quality Petit Loius is almost a bargain! All these things combined make it one of our favorite spots in town- especially since it’s only a mile away from our house and parking is abundant. Read more

Ordering wine in a restaurant: “By-the-glass” offers a fun learning experience (4 wines with steak)

After a few hours of working on the kitchen Saturday, Kim and I were getting hungry and it was getting late. 8:00 PM rolled around and we decided we wanted good steaks. Our favorite steakhouse in town is Fleming’s Primes Steakhouse and Wine Bar which offers 100 wines by the glass, an extensive reserve wine list and a variety of meats and seafood to satisfy any appetite. Beware that the wine prices are a bit high, but their by-the-glass list offers many good values, the food is always good, and the service is outstanding. So we called, squeezed in a 9:30 reservation and excitedly hurried over anticipating a great meal.  (Image from dreamstime.com)

Now, normally at a nice dinner I order a bottle of Champagne and a bottle of red wine at the beginning of the meal. This gives the wine time to sit in a decanter if necessary and helps us decide on what we are going to eat. At a steakhouse, it’s almost always a Cabernet or Bordeaux-blend, with the occasional Malbec or other miscellaneous varietal wine. On this night, though, we decided to try something different. SO we started our meal with a round of white wines by the glass, a Riesling and a Gewurztraminer to be precise. Both were quite good and perfect with our fried calamari appetizer. Read more

Maryland Wine Events: June 2008

This will be updated as events are submitted/e-mailed to me (michael@foodandwineblog.com).

First Thursday Concerts in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon with the Charm City Social Club

CCSC

Come enjoy a free evening of music with friends near the Washington Monument. As always the music starts at 5:30 PM.

For more First Thursday information, go online to the WTMD Events Calendar.

Sposored by WTMD

Rain policy: The Concert will only be cancelled if rain, or threat of rain is heavy enough to pose an imminent or immediate health threat either to audience or band.
Cameras are allowed
Pets are allowed, Children have a great time. First Thursdays Concerts are a wonderful time for everyone including dogs, but please remember that all pets MUST be on a Leash within the park.
Alcohol may only be purchased from vendors in park during concert. No alcohol may be brought into the park or taken out of the park.
When: Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 5:30 PM 2008

The Wine Source: 3601 Elm Ave. 410-467-7777: www.the-wine-source.com:

Come and Taste a Wee Dram
Join us for a unique Tasting and Seminar of Signatory Vintage Single Malts - June 10, 2008 6:30 - 8:30 pm - Presented by Ed Kohl, North American Marketing Manager-Signatory Vintage Scotch Whiskey Co.

Single Malts to be Presented:
· 1990 Littlemill, Lowland 16 yr, 1992 Mortlach, Speyside 15 yr, 1997 Cragganmore, Speyside 10 yr, 1993 Ledaige, Island 13 yr, 1993 Highland Park, Island 13 yr, Hog’s Head, Pure Malt, 1997 Bunnahabhain, Islay 9 yr, 1991 Mannochmore, Speyside 16 yr

$15 Fee includes Seminar, Samples, Hors D’oeuvres, and $15 Rebate towards any order placed at the event. Seats are limited. For reservations, contact Tim or William at The Wine Source 410.467.7777 or email wineinfo@the-wine-source.com

Friday, June 6, 4:30 - 7:30 pm & Saturday, June 7, 1:30 - 5:30 pm
Free Wine Tasting: Theme TBD

Friday, June 6, 5 - 7 pm
Spirit Tasting: Pyrat Rum and Patron Citronge

Tuesday, June 10, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Scotch Tasting: Signatory Vintage (see above RSVP required)

Friday, June 13, 5 - 7 pm
Spirit Tasting: Cafe Boheme and Van Gogh Double Expresso Vodka

Friday, June 20, 4:30 - 7:30 pm & Saturday, June 21, 1:30 - 5:30 pm
Free Wine Tasting: Theme TBD

Friday, June 27, 4:30 - 7:30 pm & Saturday, June 28, 1:30 - 5:30 pm
Free Beer Tasting: Summer Beers

Restaurant Review: The Helmand (Baltimore- Mt. Vernon): Upscale traditional Afghan cuisine, good prices, highly recommended

Overview

Ambiance: Classy, upscale dining area, tight seating, Middle-Eastern decor
Food: Traditional Afghan cuisine, many vegetarian options
Service: Friendly and quick, good overall.
Wine List: Just OK- a few good finds- prices are fair. No corkage available.
Pricing: $$ (Appetizers: $6-$10, Entrees $12-$22- very good pricing for the quality of food)
Attire: No specific dress code but most patrons follow business casual to business attire.
Overall rating: Very Good-highly recommended: Food was well spiced, overall the service is great and for a nice dinner out the prices can’t be beat. Wine list is nothing to write home about but there are a few great options.
Location/Contact Info: http://www.helmand.com
806 N Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 401-752-0311

Review: This upscale Afghan restaurant is located on Charles Street North Just blocks from the Washington Monument, as it has been for over 25 years. For a restaurant to survive 25 years is quite an accomplishment, for a restaurant to be packed night in and night out after 25 years is just incredible. I guess when you serve delicious, exotic cuisine at more than fair prices, provide a menu filled with both meat and vegetarian options, and provide good service, you have a good chance of succeeding in the restaurant business!

Entering the Helmand, we were not greeted by a hostess. Instead, you make your way to the rear of the restaurant where someone behind the bar will check you in (reservations recommended) and get you situated. Our wait for a table, even on a Saturday night, wasn’t too long (less than 5 minutes). Once seated, we were pretty close to the adjacent tables, and overall it was a bit noisy in the dining area, but it was a good noisy. The noise and clutter may have played a role into why it took the server a while to head in our direction, though once we were noticed, the service was very good.

The wine list isn’t very extravagant, but there are some deals to be had. We started with a few whites by the glass. My Pinot Gris ($7) was not very good, but I forced it down. Kim enjoyed a nice Fume Blanc from Washington State that I’d give around 87 points, and for $6 was a great find. With our meal we enjoyed a Marques de Mersallie (2000) which was a bargain at $28 and was well matched for our lamb entrees. They also have a few moderately priced beers available if that’s your fancy. Overall the wine list will please most people as there are a few options in each category to pair well with any main course. That said, wine enthusiasts will most likely be disappointed and are recommended to not have high expectations of the list or stemware.

Our journey into Afghan cuisine began with a large bowl of pita bread with a sweet butter. The pita bread was warm and with the sweet butter was a great way to hold over our appetite until our appetizers began coming out. A must try starter is Kaddo Borwani, which is a fried then baked pumpkin dish that is sweet yet balanced with the yogurt garlic sauce. Our small pita bread was warm and great for soaking up the sauce from the Aushak, which is a ravioli with beef filling. The ravioli was cooked al dente which was nice, stuffed with leeks and vegetables, and served with a spicy beef sauce. This dish was a huge success, providing both good textures and great seasoning. Another highly recommended appetizer is the Bowlawni- pastry shells filled with leeks, potatoes, and onions and served with a garlic sauce. The portions on the appetizers are modest, so one per person is recommended.

The main plates at the Helmand provide good sized portions of very elegant and traditional Afghan cuisine. The Chopan ($15) features a marinated half rack of lamb served with tomato and onion salad. The lamb was both tender and flavorful. The Rack of Lamb chops featured 3 well seasoned chops which, although two of them were overcooked (ordered medium rare), were very juicy. Another great lamb dish is the Seekh Kabob. This char-broiled marinated lamb tenderloin was perfectly seasoned, although its accompanying spinach side dish was a pass. The rice is of course perfectly prepared and is especially good with the accompanying cilantro sauce.

Other menu options include traditional chicken Kabobs, spinach Sabzy and both lamb and chicken Lawand (boneless chicken/lamb served with mushrooms, tomatoes, herbs and a yogurt sauce). There are a dozen or more vegetarian options as well which range from stuffed peppers to baby eggplant filled with spinach. It’s likely that the menu will please even the most picky eater in your party.

Our dessert consisted of an assortment of Afghan pastries with both a crème and raspberry sauce. The pastries were similar to baklava having philo dough, crushed nuts/honey filling and were great with the sauces. There are many classic dessert options available as well that should satisfy even the sweetest tooth.

The Helmand provides a warm, intimate atmosphere, great food and is overall highly recommended. The prices are more than fair making this a great place to celebrate any occasion with a large group without breaking anyone’s budget.

Restaurant Review: Brick Oven Pizza (Fell’s Point) BYOB

Ambiance: Laid back pizzeria, self serve for the most part, layout is like a diner.
Food: Pizza, subs, sandwiches, salads
Service: Friendly- it’s somewhat self serve.
Wine List: N/A - BYOB w/ NO corkage fee (bring glassware/opener as they don’t provide)
Pricing: $ - Normal carry out/eat-in pizzeria prices - $25 for large pizza, salad, two beverages
Corkage: BYOB - No Fee Corkage
Attire: N/A
Overall rating: Good pizza place Interesting topping options, good thick crust, great antipasta, BYOB!
Location/Contact Info: http://www.boppizza.com/
3034 Greenmount Ave
Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: 443-872-4468
Hours: Open ’til Midnight Sunday - Thursday; 3 AM Fri-Saturday

Overview: If good Brick Oven Pizza with interesting and unique toppings is what you’re looking for, than Brick Oven Pizza is your place. Located on S. Broadway street in the beautiful Fells Point area, BOP has great location, great views, and brings good pizza and appetizers to the table. The layout is simple, a large open dining area, jukebox, a few video games and the ordering/kitchen area. It is here that a giant, hot-brick oven is running 24 hours a day fueled by hard oak and maple wood. The appetizers include a variety of fried things (we liked the zucchini) as well as an antipasti that was pretty good considering the venue. For main course try the “Steak and Potato’s” pizza which is basically a Philly cheese steak and crispy French fries on a pizza crust (heart stopper but very tasty). There is also the Mac’n'Cheese pizza which features a homemade baked macaroni and cheese served atop crust.

The classic pizzas are good, too. The crust is crisp and delicious and toppings are well proportioned. Don’t forget the pizza by the slice, which many people seemed to be taking advantage of. There’s a reason they stay open until 3 AM on the weekends- to serve all the hungry bar-goers coming from Fells Points many great places.

Overall it’s one of the best pizza places in Baltimore. The restaurant is BYOB, but bring your own corkscrew and if you don’t want to drink out of a plastic cup (we did!) then bring glassware, too. I would definitely recommend Brick Oven Pizza if you’re in Fells Point and looking for a laid back meal at a homely and comfortable pizzeria.

Restaurant Review: Gecko’s (Baltimore, Canton)

A short overview by Kim McKay:

Gecko’s
2318 Fleet Street
Baltimore, MD (Canton).

Atmosphere: Fun, homey, southwestern charm - exposed brick, festive southwestern decor; teal, blue, and salmon paint. Most memorable decorations: T-Rex head hanging over dining room; various shapes, sizes, colors of geckos adorning the walls.

Read more

Maryland Wine Events : May 2008

Chesapeake Wine Company:

Call 410.522.4556 or email map@chesapeakewine.com for more information

• Saturday, 5/17
  Tasting: Bordeaux (we can afford)
  (2pm, $35 per person, reservations only!)

• Tuesday, 5/20
  Tasting: Sparkling Wine/Champagne
  (7pm, $25 per person)

• Thursday, 5/22
  Wine Tasting at Sunset
  in the Park!
  (6-9pm, $50 per person, proceeds to benefit Friends of Patterson Park)

Calvert Wine:

Complimentary Tastings

• Saturday, May 17th 2:00 - 5:00PM - Wines TBA
• Saturday, May 17th 2:00 - 5:00PM - Clipper City Beer
• Friday, May 23rd 5:00 - 8:00PM - Wines from Baileyana Winery and Tangent Winery

Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival
May 31-June 1, 2008
Stevensville, Queen Anne’s County
www.chesapeakebaywinefestival.org

Can you think of anything more fun and enjoyable than spending a beautiful sunny day
on the sandy shores of the Chesapeake Bay sipping wine? We can’t either, so plan to join us at the Inaugural
Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival which will be held at Terrapin Nature Park in Stevensville.

Taste of the Nation Baltimore - June 2, 2008

Baltimore’s Best Chefs and Restaurants Cook to End Childhood Hunger
Baltimore’s Taste of the Nation Presented by American Express ^®, to Take Place on June 2

[Baltimore, May 12] — With flavorful food and a passion for helping hungry children, Baltimore’s best chefs and restaurants will gather for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation presented by American Express. Baltimore’s Taste of the Nation will raise critical funds needed to support Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in Baltimore and across America. This year’s event will take place on June 2 at the American Visionary Art Museum in Federal Hill, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, with a VIP reception beginning at 6 pm.

More than 20 of the city’s finest restaurants will participate in the gastronomic event including Vin, Indigma, Pierpoint and Ixia. Guests will enjoy the city’s finest foods paired with beverages by Finlandia Vodka, Herradura Tequila, Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Southern Comfort. This year’s event also offers something special for VIPs, including coveted seating, champagne, and surprise perks.

The area charities that will benefit from this year’s event include Baltimore’s Garden Harvest, Maryland Committee for Children, and Advocates for Children and Youth. Since its inception 20 years ago, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million for organizations in the United States and abroad, including more than a quarter of million dollars in Baltimore alone.

Generous support from presenting sponsor American Express, national sponsors SYSCO Corporation and Food Network, Brown-Forman, S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, the National Pork Board and OpenTable ensure that 100 percent of ticket proceeds go to Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in Baltimore.

With more than 12 million children facing hunger in America, and nearly 185,000 in the state of Maryland, Taste of the Nation events promote awareness of Share Our Strength’s efforts across the nation. The funds raised through Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation support the most effective organizations that feed hungry children, as well as advocates that are pursuing long-term solutions to the challenge of hunger, both locally and nationally.

Tickets for Taste of the Nation Baltimore are $75 for general admission and $125 for VIP admission, and can be purchased by calling 1-877-26-Taste or visiting www.tasteofthenation.org. Tables and event sponsorship opportunities are available.

About Share Our Strength^®

Share Our Strength is a national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger, and surround them with nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Taste of the Nation, Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale^®, Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline^® and Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit^®. For more information, please visit www.strength.org.

“Cellar Notes” on WYPR: Great programming, but not always great advice!

As a PhD student, I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer that is attached to electrophysiology equipment, a big microscope equipped with a CCD camera, and a giant laser used to stimulate neurons in rat brain tissue. I spend hours and hours recording electrical activity of neurons with the hope that I’ll positive data so I can graduate some time before the 2005 Bordeaux’s are at their peak (in the next 20-40 years). The advantage to my day is that I can listen to music, podcasts, and watch videos while my experiments are running. Most of the day, though, I am just simply listening to National Public Radio (NPR) trying to keep up on the news, politics and other things going on in Baltimore and the rest of the world.

I think it’s fair to say that I’m slightly addicted to NPR. I listen at all hours of the day and night and home. I am really impressed with our local NPR station (WYPR in Baltimore). One program I really enjoy is a short (5 minutes or so) segment called Cellar Notes. Each day around 5:30 PM Al Spoler and Hugh Sisson discuss wine topics ranging from wine pairing advice and wine events, to recently to the new up and coming varietal.I really enjoy and appreciate the programming, and try to catch it at least a few times a week. I think it’s a great way to get people excited about wines and is very informative and well produced.

In the last few weeks though, two comments were made that I completely disagree with. One, involving American Pinot Noir versus those of Burgundy. The second, being a comment on foods that go better with beer (rather than wine).

Read more

April Wine Club Roundup: “Darker Than Blue Cafe” - and some good Zinfandel

On April 29, 2008 the foodandwineblog.com wine club met up to enjoy upscale yet traditional American cuisine and try our luck with some Zinfandel. We had a great turnout (including many newcomers) and ended up trying three sparkling wines (one Cava, two Prosecco), 8 Zinfandels, and one Petit Sirah (no notes taken!). The food was great as it always is at Darker Than Blue Cafe (read my review here). Huge thanks to Chef/co-owner Casey Jenkins and our server (Hassan) for keeping the food and waters coming! I highly recommend Darker Than Blue Cafe for a comfortable, laid back dinner of traditional American Cuisine. The serving sizes are more than generous (just ask anyone who ordered a roasted chicken or slow-cooked beef ribs!) and the restaurant is BYOB - it is it one of the best BYOB restaurants in the Baltimore area. If the blackened tilapia is on the menu…it’s a must try.

Great job by Krista and Eric (pictured here) in bringing the only Primitivo of the bunch and providing two of the top three wines (actually, great work Krista!). By popular vote, the top three Zins were:

1. 2005 Rosa del Golfo Primitivo: smokey nose, dark fruits, but I thought it fell apart on the finish. We adhere to the rules of democracy though, so this was the overall winner! My rating: 84 pts, PV
2. 2005 Ridge Three Rivers Zinfandel: A solid bottle from one of the best producers of Zinfandel in the world. Notes of dark fruit, chocolate and a touch of spice. My rating: 89 pts
3. 2006 Rabbit Ridge Zinfandel Central Coast: Good concentrated fruit flavors but not jammy with nice acidity and a long finish. My rating: 88 pts

Read more

Restaurant Review: The Woodberry Kitchen - Baltimore (Clipper Mill area)

Overview
Ambiance: Business casual attire, rustic yet upscale decor, upbeat music playing in the background - think Pazo but a little more rustic and relaxed.
Food: Local produce and meat, organic- very fresh ingredients from vegetarian to seafood- Mediterranean influence
Service: Knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating
Wine List: Good diversity of local wines as well as biodynamic and organic wines from all over the world. Moderate pricing.
Corkage: N/A
Attire: Business casual seems to be the theme
Overall rating: Highly recommended.  Very good food, good service, diverse wine list, good desserts/coffee, complimentary valet service.
Location/Contact Info: http://www.woodberrykitchen.com/
2010 Clipper Park Road, No. 126
Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: 410-464-8000 (reservations highly suggested)

Review: When was the last time you had an upscale meal in Clipper Mill? I’ll make this easier, when was the last time you were in Clipper Mill? How about, have you heard of Clipper Mill? I’m guessing at least some of you answered “no” to all three! That’s OK though, this up and coming area near Hampden in Baltimore’s north side seems to be doing great as is. At least that is my conclusion after a packed house on a Monday night. A stones throw away from the Woodberry light rail stop (in the heart of the historic Clipper Mill renovation) sits a beautifully restored warehouse that is home to art gallery’s, business offices and a great all-organic restaurant. Opened in late 2007, the Woodberry Kitchen already seems to have figured out a plan for success.
Read more

Wine Club Meet-up Tonight! Blues, Jazz, Great Food and Zinfandel

Just a reminder that tonight is the wine club meetup. We’re at full capacity for the event. I recommend car pooling if you can and as always, a cab is a great way to go- especially when we’re tasting 15 or so wines!

I look forward to seeing some of you tonight at 7:00 PM and the Darker Than Blue Cafe! If you need directions or have any questions, give me a call!

For those of you who aren’t joining us, there is a great Loire Valley tasting at the Chesapeake Wine Company tonight.  The tasting begins at 7:00 PM and costs $25.  The lineup for tonight:

1. de Grenelle Chenin Blanc Brut NV - Saumur
2. Yves Lambert Cabernet Franc/Sauvignon Cremant Brut Rose - Loire
3. Dorices Muscadet ‘06 - Muscadet de Sevre et Maine
4. Boulay Sauvignon Blanc ‘06 Clos de Beaujeu - Sancerre
5. Boulay Sauvignon Blanc ‘06 Reserve de Comtesse - Sancerre
6. Pinon Chenin Blanc ‘06 - Vouvray
7. Pascal Lambert Cabernet Franc ‘05 Tradition Graves - Chinon
8. Joguet Cabernet Franc ‘05 Les Varennes du Grand Clos - Chinon

Today Begins the St. Michael’s Food and Wine Festival

Some great wines being poured this weekend and daily tickets are only $45! Definitely worth checking out. Thanks Donna for reminding me

The 2008 St. Michaels Maryland Food and Wine Festival

The 2007 St. Michaels Food & Wine Festival, held on the beautiful grounds of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, drew several thousand people, from April 26 - April 29, 2007. Attendees were entertained with great jazz, guest chefs, recipe demonstrations, wine seminars, wine tastings, and food and wine related exhibitions. One-of-a-kind wine dinners were prepared at fine restaurants throughout the area.

St. Michael’s Food and Wine Festival

Restaurant Review: Luna Del Sea - Baltimore, MD

Overview

Ambiance: Casual attire
Food: Upscale yet traditional seafood
Not extensive, pricing a bit high, “house” wines were OK.
Service: Our severs were very friendly and attentive. Great dinner recommendations, little wine knowledge.
Pricing: $$$ (Dinner for 2 with appetizer/dessert/wine/gratuity around $150)
Wine List/Corkage: No corkage available. Limited wine list, pricey but a few good finds.
Attire: No specific dress code.
Overall rating: Average- Fresh seafood (albeit some dishes are quite heavy and diluted), good service, perfect place for pre-game oysters and beers, nice dinner for a special meal out.
Location/Contact Info: http://lunadelsea.com/
300 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Voice: 410-752-8383
Fax: 410-752-8844

Summary: Baltimore’s fine dining scene has no shortage of seafood restaurants. From corporate-owned establishments to local fish houses, there are many to choose from. Picking one, especially for a nice dinner out, can be a daunting task.
Read more

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