Fall 2008 - Food and Wine Events in Maryland!

To have your event added for free, contact: Michael@foodandwineblog.com

Wine Events:

• Sotto Sopra: A Taste Tour of Italy’s Wine Regions: Thursday, September 11th- 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
  Limited to 18 guests. $25 per person* (plus tax and gratuity) Reservations Required – 410 625 0534
  http://sottosoprainc.blogspot.com/2008/08/tour-of-italys-wine-regions-with.html
• Harford Friends School: A Taste of Excellence: November 9th 2008: Great wines from around the world for a good cause!  Live music, silent auction and more.  Definitely worth attending!

Dining Events:

• MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAY SEASON BY OPENING FOR LUNCH ON SIX DAYS IN DECEMBER: Annapolis Restaurant Opens for Lunch on December 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19. The Annapolis restaurant, which normally opens nightly for dinner service (except for private functions), is offering à la carte holiday lunches on Wednesdays, December 10 and 17, Thursdays, December 11 and 18, and Fridays, December 12 and 19, from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Valet parking is available. For more information or to make reservations (required), call 410-280-1170 or visit www.mortons.com. Morton’s is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Food Events:

Harbor East Farmers Market Events: The market is located between the Inner Harbor and Fells Point on the 1000 block of Lancaster Street (between South Exeter Street & Central Avenue).
 Hours:  Saturdays, 9:00am-1:00pm, through October 25th, 2008.

• Saturday, September 6th:  Chef at Market, Kevin Miller of Ixia at 11:00am.  Making Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone & Crispy Sage
• Saturday, September 13th:  BUGS Kids from Living Classrooms Foundation at Market and Whole Foods Kids’ Activities
• Saturday, September 20th:  Sofi’s Crepes at Market
• Saturday, September 27th: Chef at Market, Kerry Dunnington, Chef & Author, at 11:00am.  Recipe TBD
• Saturday, October 11th:  BUGS Kids from Living Classrooms Foundation at Market and Whole Foods Kids’ Activities
• Saturday, October 18th: Chef at Market, John Shields, Chef/Owner of Gertrude’s at the BMA, at 11:00am.  Recipe TBD

Beers of the Weekend (and the week, so far)

By: Greg B As you all might have guessed by now, I am a lover of many things, beer being one of them.  Since I’ve basically devoted the past 5 days to food and beer, I figured I should share with you the many bears beers of the world I’ve recently consumed, and something about them.

Starting on last Wednesday, My roommate and I went to Riptide, a new bar in Fells for a few beers.  I had a taste of some god-awful martini that was brightly colored (I was trying to talk with the girl who ordered the martini, but, after tasting it, I dont think I’d want to be associated with someone who drinks that junk.  It tasted like cotton candy).  My roommate and I ordered Dos Equis lager from the tap, which is always better than the bottle in this case.  The lager is not quite as good as the amber, but it’s a nice refreshing beer, with real mild hops. Afterwards, we wandered over to the 2nd floor of Slainte (pronounced slan-cha)                                        http://www.slainteirishpub.com/.

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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

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.

“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).

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Flavored Malt Beverages ARE NOT BEER! Score one for the good guys.

You may remember my reporting on the “Definition of Beer” bill that I sat in on last month in the Maryland State Senate. This topic deals with the classification of “Flavored Malt Beverages” as “Beer” versus “Spirits” or other classifications. This has implications on tax law as well as who is allowed to sell these “Alcopops” (as they are also referred to.

I, as well as state attorney general Gansler, am totally against this change in the classification of FMB’s to “beer” (again read the previous post). Unfortunately, our representatives voted in favor of the wholesalers/distributors to classify these “alcopops” as “beer” (take a look at tax records to see how much money lobbyists contributed to our representatives campaigns in the last few years…it’s sickening).

But, wait, good news!: The Baltimore Sun (and our friends at Vinotrip) reported that on Wednesday, Governor Martin O’Malley came through, delaying the signing of the bill as he considers the repercussions of such legislation. Now might be a good time to contact your local legislature or send a letter to the Governor to let him know that we citizens of Maryland won’t stand for FMB’s being classified as beer.