On Friday November 7th, 2008, I met up with two friends at Tapas Teatro. We started off the evening with red wine and sangria. Bread, oil, olives, and pickles were brought to the table. Some of our selection included: monkfish medallions wrapped in a prosciuitto topped on artichoke hearts drizzled with a spicy oil, marinara and bread, baked potatoes in a cream sauce, and Gulf Shrimp swimming in a garlic butter. Throughout the light bites we viewed pictures from my friend's fall wedding in October 2008. The wedding took place at The Belvedere in the Charles room. It was quite an exquisite affair; I was a part of the bridal party.

After light bites, we drove up to the Johns Hopkins Campus to the ROTC building off of San Martin Drive for ballroom dancing. The lesson started at 8 PM. We learned the tango, the waltz, the electric slide, and the Achy Breaky Heart line dance. As I picked up the waltz and tango (one goes T A N G O to keep count with the steps), some of my partners unveiled more complex steps. Of course our instructor named a few. I felt special as I was a part of these more complex moves, I could be led by the gentleman and share in the experience of dancing. One feels graceful and accomplished when truly dancing the dance.

Overall, I'd go again. Where else can you learn dancing for free every Friday at 8 PM and from an event that is 20 years and counting?

Lobster Dinner at Sotta Sopra

I was on localwinevents.com checking out Sotta Sopra's Aperitivo Happy Hour when I happened upon the restaurant's blog. This weekend, Sotta Sopra is having a Maine Lobster Fest only for $23! That is a very good deal.

The special is also featured at a food and wine blog.

Dining for Life

Thanks to Baltimore Snacker!

Dining out for Life will be on Thursday, September 18th. Some restaurants have elected to donate up to 50% of profits to local HIV/AIDS charities.

Brewer's Art and Chameleon Cafe are on the top of my list for now.

Any other suggestions?

The Zodiac is Closing Tonight!

I have just learned via the Baltimore Snacker that the Zodiac is closing tonight.

After twelve years, the owner has decided its time to close the restaurant. Glad I heard about this!

Egg in a Tomato

Sometimes on the weekends, I love to get creative with my cooking. Cooking is fun and great for stress relief.

This Sunday, I decided to make egg baked tomatoes from Lisa's Kitchen.

Instead of parmesan cheese, I used up the rest of our Italian mixed cheese, although I will recommend a more strongly flavored cheese. I did push up to Broil twice to make the top a bit more crispy. I think it'd taste good with bacon draped over top the egg/cheese opening whilst in the oven next time. Also, I'll add more veggies (like onion to the egg batter).

Other unique combos for omelets:

Avocado, tomato, and sour cream
Asparagus and cream cheese
Pesto, feta, and spinach

Extended Restaurant Week

Apparently, numerous fine Baltimore Restaurants are extending their fix price menus beyond Baltimore Restaurant Week which ended on August 3rd, 2008. Please click here to read more.

I've also heard that The Oceanaire Seafood Room was continuing with the fix price menu likewise. This is a good time to note that many of these fine dining restaurants already have weekly fix price menus and specials on wines to draw in a crowd during the week. Roy's has a fix price menu for 30 dollars either on Tuesday or Wednesday. Helen's Garden of Canton and many other restaurants follow suit. Of course call to confirm the information!

Howard County HAD a Restaurant Week.

DC Restaurant Week August 11-17, 2008 here.

Aldo's in Little Italy

On Wednesday, July 30, I enjoyed an exquisite dinner with friends at Aldo's Ristorante Italiano in Little Italy in Baltimore, MD. Aldo's is one of the highest rated Zagat restaurants in Maryland. The website boasts beautiful pictures and I've always heard good things about the restaurant.

Baltimorerestweek.com posted Aldo's menu for the fix price dinner and Aldo's offered up stuffed Amish chicken with mashed potatoes, penne pasta with eggplant, seared beef tenderloin, and line caught pomfret with summer vegetables and couscous. Two desserts; a strawberry shortcake and a vanilla custard with peach sauce were offered. I decided upon the beef tenderloin on arugula encrusted in sea salt, with the ahi tuna loin as appetizer and vanilla custard for dessert. To enhance the flavors, I ordered a Cabernet for the beef. My two friends got the Amish Chicken with mashed potatoes and Chardonnay and the penne pasta with tomato sauce, roasted eggplant, softly spreadable ricotta and a Pino Grigio.

The words to describe the dinner were sublime. Aldo's considers the diner's experience to be paramount and great attention was placed on pairing flavors of vegetables, meats, seasonings, and even down to the texture of the food. The food came in slow succession, however the server made up for it with a complimentary restaurant mixed drink of limoncello with cream. The after dinner cordial was very tart and pleasing to the senses.

However the words to describe the ambiance was interesting...the dining hall was beautiful and serene with low lighting. The seating was plush. A table sitting next to us used sailor like language all evening culminating in one lady's shocked gasp. It appeared that many drinks were enjoyed. Rising from the table the loudest gentleman knocked his chair upon the ground and into his neighbor's table. As he apologized, he recognized the unfortunate diner who was victim to his flying chair.

All in all, the overall experience was pleasant and memorable.

Top 3 for Restaurant Week

Baltimore Restaurant Week is finally here, starting this fine Saturday evening and running until August 3rd. Most assuredly, the restaurants will be brimming full of diners on this twice a year treat (Restaurant Week is in the winter too). From the website, I've whittled my top 3 down to this:

George's in Mt. Vernon

Petit Louis Bistro on Roland Avenue

and Aldo's in Little Italy

George's by far had the most innovative menu from my brief research, and I've always wanted to try Aldo's and Petit Louis Bistro. I must say that I am sad to not see Kali's Court participating this year. Still the participation is good and hopefully many satisfied diners will leave truly satiated and stuffed.

Baltimore Restaurant Week

Via Adventures in Baltimore Restaurants, I learned that Baltimore Restaurant Week is coming to Baltimore from July 26th to August 3rd!

Baltimore Restaurant Week occurs twice a year, once in July and and once in January as a way to encourage dining out at local establishments. For a reasonable price, you can try out a new restaurant. Its always best to reserve as early as you can and call the restaurant to confirm the menu.

The participation list of restaurants is already posted on the website. And below is my wish list. I'll make final cuts as menus are posted.

Georges on Mt. Vernon Square
VIN
The Black Olive
The Brass Elephant
Brasserie Tatin
Kali's Court Restaurant
Roy's Hawaiian Fusion
The Wine Market

The Golden West

Rest assured, I always have an interesting time any time I decide to go to the Golden West Cafe nestled on the Avenue in Hampden. I first visited Golden West back in 2002 when it was at its original location on the fringes of the Avenue (closer to Breathe Books and Ma Petit Shoe). I had brunch there and was thoroughly impressed. In 2007/08, I've since returned to the Golden West in its much larger and noticeable location closer to Falls Road. Upon first entering, there are all sorts of knick knacks adorning the walls and shelves, and in the bathroom, record covers wallpaper the wall and personal messages are etched into the bathroom walls and doors.

Occasionally one will find a bartender who only 'fills in' and serves beer. Sometimes an odd server will check his Gmail Account on the left side of the bar. The perfect margarita is served on Tuesdays nights by a co-owner of The True Vine. On the night of the perfect margarita (which was 2 bucks, btw), I knocked over a couple figurines behind a wall across from the bar. I am reasonably sure that no one will notice for the next five to ten years. A knitter sat too enjoying her beer.

Last Friday I found myself staring into a wall that had three to five versions of the Last Supper. And if I peered up above me to the right, there were tins, boxes, paintings that had 'Golden West' somewhere on the item. I enjoyed a seasonal dish of white bean hummus with quite a spicy kick on top of shredded carrots and romaine. I was able to save half for lunch the next day. A ghost taste of garlic remained in my mouth for the next day despite brushing. I am always leery of a restaurant that prints up a page of rules in the first page of its menu, but somehow I find myself returning again and again.

Baltimore Breakfast

I just absolutely love breakfast. It is one of the best times of day to eat and to eat splendidly of meat, bread, eggs and potatoes. Here is my list:

Tried and True:

Ashland Cafe
10810 York Rd
Cockeysville, MD 21030
410-666-3838

• Can play keno
• Great homemade biscuits and corned beef hash
• Great omelettes
• Cheap food most 9 bucks and under.
• Train on tracks that goes around ceiling
• Fast service

Morning Edition Cafe
153 N Patterson Park Ave
Baltimore, MD 21231-1667
Phone: (410) 732-5133

• Quirky homestyle setting
• Food takes long to come out
• Good omelettes
• 10 page menu
• Good prices
• Quiet

Pete's Grill
3130 Greenmount Ave
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-467-7698

• Cheap Great breakfast
• Fantastic homefries
• Great Grits-homeade
• RAPA Scrapple
• Half Hour wait, sit at bar/barstools only, no tables

Places I'd like to try:

Blue Moon Cafe
1621 Aliceanna St
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 522-3940

• Eclectic
• Good food
• Hour wait
• Get there before 8 AM
  

Happy Day Diner
8302 Pulaski Highway
Baltimore, MD 21237
http://www.happydaydiner.com/

• Cream Chipped Beef Omelette
• Omelette's 6-8 bucks
• Quintessential 50s Diner

Shirley's Cafe
513 W Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21210
(410) 889-5272
http://www.missshirleys.com

• Long wait
• Gourmet Breakfast
• Breakfast prices 10-17 bucks