Eating 6x a Day DEBUNKED

Read more here.

A snippet:

Meal frequency and energy balance.
Br J Nutr. 1997 Apr;77 Suppl 1:S57-70.
“More importantly, studies using whole-body calorimetry and doubly-labelled water to assess total 24 h energy expenditure find no difference between nibbling and gorging. Finally, with the exception of a single study, there is no evidence that weight loss on hypoenergetic regimens is altered by meal frequency. We conclude that any effects of meal pattern on the regulation of body weight are likely to be mediated through effects on the food intake side of the energy balance equation.”

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.

Harford Friends School Wine Tasting

Quaker education is one of the best there is out there. I am a proud product of one such institution. I have connections to this one though...

Harford Friends School

A Taste of Excellence

Sunday November 9, 2008 from 2 to 4:30 PM, there will be a wine tasting at the Bel Air Armory in Bel Air, MD.

Food will be provided by Laurrapin Grille. (SCORE! They serve amazing food in Havre de Grace.)

Tickets are $35 in advance.

This should be a rather nice event...

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.

Chinese Restaurants that Serve Sushi

Over the years, I've always thought it a novelty that a Chinese restaurant would serve both Chinese cuisine and sushi. I've indulged in ordering sushi from Chinese restaurants if I needed a quick fix. In the two years, my experience has been less savory therefore I do not endorse or recommend getting sushi from a Chinese restaurant. I think the soft shell crab roll clumsily rolled in a small Perry Hall restaurant was the last straw. If you go to eat sushi...why not eat good quality sushi at a Japanese restaurant? And if you're a Chinese restaurant owner, instead of trying to gain a larger audience, why not make your dishes more innovative and healthier, or perhaps (GASP!) try serving some traditional and authentic Chinese cuisine? We live in a consumer based capitalistic society that is currently experiencing an economic downturn...therefore its up to the business owner to be even more innovative and savvy in drawing current customers back and attract new customers. And its up to the customer to choose wisely and to know one's cuisine...

My first Blogroll Add!

I've been added to a Blogroll! I feel so special and honored. Thanks guys over at Food, Wine, and Baltimore.

Check out the site. Its a great way to get to know wine and Baltimore at the same time.

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.

Blue Moon Cafe

On a scorching Saturday morning, we visited Blue Moon Cafe in Fells Pt. Normally, The A/C was not on inside, but the door was open to the street and an occasional breeze wafted through. Two cats roamed the floor winding their way through chairs and tangling themselves in human legs. Swimming in humidity, we approached the restaurant and waited for our table. We got there at 8:30 AM and only found a 10 minute wait. The wait usually jumps higher after 9 AM. Parking is free until 10 AM in Fells.

After we were seated, we got great strong coffee and water. The water was always refilled without any requests for more. Our order rounded out to being the Blue Moon which came with French Toast, choice of meat and 2 eggs, the Mexican egg scramble with a huge biscuit, fruit instead of home fries, and the vegetarian omelet with cheese, one pancake, and home fries.

Overall the meal was delish and the service reasonably good. I definitely would like to go back again!

Here is the info on Blue Moon Cafe:

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

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