Actor Daniel Craig shook up more than a martini when he visited Baltimore on Tuesday. Twitter was quickly aflutter with sightings of the star of the recent James Bond movie "Skyfall."

Even Cindy Wolf, chef/owner at Charleston in Harbor East, couldn't resist tweeting: "I love that I can say this—Daniel Craig ate at my restaurant Charleston last night! Woo hooo! He is James Bond."

Craig also dropped by Stone Mill Bakery in Green Spring Station earlier in the day for a roasted turkey and avocado powerhouse sandwich, confirmed Cris Janoff, Stone Mill's genial manager.

"He was here. It happened quick," he said. "People are very excited that the guy has been here. They're star-struck."

No one is sure why Craig was in town, though Cris heard he was visiting someone at Hopkins.

I also couldn't confirm a tweet that claimed the actor made a visit to New York Fried Chicken on North Avenue. That would have been very Anthony Bourdain of him to go there.

It wasn't Craig's first visit to Baltimore. He was here several years ago filming a movie with Nicole Kidman. He visited the restaurant Charleston at the time, too. Kidman did not, Cindy Wolf said.

The chef is still excited today about the actor's visit. "He's quite handsome. He's elegant," she said. "He looked like he was having a good time."

He sat at table 53 in the wine-library dining room with a group of people. While Cindy wouldn't share what he ate, she said that she "sent a gift out to the table." In fact, she delivered the dish: porcini risotto with fresh chanterelles and shaved white truffle.

"He smiled and said, 'Thank you,'" she said.

Her response was a professional acknowledgement, though, she said, "I wanted to give him a hug, a kiss on the cheek."

Wouldn't we all?

Cindy said that Craig is among her top three celebrity visitors to Charleston. The others are Carol Burnett, whom Cindy described as "fantastic," and Robert Redford, who drew a face on the tablecloth while dining there.

That sketch is now framed and hanging in Cindy's house.

When I asked Cindy how she knew Craig was in the restaurant, she said, "When he walked in the door, we were quite aware it was him."

Of course, his face was fresh in the chef's mind. She had just seen "Skyfall" the night before his visit. 

Cookbook author/chef Nick Malgieri will be doing a cooking demo on Nov. 30 at an event sponsored by the Baltimore chapter of The American Institute of Wine and Food. Then, on Dec. 8, Food Network chef Tyler Florence will be signing cookbooks at Wegmans Hunt Valley.

Both chefs have new cookbooks being released.

Guests who attend the Nick Malgieri event from 6-9 p.m. will receive a copy of his book, Nick Malgieri's Bread: Over 60 Breads, Rolls and Cakes Plus Delicious Recipes Using Them.

The event, which includes a meet and greet with Malgieri, also includes a buffet featuring dishes from the cookbook, prepared by caterer Jerry Edwards of Chef's Expressions and chef Douglas Wetzel of Gertrude's Restaurant.

The cost is $49 for AIWF members; $65 for nonmembers. Space is limited to 30 guests. For tickets, go here. The event will be held in Lutherville. For information, call 410-244-0044.

Unless Tyler Florence snuck into town unnoticed, he last visited Baltimore in August 2010 when he went to an O's game at Camden Yards while promoting healthy eating with grapes.

Now, he's pushing his newest cookbook, "Tyler Florence Fresh." He'll be signing books at Wegmans Hunt Valley from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 8.

Tickets are required, along with a Wegmans proof of purchase for each book to be signed. The tickets are free and are available at the Hunt Valley store's service desk. The book will be available on Dec. 2, its national release.

I had a chance to meet Tyler Florence last time. He was a really nice guy. He told me he went to Chaps for pit-beef sandwiches that day but didn't have time to have crabs.

Maybe he will this time.

Photo of Nick Malgieri, courtesy of a press release; 2010 photo of Tyler Florence by me 

It's time to party with Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore restaurants, RA Sushi, Mr. Rain’s Fun House, and James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant this week as they celebrate varied anniversaries.

Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore celebrates its first birthday with specials at Wit & Wisdom, LAMILL Coffee, and PABU. At Wit & Wisdom and PABU, a multi-course menu will be offered for $39 through Nov. 16. On Nov. 14, complimentary cupcakes will be served at lunch and a Champagne toast will be served at dinner in the Wit & Wisdom dining room only. PABU will host a festival on Nov. 14, featuring food stations, sake specials, a Japanese beer garden, and live entertainment. The unlimited food tasting is $21.14. Diners at PABU and Wit & Wisdom will also receive a complimentary drink card for future use this week. LAMILL COFFEE also marks the birthday with $1 coffees, beignets, and cupcakes on Nov. 14.

RA Sushi in Baltimore celebrates the 15th anniversary of the chain’s first restaurant in Arizona by offering a 15 percent discount to diners on Nov. 15. It will also donate 15 percent of its profits that day to the Maryland Food Bank. In the evening, the restaurant will host a “Radical ’90s Themed Party” with food and drink specials from 7 p.m. to close.

Mr. Rain’s Fun House at AVAM celebrates its third birthday on Nov. 15 with a special three-course menu and sparkling wine.

James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant celebrates its 10th anniversary on Nov. 15 with live music by O’Malley’s March from 8 p.m.-close.

Photo of a worker preparing for RA Sushi’s party, courtesy of RA Sushi’s Facebook page.

As The Oregon Grille in Hunt Valley celebrates its 15th anniversary, I stopped by the restaurant today to try some of the new dishes that will soon be introduced to its menu. I also wanted to find out what's going on with owner Ted Bauer's newest project, the historic Valley Inn.

Make no mistake: The Oregon Grille hasn't lost its commitment to its main dish—dry aged prime beef. It's just making some additions. "We're continuing the mainstays," Ted assured me.

What's really great is that the executive chef, Matthew Siegmund, has been in the kitchen since the restaurant opened in 1997. He started as a line cook, working under former chefs Mark Henry and Stefan Sabo, before taking over the top spot and continuing his mentors' vision.

Only now, Matt contributes his own spin, creating new dishes like crispy leg of duck, surf & turf carpaccio, grilled farm-raised salmon with lobster risotto and crispy shrimp, and an exquisite Swiss chocolate torte, pictured.

The torte is an amazing concoction of Swiss chocolate sponge cake and chocolate mousse, draped with a gianduja glaze, a lush hazelnut chocolate. The pretty plate was drizzled with raspberry coulis, bittersweet chocolate, and Grand Marnier-orange-juice sauce. #theregoesthediet

Ted, who started the Mt. Washingon Tavern in 1979 before running The Oregon Grille, is also on the cusp of adding another restaurant to his resume—The Valley Inn in Brooklandville (officially Lutherville). A liquor license was approved almost two years ago, but the storied property has stood quiet since then.

Ted didn't disclose any new details today, except to say there have been bumps along the way. But he told me there will be some information coming soon.

The Valley Inn at 10501 Falls Rd. was owned by Bud Hatfield and other family members for more than 90 years and was a popular gathering place for the horse-country crowd. The food was old-fashioned, but there probably wasn't a better mint julep in town.

In the meantime, The Oregon Grille is one of the many local restaurants preparing Thanksgiving dinner this year. (I'll be compiling a list of other restaurants next week.)

For $49 a person, diners can enjoy a traditional holiday meal from 1-8 p.m. on Nov. 22, featuring roasted turkey, sausage dressing, whipped potatoes, yams, pecan pie, and more. The à la carte dinner menu will also be offered.

Contact the restaurant to make reservations.

Photo by me. 

Miss Shirley's Cafe is currently looking for a new location in D.C., according to a press release. The popular restaurant, which serves breakfast and lunch, already has locations in Roland Park, the Inner Harbor, and Annapolis plus its roving food truck.

Expansion in that area makes sense, said owner Eddie Dopkin in the announcement, since a number of Washington visitors come to the local restaurants. "We'd like to be a part of the D.C. dining scene because we feel that our restaurant, food, and atmosphere is a good fit for the community," he said.

Miss Shirley's opened in 2006 in the Roland Park space that is now S'ghetti Eddie's, also owned by Eddie, and quickly expanded into a larger space across the street. The growing restaurant group is known for its Southern-influenced menu.

I have no confirmation, but I've heard the next Miss Shirley's may be in Bethesda. I'll keep you posted. 

Photo of the Roland Park location courtesy of Miss Shirley's website

The Halloween pumpkin is still grinning and the Thanksgiving turkey hasn't been carved, but it's never too soon to savor the dates for Baltimore Winter Restaurant Week. This year's eating bacchanal will be held Friday, Jan. 25-Sunday, Feb. 3.

Participating restaurants will offer a three-course dinner for $30.13 a person or $20.13 a person. Some restaurants will also offer two-course lunch menus for $15.13. Liquor, tax, and gratuity are not included in those prices.

Information about the event, presented by Visit Baltimore and Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, will be updated on the Restaurant Week website.

Winter Restaurant Week comes just in time to stave off cold-weather doldrums and to give diners an opportunity to visit topnotch restaurants at discounted prices. 

Mission BBQ will open its second location on Friday, Nov. 16, in the Nottingham area of Perry Hall. To celebrate the expansion, this socially conscious restaurant will donate all proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project.

A grand-opening ceremony will be held on Monday, Nov. 19, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a live performance of "The Star Spangled Banner."

The singing of the National Anthem is a daily routine at Mission BBQ's original restaurant in Glen Burnie, pictured. At noon each day, employees and diners pause, with hands over hearts, to listen to a taped version of the song. It's quite a moving experience.

That practice will continue at the new store in The Festival at Perry Hall, 4132 E. Joppa Rd. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

But let's not forget about the food. Mission BBQ offers a menu of delicious All-American barbecue, featuring brisket, pulled pork, sliced turkey, ribs, and more, and signature sauces such as Memphis Belle, St. Louis Red, Texas Twang, and even Maryland Bay-B-Que. Sides like mac-n-cheese and green beans and bacon are made from scratch.

Owners Steve Newton and Bill Kraus traveled around the country, sampling a variety of barbecue, to develop their menu. They're likable guys, and you're likely to see them when you visit the restaurant.

The restaurant is also committed to honoring local fireman, police officers, rescue units, and the military with fund-raisers and special events during the year.

Mission BBQ is going to be a great addition to the Baltimore County restaurant scene. 

Photo courtesy of Mission BBQ's website