May 23rd, 2008
Summer Restaurant Week
It’s Memorial Day weekend, and for me, the start of the summer season. A caller (thanks, Roxanne) also got me thinking about Baltimore’s Summer Restaurant Week. The website, baltimorerestaurantweek.com, hasn’t been updated yet, but Michael Evitts at the Downtown Partnership filled me on the details to date. Unfortunately, he’s working today, too.
Dates for the annual summer restaurant event are July 26-Aug. 3 and include two weekends this year. Restaurants who have committed so far include Ixia, Cinghiale, The Brass Elephant, Aldo’s, The Black Olive, Bicycle, The Brewer’s Art, Nasu Blanca, and Sotto Sopra.
Participating restaurants also are being encouraged to offer specials in addition to the prix fixe lunch (two courses for $20.08) and dinner (three courses for $30.08) menus. Here’s what’s being planned so far, according to Michael:
The Black Olive will offer red or white wine flights featuring three different Greek wine selections. The white wine flight will be $12; the red flight, $15. Lucy's Irish Pub & Restaurant will also offer wine pairings with the prix-fixe dinner menu for an additional $12 a person. Brightons will offer a four-course tasting menu at $45 per person from 6-10 p.m. And, at Da Mimmo’s, each diner who visits during Restaurant Week will receive a gift to redeem on their next visit. The gifts range from a complimentary appetizer, a bottle of wine, or a $100 gift certificate.
The dog days of summer are now looking a little brighter.
11:50 am
Categories: events
Please include GERMANO'S special Restaurant Week Cabaret in your blog:
Jul 31, 2008 at 7:30 pm
On Thursday, July 31st, the Cabaret at GERMANO’S. Baltimore's premier cabaret, presents a special Restaurant Week Cabaret. The Carolyn Black-Sotir Trio sings "The Sweetest Sounds: A Richard Rodgers Cabaret." A rousing tribute to the “sounds of music” composed by the extraordinary Richard Rodgers. With such musical gems as My Funny Valentine, Blue Moon, Some Enchanted Evening, and Oh, what a beautiful morning, The Sweetest Sounds is engaging, enchanting, innovative, and as lyricist Oscar Hammerstein would describe,“simply wonderful.” A theatre experience one will never forget. Doors open at 6;00 p.m. for pre-show dining. Space is limited and early reservations are encouraged.
Tom Baldwin, bass
Tim McReynolds, piano
Carolyn Black-Sotir, singer
Isn't the Chefs and Wine Experience part of the Restaurant Week stuff as well? Last year was good, but this year looks even better...
It has been a consistent hit! Now the culinary extravaganza that is Baltimore Restaurant Week is entering its third summer season from July 26th- August 3rd. 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. Visit http://www.baltimore.org for a list of participating restaurants.
Baltimore Restaurant Week is featured on http://www.BuzzBaltimore.com blogs, spotlight and events
What is BuzzBaltimore.com? How BuzzBaltimore was started?
My wife and I, and our 5 kids too, love to go Down Town and eat, drink, shop, and have a great time, as much as possible. We started seeing our favorite restaurants, hotspots, and boutique shops experiencing a huge decline in business due to many factors: economy, gas prices, decreases in travel, increases in StayCations, etc. We simply do not want to see these (or any) businesses shutter, so we wanted to do something about it, something that would have somewhat of a Mass appeal to locals and tourists alike, and would be a free site for individuals, but driven by advertising partners and restaurants, who can list their menu’s, daily specials, promotions, wine lists, and for stores, maybe list what’s on sale, or what the trends are. We wanted it to be all about Baltimore, and drive more business to these places. Honestly, it started out being kind of selfish, as we did not want out favorite places to falter.
Thus, we started BuzzBaltimore, a social network about what to do, where to go, where, and what the HotSpots are in Baltimore, where people can blog about their Baltimore Travel, Staycation, and night out experiences. While on BuzzBaltimore people can look for things to do, places to eat, shop, and generally have a great Baltimore experience and then tell the world about it. You will also find our very own Restaurant review section called “Keith and Lynette's Table”, where we review restaurants, and even have our very own “Mixologist” who writes about drink and wine pairings. The great thing about BuzzBaltimore is everyone who registers gets a free webpage to make their own, to personalize, and to blog on about Baltimore and what a great time they had, whether a local or a tourist. It’s really a win-win for all, especially Baltimore businesses.
Right now, the biggest thing happening in Baltimore, and other towns, to promote “getting out” is Restaurant Week, which we have been heavily promoting and love to partake as well.
Additionally, and at the same time, we also launched BuzzAnnapolis.com, and BuzzWashington.com for the very same reasons.
For more information visit http://www.BuzzBaltimore.com
Restaurant Week- Day 1....we definitely took advantage of the price that the Restaurants offered.
That weekend was filled with libations and meals that would require a lot of exercise for the week.
We started Restaurant Week on Friday.
Flemings Steakhouse…always a treat to eat there. We have never been disappointed. Our server was Don..always attentive and making sure that “everything’s okay”. Scott was his normal hospitable host always greeting and talking to the clients.
Cocktails:
Lynette: Grey Goose Cosmo with L’Orange Vodka - refreshing
Keith: Grey Goose Extra Dirty Martini –that hit the spot
Appetizer:
Lynette and Keith: shared a Seafood Tower for 2. If you love fresh seafood this would be a great appetizer to start off with: tower consists of oysters, shrimp cocktails, lobster tails, snow crab legs and king crab claws served with 2 different dipping sauces. You certainly can order clarified butter if you are a butter lover.
Tonight, we decided to order just appetizer throughout the evening.
Keith: Sweet Chile Calamari. Just the right consistency…had a nice crispiness and not greasy. Jumbo Lump Crabcakes with roasted butter and lime butter sauce. Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese tomatoes and onions.
Lynette: Shared the apps with Keith. As Rachel Ray would say “dee-lish”.
Wine: Cambria….what a smooth red wine (chilled or warm). Great price for a great wine.
Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars
Food: 3.5
Bartender: 3.5
Atmosphere: 4.0
Service: 4.0
Restaurant Week – Day 2 - Saturday afternoon.
Keith and I decided to go window shopping. We drive by those stores on Aliceanna but never went inside to see the items that they sell. Can I say that I was truly impressed with the South Moon Under? What a great store with so many great styles for women my age. Mature but yet still has that playful young look. Oh, the Handbag in the City…love, love that store. Wow!!
Okay, enough about shopping.
First Stop: Oceannaire.
Sat at the Bar and visited with our friend and favorite Libation Scientist and Mixologist…and excellent server, Dean.
Cocktails:
Keith: Extra Dirty Martini with 3 olives and bruised. Always prepared perfectly.
Lynette: Ruxton Peach (recipe was featured in Buzz Baltimore). Vodka, sliced peach (muddled) and sprite. WOW!!! can I say, I have a whole new respect for muddled peach and vodka.
Appetizers:
Keith: Lobster Mac and Cheese…never thought I would love mac n cheese but put lobster in it and it is perfecto. They certainly know how to make a kids meal into an adult cuisine.
Lynette: Mussels in white wine sauce. I love mussels and dipping the bread into the sauce is out of this world.
Keith and Lynette: Fish N Chips with fries. Fried to perfection...not greasy and dipping into the aioli sauce was very tasty.
Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars
Food: 5.0
Bartender: 5.0
Atmosphere: 3.5
Service: 5.0
After that, we asked Dean for any restaurants that sold Cigars and her suggestion was James Joyce. She told us to ask for Dennis, the General Manager. That’s what we did. We walked over and selected Java (Drew Estate) and Ashton (humidor in good condition). Believe me there have been times that we bought a great cigar and the humidor ruined the cigars. We thought it would be nice to smoke our cigars and sit on the benches by the Marriott Waterfront and watch the sunset. Dennis cut the cigars and we were on our way. We lit them and started walking towards the Marriott and low and behold it started to rain (cats and dogs). So we ran and took shelter under the Marriott Courtyard and waited for the torrential rain to stop.
Next stop: Cinghiale
Keith and I decided not to get a table. We wanted to sit and have a glass or two of wine so we sat at the bar. We were greated by Monica. We ordered a Sangiovese (featured bottle), which we had to wait for 15 minutes for someone to retrieve the wine (I guess from the wine cellar). We took the half bottle Sangiovese home...gotta love that new law.
We ordered: RFC (Roman Fried Chicken)…can’t get enough of it . As we sat there, there were two couples who had never been at Cinghiale and asked what the dish was that we were devouring. I told them and she asked what other suggestions and of course, I said grilled calamari (as previously featured on BuzzBaltimore). Hopefully, they ordered those two dishes.
As we were enjoying our glass of wine and RFC when Rob, Assistant Sommelier, walked to the Bar and asked how everything was. We told him great…that I love the RFC and I had never been disappointed with this dish.
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Food: 4.0
Bartender: 2.0
Atmosphere: 3.5
Service: 3.0
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