Randi Rom is a Baltimore special events planner, marketing and public relations maven, freelance writer and head of R.J. Rom & Associates. Randi has been writing her insider news on the Baltimore food scene since Foodservice Monthly hit the marketplace in February 2002. Have a hot scoop? Contact Randi via e-mail at randirom@comcast.net or by phone 410-367-6525.
For a downloadable version of WHINING 'N DINING APR 2012: Download WHINING 0412
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0412
Lots to Wine About …
On April 26, Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chão, will feature a special dinner event to benefit Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Maryland. JA will receive 100 percent of the dinner package proceeds from guests who make reservations by calling 410-753-3286 or cashley@jamaryland.com
The 9th Annual Highlandtown Wine Festival is set for Sunday, April 22, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Pompei Convent Garden (3600 Claremont St.). More than 1,000 visitors can enjoy homemade wine, Italian food and live music. To purchase tickets, email vino@highlandtown.com Wine, meatball subs and cannolis, OH MY!
Open Door Cellars introduced their three upscale wines with bag-in-box packaging that preserves freshness for weeks after opening. The varietals include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and will be available at local wine shops and in restaurants throughout Maryland, Delaware and Washington. Distributed by Prestige Beverage Group, the boxes will be available in 3 liter and 1.5 liter boxes. OpenDoorCellars.com
OPEN FOR BIZ: BRIO (meaning “lively” or “full of life”) Tuscan Grille, a BRAVO/BRIO Restaurant Group (BBRG) concept from Columbus, Ohio opened a new location in downtown Baltimore. The menu offers grilled and oven-roasted steaks, chops, seafood and made-to-order pastas. BRIO’s interior features antique, hardwood Cypress flooring, arched colonnades, hand-crafted Italian mosaics, antique doors, hand-crafted walls adorned with Venetian plaster, Arabescato marble-imported from Italy and wrought-iron chandeliers. The 7,200-square-foot space offers indoor seating for 180 guests, a bar with 16 seats and al fresco dining for up to 68 on the terrace. BrioItalian.com.
CONGRATS: The Knob Hall Winery in Clear Spring, Md., received a Gold Medal at the recent 2012 International Eastern Wine Competition (IEWC) & Riesling Championship for its Le Rêve Rouge. The 36th Annual IEWC is one of the oldest and largest professional wine competitions in the United States. Knob Hall is Washington County’s only winery, with over 30 acres of land under grape production. KnobHallWinery.com
CarterQue Barbeque and Grilling Company of Mt. Airy, Md. was recently announced as the winner of the 2011 America’s Next Top Restaurant Franchise, an annual contest hosted by The Franchise Edge, LLC. and SYSCO Foods, CarterQue.com
VERY COOL IDEAS: Nationally recognized sommelier and wine educator Laurie Forster – The Wine Coach - introduced a new wine app for iPhones, iPads and Androids. The app includes a directory of Laurie’s Wine Picks for the week, pod casts from The Sipping Point radio program, food and wine videos, info on upcoming events and a grape guide to wine. And—you can ask Laurie a question in real time. Just go to www.thewinecoach.com/app and follow the instructions on the page for the applicable device. Laurie’s mission is to demystify wine one glass at a time. Love this! TheWineCoach.com
Aaah—the age-old question. How do you get people excited about a winery a year before it opens? An exclusive wine club with unique benefits, that’s how. In order to build anticipation for their 2013 wine release, Old Westminster Winery has introduced a private club for 100 lifetime members called The Century Club; the first of its kind in Maryland. Wine enthusiasts can enter The Century Club and enjoy a visit to the winery, which is not open to the public. Members are offered private tours of the winery, information about Old Westminster’s viticulture practices and wine making techniques, wine tastings directly from oak barrels, and an opportunity to purchase wine futures (wine not yet bottled) at member only prices. OldWestminsterWInery.com
