Chef Christian deLutis, who had been with Brasserie Tatin for less than a year, will become the chef at Dogwood Restaurant in Hampden on Jan. 9. Brasserie Tatin closed Dec. 23 and will reopen next year as an Italian restaurant, La Famiglia, under new ownership.
DeLutis has plans to open his own restaurant in Baltimore late next year. He has previously cooked at Corks, The Wine Market and the Harbor Court, where he worked with Galen Sampson, Dogwood’s co-owner.
Cooking with women chefs The historic dominance of male chefs, here and in Europe, is legendary. But a new cookbook celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of many talented women to the culinary landscape.
Cooking with Les Dames d’Escoffier (Sasquatch Books, $35) is a 375-page tome to which each chef contributed one recipe, and some cooking wisdom. Luminaries like Julia Child, Dorie Greenspan, Alice Waters and Lidia Bastianich are represented with cherished recipes, such as M.F.K. Fisher’s Black Olive Tapenade with Tuna and Hard-Cooked Eggs.
Suggested beverage pairings accompany each recipe, and there are a number of useful sidebars on topics like how to contribute to a potluck, how to assemble a crudite platter, and how to pair cheese with fruit.
Oysters and wine at Oceanaire The Oceanaire Seafood Room in Harbor East is holding its First Annual Oyster and Wine Pairing Extravaganza on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Ten varieties of East and West Coast oysters will be served, as well as a variety of oyster dishes, such as oyster stew and fried oysters. Oysters will be paired with 10 wines from all over the globe.
Oyster growers from Rappahanock River Oysters of Virginia will discuss oyster culture on the Chesapeake. Tickets are $35 in advance, $45 at the door. Call 443-872-0000 for reservations and information.
Penzeys spices things up When it comes to herbs, spices and seasonings, Penzeys is well known for selection and quality. The Wisconsin-based purveyor has a store in Rockville, but closer-to-home purchases can be made from its 56-page catalog, available at www.penzeys.com. Offerings include three kinds of black peppercorns, nine kinds of curry powder and eight varieties of cinnamon, as well as hard-to-find seasonings such as zatar and annato seed. The catalog also includes recipes and advice about buying, storing and using seasonings.
— Compiled by Christine Stutz
