Salad

Baltimore County Restaurant Week starts Friday and runs through Jan. 27. Chefs and owners from some of the 44 participating restaurants were expected to join Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce President Keith Scott on Thursday morning at Patrick's of Cockeysville for a Restaurant Week kick-off event. The county's version, unlike the city's, allows restaurants to set the fixed-price for their menus anywhere from $10 to $35 for anywhere from one to four courses.

Why are mayonnaise salads so perishable? Poor mayonnaise. It has a completely undeserved reputation as the food most likely to go bad. But perishability is not the mayonnaise's fault, said Kathryn Boor, professor of food microbiology at Cornell University. Rather, it gets blamed because it is a common feature of many perishable foods. The Food and Drug Administration's definition of mayonnaise requires that it be made from vegetable oil, egg and vinegar and/or lemon juice. Those last two ingredients not only provide an acidic tang, they also discourage microbial growth.

Karen Hertwig of Baltimore was trying to locate a recipe for a creamy basil salad dressing like the one that was served at the original Perry Inn in Perry Hall. She said the restaurant changed hands, and the new owners no longer serve it. She said the dressing was served warm over a tossed salad topped with grilled chicken or steak. This one sounded like something worth pursuing, particularly given how robust my basil crop is this summer. I found what sounded like a great low-fat recipe for a creamy basil garlic salad dressing on the recipe blog writes4food.com by Bryn Mooth of Cincinnati.

Quick marinade--Use a bottle of your favorite salad dressing as an instant marinade. - Every Day With Rachael Ray

Baltimore County Restaurant Week runs through Sunday. The county's version , compared to the city's, is either a model of democracy or sheer anarchy, depending on how you look at it. Participating restaurants can offer lunch and dinner menus ranging in price from  $10.12 to $35.12 for one, two or three courses. That makes comparing menus kind of tricky.  Here, at least, you can see the special menus grouped by price. Dinner $35.12 Artful Gourmet Bistro -- Entree, plus two of the following -- appetizer, soup or salad, dessert The Bowman -- Soup or salad, entree, dessert Linwoods -- Soup or salad, entree, dessert Manor Tavern -- Appetizer, entree, dessert Michael's Cafe -- Appetizer, salad, entree, dessert Milton Inn -- Appetizer, entree, dessert Patrick's Fine Food & Sprits -- Appetizer, salad, entree, dessert Peppermill -- Appetizer, entree, dessert Ruth's Chris Steak House -- Salad, entree, dessert Strapazza -- Appetizer, entree, dessert $30.12 Barrett's -- Soup or salad, entree, dessert Basta Pasta -- Appetizer, entree, dessert Bluestone -- Soup or salad, entree, dessert Cafe Troia -- Soup or salad, entree, dessert Candle Light Inn -- Appetizer, entree, dessert Christopher Daniel -- Appetizer, entree, dessert Costas -- Appetizer, entree, dessert Havana Road -- Salad, entree, dessert Mari Luna...

Starting this Sunday, Fleming's is offering a $29.95 prime rib dinner on Sunday nights through September 2. That's 11 Sundays! The Fleming's offer includes a choice of salad (The Wedge, Fleming's house salad, or Caesar), dessert and a choice of one side with the prime rib, which is served with a trio of sauces. The promotion also includes a specially priced wine -- B.R. Cohn North Coast Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon (2008/09) for $40 a bottle.

Capitol City Brewing Company Light Street Pavilion, 301 S. Light St., Baltimore -- 410-539-7468 Hours --11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily Restaurant's estimate --5-6 minutes Ready in --8 minutes The Capitol Cobb salad, $11.55, cost the same as the salad from Southern Accents and tasted better. It had longer strips of soft chicken and more blue cheese. Both the bacon and egg came crumbled, and slices of avocado rounded out this solid salad. Know of a good carryout place? Write to sam.sessa@baltsun.

Turn any oil-based salad dressing into a creamy-style dressing by whirling it in a blender until it has slightly thickened.-- Food Lover's TiptionaryPub Date: 9/06/98

Amiccis turns 22 on Wednesday. To celebrate, the Little Italy restaurant is turning back the prices on its menu all month long. Through Jan. 31, Amiccis will offer more than a dozen entrees for $7.99, $8.99 and $9.99. We're talking things like eggplant Parmesan, fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and linguine with clam sauce. Diners can add a salad and soft drink for $3 more or a salad and glass of wine for $5 more. Scott Panian and Roland Keh opened Amiccis on Jan. 2, 1991, in what was part of the old Roma restaurant.

413 W. Cold Spring Lane. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call (410) 889-2233. This recent arrival to Roland Park offers a variety of carryout entrees ranging from Cajun-styled chicken to Crab Norfolk . . . and with enough Thai appetizers, pasta concoctions and vegetable cheese melts to appeal to any palate.Located in the space formerly occupied by Fiske's Cafe, the restaurant also serves lump crab cakes, served at market price, seafood jambalaya ($11.