Fork and Cork, now in its second year, is a dining series intended to feature five off-the-regular-menu courses of food from some of Baltimore’s most popular restaurants alongside wine from sommeliers from the same restaurants, but in a mix-and-match fashion that showcases and challenges all of their talents. Wine chosen by some of Baltimore’s most educated wine professionals paired with imaginative dishes from some of the city’s top talent in the kitchen all with the twist of pairing the sommeliers with a chef outside of their home restaurant comfort zone? Yes, please.

It’s not a surprise that the dining series combining these components sold out last year, and we’re enthusiastic about this year’s repeat performance, with a newcomer (La Cuchara) as well.

This year’s lineup features Chef Zack Mills of Wit & Wisdom, Chef Bryan Voltaggio of AGGIO, Chef Chris Becker of Fleet Street Kitchen, and Chef Ben Lefenfeld of La Cuchara. Each chef will be accompanied by their restaurant’s sommelier, and that list includes Julie Dalton, Chris Coker, Tim Riley and Greg Schwab, respectively.

Chris Coker said, after he recently achieved the distinction of Advanced Sommelier, “My desire and passion to be a Master Sommelier is a personal one. It is very challenging, emotionally and intellectually. It's a profession where you will never know everything, yet you strive for that very goal. This pursuit makes me better, as both a person and a sommelier, as every day I’m armed with a ton of knowledge and experience each time I approach a table. Relationships are built on trust, so when you’re able to competently answer guests' questions and translate what they are telling you about wines they like, the more they trust you. I pride myself on this type of service.”

It is with that passion and love for pairings that all of the sommeliers are approaching the Fork and Cork event, while the chefs have expressed their enthusiasm to challenge them, and diners, with their dishes.

Tickets, which can be purchased run $115 per person, including tax and gratuity, and if they’re bought for all of the events, the purchaser gets a discount and the chance to win a gift certificate to each restaurant. Check out the schedule below, and book your dinner today.

Tuesday, August 16, 6:30 PM: Aggio
Tuesday, September 13, 6:30 PM: La Cuchara
Tuesday, October 18, 6:30 PM: Fleet Street Kitchen
Tuesday, November 15, 6:30 PM: Wit & Wisdom

Photo via Flickr user star5112