I too would like to take the time to thank all of our continued supporters throughout our first two years. There have been many great relationships developed over that time that means a lot to all of us at VOLT. As well personally I would like to thank my entire team for tirelessly working towards making VOLT a dining destination. I am grateful for all who have been here since it’s inception and those who just joined us. I would like to thank my partners for helping me realize my dream to open an establishment that I can be proud to hang my apron, it’s every driven chef’s dream, but not all accomplish it, so Thank You! for your support.
Also last and certainly not least my beautiful wife and son for putting up with the time away from home to help me realize my goals and aspirations, it’s a sacrifice I am very grateful for.
I, on the other hand would like to have a party, feel free to stop in, I would like to thank you personally for all you have done to help make VOLT a success!

Cheers,

Bryan Voltaggio

If you’re dining with us on the 25th, make sure one of your toasts of the evening is to us and to you. We wouldn’t be here after two years, were it not for your support and hunger - both to our regulars who have become part of the family as well as to our new guests who are walking in for the very first time.

To our employees, thank you for your complete faith, endless hours on the floor, cheerful disposition and commitment to VOLT. To those of you who have been with us since day one and those of you who are brand new and have no idea what you just got yourself into:) thank you.

To our investors - you ROCK! You always believed in us and look at us now! We will always have VOLT together. As for those of you who joined me in my outside adventure last year, I’m not doing a repeat so stop asking. I’m staying home and out of trouble this year. Now, next year, well, maybe we can all get kicked out together to celebrate year #3.

Third base feels awfully good especially when you’re hungry and have VOLT in the house.

VOLT is coming to the Frederick Keys Baseball Field and we are not coming empty handed. We are taking over the concession stand at 3rd base for one night only on Tuesday July 27. Be the first in line to get your very own Bryan Voltaggio bobblehead at the gates. Who doesn’t want a Bryan doll on their dashboard. I’d show you a picture of the bobblehead but then I’d spoil the surprise. Trust me. It’s just precious.

Chef will also be throwing out the first pitch of the night. Woo hoo. Come on out and root for him.

Come hungry for a fun-filled family night of baseball at the Keys Stadium. Click here for a sneak peak of the concession stand menu. keys-night.pdf

A Portion of proceeds from our concession stand will be going to the Keys Care Foundation. Buy your tickets today. This is sure to sell out fast.

Fort Detrick and local agencies will be hosting a Twilight Tattoo at Baker Park on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 6:00 pm.

A tattoo is a military pagent where the history of the US military is enacted. The event includes all of the various eras of military uniforms, horses, cannons and lots more. If you’re not familiar with the event and want to know more, I’d suggest you google “twilight tattoos Washington DC ” – I quickly found some videos.
Putting on the event involves between 300 – 400 military personnel (this number does not include the audience – yes, it’s a really big event).

I saw these guys by accident last year and was completely blown away. We could hear the cannons from my house and we ran out thinking… well, when you hear cannons you should run out of your house. However, we did all run towards the blasts and not away from the noise which is exactly what you shouldn’t do. But in this case, we were treated to the most extraordinary show.

Anyone in the military reading this, you are in luck. For our military guests in town for the show we are offering our express lunch menu - $14.00 for three choices. This menu will only be available in the bar/lounge and courtyard weather permitting and only offered to participants in the Twilight Tattoo.

Example of some menu items included:

Grilled Border Springs Farm Lamb Burger
Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich, dill potato salad, fried pickle
Summer Tomato Gazpacho, shrimp ceviche, cilantro
Jelly Doughnuts, blueberry, strawberry, vanilla anglaise

Members of the Twilight Tattoo, make sure to stop in for lunch.
All others - don’t miss the show at Baker Park!

The second annual Urbana Music Festival returns on Saturday, June 26, 2010 from noon-6:30.

Chef will be at the festival at 4:30 for a fun summer cooking demonstration.

In addition to the chef demo and musical performances, the festival will feature moon bounces, an inflatable obstacle course, pony rides, petting zoo, a climbing wall, and mascot appearances by Sesame Street character, Elmo and the Frederick Keys mascot, Keyote.

The event coincides with the kickoff of Frederick County Public Libraries’ Summer Reading Club, so families have the opportunity to spend time enjoying visiting the library and celebrating on the plaza outside.

For the full line up and more information on the festival, please click here. urbana-music-festival-press-release-2010-1.pdf

Hope to see you there!

We have some great summer activities planned in and around Frederick County and we hope you can join us for all or a few of these events. More information on each event on next post.

6/26 Urbana Music Festival- Cooking Demonstration, 4:30 - 6:30
6/30 N Market Farmers Market- Cooking Demonstration, 4:30
7/27 Keys Stadium - VOLT night at the ballpark, Game begins at 7:00
8/22 Big White Barn Tomato Festival 2 - 6
9/11 In the Streets 11 - 5

Top credits to all our neighbors who showed up in the pouring rain to visit the new farmers market. It was so much fun to see all of my favorite farmers and to meet a few new ones who will be regulars. Note to drivers, you can park in the lot next to the market and since our tattoo parlor to the stars “Classic Tattoo” moved uptown there are tons of on-street parking.

As for my newest farmer friend - go visit Washington Street Gardens by April Reardon. If you’re from Frederick, you already know April. She created the Velvet Lounge possibly the most trendy, fun boutique in all of Metro Region. And I personally know more than a few guys who have been saved by her store for last minute girlfriend/wife gifts. Not to mention that she is married to Tim who created Pit Crew the uber awesome skateboard/snowboard shop. Remember our staff snowboarding holiday party? Tim outfitted most all of us. Their stores are attached (how cute is that?) and across the street from VOLT.

And now April has a farm! Washington Street. Hello - I’m jealous. How cool is that? Now that you have the scoop, go see her next Wednesday and all of our other farmers who will be doing this all over again next week. Oh and Bryan is going to be doing a cooking demo there June 30. Save the date and pray for sunny weather for the demo.

Make sure to visit the newest farmers market by our friend Will Morrow from Whitmore Farm. Every Wednesday 3-7, just a few blocks down from us at the Carmack Jay’s site.

Beginning June 9th thru October

Meat, Fruit, Vegetables, Eggs, Baked Goods, Cut Flowers, Plants, Soap, Fiber and Yarn
All raised, grown or made within 120 miles of Frederick

Other farmers include…
Glade Link Farm - Cut flowers, berries, vegetables
Washington Street Gardens - Plants and vegetables
Tomatoes Etc. - Vegetables
Lewis Orchard - Fruit
Bella Terra Farm - Vegetables and cut flowers
Rettland Farm - Beef, pork and eggs
Goose Creek Farm - Baked goods, lamb, beef, cut flowers
Kiparoo Farms - Wool, yarn, and handknits
Truffle King - Chocolates
Local Raw Honey
Pennys Plants - Plants and herbs
Whitmore Farm - Lamb, pork, rabbit, and vegetables

Music and Special Events
Dogs Welcome!

Here is a look at what VOLT did with our own market vegetables and Will’s eggs.

Look at that yolk!

Say hello to our newest farm friends at Big White Barn Produce located in beautiful Buckeystown, MD. Thanks to Colby Ferguson for hosting the Frederick County farmers/restaurants expo this past winter where I met Steve and Anita.

Long story short, city girl meets farm boy and turns his hay farm into her backyard “kitchen garden” and voilà! Here I am on a hot June day helping plant rows of basil! Their adorable three year old Sophie is the farm hand.

Being a city girl with the heart of a farmer myself, I totally fell in love with my new farm friends. I’ve never had so much fun planting basil. Rows and rows of basil. Note the towel. They insisted. Honestly I really don’t mind getting dirty.

Beautiful kohlrabi. I’ll admit, this is the first time I’ve tasted this vegtable. And oh so good. Make sure to pick these up from your own farmers market.

Picking onions for the market heading into Crystal City, VA.

This is the only place the kids want to go to now - tractors, bikes, farm equipment, dogs, swings, horses, chicken, big pool and rows and rows of fresh, beautiful vegetables - its going to be a great summer with only one thing to look forward to - the Great Frederick Fair in the Fall.

But wait! We are planning a handful of fun events coming up for this summer. Save the dates and details coming soon.

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