Harvest tea, Polish dinner planned

10/6/2001

As autumn leaves begin to drop on once-green lawns, a line-up of fall food events also is unfolding. Among the culinary delights in the coming weeks are:

  • Harvest Days High Tea sponsored by Vintage Teas and Toledo Botanical Garden at TBG in the Terrace Room at 1 p.m. Oct. 14. The tea buffet includes savory potato drop scones, zucchini cheese pie, fresh tomato tea sandwiches, pumpkin tartlets, spicy apple cake with hot butter sauce, brownie tea cakes, warm buttermilk scones, Devonshire cream, lemon curd, and jam and steaming cups of autumn cranberry tea. Entertainment will be provided by Friendship Rounds, a western dance troupe. Reservations are required. Cost is $15.50 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $9.95 for ages 5 to 10. Call Vintage Teas at 882-0766 by Thursday.

  • The Toledo-Poznan Alliance will hold the 11th annual Dozynki Harvest Dinner at 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Franciscan Center at Lourdes College in Sylvania. The menu includes mead (honey wine), beet soup, Hunter's stew, pork loin with roasted apples, parsley potatoes, baby carrots with bacon and onions, bread and butter, and a dessert of Napoleon's era (circa early 1800s) - ice cream and fruit. (Strawberries and blueberries have been selected, served with a dollop of whipped cream.)

    Ice cream was a delicacy in those years. “Remember, there was no refrigeration,” said Richard Kozbial, a member of the Alliance. “So ice cream was a dessert for the aristocracy.”

    To attend, call Irene Sydlowski at 535-5850. Cost is $20. Deadline for reservations is Wednesday.

  • The Ladies Benevolent Society of the St. George Cathedral will present its annual Lebanese Dinner from noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the cathedral, 3754 Woodley Rd. The menu includes beans and rice, meat pies, stuffed grape leaves, baked kibbee, and, for dessert, baklava. Cost is $12 for adults and $5 for children age 10 and under. Tours of the cathedral will be given. Information, call 475-7054.

  • Autumn Evenings at Firestone Farm in Greenfield Village at 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Mich., includes barn dancing, hot cider, doughnuts, or a special picnic dinner. Held Friday and Saturday evenings Oct. 12 and 13 and Nov. 2, 3, 9, and 10, from 7 to 10 p.m., reservations are required by calling 313-982-6175. Cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children 5 to 12.

    There is an additional fee for the picnic dinner.

    The National Restaurant Association has designated Thursday as Dine for America Day. Members of the Northwest Ohio Restaurant Association will join with participating restaurants around the country in donating a portion of the day's sales or sale of a particular menu item to help with relief efforts. This includes funds for immediate aid and future scholarships for families and victims of the Sept. 11 disaster.

    There is a variety of participation from many restaurants. Some of the offers are 100 percent of food sales, $1 for every burger, 50 cents for every egg roll, and more. Participating restaurants will have signs signifying they are part of this fund-raiser.

    Some of the restaurants are contributing to Windows of Hope Family Relief fund-raiser. This will benefit the nearly 80 employees of Windows on the World who perished in the terrorist attack. The restaurant was located in one of the World Trade Center towers. Also benefiting will be victims who worked in the other restaurants in the World Trade Center complex.

    Others will contribute to the New York Restaurants Employee Disaster Fund.

    Kathie Smith is The Blade's food editor. E-mail her at food@theblade.com.