Ribs are the focus of 3 northwest Ohio events

7/29/2007

Watch for three rib events in the coming weeks.

•CitiFest's second annual Columbia Gas Ribs on the River presented by Key Bank, benefiting the American Red Cross, will be Friday, Saturday, and Aug. 5 in Promenade Park. From 13 rib vendors, the top three ribs will be judged, based on sauce, texture, and appearance. The Glass Pig Award judging will take place on Aug. 5, with the winner and the People's Choice Award announced at 5 p.m.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 5. Admission is $3 after 5 p.m. Friday and all day Saturday and Aug. 5.

•The 24th annual Original Northwest Ohio Rib-Off, presented by The Andersons, will be Aug. 9-12 at the Lucas County Fairgrounds at 1406 Key St. in Maumee.

Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 10 and Aug. 11, and noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 12.

There will be ribs, children's activities, and entertainment provided by the Marshall Tucker Band on Aug. 9, Pat Benetar Aug. 10, and Travis Tritt on Aug. 11. Admission to the Rib-Off is $5 and includes the entertainment, although reserved seating is available for Pat Benetar and the Marshall Tucker Band at $20 from Ticketmaster, 419-474-1333. Special seating for tables of 10 also is available.•Rib-Off on Broadway, presented by the Arts Partnership of Greater Hancock County, will be at 6 p.m. to midnight Friday on Broadway Street in downtown Findlay. Six rib vendors will be featured. Admission for the event is $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 years old and under, and free for children in strollers. Rib vendors compete for the People's Choice Award and the Judge's Choice Award.

At least three local neighborhoods are among the 1,500 U.S. neighborhoods that will be scooping up a Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute ice cream block party, courtesy of Edy's ice creams.

Each winning neighborhood will receive doorstep delivery of Edy's Slow Churned Light ice cream (enough for up to 100 party-goers) and all the fixings to organize a party. The ice cream and fixings will be delivered by Sept. 15.

More than 17,000 people wrote to Edy's telling why their neighborhoods deserve a Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute. Among the local winners are Angela Zimmann of Holland, Christine Otto of Napoleon, and Jane Downes of Toledo.

A five-course organic dinner designed by Chef Simon Pususich, complemented by Emiliana Organic Wines of Chile, will be featured at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Real Seafood Company at The Docks. Wines have been selected by Antonio Bravo of Emiliana Organic Winery in Rapel Valley, Chile, who will participate in the event.

The dinner's five courses have been selected from ingredients and practices that minimize the impact on the earth's resources, from the first course of Southwestern Ceviche, a second course of Organic Heirloom Tomatoes, and a third course of Pan-Roasted Atlantic Salmon.

Cost of the dinner is $79.95. For reservations, call 888-456-DINE.

More than 60 food and wine artisans and authors will gather Sept. 13-15 at the Great Lakes Culinary Institute in Traverse City, Mich., for a three-day food and wine extravaganza known as the Epicurean Classic. More than 75 food, wine, beer, spirits, cigar, and cheese-tasting seminars, cooking demonstrations, guest chef dinners, receptions, and cookbook-signings are scheduled.

The list of culinary professionals includes the Lee Brothers (Matt & Ted Lee) co-authors of The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook; Jacques Torres, world-famous pastry chef and chocolatier; Julee Rosso, co-author of the Silver Palate cookbooks, and Brian Smith, author of The Sommelier's Guide to Wine: A Primer for Selecting, Serving, & Savoring Wine.

For information and registration visit www.epicurean classic.com.

A co-founder of the Epicurean Classic, Matt Sutherland of Traverse City, has co-written Savor Michigan Cookbook: Michigan's Finest Restaurants, Their Recipes & Their Histories (Wilderness Adventure Press, $24.95). The book is part of Chuck and Blanche Johnson's Savor Cookbook Series.

The book features recipes from Michigan's premier restaurants, including eve of Ann Arbor, Tribute of Farmington Hills, Tapawingo of Ellsworth, the Grand Hotel of Mackinac Island, The Lark of West Bloomfield, and the Rattlesnake Club of Detroit.

Savor Michigan is both a travel guide and a cookbook. It is sold at bookstores throughout Michigan and in Toledo.

Ocean Spray's Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest is seeking original cranberry creations. Recipes must use a minimum of 1/2 cup of any Ocean Spray product and fall into one of the following categories: beverages, snacks and appetizers, salads, main dishes, side dishes, desserts, and baked goods. Deadline for entries is Aug. 23. For contest rules and to enter online, visit www.oceanspray.com.