Taste of the Nation Toledo set for Fat Fish Blue

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The 15th annual Taste of the Nation Toledo will be at 5 to 8 p.m. April 25 at Fat Fish Blue at 6140 Levis Commons Blvd. in Perrysburg.

Among the national celebrity chefs are Celina Tio of Julian of Kansas City, who was named 2007 Best Chef: Midwest by the James Beard Foundation, and Chef Andy Husbands of Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel restaurants in Boston. Chef Husbands was a contestant in Season 6 of Hell's Kitchen in 2009. He placed eighth out of 17 contestants. He also is co-chairman of Boston Taste of the Nation.

Among the participating Toledo restaurants are Asian Tea Tree Bistro, Avenue Bistro, Barry's Bagels, Beirut, Byblos, Cake in a Cup, Ciao! Ristorante, City BBQ, Eston's Gourmet Creations, Evans Street Station, and Fat Fish Blue. Also, Georgio's Cafe International, Gladieux Catering, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt, Hungry I, JB's Sarnie Shoppe, Koto Buki, La Scola Italian Grill, Manhattan's, plus Mancy's Bluewater Grille, Italian Grill, and Steakhouse. In addition, there will be Nagoya, Navy Bistro, Poco Piatti, Premier Catering, Real Seafood Co., Rockwell's, Rosie's Italian Grille, Shorty's True American Roadhouse, Stella's, Swig, The Toledo Club, Tony Packo's, TREO, Two Seasoned Chicks, Yoko Japanese Restaurant, and Zia's.

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation supports the effort to end childhood hunger in America. Local beneficiaries are Toledo GROWs, Toledo Day Nursery, Aurora House, and Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.

Tickets to the black-tie-optional event are $150. For tickets and information, call 419-705-6635.

Olives, Feta, Phyllo & More from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Toledo is the third-place national winner of the 20th annual Tabasco Community Cookbook Awards.

In 1989, McIlhenny Co. established the awards, a program to honor nonprofit organizations and the outstanding cookbooks they create to raise money for local charities and causes. This year's first-place winner is My Mama Made That. . .Virginia Favorites, a cookbook published by the Junior League of Hampton Roads in Newport News, Va. Second-place winner is Herbal Cookery: From the Kitchens and Gardens of the St. Louis Herb Society in Missouri.

The Andersons Cooking School at the Sylvania Market at 7638 Sylvania Ave. will feature five cooking classes in March: March 2, Celebrate the Oscars; March 9, guest chef Labib Hajjar; March 16, Irish Eyes are Watching; March 23, guest chef Eric Kisch of Rosie's Italian Grille, and March 30, Amazin' Cajun/Creole Plantation Cooking.

Each class is $25. Two wine pairings are included. To register, call 419-517-7707.

The 18th annual Great Chili Cook-Off sponsored by Meals on Wheels will be from noon to 4 p.m. March 27 at the Stranahan Great Hall. Hours for chili tasting are noon to 4 p.m., with award presentations at 3 p.m. Participating teams are in four categories: media, amateur, corporate, and restaurants. Attendees vote for their favorite chili with donations for the People's Choice winners. A team of food professionals will judge the entries to determine the judges' winners. Area salsa manufacturers will do a salsa tasting and sell their products.

For information call 419-255-7806.

The 2010 biennial Foodways Expo! & Culinary Conference will be April 17-18 at the Bowling Green Expo Center inside the Woodland Mall. The event is sponsored by the Bowling Green Convention & Visitors Bureau.

A conference and luncheon will be from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17. The luncheon will be prepared by Bowling Green State University Dining staff. The program will include BGSU Executive Chef Pat Hannan cooking with Greg Shepherd of Stadium Salsa and a keynote presentation by culinary specialist Mario Rizzotti, a judge on Iron Chef America on the Food Network. The cost is $49, which includes the Expo on April 18. Preregister by calling 419-372- 8181.

The Expo will be from noon to 5 p.m. April 18, and will include an Iron Chef-style competition, Demonstration Alley, Kids Korner, a Foodways Exhibit which includes the culinary Tourism Trail, and 50 vendors offering food samples. Food presentations by Chef Hannan, Mr. Shepherd, and Mr. Rizzotti will be featured. Admission is $2, cash only.

For more information, call 419-353-9445.

Kathie Smith is The Blade's food editor.

Contact her at:

food@theblade.com

or 419-724-6155.

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