FYI-Food: Feb. 22, 2012

Ash Wednesday special

La Bamaba’s of Naples, 2196 Airport-Pulling Road (next to Target), Naples, 239-793-2225 and Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Restaurant piazza, Estero, 239-948-2684, is having the following Ash Wednesday specials today: A fish fajita for $12.95 for one or $22.95 for two; a ci­lantro shrimp and mango salsa tostada for $8.95; and an Ahi tuna taco salad for $9.95. The restaurant is also featuring a passion fruit margarita for $6.95.

Lenten season

Waterside Seafood & Grill at Miromar Outlets is celebrating the begin­ning of the Easter season by featuring fish and chips or a crispy cod sandwich served with French fries, cole slaw and a pickle for $9.95 each. The restaurant also has daily specials, and its regular menu includes salads, burgers and pastas along with its fresh sea­food. Visit at 10801 Cork­screw Road, Restaurant pi­azza, Estero. Information: 239-949-9595

Dine for charity

Ciao Ristorante is donating 5 percent of each dinner check today through Feb. 29 to the University of Miami, Mi­ami School of Medicine for its Nicaragua Medical Missions. The restaurant is at 8335 Fourth Ave. S., Naples. Reservations: 239-263-3889

Pancake breakfast

Marco Island Lions is sponsoring a pancake breakfast 8 to 11 a.m. Sat­urday at Marco Island United Church, 320 N. Barfield Drive, Marco Is­land. $5, in advance from a Marco Island Lion or $6, at the door. Scrambled eggs will be available if you do not like pancakes.

Cooking lesson

Alexander Bernard, chef and owner of Alex­ander’s Restaurant, is giv­ing a cooking lesson on charcuterie, smoked and cured fish that includes a country pate encroute, chicken liver pate, a galen­tine of chicken with black truffles and home-cured salmon two ways at noon Saturday. $55, includes the lesson, lunch and wine. The restaurant is at 4077 U.S. 41 N., Naples. Reser­vations: 239-262- 4999

Wine tasting

Blue Martini is spon­soring a wine tasting with hors d’oeuvres at 3 p.m. Sunday at 9114 Strada Place, North Naples. $35, per person, bring three friends and the fourth one is free. Reservations: 239-784- 4999

Silver Oak Cellars

Silver Oak Cellars, a five-course dinner will be hosted by Fairways Wine Vault at 6:45 p.m. Monday at the Bay Colony Golf Club, 9740 Bent Grass Bend, Naples. Dave Dun­can, owner of Silver Oak Cellars, will be a guest speaker. Wines that ac­company the dinner in­clude: Twomen Sauvi­gnon Blanc 2010; Twomey Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2009, Silver Oak Alexan­der Valley 1995 and 2007; Silver Oak Napa Valley 1995 and 2006; Silver Oak Merlot 2007 and Meyer Family Port. $225, per person. Reservations: 239-598-1155

Pancake Day

IHOP is giving a free short stack of pancakes 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 28, National Pancake Day, and encourages diners to donate funds to the Chil­dren’s Miracle Network Hospital. Purchase a $5 Miracle Balloon and receive a coupon good for $5 off your next visit with a $20 purchase. Lo­cal restaurants are at 6631 Dudley Drive, Naples, 239-643-7500 and 1921 Davis Blvd., Naples, 239-793- 0704

Italian dinner and performance

Enjoy an Italian din­ner and a performance by the Barron Collier High School Chorus at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Naples Ital­ian American Foundation, 7035 Airport-Pulling Road N., Naples. $20, members; $25, others. Reservations: 239-597-5210

Cooking demonstration

Artichoke and Com­pany is doing a cooking demonstration at 6 p.m. March 2 at 1410 Railhead Blvd., North Naples. Learn secrets to great appetizers and wine pairing. $30. Res­ervations: 239-263-6979 or dgorman@artichoke and­companyinc. com

Helping honey badgers

Agave Southwestern Grill has launched a Face­book promotion to benefit honey badgers and other animals at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. The restaurant will donate $1 to the zoo for every new Facebook fan through April 15. Visit www. AgaveNaples.com and click on the Facebook logo. The restaurant is open 10:30 a.m. to midnight at 2380 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples. In­formation: 239-598-3473

Pizza, pasta and more

Visit Mangino’s Pizze­ria at 1201 Piper Blvd. (off Immokalee Road and Air­port- Pulling Road), North Naples, and enjoy a selec­tion of different pizzas that include zucchini, eggplant, tomato, meatball, sausage and sweet peppers, pastas and stuffed Italian bread loaves. Oh yes, don’t for­get to leave room for the cookies. Information: 239-254-7795

Artisan gelato

Norman Love has opened a new artisan gel­ateria at 11300 Lindbergh Blvd. (next to his chocolate salon), Fort Myers. The store will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays serving au­thentic handmade artisan gelato, fresh crepes and other sweet treats made with love. The gelato is also available at 3747 U.S. 41 N., Naples. Information: 239-561-7215, Fort Myers; 239-687-7215, Naples

Eating at JetBlue Park

Dutchkinz, Pincher’s Crab Shack, Norman Love Confections and Rib City Barbecue are official con­cession vendors at JetBlue Park at Fenway South for the 2012 spring training season starting March 3 at 11581 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers.

If you don’t get to the ballpark you can still eat at Pincher’s at 1200 Fifth Ave. S., Naples, 239-434-6616; 18100 San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, 239-415-8973; 28580 Boni­ta Crossings Blvd., Bonita Springs, 239-948-1313; Gulf Town Center, 10029 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers, 239-415-4040; 15271 Mc-Gregor Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-415-4009; and 6890 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, 239-463-2909.

Norman Love Confec­tions is a short walk from the park at 11380 Lind­burgh Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-561-7215 and 3747 U.S. 41 N., Naples, 239-687-7215; and Rib City Barbecue is at 3871 U.S. 41 E., Naples, 239-417-9090; 9191 U.S. 41 N., Naples, 239-591-3500; 10431 Corkscrew Commons Drive, Estero, 239-949-1006; and 13750 Fiddlesticks Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-225-2825.

Dutchkinz offers pastry like products and gour­met blend coffees that are available at various farm­ers markets in Fort Myers, Naples, Marco Island and Sanibel Island.

Cookies for kids

Buy a copy of “Crazy About Cookies” by Krysti­na Castella for $5 at Kohl’s, 6381 Naples Blvd., North Naples, and the net profit of the book will benefit chil­dren’s health and education nationwide through Kohl’s Cares program. The book is full of recipes for delec­table cookies that will be a sweet treat for your family while helping others.

For your information

Did you know popcorn has existed for about 6,000 years?

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