FYI-Food: Jan. 18, 2012

Happy Soup Day

Say “Happy Soup Day” at Pollo Tropical today and get a cup of Carib­bean chicken soup or split pea soup for $1 all day. The restaurants are located at 3777 U.S. 41 E., East Naples, 239-417-2708; and 5065 Golden Gate Parkway, Golden Gate, 239-304-0629

Black truffles

Ciao Ristorante is fea­turing a three-course black truffle dinner paired with Italian wines at 6:30 p.m. today at 835 Fourth Ave. S., Naples. Reservations are required for the $125 dinner. Reser­vations: 239-263-3889

Champagne presentation

Get Out of Town Travel is having a Champagne presentation with Glo­bus Travel and Avalon Waterways on a Rhine River cruise and Art Basel Switzerland at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at von Liebig Art Center, 585 Park St., Naples. Res­ervations: 239-596-4142

Wind and food tasting

Old World Market fea­tures wine and food tast­ing from 4 to 7 p.m. Fri­days at 2800 Davis Blvd., East Naples. Information: 239-692-3020

Anniversary celebration

Help Noodles Italian Cafe & Sushi Bar celebrate its 20th anniversary on Fri­day with a two for $20 spe­cial that includes a house salad and Italian Four Play. You must be seated by 5 p.m. to take advantage of this offer. The restaurant is at 1585 Pine Ridge Road, North Naples. Reserva­tions: 239-592-0050

Food trucks

Seminole Casino Im­mokalee will be hosting food truck dining from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at 506 S. First St., Immokalee. The best trucks from Tampa to Miami will be there to offer a variety of favor­ites. Dishes range in price from $5 to $10 per item. DJ Tom my Tu nes w i l l be entertaining. Informa­tion: 239-658-1313 or www. seminoleimmokaleecasino. com

Chinese New Year

Charlie Chiang’s is ringing in the Year of the Dragon with a mini street festival from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sun­day at 12200 U.S. 41 N., North Naples. Enjoy live master chef tableside demonstrations of rice rolls, handmade pot stick­ers, scallion pancakes, hand pulled noodles, Peking duck and more, complimentary samples of traditional Chinese New Year’s desserts, raff les, gifts, prizes, toys for the children, guest vendors of Asian collectibles and crafts and official Charlie Chiang red envelopes for a prosperous new year. Chi­nese New Year food treats start at $3. Reservations: 239-593-6688

Beer tasting

Whole Foods Market is sponsoring a beer tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at 9101 Strada Place, North Naples. Taste 35 different beers and beverage spe­cialist Joe Pais will an­swer your questions and offer recommendations. $5, proceeds benefit the Bonita Springs Chapter of Shoes That Fit. If you can’t make it this week it happens the third Friday of the month. Information: 239-552-5100

Grand opening

Simply Southern BBQ , a down-home Southern food take-out, is having a grand opening from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Em­pire Plaza, 600 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. Mik­kel and Jennifer Brinson invites you to sample their food and enjoy the live music of NRG from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and noon to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Catering services are also available. Information: 239-403-3663

Chili cook-off

Rodes Restaurant is sponsoring a chili cook-off at 3 p.m. Saturday at 3756 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. The International Chili Society rules, which state the chili must be red and beans and pasta are forbidden, will be fol­lowed. Bring a crock-pot with at least one gallon of chili and $25 to enter. There will be a maximum of $500 in prize money. In­formation: 239-992-4040

Festival of beers

A festival of beers, with sampling of more than 60 beers for three hours, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Ham­mond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers. A free sam­pling glass will be given to the first 1,000 people. $25, in advance; $30, at the gate. This event is for people 21 and older, and strollers are not allowed. Tickets: 239-768-4210 or www.miraclebaseball.com

Homemade tapas

Learn how to make tapas for entertaining from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Whole Foods Market, 9101 Strada Place, Naples. $10, reservations required at www.acteva.com/go/LifestyleCenter or call 239-552-5100

Tea party

Learn the latest tea trends and sample de­lights such as white jasmine sparkling tea, blueberry oolong sorbet and fresh fruits with tea syrup at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Burroughs Home,2505 First St., Fort Myers. $25, benefits the Uncom­mon Friends Founda­tion. Reservations: www.BurroughsHome.com or 239-337-9505

Maine lobster specials

The Wharf Tavern, 909 10th St. S., Naples, is fea­turing a 1¼ pound steamed Maine lobster for $15.99 that is served with French fries and cole slaw or a twin 1¼ pound lobster for $29.99 served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the restaurant and all day and night at the bar. Be an early seagull at the restaurant from 4:30 to 6 p.m. daily and get $5 off any dinner entree except lobster. When you become a member of the Resident Club Card you get 10 per­cent off dining through April 15 and 20 percent off after April 15. Go to www.RCCNaples.com to sign up. Reservations: 239-331-4053

Free Wi-Fi

The Courtyard Bar, 1300 Third St. S., Naples, now has free Wi-Fi. Visit the casual outdoor din­ing in front of Tony’s Off Third and next door to Ridgway Bar & Grill to relax (reservations are not required) with walk-up or sit-down service, a full bar and best of dessert menu. If you remember Truffles then you will love the Courtyard. Ridgway and Sukie Honeycutt have even brought back Truf­fles original tuna Caesar salad recipe from 20 years ago.

Steak discounted

Fitzgerald’s Irish Res­taurant and Pub discounts all the steak entrees 25 percent on Saturday evening. Visit at Ace Sunshine Plaza, 9070 Bonita Beach Road, Bo­nita Springs. Information: 239-947-2111

Chocolate reigns

Norman Love has once again been rated one of the top boxed chocolates by Consumer Reports.”Visit at 3747 U.S. 41 N., Naples, 239-687-7215 and 11380 Lindbergh Blvd., Fort My­ers, 239-561-7215 and try the eight new flavors. All the confections are hand­crafted and look as good as they taste.

Twinkies

Hostess Brands, the corporation that manu­facturers Twinkies and other snack foods, has filed for bankruptcy. The blond snack has been an icon since the 1950s and in existence since the 1930s. Hopefully, the company will find a way to keep the cream filled snack on the supermarket shelves to help sweeten the lives of another generation.

Oatmeal month

January is National Oat­meal Month and you can enjoy the cereal in other ways than just at break­fast. Try this Blueberry Banana Oat Bread next time you want something nutritious:

BLUEBERRY BANANA OAT BREAD

INGREDIENTS

1 cup low fat buttermilk

2 large eggs

1 cup mashed ripe banana, approximately 2 medium bananas

2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/3 cup canola oil

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

2 teaspoons baking pow­der

1 teaspoon ground cinna­mon

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1½ packages (6 oz. each) blueberries

DIRECTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 375 degrees and coat a 9-by-5­ inch loaf pan with cooking spray and dust lightly with flour.

2 Whisk buttermilk, eggs, bananas, sugar and oil in a large bowl until well blended.

3 Combine flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in a separate bowl.

4 Stir into wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.

5 Gently fold in the blueber­ries and pour batter into the loaf pan.

6 Bake one hour, or until browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7 Cool in the pan for 15 minutes and remove from pan to cool on a wire rack before slicing.

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