The lineup is filling quickly for this year’s March of Dimes Signature Chef Auction. Slated for Thursday, Sept. 25, the event will be held at the Centre for Living Art’s Space 301 on Conti Street at 6 p.m. Expect a dozen chefs, caterers and restaurateurs serving up samples of their good stuff, as well as wines, live entertainment and an always incredible auction.
But our local March of Dimes chapter could not sit around waiting on September to get here, so what better way to pass the time than to have a fundraiser for the fundraiser? This led to the creation of the Signature Chefs Auction Summer Kickoff Event.
It’s another night of fundraising for healthier babies hosted at Pinzone’s Italian Village in Fairhope. Tickets are $15 at the door and include tastings from Pinzone’s own Chef Scott Dumas. Fairhope Brewing Company will be on hand with their delicious beers, and Ryan Balthrop will be providing the live entertainment. There is even a chance you could win tickets to the actual Signature Chefs event! It’s a small price to pay for a lot of activity.
August will bring another March of Dimes event. It’s still in the works, but I can safely say it will be held at our very own award-winning Kitchen on George. We will let you know as soon as the details are finalized but until then pay attention to www.marchofdimes.com and more importantly the March of Dimes Alabama Chapter Facebook page.
Island Thyme “Rolling Island” serves on the go
Remember Island Thyme on Catherine and Government? I visited often. Then I chased them downtown to Dauphin Street. Now the chase is a little tougher unless you are a Facebook freak. Island Thyme has joined the ranks of Mobile’s food truck scene and was only recently noticed by yours truly.
Fire up the smart phone and check out where they will be next. It’s the easiest way to fill your need for a Cuban wrap with calypso sauce. Nothing I have seen on the menu is over $10, so bring a few bucks and an appetite.
Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with many new flavors and old standards
Photo/bluebellcremeries.com
July isn’t important only because we celebrate our independence from those culinarily inept buffoons across the pond. It’s also National Ice Cream Month! Thank God we are free from that oppressive empire. Do you think we would have Cherry Garcia if we were under British control? Doubtful.
So as we celebrate our freedom let’s take time to reflect upon what ice cream means to us. Happiness, sweetness, cooling off, a la mode, malt, split, float, sexy curves, these are all descriptions and/or images that come to mind when I hear the words ice cream. So now let us take a look at some of the new products out there that could make your July, your summer, and your year a few degrees cooler.
Ben and Jerry’s: I’m a fan. Of course they started out small and became corporate giants. They did so because they are awesome. I’ve had gallons of Chunky Monkey and the previously mentioned Cherry Garcia one pint at a time. They continue to churn out adventurous flavors with clever names like the hazelnut and fudge creation Hazed and Confused. Go wild with the newer Cotton Candy. It’s simple and exactly what you’d think.
Deadheads watching their weight will be excited to know there is a new Cherry Garcia in frozen yogurt. My guess is either Ben or Jerry is contemplating a lifestyle change.
Haagen-Daz: Yes, it’s an American company with a fancy name, but these boys still bring it. Their vanilla bean makes this company deserving of success, but be on the lookout for some limited editions. Bourbon pecan praline and peanut butter pie are two of my most sought after flavors. Pomegranate dark chocolate bars are the perfect ice cream on a stick for me. They also produce a generous amount of gelato, if you are into that sort of thing.
Blue Bell: The Texas-based creamery put Red White and Blue Bell on the shelves for the Fourth of July celebrations. Think Neapolitan gone country. Strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry ice cream fill the carton side by side. It is then kicked up a notch by the addition of fresh strawberries and blueberries.
For National Ice Cream Month Blue Bell introduced its July-only Magic Cookie Bar Ice Cream. It has all the ingredients of the magic cookie bars my mom, Khaki, makes every Christmas. Toasted coconut, pecans, graham cracker crust, sweetened condensed milk, dark chocolate chips, all of this in a tub of ice cream! The month is half over. I wonder how long it will keep if I purchase 10 gallons. Can you spare me some freezer space?
Whatever your choice of frozen treat, be it frozen yogurt from Cold Snap, Gelato from Serda’s, or ice cream from Cammie’s Old Dutch, try to be a little adventurous this month. It’s a special time of year. In August I shall go back to my regular pints of pistachios and tall vanilla malts. Until then, stay cool and recycle.
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