If you’re a fan of locally produced and seasonal “farm to fork” fare, there are plenty of chances to feast this month.
•Eddie Merlot’s at Jefferson Pointe is offering a regional farm-to-fork menu through Sept. 30.
Appetizers are heirloom tomato gazpacho with crispy-fried shrimp and fried green tomatoes with sweet corn and chipotle remoulade. Both are $8.95.
The entrées are fried chicken breasts stuffed with ham and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans; mustard-glazed pork belly with sweet sautéed greens; beef short ribs with roasted potatoes and root vegetables; fried yellow perch with sweet corn; and barbecued duck breast with sweet corn and duck confit ravioli.
Most are $24.95; the ribs are $26.95.
And desserts are berry cobbler with ice cream, and apple spice cake with brie cheese icing and Kentucky bourbon sauce. Both are $8.95.
For reservations, call 459-2222.
•Joseph Decuis in Roanoke will have its annual “Best of the Midwest” luncheon at noon Saturday.
It will feature a squash and goat-cheese tart, sautéed veal sweetbreads, marinated skirt steak and blueberry short cake.
It’s $40, or $28 without wine, which doesn’t include tax or gratuity.
Reservations are required; call 672-1715.
•On Sunday, Joseph Decuis executive chef Aaron Butts will be serving samples at Dig-IN: A Taste of Indiana at White River State Park in Indianapolis.
He was one of 30 chefs – the only one from northeast Indiana – invited to participate in the event, which runs from noon to 5 p.m.
Other restaurants include Café Patachou, Smoking Goose and Goose the Market of Indianapolis, FARMbloomington and Restaurant Tallent of Bloomington.
There also will be wine and beer, urban gardening exhibits, discussion panels and music.
Tickets are $30 at the gate, or $20 in advance at Marsh and Mainstreet stores. Children’s tickets are $7 (ages 5 to 15); it’s free for those 4 and younger.
For information, go to www.digindiana.org or call 317-607-8715.
Pastry shop celebrates 1st anniversary
Vanilla Bean’s Biscotti and Pastry Boutique, 3410 N. Anthony Blvd., will celebrate its one-year anniversary Monday. A “Mock Margarita” hour will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with drinks and music by keyboardist Frederick “Sonny” Dixie.
A happy hour (with real margaritas) will be from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. with music by the Afro-Disiacs.
Another highlight will be a visit by New Jersey foodie and barbecue-contest judge Nash Williams, who travels the country visiting eateries and writing reviews on Facebook as “Nash vs. Food.” He expects to arrive around noon.
Williams, who travels on his own time and own dime, always solicits destination ideas before planning his trips.
A customer persuaded him to make his first visit to Fort Wayne to try Vanilla Bean’s cupcakes and margarita sandwich cookies.
“I love the little ‘mom and pop’ places we stop at,” Williams says. “It’s all for the love of food.”
As part of a 10-day road trip, he’ll also make stops in Indianapolis, Kentucky and Port Clinton, Ohio.
Moosewood serves $5 lunch specials
Moosewood BBQ, in the Marketplace of Canterbury, is offering $5 lunch specials that are available 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through September.
Each can be a sandwich or platter and will be served with fries or red beans and rice.
The entrées are breaded or blackened tilapia, blackened or cornmeal-crusted catfish, pulled pork, pulled chicken or the soup and salad bar.
For information, call 485-2121.
Maza Grille offers dinner-for-2 special
Maza Grille, 10812 Coldwater Road, has a new “dinner for two” special for $29.99.
It includes two fatoush salads, hummus, baba ghanouge, rice or fries and five kabobs, including chicken, filet and lamb.
New menu items include spicy tuna and lobster tail.
The restaurant opens at 10:30 a.m. daily. It closes at 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 9 p.m. Sundays.
For information, call 637-4800 or go to www.mazagrillefortwayne.com.
BBQ Bow Shoot helps feed hungry
The non-profit Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry will have its sixth annual BBQ Bow Shoot fundraiser on Sunday.
The event, at the Izaak Walton League of America, 17100 Griffin Road in Huntertown, begins at 7 a.m.
The barbecue lunch – with venison burgers, hamburgers and hot dogs – will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The meal is $10 for adults, $6 for kids (ages 5 to 12) and free for children 4 and younger.
The bow shoot is $15 for adults, $6 for kids (ages 12 to 17) and free for children 11 and younger.
Other activities include a live and silent auction, raffles and kids’ games.
Proceeds from the event will pay the butchering fees for donated game during this hunting season. The processed meat then will be donated to Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana Inc.
Tidbits
•For Goodness Cakes!, a custom cake shop, is open by appointment at 6017 N. Clinton St. in Washington Square. In October, it will add regular retail hours and sell cupcakes. To order, call 483-7242 or go to forgoodnesscakesfortwayne.blogspot.com.
•Dicky’s Wild Hare, 2910 Maplecrest Road, will have its last “Endless Summer” party from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday. Enjoy a free vodka and beer tasting, plus music from Island Vibe.
•From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, enjoy 50-cent cheeseburgers and 25-cent sodas at the West End Restaurant in Decatur. The restaurant, 702 W. Monroe St., is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year while Decatur is marking its 175th anniversary.
