Tickets are still available for Buddy Valastro, television’s Cake Boss, who is bringing his “Homemade for the Holidays Tour” to the Akron Civic Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8.
Valastro, star of TLC network’s Cake Boss and owner of Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, N.J., has a live stage show that is filled with family entertainment, including cake decorating and audience interaction. He’ll also share stories from behind the scenes at his bakery and answer audience questions. Some audience members will get to compete on stage in a cupcake decorating contest.
For tickets, visit www.akroncivic.com, or phone the box office at 330-253-2488.
Gift cards on sale
This is the time of year when we give restaurant gift cards to family members. So this is my annual warning: If someone gives you a gift card for a restaurant, use it as soon as you can.
Restaurants, particularly in a challenging economy, often close without warning. Yes, you will be stuck losing your money/gift if you have a gift card still in your wallet.
Resist the urge to hold on to them for a better time; there is no time like the present to use them. However, there is one way to guarantee you won’t lose money, and that is to purchase gift certificates from the Tri-County Restaurant Association in Canton.
The association sells gift certificates that can be redeemed at more than 130 member establishments, including most Canton-area restaurants. The association encompasses Stark, Tuscarawas and Carroll counties.
Call 330-499-7007 to purchase with a credit card or stop by the association’s office, 100 30th St. N.W., Suite 102, Canton, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, to purchase in person.
Wine dinner in Canton
Tozzi’s Downtown, 218 Court Ave. NW, Canton is having a wine dinner starting at 6:15 p.m. Nov. 28.
Owners David and Dina Tozzi are hosting the event, along with Jeff Becherer of Superior Beverage who is supplying the wines.
The event will feature Italian wines from Antinori and Ruffino. The menu, by chef Mark Green and sous chef Dom Dominick, includes white bean hummus with tomatoes and avocados, a mixed green salad with fried artichoke, red snapper with pasta puttanesca, beef filet with potato hash, and cherries jubilee over vanilla pound cake and bourbon cherry glaze.
The dinner is $65. Call 330-471-8000 to reserve a spot.
Holiday gift baskets on sale
Buckeye Baskets, a division of United Disability Services, is selling a variety of gift baskets featuring mostly Ohio-made products.
The baskets include maple syrup, jam, jelly, nuts, candy, chocolates, tea, cookies, cheese, pasta, barbecue sauce, coffee and salad dressings, among other items, and each has its own theme.
Baskets are priced from $10.95 to $75.95. Order online at www.buckeyebaskets.com, by phone at 330-379-3341 or by fax at 330-762-0912. Order by Dec. 16 to ensure holiday delivery anywhere in the continental U.S.
Buckeye Baskets was launched in 2003 to provide employment for people with disabilities while helping to support the programs of the agency.
Lisa Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or at labraham@thebeaconjournal.com. Find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter @akronfoodie or visit my blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/lisa.