Akron’s West Side Bakery is opening a second location at the site of the former Blake’s Café & Cupcakery on Town Park Boulevard in Green.
Owner Barb Talevich said she hopes to open by late July.
The bakery will feature the same types of cakes, pies and cookies, and of course wedding cakes, that are featured at the original location on West Market Street in Akron.
Blake’s was opened in 2009 by Derek and Marcie Williams, who sold the business in February to Mary and Paul Coward and Bob and Becky Bonheimer. Blake’s Facebook page noted on May 6 that it was closing for renovations, but Talevich confirmed that it had closed and she would be taking over the spot soon.
Garlic dinner on farm
Brothers JJ and Kevin Altomare of Hudson’s Restaurants, in Hudson and Copley, are teaming up with Fred and Chris Thaxton of Thaxton’s Organic Garlic Farm, 2710 Ravenna St., Hudson, to host a Farm to Table Garlic Dinner at the farm on June 22.
The dinner, which begins with cocktails at 5 p.m., will feature local produce and other products from the Hudson Farmers Market, and will include a tour of the farm and a neighboring alpaca farm. A five-course meal with wine pairings will follow.
Tickets are $125, with a portion of the price going to the Hudson Farmers Market. For tickets, visit www.hudsonsrestaurant.com and click on the “buy tickets now” link. For more information, contact Kendra Altomare at 330-322-2830.
Lots to taste at Fishers
Fishers Foods is hosting a wine tasting from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at its Canton location at 4403 Cleveland Ave. NW at 44th Street.
Fishers’ Spring & Summer 2013 Top 16 Wine Picks list will be sampled, along with food. The event is free, with wine samples sold for 25 cents each.
Also on Friday, the Ruggles Ice Cream Tour Bus will be at the location from 4 to 8 p.m., serving samples of its new ice cream flavors.
Fishers stores are selling Cleveland restaurateur Zack Bruell’s new line of coffee blends, which are featured in his five restaurants. They are $8.99 for a 12-ounce bag.
Wine festival is coming
The 11th Annual Summer Solstice Wine Art and Music Festival will take place June 21-23 at Sarah’s Vineyard, 1204 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls.
More than a dozen Ohio wineries will be represented: Sarah’s, Breitenbach Wine Cellars, Candlelight Winery, Grape & Granary, Maize Valley Winery, Mastropietro Winery, Red Horse Winery, Stoney Ridge Winery, Troutman Vineyards, Viking Vineyards, the Winery at Wolf Creek, Wyandotte Winery and Barrel Run Crossing.
There also will be more than 30 art vendors, live music and a variety of food vendors.
Hours are 4 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 daily, and includes a Sarah’s Vineyard wine glass. Parking is free.
Meanwhile, the Countryside Conservancy is looking for volunteers (age 21 or older) to help sell wine sampling tickets during the festival. Volunteers receive free admission to the festival. Various shifts are available. To volunteer, contact Julie Gabelman at jgabelman@neo.rr.com or 330-657-2542.
Farm guide available
The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s new guide, the Good Earth Guide to Organic and Ecological Farms, Gardens and Related Businesses, is now available for a free download.
The guide includes information on 412 farms and businesses, including 180 certified organic farms and businesses and 94 community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.
The online directory identifies sources for locally grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, honey, maple syrup, dairy products, grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, free-range chicken and eggs, fiber, flour and grains, cut flowers, plants, hay and straw, seed and feed, and other farm products.
The Good Earth Guide can be accessed at www.oeffa.org/search-geg.php.
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.