The new Bricco in Kent is open.
It’s a fourth location for owner David Glenny, including downtown Akron, Pub Bricco in the Merriman Valley and Cafe Bricco in the Doubletree Hotel in Fairlawn. Cleveland Bricco closed last year.
Glenny said the menu is 75 percent the same as downtown, with all of the favorites in place, including Bricco’s wedge salad, calamari and fried pickles. Some new dinner items are on the menu and some are being given a new spin.
Bricco in Kent, 210 S. Depeyster St., is open 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday for a la carte brunch, followed by dinner from 3 to 11 p.m. Phone 330-677-1335 or visit www.briccokent.com for information.
Chocolate fest is coming
The closer we get to Valentine’s Day, the closer we are to the Medina Red Cross’ For the Love of Chocolate Festival.
The festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Medina Performing Arts Center inside Medina High School, 851 Weymouth Road.
The event will feature items from more than 40 chocolatiers. Tickets are $10 for eight samples. Anyone 12 and older must have a ticket to enter. Tickets are available at the Red Cross, all Buehler’s store locations and Discount Drug Mart store locations.
In conjunction with the festival, the annual Chocolate Baking Contest will take place Jan. 31 at Buehler’s River Styx location in the community room. There are categories ranging from preschooler to professional chef. Entry forms are available at Buehler’s stores, local libraries and the American Red Cross, and must be submitted by Jan. 27 to the Red Cross, 780 E. Smith Road, Medina, OH 44256 or faxed to 330-725-3790. Only preregistered entries will be accepted.
For an entry form with complete rules, visit www.redcross.org/news/article/oh/medina/Join-the-Red-Cross-at-its-17th-Annual-Chocolate-Festival. Winners will be announced at the festival the following day.
For information about the event or contest, contact Beth Kilchenman at 330-723-4565. All proceeds will help the Red Cross help Medina County families dealing with emergencies and disasters.
Listen for food jobs info
If you’ve ever considered a career in the restaurant industry, you may want to give a listen on Sunday, when Forum 360 will broadcast a show titled The Hospitality Industry: Education and Careers.
The show is hosted by Ellen Botnick and will feature Jamal Feerasta, professor of Hospitality Management at the University of Akron, and Mark Kent, Operations Manager of the Crystal Room Bistro at UA, discussing training and job opportunities in the field. The show will air at 6 a.m. on WONE 97.5-FM and at 7:30 p.m. on WAKR 1590-AM.
Downton event planned
Western Reserve PBS is hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner-dance inspired by the popular Masterpiece Classic program Downton Abbey, beginning at 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Sheraton Suites Akron-Cuyahoga Falls, 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls.
The event will include a five-course Edwardian feast, a dance performance and instruction, dancing to live music and a silent auction. Attendees are encouraged to dress in the attire of the 1920s.
Dinner-for-two packages start at $250, which includes a one-year membership to Western Reserve PBS. Additional packages include wine pairings, overnight accommodations at the Sheraton and breakfast. Single dinner packages beginning at $125 also are available. For more information see http://westernreservepublicmedia.org or call 1-800-554-4549.
Thursday wine event set
Kirbie’s Meats & Catering, 4062 Fishcreek Road, Stow, is hosting a wine tasting event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, which will include six wines and a full buffet of appetizers, pasta and desserts.
The cost is $25. Reservations are preferred but walk-ins will be accepted. Phone Kirbie’s at 330-688-4333 to reserve. The store is planning wine tasting events every third Thursday evening of the month. The foods and wines will change from month to month.
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.