Today is the grand opening of the Dessert Bar, 11 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Fairlawn, a shop that specializes in — you guessed it — desserts.
Owner Natalie Parks said she offers a full line of cakes, including wedding and all-occasion, as well as a host of other desserts, including cold dishes like banana pudding and dirt dessert. She specializes in cake pops and cake pop bouquets.
There also is a deli serving sandwiches and salads, and Parks offers off-site catering through her Z Events.
The Dessert Bar is located adjacent to the Circle K store, in the former Mr. Hero location. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.
Visit www.thedessertbarakron.com to view the full menu and a photo gallery, or phone 330-338-7485.
Sweet stuff in Canton
Kim Kenney, curator of the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Drive NW, Canton, will be offering a program about chocolate at 10 a.m. Monday at the museum.
“Sweet Stuff: The Story of Chocolate” will explore the history and science of chocolate and chocolate trivia, and is sponsored by Anastasiades Exclusive Chocolates.
The program is $15 and includes tea/coffee, breakfast sweets and admission to the museum. Reservations are required; phone 330-455-7043.
Wooster’s got chocolate
For the next 10 days we’ll get our fill of chocolate, which is one reason to be glad that February is here.
Main Street Wooster is once again sponsoring its Chocolate Daze from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. This year 31 businesses are participating.
Stop by any of those locations and enjoy a free chocolate treat or sales and deals. For a complete list of merchants taking part, visit www.mainstreetwooster.org.
UA bistro opens for term
The Crystal Room Bistro, located inside Gallucci Hall on the University of Akron campus, reopened for the spring semester on Tuesday.
Lunch hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday for dine-in or carryout. There are daily specials and an a la carte menu.
The Talk of the Town dinner series resumes on Thursday, and continues every Thursday beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the last reservation at 7:15 p.m. The Crystal Room Bistro is available for banquets and catering, for groups up to 100 people.
For more information, visit the Crystal Room online, www.uakron.edu/summitcollege/crystal-room/, or phone 330-972-6615.
Ye olde feaste in Hudson
The Fine and Performing Arts Department of Western Reserve Academy in Hudson is hosting its annual Madrigal Feaste at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 14 and 15 in the McCuskey Manor of Ellsworth Dining Hall, 115 College St.
The event features the Academy Choir in full renaissance costume, as well as strolling musicians, jugglers, trumpeters, harpsichord players, singers, a royal court and a court jester. There is a traditional boar’s head procession to dinner, with a full banquet.
Advance tickets are $45 and include an opening reception with mulled cider and wine with the meal. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Phone 330-650-4400, ext. 3005, or visit www.wra.net/madrigal-feaste-2014. Proceeds will benefit the academy’s music travel fund.
Home and garden show
The Great Big Home and Garden Show will take place Saturday through Feb. 16, at the I-X Center, 1 I-X Center Drive, Cleveland.
Aside from plenty of gardens to tour, the event will feature daily cooking demonstrations by instructors at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking, and appearances on Saturday and Sunday by Emily Ellyn, who appeared on the Food Network’s Next Food Network Star and Cupcake Wars.
Tickets are $14 at the door, $11 in advance. Senior, child and group discounts are available. Visit www.greatbighomeandgarden.com for a complete schedule or to purchase tickets.
Sad passing to note
It is with sadness that I note the passing of Steve Turner, co-owner of the Office Bistro restaurants in Akron’s North Hill and Cuyahoga Falls, who is gone too young at age 43.
While Turner had been in the Akron area for only about 10 years, he was an enthusiastic booster for the city. His booth was always the first one under the tent each year at Taste of Akron, and Turner was excited to be part of the local restaurant scene, trying to keep up with trends. Recall it was the Office last summer that gave us the A-Cronut, our city’s version of the New York pastry that had folks standing in line for hours.
Turner and Frank Caetta opened the Office Bistro in 2006. The Falls location followed in 2012, and they hoped to open a third location in Green this summer.
The restaurants will remain open.
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.