If you’ve ever seen those intricate sculptures made of chocolate or spun sugar and wondered how that work is done, now is your chance to learn from one of the world’s leading experts.
Chef Ewald Notter, renowned master of confectionery arts, will be in the Akron area on March 4 to give a presentation sponsored by the American Culinary Federation’s Akron Canton Cooks and Chefs Association.
The 6:30 p.m. presentation is open to the public. Admission is just $5 and can be paid at the door. The presentation will be at the St. George Fellowship Hall, 3204 Ridgewood Road, Copley Township.
Notter was the first pastry professional inducted into the Pastry Art and Design Hall of Fame, and he teaches throughout the world.
Professionals and others interested in a hands-on class with Notter also can register for a session he is holding from noon to 4 p.m. March 3 at Tri-C Community College, 180 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Only 12 spots are available at $125. The fee must be paid in advance. Contact Chef Greg Forte at Gregory.forte@tri-c.edu to register.
Church sells Slavic food
When St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Akron closed, many of the members, including those who used to cook for St. Michael’s annual Simply Slavic Festival, joined St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, 1051 Robinson Ave., Barberton.
Now they’re cooking there — every week, in fact.
Every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m., church members offer cabbage rolls, nut, poppyseed and apricot rolls, bread and pierogi for sale. Cabbage rolls, fully cooked and frozen, are 4 for $8, or 2 for $4; nut rolls are $12, bread is $2 to $5 depending on size and variety; and pierogi are $5 a dozen. Party packs of cabbage rolls are $40 with a two-week advance order. To place an order, phone 330-336-5455 or 330-289-6357.
The church also will be holding its Easter Bake Sale on March 16 from 9 a.m. to noon, where a similar assortment of foods will be sold, along with traditional Pascha Easter bread, cinnamon and cinnamon raisin bread, nut and apricot kifli, tea balls, baklava, Easter cookies and more.
Nutritious and delicious
The public is welcome at the fifth annual Nutritious & Delicious gala sponsored by the Greater Akron Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in recognition of March as National Nutrition Month.
The event is 6 to 9 p.m. March 7, at the Fairlawn Country Club, 200 N. Wheaton Road, Akron. Area restaurants, including Crave, Bricco, Saffron Patch, First Watch, the Chowder House Cafe, Fairlawn Country Club, the Lockview and Nuevo will serve samples of their healthier fare.
Tickets are $30. The event also includes an auction for gift baskets and other prize items. Money raised will be used for scholarships for local college students studying nutrition.
For reservations, call Dawn Scott at 330-671-6504.
Hard cider tasting in Akron
West Point Market, 1711 W. Market St., Akron, is hosting a hard cider tasting from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, featuring Griffin Cider Works in Westlake, which works with only Ohio-grown apples.
Richard Reed, owner and cider-maker, will be on hand to talk about his ciders and to sell samples for 25 cents each. Reservations are not required.
Irish tea celebration is set
March 9 is the last day to reserve a spot at the Luck of the Irish Tea at the Tudor House, 655 Latham Lane, New Franklin, from noon to 2 p.m. March 16.
The tea menu includes Irish potato soup, spinach and fresh berry salad, kiwi and pineapple scones with jam and Devonshire-style cream, zucchini tea bread, chicken Waldorf salad cups, traditional cucumber sandwiches, corned beef, Swiss and rye stacks, crème de menthe petite éclairs, pecan tassies, pistachio parfait, and Irish breakfast and Buckingham Palace garden teas.
The event is $30. To reserve a space call Patti White at 330-701-5010 or visit www.teaandthyme.com to register online.
Pizza winner from Medina
Congratulations to Craig Jenkins, franchisee of Romeo’s Pizza in Brunswick, who won top honors at the 2013 Pizza Pizzazz competition at the North America Pizza & Ice Cream Show in Columbus earlier this month.
Jenkins won the traditional pizza category with his Butcher Shop pizza, claiming the $6,000 first prize. The Butcher Shop also won the Traditional category in 2002 and 2004 when baked by Sean Brauser, Romeo’s founder. The Butcher Shop is a meaty pizza topped with sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon and crumbled meatballs.
Pizza Pizzazz is a competition for pizza shop operators held every year at the convention. Shops compete in traditional and gourmet categories. Jenkins finished fourth in the gourmet category.
In the traditional category, Michael LaMarca of Master Pizza in Mayfield Heights took second place for his Three Little Pigs pie, and Frank Baird of Franco’s Pizza in Chardon finished third for his Sausage Supreme pizza.
Chef back in the kitchen
Chef Angus McIntosh, formerly of Iris in downtown Canton, is back downtown in the kitchen at Tozzi’s Restaurant, 218 Court Ave. NW, Canton, where he is the new grill chef.
March maple madness tour
The Maple Madness Drive-It-Yourself Tour is a yearly event when Ohio maple syrup producers open their facilities to the public.
This year, the tours will be held on March 9, 10, 16 and 17. This year’s tours are expanding farther south and include three stops in Portage County. Producers in Summit, Medina, Stark and Wayne counties also are taking part.
On the tours, visitors can visit maple sugar farms and see how syrup is made. Each farm offers free samples, recipes and guided tours, and will have their own syrup for sale.
For more information about the tours or Ohio maple syrup production, phone 440-834-1415. Visit www.ohiomaple.org/maple-madness to view a listing of producers taking part and the tour brochure.
Akron doughnut shop open
The new Dunkin’ Donuts at 1712 W. Market St., Akron, had its grand opening. The shop is owned by Ken and Jeri Blum, who own 12 franchises in Northeast Ohio.
The location is open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., has seating for 25 and offers free Wi-Fi.
Correction
The fish fry at St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church/Ivan’s Catering, 555 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Fairlawn, is from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Fridays of Lent. Incorrect times for the dinner were included in the Feb. 13 listing of Lenten fish fries.
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.