MMM ... MEATLOAF
It's one of the humblest and homeliest dishes around. And it's getting a makeover next month.
Six local chefs will take a crack at making memorable meatloaf during the Comfort Food Classic on Oct. 3 at the Holiday Inn near 72nd and Grover Streets. The competition, now in its fourth year, raises money for Ted E. Bear Hollow.
This year's competitors are chefs Jennifer Coco of the Flatiron Cafe, Leo Fascianella of Pasta Amore, Mark Kantaras of Kona Grill, Rob Mattoch of Taste, Luis Palacio of 84th Street Cafe and Dan Tweedy of Blue Planet Natural Grill.
Attendees taste and vote on the dishes. The winning chef gets $500 and bragging rights.
Last year's potato battle raised nearly $54,000 for Ted E. Bear Hollow, the Omaha-based nonprofit that provides day camps, support groups and other services for grieving children, teens and their families.
The event runs from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $75 per person. For reservations, visit www.comfortfoodclassic.com or call 502-2773.
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THE NEW DEAL ON MONDAYS AT DANTE
Starting next week, Dante Pizzeria Napoletana is adding Monday hours (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and offering three-course $20 prix-fixe dinners on Monday nights.
Chef Nick Strawhecker said the fixed-price meal deal will change weekly. Next week's involves roasted mussels, house-made ricotta tortellini and gelato. You can get wine pairings for a little more.
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(BLUE) PLANETARY SHIFTS
Burgers and such at Blue Planet Natural Grill now are made with Thistles & Clover beef from grass-fed Angus cows raised near Danbury, Iowa.
“Although they have not been certified as organic, they use organic practices in raising their cattle,” restaurant co-owner Tom Smith said of Thistles & Clover.
The eatery also has launched a new version of its website, blueplanetnaturalgrill.com, complete with blogs and a Twitter feed.
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A LATER DATE FOR Q
Omahans John and Allison Querry had planned to open Q Consumables — a from-scratch local breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant in the former Café de Paris spot at 1228 S. Sixth St. — a month ago. Niggling little renovation issues, such as a carpet that refuses to lay flat, have pushed the opening back a bit. John Querry said Thursday that, fingers crossed, they're now aiming to open by next Friday.
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FOODIE FUNDRAISERS APLENTY
Soup's on for the Open Door Mission's third annual walk-a-thon.
Cooks from Biaggi's, Brookstone Village, Chatty Squirrel, Hiro 88, Kona Grill, Lo Sole Mio, Mimi's Cafe, Q'Doba, Upstream Brewing Co., Westgate Assisted Living and the mission are making soup for those who cross the finish line. The Bread Oven, Orsi's Bakery and Rotella's Bakery will be doling out freshly baked bread.
The event is a one-mile walk from Gallup University to the mission. It runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 19. The entry fee is $19.20 per adult, enough to cover the cost of 10 meals for the homeless people the mission serves. It gets you a T-shirt, a mission tour and a shuttle ride back to your car — not to mention soup, bread, exercise and good karma. To register, visit www.opendoormission.org.
Also Sept. 19, the Omaha Restaurant Association holds its annual “Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen” dinner at the Embassy Suites in La Vista.
Executive chefs from Ameristar Casino, Bellevue Medical Center, Kona Grill, Le Voltaire, Liberty Tavern, Magnolia Hotel, M's Pub, Spencer's for Steaks and Chops, Sullivan's, Vivace and Zurlo's Bistro Italiano cook elaborate multicourse meals for tables of 10. Diners don't find out which chef is cooking their table's meal until that evening.
Proceeds benefit the ORA Foundation, which supports the Food Bank for the Heartland and funds local culinary scholarships. Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. dinner, and 5:30 p.m. cocktail hour, cost $100 per person. For reservations, call 493-4739 by Monday.
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TASTINGS GALORE
Like Scotch? Check out one of several tastings at the Dundee Dell, which specializes in all things single-malt. There's the annual primer, “Scotch 101,” at 7 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Sept. 19. There's a tasting of 12 Bruichladdich whiskeys at 7 p.m. Sept. 21. And there's a Tullibardine whiskey tasting at 7 p.m. Oct. 4. Cost for each is $50 per person. For reservations (required), call 553-9501 or e-mail monique@dundeedell.com.
The WheatFields Eatery & Bakery at One Pacific Place is celebrating fall's impending arrival with a German wine dinner hosted by Bavarian chef Johanna Ruckman at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Owner Ron Popp said Ruckman will do some of the cooking and share Oktoberfest tales from her homeland during the meal, which involves four courses (a cheese plate, a salad trio, chicken dumpling soup, and roulades and bratwurst with spaetzle and sweet-and-sour cabbage) paired with German wines and Warsteiner beer. Cost is $45 per person. For reservations (required), call 955-1485.
Eli Caniglia's Venice Inn plans a four-course wine dinner with Gary Hogue, co-owner of Washington winery Hogue Cellars, at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21. The meal includes Italian antipasto, salad, New York strip steak, berry pavlova and Hogue wines to match. Cost is $65 per person, tax included. For reservations (required), call 556-3111.
Le Voltaire plans an al fresco fall wine event from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 26 behind the restaurant. Cost is $35 per person and includes a Schott Zwiesel tasting glass, appetizers and samples of more than 35 wines from around the globe and locally made Lucky Bucket beer and Joss vodka. For reservations, call 934-9374
— Nichole Aksamit
Got restaurant news, questions or tips? Call food writer Nichole Aksamit at 444-1069, or e-mail nichole.aksamit@owh.com. Dining Notes runs Fridays.
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