Contests

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has launched an iTuber Take II video contest on YouTube. Spud lovers can work their magic in front of the camera with the Idaho potato in celebration of the International Year of the Potato. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded $3,000 cash and two runners up will each receive $1,000. All qualified entrants will receive an MP3 player. The deadline is Sunday, June 15. For rules and details, visit www.iTuber.org.

The Working Waterfront Festival in New Bedford invites artists 16 and older to submit a creative design for the 2008 Festival T-Shirt. Designs should emphasize the commercial fishing industry and working port. The winning entry will receive a $150 cash prize. Deadline for entries is Friday, May 30. The winner will be announced Thursday, June 12, at the AHA Night in Downtown New Bedford. For information, call (508) 993-8894 or visit info@workingwaterfront festival.org.

The Smithfield Recipe Contest will soon be under way. Entrants submit a recipe at www.smithfield.com between June 10 and Sept. 30 that includes a Smithfield product from the list of bacon, smoked sausage, lunchmeat, smoked chops, ham or fresh pork. In November, Paula Deen will choose the top 10 recipes, which will be posted on www.smithfield.com. Each finalist will receive a 12-piece Deen cookware set and will compete for the $30,000 cash grand prize. Winners will be announced Jan. 15.

On the menu

Starboard Galley Restaurant, 1 Charlestown Beach Rd., Charlestown, (401) 364-7100, www.starboardgalley restaurant.com, has relocated from the seawall in Narragansett. It is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 11:30 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Sunday, serving beer and wine in a 30-seat dining room. The menu includes clam cakes and chowder, and there is entertainment.

Francis Farm, 27 Francis Farm Rd., Rehoboth, (508) 252-3212, will hold a clambake on Sunday at 1 p.m. with chowder, clam cakes, clams, fish, dressing, onions, sausage, white and sweet potato, brown bread and watermelon. Substitute entrée plates are available. Reservations are necessary. The next bake will be Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, at 1.

Lager Nights at Buzzards Bay Brewing are held every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the brewery, 98 Horseneck Rd., Westport, with brewery tours, music and activities. The tasting room will be open. A grill is available for grilling your own food items.

The Coop Café at Sakonnet Vineyards, 162 West Main Rd., Little Compton, is now opened under the operation of Wilhemina’s Catering. A lunch menu will be offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Sunday, June 8. Beginning Friday, June 13, it will be open six days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesday.

Faial Restaurant & Lounge, 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, (401) 231-1100, now offers early bird specials from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Purchase any meal from the menu and receive a complimentary small glass of house wine or a cup of soup of your choice.

Alexandra Day has started a personal chef business called Chez Vous. The chef plans meals, buys the groceries, does the cooking, wraps and stores in convenient servings. She will travel within an hour’s drive of Newport. All ingredients are fresh, natural and mostly organic. She will also cook for parties and special events. Dietary needs can be addressed. For information and to view sample menus, visit www.chezvousri.com, call (401) 847-2540 or e-mail alexchezvous@gmail.com.

This week and weekend

The YMCA/Pawtucket Red Sox will feature an all-you-can-eat barbecue outing on Monday, Memorial Day, from 11 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. as part of the annual Fan Fest at McCoy Stadium (1 Columbus Ave.) in Pawtucket. After the barbecue there will be a chance to win a trip to the Major League All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. During the day there will be opportunities to meet the players and get autographs. Each child will receive a souvenir poster. The game versus the Scranton Yankees begins at 1:05 p.m. After the game, there will be family-friendly activities with Cabot Creamery Cooperative’s 3-A-Day truck.

International House of Rhode Island, 8 Stimson Ave., Providence, will host a Mexican Cultural Pride Dinner and Dance Friday at 6 p.m. The program features homemade Mexican food prepared by Sofia Bucio, Isidro Cruz and Virginia Carrasco. Following the dinner, the troop of Ballet Guadalupano of St. Patrick’s Church will perform folk dances. The cost is $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers and $15 for students. To reserve, call (401) 421-7181.

Normand Leclair, of Red Rooster Tavern fame, will sign copies of his cookbook, Culinary Expressions, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Schartner Farm, Route 2, Exeter.

Warren Baptist Church will host its Fancy Feast dinner on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the church hall, 407 Main St. Tickets are $10; children under 5 eat free. For tickets, call the office at (401) 245-3669.

The Point Judith Fishermen’s Scholarship Fund will hold a Seafood Extravaganza on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the South Kingstown Elks Lodge, 60 Belmont Ave., Wakefield. Local seafood will be prepared by local fishermen. The menu includes calamari, chowders, stuffed quahogs, steamed mussels, stuffed fish, scallops and much more. Tickets are $25 and are limited. To reserve, call the Elks at (401) 783-7819.

Johnson & Wales University Culinary Arts Museum, 315 Harborside Blvd., Providence, has an artisan bread exhibit running now until Friday, June 6. The students in the Artisan and Decorative Breads class were challenged to produce a showpiece that conveyed energy as a theme. Energy was defined in a variety of manners by the students including musical, human, natural, wind, solar and water. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Coming up

Waterman Grille, 4 Richmond Square, Providence, (401) 521-9229, www.watermangrille.com, holds a Col Solare and Antinori wine dinner on Thursday, June 12. Winemaker Marcus Notaro will lead guests through each selection of wine as they are paired with executive chef Michael Conetta’s four-course menu. The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m.; dinner will be served at 7:30. The cost is $79. Reserve.

There will be a Wine Tasting and Food Pairing evening at the Newport Art Museum on Friday, May 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the museum, 76 Bellevue Ave., Newport. The event features wines from top vineyards around the world and appetizers from some of Newport County’s restaurants, caterers and hotels. Guests may place orders for featured wines at discount show prices. Tickets are $50. To reserve, call (401) 848-8200. Tickets will be available at the door.

Industry news

The Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association is accepting nominations for the Restaurant Neighbor Award, a program of the National Restaurant Association. It honors restaurants for their commitment to community service and innovative community projects to underscore the idea that restaurants are the cornerstone of local communities. Restaurant patrons, community activists, restaurateurs and any other member of the community may work with a local restaurant to apply for the award. For more information or to receive a nomination form, contact RIHTA at (401) 223-1120 or visit RIHTA’s Web site at www.rihospitality.org. The deadline is Friday, June 20.

On TV

Cooking with Class features chef Frank Terranova, an associate instructor at Johnson & Wales University, cooking up “copy cat” recipes next week during the noon and 5:30 p.m. newscasts on Channel 10.

gciampa@projo.com