The Utah Botanical Center Farmers Market is hosting a free Totally Tomato Taste Testing Aug. 19, 6-8 p.m. There will be 25 different tomato varieties to sample, produced in the research plots at the Utah Botanical Center. Local chefs will compete in a salsa-making contest. The market is at 700 S. 500 West, Kaysville, near the Kaysville ponds (www.utahbotanicalcenter.org/htm/events/farmersmarket).
Whole My Goodness! Is a new Utah-based company offering mixes and treats made with organic, 100 percent whole grains and nonrefined sweeteners. The first products offered are a whole wheat chocolate chip cookie mix made with whole wheat, dehydrated cane juice and grain-sweetened chocolate chips; an oatmeal raisin cookie mix with organic whole wheat flour, dehydrated cane juice, organic oats and organic raisins, both for $8; and a cocoa mix sweetened with dehydrated cane juice, for $8.25. The company is the brainchild of Joseph and Catherine Price. (www.wholemygoodness.com/index.html)
Kohl's stores are currently selling the cookbook "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld for $5. The net profit goes to the Kohl's Cares Program benefiting children's health and education charities nationwide.
Caputo's on 15th opened last week at 1516 S. 1500 East. The market is a concentrated version of Tony Caputo's Market & Deli in downtown Salt Lake City. The store offers sandwiches, salads and Italian dishes, as well as ingredients such as artisan cheeses, cured meats, gourmet chocolates, olive oil, vinegar and pasta. The store hosts a Locavore Market on Thursday evening, featuring local food artisans, farmers and ranchers. Both Caputo's stores are 100 percent wind powered. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
A & W Restaurants are offering a free A & W root beer float to fans of its Facebook page. After voting on whether they use a straw or spoon with their root beer floats, fans can print a coupon. The promotion ends Aug. 21.
The Smokin' In Mesquite BBQ Championship takes place Sept. 3-5 at the CasaBlanca Resort in Mesquite, offering $40,000 in cash and prizes. The contest is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. Entry fee is $400 (www.blackgaming.com/BBQ-Form.html)
The 6th Annual Feast of Five Senses takes place on Aug. 15, 5 p.m. at Kimball Distributing Viking Showroom, 2223 South, 300 East. Local chefs will create a meal using local foods and artisan products, with the proceeds going to Slow Food Utah's program such as the Food Artisan Micro Grants Fund. Participating chefs are David Hammel of Liberty Heights Fresh, Greg Neville of Lugano, Viet Pham of Forage, Nathan Powers of Bambara, Michael Richey of Pago and Amber Billingsly of Vinto. Tickets are $85 per person, with a $35 optional wine pairing. Tickets for the Chefs Kitchen Table are $115 per person, with a $35 optional wine pairing. Tickets are available online at www.slowfoodutah.org or by calling 801-278-4317.
Bambara, 202 S. Main, is offering "The Lion King" special during the show's run at the Capitol Theater Aug. 11-Sept. 26. Guests showing their tickets when ordering a preshow dinner will be treated to Bambara's house specialty, bleu cheese house-cut potato chips (one per table.)
Winder Farms is now delivering milk, cream and butter to all seven of the Market Street Broiler, Grill and Oyster Bar.
"As part of our commitment to buy and serve the highest quality products available, and to purchase locally when superior products are obtainable, we are pleased to serve Winder products in our restaurants," says Tom Guinney, principal with Gastronomy, Inc.
The Utah-based dairy has been in business 130 years.
e-mail: vphillips@desnews.com