The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program, which supports local high school seniors in pursuit of higher education in the foodservice and hospitality industries. The scholarship awards up to five winners with $1,000 each to be applied toward college education.

A "Taste of Italy" pasta dinner will be held Sunday, Feb. 23, from noon-4 p.m. at St. John de LaSalle Church/St. Charles Borromeo Parish Center, 8477 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls. The dinner will include spaghetti, meatballs, roll, salad, dessert and beverage.

"Toast of the Town," an annual fundraiser for Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo, 595 Delaware Ave.

It's "Chocolate Week" at "The Chew," when the food-centric lifestyle show kicks-off a weeklong celebration focusing on the dark and delicious sweet treat. From cocktails and decadently delicious desserts and dishes to inexpensive gift ideas, "The Chew" has everything viewers need to paint the town red on Valentine's Day.

A chili cook-off to benefit The Friends of Youngstown Free Library was held at Bandana's Bar and Grill on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 2. Ten people made chili and brought it in to be tasted and voted on by a large and hungry crowd.

The Bergholz Volunteer Fire Co. and Ladies Auxiliary's monthly chowder and baked goods sale begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the truck hall on Niagara Road in Bergholz.

On Sunday, Feb 9, the Adams Volunteer Fire Co. will present its final all-you-can-eat farmers breakfast for the season.

Stale bakeries turn to expert Kerry Vincent to revive their sweets and their sales in new series "Save My Bakery," premiering Wednesday, March 19, at 8 p.m. on the Food Network.

Niagara Falls has long been considered a tourist destination because of its natural wonder of the world. This area also continues to expand in the retail industry and is visited by people from all over the world. But, the best-kept secret in Niagara Falls is the abundance of family-owned restaurants.

Food Network's March menu kicks off with new seasons of "Heartland Table" and "Southern at Heart."

The Queen City Roller Girls' travel team, the Lake Effect Furies, have been searching for the best chili the area has to offer. Spicy, savory or sweet; meat lovers or strictly vegetarian - that's OK; these roller derby skaters want it all.

The Ransomville United Methodist Church, 2573 Youngstown Lockport Road, is hosting a country breakfast Saturday, Feb. 22. The breakfast includes scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, fruit, pancakes, homemade baked goods, juice and coffee.

"Shake" (that bottle), "Rattle" (that toy) and "Roll" out the guest of honor: its Daphne Oz's baby shower on "The Chew." It's an hour of laughter and fun so big it has its own hashtag. Viewers are invited to join the celebration via Facebook and Twitter using #BunInTheOven when posting their well wishes to Daphne.

HARBORCENTER President John R. Koelmel unveiled plans for (716) Food and Sport, HARBORCENTER's 13,000-square-foot dining establishment.

"(716) will be dedicated to providing the best-in-class fan, food and sports experience," Koelmel said. "Our commitment to hospitality, quality and community will make HARBORCENTER a dining destination for residents of Western New York and Southern Ontario, as well as numerous visitors to the area."

Located on the corner of Scott Street and Washington Street, (716) will feature fare that is highlighted by Western New York culinary favorites, with an emphasis on locally produced ingredients.

Skilled chefs compete for the opportunity to cook against culinary master Bobby Flay in the new eight-episode competition series "Beat Bobby Flay," premiering Thursday, March 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Wilson has a new coffee shop. The Wilson Brew Co. held its grand opening Saturday, Jan. 18. There were drawings and giveaways for the large crowd that came out on a snowy morning to attend the opening.

"The Chew" is putting its own spin on the super Bowl next week, and "The Chew Search for the Weight Watchers Chef" continues.

With a $50,000 grand prize for charity on the line, celebrities from different walks of life compete in the ultimate "Chopped Tournament of Stars," premiering Sunday, March 9, at 9 p.m. on the Food Network.

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston have asked The Great Foodini owner/operator Michael Attardo for more time before granting his facility contract to operate a food truck on Center Street.

The Western New York community continues to show support to homeless and abandoned animals. Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue reports an outpouring of support for the organization's second annual "Heart to Heart" fundraising event, "A Taste of The Niagara Region."

A second food truck operator is interested in bringing mobile dining to the Village of Lewiston. Chef Michael Attardo, owner and operator of The Great Foodini, will present his plan to trustees at tonight's Village Board meeting.

In May, Lewiston's Christian Willmott pitched trustees The Black Market Food Truck, a mobile gourmet deli sandwich unit he drives in Buffalo. Board members were lukewarm to the idea, but didn't reject it.

Attardo, who is also a Lewiston native, and a Lewiston-Porter High School graduate, has one significant advantage ...

For the next five weeks, culinary professionals from around the country will appear on "The Chew" to showcase their skills in developing and preparing healthy, delicious dishes for a chance to win $75,000 and one-year consulting contract with Weight Watchers as the Weight Watchers Chef.

What you eat is where you are - and there's no better way to know a destination than through its food. Niagara USA is home to 800 farms, 20 wineries, one brewery and even a cideria, so it's no wonder that our culture has seeped into some of the best eateries around.

The Blue Lantern Lounge, located at 6120 Seneca St., Elma, has announced a new venture that will reach beyond its current brick and mortar location. The new "da Blue" food truck will burst onto the scene in early February, taking a unique "street eats" menu direct to the downtown Buffalo lunch scene.

Treat your sweetheart to local wines and chocolate during the Niagara Wine Trail's "Be Mine with Wine" event Feb. 14-16.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, "The Chew" kicks-off "The Chew Search for the Weight Watchers Chef" with its first two competitors.

For the seventh year, Dunkin' Donuts and the American Red Cross are teaming up for the "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" campaign, which provides a coupon for a free pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee to donors at Red Cross blood drives.

Host Tyler Florence returns for the second season of "Food Court Wars," premiering Sunday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network.

Aspiring restaurant owners take the first steps toward achieving their dreams in the new Food Network series "Buy This Restaurant," premiering Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 9 p.m.

Weight Watchers International, in partnership with ABC's hit food and lifestyle show "The Chew" (weekdays, 1 p.m. ET), today introduced the six culinary professional finalists who will compete in "The Chew Search for the Weight Watchers Chef."

NBC and Shine America are launching two unique partnerships with Pinterest and Google+ to promote "The Biggest Loser" (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET) with exclusive digital content and expert advice based in fitness, food and lifestyle, beginning today and continuing through the series' live season finale Tuesday, Feb. 4.

It may be January, but temperatures are heating up in the "Top Chef" kitchen. Soon the final chef'testants will pack their knives ... and head to Maui, Hawaii, for the two-part finale, airing Wednesday, Jan. 29, and Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 10 p.m.

Starting the new year with additional unit growth, Sonic Drive-In has announced expansion plans in the state of New York with a franchise agreement bringing eight new drive-ins to Buffalo within the next six years. The nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants has reached an agreement with Kevin DiPirro to develop these locations, with the first planned to open in the spring of 2015. The eight drive-in locations will extend throughout Niagara and Erie counties.

Celebrity chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon and Carla Hall, entertaining expert Clinton Kelly and health and wellness enthusiast Daphne Oz welcome the new year with a slew of great tips.

It's that time of the year when people look back on years past and identify goals they want to achieve in the year ahead. According to USA.gov, nearly half of the most popular New Year's resolutions each year are health-related.

"Despite good intentions, the majority of Americans give up on their New Year's resolutions within the first few weeks of the new year," said Gail Marchese, wellness coordinator at Tops. "For those making health-related resolutions, there are simple ways to make smarter food and lifestyle choices that can be easily incorporated into your daily lives."

Here are a few wellness, smart eating, and food shopping tips from Tops to ease the transition to a healthier lifestyle in 2014 and beyond.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is accepting online applications year-round from Western New York restaurants, food trucks and wineries interested in participating in Buffalo's premier summertime food festival.

The International Bottled Water Association reminds consumers that maintaining proper hydration throughout the winter months is important. The main reason is that, in the winter, people tend not to notice they are dehydrated because they aren't sweating as much.

The Niagara Wine Trail has announced the addition of its 20th member winery, Schwenk Wine Cellars, located off of Route 18 at 1456 Bills Road in the Town of Kent (Orleans County).

Water Street Landing is unquestionably one of Lewiston's most popular spots to dine in the warm months. But what do patrons do in the winter?

The restaurant recently debuted an outdoor seating area that is lit by a fire pit, which also provides warmth.

Dunkin' Donuts has opened a new restaurant at 628 Main Road in Irving, conveniently located at the entrance to Interstate 90. The restaurant is the first of two Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the greater Buffalo area to incorporate the brand's new "Fresh Brew" design, which features a contemporary layout, color scheme, lighting, seating and other modern conveniences.