In an effort to support local area high school seniors in their pursuit of higher education in the food service and hospitality industries, the Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is now accepting applications for its annual scholarships. Up to five scholarship winners will each receive $1,000 to be applied toward their college education.

Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, the Grand Island Rotary Club has returned to a favorite fundraiser: a chili sale.

Niagara University has announced that Deirdre Bartholomew has been named the new dining manager for Sodexo, the company that provides dining and hospitality services on campus.

Dunkin' Donuts restaurant owner and manager Paul Orsino didn't need fancy market research to tell him that opening a restaurant on Grand Island would work.

The Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial VFW Post 9249 Ladies Auxiliary will host an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the post, 2121 Grand Island Blvd., Grand Island.

The Lewiston Village Pub will mark four years on Center Street with a celebration beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19.

As part of its celebration of 25 years of service to families of children with special needs, Parent Network of WNY is holding Dining Out for Parent Network.

The Bergholz Fire Co. and Ladies Auxiliary's monthly chowder and baked goods sale will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the truck hall on Niagara Road.

The Village of Lewiston Planning Board is expected to discuss Emery Simon's plans to convert 755 Center St. North into a wine bar at Tuesday's meeting.

For the fifth year in a row, 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 all presenting donors at Red Cross blood drives during the month of January in the greater Buffalo area.

Visit Adams Volunteer Fire Company for its all-you-can-eat farmers breakfast this month on Sunday, Jan. 8.

The "Cake Boss" is coming back to Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel this February as the "Kitchen Boss." Buddy Valastro, a master chef and star of shows "Cake Boss" and "Kitchen Boss" on TLC, provides an up-close, interactive, Italian-cooking demonstration at Seneca Niagara Events Center.

Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial VFW Post 9249, 2121 Grand Island Blvd., will host an all-you-can-eat "Soup Night."

Keeping up a 41-year tradition, free coffee and hot tea will be available to travelers along the New York State Thruway on New Year's Eve.

Dunkin' Donuts today announced a New Year's Day initiative to celebrate 2012 as the year of "20 Dozen." The first 20 guests to visit a participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in the greater Buffalo area after 7 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2012 will receive a dozen donuts for free.

The snow may have just started to fly, but preparations for the 2012 Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops are well under way. The event is now accepting applications from restaurants and wineries interested in participating in one of the region's favorite summer events. The 2012 Taste of Buffalo is set for July 7 and 8 in downtown Buffalo.

Amateur cook and blogger Melissa Sperka of Greensboro, N.C., beat out nearly 900 competitors in the Flour Power baking contest with her caramel, chocolate and almond "Gooey Butter Cake." The contest was hosted by Just A Pinch Recipe Club, the online food-focused social network at www.justapinch.com.

The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center will host the fifth annual "Art of Beer" at the NACC on March 9, 2012. Tickets are now available in the NACC office.

Tis the season to eat drink and be merry. Celebrate the holiday season as SOAPnet airs "'The Chew's' Countdown to Christmas" marathon on Saturday, Dec. 17, and Sunday, Dec. 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., bringing viewers more of all the food, drinks, gift ideas and helpful hints to tackle last minute holiday cooking, shopping and festivities.

The festivities are in full swing at "The Chew," television's holiday headquarters this season. Hosted by celebrity chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon and Carla Hall, entertaining and style expert Clinton Kelly and health and wellness enthusiast Daphne Oz, "The Chew" invites viewers into its kitchen weekday afternoons to dish about everything from easy entertaining to making meals on a budget, while celebrating and exploring through food.

As the holidays inch closer, it's time to celebrate the great dishes and wishes of cooking and baking this celebration season at the Niagara Holiday Market's "Taste of the Season" weekend, sponsored by Wegmans, Friday, Dec. 16, to Sunday, Dec. 18, in the heart of Niagara Falls.

The three-day event will feature cooking demonstrations, tastings/pairings, celebrity chef appearances and delicious events, as a part of the Holiday Market's successful run in the Cataract City. The events are all free and will be held at Conference Center Niagara Falls on Old Falls Street, just west of the Seneca Niagara Casino. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, with beverages and food samplings.

"We're thrilled to offer three jolly and yummy days in the Falls to celebrate the best of this special time of year," said Mark Rivers, the CEO of Brix and Company, the Holiday Market's organizer. "With the magic of Wegmans, our wonderful regional purveyors and special stars, I know this will be a terrific time for something for everyone. Food and wine are a highly popular element of the market itself and, we know that folks will enjoy these special events. Please come and join us!"

Other well-known participants include: First Light Farm and Creamery, Zillycakes, Woodbury Vineyards, Flying Bison Brewery, Nectars of the Vine, All That Chocolate, Brothers of Mercy, Rosina, Sahlens, Upstate Milk and Yancey's Fancy.

Appearances by "Top Chef" winner Kevin Sbraga and Cooking Channel star Roger Mooking will headline the event.

Representatives from Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Buffalo and Tops Friendly Markets today announced a customer-driven fundraising campaign to raise funds for patient quality-of-life programs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Looks like the Lewiston ice rink is starting to take off, both in popularity and events.

Representatives from Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Dunkin' Donuts gather to announce the "Cups for Roswell" program at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo on Wednesday.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I- Lewiston, today called the so-called 'fat tax' "a blatant Albany money grab, plain and simple." He said downstate politicians are once again pushing the levy, which was rejected by New Yorkers in 2009.

During the Monday, Nov. 28, episode of "The Chew," ABC Daytime's new lifestyle series announced the launch of "The Chew Holiday Cookie Swap," a nationwide search for the most scrumptious and unique holiday cookie recipes. Hosted by "Iron Chef America" stars Mario Batali and Michael Symon, "Top Chef" alum Carla Hall, entertaining and style expert Clinton Kelly, and health and wellness enthusiast Daphne Oz, "The Chew" brings viewers a daily dose of food, life and fun, along with information on how to live a more full and healthy life.

Diana Sproveri is bringing her signature dessert to Ryan Miller's annual fundraiser.

From long waits to short tempers, undercooked food to over-sauced fare, there's nothing worse than poor service at a restaurant. Fortunately, most of Western New York's restaurants excel at pairing exceptional cuisine with outstanding service.

In our new Web contest, we want to hear from you: Which restaurant has the best service? Where can you go to find a great meal served in a warm and inviting atmosphere?

The restaurant with the most votes will receive a special recognition and a write-up in all four of our newspapers.

Nov. 18 to 20 is the Niagara Wine Trail's "Share the Bounty" event.

Knights of Columbus Council 14622 sponsors its fourth annual pasta dinner, to be served at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 1023 Swann Road, Lewiston. The event runs from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, the opening of the shrine's 21st annual Festival of Lights.

From long waits to short tempers, undercooked food to over-sauced fare, there's nothing worse than poor service at a restaurant. Fortunately, most of Western New York's restaurants excel at pairing exceptional cuisine with outstanding service.

Why bake for the holidays when the Fiores will do it for you?

That's Michael Fiore's thought, anyway. He and his wife, Lindsay, are the new owners of the Village Bake Shoppe at 417 Center St., Lewiston. On Thursday morning, the store will reopen with a new look, newly painted walls, the previous staff ... and original owner Bridget Schroeder's from-scratch recipes.

Michael, who has known Bridget for several years, says her no-mix, original cakes, pies, cookies and brownies "can't be easily duplicated."

Pairing high-end products with a fresh décor, he says his plan is to develop the Village Bake Shoppe into "more of an attraction."

"I want this place to be a destination," Michael says.

Old Falls Street, Global Spectrum, the Pine Avenue Business Association and The Como Restaurant are teaming up to put on the second annual night of Italian fare, family, wine, and a good time on Thursday Nov. 17. "Italian Feast Night" will be presented from 6 until 10 p.m. at The Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St., Niagara Falls.

"Italian Feast Night" is catered by The Como Restaurant and The Conference Center of Niagara Falls. Guests can enjoy an Italian buffet of traditional dishes, including pasta, Italian delights and a variety of delectable desserts. Additionally, the celebration will have music by The Formula Band to set the Italian mood.

Italians have a long tradition in the area of Niagara Falls. This feast is a fundraiser for the Pine Avenue Business Association, which continues to preserve culture and traditions in the area.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, and include a complementary beverage. Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Conference Center Niagara Falls, the Como Restaurant (on Pine Avenue), and The Pine Avenue Business Association.

St. Peter's Lutheran School, 6168 Walmore Road, Sanborn, will hold a Chiavetta's "Drive-Thru" chicken barbecue from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at the school.

The cost is $8 and includes half a chicken, baked potato, corn, dinner roll with butter and a brownie, along with condiments and utensils so you're ready to eat.

The fundraiser is sponsored by the seventh- and eighth-grade classes to raise funds for their New York City trip in the spring. This is a long running tradition at St. Peter's for the upperclassmen to take a bigger "field trip" away every other year.

As Halloween approaches, Dunkin' Donuts has brewed a bewitching selection of wickedly good treats to help guests and ghosts alike celebrate the season. Whether you're haunting a Halloween party or trick-or-treating with your favorite ghouls and goblins, Dunkin' Donuts can make the scary holiday much sweeter.

Wheatfield residents are invited to a free pancake breakfast on Sunday, Oct. 30.

Healthy and Halloween are not often used in the same sentence. Halloween is usually seen as a time to get dressed up, gather sugary treats, and enjoy the spookiness of the season. TOPS Club Inc. provides tips to stock the kids' bags with better treats, host a healthy party, and more.

It's inevitable that kids will receive candy, so parents should take steps to limit sugar consumption. Feeding children a nutritious meal before trick-or-treating will help curb their urge to snack on sweets. Once the candy is home, adults can let kids pick out their favorite pieces and decide how much to have each day.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony for Brennan's Irish Pub, 418 Main St., Youngstown.

Lewiston's Hops-N-Vines is hosting its first-ever pumpkin-carving contest.

America's favorite pies are now available. Just in time for Thanksgiving, the "little old church ladies" at the Island Presbyterian Church on Huth Road are busy baking their famous homemade pies once again.

Their pies are 9-inch, deep pan pies, all made from scratch with hand-rolled crusts. Bakers peel and slice apples, add the spices and top each apple pie with another hand-rolled and crimped crust.