Strap the feed bags on.....

With an empty stomach, a knife and fork in hand. Tracy and I walked in the door at the International Market Square for the City Pages Iron Fork benefit. With an 30 dollar price tag and 100 percent of the proceeds going to Second Harvest Heartland. I thought it was an excellent event.

While many of the attendees (about 700) seemed to be going straight for the beverages (wine and beer). We went straight for the food. From the 28 of the restaurants I think that we managed to taste just about all of them. We skipped over a few of the because of food that we didn't care for.

The food was in three different categories; appetizers, signature dishes, and dessert. Regardless of the categories, it was prepared in ways that were found from all corners of the world. All in all, it was a great event that benefited an excellent cause. I left full, satisfied, happy and look forward to this event next fall. By the way here are my favorites.

Appetizers:

Barbette: Chicken liver patte w/ cherries----Excellent, dry brothy taste with sweet undertones from the cherries.

Sea Salt Eatery: Oysters on the half shell----Clean tasting, no grit, beautiful!


Signature Dishes:

Marla's Indian & Caribbean Cuisine: Jamaican jerk Chicken, vegetable curry, rice and beans----This was awesome, chicken fell apart in your mouth, the curry was unbelievable mild spice that warmed your mouth, the rice and beans were pasty and wonderfully spiced.

Shish Mediterranean Grill: Spinach pie, falafel, hummus, grape leaves, and pita chips----It was very clean tasting, not heavy but healthy tasting, spices that surprised your mouth, and a great aftertaste of garlic that reminded me that I should eat here again.

Dessert:

Afton House Inn: Mini pumpkins filled with pumpkin custard---This should be the new pumpkin pie! They were cooked then frozen with wonderful smooth custard, placed in the gutted pumpkin cavity, I had 3 of them...need I say more.

Wild Cards....worth mentioning.

Pizza Luce': Baked Potato pizza---imagine mashed potato's instead of tomato sauce on a pizza. Try it! Trust me you love it!

Jay's Cafe: BBQ pork and wild mushroom pasty---These were excellent, smokey, warm, doughy, moist, excellently done. I had many more then one.