Food

At the outset of Bill Buford's engaging new book, "Heat," he tells of a friend who was fed a marathon six-hour meal by celebrity chef Mario Batali. "This guy knows no middle ground," says the friend, who spent the next several days on a detox diet of fruit and water. "It's just excess on a level I've never known before – it's food and drink, food and drink, food and drink, until you feel you're on drugs."

Cucumbers Look for: Rich green skin free of yellowing, bruises or dark spots. Pickling cucumbers are smaller with bumpy lighter green skin.

Taste Everything Once blogger Jennifer Olsen is handing over the keyboard this week. Olsen, who writes about food, cooking and local restaurants at www.tasteeverythingonce.com, has invited local chefs and foodies to take over her blog this week.

Another neighborhood farmers' market has opened in North Spokane. The North Spokane Farmers' Market will operate from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturdays in the parking lot at the Aslin-Finch Feed and Seed Supply, 10505 N. Newport Highway.

The recent blast of hot weather reminded Mardy Roseborough of the Watermelon Pickles her mother used to make. She called to ask for the Dorothy Dean recipe. "My mother made these for years, and talk about delicious," Roseborough said.

It's a dieter's dream dressing. No more guessing when it comes to the number of calories drizzled on salad. Simply count the times you press the pump. Wishbone's new Salad Spritzers vinaigrettes have a single calorie in each spray.

Retired professional baker Art Gallant, who was featured in last week's food section, inadvertently transposed the measurements for cinnamon and allspice in a recipe he shared with The Spokesman-Review. Gallant, who is often experimenting with new recipes, shared his formula for Root Beer Cookies.

Rockin' B Ranch Cowboy Supper Show - Thursdays-Saturdays, 5:45-9 p.m., through Sept. 30. Fun-filled family atmosphere with fiddlers, a cowboy shoot-out, a kids posse, and after dinner boot-tappin' Western music by the Riders of the Rockin' B on the main stage. Reservations required. 3912 Spokane Bridge Road, Liberty Lake. (509) 891-9016. Community Cook-out - Presented by the East Central Senior Center. Enjoy barbecue hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, veggies, potato chips, watermelon and ice cream while listening to bluegrass music. The Just Friends bluegrass band performs at 1:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the low-cost senior activities at the center. Thursday. 1 p.m., East Central Senior Center, 500 S. Stone St. $5 (donations are appreciated). (509) 625-6693.

Washington Spokane Farmers' Market – Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct. 28 and Wednesdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct. 25, Second Avenue, between Division and Browne streets. (509) 455-4266.

The latest grilling cookbooks dish up a wide range of marinades, rubs and sauces for meat, poultry, fish, fruit and vegetables. Best advice from several of them? Make more than you need so you can pack sandwiches for lunch or make an easy salad with leftovers. Here are some of the best newcomers:

Don't forget to send in entries for the "Legendary Lentil Cook-off" at Pullman's National Lentil Festival by Friday. Organizers are hoping the new cash prizes will inspire people to cook up a lentil-centered concoction for the competition. First place will be awarded $1,000, second is worth $750 and the third place winner receives $500. The categories for the competition include: main dishes, breads, salads, desserts, soups, side dishes, and snacks. The top six recipes will be tasted and judged by 400 attendees at the National Lentil Festival in Reaney Park in Pullman.

The Campus Kitchen at Gonzaga University has honored its first class of culinary students. Six people graduated last week from the new training program at the kitchen which turns unused campus meals into food for the needy.

Phyllis Pellman Good is known for her easy slow cooker recipes. Now she's added a new line of cookbooks to her repertoire. The "Fix-it and Enjoy-it Cookbook" will appeal even to those who don't have a lot of confidence in the kitchen. It's packed with pass-along recipes that call for common ingredients and everything can be made quickly on the stovetop or in the oven.

Oregon and Washington blueberries are coming into season and growers will be picking the berries through August. Here are some recipes from blueberry commissions in Washington and Oregon to help jump start your holiday picnics: Red, White and Blueberry Pound Cake and Ane's Blueberry Pie.

We're welcoming a new voice to The Spokesman-Review's Grapevine column. Starting next month, wine writer Paul Gregutt will lend his expertise on Northwest wines in this monthly column.

Rockin' B Ranch Cowboy Supper Show - Thursdays-Saturdays, 5:45-9 p.m., through Sept. 30. Fun-filled family atmosphere with fiddlers, a cowboy shoot-out, a kids posse and after dinner a show on the main stage with boot-tappin' Western music by the Riders of the Rockin' B. Reservations required. 3912 Spokane Bridge Road, Liberty Lake. (509) 891-9016. Walla Walla Boutique Reds - Balanced, beautiful and affordable wines from Walla Walla. Reservations and prepayment requested. Friday. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $25. (509) 343-2253.

Thanks to a tasty combination of peanut butter, banana and chocolate, you can call Marvin Highrock "Marvelous Marvin" now. Highrock, 39, has worked at Cyrus O'Leary's Pies for the past three years. He's the leader of the crew that works the fruit pie machine.