Showcasing The Best In Charity Meals

Obviously, there’s nothing fortunate about being needy.

But based on a cook-off I helped judge last week between charitable agencies served by the Spokane Food Bank, people who eat at the agencies are lucky to have such talented, caring people cooking for them.

Entries ranged from Stuffed Burger Bundles to Chicken Fiesta Pasta to Salmon Croquettes With Celery Cheese Sauce. The winner was an Oven Frittata from the “Shalom Zone,” Central United Methodist Church’s downtown outreach program.

The basic but delectable baked egg dish (Egg Beaters, actually), loaded with pepperoni, bell peppers and potatoes and topped with a lively, fresh salsa, edged a Reese’s Peanut Butter Pie from the Cornelius House work-release center for top honors.

The frittata is one of the regular recipes the church’s volunteer kitchen director, Cerrell Tarr, whips up for some 2,000 disadvantaged downtown residents each month at the church at Third and Howard.

“We try to get people out of their dreary apartments and have them sit around a table with fresh flowers and treat them with dignity,” she said. “Dining with dignity really asks the best of people.”

Tarr’s frittata will be served along with an array of delicacies from the area’s finest restaurants at the Food Bank’s “Taking a Bite Out of Hunger” benefit dinner and auction May 20 at the Spokane Arena. (Tickets are $35 per person, $60 per couple; for more information, call 534-6678.)

Perhaps more importantly, Central United Methodist gets $1,000 to support its program. The prize was donated by Clinkerdagger, which hosted the cook-off.

Said a delighted Tarr: “That will buy the convection oven I just found for $900.”

Manner of fact

Would you like to learn to dine with a little more dignity yourself? Spokane Community College’s Etiquette Lunch may be just what you need.

During the meal next Tuesday at SCC’s student-managed restaurant, Orlando’s, culinary arts instructor Greg Richards will discuss table manners and social etiquette and share tips for making your own dinner parties a success.

Cost is $8. Seatings are available at 11:30 a.m. and noon. For information and reservations, call 533-7283.

Polish sausage

And speaking of proper etiquette, what’s the tasteful way to dispose of leftover Spam (on those rare occasions when any is actually left over, that is)?

Well, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the much-maligned meat product makes a nifty furniture polish.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

MEMO: We’re always looking for fresh food news. Write to: The Fresh Sheet, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Call 459-5446; fax 459-5098.