Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now

Dial In Today For Some Real Grill Talk

Rick Bonino Food Editor

Excuse us, but shouldn’t you be barbecuing tonight?

No fooling — today marks the opening of the Weber Grill-Line (1-800-474-5568), which will dispense expert advice about barbecuing from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST through Labor Day.

Callers this year can request a free copy of “A Barbecuer’s Dozen of Rib-Ticklin’ Recipes,” which features 13 recipes for grilled ribs along with accompanying side dishes.

If you’re really serious about searing stuff over flames, there’s again a big barbecue competition coming up May 9 at the 52nd Annual 49er Days in Winthrop, Wash., with a $50 entry fee and a $600 grand prize.

There’s also a Chili Appreciation Society International-sanctioned chili contest ($22 entry fee), and a “People’s Choice” chili cookoff for amateurs ($5). Entry deadline is May 1; for more information, call Bob Lyon of the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association at (425) 643-0607.

Meet your makers

If you’re looking for something wholesome to barbecue, Mel Coleman, a Colorado rancher who raises natural beef and lamb without any antibiotics or growth hormones, will discuss his products Saturday at Huckleberry’s Fresh Markets. He’ll be at the South Hill store (926 S. Monroe) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at the Spokane Valley store (15510 E. Sprague) from 2 to 5 p.m.

On the meatless side, Shelly Limacher, a California vegetarian gourmet cook, also will be in town this weekend demonstrating her Compleat Kitchen cheese tortas.

The handmade feta cheese appetizers come in Southwest Sicilian (basil pesto and roasted red peppers) and Sunburst (green onion pesto and yellow peppers) versions. Look for Limacher on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Heights Rosauers, and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Huckleberry’s on Monroe.

Truth or consequences

Wondering whether to trust the nutrition information you find in the media (outside of these always-reliable pages, of course)?

The American Council on Science and Health just released its 1995-96 “Nutrition Accuracy in Popular Magazines” survey. The results:

Excellent: Consumer Reports (95 percent rating), Better Homes and Gardens (92), Good Housekeeping (90).

Good: Glamour (89), Parents (88), Health (87), Reader’s Digest (86), Prevention (86), Woman’s Day (85), Cooking Light (85), McCall’s (83), Redbook (83), Runner’s World (82), Shape (81), Men’s Health (81).

Fair: Fitness (79), Mademoiselle (79), Self (77), Cosmopolitan (74), Muscle & Fitness (70).

Poor: New Woman (69).

, DataTimes 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.

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.