Cafe Allegro chef in Food Fest spotlight

Executive chef Joe Nolan of Cafe Allegro on the South Side is a featured cooking instructor at the annual Food Fest from Jan. 27 to 29 at Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa in Morgantown, W.Va. Nolan will be demonstrating how to prepare his "Specialties of the House," including Tomato-Mushroom-Fennel Soup, Salmon en Papillote, and Pork Scalloppine Pronto.

The weekend -- the 21st annual gourmet getaway at the resort -- features nonstop cooking classes and seminars by culinary and nutrition experts. It kicks off on the evening of Jan. 27 with an appearance by popular California pastry chef and cookbook author George Geary, who will bake Pecan Bittersweet Chocolate Pie, California Lemon Curd Cheesecake, Lemon Butter Cookie Sandwiches, and Fast Praline Muffins.

Chef Tom Johnson of the Western Reserve School of Cooking in Hudson, Ohio, and Sur la Table in Columbus, will feature "Comfort Foods," and Bev Shaffer, cooking school director of Mustard Seed Market in Akron, will focus on "The Occasional Vegetarian" for her menu.

Short concurrent seminars include a chocolate class by pastry chef Dan Richardson; a look at homegrown and prepared foods from West Virginia, presented by Teresa Halloran of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture; and healthful eating tips from Karen L. Bright of the state's Family Nutrition Program.

The cost for Food Fest is $349 per couple, plus tax, which includes a double room Friday and Saturday nights, continental breakfasts, a banquet dinner on Saturday evening and all classes and tastings. Reservations are required.

Lakeview resort is 80 miles south of Pittsburgh, just off Interstate 68.

Details: 800-624-8300; in West Virginia, 304-594-1111.