Consumers rolling in tortillas
It appears more Americans are taking the wrap. Thanks in part to the popularity of tortilla wraps as well as the growing Hispanic population, tortillas have become the second most popular bread in America, after white bread, according to a study by the Tortilla Industry Association.
The round, flat bread accounts for 32 percent of sales for the U.S. bread industry -- far surpassing wheat bread, bagels and rolls, according to the study. Over the past two years, annual growth for the tortilla industry was 9 percent, the researchers say.
Details: www.tortilla-info.com .
Wine dinner at Carlton highlights Italy
"Best of Italy" is the theme for a wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday at The Carlton, One Mellon Bank Center, Downtown. Hosted by Stan Lalic, the evening will offer samples from his acquisitions during a recent trip to Italy.
A five-course meal will accompany six wines; the cost is $89 per person, excluding gratuity.
Reservations are required. Details: (412) 391-4099.
Cookware store celebrates 'reopening' Saturday
Balcony Cookware, 1725 Penn Ave. in the Strip District, is having a grand reopening celebration from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Chris Fennimore, on-air personality and program director for WQED, will be signing copies of "QED Cooks," a three-volume series of cookbooks featuring recipes from the Pittsburgh area. Store staff members will provide holiday decorating, gift and cooking ideas, as well as seasonal food samples and door prizes.
Admission is free. Details: (412) 261-5513.
Moroccan chef to open restaurant in Cultural District
Casablanca is a new restaurant set to open at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Cultural District. Owned by Omar Mediouni -- a native of Casablanca and trained in the south of France -- the eatery will offer a French, Moroccan and Spanish fusion cuisine. Mediouni formerly was associated with Le Perroquet and Dish.
Casablanca, 212 Sixth St., is in the former location of Duets restaurant. In addition to the unusual menu, an international wine list from France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Australia will be offered.
Details: (412) 281-3090.
Nutritionist to discuss healthful eating for cancer patients
Registered dietitian Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at UPMC Center for Sports Medicine, will offer ideas for cancer patients on how to develop nutrition strategies for living well, feeling well and getting through treatment. Her talk, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Bloomfield Center Headquarters of the Burger King Cancer Caring Center, 4117 Liberty Ave., is free, but registration is required because seating is limited. Details: (412) 622-1212.
Mushroom club ends year with identification workshop
The Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club will have its last meeting of the year at 7 p.m. Tuesday with a hands-on workshop focusing on identifying mushrooms using photos and keys. Club members will talk about their hunting experiences, and participants are invited to bring mushrooms to be identified.
Admission is free. The workshop is at Beechwood Farms Nature Center, 614 Dorseyville Road, Fox Chapel. Details: (412) 367-7696.
New South Hills restaurant features grill favorites
Victor Tome, the former head chef at Union Grill, has opened Whiskey Hollow Grill in the Banksville Plaza, South Hills.
A casual restaurant, Whiskey Hollow features favorites from the old Union Grill -- turkey Devonshire, crab cakes and a jumbo fish sandwich -- as well as new dishes, including Fresh Salmon Muffaletta and Whiskey Hollow Sirloin. All of the food, including the desserts, is made on premises from scratch.
Tome is a graduate of Chartiers Valley High School and The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.
The restaurant, 3105 Banksville Road, next to Kuhn's Market, opens at 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays for lunch and dinner; it is closed Sundays.
Details: (412) 341-4243.
Mexican chain opens second location in Pittsburgh
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill has opened its second Pennsylvania restaurant, at 3615 Forbes Ave., Oakland, at the corner of Atwood Street. The first site opened in the Point at North Fayette last June.
Baja Fresh, a "Mexican Quick Casual" restaurant that is owned by Wendy's, was founded in 1990 in Southern California and has more than 255 company-owned and franchised locations in 26 states. The menu features made-to-order burritos, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and salads, with a self-service bar offering handcrafted salsas.
Details: (412) 687-7700, www.bajafresh.com or www.pittsburghmexicangrill.com .
Children have opportunity to dine with Santa
Santa Claus will be visiting Trax Farms on Nov. 29 and 30 and on Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 to have breakfast or lunch with area children. Breakfast starts at 9:30 a.m., lunch at 1 p.m. Tickets are $6 per child and can be purchased at the customer service desk at Trax Farms, 528 Trax Road, Finleyville. Refreshments will be available for parents, who are invited to bring cameras.
Details: (412) 835-3246 or www.traxfarms.com .
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Send food and nutrition news to A La Carte, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, D.L. Clark Building, 503 Martindale St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Fax: (412) 320-7966. Or e-mail tribliving@tribweb.com .
