Restaurant Wins Award

The Primadonna Restaurant has added another award to its trophy case.

The McKees Rocks restaurant has won a DiRoNA Award, making it one of only 723 restaurants in more than 300 North American cities to be so honored.

The DiRoNA Award was established by Distinguished Restaurants of North America in 1990 to promote distinguished dining throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. To win a DiRoNA Award, a restaurant must pass a 75-point criteria evaluation program conducted anonymously.

Other DiRoNA recipients in the area are The Carlton Downtown, Hyeholde in Moon, The Golden Trout in Farmington and Valozzi's in Greensburg.

The Primadonna Restaurant will be honored Sept. 26 at an awards gala in Montreal.

HEARTY CHILI

Yes, it's almost May. But because the evenings can still be brisk, keep this recipe handy.

Besides being a healthy dinner choice, this chili is a one-pot meal. Just add a salad for a complete dinner.

The recipe is from Tabasco.

Three-Bean Chili

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 ½-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 ½-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 ½-ounce) can black beans, drained
• 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt

Heat oil in 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, green pepper and garlic. Cook until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Stir in tomatoes with their liquid, red kidney beans, garbanzo beans, black beans, Tabasco sauce and salt. Heat mixture to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer for 15 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally.

Makes 6 servings.

FOOD SAFETY CONTEST

Is your favorite restaurant or market spotless• Does the staff pay particular attention to food safety•

If so, recommend it for an Excellence in Food Protection Award from the Allegheny County Health Department.

The award recognizes facilities that go above and beyond the minimum health code requirements and undertake extraordinary efforts in food safety and sanitation.

Any type of food facility in the county can be nominated, including restaurants, caterers, grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, specialty food stores, institutions, processors and warehouses.

The winners will be announced in September during National Food Safety Education Month. The deadline for submitting nominations is Saturday.

Details: (412) 687-2243.

KIDS COOKING VIDEO

'Elmo's Magic Cookbook' is a lesson in cooking for kids. The video features the lovable little red monster from 'Sesame Street' and many of his pals.

The magic begins when Elmo and his friends find a jewel-covered cookbook. Elmo rubs the cover and out pops Jean the Genie. She is able to grant food wishes. The only catch is that she can make the ingredients magically appear, and they must do the rest.

Chef Emeril Lagasse pops in and teaches the kids how to make pizza. While the children are flattening the dough, pouring on the sauce and sprinkling the cheese, they meet a talking tomato, a glass of milk and a cow all clamoring to be praised for their contributions to the pizza-making process.

The next visit is from Broadway star Heather Headley ('Aida'). She teaches Elmo about food pockets. The magic cookbook transports viewers to China and the Middle East to see different kinds of food pockets.

Preschoolers like doing grown-up things. This video, while full of silly characters and cartoon snippets, shows important cooking lessons such as 'don't touch the stove' and 'never cook without an adult.'

CRATE CLASSES

The following classes will be at Crate, 1960 Greentree Road, Green Tree:

Lunch & Learn: Noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Make Linguine with Shrimp in Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce, Spring Greens with Raspberry Vinaigrette and Lemon Thins. $15.

Puff Pastry: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. $100.

Cinco de Mayo: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. This class celebrates the food of the traditional Mexican holiday. $35.

Sausage Making: 6 to 9 p.m. May 7. $45.

Herbal Dinner: 6 to 9 p.m. May 7. This class uses fresh herbs to make a meal. $40.

Lunch & Learn: Noon to 1 p.m. May 9. Make Pork Medallions with Lemon Herb Sauce and Roasted Spring Vegetables. $40.

Details: (412) 341-5700.

RANIA'S CLASSES

The following classes will be at Rania's to Go, 100 Central Square, Mt. Lebanon:

The Biggest Burrito: 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Bill Fuller of the Big Burrito Group will lead the class. $40.

Pasta, Risotto and Other Starches: 7 to 9 p.m. May 7. This class will focus on pasta as well as risotto, polenta and potatoes. $40.

Spring Dinner Fling: 7 to 9 p.m. May 9. This class features recipes that make eight servings. $40.

Caffe Giovanni: 7 to 9 p.m. May 15. John Vennare of Caffe Giovanni will instruct. $40.

Tuscany: 7 to 9 p.m. May 17. This class features recipes from the Tuscan region of Italy. $40.

Details: (412) 531-2222.

- From staff and wire reports

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 .