Keswick offers taste of life from Down Under
Keswick Hall’s Australian Wine Dinner will begin with a reception 6:45 p.m. Thursday, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

I told you about the importance of Chinese food in the history of world foods. This week I’ll delve into the Greek contribution in food history. As with food of China that of Greece is closely linked to the country’s history, philosophy and art.
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Bake a pie, make a date at Friday’s auction
Charlottesville Food Not Bombs will offer its “pie-date auction’’ at 8 p.m. Friday at Ourspace.
The rules are simple: Bake a pie, and the highest bidder on the pie gets a date with the baker.

I have noticed that more and more people are including chicken, in one form or another, in their grocery baskets. Is this a sign of the times? It is for Allan and I. We have enjoyed chicken for years, and s we grow older, we are eating less and less red meat.

Wines of Virginia and France featured in gala
The International School of Charlottesville will present its Gala 2008: From Champagne to Charlottesville at 6 p.m. Thursday at the University of Virginia’s Alumni Hall.
The event begins with a silent auction and wine tasting featuring wines from Virginia and France, sponsored by Acorn Hill Winery, Thibaut and Janisson Sparkling Wines and Crush Wine Shop. Dinner and a live auction will follow.

One of my favorite interests is history, particularly food history. The other day I was wondering about who created our cooking techniques and early cuisines. I often had wondered when and by whom national and ethnic foods came into being. Did they start with the Chinese, Greeks or Romans? Or did they start at about the same time from many sources?

Catfish is what’s for dinner at American Legion
The Madison American Legion Post will have a catfish supper Saturday.
The menu includes Southern deep-fried catfish filets, hushpuppies, cole slaw, black-eyed peas, buttered potatoes with parsley, applesauce, desserts, iced tea and hot coffee. Only fresh, U.S. farm-raised catfish will be served, and the boneless filets will be cooked in vegetable and canola oil.
There is a choice of catfish or hotdogs for children.
Johnny Broyles and his band will play live country music during the supper.
The supper is $12, $5 for children ages 12 and younger. The Legion Post is at 310 Thrift Road in Madison. The event is a fundraiser for the Legion Post Boys State and Girls State programs. For information, call (540) 948-6683.

I frequently use only use one leek when I make soup or a stew. It gives a sweetness and mild onion-like flavor to the dish and is not as strong as an onion. Occasionally I also use leeks as a vegetable to accompany roast beef. A British friend gave me the recipe, saying that the sweetness of leeks balanced the heavy flavors of roast beef.