WHEN celebrity chef Bobby Flay wields his spatula during a food show at Scope on March 1, Norfolk chef Frank Lang, will be right there on the stage with him.
Lang, chef at Shula's 347 Grill at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel, won the chance to assist Flay after competing in the Chef Challenge, an "Iron Chef" style competition held recently at The Market at Harbor Heights in downtown Norfolk. Competing chefs were given 20 minutes and $100 to purchase ingredients and then cook a dish. Lang will assist Flay at cooking classes during the TV chef's visit to Hampton Roads. For tickets to the event go to www.TicketMaster.com or call (757) 671-8100.
Restaurant weeks
- Today is the last day of Restaurant Week in Virginia Beach, so get out there and eat. Sample one of the 45 Beach restaurants offering two-course prix fixe lunches for $10.08 and three-course dinners for $25.08. Learn more at (757) 422-4420 or
- Downtown Norfolk's Restaurant Week starts today and continues through next Sunday offering three-course meals for prices of either $20 or $30. Check out
www.downtownnorfolk.org. One of Norfolk's participants, The Boot, is offering cooking classes for the next three Saturdays to benefit Local Food Tidewater, a new nonprofit emphasizing the consumption of locally grown foods. Classes by Boot chef Brendan Vesey include slow cooking, pan roasting and fixing a Valentine's Day lovers' feast. All will feature locally grown seasonal products, and each participant will receive a recipe book with photos, shopping lists and detailed recipes. Classes are $30 and include a tasting lunch. See more at www.insidetheboot.com.
n Next up is Williamsburg's Restaurant Week, beginning next Sunday and continuing until Feb. 3. A two-course lunch will be $10.08. A three-course dinner will be $20.08 or $30.08. Online, go to www.williamsburgarearestaurants.com and check events
Opening
Late last year Town Center in Virginia Beach added another powerhouse restaurant to its offerings - McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant at 211 Market St. The chain, with 81 locations, was originally Jake's Famous Crawfish Restaurant in Portland, Ore. It's known for daily fresh seafood from around the world, menus that change daily, handcrafted cocktails and excellent service.
Chowder cookers
The Chowder Cook-Off was held on the Eastern Shore at Aqua at Bay Creek Resort recently. There was a tie between Tim Brown, chef-owner of Mariah's at Tower Hill, and Jimmy Williams, chef at Kelly's Gingernut Pub. The Coach House Tavern at Bay Creek Resort and Club garnered People's Choice award for Miles Sanders' rockfish and shrimp chowder.
Chef award
December's A la Carte column listed some of the winning chefs of the March of Dimes Star Chef event. Add Jerry Weihbrecht of Zo?s restaurant in Virginia Beach to that list. He received the Chefs Choice award from his peers for original dishes that were conceptualized with the help of Katie Lehen, from the 2007 March of Dimes' Ambassador Family.
Weihbrecht explained, "Little Katie was our star, so I worked with her to create some of her favorite foods and then blend them together." Rotisserie chicken lo mein with cinnamon candy hearts served in a savory sesame waffle cone topped with cinnamon candy hearts and a chocolate, peanut butter and fluff ravioli with strawberry marinara were the results.
Tammy Jaxtheimer, flavor@pilotonline.com
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