Diet motivator?
World champion power eater Joey Chestnut is on to compete against female chow champion Miki Sudo at the first-ever Mystic Lake Casino Hotel World Taco-Eating Championship sanctioned by Major League Eating — yeah, it's a thing — at 7 p.m. May 5. They'll be competing along with other top-ranked gorgers to set a new record of tacos consumed in 8 minutes. (The current record appears to be 103.) A press release notes that Sudo, the world's top-ranked female competitive eater, has defeated Chestnut in both turkey and rib-eating competitions. Mystic Lake, in Prior Lake, calls the event "The Taco Debacle," and hopes it becomes a Cinco de Mayo tradition. More eating details at IFOCE.com.
Food safety for summer
With summer cooking in view (fingers crossed), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service wants home cooks to refresh their perspectives on food safety with a variety of sites and apps to keep us safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year about 48 million Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses, the worst of these leading to 3,000 deaths. How to cook with confidence? Visit FoodSafety.gov, the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (or 1-888-674-6854) and the FoodKeeper app. The website offers blogs, roasting charts, storage guidance and the latest news on food recalls, while the app helps limit food waste by providing storage information on more than 400 foods and offers notifications that sync with smartphone calendars to remind users when it is time to use, freeze or toss.
Kelley Farm celebrates
The Oliver Kelley Farm near Elk River, Minn., will celebrate its newest facilities and expanded programming about preserving our agricultural past on May 6-7 with activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that include chef demos and a chance for kids to plant seeds and learn to make vinaigrette. Tricia Cornell, author of "Eat More Vegetables" and the "Minnesota Farmers Market Cookbook," will demo recipes on Saturday at 1 and 2:30 p.m., and Kim Ode, author of "Rhubarb Renaissance," will demo on Sunday, same times. The farm is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. For directions and more info, visit mnhs.org/kelleyfarm.
Taste of Edina
Taste of Edina returns May 11 with food tastings from more than 25 restaurants, wine and beer sampling and a chef competition. It's all from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Westin Edina Galleria. Tickets are $40 at the door or available at tasteofedina.com and at all Edina Liquor locations.
Oops
The wrong photo of Tasya Kelen, the founder of Isadore Nut Co., was inadvertently used in last week's Locally Sourced column. Here is the real Kelen.
KIM ODE
