What's cooking: Taste award and Slow Food

Congrats! Once again, the Taste section has been named one of the top three newspaper food sections internationally by the Le Cordon Bleu World Media Awards in Australia. One of our entries in the contest was the special Taste 40th birthday section, pictured here. The other two finalists, both from Australia, are the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Taste has been a contender in the finals since 2003 (alas, always the bridesmaid, never the bride); the winner has traditionally been from Australia.

We aren't the only Midwesterners to receive recognition. Wayne Gisslen of Long Lake, who wrote the all-encompassing "Professional Cooking," is a finalist in the hardcover cookbook category. Sue Zelickson of WCCO Radio is a finalist in the radio programming category for her Holiday Radio Special. Both Midwest Living and Better Homes & Gardens are magazine finalists.

Fashionistas eat, too You're pinching pennies, but still like to be stylin', right? Sachi Bags look like designer purses, but are insulated lunch bags that wipe clean, fit in your refrigerator (handles fold down) and come in a variety of styles from black quilting to mod retro. They're available from a variety of outlets online, with prices ranging from $12 to $20.

Slow Food forages Slow Food MN will have its third annual Spring Feast on May 16 at the Ralph Lentz Farm in Lake City, Minn. Scott Pampush of Corner Table will concoct a foraging dinner built around beef from the farm, along with whatever greens and mushrooms are foraged. Experts also will lead nature tours. Locally made beers, wine and nonalcoholic beverages are provided, and Strawberry Moon will serenade. No pets allowed. Cost is $35 for Slow Food members, $45 for nonmembers, ages 12 and under are free. Visit www.slowfoodmn.org/events.html for details. Growing kids through kale For 15 years, the Youth Farm & Market Project (YFMP) has inspired kids to grow and cook their own food, building leadership skills through planting, growing, preparing and selling food. (A YFMP Salsa is in development.) The program currently works in the Lyndale and Powderhorn neighborhoods of Minneapolis, and on St. Paul's West Side. Its annual fundraising dinner will be May 15 at the Alfred Pillsbury Mansion (home of Melissa and Uri Camarena) near the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Lucia's Restaurant will prepare a family-style dinner, and a live auction will be held. For more information or tickets (starting at $100), contact the YFMP office at 612-872-4226 or heather@youthfarm.net.

The yeast also rises Cossetta Italian Market in St. Paul turns 100 next year and fourth-generation owner Dave Cossetta already is planning some serious celebrating, starting with bringing in a master baker from Italy to craft a new line of authentic Italian breads. Luigi Vitali is due to arrive early this summer on a special visa for those with "extraordinary abilities" and will work with Cossetta over the next three years to build a line of breads with ancient origins. Notably, that includes Pane di Altamura, a semolina bread so unusual that it was the first in Europe to qualify as DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta, or Protected Designation of Origin). Current plans call for pugliese, ciambella, filone, panzarotti and panettone breads, as well. Stay tuned.

KIM ODE