Local Flavor

At tonight’s A Tasteful Affair, more than 20 local restaurants dish up their most delectable cuisine. Look for tempting eats from Gypsy Beans, West Park Station, and Don’s Lighthouse. Aladdin’s, Via Van Aken, and Loco Leprechaun also check in with specialties. Budweiser, Jacob’s Creek, and Pepsi help wash it all down.

The first-ever Iron Fork competition kicks off the event. Seven area cooks will prepare two dishes in one hour using a mystery ingredient -- just like the Food Network’s Iron Chef. No word on whether squid guts or sheep balls will be used. Either way, Blue Canyon chef Brandt Evans is ready. “If you’re going to do steak, you want to go with a heavier sauce,” he says. “If you do seafood, you want to go lighter.” After the competition, Evans will plate up Kobe-beef sloppy joes -- a favorite among his customers. “I won’t remember your name or my wife’s birthday,” he adds. “But I’ll always remember what you ate.”
Thu., May 17, 7-10 p.m.