It's time to pig out again with a weekend of blues, brews and barbecue at RibFest.
The fun starts at 11 a.m. Thursday at Headwaters Park downtown and continues through 9 p.m. Sunday — Father's Day.
Award-winning barbecue teams from across the country will serve pulled pork, brisket, rib sandwiches, barbecued chicken and, of course, ribs.
Cooking teams include Desperado's, Carolina Rib King, Jack on the Bone, Cowboys BBQ and Rib Company, Big Boned BBQ, Timmy's BBQ, Texas Pit BBQ and Shig's in Pit. They compete for several People's Choice Awards.
For the music lineup, go to http://bbqribfest.com and click on “Entertainment.”
Cost: free daily until 5:30 p.m.; after that, $8 for ages 13 and older; $6 for seniors; and $4 for students, military, fire and police with ID.
Frozen yogurt
I am amazed at all the frozen yogurt shops popping up in this area. I have another one to report: Menchie's, another mix, weigh and pay concept, is opening in the small strip shopping center in front of Covington Plaza, near where Blockbuster used to be. The address is 6404 W. Jefferson Blvd., and the website, www.menchies.com, says it's coming soon.
Menchie's is a chain operating in just about every state. It operates about the same as the other new frozen yogurt places do. You go in and choose your frozen yogurt flavor and your toppings, which range from fresh fruit to sprinkles to hot fudge and much more, have it weighed and then pay by weight.
Menchie's has an amazing array of frozen yogurts, including low-carb, no-sugar-added and dairy-free varieties.
Dad's day buffets
The Lucky Moose, 622 E. Dupont Road, will serve two buffets on Father's Day this Sunday. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the breakfast buffet includes omelets, pancakes, bacon, sausage, pulled pork, beer-battered fish, salad bar and something new, Dr. Pepper crepes, root beer crepes and pomegranate crepes, which are stuffed with blueberries.
From 4 to 8 p.m., the Lucky Moose will serve a pizza-and-wings buffet that includes pulled pork, beer-battered fish, salad bar and a new appetizer: “Irish wings,” which are slices of corned beef coated with a Guinness beer batter and deep-fried.
Both buffets cost $9.95; half-price for kids under 10 and free for kids under 3. The restaurant will serve off the regular menu as well.
Father's Day brunch
Red River Steakhouse in the Fort Wayne Marriott, 305 E. Washington Center Road, is offering Father's Day brunch options. From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., a breakfast buffet will be served for $9.95 plus tax per person featuring a made-to-order omelet station, breakfast meats, sausage gravy and biscuits, French toast and more. A lunch buffet 10 a.m.-2 p.m. features beef brisket, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, salad and dessert. Cost for both the breakfast and lunch buffet is $19.95 per person plus tax. Reservations are recommended. Call 484-0411, Ext. 310.
Special menu for Father's Day
Don Hall's Guesthouse, 1313 W. Washington Center Road, will serve a breakfast buffet on Father's Day including Belgian waffles, eggs, potatoes, pastries, omelet station, biscuits and gravy, and bacon. A backyard barbecue buffet will include burgers, barbecued chicken, pork chops, beans and more. Cost: $12.95 adults, $6.95 children ages 3-10. Cost includes nonalcoholic beverages and both buffets, which will be available 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 489-2524, Ext. 413 for reservations.
DeBrand for Dad
For Father's Day this Sunday, DeBrand Fine Chocolates offers gift ideas, such as one of the chocolatier's S'more kits made with DeBrand chocolate and marshmallows. Choose from three S'more Kits: Dark Berry, Traditional Gourmet and Spicy. All are $35.
Or consider the 2012 Father's Day Tower, which contains Caramel Pecan Patties, Deluxe Nuts, Caramel Pretzel Bar, Tasting Bars, and more. Cost: $81.50.
Locally, DeBrand is at 10105Auburn Park Drive, 5608 Coldwater Road and Jefferson Pointe shopping center, or order at debrand.com.
Scotch tasting
Belmont Beverage at The Shoppes of Scott Road, 10311 Illinois Road, will host a scotch-tasting event 6-8 p.m. Friday.
800 Degrees
The 800 Degrees Three Fires restaurant has opened in the Shoppes on Illinois Road, 5129 Illinois Road. The new restaurant will serve artisan pizzas and will offer an expanded small plates menu.
Like its name, the restaurant has two wood-fired ovens and a wood burning hearth. Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4:30-11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
Farmers markets
•The Towne House, 2209 St. Joe Center Road, will host a farmers market 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays (except in inclement weather) now through Sept. 11.
•East State Village Farmers Market is now open noon-4 p.m. Sundays next to the Tecumseh branch of the Allen County Public Library, 1411 E. State Blvd.
Closed
A sign at Erv's Café on the seventh floor of the PNC building says it is permanently closed.
Reader request
Remember the old Peppercorns Restaurant on Maplecrest Road? A reader wants to know if anybody has the recipe for Peppercorns' sweet jalapeno dressing it put on its blackened chicken salad. If you do, please contact me and I'll pass it on to her.
