Dine with your dog for charity; trans fats update

Dine with your dog for charity

If Fido's a foodie, head to Woodinville's Barking Frog bistro (Tuesday and Aug. 21) for a chance to dine with your dog for charity.

A portion of each $15, four-course canine meal created by Three Dog Bakery goes to the Gracie Foundation for abused, neglected or homeless dogs. What's for supper on the restaurant's patio? Past meals created by the bakery have featured dishes such as Fido Frittata, Blue Heeler Berry Muffins and Pupcakes (dogs, too, are joining the cupcake craze). Meanwhile, owners will dine from Barking Frog's regular menu.

For reservations, call Three Dog Bakery at 206-364-9999.

Countywide ban on trans fats?

They're already disappearing from public spots including Safeco Field, cafes around the city and the University of Washington. Soon, man-made trans fats could be phased out pretty much anywhere in King County where meals are served.

The county Board of Health is scheduled Thursday to consider banning artificial trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease. Food purveyors long have used the ingredient for baking and frying because it keeps longer and lends a desirable texture and flavor to many foods.

The board also will decide whether to require that larger restaurant chains provide customers with nutritional data, a change county public-health director David Fleming says would encourage healthier choices.

A survey conducted for the county found that of 388 people queried at local shopping malls and Seattle Center, only one was able to identify which restaurant items had the most calories out of four multiple-choice questions.

Visit metrokc.gov/health/boh for more information.

Live off the land at 21 Acres

21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living (13701 N.E. 171st St., Woodinville), a group aiming to make local, sustainably grown food a bigger part of everyone's diet, will hold a farm-fresh dinner picnic event Aug. 4.

Bring a blanket and your beverage of choice from 6 to 8 p.m. for a meal prepared with seasonal produce and ingredients from 21 Acres. To see even more of the farm, take the farm's monthly tour from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The suggested donation is $15 and reservations are encouraged. E-mail generalinfo@21acres.org or call 206-442-2061.

A peachy summer

Fuzzy sweetness is on its way: Washington's peach harvest begins this week and will continue through mid-September. The state fruit commission predicts this year's crop will produce about 1.5 million 20-pound boxes of peaches, or about eight peaches each for every Washington resident. Find recipes and tips at the commission's Web site, www.wastatefruit.com.

Bookstore cafés plan for "Potter" frenzy

Bookstore cafés around the region are preparing for hordes of Harry Potter fans turning out Friday night on into the wee hours of Saturday morning to collect the final book in the beloved series about a boy wizard and his friends.

"We see not just little spikes [in customers], but 'Oh my goodness' spikes, 'All hands on deck' spikes," said Erin Vargo, spokeswoman for the downtown Seattle Barnes & Noble. With so many kids expected, the menu will be expanded to accommodate a wider range of tastes.

One popular drink: A concoction called Troll Mucus, chocolate milk with a drizzle of caramel sauce. Not your cup of tea? Try Dragon Drool (a caramel cream steamer with whipped cream) or Werewolf Moonlight Howl (a chocolate orange cream smoothie with whipped cream).

Karen Gaudette, Seattle Times staff reporter: 206-515-5618 or kgaudette@seattletimes.com