Food-O-File

Cookbooks published as fundraisers by non-profit community organizations have been a popular American tradition since the Civil War, providing dollars for charities, civic projects and cultural institutions. I value my collection of community cookbooks especially, because they provide me with insight into the local culinary history and traditions of the cities and regions they represent. For community cookbook fans, the TABASCOreg. Community Cookbook Award winners for 1995 have been announced. The national winner is The East Hampton L.V.I.S. Centennial Cookbook (334pp, $21.95) published by the Ladies Village Improvement Society of East Hampton, Long Island. Proceeds from the book will be used to maintain trees, parks and historic landmarks in East Hampton as well as fund scholarships.

The second-prize winner is closer to home; The Artful Table (224pp, $35) comes from The Dallas Museum of Art League and claims "When some of the best cooks in Texas entertain their favorite people, this is what they serve." The Artful Table is the second cookbook from the DMA and is an elegant coffee-table-sized volume, illustrated with photos of many of the Museum's lovely artworks. Judges commented that the award-winning book "takes community cookbooks to a new level with its integration of design and theme." The third place winner is True Grits -- Tall Tales and Recipes from the New South (304pp, $26.95), the second award-winning cookbook published by the Junior League of Atlanta. It features recipes gathered from chefs, caterers, and home cooks and essays written by Southern producers, editors, reporters, columnists and novelists about their Southern food memories and experiences... Credit the brewers of Guinness Stout with an innovative fundraising idea. On February 23, beer drinkers from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon will have the opportunity to participate in the "Great Guinness Toast." In Austin and other cities where the event will be held, Guinness will donate five cents for every pint of Guinness sold on the evening of the Toast and fifty cents for every 4-pack of Pub Draught Guinness sold February 14-28 to the National Audobon Society's Living Oceans Program. Locally, the evening will culminate with the collective toast led by Guinness brewmaster Matt Murphy to be broadcast by KLBJ-FM... If you start stirring the roux right now, it might just be ready to enter the Central Market Gumbo Contest, being held this Saturday, February 17 at the store. Pick up an entry form and a container and then return your completed masterpiece on Saturday morning before noon. The winners will be announced at 6:30pm. The prize this year will be a $1,000 shopping spree at Central Market. Among celebrity judges for the Gumbo Contest are food writers Kitty Crider ( Austin American-Statesman), The Chronicle's Robb Walsh; chefs Jeff Blank of Hudson's on the Bend, Charles Mayes of Gilligan's, and Zoot's Stewart Scruggs; restaurateurs Reed Clemons, owner of Granite Cafe, Bitter End, Mezzaluna, and Hang Town, and Peggy Weiss, owner of Jeffrey's and Shoreline.

Sandra and Bill MacIver, owners of California's Matanzas Creek Vineyards, will host a Wine Dinner at Jeffrey's on Tuesday, February 27 at 7pm. The MacIvers will be pouring their "Cellar Stellar" wines, including the 1988 Matanzas Creek Sparkling that appears on Jeffrey's wine list. Executive chef David Garrido will prepare a four-course menu, the highlight of which will be grilled lamb loin with lavender pecan sauce and dry cherry couscous. Price for the dinner is $75 per person and reservations can be made by calling 477-5584.