Chris Cesta is named Chef of the Year twice in his 17-year culinary career

The American Culinary Federation awards dinner, held June 22 at the Renaissance Hotel, not only feted Chris Cesta but also celebrated the 25th year of the federation’s local chapter. This is the second time Cesta has received the honor; he received the first Chef of the Year award ever given by the local ACF in 1987.

Iced tea can take the steam out of a hot and humid day

Syracuse history owes a great deal to the beer industry

Kellog and Morey, Greenway, Haberle, Kearnies, Crystal Spring, National, L. House, Easterly, Zetts, Bartels, Moore and Quinn, Towpath, Syracuse Suds, Middle Ages and Empire. What do all of these names have in common? Add the words “Brewery” or “Brewing Company” to them and together they represent the brewing history in Syracuse, past and not so past.

Guinness celebrates a brewing milestone with its 250th Anniversary Stout

There’s still 18 years until the 250th anniversary of the birth of this nation, but if you’re looking to salute that number this year, there’s something that you could honor that’ll go hand-in-hand with your celebrations. It was on Sept. 24, 1759, that Arthur Guinness paid 100 pounds for and signed a 9,000-year lease for what is now the world-famous St. James Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. To commemorate the occasion, a limited-edition 250th Anniversary Guinness Stout is now being offered to harpoon that achievement into bottled immortality.

Harrison Bakery’s new ice cream sideline fills a cool void for the heat ahead

Walking on the sidewalk hotter than a match-head is one of the most uncomfortable summertime tasks during a scorching, humidity-drenched day in the concrete jungle known as Syracuse. So what’s the solution? Well, as Roberto Benigni, Tom Waits and John Lurie famously proclaimed during a cellblock Italian-English language lesson in the 1986 Jim Jarmusch movie Down By Law, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!”

Weedsport’s Old Erie Restaurant gets a face lift and updated menu

By Lorraine Smorol

Now that warmer weather has arrived, diners like to combine a meal with a pleasant drive. Weedsport is probably not the first place you would think of for the experience, but the Old Erie Restaurant in this little town should definitely be on your list. From Syracuse, it’s about a 30-minute drive on the New York State Thruway to Exit 40, where the restaurant is just minutes away at 8924 N. Seneca St.

Red Barber loved to call a hot argument between a baseball umpire and manager “a real rhubarb.” That Southernism aside, rhubarb is one of those love-it-or-hate-it garden members that old-timers seem to embrace while youngsters sigh a collective “ewwww.” In our house is a rule that you have to at least try something that is put on your plate; you can’t decide by looking at it whether you will like it or not.

Stalk of the town: Rhubarb’s distinctive bittersweet taste is the focus during a June 6 festival at Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery.

Consider a road trip to the Montezuma Winery’s Old-Tyme Rhubarb Festival & Classic Car Show as an opportunity to further the practice. The event takes place Saturday, June 6, noon to 4 p.m., at Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery, 2981 Auburn Road (Routes 5 and 20), Seneca Falls. Visitors can sample barbecue and chili, pies, crisp, cookies, jams and wine sorbet, all rhubarb-flavored, of course. 

Nick Gillette will play live oldies from the 1950s and 1960s. Play to win at the rhubarb stalk throw, rhubarb golf, enter the hula-hoop contest or admire the classic cars. Admission is free, while there will be a charge for food and beverages. For more information, call 568-8190 or e-mail to info@montezumawinery.com.

May is Riesling Month in the Finger Lakes, a region fast becoming known internationally for the crisp, white vintage. As such, many wineries will have special events centered on the yummy wine.

One of the newest hot spots in town, Quaker Steak & Lube is bringing to Syracuse the first annual Redneck Games, Saturday, Aug. 8, 3:30 p.m. Local “hillbillies” can prove their talents in 11 different events: hub cap hurl, bobbing for pigs feet, seed spitting, toilet seat toss; well, you get the idea. Trophies will be awarded for each event, with special prizes going to first, second and third places. Register yourself or someone you know by using the form printed on page 5. Quaker Steak & Lube, 3535 Walters Road (451-WING), features chicken wings of all flavors and sauces, onion rings, soups, salads, steaks and hearty combos.

Eastwood’s Palace Theatre hosts a tasty fund-raiser to increase Cinema 24's movie vault