ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 5, 1997 TAG: 9703050051
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 8 EDITION: METRO
Seafood can be a bargain - if you know what to look for at the market, especially during Lent. The National Fisheries Institute has these tips:
* Take advantage of special sales promotions and don't overlook the frozen case. Buying frozen seafood means you can stock your freezer and thaw the product at your convenience.
* Buy items in season.
* Extend seafood life with low-cost foods such as pasta or rice.
* Stock up on nonperishable items such as canned tuna or salmon.
* Take advantage of the delicious varieties of skate, cape shark, hake, bluefish and mackerel, which are often lower in price.
* Use seafood in recipes such as soups or casseroles, which extend your fish or shellfish.
* Combine smaller amounts of more expensive products with less expensive types of fish or shellfish. You can keep food costs down while adding variety to your diet.
Also, keep in mind that fillets, shucked shellfish and surimi seafoods are sold in a form that needs little or no trimming.
The recipe for Italian Fish Soup on Page 4 will help stretch your food dollar.
Cooking classes
Nancy Chang, a professionally trained chef with 23 years of teaching experience, will offer more of her popular cooking classes featuring traditional Chinese recipes interlaced with snippets of Chinese culture and updated with new cooking techniques.
Dishes included in the combination observation and hands-on sessions will include scallion chicken, ma-po bean curd, beef Schezuan-style, scallion pancakes, braised fresh pork, shrimp siu-my, creamed cauliflower, steamed fish with emperor sauce and banana egg rolls for dessert.
Four-lesson courses will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 13, 20, 27 and April 10 or from 7 to 9 p.m. March 18 and 25 and April 8 and 15. The cost is $65 per person and includes either lunch or a light supper. Additional classes with different menus are planned to begin in mid April and mid May. For information or to register, call Chang at 774-8432.
Cabernet tasting
Winemaker John Gibson of Vine Cliff Winery will conduct a Vertical Cabernet tasting Sunday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Hidden Valley Country Club, Romar Road, Salem.
Hard-to-get Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993, plus Vine Cliff 1995 Chardonnay, will be sampled. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be paired with each wine. The cost is $35 per person. Reservations are needed by Friday. Call 389-8146.
Maple festival
Highland Maple Festival time is here again this Saturday and Sunday and March 15 and 16. More than 70,000 visitors are expected in Highland County, population 2,600, seeking what life - and syrup making - were like in simpler times.
Highland County - or "The Switzerland of Virginia," as it's sometimes called - is the United States' southernmost point for commercial maple syrup manufacturing. At 2,500 feet, it boasts the highest mean elevation of any county east of the Mississippi River.
The festival, with its variety of antiques, crafts, special attractions and fine foods, has been cited by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the area's top 20 events. It's about 2 1/2 hours by car from Roanoke. For directions, information and other specifics, call 468-2550.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 linesby CNB