It's Seafood Festival time!

Terrific seafood, entertainment and fun for families is on tap (so is beer) at the 22nd Annual Ruskin Seafood Festival, this weekend, November 6 -7 at E. G. Simmons Park in Ruskin.

Heralded as the best event of the year, this Ruskin-SouthShore Chamber of Commerce event celebrates every ocean creature imaginable.

Here are the other details:

Where: E. G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin

When: Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Cost: $5; children under 12, free and a $2 per carload entry fee into the park

Cooking gets spooky at Doby Elementary

Recently, I visited with Aubrey Hoishik's second grade class at Doby Elementary. Ms. Hoishik ties hands-on cooking activities to her weekly lesson plan. During my visit, the chefs-to-be decorated "creepy" cupcakes - there was a lot of finger licking going on - to go with the spooky stories they had written. It's featured in today's South Shore News & Tribune. Click here for the complete story.

Sara Moulton at the Rolling Pin in Brandon

Here is a pictorial essay of my visit with Sara Moulton at the Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium in Brandon this afternoon. I will be writing about Sara, and the Rolling Pin, in my Table Scraps column in The South Shore News & Tribune on Oct. 27:

Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium

2080 Badlands Drive

Brandon, FL 33511

(813) 653-2418

Tis' the season for mouth-watering Oktoberfest

I didn't have to cross the Atlantic for Oktoberfest. In fact, I didn't even have to leave the neighborhood.

This morning, as I was eyeballing a can of sauerkraut that's been sitting in my pantry, a strong desire for sauerkraut came over me.

Several hours later, Beanie's Family Sports Grill posted this message on Facebook: "October Fest at Beanie's! Bratwurst, red cabbage or sauerkraut and a choice of side.... Come on down!!!"

So we did!

The dinner included two grilled brats, on a bed of homemade sauerkraut, roll and a choice of one side. I chose potato salad. I can't even describe this dish without my mouth watering.

What to drink? Are you kidding? What's Oktoberfest without a beer? In fact, what's a brat without a beer?

Beanie's Family Sports Grill

2002 S U.S. 41 S.

Ruskin, FL

(813) 649-1700

Pie-baking throwdown!

Hey, all you pie bakers. Yes, I mean people like you, Larry Brooks! The challenge is on!

Freedom Plaza is hosting its Fall Festival and Craft Show on Friday, Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Along with a variety of crafts, hidden treasures, hot dog, chips and soda for $2, there will be a pie baking contest! This event is to support Hillsborough County Sheriff's Emergency Services.

I'm in!

For more information, call (813) 634-1824.

Freedom Plaza

1010 American Eagle Blvd.

Sun City Center, FL

www.brookdaleliving.com