TASTE OF THE TOWN: Some of the Foodies’ favorite eateries will be cooking for a fundraising event to benefit Pederson Krag Center in Huntington next week. Chefs from top restaurants will man the stoves at Appliance World in Huntington for “A Taste of the Town,” a night of wining and dining, to be held Wednesday, April 22, 7 – 10 p.m. The first-class lineup includes Besito, Mac’s Steakhouse, Mr. Sausage and Panama Hatties; desserts by Fiorello Dolce, Bon Bons Chocolatiers and Cupcake Gourmet; and coffee by Starbucks. Tickets are $50 per person and benefit Pederson Krag Center, the largest community-based mental health and addiction recovery treatment provider on Long Island. For tickets or information, call MJ Pulling at 631-920-8067.

CINCO DE MAYO: Garden City might be the last place you’d expect to find a Cinco De Mayo celebration going on – that is, until Besito made Mexican food upscale. The Huntington-based restaurant group will mark Mexican independence with a Cinco de Mayo cooking demonstration at Loaves & Fishes Cookshop (835 Franklin Ave., Garden City 516-877-1010) on Saturday, May 2, from noon to 2 p.m. Besito Executive Chef Matthew Lake will prepare specialties from his authentic Mexican cuisine menu and provide tastings. Incidentally, Cinco De Mayo is not Independence Day in Mexico, but rather commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla in which an outmanned and ill-equipped Mexican force defeated the invading French army. While it was a case of winning the battle but not the war (France was victorious and installed its own Emperor to rule over Mexico for a time), the battle would mark the last time that an army from another continent would invade in the Americas.

BUY LOCAL: You shouldn’t need ad advertising campaign to tell you that when you buy local, it really does benefit the local community. But just in case, that’s exactly what’s happening in these parts where a ubiquitous blue and yellow logo is popping up in shop windows to remind folks that when it comes to economic stimulus, “It Starts Here… Buy Locally!” If you’re thinking that can be tough to do when supermarket shelves are stocked with products from international conglomerates, look for products from the Melville-based Hain Celestial Group. You know their Celestial Seasoning teas, but that’s just one of many natural foods produced by this local company. Terra Chips, Garden of Eatin’, Health Valley, WestSoy, Earth’s Best, DeBoles, Walnut Acres Organic, Rice Dream, Soy Dream, Ethnic Gourmet, Daily Bread… the list goes on an on. In fact, you’d have a hard time not buying local when you go to the supermarket, particularly if you tend toward all-natural and organic products. Hain sales last year topped $1 billion.

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