MARDI GRAS FEAST: Can you find a harder working assemblyman than one who cooks for his own fundraiser? Look no further than Andrew Raia who represents the 9th Assembly District. Raia’s campaign fundraiser this past Sunday was a New Orleans-style feast for foodies with a Mardi Gras theme, all prepared by the candidate with a little help from his friends. Northport Trustee Tom Kehoe, who owns K&B Seafood wholesaler in East Northport, flew in the crayfish; restaurateur Peter Lacarrubba made the pulled pork barbecue and sweet potato pie; and Raia himself made crispy-skinned, deep-fried turkey rubbed with Emeril’s finest rub. Fat Tuesday came on Sunday for Raia supporters. Mmmmm.

PANINI CONUNDRUM: The Foodies had a lengthy discussion on what to call more than one panini. Paninis, paninum…? When opinions differed, a check on Dictionary.com revealed that panini is the plural of the single noun panino, which in Italian translates literally to “small bread roll,” and “outside Italy, panini is often incorrectly used as a singular word (like salami, also an Italian plural noun) and is sometimes even solecistically pluralised into paninis.” OK, we got the answer, but then we had to look up the word “solecistically.” (It refers to a word that is incorrectly used.)

PORTO VIVO EASTER: Porto Vivo (7 Gerard St., Huntington 631-385-8486, www.porto-vivo.com) celebrates Easter with a special brunch menu on Sunday, April 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Two prix-fixe menus will be offered at $29.95 and $25.95. Both start with complimentary mimosa or vanilla-mango smoothie with fresh mint, and a choice of: Irish oatmeal brulee with marinated strawberries; yogurt, berry and granola parfait; sliced fruit with honey, lime yogurt dressing; clam, white bean and pancetta chowder; fried calamari salad with salsa verde dressing; roasted beet, ricotta salata and pistachio oil; Sunday brunch salad with bibb, endive, radicchio, pears, blue cheese and orange-balsamic vinaigrette For the $29.95 main course, choose: Eggs Benedict; egg white omelet with tomato, asparagus, goat cheese and Fontina; eggs baked in prosciutto with tomatoes, spinach and mozzarella; Brioche French toast with caramelized bananas and crème fraiche; grilled chicken panino with marinated eggplant, roasted peppers and mozzarella; flatbread of asparagus, tomato, prosciutto, two eggs, mozzarella and chive cream; or Wagyu cheeseburger with pancetta and caramelized balsamic onions and fries. For the $25.95 main course, choose: Caesar salad with chicken; ricotta pancakes; egg frittata with prosciutto, grape tomatoes, spinach and mozzarella; or asparagus mushroom risotto with crispy shallots and red pepper coulis.

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