ASTA WINE CAFÉ AND ART GALLERY: is now open. Likely to become one of the new hot spots in the Village, Asta features wines and artists of Long Island. Their limited but intriguing menu offers tasty fondues, gourmet cheese boards, unique dips, and desserts as well as a late night menu, crafted by the chef who once cooked for Star Jones. We haven’t tasted them yet but their cheese boards are named for famous artists – da Vinci, Cezanne, El Greco, O’Keefe. We’re sold. Stop by and play board games, listen to live music and view the work of local talent. There will be speed-dating once a month, a brunch menu, lotsa fun and plenty to please the senses. The artistic and friendly atmosphere is a result of the vision and presence of Stephanie, the charming proprietor and artist who with her mom Leslie, created and run the gallery. Stop by and tell them the Foodies sent you.

IN A PICKLE: Gotta stop by a real Pickle Festival and taste some of those homemade pickles, jams, jellies, farm grown veggies, baked goods, mixed in with fun for the whole family. October 1 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at John Gardiner Farm, 900 Park Avenue, Greenlawn 631 754-1180.

APPLE OF OUR EYE: If you haven’t had one, you can’t imagine what you’re missing. The sweet Honey Crisp apple made this non apple eating foodie into a convert. A cross between the Macoun and the Honey Gold, cross-bred in 1991 by the University of Minnesota, the Honey Crisp has taken the apple world by storm as the crispiest apple in the bunch. The crisp and juicy texture distinguishes it from anything you’ve had before – you can tell you’re biting into a honey crisp by its distinctive crunch. We’ve seen them at Southdown Market but believe by now they are readily available at most supermarkets. It’s the Foodie tip of the month – let us know what you think.
THIS JOINT IS JUMPING: Every Wednesday night from 7-10pm Mac’s Steakhouse (12 Gerard St.) featuring live music with Johnny Fusco will have you dancing on the tables. Don’t forget the Happy Hour; Monday – Friday 5-8 p.m. 2 -for-1 drink specials. Info - 631 549-5300.

BREAKFAST AT STARBUCKS: Perhaps you’ve seen that new, bronzy, microwave-like looking thing on the back counter at Starbucks in Huntington Village. It’s no microwave; it’s an oven set to deliver Starbucks newest contribution to the coffee bar scene – breakfast. On Monday October 2, Starbucks will be launching its new breakfast menu at some 200 outlets in the metro area including our local store on Main and Wall. We hear the menu will include: Peppered bacon, egg, cheddar on a toasted English muffin; Sausage, egg and cheddar cheese on an English muffin; ham, egg, and fontina cheese on a toasted potato bagel; and one for the healthy conscious - turkey bacon, cholesterol-free egg and reduced-fat cheddar on a whole wheat English muffin. Stop in for breakfast and cuppa joe (vente drip).

SBARRO CURRIES FAVOR: Melville based Sbarro, Inc, is bringing pizza and pasta to India. The nation’s largest Italian fast-food chain has announced plans to open 100 restaurants beginning in 2007 in New Delhi. The largest international expansion for the locally based chain will focus on the 250 malls presently under development in India. The menus will exclude beef products and offer a variety of vegetarian dishes to cater to the traditional diets in India. Sbarro presently has almost 1,000 restaurants in more than 30 countries. It also operates several steakhouses through its Boulder Creek Venture unit, a joint venture with Long Island based Scotto Brothers that includes Blackstone’s, Rothman’s and Sagamore Steak House.

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY: H2O Seafood Grill (215 West Main Street, Smithtown) offers a fifth anniversary wine dinner on Sunday, October 1 & Friday, October 6, from 5pm. $50 Prix Fixe includes an exciting special menu that may be enjoyed with unlimited selections of wine by the glass from a choice of some 20 brands. Call for info: 631-361-6464, www.h2oseafoodgrill.com.

AN APPLE A DAY: For those looking for a fun fall activity for the entire family, check out Fort Salonga Farm, 20 Meadow Glen Road, Northport, home to over 4,000 apple trees where you can pick your own apples. The trees are “dwarfed” which means that fruiting begins around 18 inches off the ground, making it easy for even very small children to participate. For $10 each adult (kids under 12 are your helpers), you are given a list of the varieties currently available and a bag to fill with a peck (approximately 10 pounds) of juicy, ripe apples. The farm is open also to raspberry picking when available.  Call for availability, 631-269-9666.

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