FLORIDA WEEKLY CUISINE

Shane's comes up with a winner on Nov. 4

Here's a winning ticket for you: Shane's Rib Shacks will give free chicken tenders meals to customers wearing "I Voted Today" stickers on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Customers of legal voting age wearing the stickers will receive Shane's Vote America Meal, which consists of three chicken tenders, fries and a 20-ounce drink.

"While our country struggles in these difficult financial times, Main Street U.S.A., where I have lived my entire life, needs companies and communities to band together," says founder Shane Thompson in a news release. "Our franchisees … want their local friends and neighbors to know we are here for them. So few things are free anymore; our only catch is you must take advantage of one of America's most important freedoms, the right to vote."

Shane's can be found at Coconut Point and Gulf Coast Town Center. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Guilty pleasure no more

Lose the guilt, eat the chocolate. Chocolatier Norman Love has launched BLACK, a line of intensely dark chocolates that pack in health benefits as well as rich flavor.

"Consumers are becoming more and more interested in dark chocolate," says Mr. Love. "Potential health benefits as well as interest in ultra-premium single origin chocolates have driven the increase in consumption."

Recent research indicates that dark chocolate improves heart health with antioxidants. It contains endorphins, which reduce sensitivity to pain, and helps produce serotonin, which contributes to a feeling of well-being. On top of that, it can help lower blood pressure in ways milk and white chocolates do not.

These five varieties will convert those who think they don't like dark chocolate and thrill those who do. (I include myself among the latter group and was nonetheless amazed by the flavors.)

Just as with single-vineyard wines, the flavor of an origin chocolate depends on conditions unique to the place in which the cocoa beans used to make it are grown. Each of the five varieties is made with chocolate containing anywhere from 64 percent to 74 percent cocoa hailing from locales such as Madagascar, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

COURTESY PHOTO Chocolatier Norman Love has launched BLACK, a line of intensely dark chocolates that pack in health benefits as well as rich flavor. The BLACK line is available in three sizes: a five-piece box for $15, a 10-piece box for $25 and a 15-piece box for $35.

Norman Love Confections is at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd., off Daniels Parkway east of Southwest Florida international Airport. The Chocolate Salon, a stylish retail shop the sells house-made chocolates and pastries as well as gourmet coffees, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Call 561-7215 or visit www.normanloveconfections.com.

Happy birthday, Timbers

The Timbers Restaurant and Fish Market celebrates its 30th anniversary through Friday with two dinners from $30. Choose from select entrees, which come with choice of salad or cup of chowder, vegetable and choice of starch. Each day the restaurant will feature one original menu item at the 1978 price and every 30th customer will receive a $30 gift certificate for a future visit. The Timbers and Sanibel Grill are at 703 Tarpon Bay Road. Call 472-3128.

Bacchus brings back alumni for wine dinners

Bacchus holds two wine dinners next week featuring chefs from the restaurant's first incarnation. Matt Accetura, Rich Montoya, David Spina and Shannon Yates team up to create both dinners.

At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, Pete Seghesio will host a dinner featuring wines from the Seghesio Family Vineyards. Cost: $70 plus tax and gratuity. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, Susan Ridley hosts a dinner featuring Hendry Ranch Wines. It's $75 plus tax and gratuity.

Bacchus is at the Bell Tower Shops. Call 437-8676 for reservations.

Fall full of food fests

The 26th annual Taste of the Town takes place Sunday, Nov. 2, at Centenni- al Park in downtown Fort Myers. From 11 a.m. to 5p.m., taste the specialties of some 30 area restaurants and dance to live music. Admission: $5, free for those 10 and younger. The event is sponsored by the Junior League of Fort Myers. Call 277-1197.

Cape Coral's fourth annual Downtown Wine and Food Tasting is set for 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Purchase a passport then visit 16 downtown locations via trolley shuttles, tasting wines and house specialties at each spot. Cost: $20, including a commemorative wine glass. Tickets are available at True Value Hardware, June's Hallmark, Ralph's Place, Cape Dog Bakery, all in Big John Plaza; or Ron's Barber Shop and Time to Make Wine in Club Square. Call 549-5615 or visit www. downtowncapecoral.com for details.

Taste of Bonita is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at Riverside Park on Old U.S. 41 in Bonita Springs. Admission is free. Some two dozen restaurants will sell their top dishes for $5 or less. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs. Call 572-2707.

Roy's tribute dinner, cooking classes set

Chef Roy Yamaguchi celebrates the 20th anniversary of his restaurant chain with a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11. Dishes for the five-course dinner were created by Nobu Matsushisa, Tetsuya Wakuda, Alan Wong, Gordon Hopkins and Kaethe Krasner. Wine pairings will be from the Moet Hennessey portfolio. Cost: $85 plus tax and gratuity. In Bonita Springs (26831 South Bay Drive), call 498-7697. In Naples (8985 Tamiami Trail North), call (239) 598-2424.

Learn how to cook Roy's Hawaiian fusion cuisine at upcoming classes. The Bonita Springs restaurant holds a 6 p.m. class on Sunday, Nov. 9, covering soy-marinated filet with red wine curry sauce and cilantro seared snapper cassoulet with pancetta shiitake mushroom barley and kale. It's $55 plus tax and gratuity. A class at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, will cover how to make basil seared mahi mahi with shiitake yellow corn risotto and Vietnamese shrimp summer rolls with yuzu soy dipping sauce. It's $40 plus tax and gratuity. Call 498-7697 for reservations.

And, finally, for budget-minded gourmets, check out Roy's seasonal prix fixe menu, which features a choice of three appetizers, four entrees and two desserts (including Roy's melting hot chocolate soufflé) for $35 per person.

The sweet taste of charity

Local pastry chefs will compete in Sweet Charity: A Battle of the Pastry Chefs, a benefit for the Cape Coral Caring Center, which assists local residents with food, utility payments and coverage of children's prescription medications.

The event takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Grand Court, 8351 College Parkway in Fort Myers. Chefs from The Joint, Brew Babies, Bistro 41, La Trattoria Café Napoli, Nita's Sweet Bean Café, the Flying Pig, Webster's, For the Love of Chocolate, High Tech North Culinary Arts program and Grand Court will offer samples of their best desserts for voting by honorary judges and guests. The winner takes home the Grand Chef of the 2008 Inaugural Sweet Charity trophy. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door and are available at Grand Court. Call 433-4445.

Cru is cooking

The monthly Crusine cooking class takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 at Cru. Chef Richie Wilim will lead a class in the creation of a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast. Cost: $55. On Thursday, Nov. 20, Cru and the Young Professionals of Southwest Florida host a fund raiser for Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer Resource Center. Cru is at Bell Tower Shops. Call 466-3663.