Vandalia food events

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The 35th annual Vandalia Gathering on the Capitol grounds Friday through Sunday will feature pound cake and apple pie competitions.

Registration for the contests is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The contests will take place at 1 p.m. on the plaza deck of the Culture Center. The competition is open to West Virginia residents only. Awards will be made for first, second and third place as well as a youth award for children 15 and younger.

Vandalia Gathering also features a sampling of traditional and ethnic foods. Food booths will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Venders selling roasted corn, hot dogs, hamburgers, beef barbecue or pulled pork sandwiches, Greek specialties, German sausage sandwiches, funnel cakes, homemade cobblers and strawberry shortcake will be positioned on the Capitol grounds.

Vandalia Gathering is a program of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. For more information, including a complete schedule of activities, visit wvculture.org or call 304-558-0220.

Bake sale benefits

Duncan Hines challenges bakers to raise money for Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale to ease childhood hunger. Bakers who organize and hold bake sales donate their profits to the challenge. Duncan Hines will match the largest donation each week. Participants vie for prizes including red-carpet seats for the Primetime Emmy Awards. Visit duncanhines.com for details.

Which comes healthier?

Chicken or eggs? Eggs used to get a bad rap for being high in cholesterol, but the amount of cholesterol in a single large egg has decreased by 14 percent in recent years. Half a boneless, skinless chicken breast contains 73 mg of cholesterol, still significantly less than the 185 mg in an egg, but the chicken portion contains twice as many calories.

Here's a comparison:

Chicken: 142 calories (28 from fat), 27 grams protein, 73 milligrams cholesterol.

Egg: 77 calories (48 from fat), 6 grams protein, 185 milligrams cholesterol.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Wine & Arts Festival

Vu ja de Vineyards is holding its 15th annual Wine & Arts Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at 300 W. King St., Martinsburg.

The festival features New Reserve Chardonnay, Mouth of the Wolf and the vineyard's Sangria.

Nouvelle

"The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind than the discovery of a star." -- Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, French lawyer, politician and author, 1825

Reach Julie Robinson at jul...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1230 with information to be included in Food Notes.