Table talk

Four locally owned, independent restaurants have joined together for the third annual "Party on the Boulevard" in Layton Aug. 27, 6 to 9 p.m. Roosters Brewing and Restaurant, Corbin's Grille, MacCool's Public House and Holy Smoke BBQare hosting the event. Heritage Boulevard (near the Davis Conference Center) will be closed to traffic, and the partygoers can enjoy food, live music, local artists and family activities such as face painting, mimes, skateboard ramp and bracelet-making. Entry is free, with restaurants, vendors and artists charging separately for food, wares and activities (www.partyontheboulevard.com).

Three Utah artisan cheesemakers were honored at the American Cheese Society Annual Cheese Competition in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 7.

Beehive Cheese Company of Ogden won first place in the flavored cheddar category for its Barely Buzzed Espresso and Lavender Rubbed cheese. This is the third year in a row that Beehive Cheese has won this category.

Shepherds Dairy in Erda won second place in the category of feta made with goat's milk, and Red Rock Specialty Cheesein Delta took third place in the aged cheddar category.

The American Cheese Society celebrated its 25th competition this year, with 1,327 cheeses and dairy products entered.

Bambara, 202 S. Main, has a new menu that features locally sourced, ingredient-driven dishes, and a new "Middles" option.

Smaller portioned "Middles" include house-made angel hair pasta with Maine lobster and seared oyster mushrooms; roasted PEI mussels with cherry tomatoes; summer potato gnocchi with heirloom summer squash, garlic, cherry tomatoes, shepherd's dairy goat cheese and golden tomato coulis.

Bambara also offers new sides of herbed frites, summer squash, cheesy polenta, bacon and blue cheese au gratin potatoes and baby spinach, which range in price from $5 to $6 (www.Bambara-slc.com).

Food & Wine magazine has launched a Home Cook Superstar Search to find the best home cook in America. The winner receives a trip for two to the Cayman Cookout food-and-wine festival and a feature in F&W's March 2010 issue. The contest runs until Dec. 1, and anyone 18 or older who is an avid home cook is eligible to enter at foodandwine.com/superstar.