Table talk

The Deseret News Fall Home Show at the South Towne Expo Center, 9575 S. State, will have a variety of cooking demonstrations and competitions this weekend.

Utah's Best Chef Competition is Oct. 9, 4 p.m. Competing chefs will have one hour to create signature dishes with an Iron Chef-style "Mystery Box" ingredient.

The lineup includes Jared Young, executive chef for the LaSalle Restaurant Group (Oasis Cafe, Faustina and Carvers Steaks & Seafood); Jennifer Gilroy, chef/owner of Meditrina; Michael Richey, co-executive chef at Pago Restaurant; Pete Hines, executive chef at Wild Grape; and Jake Blaine, pastry chef for Oasis Cafe.

At 6 p.m. on Oct. 9, Romina Rasmussen of Les Madeleines will demonstrate Savory Bread Pudding; at 7 p.m., chef Bryan Woolley of KUTV will make World Pancakes; and at 8 p.m., Micki Sannar, author of "Olive Oil Desserts," will demonstrate olive-oil recipes.

On Oct. 10, Micki Sannar has a demonstration at noon, and then high-school and college culinary programs will be competing from 1-6 p.m.

Kim Warren, author of "Family Comfort Favorites," will demonstrate Sirloin Steak Chili at 6:30 p.m.; and Bryan Woolley will do cooking demonstrations from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

On Oct. 11, Kathleen King of King Fitness and Training will do a demonstration at noon, and Woolley will do cooking demonstrations from 1-5 p.m.

Admission to the Home Show is $9 for adults, $6 for senior citizens; children 12 and under are free. A $3.50 discount is available at www.saltlakehomeshow.com.

Hungry Jack wants to tap into the meal potential that is sitting in your pantry. The company is sponsoring a "Use Up the Box" recipe contest, with the idea of getting creative with your pantry items.

Through Nov. 9, home cooks can submit original recipes using Hungry Jack mashed potatoes, pancake mix or syrup as an ingredient and write an essay describing how the recipe was inspired by pantry items, at www.useupthebox.com. The winners will receive a year's worth of groceries.

Utah Kernels, 569 N. 1200 West, Orem, is offering $2 off the purchase of tall bags, gift boxes or tins through Oct. 30. If you mention seeing this article, you can also get a free minibag of popcorn with a purchase. (801-224-1081 or www.UtahKernels.com).

The Confluence Literary Festival in Moab is celebrating eating and writing, and local food sustainability. Themed "Eat the West," the event is Oct. 20-25, and includes intensive writing workshops with Slow Food Inc. authors, local food-tasting events, a farmers market and Mountain Film Festival's films about food.