Olives to peppers, chocolate to cheese

February 04, 2007|DESTINATIONS, Alison Arnett, Globe Staff

It may be winter here but other parts of the country are heating up -- in spirit if not necessarily in degrees. February and March might be the perfect time to check out a cheese competition in Oregon or sample olives in Northern California. Or to heat up from the inside out at the Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show in Albuquerque. After the chili overload, you may be tempted to travel even farther for relief -- to Italy for a chocolate festival.

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. Feb. 17

The humble olive has reached star status in the last few years. If you can't get enough of their salty taste, head this month to Sonoma County for the VinOlivo festival. Sponsored by the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance, it offers a wide array of the county's bounty: samples of future releases of wines straight from the barrel , tastes from 20 restaurants and caterers , tastes of olives and olive oils , and treats of chocolate fondue and port. Cost is $65 in advance, $75 at the door. Hard-core olive lovers should plan to attend Olivepalooza that same day at the historic Sonoma Barracks to taste and compare the finest the county's growers and producers have to offer . It's free.

VinOlivo, 707-935-0803, sonomavalleywine.com . Olivepalooza, 707-933-0101, olivefestival.com.

Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show ALBUQUERQUE March 2-4

Trade shows are usually for professionals only, but this one opens its doors to the public for several hours each day. This year's 19th annual show includes samples of hot sauces, salsas, barbecue sauces, and other foods from such producers as Grandma Koyotes BBQ , Salsa del Sol , Lizard's on the Bayou , and Albuquerque Tortilla Co. Chefs will demonstrate recipes using some fiery delicacies Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Cost for all three days is $15.

505-873-8680 , fiery-foods.com/ffshow.

CioccolaTÒ TURIN March 2-11

Turin was sometimes overlooked in the American love affair with Italy -- until last year's Winter Olympics. But the industrial northern city has another claim to fame -- its chocolate, already produced in quantity there by 1600. The annual chocolate festival CioccolaTÒ may draw as many as 700,000 visitors and will stretch over Piazzas San Carlo , Carignano , and Castello. There will be samples galore of truffles, bonbon s, chocolate ice cream cones, hot chocolate, and coffee and chocolate drinks. Workshops sponsored by Slow Food will explain chocolate's origins and artisanal production, and an interactive museum will explore Turin's chocolate past. Many events are free; there's a ChocoPass that will give you samples of chocolates and chocolate cakes in cafes, confectionery shops, and other venues. The pass ranges from about $19.50 to $39 for five days of chocolate treats.

cioccola-to.com/english,turismotorino.org.

Taste of Tillamook County TILLAMOOK, Ore. March 16-18

If cheese is what you fancy, don't miss this weekend of cheese samplings, beer and wine tastes, and competitions ranging from clam chowder cook-offs to oyster speed-shucking contests. The fifth annual event will be at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. The focus is on the county's famous cheese, with chef demonstrations of cheese recipes, a mac-and-cheese contest, and cheese and spirits pairings. Proceeds go to local food programs . Tickets are $5 for adults; $4 for seniors and children under 12; weekend passes are available from $8-$28.

tasteoftillamookcounty.com .

Events sometimes are canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call or check online to confirm. Contact Alison Arnett at arnett@globe.com.