The American Pie Council and pie lovers from around the country will celebrate National Pie Day on Jan. 23 as a tribute to the wholesome fun and goodness of pie.

The Connecticut Cake Competition and Cake Challenge is set for Feb. 26-27 in Hartford, CT. The 2011 show theme is “A Touch of the South.”

Lesaffre Yeast Corporation and Red Star Yeast Company, LLC have announced an increase in fresh and dry yeast and ingredient prices effective February 1, 2011, in the United States and Canada.

Customers whose name is Mary can drop into either Mary of Puddin Hill locations and receive a complimentary chocolate enrobed strawberry, now through Christmas Eve.

The Senate on Dec. 19 passed the F.D.A. Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, which, if enacted, would give the nation’s food safety system its first major overhaul in 70 years.

Set for Jan. 16-18, 2011, in San Francisco, the Winter Fancy Food Show will showcase 80,000 specialty foods and beverages, with more than 1,500 exhibitors from 50 countries and 17,000 attendees.

Flavors such as pumpkin, squash, apple, cinnamon, caramel and hazelnut increased by 13% from the summer to fall season.

Eleni’s operates a retail bakery store in New York City’s Chelsea Market and ships mail-order nationwide.

The National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot” survey of more than 1,500 professional chefs – members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) – reveals that local and hyper-local sourcing, healthy children’s meals, sustainable seafood, and gluten-free cuisine will be among the hottest trends on restaurant menus in 2011.