CHEF SHOWDOWN - Several Central Ohio chefs will compete March 12 in "Chef Showdown 2010 - The Art of the Meal," a benefit for the Columbus Museum of Art. During the event, chefs will prepare and guests will be served culinary creations inspired by some of France's most famous artists. Participating chefs include Richard Blondin of The Refectory Restaurant and Bistro; John Bruckelmeyer of Brio Tuscan Grille Polaris; Erin Chittum of Cameron Mitchell's "M"; and Donald Wood of the museum's Palette Cafˇ. More information is available at www.columbusmuseum.org.

BEER LAWS - A group of Pennsylvania retailers has succeeded in getting a state lawmaker to introduce legislation which would make sweeping changes to the state's beer laws. The biggest change proposed by state Sen. John Rafferty's measure would be to allow supermarkets and convenience stores to sell beer, but only after purchasing existing liquor permits. Beer in Pennsylvania currently is sold for off-premises consumption only by bars and wholesalers, with the latter allowed to sell only cases; Rafferty's bill would let distributors sell six- and 12-packs.

WINERY ASSAULT - Two brothers were charged last month with beating up a New York winery owner who tried to eject them because they were drunk. According to the Associated Press, brothers Thomas Wulff, 28, and Michael Wulff, 27, were charged with felony assault for allegedly punching and kicking the owner of Three Brothers Winery in Fayette, N.Y. The Wulffs were part of a group on an upstate New York wine tour.

DOWNER DRINKS - Several groups in Dallas are trying to influence retailers to stop selling Drank and other so-called "anti-energy drinks," which they say serve as a gateway for abusing cough syrup. According to the Dallas Morning News, Drank contains the hormone melatonin, 1 milligram of which is enough to make someone drowsy. Mental health officials in Texas claim Drank is marketed to mimic homemade cough syrup drinks know as "purple drank."

FINLANDIA FINALIST - A bartender from Las Vegas placed fourth in the recent 12th annual International Finlandia Vodka Cup in Levi, Finland. Patricia Richards' fourth place finish was the highest finish ever for a U.S. contestant. The competition featured 31 of the world's best bartenders showing off their range of mixology talents by crafting three unique cocktails. Richards won the right to represent the U.S. after beating out six other bartenders from around the country.

WHISKY RECOVERED - Five crates of Scotch whisky and brandy buried under the Antarctic ice for more than 100 years were recently recovered by the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust. According to BBC News, the crates belonged to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. Three crates of whisky and two of brandy - the latter an unexpected bonus, according to the trust - were recovered. Distillers at Whyte and Mackay, which provided Shackleton with the original Mackinlay's whisky, hope to extract some of the whisky in an effort to replicate the original blend.

FAKE WINE - A dozen French wine merchants and growers were convicted last month for selling and exporting fake Pinot Noir. According to the Associated Press, the fraud scheme involved passing off Merlot and Syrah grapes as Pinot Noir. The leading defendant in the case, Claude Corset, head of the wine merchant company Ducasse, received a six-month suspended sentence and a $61,000 fine. Among the victims of the fraud was California-based E & J Gallo Winery.