From last year's Great American Baking Contest: Key lime cheesecake with lime curd brulee and white chocolate macadamia crust

Do you bake? Whether you’re a student, amateur or a professional, you’ll soon have a chance to strut your stuff at the Great American Baking Contest. The contest benefits Share Our Strength, a national organization devoted to ending childhood hunger in America by 2015. It will be held on Feb. 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Le Cordon Bleu Atlanta.

Enter in one of four categories: amateur, children’s culinary student or professional to win prizes ranging from $125-500. Entry deadline is Feb. 10 and the fee ranges from $35-95.

Instead, you may just wish to sample the sweet treats. Tickets to the Great American Baking Contest are $35 include a dessert and wine reception with emcee Jenn Hobby of Q100’s The Bert Show. Tickets are available online and are tax deductible.

In other news:

• Baci, the new restaurant by Nellie Chudnovsky and Cafe at Pharr owner Johnny Liu, opened this month at Town Brookhaven. Baci serves both lunch and dinner. The seasonal menu contains a mixture of Mediterranean and Eastern-influenced dishes. Choices include Japanese ceviche, Chilean sea bass, daily pasta, Kobe beef burger, lobster mac n’ cheese and duck fat fries. Baci is currently awaiting its beer and wine permit from Dekalb County. 10:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. 705 Town Blvd, Brookhaven. 404-771-7557. $-$$$.

• Located in historic Stone Mountain Village, Sweet Potato Cafe recently opened for business. This cafe is serving up farm-to-table fare featuring the almighty sweet potato. Options include sweet potato hummus, biscuits, shepherd’s pie, potato salad, hash, cobbler and cheesecake. Committed to sourcing locally grown products, the restaurant supplements its produce with vegetables and herbs grown in its onsite garden. 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sundays. 5377 Manor Drive, Stone Mountain. 770-559-9030. $-$$.

Events:

Atlanta Chef’s Expo at The Foundry at Puritan Mill

Tickets are now on sale for this inaugural food event with tastings and chef demos, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 19 and will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Greater Atlanta. Purchase tickets through the event’s website. $25.

Author Dinner at Restaurant Eugene

As a part of its author dinner series, Restaurant Eugene will host author Randy Fertel, son of Ruth Fertel, who started Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The dinner includes a signed copy of Fertel’s book “The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak” and a multiple course meal with wine pairings. Reservations required. 6:30-10:30 p.m. Feb. 8, $115.

– by Jenny Turknett, Food and More blog