Triangle area chefs will turn Brightleaf Square Courtyard into a feast for the eyes, the mind, and the palate at the Taste of Durham Festival on Saturday, May 28. "Chef Bob" Passarelli, longtime chef at the governor's mansion, Shane Ingram of Four Square, Patrick Cowden of Patrick's Seasonal Cuisine and others will give Food Network-style demonstrations of culinary skills along with tips for entertaining and celebrating the good life.

Chef Bob will share fun and fascinating lore about the Perigord truffle-the famous Tuber Melanosporum-so prized by chefs and gourmands.

"It's the only one worthy of growing," he said. The owner of North America's sole producing Perigord truffle orchard, Chef Bob will pass on tips about growing truffles, identifying truffle species, and getting good value when you buy a truffle product. He plans to bring samples of several species from his "truffier" near Rolesville and offer tastes of truffle butter and truffle ice cream. He may even bring along his three trained truffle dogs-Jacques, Pierre, and Pigoletto.

Patrick Cowden plans to demonstrate his restaurant's signature version of new Southern cuisine.

"It's taking old Southern cooking and putting a twist on it," he explained. "We'll certainly show our shrimp and grits, which have gotten rave reviews and give Crook's Corner a run for their money for the best shrimp and grits around. And maybe I'll show a crab cheesecake with red pepper and green tomato salsa." Cowden regularly teaches a class in new Southern cuisine at Williams-Sonoma, and he'll share highlights at the festival.

Four Square's Shane Ingram will show how he keeps the menu at his Victorian mansion restaurant fresh, seasonal and interesting with high-quality local ingredients. At the festival, he'll demonstrate how to make root vegetable chips and a quick, flavorful dipping sauce.

Ingram said he is glad to be part of the first edition of Taste of Durham. "Most major city areas do some sort of festival involving the restaurants. Nobody in this area is really doing this kind of open air event. I want to help in any way I can. I'm sure it's going to be a success."

For their demonstrations, the chefs will use a specially designed kitchenette that emulates the Food Network television programs. It includes a magnificent stainless steel grill and four- burner stove top, video projection of the chefs' demonstrations, and opportunities to sit at the counter, watch closely, interact with the chefs, and taste the food creations. The kitchenette is a collaboration between Kimberly Ruskan, founder of The Community Chest, Kirk Wall, owner of Wall's Custom Cabinetry, and Al Frega, owner of Frega Creative Enterprise.

"My original intention was to rent the equipment and I discovered that no company offered it," Ms. Ruskan explained. "So we are taking the extra effort and expense to create our vision for the first year. We want to do this right the first time." The custom kitchenette will be used throughout the year for other charitable events produced by The Community Chest, Inc.

The Taste of Durham Festival will also offer flavors aplenty beyond Brightleaf Square. Dozens of area restaurants, caterers and chefs will showcase entrees, appetizers, desserts, and favorite recipes at booths on Peabody Street. And several nearby restaurants will host special theme events. For instance, El Rodeo will offer a Taste of Mexico with a piņata, authentic Mexican music and dancing while Chamas will have Brazilian music, arts, culture, food and drink. Festival-goers will find a Taste of Asia at Mt. Fuji Japanese Steakhouse, Seafood and Sushi Bar, a Taste of Tuscany at Pop's, and American Pie at Satisfaction. The evening of the festival, many nearby restaurants will host special after-parties to continue the Taste of Durham theme, Celebrating the Good Life.

Besides fabulous food, the festival will also offer local and international entertainment, music, dance and interactive activities for children. Other highlights include wine and beer tastings and a Triangle Idol karaoke contest.

The Taste of Durham Festival is the first project of The Community Chest, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Its mission is to build a stronger, richer community through distinctive festivals and programs that showcase well-known and emerging talents, support economic revitalization, and contribute proceeds to local charities and civic, arts and cultural groups.