The Tacoma Farmers Market had its first Harvest Feast dinner Saturday. The event was at Terry’s Berries and was a multiple-course buffet prepared by top Tacoma toques.

Sadly, I missed it. I was stuck in the newsroom working the night editor shift.

In a small way, on my Saturday night, it was delightful watching wire editor Kathleen Cooper George pull together a tremendous Hurricane Ike news package for Sunday’s paper. But would I rather have been eating cheese from Estrella and pork prepared by Charlie McManus? You bet.

Were you there, at the Harvest Feast?

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Students from Tacoma’s School of the Arts are serving up Italian food at Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante tonight to fund an upcoming service and study tour to China.

From 4 to 8 p.m. tonight, 25 percent of all food profits benefit SOTA. Joeseppi’s is at 2207 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. Call 253-761-5555.

I was trolling West Main in downtown Puyallup a few Saturdays ago looking for parking for the Puyallup Farmers Market when a sign caught my attention: Lucky’s Hot Dog Diner. Instant joy. A hot dog diner? What’s not to love? I heart hot dogs. Red Hot on Sixth in Tacoma, Hot Rod Dog on Pacific, Klem’s Hot Dog Diner in Auburn. I love ‘em all.

I looked in, but the tiny place was packed with seven or eight people, an hour before prime lunch time. The diner looked promising, though, so

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Readers of this blog, at times, have blasted South Sound restaurants for truly terrible service. We’ve all been there, done that, and have been bitter about it (the lack of an apology for a used bandaid in my food at a Bonney Lake Chinese restaurant comes to mind…)

Today, I flip to the better side of service, the gracious kind.

A reader sent us a letter about a dining experience in Orting that ended with a great moment of honesty. Here:

This afternoon my wife and I were bicycling on the Foothills Trail from

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Editor’s note: Here is today’s dining report. Drop-In Dining is a report about a new or new-to-us restaurant published in the TNT’s Friday GO section. Reporters drop in unannounced and sample the food, on the TNT’s dime, then report to you what the scene and food was like. Have a suggestion for a drop-in dining feature? E-mail us at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.

The Hometown Restaurant

Where: 760 Main St., Buckley; 360-829-1228

Hours: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily

Price range: $ (under $14)

By Debbie Cafazzo

debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com

The Scene: The 100-year-old brick building was

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Add Italy to the international mix of restaurants on that stretch of Pacific Avenue between South Ninth and South Seventh streets in downtown Tacoma.

Il Trattoria di Merende (merende means “small bite”) is planning a soft opening Sept. 21. It will join India Mahal, Irish pub Paddy Coyne’s and Tex-Mex restaurant Matador in what Merende co-owner Julia Lombardi calls a pocket neighborhood with “real European flair.”

“I think we’ve all tried to engender that,” Lombardi says. “This whole area has changed dramatically.”

Lombardi, husband Kenneth and son Ian are

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UPDATE: Pat Nagel reminds me of another one: The Harmon Brewery and Restaurant will celebrate its 11th Anniversary and Oktoberfest the week of Sept. 22-26 with specials and events. Highlights include the debut of this year’s Killer Brew fall seasonal and a five course/five beer brewmaster’s dinner hosted by award-winning brewer Mike Davis. More here.

Here’s something to take the sting out of fall. This weekend marks the beginning of Oktoberfest season. You don’t have to be German by any means to enjoy the harvest celebration, but it sure helps if you: A) love beer, B) like sausage, C) can tolerate oompah music. (Tip: B and C go down a lot easier with A.)

Here in the Northwest, we can enjoy a month-long circuit of Oktoberfests, ranging from traditional to extreme. Here’s a rundown. Comment to add your own impressions of the events.

What: Washington Beer Commission 2nd Annual Oktoberfest.
When: Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 1-10 p.m.
Where: Pyramid Alehouse parking lot, 1201 1st Ave. S., Seattle
How much: $25, includes mug and tokens
The scene: As you would expect, a very beer-oriented event, with samplings from 30-some Washington state craft brewers. Many styles represented, but an emphasis on fall seasonals, including Leavenworth Oktoberfest from Fish Brewing, Harvest Ale from Boundary Bay and a variety of pumpkin-infused ales.
Tip: Limited food on site, but you’re right next door to the Alehouse restaurant. No kids.

What: Mount Angel Oktoberfest
When: Sept. 11-14
Where: Mount Angel, Oregon (southeast of Portland)
How much: Free admission
The scene: With its big German population and a backdrop of hop fields and foothills, sleepy Mount Angel transforms into a Bavarian town every year. Expect a big, family-friendly outdoor festival with something for everyone: traditional music, reasonably priced food, bier and wine gartens.
Tip: Mount Angel is a bit off the beaten path. I’d recommend staying in Salem or Oregon City and getting an early start. Bring a designated driver.

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With a craving for dumplings and a curious notice on the liquor control board web site, A&E editor Craig Sailor and I took to South Tacoma Way Friday.

We drove up to Hong Sheng Fung, ready and hoping for dumplings aplenty, but, sadly, the empty storefront was a punch in our gullets. I suspected it might have closed after seeing the restaurant’s liquor license had expired. But it truly was sucktastic to confirm.

Here, look for yourself at the empty restaurant. (photo by Craig Sailor, I’m not capable of such photographic artistry).

What happened? Anyone know where chef-owner Jennifer Chang might be cooking? We came to adore her delicious dumplings, served fried or steamed. The Korean-born chef doled out delicious little dishes of the Korean appetizer banchan, too. The menu was limited, but well done. I’ve been to more than one party where Hong Sheng Fung dumplings were the main attraction (you could buy a bag of frozen dumplings for about $20).

Curious now, too… where should Craig and I go for dumplings? Comment and tell us, pretty please.

Click this link to read a review we published in our GO entertainment section last August after Hong Sheng Fung opened in July 2007. Sort of mean to post it, considering you can’t eat there anymore, but it’s a nice little eulogy for the restaurant. Rest in peace, Hong Sheng Fung.

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