The Junior League of Berkshire County is hosting its 4th annual Taste of the Berkshires event on Thursday, November 3 at the Masonic Temple in Pittsfield.

From 5 to 8 p.m. restaurants from throughout Berkshire County will be represented at this benefit and will be serving “tastings” from their fall menus.

Restaurants to be featured this year include: Perigee, Olde Heritage, Spice Root, Mary's Carrot Cake, Ozzies, Olde Forge, Chocolate Springs, Marketplace, Sarah's Cheesecake, Firefly, Mission, Brulee’s, among others.

This event provides financial support for their community initiatives such as the literacy program Curl up With a Good Book, which provides an evening of family reading in local elementary schools with each child taking home a book at the end of the event and the nutrition-focused Kids in the Kitchen, which teaches children how to make smart nutrition choices in an attempt to address the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. 

A successful food franchise in Pittsfield, Massachusetts now hopes to feed college students in Albany. "Hot Harry’s Fresh Burritos" plans to open a franchise in University Plaza on Western Avenue on the border of the University at Albany campus.

“We targeted the neighborhood near the SUNY campus some time ago and have been biding our time waiting for the right property to become available.  To say we are thrilled to be in Albany is an understatement,” said Samir Abdallah in a statement.  “I couldn’t be more pleased with the way the business has developed as a franchise operation.”

The franchisees, Tim and Kim Donnelly, of Coxsackie have also committed to opening another Hot Harry’s in Glenmont Centre Square at 365 Feura Bush Road, which will be open in Fall 2011.