So I finally remembered to take my reusable grocery bags, subject of last week's Sauce, with me to a big box store. I was so proud.

What happened?

The cashier kept putting my stuff in plastic bags.

"If you just put it all in the cart, I'll bag it," I said.

That worked -- after I said, sort of loudly and nonchalantly and offhandedly to my nearby family: "I have a MILLION plastic bags at home. I don't want anymore."

They would like to fold me into a recyclable bag.

I had a similar experience -- in which someone doesn't get the recyclable bag idea -- when buying such a bag at a sports store.

The clerk put the recyclable bag in a plastic bag, then handed it to me.

Something wasn't quite right.

I received several e-mails about the bags after last week's column. Paula Mathieson of Mount Washington wrote: "Just now I was checking the receipt for today's purchases at Right by Nature [in the Strip District] and saw a 10-cent 'bag discount.'

"All along, Whole Foods [East Liberty] has been giving a 5-cent discount per bag (and also charges much less for a cup of coffee when you bring your own cup, of any size, something Right by Nature allowed me the other day, too).

"All these are so helpful, and so green!"

The Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program would like to remind you that August is Pennsylvania Produce month. "Pennsylvania vegetables are at their best," says its press release. And they are. It also says the state has 4,300 growers who plant nearly 55,000 acres of veggies, yielding more than 330,000 tons of them worth $185 million.

Dig in.

No, not the one on the romance novels. He's soooo yesterday.

Fabio Viviani, native of Italy and finalist in "Top Chef: New York" on Bravo, will appear at Giant Eagle Market District stores on Aug. 15. He will give cooking demos and sign books at 11:30 a.m. at the Bethel Park store, and at 2 p.m. at the Shadyside store. He is promoting "The Cafe Firenze Cookbook," co-authored with his childhood friend, Jacopo Falleni, and titled after his restaurant in Moorpark, Calif. He promises the book will be funny. It has an introduction written by William Shatner, for whom Mr. Viviani is a personal chef.

If you missed him on "Top Chef," check him out on youtube.com or at myspace.com/fabioviviani. Worth the look.

Mt. Lebanon shuts down its central corridor on Washington Road, between Cedar and Castle Shannon boulevards, for the third ULTRAparty, from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday. The party benefits the Autism Center of Pittsburgh and will feature the '80s cover band Velveeta as well as an appearance by former Steeler Robin Cole. $5 cover; those 21 and older will be able to purchase Miller Lite (a party sponsor) or Heineken. Food, of course, and a silent auction of sports memorabilia (leboultraparty.com).

Morton's the Steakhouse will hold a local celebration of the chain's "Morton's The Cookbook: 100 Steakhouse Recipes for Every Kitchen" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 625 Liberty Ave., Downtown. For $59, get a copy of the book and sample its recipes with wine and cocktails. $5 of each ticket sold goes to Feeding America, the chain's charitable partner. You may also participate in an auction for prizes that include a Morton's chef table wine dinner for six. Part of the auction proceeds will go to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Presentation of Christ Greek Orthodox Church will hold its food festival from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Aug. 20-23, at Olympia Hall, Electric Avenue, East Pittsburgh. Includes live performances of Greek music and dances by the Grecian Odyssey Dancers. Ethnic shop as well. Call 412-824-9188, or visit greekburgh.com (love that name).

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will celebrate the marriage of tomatoes and garlic at its fifth Red, Ripe and Roasted festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 16. Cooking demonstrations, tastings, tomato judging contest (bring largest and smallest tomatoes), farmers market. Admission is free but bring a bag or basket of produce for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. If you do, you'll get free admission to the conservatory. And feel good about helping. What a great idea. phipps.conservatory.org.

(The White House this week announced that the Obamas will host G-20 leaders and spouses for a visit and "working dinner" at Phipps during the Pittsburgh Summit next month.)

Seven Springs Mountain Resort will hold its 17th Wine & Food Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 15-16. Order tickets by 5 p.m. tomorrow for per-person discount rates of $25 for Saturday, $20 for Sunday and two-day admission, $38. Portion of admission fees benefit the Pennsylvania Wine Association (7springs.com or call 1-866-703-7625).

The Rita's Italian Ice store at 229 Curry Hollow Road, Pleasant Hills, owned by James and Jean Ann Mincin, raised $2,578 during the chain's June Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer campaign.

Visit Diary Queen on Miracle Treat Day, next Thursday (Aug. 13), and buy a Blizzard. $1 or more from each will go to Children's Miracle Network, which raises funds for children's hospitals. Last year's Miracle Treat Day raised $4.5 million for 170 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, says a release. More: miracletreatday.com.

George Schroeder of Port Murray, N.J., took home $25,000 as winner of Taste of Home magazine's America's Best Loved Recipe contest. He said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he devised his recipe for Gorgonzola Penne with Chicken by trying to approximate a dish he'd had at a restaurant many years before. Go to tasteofhome.com/contests for the recipe and recipes from finalists.

Eat'n Park again won at the Fourth Annual National Hamburger Festival in Akron July 18-19. The chain's Black Angus Mushroom and Onion Burger took first place in the category of "Best Traditional," and its American Grill Burger took third place in "Best Creative" (hamburgerfestival.com).

Crate in Scott celebrates Julia Child and her August birthday, the new movie about her (see our "Julie & Julia" cover story) and the store's 31st anniversary with a "Julia & Friends" class from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 20. Cost is $40; you watch as four updated recipes are made by four cooks (cratecook.com or 412-341-5700).

And on Sat., Aug. 22, the Penguin Bookshop and Cafe des Amis in Sewickley will host an event based on Julia's recipes, starting with amuse-bouches and wine at 5:30 p.m. at the bookshop followed by dinner at the cafe. $65.00 per person includes a copy of "Julie & Julia" by Julie Powell or "My Life in France" by Julia Child. Reserve at 412-741-2388; see the menu at cafedesamispa.com.