As culinary events go, Savor Pittsburgh is one of the most delicious. The fifth annual benefit for the American Respiratory Alliance was held Thursday beneath giant tents at SouthSide Works, with a sold-out crowd of 1,200 sampling fare from 20 high-end purveyors. The restaurants that participate are selected on the basis of quality, and their creations are judged by a panel of food experts just before the tent flaps open. This year Tusca Global Tapas won for best entrée (pepper pork mignon, sweet potato gnocchi with apple crème fraiche), Savoy Restaurant's satay was selected as best appetizer and best dessert went to Tree Tops Restaurant for its praline and goat cheese cheesecake (also selected as Dish of the Year).

The People's Choice Award was won by McCormick & Schmick's, which generously donated two stations of its specialities. Michelle Stratka Kirsop, general manager of the Downtown location, served as chair for the event with Pamelyn McMahon. Title sponsor was Mosiac Consulting, represented by Bruce Horvitz. Listening to No Bad Ju Ju and helping to raise $120,000 were former Steeler Mike Logan, Teri and Damian Soffer, Rick Sebak, Sally Levin and Christine Weaver, executive director of the American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania.

Mackenzie Carpenter's video program, "Omnivore," is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.