MARK ESTEE ON FOOD NETWORK

The Northern Nevada celebrity chef, restaurateur and James Beard award semifinalist who founded Moody’s Bistro and Beats in Truckee, a pair of Burger Me and Campo locations, and current owner of Liberty Food & Wine and Chez Louie in Reno, The Union and Cucina Lupo in Carson City, and Overland Restaurant & Pub in Gardnerville has launched Undercover Chef on the Food Network. In the show, Estee, who previously appeared on the network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, visits struggling restaurants from New York to Florida using a fake identity and hidden cameras to figure out why the restaurant is failing. Check local listings for times.

Heather Zikas of Tahoe Bread Company, photo by Tom Zikas

TAHOE BREAD COMPANY

If you haven’t yet hit your quarantine 15, the Tahoe Bread Company can help. Kings Beach resident Heather Zikas, a teacher turned baker who attended a wide range of cooking schools throughout the U.S. and in Europe, specializes in Old World style, naturally leavened, whole-grain artisan breads made from regionally sourced organic flours she mills in house just before the dough is mixed and fermented. In addition to a weekly lineup of sourdough loaves, she also turns out an assortment of focaccia, English muffins, bagels and cookies from her Belgian stone oven for no-contact delivery and pick-up on the North Shore. www.tahoebreadcompany.com

TAHOE FOOD HUB GIVING BOX

Tahoe Food Hub, the Truckee-based nonprofit that works with small farmers in a 150-mile radius of Lake Tahoe, expanded its Feed Your Neighbor program with its Giving Box initiative, providing seasonal, sustainably grown produce available to those who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. Since April 1, the organization has raised over $60,000 for the program in partnership with Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation, Elder Group Tahoe Real Estate and the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and distributed 2,500 free boxes for those in need across North Lake Tahoe. For more information, go to www.tahoefoodhub.org.

DINING AT VAIL RESORTS

Tahoe’s three Vail-owned ski resorts—Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood—have announced their plans for COVID-19 safe dining this ski season. Restaurants will be open, including full-service and sit-down locations. They will be managing capacity at the entrance and spacing out seating indoors and outdoors. Face coverings will be required except while eating and drinking. At quick-service restaurants, only ready-to-go hot and cold food options will be available in order to accommodate as many people as possible. Packaged beer and wine will be available at most locations, but full-service bars will be closed. All transactions will be cashless, unless required by local regulation. For more information, go to www.vailresorts.com.