The family of the late Pittsburgh food writer and cooking instructor Jane Citron reports that its Cooking Up a Cure fund-raiser, held last Thursday, raised a whopping $275,000 for the fight against colon cancer.

This year's dinner is the second, and one of several efforts being made to establish the Jane and Carl Citron Family Endowed Chair in colon cancer research at the University of Pittsburgh.

"We want to thank you all for your help and generosity," said her son, Alan Citron, and his wife, Susan, via an e-mail to dozens of friends and patrons.

Mr. Citron, who estimated 250 people attended the event at the Oakmont Country Club, said about $1.3 million has been raised so far toward the $2 million chair. It's a testament to his mother, who succumbed to colon cancer in late 2006.

One thing we do up right in Pittsburgh is ethnic foods, and food festival season is under way, big time.

The Greek Food Festival at St. Nicholas Cathedral Community Center, 419 S. Dithridge St., Oakland, continues today and tomorrow. Lunch today is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner, 5 to 9 p.m. Tomorrow lunch is at the same time while dinner is served from 4 to 10 p.m.

Tour the cathedral and chow on beef stefatho, chicken oregano, souvlakia, fish plaki and those legendary Greek pastries, among other offerings. Greek dancing and an outdoor patio grill are other highlights, as is a convenient ATM machine.

On May 16, 17 and 18, the 52nd Pittsburgh Folk Festival reigns at Downtown's David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd. The fest includes demonstrations of ethnic cooking on May 17 and 18.

Those include Cajun, Carpatho-Rus, Greek, Bulgarian, Thai, Mexican, Lebanese, Italian, Slovakian and Chilean.

Seventeen international kitchens will be offering menus.

Tickets purchased before Wednesday are $8 for those 13 and older; $4 ages 4 to 12 and under 4, free.

At the door tickets are $10 for over 13 and $4 for ages 4 to 12. Admission does not include food. Go to pghfolkfest.org or call 412-278-1267.

Barbecue king Rick Rodgers will appear at Giant Eagle's Market District stores on Saturday, 11 a.m. at Bethel Park and 2:30 p.m. at the Shadyside market. He is the author of 25 cookbooks, including "BBQ 101," and will dispense tips as he demonstrates grilling.

Today at Market District, nutritionist Judy Dodd will discuss women's health and nutrition, including pregnancy and menopause. Times are 11:30 a.m. at Bethel Park and 5 p.m., Shadyside.

The long culinary arm of Rachael Ray has reached out and pulled in a Conneaut Lake, Erie County, family.

A recipe for Buffalo Ranch Chicken Club Sandwich, submitted by Candida Stallard and her daughter, Adrianna, 13, is included in Ms. Ray's new "Yum-O: The Family Cookbook."

It sounds pretty good and pretty easy, made by Adrianna for her siblings. She adapted a Rach recipe.

It's at post-gazette.com/food.

From one mother to all others, have a wonderful day on Sunday. We get many ideas for Mother's Day gifts here, and we're not above trinkets, but my year-after-year favorite is what my friend and mother extraordinaire Grace gets nearly every year: An afternoon to garden.

Uninterrupted.

Per sandwich

• 2 slices honey ham
• 2 slices smoked turkey
• 1 slice tomato
• 2 pieces whole grain bread
• 1 to 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
• A few shakes red hot sauce

In a small bowl, mix equal parts ranch dressing and hot sauce.

To assemble the sandwich, put ham, turkey and tomato on a plate. Microwave for 30 seconds. Flip over and microwave for 15 seconds.

Slide off the plate on to a slice of bread and spoon the ranch/hot sauce mixture over the top. Top with remaining slice of bread.

Cut in half and serve.