A savory time at the Shore

ATLANTIC CITY - Top chefs?

The best cheesesteaks?

Comedy? This city's got it.

The Shore sizzles this weekend with celebrity chefs, a cheesesteak battle, a one-man comedy show, sailings on the tall ship A.J. Meerwald, and more.

The Food Network and Harrah's Entertainment will partner for the second annual Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival. Scheduled Friday through Sunday at Harrah's Resort, Caesars, Showboat, and Bally's, the festival will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Susan G. Komen campaign against breast cancer.

Beginning 7 p.m. Friday at Caesars is Guy Fieri's Cheesesteak Battle featuring competitors from the region, with the winner to be determined by popular vote. Fieri, host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, is placing his bets on a Philadelphia restaurant to win the battle for cheesesteak bragging rights.

"I'm still not sold on the Philly cheesesteak outside of Philly," says the celebrity chef. He also will cook for Guy's Big Bite Brunch on Saturday.

Among Philly restaurants participating in the battle is Rick's Steaks - Downstairs at the Bellevue. Owner Rick Olivieri feels no pressure having to defend his family legacy as the grandson of cheesesteak inventor Pat Olivieri.

"The competition will be stiff, but I think we can pull it off," says Olivieri, revealing only that he will compete with a traditional cheesesteak with flair.

Mike Hauke, the owner of Tony Boloney's at 300 Oriental Ave. near the Atlantic City Inlet, is competing with his Cheesesteak Ole' - a 10-spice sirloin steak, with fried onions, jack cheese and other fixings. "I'm a huge fan of Guy Fieri," he says, "but if he thinks Philly is going to win, he's going to be very disappointed."

Pat and Gina Neely, hosts of the Food Network's Down Home With the Neelys, bring their Southern comfort food to the festival at 11 a.m. Saturday during the Play With Your Food demonstration at Bally's.

"I may make a great cocktail at the demo. The Hurricane; you know, step it up," said Gina Neely.

Frank Formica, owner of Formica Bros. Bakery in Atlantic City, and Melissa d'Arabian, host of the Food Network's Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian, follow with demos at noon and 1 p.m., respectively.

"I'm going do the four-step chicken for the festival," said d'Arabian. "It's easy because you can master one recipe and switch up the flavor profile." She promises that foodies can easily make her recipes at home.

Other festival activities include Paula Dean's Boardwalk Party, Blues, Brews & BBQ at the Showboat - featuring a concert by Grammy winner Robert Cray - wine tastings and more events starring a host of Food Network chefs.

Away from the casinos and out on the sea, New Jersey's tall ship, A.J. Meerwald, an authentically restored 1928 Delaware Bay oyster schooner, makes its first extended visit to Atlantic City. Beginning Friday at 5:30 p.m., 21/2-hour public sails are scheduled through Tuesday from Gardner's Basin. The Saturday schedule includes a specially priced family sail at 10 a.m. and a Marine Critters Sail with an educator from the Atlantic City Aquarium at 1:30 p.m. On Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., costumed reenactors will lend swashbuckling flair to the Pirate Sail.

Visit the Atlantic City Historical Museum at Garden Pier, open daily at 10 a.m., with no admission charge. Museum highlights include the exhibits "Shore Deco: Atlantic City Design Between the Wars 1919-1939" and "Atlantic City, Playground of the Nation." The museum also features a gallery of photographs by native Philadelphian Al Gold.

A short distance from the Boardwalk is the Absecon Lighthouse, open daily at 10 a.m. Visitors can climb 228 steps to the top of the lighthouse, New Jersey's tallest, and enjoy a 360-degree view of Atlantic City.

Catch some laughs at the Godfadda Workout at Bally's Friday through Sunday at 8 p.m. as Seth Isler turns the Oscar-winning film The Godfather into a one-man parody show, delivering impersonations of Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, and others from the movie.

Guy Fieri's Cheesesteak Battle, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at Palladium Ballroom at Caesars, 2100 Pacific Ave. Tickets: $75. Play With Your Food, 11 a.m. Saturday at Dennis Courtyard at Bally's, Park Place and the Boardwalk. Tickets: $45. Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival is Friday through Sunday at Harrah's properties. For tickets, schedule and events information, go to www.harrahs.com/acfoodandwine.

A.J. Meerwald, departing 5:30 p.m. Friday and scheduled sails through Tuesday from Gardner's Basin, 800 N. New Hampshire Ave. Tickets: $12 to $50. For reservations, sail schedules, and ticket information call 856-785-2060 or go to www.ajmeerwald.org.

Atlantic City Historical Museum, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., located at Garden Pier, New Jersey Avenue and the Boardwalk. Admission: Free. Information: 609-347-5839 or www.acmuseum.org

Absecon Lighthouse, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 31 S. Rhode Island Ave. Admission: $7, $4 for ages 4-12. Free for active military and children 3 and younger. Dogs are welcome. Information: 609-449-1360 or www.abseconlighthouse.org.

The Godfadda Workout, 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday through Sept. 5 at the Palace Theater at Bally's Casino, Park Place and the Boardwalk. Tickets: $25. Tickets: 1-800-736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.EndText