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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a couple of restaurants are helping with the cause.

The Village Tavern, at 1903 Westridge Road (282-3063) in Greensboro and at Hanes Mall (760-2626) and 221 Reynolda Village (748-0221) in Winston-Salem, are featuring Hope-tini, a signature pink martini, through the month. The restaurant will donate $2 from the sale of each of these cocktails to breast cancer research.

Instead of its signature yellow boxes, Hungry Howie's Pizza is going pink with bright pink boxes for all pizzas through the end of the month. For each pizza purchased, Hungry Howie's will make a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In Greensboro, you can find Hungry Howie's at 1608 W. Friendly Ave. (333-9393), 2712 N. Church St. (375-8666) and 5710 High Point Road (222-3340).

Barbecue and coffee beans

Lately, the aroma of roasting coffee has been mingling with the hickory wood smoke at Stamey's Old Fashioned Barbecue at 2206 High Point Road. That's because the restaurant is now roasting its own beans.

Owner Chip Stamey purchased two coffee bean roasters from the Pappas family after they closed West Market Gourmet (formerly Tobacco USA) earlier this year. Stamey installed the roasters in the High Point Road restaurant and soon after began roasting beans for the fresh brewed coffee for that location and the 2812 Battleground Ave. restaurant.

"We were looking to improve our coffee," Chip Stamey says. "And we came upon a situation for getting the roasters."

Stamey says he and another employee, with the help of Jerome Pappas and guidance from coffee-roasting guru Kathi Zollman, have learned about roasting during the months since the roasters were installed.

"We're just dipping our toe into it," Stamey says. "It has improved our coffee 200 percent."

But the cost of that cup of coffee hasn't changed, he says.

And customer response has been good. The restaurant is selling more coffee.

The restaurant sells the coffee -- a house blend of Sumatra, Colombian and Brazilian -- as whole bean or ground. For now, it's just called Stamey's Coffee. But Chip Stamey says he may branch out and market the coffee and add single origin beans.

Could Stamey's Coffee Shop be just around the corner?

Anniversary deal

Steak Street (3915 Sedgebrook St.) in High Point is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a pretty good deal.

The restaurant is rewarding return visits with a free meal.

For a short time, patrons who keep their receipts can return later to redeem the receipts for a free lunch or dinner. The offer will be printed on the receipts for the initial visit. For reservations, call 841-0222.

Tasting and budget meal

Bistro Sofia (616 Dolley Madison Road) in Greensboro is offering a couple of special events.

The Sunday Sippin' series of beverage sampling continues with a wine tasting of "The Other Grapes" from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. The tasting is $24 and includes hors d'oeuvres.

On Oct. 14, the restaurant is holding a Fall Budget Night dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. that includes a three-course Italian-inspired menu with a glass of wine for $25 plus gratuity and tax. For reservations, call 855-1313.

Chef demonstration

Learn to prepare Seared Chicken Thighs With Warm Malbec Plum Glaze during a free Fresh Flavors cooking demonstration at 3 p.m. Saturday at The Fresh Market (282-4832), 3712 Lawndale Drive, and again at 3 p.m. Oct. 17 at The Fresh Market (855-6114), 1560 Highwoods Blvd. Both stores are in Greensboro.

Dinner helps conservancy

The Undercurrent (327 Battleground Ave.) in downtown Greensboro is helping Piedmont Land Conservancy with a wine dinner at 6 p.m. Oct. 16.

Cost for the three-course dinner with wine pairings is $30, and 10 percent of the revenue will be donated to the conservancy. The dinner is scheduled on the same evening as the Land Jam, a benefit concert at the Carolina Theatre for Piedmont Land Conservancy. For dinner reservations, call 370-1266.

Birthday party

Loco for Coco, a chocolate shop at 1420-D Westover Terrace across from Lucky 32, is celebrating its second anniversary with a party from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

There will be live music, a wine tasting from Wine Warehouse and, of course, lots of chocolate to taste.

While there, check out the shop's seasonal offerings such as Pumpkin Bark, Pumpkin Truffle, Peanut Butter Truffle, Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar and a Chipotle Liquid Truffle.

For more information, call 333-0029 or visit www.locofor cocochocolate.com.

Customer appreciation

During the month of October, LaBamba Mexican Restaurant (856-8888) at 2702 High Point Road is expressing customer appreciation by offering the Tres Amigo (an entree of shrimp sauteed in garlic butter with Guajillo Sauce, grilled vegetables, a chicken enchilada, steak taco and rice) for $9.99.

Draft beer also is only 99 cents Sunday through Wednesday.

Fall menu

Ganache (403 N. Elm St.) in downtown Greensboro is offering a fall menu featuring new fish, beef, pasta and chicken dishes. The menu is available for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and for lunch Monday through Saturday.

A Monday lunch gets you a free cookie, and the Sunday brunch gets you a free dessert. Call 230-2253 for reservations.

Sharpen your knives

Get the edge on the holiday season with a fresh hone on those kitchen knives.

Sur La Table (3334 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro; 291-9962) at The Shops at Friendly Center is again offering to sharpen two knives for free through the end of October.

The gourmet kitchen retailer will sharpen any additional knives at $1 per blade inch.

Pumpkin pies offered

J&S Cafeteria (5835 Samet Drive, High Point, 841-8192) is offering pumpkin pies during the holiday season. The pies are baked using fresh pumpkin supplied by a local grower. Slices are $1.25, and take-out whole pies are available for $7.80.

Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or carl.wilson @news-record.com