Cafe Martorano's Meatball-Eating Championship, More!

SIN CITY—Everyone knows how much athletes and former stars of The Sopranos love Fort Lauderdale's Cafe Martoran, but come November 8, the restaurant's Las Vegas restaurant at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will be central casting for insane competitive eaters as it hosts the first ever Martorano's Masters Meatball Eating Championship. Cash prize: $3,000. Bragging rights: priceless. [EaterWire]

SOFLO—Stop mourning over the untimely demise of Gourmet and get ready to embrace Edible South Florida, covering local chefs, gardeners, growers, artisans and other assorted characters who comprise our colorful culinary community. A member of Edible Communities, a national network of over 50 food magazines, the full-color quarterly magazine debuts in January 2010 and will preview at Fairchild Botanic Garden's Edible Garden Festival on October 24-25. [EaterWire]

QUICKFIRE CHALLENGE—What happens when the ex-consulting chef of Grass and the former executive chef of The Forge get together? No, they don't go on a reality show, but they do team up to start their own restaurant hospitality firm as Michael Jacobs and Andrew Rothschild recently did. Strategic Hospitality Group Corporation will focus on whipping restaurants and catering events into shape. [EaterWire]