Eats beat

_ Two cooks in the kitchen will be just right Wednesday, as award-winning culinary writer Jessica Harris collaborates with Geechee Girl Rice Café (6825 Germantown Ave., 215-843-8113) chef/owner Valerie Erwin on a four-course BYOB dinner that will include Senegalese Chicken Yassa and Harris' Leg of Lamb with Rosemary and Lavender. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. $55, including tax and tip. Reservations are required.

Harris is in town to speak about her latest book, "High on the Hog: A culinary journey from Africa to America," at the Central Library (1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341). The free library event is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

_ Two chefs will be one too many when Michael Solomonov faces Jose Garces on the Food Network's "Iron Chef America" at 10 p.m. Sunday. Solomonov, who owns Philly's Zahav, Xochitl and Percy Street Barbecue, will go toque-to-toque against Iron Chef Garces (his local Garces Restaurant Group has Amada, Chifa, Tinto, Distrito and Garces Trading Co.) in the Kitchen Stadium using a secret ingredient. A viewing party begins at 10 p.m. at Percy Street Barbecue (600 S. 9th St., 215-625-8510).

_ Conshohocken will add a star to its culinary constellation this spring as townie Joshua Lawler returns to debut his first restaurant, The Farm and Fisherman (1120 Pine St.), a 30-seat white tablecloth BYOB featuring regional produce, meat and fish. Lawler was most recently chef de cuisine at renowned New York farm-to-table restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Lawler's wife, Colleen, will join him in the new endeavor. "I'm inspired by the interesting and unusual ingredients produced by area farmers to create food that is evocative of time and place - specifically, the mid-Atlantic during the given season."

_ The restaurant, hotel and travel guide Gayot's annual Restaurant Issue (www.gayot.com) nods to several Philly spots. Vetri is among the 40 best eateries in the United States. Nick's Roast Beef is one of 40 best cheap eats. R2L is among the top 10 new restaurants in the U.S., and Buddakan is one of 10 Insider picks.

E-mail food and restaurant news to Laurie T. Conrad,

conradl@

phillynews.com.