friday12
Armanetti’s Wine Shoppe & Beverage Mart hosts a free tasting of Goose Island’s seasonal beers, Mild Winter and Christmas Ale. 6-8 PM, 3530 N. Lincoln, 773-529-0288.
saturday13
Michael Foley, former chef-owner of Printer’s Row restaurant, and Mary Kirth of Dominican University’s nutrition and dietetics program discuss the effect of sound on health and fitness during a cooking demo and luncheon at Foley’s new culinary studio, Vegetable Alchemy. Foley will “fire up the iPod with tunes from ballroom, jazz, hip-hop, salsa, reggae, and more”; the menu includes roasted mushroom soup with miso, turkey Caesar salad with sweet potato, chocolate cupcakes, and pomegranate jellies. Reservations suggested. 9 AM-noon, 1041 W. Grand, 312-479-8612, $39 including tax, tip, and wine.
Bob Schwartz, VP of sales for Vienna Beef, gives a talk for the Culinary Historians of Chicago on the history of Chicago hot dog stands and signs copies of his book, Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog. Hot dogs will be served. 10 AM, Kendall College, 900 N. North Branch, 708-788-0338, rsvpchc@yahoo.com, $5.
Delilah’s hosts its tenth annual Christmas and winter beer tasting. Among the more than 100 brews are Three Floyds Alpha Claus Christmas Porter, Summit Winter Ale, St. Freulian Noel, and six vintages each of Anchor Christmas Ale, Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale, and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Noon-5 PM, 2771 N. Lincoln, 773-472-2771, delilahschicago.com, $20 for 20 sample tickets.
Charlie Trotter signs his new book, Home Cooking With Charlie Trotter, at Barnes & Noble Webster Place. He’ll also be doing a cooking demo; attendees will get to taste his creations. 1 PM, 1441 W. Webster, 773-871-3610, free.
Cuatro hosts a holiday entertaining class with executive chef Edie Jimenez, who’ll teach participants how to make pomegranate mojitos, coquinho cocktails, crab empanadas, and crab cakes. 1-3 PM, 2030 S. Wabash, 312-842-8856, $30.
sunday14
Cooks whose latke recipes were chosen by a panel of “Jewish kitchen divas” compete in a cook-off judged by chefs Laura Frankel and Ina Pinkney and comedian Aaron Freeman. There’s a buffet brunch beforehand, and after the latke battle spectators will be able to taste the results. 11 AM brunch, 12:30 PM cook-off, Spertus Cafe, 610 S. Michigan, 312-322-1757, $42.
monday15
City Provisions hosts its first BYOB supper club, with a five-course meal featuring canned and fermented foods by Jessica Johnson. 7 PM, 1820 W. Wilson, 773-293-2489, $50 (includes tax and tip).