Contests

Palmetto Place Children’s Emergency Shelter is taking applications for the May 10 Sweet & Savory Competition at Embassy Suites. Sample creations of hors d’oeurves and decadent desserts created by local chefs for top honors. Proceeds benefit Palmetto Place to provide a safe and nurturing shelter and a broad range of services for children who are the victims of abuse and neglect. More information and tickets ($35 per person or $60 per couple) atpalmettoplaceshelter.org

Second Annual Lake Murray is Cooking Contest is scheduled for 5:30-8:30 p.m. May 10 at the Saluda River Club’s Chickawa Outdoor Center, 644 Corley Mill Road. The contest is open to both amateur and professional cooks, contestants must prepare their recipes to serve 150 to 200 samples in your selected category (appetizer, entree, dessert). Entry deadline is Thursday to Debra Carter, 4724-B Sunset Blvd, Lexington. Tickets to the event, $15 per person or $25 per couple, are available at County Banc Insurance, Palmetto Graphix, Lake Murray Chamber and Lake Murray Magazine offices.

Festivals/Events

Lexington Wine Walk on Main will be 6-10 p.m. May 12 along the 100 block of East Main Street in Lexington. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres, shop local vendors and listen to live music from Going Commando. Proceeds benefit the Lexington Beautification Foundation to fund projects such as landscaping, welcome signs and a fountain in Lexington Square. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the gate, and include commemorative wine glass, wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres. Information and tickets, lexingtonwinewalk.com (enter promotion code WINEWALK).

Food Truck Rodeo at City Roots, 5:30-10 p.m. May 11. Enjoy food from Bone-In BBQ, Pawleys Front Porch, 2 Fat 2 Fly, New York Hot Dogs and No Frills Grill during happy hour at the farm. Cash bar and live music. City Roots is at 1005 Airport Blvd in Rosewood.

Spring. Beer. Dinner. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium will host a five-course dinner featuring a variety of beers from Samuel Adams, including several Small Batch Series spring releases, 7 p.m. May 17 at 931 Senate St. Tickets are $34 for U.F.O. members, $45 for non-members and can be purchased in advance at Flying Saucer or call (803) 933-9997

Speaking of beer ... the inaugural Charleston Beer Garden Festival is scheduled for 1-8 p.m. June 23 at Brittlebank Park on Lockwood Drive. Enjoy a great lineup of craft brews and tasty treats from the Charleston Food Truck Rodeo, live music, beer school classes, cornhole and a 14-person photo booth. Tickets on sale now at charlestonbeergarden .com, including general admission ($25 advance/$35 at gate), VIP ($50 advance only) and designated driver ($15 advance only) options.

Rotary Club of the Vista Night’s 15th Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction is 7 p.m. June 12 at The Hall at Canal and Senate streets. Silent auction to benefit Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands. Tickets $40 per person, information at vistanightrotary.org or (803) 413-0446

Nose to Tail Dinner 6-10 p.m. June 18 at City Roots. Chef Ryan Whittaker (of @116 Espresso and Wine Bar) will prepare a whole heritage hog from local farmer Wil Altman of Righteous Ranch in Effingham. Side dishes will be prepared from other local ingredients and there will be a cash bar and live entertainment. Tickets $17 in advance, $20 at the door. Purchase tickets and more information at http://nosetotail1. eventbrite.com

Market News

Sandhills Farmers Market on Clemson Road, across from Village at Sandhill, is open 2-7 p.m. every Tuesday through November. Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions. Information at clemson.edu/sandhill or (803) 699-3719, (803) 788-5700

Farmers in the Forest, the Forest Acres Farmers Market at Richland Mall featuring food vendors, crafts, fresh produce and more is now open 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays through October. Interested vendors can contact City of Forest Acres, (803) 782-9475, forestacressc.net or farmersintheforest.org for application and information.

Classes

Columbia’s Cooking will offer a vegetarian spring cooking class 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 11. Gwen Preston will lead this class, which will feature local produce. Registered dietitian Katherine Shavo will provide information on the health benefits of blueberries. Class $35 per person, register by Friday at http://cpcp.sph.sc.edu /cooking/classes/htm

Sheri Castle, one of the authors featured at this year’s S.C. Book Festival, will be holding a cooking class at The 1425 Inn on Richland Street 6 p.m. May 21. Her latest book, “The New Southern Garden Cookbook,” looks at seasonal solutions for the age-old question “What’s for dinner?” with more than 300 recipes and anecdotes. Reserve a spot for $20 per person by calling 1425 Inn, (803) 252-4225. Cookbooks will be available for sale at this event.

America’s Test Kitchen Online Cooking School is designed to teach anyone, anywhere, to be a better cook. Students have unlimited access to a growing catalog of more than 100 courses and can opt for instructor support ($39.95 per month) or independent study ($19.95 per month). One-click access gives the student a look at every detail of the cooking process, thousands of photos, interactive tools guide and video instruction. Information or register at TestKitchenSchool.com

Healthy Hands Cooking begins a Kids 4-Week Program 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays in May and August at the Ballentine Community Center. Children ages 9-13 learn the basics of nutrition and healthy cooking over the course of a month. $120 for all 4 weeks includes all food, instruction, kitchen tool set, activities and workbook. Check out the Summer Camp sessions the week of June 25 and July 23. Details at healthyhandscooking.com or call Jan Walker Pinnington, (803) 960-4572

Learn the art of cake decorating at Michaels. Day, evening and weekend classes available. Tuition is $22, plus student kit ($34.99 before coupon). Daytime classes are 1 p.m. Thursdays, evening classes start 7:30 p.m. Sign up at Michaels on Harbison, 244 Harbison Blvd., (803) 407-7813, or call Tara Robinson (803) 319-7217 for daytime classes or Kim Andrysczyk (803) 781-3510 for evening classes.

Chef Francois Fisera hosts cooking classes at Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute. Friday, Saturday, chicken pot pie; May 8, 30-minute meal; May 11, 12, Manchester Farm quail; May 15, 18, osso bucco; May 22, 25, mussels and salmon. Fleur de Lys is at 3001 Millwood Ave. (803) 765-9999 or fleur-de-lys.us

Let’s Cook Culinary Studio events: Thursday, Italian supper; May 4, tapas; May 7, Good Food Made Simple with Chef Gary Uwanawich; May 10, Influences of Asia; May 11, couples classic Southern cuisine; May 14, one pot cooking with Chef Larry Platt; May 18, couples pasta; May 22, Wild Women; May 24, sushi; May 25, couples pasta. Detailed listings at letscookculinary.com. Let’s Cook is at 1305 Assembly St. (803) 348-5874

McCutchen House on the USC Horseshoe. See complete schedule and sign up for classes at http://webapps.csg.sc .edu/McCutchen.

Have an upcoming food event? Email details to food@thestate.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.