Festivals/Events

Food Safety Workshop for small- to mid-sized growers highlighting best practices for safety, postharvest handling, packing and business management presented by Clemson Cooperative Extension Service and Carolina Farm Stewards Association, March 21 at Sandhill Research and Education Center. Details and registration, contact Blake Lanford, (843) 365-6715 or blakel@clemson.edu

First Ever Midlands Farm Tour sponsored by Carolina Farm Stewards and Whole Foods April 6 and 7. Tour 11 sustainable working farms throughout Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties, you pick the route, meet the farmers and enjoy fresh farm products. $25 per car or bicycling group in advance (tickets good for both days) or $30 day of event or $10 per farm. The Upstate Farm Tour is June 1 and 2 (24 farms in Greenville, Spartanburg, Laurens, Newberry, Anderson, Abbeville and Greenwood counties) Details at www.carolinafarm stewards.org

Slow Food at Indie Grits. Get your tickets ($10, $15, $25) for the Slow Food tasting and potluck highlighting local and sustainable ingredients, 4-7 p.m. April 14 at 701 Whaley. Tickets on sale March 15 (festival passes on sale now) at www.indiegrits.com

[Contests

Got the best ’Q? Barbecue teams are wanted for the S.C. Department of Agriculture’s Smokin’ at the Market Commissioners Cup BBQ Cook Off from March 22-23 at the State Farmers Market. Sanctioned by Southern BBQ Network, categories include Anything Butt, Butts, Pork Ribs, Grand Champion and Reserve Champion. Sign up at http://agriculture.sc.gov/ commissioners cupcookoff or email ToolsMeasureOptionsre @scda.sc.gov.

Best ’Q too! Barbecue teams are urged to compete in the Second Annual Henry Shelor District of the Boy Scouts of America Wing-Ding and Barbecue Cook-off from March 15-16 at Sumter County Fairgrounds. This South Carolina Barbecue Association sanctioned event will feature butts with an optional pork ribs event. Friday night Wing-Ding will be a People’s Choice event. Contact Bill Robinson (803) 840-3367 or billbodar@live.com for information or application.

30th National Beef Cook-Off seeks healthy recipes from home cooks. Submit your best beef recipes online at beefcookoff.org for a chance to win $25,000 and a trip to the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington, D.C. Deadline April 15

Classes

BBQ Shop Talk will be holding a series of grilling classes at the SC State Farmers Market. Sunday classes, noon-5 p.m., $99 per class include samplings, recipes and take-home food. April 7, ribs; May 5, ladies grilling; June 9, guys grilling; July 14, start your own competition cook team. Call Mark Busbee, (803) 513-6087 or Tim Handy, (843) 214-3736

Columbia’s Cooking! Ask about cooking and nutrition classes for home schoolers. Information, registration, Katherine Shavo (803) 576-5636, shavo@mailbox.sc.edu or colacook@mailbox.sc.edu, cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking /classes.

Charleston Cooks! at Cross Hill. Today, (lunch) cheese, (dinner) taste of Morocco; March 7, steakhouse favorites; March 8, couples Big Easy recipes; March 9, Gullah traditions; March 11, artisan bread; March 12, Southwest flavors; March 13, from stocks to soups to stews; March 14, St. Pat’s feast; March 15, Spring entertaining; March 16, sushi. Register for classes online at charlestoncooks.com.

Chef Francois Fisera hosts cooking classes at Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute. Friday,30-minute meal; March 12, 15, 16, chicken pot pie; March 19, oysters and clams; March 22, Tuscan wines; March 26, 28, lamb chops. Fleur de Lys is at 3001 Millwood Ave. (803) 765-9999 or fleurdelyscolumbiasc.com

Let’s Cook Culinary Studio events: Friday, couples Italian; March 14, hands-on pasta; March 15, couples paella; March 19, Wild Women; March 20, Eye on Food; March 22, couples pad Thai. Detailed listings at letscookculinary.com. Let’s Cook is at 1305 Assembly St. (803) 348-5874

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