Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Cooks' calendar

EVENTS

Rosewood Market's annual turkey tasting is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Sample free-range natural turkey, tofu turkey and holiday fruit pies and fixings. 2803 Rosewood Drive; (803) 765-1083; rosewoodmarket.com

St. David's Episcopal Church Fall Bazaar will feature soups prepared by the Blythewood High School culinary class. Three different frozen soups will be sold, along with baked goods, Santa shop items and books. Proceeds go to charity. The bazaar will be 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at 605 Polo Road.

The March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction will be Sunday at 6 p.m. Sample the best from the area's finest restaurants, bid on silent auction packages and enjoy a live auction of dining, travel and entertainment packages. Tickets are $150 per person, $1,500 for a corporate table of eight. For more information, contact Betsy Britt, (803) 252-5200, or marchofdimes.com/southcarolina.

Columbia Family Shelter's First Annual Brews, Bluegrass and BBQ will be held 5:30-9 p.m. Nov. 12 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Hellenic Center, Sumter and Calhoun streets in Columbia. Enjoy an evening of beer, wine, barbecue, live music from the Papa String Band and Black Water, a photo exhibit and door prizes. Tickets are $30; all proceeds go to Columbia Family Shelter. (803) 771-7040

The 14th Annual South Carolina Oyster Festival will be 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 15 at Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion, 1615 and 1616 Blanding St. It will feature children's activities and live music from Blue Dogs, Tom Hall and the Plowboys, Danielle Howle and more. Tickets: $5 advance, $10 day of festival, free for children 12 and younger. Tickets are available at Robert Mills House Museum Shop, California Chicken Grill, BaWa Oyster Co. and online at etix.com. More information: (803) 252-2128

CONTESTS

LAST CALL: Win a year's worth of free groceries. Hungry Jack presents the "Use Up the Box" recipe and essay contest. Create and submit a photo and essay of an original or nontraditional recipe using Hungry Jack staples such as potatoes, pancakes or syrup. Three grand prize winners receive a year's worth of free groceries. Deadline: Monday. Information: useupthebox.com

Jif is looking for the Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich. Kids between the ages of 6 and 12 can enter for a chance at a $25,000 scholarship fund. Deadline: Nov. 13. Rules and information are at jif.com.

The Grove Park Inn's 17th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition: Entries must be delivered Nov. 15 and 16 to The Grove Park Inn in Asheville. groveparkinn.com or (800) 413-5778

HOLIDAY HOTLINES

Have questions about holiday cooking and baking? Check out these sites:

Butterball Turkey: (800) BUTTERBALL (800-288-8372); Butterball.com. New this year is Turkey Texting. Text the word TURKEY to 36888 to get weekly turkey tips, thawing reminders and cooking alerts to your mobile phone.

Land-O-Lakes Butter, landolakes.com: Features recipes, tips and how-to videos.

Ocean Spray, oceanspray.com: Tips for the first-time host, planning calendar and shopping lists.

Crisco, crisco.com or (877) FORPIETIPS: Step-by-step visuals, troubleshooting tips and recipes.

CLASSES

Columbia's Cooking, healthy cooking classes through the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at USC, features Healthy Holiday Cooking in partnership with Providence Hospital, $15. Classes taught at 915 Greene St. (803) 576-5618 or brookharmon@sc.edu

Upcoming classes at Young Chefs Academy of Irmo include 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 12, family French night, $30 for two people, $50 for family of four; 4-5:30 p.m. Nov. 27, Carolina-Clemson Gingerbread House Workshop, $40 per family, includes supplies and decorations; 4-5:30 p.m. Dec. 12, gingerbread house workshop, $40 per family; 8:30-10:30 a.m. Dec. 19, Breakfast with Santa, $30 per child. 7320 Broad River Road, (803) 749-0670. Find complete schedule at youngchefsacademy.com.

Chef Francois Fisera hosts cooking classes at Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute, 3001 Millwood Ave. (803) 765-9999, fleur-de-lys.us. Thursday and Friday, pork with portobellos; Monday, chicken curry; Nov. 11, 12, Austrian shepherd's pie. All classes cost $39; wine available at additional cost.

Upcoming classes at Let's Cook Culinary Studio: Thursday, Italian dinner night; Friday, couples cooking, hands-on pasta ($70 per couple); Monday, French regional cooking. Unless noted, all classes cost $30 and begin at 6:15 p.m. Let's Cook is at 1305 Assembly St. (803) 250-2569; letscookculinary.com

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