Cook’s calendar

Food events in the weeks ahead

• Taste sweet-potato ice cream and participate in a sweet-potato baking contest Saturday, May 10, at the Lower Richland Sweet Potato Festival. Activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hopkins Adult Activity Center, 150 Hopkins Park Road.

• Each Thursday in May from 6 to 9 p.m., Riverbanks Botanical Gardens will host Rhythm and Blooms, an after-hours social event including live music and samplings of food and wine. Cash bar and gourmet picnic dinners available for additional charge. Admission $5 for members, $7 for general public.

• CarolinaChildren’s Home hosts its 21st annual BBQ Cook-Off Festival May 16-17 at the State Fairgrounds. The anything-but-pork event is 7 to 10 p.m. May 16. Tickets, $8 or two for $15. Judging and sale of barbecue plates takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 17. Plates are $8 at the door or $7 if purchased in advance. Tickets for kids 11 and younger, $3. Call (803) 782-1421 to buy tickets. For more information, go to www.carolinachildrenshome.org.

• Cookingclasses available at Let’s Cook Culinary Studio, 1305 Assembly St., letscookculinary.com, and Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute, 3001 Millwood Ave., www.fleur-de-lys.us. Visit both Web sites for schedules and prices.

• Learn about healthy eating habits through classes at USC’s “Columbia’s Cooking!” Healthy Cooking program. Go to cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking.

• The Young Chefs Academy, 7320 Broad River Road, is offering a series of summer cooking classes for children. Go to youngchefsacademy.com or call (803) 749-0670 for information.

Compiled by Allison Askins. Reach Askins at (803) 771-8614.