Wednesday, Oct. 07, 2009

Cooks' calendar of events

EVENTS

Relax and enjoy A Taste of Forest Acres, 5-9 p.m. Thursday. Forest Acres restaurants will provide food for $1-$3, and The Tams and The Breakfast Club will perform on the rooftop of Midtown at Forest Acres at Beltline Boulevard and Forest Drive. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy this family-friendly event.

The State Museum's annual Fall Heritage Festival and Pickin' Party is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Barbecue sampler plates are $10; a one-style plate is $7; sandwiches and chips are $5. Outdoor activities include bluegrass and folk music, arts and crafts and silhouette artist Clay Rice. 301 Gervais St., (803) 898-4921 or southcarolinastatemuseum.org

Kalmia Gardens at Coker College will host "A Gourmet Evening Under the Stars" with Chef Adam Silverman 6-8 p.m. Thursday. The event, a fundraiser for Kalmia Gardens, will feature a wine-tasting, a tapas-cooking demonstration and sampling by Chef Silverman, appetizers by Hobnob Gourmet and desserts from Saffron Catering. Tickets are $55 per person or $100 per couple. Call (843) 383-8145 for tickets. Kalmia Gardens is at 1624 W. Carolina Ave., Hartsville.

A Fine Affair pre-tournament party to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia will be 7 p.m. Monday. Some of the best chefs in South Carolina will prepare their signature dishes, and guests can bid on items during a silent auction and enjoy the music of the Ross Holmes Band. Tickets are $75 per person, $125 for couples. All proceeds benefit families of critically ill and injured children staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Columbia. Participating restaurants include Four Moons (Orangeburg), Indigo Jones and Aberdeen Catering (Camden), Motor Supply Co., Blue Marlin, Solstice Kitchen, Blue Fin and The Melting Pot.

Lake Carolina's 7th Annual Food and Wine Festival is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. Oct. 17. Restaurants from the Northeast Richland area will participate, and there will be live music and a silent auction featuring original artwork by South Carolina artists. Cost is $35 per person or $60 VIP ticket (includes admission to after party). Proceeds from the event will benefit Children's Charities of the Midlands. Information and tickets at lakecarolina.com.

The March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction will be Nov. 8 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.

Foodie heaven can be found at the Taste of Charleston Friday through Sunday. This event has grown to three days and features the best of Lowcountry cuisine. Scheduled events include an Iron Chef competition at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, various tastings and the main event at Boone Hall Plantation. For more information or tickets: charlestonrestaurantassociation.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Uncle Ben's rice company has partnered with Harvest Hope and Feeding America in sponsoring Uncle Ben's Kids Cafe at Kathryn M. Bellfield-Booker Washington Heights Cultural Arts Center (former Sarah Nance Elementary), 2611 Grant St. The program provides food and snacks to children who are at risk of going hungry.

CONTESTS

Love grits? Adluh is seeking contestants for its 10th Annual Grits Cook-Off on Nov. 7. If you have an original recipe using Adluh stone-ground white or yellow grits, you can enter it starting at 8:30 a.m. at Sally's House on the Adluh campus, 804 Gervais St. Registration is $10; limited spaces available. Information: (803) 779-2460

Got the best chili in Columbia? Prove it! Enter Group Therapy's 23rd Annual Chili Cookoff for fame and glory and to benefit Columbia's Camp Kemo and The Hope Center of Charleston. Categories include home cooks, restaurants and bars, vegetarian, hottest, people's choice and best overall. There's no cost for entry. The cookoff is Oct. 17. Enter online at grouptherapybar.com/chili2009.

French's is looking for favorite family recipes that use at least one French's product. Grand prize: $25,000. Deadline: Oct. 31. For more information: frenchsfoods.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.

Hershey's is looking for the most passionate college football fan in the "I'm A Big Fan" promotion. Information and rules at hersheysbigfan.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

CLASSES

Williams-Sonoma at Columbiana Center is offering basic technique classes Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Schedule: Sunday, knife skills; Oct. 18, fall baking. Classes are free. Call to reserve a seat. (803) 749-4442.

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, oysters in garlic butter and Pernod with lentils and sausage; Monday and Tuesday, veal risotto; Oct. 16, Bordeaux wines.

Upcoming classes at Let's Cook Culinary Studio: Monday, French regional cooking with Chef Bertrand Gilli; every Thursday, Italian dinner night. All classes cost $30 and begin at 6:15 p.m. Let's Cook is at 1305 Assembly St. (803) 250-2569; letscookculinary.com

Get The State newspaper delivered to your home. Click here to subscribe.