Cook’s Calendar: End Child Hunger, Chocolates, Oktoberfest... and chili season is here!

Columbia’s Cooking: classes held at USC’s Cancer Prevention & Control Program, Discovery 1 Building, Suite 200, 915 Greene St. Oct. 27: 6-8 p.m., Flavors of Fall: autumn grain bowl w/maple tahini dressing, decomposed salad, fall minestrone soup, roasted pear w/walnut and ginger filling, coconut chocolate truffles. $35/person. Nov. 17: 5:30 p.m., Plant Based Friends-Giving: cream of mushroom soup, white bean and kale salad, wild rice stuffing, butternut squash and sweet potato casserole, apple fennel sage lentil loaf, vegan creme brulee. $35/person. Register online at columbiascooking.org/classes/ or ColaCook@mailbox.sc.edu or (803) 576-5636

Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute: Chef Francois Fisera leads classes, $39/person, wine extra. Classes begin at 6:15 p.m. Nov. 1 & 4, sea scallops mornay-style; Nov. 7, hands-on perfect omelette with hollandaise sauce; Nov. 14, 30-minute meal, octopus; Nov. 17, steak au poivre with haricot verts; Nov. 18 & 21, rack of lamb, haricot vert; Nov. 25, Beaujolais Nouveau celebration with beef burgundy; Nov. 29 & 30, pork tenderloin flambe with cognac cream sauce, wild mushroom and potatoes au gratin. Fleur de Lys is at 3001 Millwood Ave. (803) 765-9999 or fleurdelyscolumbiasc.com.

Let’s Cook Culinary Studio: Prices per person unless noted. Thursday, Oct. 27, Italian ($40, 6:15); Friday, Oct. 28, couples Lowcountry favorites ($90/couple, 6:30); Nov. 4, tapas; Nov. 15, Wild Women; Nov. 18, couples Tuscan foods; Nov. 22, pies; Nov. 25 & 26, Family Night, children must be 10 years or older. Detailed listings at lets-cook.wixsite.com/letscookculinary. Let’s Cook is at 1305 Assembly St., (803) 348-5874 or lets-cook@earthlink.net

McCutchen House at USC: Upcoming Chef du Jour classes: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays: Oct. 29, Bread 101 (extended 6-hour class, $90); Nov. 12, Chicken 101 ($50). Wine classes: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays: Nov. 15, Napa Valley wines ($50); Nov. 29, Bordeaux wines ($50); Dec. 6, rare and boutique wines ($99). Registration for classes through McCutchen House or call Becky Moran (803) 777-8225, moranrs@mailbox.sc.edu.

END CHILD HUNGER SC: Activities continue through Friday, Oct. 28. Learn about the coordinated efforts to address child hunger and food insecurity in the Midlands and beyond and what you might do to help. Main event: PhotoVoice exhibit, 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, Richland Library, 1431 Assembly St., a collection of inspirational photographs from parents highlighting the barriers of food insecurity and the ways families have overcome. Through Friday: Purchase a gelato, sorbetto, juice, smoothie or doughnut from Scoopy Doo Gelato Shop, 725 Saluda Ave., and 10% of proceeds will support End Child Hunger SC; Thursday: 10:30 a.m.-noon, Brockman Elementary, 2245 Montclair Dr., Observance of Richland One’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school’s free lunch service; 3-4 p.m., Rosewood Elementary, 3300 Rosewood Dr., visit EdVenture Children’s Museum Afterschool Program with a community garden; Friday: 10-11 a.m., Windsor Elementary, 9800 Dunbarton Dr., Farm to School Day with healthy cooking demonstrations, meet the farmers, and more. www.endchildhungersc.org.

FoodShare Columbia connects families and communities with affordable fresh fruits and vegetables from local and regional farmers. The partnership of the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, Richland Library, USC School of Medicine, EdVenture Children’s Museum and the Columbia Housing Authority provides boxed food that can be ordered twice a month, between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Bellfield Cultural Arts Center at 2611 Grant St., (803) 255-8161. Cost is $20; $10 for SNAP participants. Cash and EBT accepted. www.facebook.com/FoodShare-Columbia

Spotted Salamander Oktoberfest: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 1531 Richland St. Chefs Travis Rayle and Gerard Lin (The Wurst Wagen) prepare a five-course family style dinner featuring brews from Bierkeller Columbia. $65/person, call for reservations, (803) 546-0005, spottedsalamandercatering.com.

Halloween Treats from Evolution Through Chocolate: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at 302 Artisans. Joseph Vernon has Halloween themed chocolates and gift boxes, https://www.facebook.com/events/175855802851673/

Farm to Fountain Harvest Dinner at the Five Points Fountain: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1. Dine outside at the fountain as chefs Kristian Niemi (Bourbon), Frank Bradley (Bourbon), Drew Thompson (Farm to Table Event Co.), Josh Rogerson (Saluda’s) and Toby Leeuw (Publico Kitchen & Tap) prepare a family-style four-course dinner with complimentary cocktail and wine pairings. Tickets $75/person, www.farmtotableeventco.com

Rosso Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m.Wednesday, Nov. 2, with Bob Sabatini of Aleph wines and Count Sebastiano Capponi of Villa Calcinaia in Chianti. Enjoy a four-course dinner paired with wine, $68/person. Call for reservations: (803) 787-3949, Trenholm Plaza, rossocolumbia.com.

Good Catch Sustainable Seafood Recipe Contest: Deadline Thursday, Nov. 3. Submit your own favorite sustainable seafood recipe. Five recipes will be chosen by Kate Mullins, Marketing Manager at South Carolina Aquarium Good Catch, and Kate Dittloff, Public Relations Manager at South Carolina Aquarium Good Catch and prepared on the Kate and Kate in the Kitchen Facebook Live stream. Charleston area chefs will taste each dish and choose a winner. Winner will be announced Nov. 15 airing of Kate and Kate in the Kitchen and the recipe will be posted on the Aquarium’s Facebook and YouTube pages and featured in the monthly Good Catch newsletter. Submit recipe to draub@scaquarium.org by Nov. 3. www.scaquarium.org.

National Sandwich Day: Thursday, Nov. 3. Download a buy one-get one free coupon from Lance Sandwich Cookies at www.lance.com

Gardening Series: Fruit Trees and Berries: 6:30 p.m Thursday, Nov. 3, Newberry USDA Service Center, 719 Kendall Rd., Newberry Benny Halllman, Hallman Farms, talks about fruit and berry orchard establishment and maintenance. Live trees will be raffled off after class. Register with Danielle Rowe, (803) 597-3160, free for SC New & Beginning Farmer Program participants, $10/public

Sustainable Agriculture Conference: Nov. 4-6 in Durham, N.C. The annual Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s meeting of farmers, agripreneurs and ag-tivists, health advocates, gardeners, consumers and homesteaders — anyone interested in food production. Participate in hands-on intensives, farm tours, demonstrations, great food and conversation and community-building. www.carolinafarmstewards.org.

November Harvest Dinner: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at City Roots, 1005 Airport Blvd. The Spotted Salamander’s chefs Jessica Shilato and Travis Rayle join Farm to Table Event Co. resident chef Drew Thompson and Bourbon’s Executive Chef Frank Bradley for a four-course family-style dinner. Cocktail by Bourbon, wine pairings by Advintage. Tickets $75/person. www.farmtotableeventco.com

Wine, Women & Shoes: 6-10 p.m. Nov. 10, USC Alumni Center, 900 Senate St. Sip world class wines and savor delicioius bites while shopping designer fashions or bidding in the auction with proceeds to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia. Tickets $75/person or $150 VIP (includes extra hour for shopping, premier fashion show seating and VIP swag bag) available at www.winewomenandshoes.com.

Got the best chili? Prove it! Five Points Chili Cookoff: noon-6 p.m. Nov. 12, Greene Street in Five Points. Competitors can sign up online now at fivepointscolumbia.com to compete for best Vegetarian, Bar/Restaurant, Texas Style, Non-Traditional and Silver Spoon (formerly People’s Choice). There will also be prizes for Overall Chili and Best Set-up.

Bovinoche Bluegrass Festival at Magnolia Lodge, Nov. 12 & 13, at 631 Long Town Rd., Ridgeway. Jeff Bannister will be roasting whole roasted chicken, goat, pig and Kristian Niemi will be serving up some surprises. The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band headlines the Saturday music line-up with The Mustache Brothers, Mountain Express, The Plowboys, Dirty Gone Dolas, Prairie Willows, Liver Pudding, DC Leakage, DR Roundhouse and more. Camping spaces available, (freindly) dogs and kids welcome. Tickets $50/person, proceeds benefit Barclay School. www.magnoliafarmlodge.com

Bubbie’s Brisket & Bakery: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 13, Beth Shalom Synagogue, 5827 N. Trenholm Rd. Celebrate a Jewish food extravaganza with your favorites: brisket, corned beef, matzah ball soup, knishes, challah, rugalach and more. (803) 782-2500, www.bethshalomcolumbia.org.

Farm to Trunk wine event: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 16 at City Roots, 1005 Airport Blvd. Get ready for the holidays with a wine tasting and buying event with wines from Advintage. Cases of wine will be available for order and pick-up on Friday. Tickets $20/person, www.farmtotableeventco.com

German Harvest Festival with Bierkeller Columbia: noon-7 p.m. Nov. 19 at City Roots, 1005 Airport Blvd. The Farm to Table Event Co. pairs up with Bierkeller Columbia and The Wurst Wagen to present a German-inspired festival featuring charcuterie, beer and wine. Bierkeller releases the long-awaited Rauchbier Smoked Beer, an amber lager with 5.3% ABV. Admission $5/person, food and drink extra, food service ends at 6 p.m. www.farmtotableeventco.com

South Carolina Oyster Festival: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 20, Robert Mills House and Gardens, 1616 Blanding St. Bring your chairs, blankets and oyster knives and enjoy live music, ice cold beer, wine garden and oysters (other food will be available), and reduced rates on museum home tours. Admission $5/person does NOT include oysters, food or drinks. scoysterfest.com

Sustainable Holiday Celebration: 4:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at 701 Whaley. Shop from more than 40 local artisans and food crafters and sample foods from local restaurants with a focus on sustainable food. Tickets $15, $10 for senior citizens and members of the Armed Forces. www.sustainablemidlands.org or sustainablemidlands@gmail.com.

SlowFood Columbia + Midlands Food Alliance Potluck: 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at City Roots, 1005 Airport Blvd. Bring a dish to share (and serving utensil) and join in the discussion about happenings in the local food community. Free and open to everyone. www.slowfoodcolumbia.org, midlandsfoodalliance.wordpress.com

Christmas Crafters at Aiken County Farmers Market: 8 a.m. - noon, Dec. 10 and 17 at 115 Williamsburg St., Aiken. Local handmade gifts available. www.visitaikensc.com

DNR needs crabbers! SC Department of Natural Resources is looking for recreational crabbers and commercial crabbers to help test bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) that reduce the number of turtles caught in crab traps. Beginning with the 2016 fall season, DNR needs 50 recreational and 10 commercial crabbers in each of these three regions: (a) Jasper, Colleton and Beaufort counties; (b) Charleston County; and (c) Georgetown and Horry counties. Interested crabbers should visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/CrabTrapExcluder or call (843) 953-9097. More information at www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/diamondbackterrapin/research/fisheries.html.

Wine Tuesdays at Rosso Trattoria Italia, in Trenholm Plaza. www.rossocolumbia.com

Wednesday Wine Tasting at Gervais & Vine: 5:30-7 p.m., sample a few while enjoying live music; or check out the Happy Hour Wine Flights, 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, three 2-ounce glasses for $8. 620 Gervais St. (803) 799-8463, www.gervine.com

Wine Wednesdays at Craft And Draft will feature select wines at $5 per glass and three to four wines that will be available for sampling and buying. Craft and Draft is at 2706 Devine St. (803) 764-2575, www.craftanddraftbeer.com

Third Thursday ART(uncorked) at SakiTumi, enjoy 3-4 wines and meet a local artist and discuss their original work. 807 Gervais St., (803) 931-0700, www.sakifresh.com

Lunch at Old McCaskill’s Farm begins at noon every Friday. Served buffet-style, first come, first served, $10 per person. Check out the farm store while you’re there for farm-raised meats, cheeses and more. 377 Cantey Lane, Rembert, (803) 432-9537, www.oldmccaskillfarm.com.

Learn to make sushi at SakiTumi: By appointment, couples and small groups can call and arrange classes in the art of making sushi. Pricing options include food and class, or choose to include wine or hot sake. Call (803) 931-0700 after 2 p.m. for scheduling or information. SakiTumi is at 807 Gervais St.

Take a trip, see a farm: The South Carolina Agritourism Association has created a Passport Program for farms in order to educate folks on what the agriculture industry means to the state. Participants can get a passport from any of the 44 farms on the tour and the more stamps collected in the passport, the more chances to win prizes, with one winner taking home $100 in Certified SC products. https://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/agency-services/agritourism

Learn to become a farmer. Incubator Farm plots available at Sandhill Research and Education Center on Clemson Road in Columbia. Participants in the Agriculture Incubator Program will have access to up to a  1/2  acre of irrigated land, a packing shed, equipment use, access to technical assistance, access to markets and training opportunities. Fee of $350 per year for up to three years, plus required safety and operation training. Contact Harry Crissy, hcrissy@clemson.edu (use “Columbia Incubator” in subject line) or call (843) 730-5211.

Get the App: South Carolina Farmers and Roadside Market App shows more than 200 farmers markets and roadside produce stands. Click on location to see address, hours of operation, and methods of payment. New recipes each month will feature in-season produce. www.scdhec.gov/farmersmarkets.

Pressure Canning Testing by Clemson Extension done by appointment at Sandhills Research and Education Center on Clemson Road. Have your pressure canner dial gauges checked for accuracy before use by an extension agent. $6, cash or check. Call 803-865-1216 ext. 114 for more information.

The 2016 Midlands Farm & Food Guide is now available. This 24-page booklet makes it easy to find local farms and farmers markets and learn which area restaurants and retail shops carry S.C.-farmed foods. Published in conjunction with Midlands Food Alliance’s Local Food Pledge campaign, this free guide can be found at Rosewood Market, Whole Foods, S.C. Department of Agriculture, AgSouth & Arbor One Farm Credit, Clemson Extension offices, farmers markets and online at www.sc.edu/nutrition/doc/Midlands%20Farm%20Guide.pdf

Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours and Historic Columbia present historic food tours of the Vista: Nov. 12, choose 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or 4-6:30 p.m. tour times. Guests will visit five restaurants, sample some specialties and learn the history of Columbia. Tickets $30-38, depending on the number in your party, custom tours for 10 or more guests. More information available at www.twogalsfoodtours.com or call (803) 360-0578 or (803) 260-7992.

Columbia Food Tours takes you on walking tours of downtown Columbia and Five Points to experience the culture and cuisine of the capital city. Sign up for a tour, and visit six to eight of Columbia restaurants and sample items. Tours last 2 1/2 hours, rain or shine. Details and ticket reservations, $42 per person, at www.columbiafoodtours.com

Columbia Brew Bus offers tours of Columbia’s beer/wine and distilling scene. Choose the Brewery Tour: includes pick-up/drop-off at Liberty Tap Room, stops at Conquest Brewing, River Rat Brewery and Swamp Cabbage Brewing. At each stop, you get at least 16 ounces of beer samples, brewery tour, Q&A with brewery staff and opportunity to buy brewery merchandise. Choose the Wine and Spirits Tour: pick-up/drop-off at Bourbon Columbia, stops at Copper Horse Distilling, Crouch Distilling and Vino Garage. Distilleries will offer tour and tasting session. Vino Garage will have a custom tasting hosted by owner Doug Aylard. Along the way, enjoy sightseeing, light snacks, trivia and prizes, coolers to keep purchases cold and an all-S.C. music playlist curated by Scene SC. Tickets $45/person, $20 designated driver. www.columbiabrewbus.com

Copper Horse Distilling behind-the-scene tours on Fridays and Saturdays. Space is limited and reservations required, call (803) 779-2993 to book a spot. Large groups can be accommodated for private tours. All tours include a tasting of Copper Horse Distilling products (Old Mill Vodka, Copper Cream, Copper Horse Rum and Bulle Rock Gin). 929 Huger St., www.copperhorsedistilling.com

Farmers in the Forest: Forest Acres Farmers Market at Richland Mall in the parking lot along Beltline Boulevard. Wednesdays 3-7 p.m. through Oct. 26. Vendor applications can be found at farmersintheforest.org; follow on Facebook.

302 Artisans at Senate’s End: 2-7 p.m. (No Frills Grill food truck serves lunch noon-6 p.m.) Thursdays through Oct. 29 at 302 Senate St. www.facebook.com/302Artisans.

City Roots Farm: 4-7 p.m. Thursdays, 1005 Airport Blvd., www.cityroots.org

Rosewood Market Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m. every Friday, 2803 Rosewood Dr. (803) 256-6410 www.rosewoodmarket.com

1st Market at First Nazareth Baptist Church: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 21; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays; Millwood parking lot across from church. Senior vouchers, WIC, SNAP/EBT and debit cards accepted. Local farmers and gardeners encouraged to participate; (803) 254-6232

Kershaw County Farmers Market: 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through Nov. 19 at 222 Broad St., Camden. www.kcfarmersmarket.org

Soda City Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday at the 1500 block of Main Street. www.sodacitysc.com

Sandhills Farmers Market: 2-7 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 22, 2016 at Sandhill Research Center, 900 Clemson Road, across from Village at Sandhill, Northeast Richland.

Healthy Carolina’s Farmers Market: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays on Greene Street in front of Preston. www.sa.sc.edu/healthycarolina/farmersmarket. USC On-Campus delivery via Pinckney’s Produce and AFRESH! can be scheduled in 4-, 6- and 12-week sessions.

Have an upcoming food event? Email details to sardis@thestate.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. For more listings, go to www.thestate.com