Cook’s calendar: Whiskey & beer; okra and peanuts... satisfy your hunger here

Special events

Lunch & learn with Healthy Carolina: noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, Center for Health and Well-Being, 1409 Devine St., Room 217. Lead dietitian Lisa Money shares her expertise on how to breastfeed as a working mom, including time management, hints for pumping, milk supply resources, and more. Information at COLVIND@mailbox.sc.edu or (803) 777-1650

Great American Whiskey Fair: 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at 701 Whaley. For a limited time, get general admission tickets for $50/person ($75 when early bird sells out) or VIP tickets — includes entire tasting, food, access to Cigar Veranda, GAWF t-shirt, good bag, early entry and chance to win a private bourbon tasting for 10 — $85/person ($125 when early bird sells out). www.experiencewhiskey.com, www.facebook.com/GreatAmericanWhiskeyFair or www.farmtotableeventco.com.

Oak Table’s 5th Anniversary: Thursday, Sept. 28. 1221 Main Street. Celebrate Oak Table’s 5th anniversary with a special 3-course meal for $35. Choose any small plate, entree and dessert on the menu. (803) 563-5066, theoaktablesc.com

Irmo Okra Strut: Friday & Saturday, Sept. 29 & 30, Irmo Community Park, 7507 Eastview Drive. Free for the family, enjoy amusement rides, arts and crafts and plenty of food. Participate in the okra eating contest! Grand Marshalls are Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and Deputies Kevin Lawrence and Chris Mastrianni. www.okrastrut.com

Soda City Oktoberfest: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 1500 block of Main Street. Enjoy local craft beers and some German fare in this extended Saturday market. www.sodacitysc.com.

Palmetto Peanut Boil: noon-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, in the 2900 block of Devine Street. Register your team now for you chance to be named the goober king or queen. Live music, kids entertainment, good food and boiled peanuts! All proceeds to benefit The Animal Mission and the Ronald McDonald House. https://palmettopeanutboil.com/.

Pints at the Park: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, Spirit Communications Park, 1640 Freed St. Relax at the ballpark and enjoy more than 100 craft beers, live music and football on the video board. Ticket levels include Designated Driver ($10, unlimited soft drinks and a pretzel), General Admission ($50, unlimited tastings and special edition tasting glass) and VIP ($80, unlimited tastings, tasting glass, exclusive craft beers, early admission at 5 p.m. and access to the Club Lounge buffet). Ages 21 and over only to drink, wristbands provided with ID. www.firefliestickets.com and at Spirit Communications Park Box Office.

The Cliffs WINE+FOOD Festival: through Saturday, Sept. 30, various Cliffs communities from Asheville to Greenville. Enjoy a series of wine tastings and dinners, brewing demonstrations set against the magnificent views of the Smoky Mountains. The Grand Tasting, set for Sept. 30 at The Cliffs at Mountain Park will feature 150+ wines, 30+ beers and 40+ liquors and cocktail samples, in addition to food stations, culinary demonstrations, live music and more. Information at https://cliffsliving.com/winefood2017

The 2017 Food Access Summit: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 2, Columbia Conference Center, 169 Laurelhurst Ave. If you want more insight into food policy and the role it plays in a healthy food system, this summit will provide an overall view. With panel discussions and facilitated breakout sessions, participants will come away with the social policy tools, training and action oriented ideas to educate and organize others to support a food system that is equitable for all. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin will be giving the keynote address. Tickets to this event are $20/person, includes lunch. www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-food-access-summit-tickets-36211751323.

Oktoberfest Harvest Dinner: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at City Roots, 1001 Airport Blvd. The Wurst Wagen’s Gerard Lin is the guest chef for this event, joining Bourbon’s Kristian Niemi and Frank Bradley for an authentic German four-course meal. $75/person, www.f2tproductions.com

Newberry Oktoberfest: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 7, in downtown Newberry Newberry has a rich German heritage and this is probably the closest in spirit to the Munich Oktoberfest. Family-friendly (there’s a Kindertown just for children with toy vendors, rides, bounce house and other activities), two beer gardens and German cuisine, classic car show and live music. And if you need a reason to break out the lederhosen, there’s even a contest for the Best Traditional German Dressed. www.newberryoktoberfest.com

Bierkeller Oktoberfest at Senate’s End: noon-10 p.m. Oct. 7, at 300 Senate St. There will be four beers featured – Kolumbianer Kolsch, Rauschbier, Kellerbier and Festbier (new). Food will be available from Senate’s End catering and The Wurst Wagen and will include a selection of wursts, fleischkase (meatloaf), fresh-baked pretzels and a few surprises. Children and leashed dogs welcome. www.facebook.com/bierkellercolumbia.

Farm to Table Main Street Harvest Dinner: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 8, on the 1200 block of Main Street. Chefs from Bourbon, The Oak Table and The Whig join together for creative cocktails and a multi-course meal with wine. $125/person, www.f2tproductions.com

The Midlands Food Alliance Chef/Farmer Mash-up 2-6 p.m. Oct. 9 at Senate’s End in Columbia. This is where food growers and producers can meet chefs, distributors, institutions, and anyone interested in facilitating a direct-from-the-farm program. Participants are urged to come prepared with wish lists, prices, schedules and availability, and an open mind. Not open to general public. www.facebook.com/midlandsfoodalliance/

Restaurant Week Columbia: Oct. 12-22. Here’s your chance to try something new or go back to an old favorite dining spot. Enjoy special menu items and pricing at some of the Columbia area’s best restaurants. Check out who is participating at restaurantweekcolumbia.com/.

Oktoberfest Columbia: Oct. 13-15, Incarnation Lutheran Church, 3005 Devine St. Featuring live music (polkas, anyone?) and authentic German food that includes schnitzels and wursts, side such as potato salad, kraut and spaetzle and bakery items such as pfeffernusse (cinnamon, clove and ginger spiced cookie), lebkuchen (honey spice bar with almonds), linzer (hazelnut and raspberry sandwich cookie) and zitronenbretzeln (lemon pretzel-shaped cookie). German-style American craft beers from Swamp Cabbage, Palmetto Brewing Company, Columbia Craft Brewing (new), Goose Island, Brewery 85, Hi Wire, Red Hare, Devils Backbone and Wicked Weed. www.oktoberfestcolumbia.com

Jam Room Music Festival: noon-10 p.m. Oct, 14, 1500 Main St., Yeah, OK, technically it’s a music fest – but there’s a beer garden. And The Wurst Wagen will be there. So by a brat and enjoy a brew while listening to Guided by Voices, Hiss Golden Messenger, Barnwell, King Vulture, Elf Power, The Lovely Few, Valley Maker, Hearts on Fire, FatRat Da Czar, NUMBTOUNGUE, Bombadil and Bask. jamroommusicfestival.com

Lexington Craft Beerfest: 6-10 p.m. Oct. 14, Icehouse Amphitheater, 107 West Main St., Lexington. A beer-centric event with food provided by local restaurants. Hosted by the Greater Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center, attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets, $20/person in advance, $30/person at the door, include craft beer samples, commemorative glass and non-alcoholic beverages. www.lexingtonsc.org

James Beard House Preview Dinner: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 16, at City Roots, 1001 Airport Blvd. Chefs Kristian Niemi, Frank Bradley, Lou Hutto and Todd Woods preview the dinner that they will be preparing in New York. Four courses with hors d’oeuvres, bread and dessert. Check out the menu and purchase tickets, $100/person, at www.f2tproductions.com

Five Points 30th Annual Chili Cook-off: noon-6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Greene Street and Pavilion Avenue. Think you have the best chili? Sign up now to prove it in categories such as Best Overall, Vegetarian, Texas-style and Non-Traditional. Awards will also be given for Best Set-up and The Group Therapy Silver Spoon Award for the most money raised. Craft beer, live music, cornhole, children’s area, food trucks (serving more than chili) and more. Admission is free, chili samples $1/sample. fivepointscolumbia.com/events/Chili-Cook-Off#gallery-event

Taste of Atlanta: Oct. 20-22, Historic Fourth Ward Park, 680 Dallas St NE, Atlanta. Tickets on sale now for various dinners, tastings and events at www.TasteofAtlanta.com.

South Carolina Agricultural Council Farm Tour: 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Bus leaves SC Farm Bureau, 724 Knox Abbott Dr., Cayce, and heads to tour the Farm Bureau grain elevator in Anderson, Forx Farm — makers of aged gouda cheese — in Anderson of lunch, Six and Twenty Distillery in Powdersville, City Scape Winery in Pelzer for wine and cheese tasting, and Happy Cow Creamery. Bring a cooler for purchases. Seating limited Tickets $65/person includes lunch, cocktails and liquor tasting, wine and cheese tasting with commemorative wine glass and beverages and snacks on the bus. Contact Steve Slice, at 803-360-2845 or scagriculturalcouncil@gmail.com

Sustainable Agriculture Conference: Nov. 3-5, Durham, NC. A weekend featuring farmers, foodies, ag-tivists and experts for a celebration of innovation in local, sustainable agriculture. Atina Diffley, organic farmer-educator, activist and author of Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works, will deliver the keynote address on Protecting Nature and Creating Social Change. Tickets and schedule at www.carolinafarmstewards.org/sac.

22nd Annual South Carolina Oyster Festival: Nov. 19 at Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion. Enjoy over 10,000 pounds of fresh oysters served steamed and fried. Bring a blanket and lawn chair and enjoy the food and music. Proceeds go to God’s Store House and Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services. Tickets $5/advance, $10/day of event, available at Robert Mills House Gift Shop, Pearlz Oyster Bar and at www.scoysterfest.com; children under 12 free with parents. Oysters and other food are not included in the ticket price and are sold separately, by the serving.

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

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.

Healthy Bucks: A program allowing SNAP recipients to obtain additional fresh fruits and vegetables when they use SNAP benefits to purchase fresh produce at participating farmers markets. SNAP recipients who purchase at least $5 with SNAP EBT card at participating locations get $10 in Healthy Bucks tokens for the purchase for additional fresh fruit and veggies. In Richland County: FoodShare Columbia, Dianne’s Call, City Roots and Martin Farm; in Lexington County: Beasons Farm Market; in Kershaw County: Kershaw County Farmers Market, United Way of Kershaw County. dss.sc.gov/assistance-programs

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.

Reduced Price Compost Bins: Contact Richland County Ombudsman’s office, (803) 909-6000 to order bins for $33.

Columbia’s Cooking: Classes held at USC’s Cancer Prevention & Control Program, Discovery 1 Building, Suite 200, 915 Greene St. Register online at columbiascooking.org/classes/ or ColaCook@mailbox.sc.edu or (803) 576-5636.

Providence Cooks: Providence Health, 2435 Forest Drive. Monthly healthy cooking class taught by registered dietitian Kay MacInnis and her team of chefs from Providence Health. Tickets $25/person (Providence Health employees receive 50 percent discount), call 1-800-424-DOCS or online at http://bit.ly/ProvCooks2017. Upcoming classes: Oct. 2, Fall into the Mediterranean; Nov. 7, Healthy Entertaining. More information at http://yourprovidencehealth.com/classes-events/providence-cooks-farm-to-table

Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute: Chef Francois Fisera leads classes, $39/person, wine extra. Classes begin at 6:15 p.m. Friday & Saturday, Sept. 29 & 30, Maryland crab cakes; Oct. 2, scallop, shrimp & lobster risotto; Oct. 17, 20 & 21, osso bucco; Oct, 24, soups: lobster bisque & bistro onion soup; Oct, 27, tasting: Bordeaux Petit Chateau from Yvon Mau with coq au vin; Oct, 30, swordfish w/confetis of vegetables. Fleur de Lys is at 3001 Millwood Ave. (803) 765-9999 or fleurdelyscolumbiasc.com.

Let’s Cook Culinary Studio: Prices per person unless noted. Friday, Sept. 29, small Italian plates (6:30 p.m., $45); Oct. 18, Oregon’s Phelps Creek pinot noir winery dinner (6-9 p.m., $75); Oct, 21, couples pasta (6:25 p.m., $95/couple); Oct. 24, Wild Women (6:15 p.m., $50 2-for-1); Oct. 25, 10th Anniversary Class(6:15 p.m., $55); Oct, 27, couples falll foods (6:30 p.m, $95/couple); Oct. 31, Halloween pumpkin, come in costume, byob (6:15 p.m., $60 2-for-1). 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: Chef du Jour (Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. unless otherwise noted): Sept. 30, muffins & scones ($60/person); Oct. 7, winter vegetables ($65/person); Oct. 14, Bread 101 (9 a.m.-3 p.m., $90/person); Nov. 4, Pie Making 101 ($65/person); Nov. 11, holiday entertaining ($70/person); Dec. 2, braising comfort foods (9 a.m.-3 p.m., $90/person). Wine classes (Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 p.m., $65/person unless noted): Oct. 17, craft beer; Nov. 14, New Zealand wines ($70/person); Dec. 5, rare and boutique wines ($99/person). Register for classes through McCutchen House or call Becky Moran (803) 777-8225, moranrs@mailbox.sc.edu.

Last Wednesdays with John Chiles: Former owner of Restaurant 123 in Irmo, GM for Club Corp International and part owner/operator of Blue Marlin, John Chiles will instruct cooking classes 7-9 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month at Grace United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall Kitchen, 410 Harbison Blvd. Call church office Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. or Friday 9 a.m.-noon for info or to register (803) 732-1899 or office@gracecolumbia.org.

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

Blythewood Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Doko Meadows, 171 Langford Road, Blythewood. Michaela Barno, (843) 697-1733. www.facebook.com/BlythewoodFarmersMarket or www.localharvest.org/blythewood-farmers-market

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

Northeast Farmers Market: 3-7 p.m. Thursdays through mid-October, Lake Carolina Town Center, 100 Lake Carolina Blvd, Northeast Richland. www.lakecarolina.com or www.facebook.com/lakecarolinafarmersmarket

Irmo Farmers Market: Opening June 17. 9 a.m.- noon, Saturdays through September, Irmo High School, 6671 St. Andrews Rd., Irmo. (803) 269-9826. www.irmofarmersmarket.com

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

Chapin Downtown Farmer’s Market: 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. every first Saturday through October, in the 100 block of Clark Street. www.chapinsc.com or www.facebook.com/ChapinDowntownFarmersMarket

Lexington Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through Sept. 30 (except July 1), Lexington Square Park, 205 E. Main St. Contact Walker Brewer (803) 358-7275 or www.lexsc.com

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

Sandhills Farmers Market: 2-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thanksgiving at Sandhill Research Center, 900 Clemson Road, across from Village at Sandhill, Northeast Richland. www.clemson.edu/public/sandhill/programs/farmers_market.html

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.

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Cook’s calendar: Whiskey & beer; okra and peanuts... satisfy your hunger here."