On the Menu This Weekend 2/26/10-2/28/10

Fresh-Picked HQ was stricken with a hard drive crash this week. Needless to say, I'm a bit out of sorts here. So I’m not going to make an attempt to lead into this weekend’s highlights with any sort of cutesy preamble. Just know there are a bunch of great events this weekend.  I especially want to highlight the “Empty Bowls” event on Saturday. It sounds like a great cause and fun event. Check it out!

(Don't see anything below?  Also check out Freeattle for this week's event round-up.)

Friday, February 26

• The Barley Wine Bacchanal at Beveridge Place Pub begins! 24 Dedicated Barleywine Taps! 50 Barleywines rotating throughout the Fest! Never had a barleywine? It’s a grain-based ale with the alcohol content of wine. The event will continue through March 6. (Click here for more beer events.)
• 5:30-8:30pm: Haitian Relief Dinner at Whole Foods Roosevelt. “$15.00 per meal, $3 pints of beer & glasses of wine with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund….Tonight's menu: Fried Plantains with Lime Sauce, Creole Jambalaya (Both Vegetarian & Meat), Red Rice & Beans, Spinach in Creamy Coconut Sauce, Traditional Haitian Cake, Sweet Iced Tea. (Click here for more Haiti benefits.)

Saturday, February 27

• 11am-2:30pm: Seasonal Raw Cuisine Class: Special Ingredients & How to Use Them. “Join David and Mia as they demonstrate practical and efficient ways to prepare amazing food! Featured topic this month in our series: Special Ingredients & how to use them…delicious recipes using Irish Moss…raw chocolate, goji berries, and Seaweed…On the menu for this class David Hempseed’s Super Powerful Breakfast Cereal, seaweed chowder, time saving tips for quick meals, noodles & sauces, lemon meringue pie, Irish ice cream.” $45. (Click here for more raw food events.)
• 2-4pm: FREE! French ValueWine Tasting at DeLaurenti. “We'll be pouring some of our favorite French Value Wines. Be assured crisp chardonnay and food-friendly syrah will be on la liste de vin.”  (Click here for more wine events or here for more French food and wine events.)
• 3-5:30pm: Greek Cooking Class at PCC West Seattle. Menu: “Spanakopita (spinach, herb and feta cheese layered and baked in phyllo dough) and Tzatziki Sauce with yogurt and cucumber, served with warm Pita Bread. The main course is Fasolia Yiahni (beans with vegetables and herbs baked in a comforting tomato sauce). Dessert is a delicious flaky phyllo and custard creation, Galactoboureko, served with a warm lemon syrup”. $35-40. (Click here for more Mediterranean food events.)
• 3-6pm: Serafina Cocktail Class: Whiskey and the Manhattan. “We will break down its components and explore the whiskies, vermouths and bitters which make this cocktail paragon what it is. Along the way, explore variations and innovations which will forever change your impressions of the Manhattan cocktail.” $45 (Click here for more cocktail events.)
• 3-8pm: Empty Bowls: Pottery Event to Benefit Ballard Food Bank. “Join us for the 2nd Annual Empty Bowls Project! Once again, our pottery instructors, students, local artists, and musicians make and/or decorate handmade one-of-a-kind bowls. Purchase the bowl of your choice for a MINIMUM donation of $10. Get it filled with delicious soup and bread, and enjoy some great live music with your community. All proceeds go to The Ballard Food Bank. Last year, we raised over $5,000 with your help! We also make pet bowls. The money raised from these sales helps The Food Bank provide food to area pets. This year, we will have double the number of bowls with new bowls being put out every hour! We will also have hourly silent auctions for local celebrity and professional artist painted bowls.”

Sunday, February 28

• Seattle Food and Wine Experience. “Wineries from more than 10 Countries; Pavilions from Oregon and Washington; Top regional chefs preparing gourmet tastes; Artisan breweries; Culinary Exhibition Stage; Wine and culinary related exhibitors.” $49 pre-sale, $59 at door.
• Cookin' Like a Cajun Cooking Class at Alligator Soul in Everett. Menu: “dirty rice; rosemary peasant bread with aioli; stuffed eggplant with lemon beurre blanc; spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette; raspberry chocolate mousse pie.” Agenda: “our friend yeast and fermentation; vegetable gender and eggplant pickin'; vinaigrette and emulsification; baking ingredients and their science; beurre blanc - butter is our friend; chocolate science and tasty methods.” $59.95  (Click here for more Southern cooking events.)
• 1-3pm: Gluten-free Breakfast Cooking class for Kids Ages 7-10 at PCC West Seattle. “Children work independently of parents…We’ll work together to make delectable Lemon Currant Muffins. While those are in the oven, we’ll mix up a batch of Homemade Granola to add to Yogurt Parfaits topped with fresh fruit. We’ll also make Egg Scrambles with all kinds of gourmet filling options. This is a good opportunity for gluten-sensitive kids to have fun around food and be included in all the activities, especially eating! These recipes are good for any child, whether or not they are on a gluten-free diet.” (Click here for more kid cooking events or here for more gluten-free events.)