NEWS
Panera Bread opened its first area location on Thursday, Oct. 13, in Redmond. This bakery-cafe offers customers 16 types of handcrafted bread and menu items like made-to-order sandwiches, salads, and soups in bread bowls, along with pastries, bagels, and beverages. Panera plans to open more cafes in Lynnwood, Issaquah, and Lakewood in the next six months, all with fresh-baked bread and complimentary wi-fi service. 17262 Redmond Way, www.panerabread.com
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Advance registration or reservations are recommended for most of the following events. Prices exclusive of tax and gratuity unless otherwise noted.
ON THE PLATE
Now through Nov. 24
Those with a sweet tooth can get excited about the Autumn Cupcake Festival at Cupcake Royale in Ballard where the staff is serving new flavors of cupcakes, like apple spice with caramel butter cream, pumpkin with cream cheese frosting, and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. 2052 N.W. Market St., 206-782-9557. BALLARD
Thursday, Oct. 20
Nell’s Restaurant will host a tasting of New Zealand wines (nine wines from four different grapes), paired with a five-course meal by Chef Philip Mihalski. The meal includes everything from sweet onion and goat cheese tarts to duck breast with parsnip, kale, and chanterelle mushrooms, and cookies and chocolates. $75/person. Reception begins at 6:15 p.m. 6804 E. Greenlake Way N., 206-524-4044. GREEN LAKE
Saturday, Oct. 22
Seattle Central Community College’s 14th annual Harvest Dinner will feature Greg Atkinson, culinary director of Organic to Go and cookbook author. From Farm to Fork is the theme, and sustainability is highlighted. Atkinson with direct some culinary students on how to prepare the dinner. An auction will follow the meal, and all proceeds go to Seattle Central Foundation and the Seattle Culinary Academy. 6 p.m. 1701 Broadway, 206-587-3800. CAPITOL HILL
Saturday, Oct. 29
Flying Fish brings back the third annual Oyster Frenzy to celebrate the return of oyster season in the Northwest. Join the celebration and eat oysters raw, or try them cooked with various flavors and seasonings. Meet oyster growers from all over Puget Sound while chowing down on an unlimited supply of the shellfish and enjoying Northwest beers and wines. $25/person. 1–4 p.m. 2234 First Ave., 206-728-8595, www.flyingfishseattle.com. DOWNTOWN
Wednesday, Nov. 2
Town Hall presents The Future of Food: A Conversation About Pleasure and Sustainability. Chef (and author) Michel Nischan, Chef Christine Keff of Flying Fish, Chef Kevin David of Oceanaire, master sommelier Shayn Bjornholm, and Michael Hebberoy of Portland’s Ripe Group restaurants are on the panel, hosted by Seattle Post-Intelligencer food writer Hsiao-Ching Chou. They will discuss what we in Washington grow and consume. $15/person. 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255, www.townhallseattle.org. DOWNTOWN
Thursday, Nov. 3
As part of the Cooks and Books series, Michel Nischan will be at the Oceanaire Restaurant, where dinner will be prepared by Kevin Davis. The dishes are inspired by Nischan’s Homegrown, Pure and Simple cookbook. Dinner, wine, and an autographed copy of the book are included. $125/person. 7 p.m. 1700 Seventh Ave., 206-267-2277. DOWNTOWN
THE GRAPEVINE
Thursday, Oct. 20
Indulge in some California dreamin’ at Seattle Cellars Ltd. with rich reds like St. Francis Red, La Crema Pinot Noir, Conn Creek Cabernet, and Girard Petite Syrah. 5–7 p.m. 2505 Second Ave., Suite 102, 206-256-0850. DOWNTOWN
Check out Woodinville wine at the Exclusive Fall Harvest Winemaker Dinner at Willows Lodge where five Puget Sound winemakers and wine consumers can chat about the industry while enjoying a four-course meal prepared by chef Bobby Moore of the Barking Frog. Erik Hoins of Columbia Winery, Jeff Schackman of Woodinville Wine Cellars, Chris Upchurch of DeLille Cellars, Matt Loso of Matthews Cellars, and Brennon Leighton of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates will take part in the festivities. $125/person. 6:30–9:30 p.m. 14580 N.E. 145th St., 425-424-3900. WOODINVILLE
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Learn all about French country wines by sampling white, red and sparkling wines from three regions of southern France. Also learn how to pair these wines with French country food. $65/person. 6–9 p.m. Portfolio Restaurant, fifth floor, 2600 Alaskan Way, 206-239-2226. BELLTOWN
Thursday, Oct. 27
Dessert comes first at Esquin Wine Merchants with a Dessert Wine and Port Tasting that offers up some good ones to sample. 5–6:30 p.m. 2700 Fourth Ave. S., 206-682-7374. SODO
Tuesday, Nov. 1
Shoreline Community College hosts a class about wines from the essential wine region of Loire. Look at maps of this region in France, and enjoy local cheese, recipes, and conversation. $39/person. 7–9 p.m. 16101 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-546-4635, www.shoreline.edu. SHORELINE
Sunday, Nov. 6
Jacquelina Di Roberto of The Pink Door is taking her staff-only wine tastings public. This time around, Jerred Wolff will explore the cabernet wines from Italy and the United States, and discuss how they adapt to the lands on which they’re grown. $15/person (includes tastes of four wines and bruschetta). 3–4 p.m. 1919 Post Alley, 206-443-3241. PIKE PLACE MARKET
BACK TO SCHOOL
Saturday, Oct. 22
The King Arthur Flour Company will host free baking classes at Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien. The teacher will go over the basics of sweet dough and whole grains, and students can try some free samples, pick up a recipe booklet, and maybe even win door prizes! 11 a.m.–1 p.m. 401 S. 152nd St., www.kingarthurflour.com. BURIEN
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Cafe Flora is known for inventive vegetarian and vegan dishes, and now executive chef Catherine Geier (who recently put together a cookbook titled Café Flora Cookbook) will share some of her secrets with a cooking class at Whole Foods Market. $40/person including wine. 6:30–8:30 p.m. 1026 N.E. 64th St., 206-985-1500. ROOSEVELT
Thursday, Oct. 27
Ryan Magarian (“Master Mixologist”) leads a class in Creative Modern Cocktails, showing how to make everything from basic martinis to Manhattans. Cocktail tasting and appetizers are included. $75/person. 6:30–8 p.m. Kathy Casey Studio, 5130 Ballard Ave. N.W., 206-784-7840. BALLARD
Saturday, Oct. 29
Take advantage of the spooky season with the Halloween menu cooking class and dinner at L’Auberge at the Edge of Seattle. Chef Jurgensen of Seattle Culinary Academy will demonstrate how to create a Halloween-themed meal (crostini with chicken liver mousse, bull’s blood beet salad, and black paella), and then students will sit down for a four-course meal. $99/person. 3 p.m. 16400 216 Ave. N.E., 425-844-4102. WOODINVILLE
Wednesday, Nov. 2
Instead of ordering takeout, learn to make your own Chinese food with Naomi Kakiuchi at Bellevue Uwajimaya. Make favorite dishes like egg drop soup, honey lemon chicken, shrimp in lobster sauce, and pea vines with garlic, while mastering Chinese-cooking techniques. $50/person. 6:30 p.m. 15555 N.E. 24th St., 425-747-9012, www.uwajimaya.com. BELLEVUE
