NEWS

Panera Bread opens its first Seattle 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 cafes in Lynnwood, Issaquah, and Lakewood in the next six months, but for now Seattleites can enjoy the new cozy cafe, freshly-baked bread, and complimentary wi-fi service at the Redmond location (17262 Redmond Way).

Many local restaurants continue to serve up aid to Gulf Coast hurricane victims.

Food and/or beverage news? E-mail food@seattleweekly.com

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. 13

Keith Robbins of Tini Bigs Lounge is launching his new book Tini Bigs Big Martinis with a party at the bar. If you purchase the book for $19.95, you get a classy martini to go with it, but it’s not necessary for entrance to the party. 6:30–9 p.m. 100 Denny Way, 206-284-0931. DOWNTOWN

Taste the best of Rogue Ales and Rogue Creamery when Brouwer’s Cafe hosts a beer and cheese pairing (and really, is there any better combination?), that gives you the chance to test seven ales, and seven cheeses from the Creamery. $20/person. 6–8 p.m. 400 N. 35th St., 206-267-2437. FREMONT

Friday, Oct. 14

Enjoy a lavish five-course meal (preceded by oysters and chicken-skewer hors d’oeuvres) at Kaspar’s October wine dinner, which will highlight bottles from Duck Pond and Desert Wind. The enticing menu includes Dungeness crab chowder, grilled king salmon, and roasted rack of lamb with hazelnut crust. $100. 6:30–10 p.m. 19 W. Harrison St., 800-437-3213. QUEEN ANNE

Saturday, Oct. 15

Chef Greg Atkinson signs copies of his book, Entertaining in the Northwest Style: A Menu Cookbook, on Saturday at Costco. His cookbook shows true Northwest lifestyle with foods hailing from the booths of Pike Place Market to the depths of the Puget Sound. Fourteen thematic menus are included in the book, and each menu includes several recipes for a unique meal. Noon. 1802 10th Ave. N.W., 425-313-0965. ISSAQUAH

Thursday, Oct. 20

Nell’s Restaurant will host a tasting of New Zealand wines (nine wines from four 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, to cookies and chocolates. $75/person. Reception begins at 6:15 p.m. 6804 E. Greenlake Way N., 206-524-4044. GREEN LAKE

THE GRAPEVINE

Through Sunday, Nov. 13

Introduction to Wine classes with sommelier Arnie Millan continue through fall, covering topics like various varietals, the history of wine, basics of winemaking, pairing wine and food, and current trends. $35/class. Warwick Hotel, 401 Lenora St., 206-612-6547. DOWNTOWN

Thursday, Oct. 13

Chappellet Winery and Seghesio Family Vineyards offer up some of their best wines for your sipping pleasure. $5. 6:30–8 p.m. Fremont PCC, 600 N. 34th St., 206-547-1222. FREMONT

Sunday, Oct. 16

The Central Washington University World Wine Program will host a tasting in Seattle taught by the celebrated Amy Mumma, who was named Professional Wine Woman 2005 in the International Wine Women Awards. Palate Training: Flavors Faults will help you explore your palate and taste some fancy Washington wines while learning about acidity, alcohol levels, tannins, oak, and various winemaking styles. $65/person. 1–4 p.m. 1924 Post Alley, call 800-720-4503 to register. PIKE PLACE MARKET

Tuesday, Oct. 18

Celebrate the first anniversary of Northwest Cellars with a toast! Stop by Seattle Wine Company and sample some of the celebrated reds and whites, and check out the new bubbly that is being unveiled. 4–6:30 p.m. 1950 130th Ave. N.E., 425-869-0609. BELLEVUE

Learn about fortified wine from Portugal (called Port after the city of Porto) at Rover’s, with sommelier and cellar-master Cyril Frechier. $40/person. 6 p.m. 2808 E. Madison St., 206-325-7442. MADISON VALLEY

BACK TO SCHOOL

Friday, Oct. 14

At Bellevue’s Whole Foods Market, participants will learn how to make maki (nori rolls), nigiri (squares of rice with raw fish on top), and hand rolls. Those over 21 will be able to check out some sake,too. $35/person. 6–9 p.m. 888 116th Ave. N.E., 425-462-1400. BELLEVUE

Saturday, Oct. 15

Learn about the history of Chinese tea, hear stories, and explore the ways in which the Chinese culture currently uses tea at Floating Leaves Tea in Ballard. You’ll also get a chance to use yixing pots and Chinese covered cups (gaiwan). $15/person. 2–4 p.m. 2213 N.W. Market St., suite 100, 206-529-4268. BALLARD

Sunday, Oct. 16

Pastry chef Sue McCown will show students in The Art of Cake Decorating class how creative baking is really done. Her style of decorating/garnishing is much more involved than some of the simple grocery store cakes, so spend an afternoon with a pro. $65/person. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Magnolia Village, 2425 33rd Ave. W., 206-281-7800. MAGNOLIA

Tuesday, Oct. 18

Learn how to cook flavorful seafood dishes with Naomi Kakiuchi of NuCulinary. Using spices and secrets from around the world, create clams with black bean sauce on black and white rice, lettuce wraps with spicy halibut and tzatziki sauce, marinated salmon on sesame spinach, and pan-fried lemongrass scallop skewers with herb lemon dressing. $50/person. 6:30 p.m. West Seattle Thriftway, 4201 S.W. Morgan St., 206-932-3855. WEST SEATTLE

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 for the restaurant titled Cafe 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, which will teach 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