FARM FRESH
Ballard Ave. is hopping on Sundays, with shoppers strolling among the many stalls of fresh, local produce, pondering what to take home: On offer is a vast selection of apples, grilled-while-you wait quesadillas, and, for chocolate lovers, Rococoa cookies and tortes. Visit the Ballard Market on Sundays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., at Ballard Avenue and 20th Avenue Northwest. To find a market close to you, visit www.dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/farms/farmers_markets.htm.
Advance registration or reservations are recommended for most of the following events. Prices exclusive of tax and gratuity unless otherwise noted.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Wednesday, January 24
What better to warm you up this chilly winter than a hot bowl of homemade soup? Even better, a lesson in Classic Mexican Soup making. You’ll learn to concoct several regional specialties: sopa de albondigas (mint-flecked meatball soup), sopa de lima (chicken, tortilla, lime soup), sopa de hongos (three-mushroom soup), and sopa Tarasca estilo Patzcuaro (Tarascan bean soup from Patzcuaro). $40/$35 members, 6:30–9 p.m. PCC, 2749 California Ave. S.W., 937-8481, www.pccnaturalmarkets.com. WEST SEATTLE
Monday, January 29
Do you know how to send back a bottle of wine? How to get on the good side of your server? How to pull off a dinner party without pulling your hair out? If you’d like to learn the answer to these and other etiquette questions over a six-course meal, sign up for Dieter Schafer’s Fine-Dining Etiquette Seminar and Washington Wine Dinner. Get a bit of sit-down instruction as you enjoy a meal prepared by Geneva Restaurant chef-owner HansPeter Aebersold, served with four Washington wines. $70. 6:30 p.m. Geneva Restaurant, 1106 Eighth Ave., 624-2222. DOWNTOWN
Saturday, January 27
If you enjoy sitting at the Harvest Vine bar, watching the cooks coddle and sauté those tiny pans of savory goodness, you might consider enrolling in a Harvest Vine cooking class, New Cuisine of Spain, and trying your hand at such exotic-sounding items asDublin prawn in a cloud of rice.
$85. 10:30 a.m. The Harvest Vine, 2701 E. Madison St., 320-9771, www.harvestvine.com. MADISON VALLEY
DRINK UP
Friday, January 26
The fourth annual Platinum wine dinner at the Columbia Tower Club features 15 award-winning Northwest wines, five of which will be served with each course of the five-course meal. First course is a Dungeness crab roll with ginger and mango passion fruit dipping sauce, paired with Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Indian Wells Riesling 2005, while the third course is duck breast terrine with caramelized onion and balsamic jam, served with Zerba Cellars Merlot 2004. $130. 6 p.m. Columbia Tower Club, 701 Fifth Ave., 622-2010. DOWNTOWN
Saturday, January 27
Enjoy a taste of Spain and Portugal with Esquin Wine Merchants as they serve up some fine wines from these two locales. Free. 1–4 p.m. 2700 Fourth Ave. S., 682-7374, www.esquin.com. SODO
ON THE PLATE
Saturday, January 27
For a mere $10, you can indulge in a culinary African safari, as part of Seattle U’s International Dinner, with food from Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. This event features live performances and door prizes, including round-trip tickets to Europe. $10/$8 Seattle University students. 6 p.m. Campion Ballroom, Seattle University Campus, 914 E. Jefferson St., 296-6260. FIRST HILL
Food and/or beverage news or events? E-mail food@seattleweekly.com.
