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Posted on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.

Ann Arbor food and drink calendar

By AnnArbor.com Staff

truffles_AntaresIV.jpg

Photo by Flickr user AntaresIV.

Today

Chocolate Truffle Workshop. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Join us for a decadent and indulgent evening of trufflemaking. There will be plenty to eat and plenty to take home. Menu: Black Forest Truffles; Gianduja Truffles; CoconutLime Truffles; ChocolateRaspberry Truffles; SesameGinger Truffles. $75. Register at www.wccnet.edu/lifelonglearning

Beer Tasting: Strong Ales. 7-9 p.m. Arbor Brewing, Arbor Brewing, Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor. For this special tasting, we'll pull together two dozen of our favorite high-octane brews sure to warm your heart and lift your spirits. We'll start with old ales and barleywines and round out the list with a smattering of Double IPAs, scotch ales, and a handful of Belgian styles. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on tasting day. Advance tickets recommended. 734-213-1393.


International Neighbors: Street Foods. 1-2:30 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church social hall, 1500 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor. All area women invited to sample street foods from different nations. Nursery care provided for preschoolers. Refreshments provided. Free. 734-995-1645.

Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief at the Wine Bar. 5-8:30 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. An exploration of wine, cheese and appetizers. This week’s topic: Red blends. 734-997-7500.

Friday

Dark Chocolate Swans Set Afloat with Rachel Wolpo 2-3 p.m. Hollander's, 410 N. Fourth Ave., Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. Learn how to create a dessert that will melt your special someone's heart on Valentines’ Day! This pair of adoring dark chocolate cream puff swans are set in a pool of raspberry coulis with creme anglaise hearts enclosing them. The recipe is gluten- and dairy-free. $16. 734-741-7531.

Spaghetti Dinner at American Legion Post #419. 5-8 p.m. Pinckney Memorial Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for children 9 and under. 734-878-9522 or 734-341-4249.

Health Starts Here Supper Club with healthy eating specialist Jan Kemp. 6-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Full sit-down dinner including appetizer, salad, soup, entrée, and dessert that meets Whole Foods Market Health Starts Here standards. $15. Registration is required. Class tickets will be sold at our customer service desk and must be pre-paid to reserve you seat: 734-975-4500.

Wild Swan Theater's Sixth Annual Chocolate Crush fundraiser. 7:30 p.m. Lake Forest Golf Club, 3110 W. Ellsworth Road, Ann Arbor. The area’s premiere chocolatiers and chefs, including Schakolad Chocolate Factory, Mindo Chocolate, Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, the Ravens Club and Bab’s Underground present delectable creations for Wild Swan’s supporters. There will be savory appetizers from What’s Cooking!, beer from Wolverine Brewing Company and wine from our best local purveyors. Musical entertainment provided by the Royal Garden Trio. Silent and live auction items feature art, entertainment and romance-inspired treasures. $60 or $125. www.wildswantheater.org.

Friday and Saturday

Cherry Lover's Wine Weekend Event. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Cherry Republic, 223 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Join Cherry Republic for their Cherry Lover’s Wine Weekend. Sample from our deliciously cherry wine collection and hundreds of our tasty cherry treats. Free. 734-585-5231.

Friday through Sunday

Wine Tastings in the Specialty Department. 3-7 p.m. Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Stop by our Specialty department to have a taste of special wine selections each week. This weekend: Charles Lafitte Brut Rose, Oya Pointe Sauvignon Blanc, Cline Zinfandel. Free, but must be 21 or older to sample. 734-975-4500.

Saturday

Hot Chocolate. 11:30-1:30 p.m. Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor. Discover why we love chocolate so much and learn how to make delicious chocolate treats. Then explore the conservatory on a scavenger hunt for the shapes and colors of Valentine’s Day. This is a Winter Adventure Saturday program at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. $5 per child includes activities and materials. Limited class size; preregistration requested: 734-647-7600.

Chelsea’s Chocolate Extravaganza. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Chelsea. More than 30 local businesses will offer sales, discounts, freebies, and, of course, chocolate in all kinds of shapes and sizes. In addition to discounts and sales on housewares, clothing, and jewelry, Chelsea’s shops will be offering shoppers the opportunity to sample chocolate in its many delicious forms -- truffles, cookies, fruit filled, and freshly baked Jiffy Mix goodies, just to name a few. The Chelsea Center for the Arts is again offering an afternoon of art and craft activities for families between 1 and 4 p.m. 734-475-3539.

Valentine’s Candy. Noon. Ypsilanti District Library - Michigan Avenue branch, 229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. Learn to make a Valentine’s Day treat for a sweetheart, a friend, or a Valentine’s Day party. The class is geared toward teens. Free. 734-482-4110, ext. 1390.

Winter Warmer. 1-4 p.m. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. 1-4 p.m. in our beer garden. Wear warm winter snow gear while embracing the elements and receive happy hour prices! Pending Mother Nature's cooperation, there will be snow creatures and forts to put a smile on your face. No cover. 734-480-2739.

Chocolate and Sweetheart Cards for Valentine’s Day. 2-4 p.m. Ypsilanti District Library - Superior Township branch, 8975 MacArthur Blvd., Superior Township. Make creamy chocolate treats for your friends or your Valentine. For youth ages 7-18. Free. 734-482-3747, ext. 1391.

An Evening in Paris - Chelsea Education Foundation 2012 Gala Fundraiser. 6 p.m. Chelsea Comfort Inn & Village Conference Center, 1645 Commerce Park Drive, Chelsea. Join us for dinner and dancing; cash bar; silent and live auctions; raffle for vacation getaway. $75 per person or $125 per couple. Prices include one raffle ticket per person. $500 buys a table of eight. Reservations required: 734-433-8000.

Chef’s Table. 7-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Join us for an interactive evening in which we do the cooking right in front of you with the area's finest local ingredients sourced from our local farms and markets. You will receive a recipe packet to take home with you detailing the evening's entire menu. So come yourself, with a friend, or a group for a great evening of food, conversation, and so much more. $55. 734-645-1030.

Eat, Meet, & Be Cherry. 2-4 p.m. Cherry Republic, 223 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. "Eat, Meet, & Be Cherry" at the Cherry Republic, with a tasting from Mani Osteria. Free. 734-585-5231.

Saturday and Sunday

Victorian Valentine Teas. 2:30 p.m. Kempf House Museum, 312 S. Division St., Ann Arbor. Elegant traditional teas, with both sweets and savories. Period attire welcome. This popular fundraiser usually sells out well in advance. $25 (members $20). Reservations required: 734-994-4898.

Sunday

All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet 8 a.m.-noon. Livingston County Wildlife Conservation Club, 6060 E. M-36, Hamburg Township. Buffet includes: Scrambled eggs, eggs your way, heart-smart oatmeal, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, home-style potatoes, sausage gravy and biscuits, toast, fruit, cereal, pastries, homemade fruit cobbler, coffee, milk and assorted juices. Egg toppings: cheese, peppers, mushrooms and fried onions. $7 for adults, $6 for seniors. $3 for children ages 6-12 and free to children 5 and younger. 810-231-1811.

Valentine’s Day Cookies. Noon-3 p.m. Sweet Heather Anne, 359 Metty Drive, Ann Arbor. Learn how to make our decorated brown sugar cookies in Valentine’s Day-themed shapes and colors. You’ll leave with two dozen decorated cookies. All classes are hands-on, so come ready to work in comfortable clothes. Class fees include all the materials. Payment in full is required to reserve your spot. Classes with thre students or less are subject to cancellation. $75. 734-913-2025.

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Third Annual Chili Cook-Off/Beer Tasting/Silent Auction. Noon-3 p.m. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. Fundraiser for Ann Arbor Civic Theatre. The contest will be judged by local celebrity judges Eve Aronoff of Frita Batido fame; chef John Fischer from Gratzi; and Mary Bilyeu, columnist for AnnArbor.com food section and former chili contestant. Special treats available for sweethearts and Valentine’s Day-themed auction items. Go to a2ct.org to get a glimpse of auction items. $20 includes 10 chili tasting, five beer samples, a silent auction and a keepsake tasting glass. Chili-only tickets are $10; $5 tickets for children ages 5-10. Kids under 5 attend free. 734-971-2228.

Healthy French Dinner Ideas with Brigitte Romero. 1-2 p.m. Hollander's, 410 N. Fourth Ave., Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. Learn to make chicken with seasoned salts; Salmon Florentine with lemon and soy sauce; and pork chops in papillottes, wrapped with herbs, spices and mustard. $16. 734-741-7531.

Parent/Child Mexican Fiesta. 1-3:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Warm up your winter with this Mexican menu while cooking with your child. Menu: Poblano White Chili; Bacon Cornbread; Raisin Crown Cake. This class is for a parent with their child (6-12 years old). $65 per pair. 734-645-1030.

Special Tasting -- Chocolate Gelato. 4-6 p.m. Zingerman's Creamery, 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. February is Chocolate Gelato Month. Taste no-less-than seven different chocolate gelati, including Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Strawberry Balsamic, Rocky Ride and Chocolate Heat. $20. 734-929-0500.

Tours of the Creamery. 2 p.m. Zingerman's Creamery, 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Cheesemaker and managing partner John Loomis gives the inside scoop on how they make artisan cheeses and old-fashioned gelato. $5. 734-929-0500.

Monday

Sweetheart Cake Truffles. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sweet Heather Anne, 359 Metty Drive, Ann Arbor. During the class we will make, decorate, and package your cake truffles. Class fees include all the materials. Payment in full is required to reserve your spot. $75. 734-913-2025.

Open dance and wine tasting. 6 p.m.-close. Passport Restaurant and Lounge, 3776 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Open dance and wine tasting every Monday from 6 p.m. to closing time. 734-222-1111.

Basic French Tart Doughs. 6 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. In this workshop you will be introduced to three classic French tart doughs: Pate brisee, pate sucree and pate sablee. This is a full participation class. Menu: chocolate ganache tart, classic French apple tart, rustic onion tart. $65. www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning/browse/view/category/food-drink/

Valentine’s Day Celebration at Ypsilanti District Library - Whittaker Road branch, 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti. Mark Swanson, owner of Terry Bakery in Ypsilanti, will read a book and invite children to decorate a Valentine’s Day cookie. For children ages 5-12. Free, but registration is required: 734-482-4110, ext. 1340.

Cocktail Class: Pink Drinks that Don't Suck. 7:30 p.m. Ravens Club, 207 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Pink doesn't have to mean sweet, or insipid, or "just for girls." We'll explore a wide range of drinks that share only their color in common, with flavors appealing to a wide variety of tastes. Hands-on workshop with tasting opportunities. You must be 21 or over to attend. $35. 734-214-0400. www.tammystastings.com/.

Milan Senior Nutrition Program. 11:45 a.m. Milan Senior & Community Activity Center, 45 Neckel Court. A nutritionally balanced meal offered on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Suggested donation of $2.50 for anyone who is 60 years or older and a fee of $5 for anyone under the age of 60. 48-hour advance reservations. Call or stop by the office. 734-439-1549.

Tuesday

Creative Cookies. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Learn how to make tasty butter cookies and use a variety of decorating techniques. We'll provide an assortment of cookie cutters, but you're welcome to bring your own. You'll leave with a couple recipes and at least a dozen dazzling decorated holiday cookies. $100. 734-761-7255.

Rose's Good Company first annual fundraiser. 6:30 p.m. Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 2900 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Dinner, entertainment, cash bar and live jazz band. Dinner: Rose’s tender short ribs of beef, oven baked red skin potatoes, carrots, onions and string beans basted in Rose’s grandma’s brown gravy recipe, delicious baked salmon, RGC mega salad-veggies, fruits and nuts, homemade cornbread. Desserts: peach cobbler, Herman’s famous banana pudding. $150. Reservations required: 734-686-4143.

Lunch is Served. Noon-1 p.m. Turner Senior Resource Center, 2401 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor. Repeats every Tuesday and Friday. Reservations are required with two days prior notice. Suggested donation for those over 60 years of age is $2.50, for all others, $5. Call 734-998-9353 for reservations.

Wednesday

Rustic Italian Cooking: Seafood with Francesca Giarraffa - Italian Sunday Suppers. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Students will assist in preparing swordfish risotto, calamari, arugula and pear salad, and apricot torte. The meal is enjoyed together family style. Tuition: $39. Mandatory Fee: $15. www.wccnet.edu.

Baking Pies a Plenty. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. We’ll deliver the basic techniques of creating an all-butter crust and a crust using lard and butter to take the mystery out of our pie making. Everyone takes 2 pies home to enjoy - different flavors depending on the season. In February and March, we'll make apple pie with lard and butter crust and lemon chess pie with all butter crust. $125. 734-761-7255.

Rat Pad Release. 6 p.m. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. Local amateur and professional brewers create imaginative beers on our 10-gallon Rat Pad brew system. Corner Brew releases these brews on the third Wednesday of each month and serves them while supplies last. No cover. 734-480-2739.

Intro to Artisan Cheese with Morgan & York. 7-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor District Library - Malletts Creek branch, 3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Have you ever wondered why a cheese looks or smells the way it does? Or why cheese has mold on it? Learn the answers when Simone Jenkins from Morgan & York Fine Wines & Specialty Foods tells us about traditional hand-made cheeses from around the world. You'll get to taste a selection of cheese. Bring your favorite cheese quote from a story to enter in a drawing for a $25 gift card from Morgan & York. 734-327-4560.

Wednesday Wine Tasting. 6:30 p.m. Paesano's Italian Restaurant, 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Sample five up and coming wines from Italy, accompanied by appetizers. $25. www.paesanosannarbor.com.

Feb. 9

Coney Dog and Root Beer Float Night. 5-8 p.m. American Legion Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $1. 734- 878-9522 or 734-341-4249.

Bake Me a Cake. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Learn how to make (and take home) three complete cakes each requiring a different mixing technique -- Butter Cake, Angel Food and Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cake -- so the folks you're baking for can enjoy the fun, too. $125. www.bakewithzing.com.

Homemade Winter Pasta Workshop. 6 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Join us for a fun and warm evening of making handmade pasta and pairing it with interesting and satisfying sauces! Menu: Spaghetti with Creamed Leek & Spinach; Fettucine with Crab, Lemon, Chile & Mint; Tagliatelle with Chestnut & Wild Mushroom. $65. 734-645-1030.

Southern Indian: Vegetable Stew & Appam with Jyothi Abraham. 6-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Vegetable Stew served with Appam is a popular breakfast fare in Kerala. The simple, aromatic, hearty stew is slowly simmered in a subtly spiced coconut milk base. $39. Pre-registration is required at 734-994-2300, ext. 53203 or www.aareced.com.

Tea Tasting. 6:30 p.m. Zingerman's Events on 4th, Kerrytown Markets and Shops, Ann Arbor. Green, black, ruby and golden: discover a palette of teas. We couldn’t think of a better way to round out a February evening than with our friends from Rishi tea. For more than 10 years, they’ve been sourcing teas direct from a variety of sources throughout Asia, and their steadfast commitment to quality has resulted in a fantastic selection. $35. 734-663-3400.

Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief at the Wine Bar. 5-8:30 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. An exploration of wine, cheese and appetizers. This week’s topic: Dry to sweet. 734-997-7500.

The Monthly Slurps. 5-7 p.m. Spotted Dog Winery, 108 E. Michigan Ave., Saline. Stop in for an after-hours wine and food event on the third Thursday of each month. Price: TBD. www.spotteddogwinery.com.

To submit events for this calendar, e-mail calendar@annarbor.com.