Today
Grab-And-Go Dinner Party. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. The dishes in this class can be prepped ahead and popped into the oven just when your friends arrive. Great for a dinner party or casual enough for game night. We will make our own slider buns and use fresh pasta for the individual lasagnas in this full participation class. Menu: Fresh mini brioche turkey sliders with all the fixings; mini seasonal quiche; potato gratin in ramekins; individual lasagnas; spicy piquillo peppers filled with fresh herbed goat cheese. $75. Register online 48 hours in advance at www.annarborcooks.com.

Coney Dog and Root Beer Float Night. 5-8 p.m. American Legion Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $1.25 per Coney dog. For more information call 734- 878-9522 or 734-341-4249.

Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief at the Wine Bar. 5-8:30 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, at the wine bar. Each Thursday evening, experts lead an exploration of wine, cheese and appetizers. (Note: These events were previously called Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief.) This week’s topic: Springtime favorites. $17. 734-997-7500.

Friday
Italian Regional Pasta Series: Lombardy. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. With Alpine influences from the North and the Po River basin cradling the South, Lombardy recipes take us beyond what we are used to in typical Italian menus. This means butter is as common as olive oil and cheese is as common as tomato in pasta sauces. Recipes date back to the 500s, meaning simple, homemade and wholesome characteristics dominate their coveted pasta traditions. Menu: Ravioli di zucca - fresh butternut squash ravioli in a sage butter sauce; pizzoccheri della valtellina - homemade buckwheat pasta with savoy cabbage, potatoes and fresh sage; gemelli "twins" pasta with asparagus and a cheese sauce that uses two famous cheeses from Lombardy - gorgonzola and mascarpone. $75. Register online 48 hours in advance at www.annarborcooks.com.

Saturday
Sweet Tart. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Spring is here, and it's time to lighten up our desserts! Come and learn the basics of making elegant dessert tarts from an experienced Pastry Chef! She will show you the real difference between pies and tarts, foolproof techniques, and simply delicious recipes in this full participation class. Menu: lemon brulee tart; fresh fruit tart; chocolate-strawberry tart; honey and pine-nut tart. $75. Register online 48 hours in advance at www.annarborcooks.com.

Ypsilanti Kiwanis Annual Pancake Breakfast. 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti, 209 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti. We will be serving up gourmet pancakes, sausage, applesauce, coffee, and tea. Stop by and meet your local Kiwanians, EMU Circle K members, and Lincoln and Ypsilanti Key Clubbers. This year, we will also have celebrity servers collecting tips for our Project ELIMINATE fund. Project ELIMINATE is our effort to eliminate maternal neonatal tetanus, which kills a child once every nine minutes. All proceeds benefit the Kiwanis Club of Ypsilanti to continue to serve youth and the community for the next 90+ years. $7 for Adults, $4 for kids 10 and under. Purchase tickets online at ypsilantikiwanis.weebly.com. Tickets are also available at the door or through any Ypsi Kiwanis member.

Saturday Farmers Market. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor. Find local produce and food from some of your favorite farmers as well as educational food demos and more. Free admission. Visit www.a2gov.org/market for more information.

Sunday
Bake a Perfect Breakfast. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Lazy weekend breakfasts to impress everyone in the family require homemade, freshly baked food. In this class, we are making it easy to start the day right by bringing happiness to those you love by feeding them wonderful, homemade, delicious food. You will learn how to bake five different breakfast treats in this full participation class. Menu: Banana nut chocolate chunk muffins or quick breads; real Belgian yeast waffles; traditional butter and currant scones; scrumptious French 'poor man's' brioche and doughnuts. $75. Register online 48 hours in advance at www.annarborcooks.com.

Cooking Demonstration with Brigitte Romero. 2-3:30 p.m. Hollander's KItchen Store, 410 N. Fourth Ave., in the Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. Brigitte Romero will demonstrate three tasty and healthy French dinners that are fast and easy to prepare: Sun-dried tomato and cheese puffs, “Gougères du Soleil," light and healthy appetizer demonstrating the traditional cream puff dough technique; Provençal chicken with olives, tomatoes and persillade, demonstrating a great braising method; Lemon and pine nuts parfait, refreshing and easy-to-prepare dessert, just on time for the summer. Side dishes will be discussed. Class includes recipes and samples. $25. To register, send an e-mail to Brigitte.romero@sbcglobal.net or call 734-332-3438. (Please note that the registration for this class is through Brigitte directly, and not through Hollander's.)

Comparative Cupping. 1-3 p.m. Zingerman's Coffee Co., 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Sample coffees from the Africa, Central and South Americas, and the Asian Pacific. You'll taste and evaluate these coffees using the techniques and tools used by professional tasters. This is an eye-opening tour of the world of coffee. $20. Call 734-929-6060 or stop in to make your reservation.

Sunday through Saturday
Ann Arbor Veg Week. Various times, throughout the Ann Arbor area. VegMichigan has teamed up with US VegWeek to bring you Ann Arbor Veg Week 2013, when people Take the 7-Day Veg Pledge and eat only vegan or vegetarian foods for one week to improve their health, reduce their impact on the environment, and save the lives of animals. The week kicks off with VegFest in Novi on Sunday, April 21, and continues with a week of tours, films, lectures and vegan and vegetarian specials at Ann Arbor area restaurants. VegFest admission is $10; most Veg Week events are free. For more information and a list of participating restaurants, visit http://www.annarborvegweek.org.

Monday
Chicken Cacciatore with Francesca Giarraffa. 6-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Chicken Cacciatore is a very old dish with many regional variances. In Francesca’s version, the chicken is braised “hunter style” in a pan with white wine, wild mushrooms, vegetables and fresh basil. She serves it on a soft bed of polenta. Discover the secrets to cleaning a fresh artichoke and preparing it to saute Italian style. End the evening with an egg custard, Zabaione made with sweet Marsala wine and served with biscotti. This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $55. Please register with Ann Arbor Community Education & Recreation at 734-994-2300 ext. 53203 or www.aareced.com.

Sauce Series: White Sauces. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Learning how to make any of the five “mother sauces” gives you the foundation and orientation from which to deviate. This class will focus on the proper technique for creating the sauce thickener 'roux'. We will make the classic sauce, Bechamel made from vegetables, herbs and milk that meld into a velvety-textured sauce that is sublime. You will also create Fume - a fish stock, not only excellent for poaching but also soups and chowders. From the intoxicating fumet, we will execute another classic white sauce, Veloute, in this full participation class. Menu: Luxurious macaroni and cheese made with Sauce Bechamel; asparagus sauteed and finished with Sauce Mornay; sea scallops poached in Fumet and finished with a Fish Veloute. $75. Register online 48 hours in advance at www.annarborcooks.com.

Milan Senior Nutrition Program. 11:45 a.m. Milan Senior & Community Activity Center, 45 Neckel Court, Milan. In partnership with the Washtenaw County Senior Nutrition Program, they offer a nutritionally balanced meal three afternoons a week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There is a 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. They do ask for 48 hour advanced reservations. Call or stop by the office.

Tuesday
Dishcrawl. 7 p.m. Main Street area of downtown Ann Arbor. Food experience innovator, Dishcrawl, is launching in Ann Arbor with its first event on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Dishcrawl events are a dream come true for foodies who want to sample popular dishes of four different local restaurants in one night. Price includes all food, tax and tips for the event. $45 at www.dischrawl.com/annarbor.

Michigan Wine Tasting. 7-9 p.m. Vinology, 110 S. Main, Ann Arbor. Tastings led by Vinology staffers. $40 (plus tax & tip). Reservations recommended: 734-222-9841.

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: A Taste of Northern Italy with Francesca Giarraffa. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. We invite you to spend two delicious culinary evenings with our native Italian cooking instructor exploring dishes from northern Italy. Each night a complete rustic Italian meal featuring an entree, side dish and dessert will be prepared and enjoyed together. Week one includes "ossobucco" (veal shank braised in wine with carrots, celery, chicken stock and fresh herb gremolade, served with a saffron risotto), Belgian endive (baked with olives, wine, anchovies and crushed chilis) and a chocolate hazelnut torte, topped with raspberry sauce). Week two includes Umbrian style pork chops (cooked in white wine, olives and fresh rosemary, served with spaghetti tossed in a sauce made with truffle oil, garlic and anchovies), sauteed mixed mushrooms (cooked in white wine, garlic and fresh sage) and ricotta and mascarpone cheese mousse (topped with marinated strawberries). This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. Tuition: $79. Mandatory fee: $25. www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning.

Short's Brewing Co. Beer Dinner. 6:30 p.m. Grange Kitchen and Bar, 118 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. Grange Kitchen & Bar announces its second beer dinner of 2013, this time featuring Bellaire-based Short's Brewing Co. The menu will feature hyper-local cuisine, paired with a strong lineup of Short’s artisanal crafts. Chef Brandon Johns’ cuisine is sourced from local area farms and producers, spotlighting Michigan’s best food and beverage. $55 (does not include tax and gratuity). 734-995-2107 or www.grangekitchenandbar.com.

Spring Super Foods. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Spring is the perfect time to be inspired to eat great and boost vitality and energy with these nutrient-packed delicious foods. The focus will be on asparagus, arugula, spinach, artichoke, fava beans, fresh spring herbs, and radishes in this full participation class. Menu: Grilled asparagus with peppercorn balsamic and poached egg; simple fava bean saute with onions and mint; radish with sea salt and herbed butter; whole stuffed artichokes; wilted spinach and arugula salad with spring peas and wild mushrooms. $75. Register online 48 hours in advance at www.annarborcooks.com.

Epic Beer and Cheese Pairing Event with Bell's Brewery Inc.. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Live/The Last Word, 102 S. First St., Ann Arbor. Beer and Cheese is a great combination that is often overlooked, but is arguably a better marriage than cheese and wine. Join us for a night of liquid and cheese indulgences with Bell's Brewery Inc. and Produce Station's Own Cheesemonger Eric Lundy. Enjoy 5 different Bell's Beers perfectly paired with 5 cheeses hand selected by our own cheesemonger Eric Lundy. The tasting fee includes a sampling of five different beers and five different cheeses. $20. Tickets are available at http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/471074 or in person at The Produce Station.

High Point School Spaghetti Dinner, sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Western. 4-8 p.m. Washtenaw Intermediate School District complex, 1819 S. Wagner, Ann Arbor. Proceeds benefit this local school for the physically and mentally challenged. Also, a talent show, a “chic boutique” of donated items, and silent auction. $8 (family of up to five, $25) at the door only. 734-794-5883.

National Rifle Association Banquet. 5:30 p.m. Tri-County Sportsman’s League, 8640 Moon, Saline. Dinner and live and silent auctions to benefit the NRA. $40. 734-429-9561

Wednesday Wine Tasting. 6 p.m. Paesano's Italian Restaurant, 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. This informal wine tasting allows patrons to sample five up and coming wines from Italy. Joined by one of Paesano's knowledgeable wine purveyors, the staff creates tasty appetizers to accompany the bold flavors. $25. www.paesanosannarbor.com.

Thursday, April 25
Asian Fusion with Chef Tom Lin. 6:30-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Asian Fusion is a popular practice of combining different Asian cuisines in one meal. You begin with a tasty appetizer of grilled asparagus wrapped in eggplant and brushed with a Teriyaki sauce. Turmeric, a spice with many health benefits, flavors the chicken fried rice. Pan-seared jumbo shrimp are prepared in a ginger and mango sauce for a fun and exotic tropical dish. This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $45. Pre-registration required at 734-994-2300 ext. 53203 or www.aareced.com.

Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief at the Wine Bar. 5-8:30 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, at the wine bar. Each Thursday evening, experts lead an exploration of wine, cheese and appetizers. (Note: These events were previously called Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief.) This week’s topic: Italian reds. $17. 734-997-7500.

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