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Posted on Thu, Sep 20, 2012 : 8:32 a.m.

Ann Arbor food & drink calendar for the week of Sept. 20-27

By AnnArbor.com Staff

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Today
Paesano To Farm-To-Table Dinner. 6:30 p.m. Paesano’s Restaurant, 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Since becoming Executive Chef almost two years ago, David Whitney of Paesano Restaurant in Ann Arbor has been adding more and more local ingredients to the Italian season menu. But the Escanaba native wanted to do more with local producers - and now he is getting his wish. Paesano is hosting an outdoor Farm-To-Table dinner that benefits the new Washtenaw Food Hub. The event will feature a locally-sourced menu matched with Michigan wines and micro brewed beers. A portion of the ticket fee will go to the newly formed Washtenaw Food Hub. $65. Reservations: 734-971-0484. For more information, email mroddy@paesanosannarbor.com.

WCC: Gluten-free Gourmet I. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Are you living with a gluten allergy, or intolerance, or perhaps just interested in modifying your diet? If you've been trying to navigate the gluten-free world and are a little overwhelmed, or seek more helpful information, these classes are designed to provide education and plenty of new ideas! September's menu: Cornmeal pancakes (with macerated berries), millet oat bread BLT's (with basil pesto and avocado), baked kale chips and crunchy spiced chick peas and chardonnay poached fruit (with vanilla bean Chantilly cream). $65. This class is offered through Washtenaw Community College, but held at Ann Arbor Cooks. Register online at www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning.

Harvest Party. 6-7 p.m. Ypsilanti District Library - Superior Township branch, 8975 MacArthur Blvd., Superior Township  Celebrate the Superior garden by eating from it! Learn how to make fresh salsa and taste other summer dishes we’ve prepared. Free. Details: 734-482-4110 ext. 1391.

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.

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.

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. This week’s topic: Red wines of South America. 734-997-7500.

Friday
Michigan Beer Tasting: Tri-City Brewing Co. 5-7 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. A representative from the brewery will be on hand to answer your questions. Price varies; usually $6 for six tastes. 734-997-7500.

Dixboro Farmers Market. 3:30-7:30 p.m. Dixboro United Methodist Church, 5221 Church Road, Ann Arbor. We have a wide variety of food only vendors as well as ready-to-eat meals for a village green picnic. No admission; price of purchases. 734-665-5632.

Saturday
Whole Foods Market 9th Birthday Celebration. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. 734-975-4500 Whole Foods Market Website Admission: Free Our store is 9 years old! Help us celebrate with events and prizes all day. Samples will be available throughout the store, and events will include a recycled tote giveaway, free birthday cake, and a "Make a Party Hat" craft and contest with FLY Children's Art Center. 734-975-4500.

Apple Day at the Pittsfield Grange. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor. Even though apples might be scarce this year, we can still have fun with them. We are looking for cider apples, but cannot promise that they will be available for purchase. In any case, we’ll make some cider, applesauce, apple butter, and other apple goodies, and hold a bake sale and apple tasting. The wandering Apple Museum (parts of it are sometimes seen at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market) will be there. New this year is a solar cooker race: how long will they take to turn apples and sunlight into applesauce? Free. 734-769-1052.

Cooking with Sonia. 3:30 p.m. Ypsilanti District Library - Michigan Avenue branch, 229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. Sonia Urbaniak, local culinary artist, returns to teach teens how to make homemade ricotta and caramel sauce with sauteed local apples. Free. 734-482-4110 ext. 1390.

Project Grow 40th Anniversay Potluck. 5 p.m. Project Grow Platt Road garden site, 2270 Platt Road, Ann Arbor. Please bring a dish to pass and drinks for you and your guests. We're providing roast pig, tables, chairs and dinnerware. Local blues musicians and Project Grow gardeners Shari Kane and Dave Steele will be performing. Free. mailto:info@projectgrowgardens.org.

Saline Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-noon. On Ann Arbor Street just south of Michigan Avenue in Saline. Fresh local produce and fruit are on offer, as well as local cheese, butter, honey, maple syrup, jams, eggs, meat, coffee and baked goods. Also available are flowers, plants, hanging baskets, planters, annuals, perennials, and vegetable and herb plants. There are a variety of hand-crafted items such as wood bowls and pens, jewelry, garden art, soap and more, all created by local artisans. Master Gardeners from the Michigan State University Master Gardener program are available to answer questions at the market during May, June and September. Bridge Cards, Senior Project Fresh and WIC (Women with Infant Children) Project Fresh coupons can be redeemed to buy fresh produce and fruit at our Market. Patrons can visit the Bridge Card booth at the Saturday Saline Farmers Market and obtain wooden tokens in $1 increments for the amount requested to be added to their Bridge Card. Tokens can be redeemed at the Tuesday Saline Farmers Market but can only be purchased at the Saturday Market. For more information, call Nancy Crisp at 734 429-3518, email salinefarmersmarket@comcast.net or visit cityofsaline.org/farmersmarket.

Sunday
A Musical Taste of Dexter - Dexter Community Orchestra fundraiser. 2-6 p.m. Dexter Knights of Columbus Banquet Hall, 8265 Dexter-Chelsea Road, Dexter. Come by and enjoy "tastes" of food from Dexter area restaurants and food vendors while enjoying the music of the Dexter Community Orchestra's Chamber Ensembles. This event is an "open house" so come at any time and stay as long as you like. Participants: Alpha Coney Island; Angel Food Catering; Ann Arbor Country Club; Banfield's Westside Grill; Busch's Fresh Food Market; Dexter Bakery; Dexter's Pub; Foggy Bottom Coffee House; Grand Traverse Pie Co.; Jake's BBQ Shack; Joe & Rosie Coffee and Tea; Loreen's Village Cafe; Mancino's Pizza and Grinders; Mindo Chocolate Makers; Redbrick Kitchen and Bar; Stucchi's of Dexter; Varney's Catering Co. $7 admission. $1 per tasting ticket; or, buy 6 for $5. http://www.musicaltaste.dextercommunityorchestra.org/pricing-and-ticket-information.html.

Family Dining! 2:30-5:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. This is our attempt to get you to slow down a little and gather around the table to enjoy a meal with your junior chef! It's easy: 1. Drop your child off at our kitchen to prepare a delicious meal, 2. Come back for the last 30 minutes of class to enjoy the meal that your child has prepared for you. Your child will work in small teams, learn to make recipes from scratch, plate and enjoy the fruits of their labor (and we might even throw in some table etiquette!).These classes are for children ages 10 and up and are three hours long, with the last half hour designated for eating. Menu: Classic spaghetti and meatballs, spinach salad with poppy seed dressing, chocolate ice cream. Skill focus: baking, boiling, pasta-cooking, mixing, whisking. $75 per one child participant and up to two family members. Register online at www.annarborcooks.com.

Country Breakfast. 8-11:30 a.m. American Legion Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $6 for adults, $5 for seniorsm $3 for children 9 and under. 734-878-9522 or 734-341-4249.

Monday
Southern Italian Feast with Francesca Giaraffa. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave. Ann Arbor. Enjoy a classic Chicken Cacciatora sauteed in a dry white wine with chillies, tomatoes, and fresh basil. Served with penne pasta and accompanied by a simple sauteed spinach. Francesca crowns this meal with a classic Apple Tort topped with an orange citrus glaze. This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $45. Pre-registration is required by calling 734-994-2300 x 53203 or at www.aareced.com.

Basic Knife Skills. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. This class is offered through Washtenaw Community College, but held at Ann Arbor Cooks.
Sharpen your cutlery and your knife skills. This hands-on class will cover how to sharpen and care for your knives, as well as proper use. In-class exercises will include practice of the fundamental cuts for vegetables and fruit - mince, dice, brunoise, battonet, julienne, etc. - as well as breaking down a whole chicken. $65. Register at www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning.

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. 734-439-1549.

Tuesday
Healthy Chinese Cooking: Tofu for Your Good Health with Angela Yang. 6-8 p.m.  Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Tofu is not a food that commonly leaps to mind when people are looking for a tasty meal idea. But the truth is that tofu is a virtual flavor chameleon, taking on the tastes of ingredients with which it’s combined. Nutritionally, tofu is a high quality complete protein that is a great source of B vitamins and iron. It is low in saturated fat, calories and sodium and contains no cholesterol. In this class you will learn to combine traditional Chinese flavors with this nutritional powerhouse in three recipes that will excite your palate and open your eyes. This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. Tuition: $29. Materials fee: $13. Students may register online through www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning.

Home style Vegan. 6-8 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. If you want to eat less meat but love traditional comfort foods, this class is for you. Local vegan cooking instructor and MATCH Culinary Liaison, Jenney Gordon will show how easy it is to use MATCH products to prepare: Swiss steak; Italian sausage with broccoli and penne; Chicken Picatta; and ranch-style chili. $10. To register, call 734-997-7500 or stop by the customer service desk.

Super Foods. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. We are taking super foods and amping up the flavor. Now is your chance to eat great and boost vitality with these nutrient packed delicious recipes with a focus on seaweed, dark berries, cruciferous vegetables, nuts and seeds. Menu: Five onion soup; white bean and sage croquettes; faro risotto with butternut squash, pumpkin and delicata squash; root vegetable and pomegranate salad; organic sulfate-free wine tasting. $70. Register online at www.annarborcooks.com.

San Street Pop-Up. 5:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. The Bar at 327 Braun Court, 327 Braun Court, Ann Arbor.  San Street is proud to announce a new weekly pop-up series to be held every Tuesday at the Bar at 327 Braun Court.. San Street already serves great Asian street food at Mark's Carts and will expand their menu beyond the already popular steamed buns and banh mi sandwiches to savory pancakes, dessert, dumplings, noodles, soups and more. No cover; price of purchases. 734-585-5440.

Cobblestone Farm farmer's market. 4-7 p.m. Located at the historic Cobblestone Farm, this market will feature local, organically grown produce every Tuesday evening beginning June 19. No admission charge; price of purchases. www.cobblestonefarmmarket.com.

Saline Farmers Market. 3-7 p.m. Saline District Library, 555 N. Maple Road, Saline. Fresh local produce and fruit are on offer, as well as local cheese, butter, honey, maple syrup, jams, eggs, meat, coffee and baked goods. Also available are flowers, plants, hanging baskets, planters, annuals, perennials, and vegetable and herb plants. There are a variety of hand-crafted items such as wood bowls and pens, jewelry, garden art, soap and more, all created by local artisans. Master Gardeners from the Michigan State University Master Gardener program are available to answer questions at the market during May, June and September. Bridge Cards, Senior Project Fresh and WIC (Women with Infant Children) Project Fresh coupons can be redeemed to buy fresh produce and fruit at our Market. Patrons can visit the Bridge Card booth at the Saturday Saline Farmers Market and obtain wooden tokens in $1 increments for the amount requested to be added to their Bridge Card. Tokens can be redeemed at the Tuesday Saline Farmers Market but can only be purchased at the Saturday Market. For more information, call Nancy Crisp at 734 429-3518, email salinefarmersmarket@comcast.net or visit cityofsaline.org/farmersmarket.

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
Easy As Pie. 6-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Come celebrate the beginning of fall and learn how easy it is to make an all-American dessert  with tips and tricks for the best crust ever, and trouble-shooting for any home mishaps! Menu: Classic double crust mile high apple pie; tart cherry lattice top pie; maple pecan pie with maple leaf cut-outs. $70. Register online at www.annarborcooks.com.

Melting Pot Family & Belonging Charity Dinner. 4-10 p.m. The Melting Pot, 309 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. On this night, 10 percent of sales will be donated to the Melting Pot Family & Belonging fund. $35 per-person menu. 734-622-0055.

The 28-Day Healthy Eating Challenge. 6-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor.  Join us for the Fall Challenge. Whether you’re just getting started on the path to healthy eating or you want to keep moving forward with your lifestyle changes, we hope you will join us for this fun and informative challenge. During the five class series we will explore the research on food cravings and learn how to break the habit, get tips and tricks to make quick and delicious meals the entire family will enjoy, and learn more about the connection between whole foods and health. Price includes cooking demos, samples, lectures, discussion group and educational materials. $40 per individual or $70 per couple.To register for the workshop, visit the Customer Service Desk or call 734-975-4500.

Health Starts Here: How Do I Cut Back On Dairy? 6 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Health Starts Here is an educational program designed by Whole Foods Market to put you on track with healthy eating. This month, Susan will discuss how to reconfigure your diet to cut back on dairy products. She’ll demonstrate tasty recipes that can serve as alternatives to butter, cream and cheese. Samples and recipes will be offered. $10. To register, call 734-997-7500 or stop by the customer service desk.

Edible Avalon Harvest Dinner 2012. 7-10 p.m. Zingerman's Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor. Chef Alex will create a memorable meal featuring fresh, locally grown and sourced ingredients, including an array of luscious heirloom tomato varieties. He’ll also discuss heirloom seed selection, soil management and proper animal husbandry. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit Edible Avalon, the residential community garden program of Avalon Housing. Representatives from the group will share with us the success they’ve had and the positive impact for Avalon residents and the larger community. The cost includes admission to the Cornman Farms’ tour. $30 of each seat sold will be donated to Edible Avalon. $65. http://www.zingermansroadhouse.com/2012/05/29/edible-avalon-harvest-dinner/.

Wednesday Evening Farmers Market. 4:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor. At the Wednesday Evening Farmers Market, you'll find local produce and food from some of your favorite farmers and vendors from the Saturday and Wednesday markets, plus many innovative new vendors. There will be live music, food carts, and throughout the season a non-profit sponsored beer and wine garden, as well as educational food demos and more. Free admission. Visit www.a2gov.org/market for more information.

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, Sept. 27
Grilling for a Cause. 5:30-8:30 p.m. BD's Mongolian Barbeque, 200 S. Main St., Ann Arbor.
When you show a flyer to staff, part of your bill for the night benefits CASA - Court-Appointed Special Advocates for children of Washtenaw County. No admission charge; price of purchases. 734-913-0999.

Cooking class: Wonders from the Orient. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Mix two Oriental cultures to come up with an easy and tasty meal that is gluten-free and dairy-free. You will make spring rolls using fresh local vegetables wrapped in steamed rice paper and a tasty peanut or almond sauce used for dipping. Then you’ll try miso soup infused with tofu, spring onions and brown rice. Discuss some of the ways you can use leftover brown rice in your gluten-free cooking. This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $39.  Pre-registration is required by calling 734-994-2300 x 53203 or at www.aareced.com.

(un)Corked: The Cider Wave - Michigan Hard Cider Tasting. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Live/The Last Word, 102 S. First St., Ann Arbor. Are you ready to taste some ciders that will give you a pleasant buzz during the autumn months and well into the winter?  The Produce Station will offer a substantial selection of ciders from all around Michigan (and even one from New York state) where apples are abundant and thankfully, diverse. This time around we are offering a taste of Vander Mill Ciders, made entirely with all Michigan apples, and we shall also offer some of their apple and berry combos. There will even be a roasted cider which you absolutely cannot miss. Vander Mill Ciders have been impressing people with their magnificent ciders since 2008 and are even being distributed in Chicago, where the love of alcohol is infamous. $15. Purchase tickets online at http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/439179 or in person at The Produce Station. No ticket sales at the door.

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. This week’s topic: Wines of Australia. 734-997-7500.

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