Today

Small Dishes with Chef Brendan McCall of Mani Osteria. 7-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor District Library- Taverwood Branch, 3333 Taverwood Drive, Ann Arbor. Join Chef Brendan McCall of Mani Osteria and learn the secrets of small dishes that pack big flavor and flair. Free. 734-327-4555.

Malai Kofta (vegetarian meatballs). 6:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave. Malai Kofta is India’s vegetarian alternative to meatballs, made from potatoes and vegetables and served in a thick, creamy sauce. Discover the delights of this classic Indian meal traditionally prepared. Instructor: Jyothi Abrahams. $39. Preregistration required at 734-994-2300 ext. 53203.

Beer Tasting: Holiday Specialties. 7-9 p.m. Arbor Brewing Co., , 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor. Sample and learn about some two dozen different spiced beers, old ales, meads, and other holiday favorites. Includes German appetizer buffet. $25 in advance, $30 (if available) at the door. 734-213-1393.

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: Cabernet Sauvignon. 734-997-7500.

Friday

Mediterranean Style Lamb Stew with Blake Reetz & Helen Harding. Noon-1 p.m. Hollander's, 410 N. Fourth Ave., Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. The owners of “eat,” a catering service and street food vendor, teach us how to prepare this great menu: Mediterranean style lamb stew, Israeli couscous with cilantro, currants and toasted pine nuts. $16. 734-741-7531.

Tea with the Fairies, Sessions at 1 and 4 p.m. Crazy Wisdom Tea Room, 114 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Children and their families are welcome for tea and petits fours served by real-life fairies! Celebrate with our magical fairies as they serve tea, treats, and magic. Fairy attire is encouraged. $11 per person. Tickets are available at Crazy Wisdom or by phoning prior to event. Babies 18 months and younger attend free. 734-665-2757 or jerri@crazywisdom.net.

Tasting: Holiday Beers. 6-7 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Tastings of 6 winter beers. $6. Preregistration required at 734-997-7500.

CANCELED DUE TO ILLNESS. Evil Overlord Beer Release and Beer Dinner. 5 p.m. Original Gravity Brewing Co., 440 County St., Milan. Evil Overlord is a Strong Dark Belgian Ale (9.1 percent alcohol by volume). We will also be serving a wonderful Belgian Beer Stew of slow braised beef simmered in Evil Overloard, carmelized onions and spices and served over creamy smoked Gouda polenta. Cost: TBA. 734-439-7490.

Saturday

Bake-N-Take Holiday Cookies. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Join a group of fellow bakers and bake all of your holiday cookies in one afternoon! Make chocolate-dipped ginger florentines, pecan tassies, benne wafers, Mexican wedding cookies, lemon-vanilla shortbreads, spiced-nut palmiers and chocolate-malt sandwich cookies. $95. 734-645-1030 .

Coffee Tour: Zingerman’s Coffee Co. 11 a.m.-noon. Zingerman’s Coffee Co., 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Take free tour of the coffee company. 734-929-6060.

18th Annual Cookie Walk. 9-11 a.m. First United Methodist Church, 120 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Prepackaged or select your own homemade cookies for sale. Choose from an array of decorated sugar cookies, Russian tea cakes, snicker doodles, peanut blossoms and many, many more. Proceeds benefit local, national and international missions. Free admission and parking. 734-662-4536.

Baking Pizzelle with Barb Kraft. 10 a.m.-noon. Downtown Home & Garden, 210 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor. Barb shares her family recipe and demonstrates techniques for making these traditional Italian holiday waffle cookies. Free. 734-662-8122.

Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop. 2 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. We’ll provide the frosted gingerbread house, candy and some help from our bakery pros, you bring the creativity! All ages welcome; pre-registration required. $19.99 per house. Stop by the customer service desk or call 734-997-7500.

Sunday

Parent/Child Holiday Cookie Party. 1-4 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. You and your child will work together to create delicious treats including classic sugar cookies; ginger chews; peppermint twists and chocolate snowballs. $65 per pair. 734-645-1030.

Holiday Cookie Baking. 2-4:30 p.m. Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor. Learn some new recipes, share your favorites, and bake cookies in good company. Each person will take home several varieties of cookies -- you'll be contacted about what to bring. Free for Grange members, $5 for nonmembers. www.preservingtraditions.org.

Cheese Tasting. 4-5:30 p.m. Zingerman’s Creamery. 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Cheesemaker Josh Minor discusses Zingerman’s current seasonal cheeses and the farmers it gets its raw material from. Taste samples. $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

Traditional Christmas Breads. 6-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Christmas breads have been around for centuries and not only are they easy to make, but they make your house smell wonderful in the process. Learn to make gingerbread, stollen, panettone and Norweigian Christmas bread. $65. 734-645-1030.

Cocktail Class: Better with Bubbles. 7:30 p.m. Ravens Club, 207 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. The only thing better than a glass of champagne for the holiday season is a cocktail made with champagne. Taste and learn to make a variety of sparkling wine cocktails to take your holiday entertaining to the next level. $35. 734-214-0400.

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

Holiday Appetizers. 6 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Join Chris from our prepared foods department as he shares some of his favorite holiday appetizer dishes. $10. Stop by the customer service desk or call 734-997-7500.

Raw Foods: Raw Winter with Ellen Livingston. 7-8:30 p.m. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom, 114 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Hosted by People’s Food Co-op, in this class, you’ll learn how to thrive on a healthy raw food diet even in the coldest weather. Free. Pre-register at the Co-op or call 734-994-4589.

Ari’s Top 30 Foods: The Best of 2011. 6-8 p.m. Zingerman’s Events on 4th, 415 North Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor. Zingerman’s cofounder Ari Weinzweig discusses and offers taste samples of some of his favorite Zingerman’s products. $45 in advance, $50 (if available) at the door. 734-663-3354.

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.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Italian Pastas & Sauces. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Ellen Thompson Women's Health Center, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, 5320 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti, in the Culinary Studio. Spend two evenings in the kitchen with Francesca making handmade pasta and delicious sauces. The first night you will create homemade ravioli with wild mushrooms, pappardelle pasta, and strascinati. The second night, master the art of savory sauces. Bring containers to take home leftovers. $85. Preregistration required at 734-994-2300 ext. 53203.

Wednesday

Kids Club Health Starts Here: Holiday Treats. 3:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave. Join our healthy eating specialist, Jan, and learn how to make healthy holiday treats. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Free, but registration is required by calling 734-975-4500.

Meat 101: Standing Rib Roast. 6 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Join Hank, our meat team leader and expert, as he demonstrates how to cook a standing rib roast. $10. Stop by the customer service desk or call 734-997-7500.

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.

Dec. 15

Health Starts Here Cooking Class: Holiday Favorites with a Twist. 6-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave. Join Healthy Eating Specialist, Jan Kemp, in this fun holiday class as she highlights some seasonal favorites like Almond Nog, Fresh Cranberry Citrus Relish, Roasted Brussels with Almonds, Pumpkin Bisque, and Macaroon Tartlets with Citris Creme. $15. Stop by the Whole Foods Market customer service desk or call 734-975-4500.

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.

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: 90 point-rated wines. 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 the third Thursday of each month. www.spotteddogwinery.com.

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