Ann Arbor food and drink calendar

Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com
Baking Pies a Plenty. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. You never stood on a chair to help Grandma bake a pie? You don’t get many second chances in life but here’s your opportunity to learn how she did it. 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 two pies home to enjoy- different flavors depending on the season. $125. www.bakewithzing.com.
Cheers to British Breads. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. The baked goods of the United Kingdom are so different from what most Americans eat every day. In this class we’ll investigate the techniques behind Scottish oatcakes, Irish soda bread, Scottish baps, and English muffins (which are an ocean apart from what you can get at the supermarket). It’ll be no surprise if, after taking this class, you start calling your friends to high tea at 4 o’clock every day. You'll leave with the knowledge to make these breads at home, four recipes and everything you made in class (that you didn't eat right out of the oven). $100. 734-761-7255.
(un)Corked Wine Tasting: An Austrian Excursion. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Alley Bar, 112 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. Just like the majority of Europe below the 50th parallel, Austria has a long history of winemaking and consuming. According to some sources it could be as far back as 4m000 years ago that the first grape plantings appear; many of these 'vineyards' were destroyed during the so called barbarian invasions. The recent history of Austrian wine is one marred by a scandal during the early '80's in which the thin and watery wine they were making was 're-inforced' with diethylene glycol (more commonly found in anti-freeze) which gave the wine body and a touch of sweetness. Because of this bump on the road, the industry became intently focused on regulation. Now the wines of Austria have gained international attention because of the importance placed on low yields, terroir, and quality emphasis. Also, a relatively unknown grape then has thrown Austria into the limelight of wine today — the Gruner Veltliner. Organizers aim to have four varieties represented with two reds as well. Two different styles of Gruner will be available from either two different regions or two styles from the same producer. $10 includes five samples of wine. www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/406463.
International One Pot Meals with Bill Loomis. 6-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Some of the best foods served around the world are stews and daubes. Learn how to make three delicious meals, each one cooked in one pot: Spanish Chicken with lemon, Belgian Beef carbonnard du nord and a Moroccan Roasted Vegetable Stew. These meals are simple to make and they keep your family and guests coming back for more. This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $39. Register with Ann Arbor Community Education & Recreation 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. This week’s topic: Cabernet Sauvignon. 734-997-7500.
Friday
Creative Cookies. 1-5 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Unleash your creativity on cookies! Decorated cookies make great gifts, party favors, stocking stuffers and holiday centerpieces. In this class you'll learn to make tasty butter cookies and use a variety of decorating techniques. You'll make your own cookie dough and fresh fondant. We'll provide an assortment of cookie cutters, but you're welcome to bring your own (three to four inches please). You'll leave with a couple recipes, the knowledge to recreate them at home, and at least a dozen dazzling decorated holiday cookies. $100. 734-761-7255.
34th Annual Lenten Fish Fry. 4:30-7:30 p.m. Old St. Patrick, 5671 Whitmore Lake Road, Ann Arbor. Come for a fish fry every Friday, Feb. 24-March 30. Menu: Fried Alaskan Pollock, choice of potato, salad bar and beverage. Desserts are available for a nominal additional charge. Beer and wine are available for a donation. $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for children ages 5-11. Children 4 and younger eat for free. 734-662-8141.
Fish Dinners on Fridays during Lent. 4:30-7 p.m. St. Mary's Catholic Parish, 10601 Dexter Pinckney Road, Pinckney. The Men’s Club of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Pinckney is proudly sponsoring its annual Fish Dinners on Friday evenings during Lent. The Parish is located south of M-36 at 10601 Dexter Pinckney Road in Putnam Township. Our delicious dinner includes baked or beer battered fried fish, choice of French fries, scalloped or baked potato, beets, coleslaw, homemade macaroni and cheese, cut vegetables, Jell-O, homemade rolls and dessert and assorted beverages. Take outs are available! The cost is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $4 for children (under age 12). Immediate family price: $30. 734-878-3161.
Lenten Fish Fry: St. Mary Chelsea Knights of Columbus. 5-8 p.m. St. Mary Catholic Church, 14200 E. Old US-12, Chelsea. Price TBA. 734-475-9005.
Sauerkraut Supper. 5-7 p.m. St. Paul United Church of Christ, 122 W. Michigan Ave., Saline. Dinner is buffet style. $9 for adults, $4 for children ages 5 to 12. 734-429-7716.
Saturday
Green Thumb Series: Garden to Table. 2-3 p.m. The Garden Mill,
110 S. Main St., Chelsea. Join us for a series of workshops featuring
ideas, tips, and recipes to enjoy your garden’s bounty every Saturday in
March. March 3: Growing Your Own Food - Now What? Join Trinh Pifer for a
lively discussion of recipes, samples, and ideas on how to enjoy early
cool weather crops. Try samples of different greens and homemade salad
dressings. Bring your own recipes to share. Free, but reservations are
encouraged by calling 734-475-3539.
Basic Knife Skills. 1-4 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. This hands-on class will cover how to sharpen and care for your knives, as well as proper use. Learn the fundamental cuts, including mincing, dicing and battoneting, as well as breaking down a whole chicken. Register at www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning .
Bockbierfest: Ann Arbor Schwaben Verein. 5:30-10:30 p.m. UAW Hall, Local 892, 601 Woodland Drive, Saline. This annual spring festival features a German dinner followed by dancing to Tommy Schober & the Sorgenbrechers. Cash bar. $25 in advance and (if available) at the door. Reservations recommended: 734-662-4964 or 734-954-0281.
Learn to Make Fresh Mozzarella. Noon-2:30 p.m. Zingerman's Creamery, 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Come learn with the masters of mozzarella how to stretch your own from-scratch fresh mozzarella at home. They will guide you through the steps to set up the curd from milk and teach you the technique we employ to stretch the rather plain-tasting curds into marvelous mozzarella of your very own. First and third Saturday of each month, September through May. $60 (or $55 if paid in advance). Reservations required at 734-929-0500.
Saturday and Sunday
BAKE!-cation Weekend: Pastry. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Join us for an action packed two-day baking getaway. We'll make our favorite pastries including scones, pies, cinnamon rolls, croissants, angel food cake and pound cake. Also includes breakfast and lunch each day. While you're here enjoy the great restaurants, farmer's markets and theaters Ann Arbor has to offer. You'll leave with several tested recipes, the knowledge to recreate them at home, a full stomach and loads of pastries you made in class. $500. 734-761-7255.
Sunday
Country Style Breakfast. 8:30-11 a.m. St. Mary's Catholic Parish, 10601 Dexter Pinckney Road, Pinckney. St. Mary’s Men’s Club in Pinckney is sponsoring its monthly Country Style Breakfast at the Parish. We have the best menu in the area which includes: fried or scrambled eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, French toast, pancakes, quiche, ham, pork sausage and, of course, our renowned waffle station. Musical guests and multi-chance raffles add to the fun. Cost is a free-will donation. Proceeds will be used to help update the Parish Religious Education Resources. 734-878-3161.
St. Patrick’s Feast 2012. 4-7 p.m. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 411 Florence St., Ypsilanti. Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSSW) will be hosting its annual St. Patrick’s Feast to benefit the teen moms and babies of the Father Patrick Jackson House program. Established in 1984, Father Pat’s provides pregnant teens and adolescent mothers a safe, nurturing home environment while helping them develop the education and living skills needed to become capable parents. Traditional Irish dinner and music followed by a Mass of Celebration and afterglow. $75. 734-971-9781 ext. 323 or www.csswashtenaw.org.
Vietnamese Street Food with Chris Wick. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Hollander's, 401 N. Fourth Ave., in the Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. Goi Cuon and Bo Nhung Dam is a typical dish served in the streets of Vietnam. It includes fresh Vietnamese vegetables and lettuce that surround beef and pork, dipped in a savory peanut sauce and wrapped in a rice paper. This hands-on class offers both a unique cooking and cultural lesson. $65. 734-741-7531.
Tours of the Creamery. 2 p.m. Zingerman's Creamery, 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Cheesemaker and managing partner John Loomis leads the whey and gives the inside scoop on how they make artisan cheeses and old-fashioned gelato (that’s Italian ice cream). $5. You will receive a $5 coupon to spend in The Cheese Shop. 734-929-0500.
Monday
Vegetarian Goes Italian with Francesca Giarraffa. 6-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. This is a feast that is sure to please. Classic manicotti is made with homemade pasta rolled up with spinach and ricotta cheese, then baked in a tomato sauce. Stuffed mushroom caps are baked with bread crumbs, garlic, fresh herbs and cheeses. Fried strips of eggplant are marinated in wine vinegar, garlic, fresh herbs and chilies to add a spicy touch. The ingredients are simple, but the art of combining them with the right herbs and other ingredients makes it 100 percent Italian. This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $45. Register with Ann Arbor Community Education & Recreation at 734-994-2300 ext. 53203 or www.aareced.com.
Pate a Choux 101. 6-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. This class is offered through Washtenaw Community College but held at Ann Arbor Cooks. Pate a choux is a French classic, and the only dough that is cooked before being baked. It can be used to make many of your favorite pastries. Join us to learn the ins and outs of this versatile cream puff dough. Menu: profiteroles with seasonal ice cream, eclairs with homemade pastry cream, classic gougere. $65. Register at www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning/.
Open dance and wine tasting. 6 p.m.-close. Passport Restaurant and Lounge, 3776 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Open dancing and free wine tasting from 6 p.m. to close. No cover charge; price of purchases. 734-222-1111.
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
An Everlasting Meal with Tamar E. Adler. 7-10 p.m. Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace is a rallying cry to home cooks, encouraging readers to begin cooking where they are and with what they have and is an indispensable tool for anyone who eats. An alumnus of Alice Water’s Chez Panisse, Tamar E Adler show that economical, not elaborate, cooking is the heart of food, a value shared by the Chef Alex and the Roadhouse. We are honored to have Tamar in the kitchen with Chef Alex and sharing her thoughts at this very special dinner. $45. 734-663-3663.
Three Pastas in Three Minutes with Monique Deshaine. Noon-1 p.m. Hollander's, 401 N. Fourth Ave., in the Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. Monique will be sharing new ideas for pasta recipes: three ingredients in three minutes: Wild Mushroom Fettuccine with peas, mushrooms and artichokes; Lemon Chive Fettuccine with smoked salmon, spinach and lemon; and Whole Wheat Fettuccine with broccoli, tallegio and almonds. $16. 734-741-7531.
Danger: Triple Chocolate Cake. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Who said you can have to much of a good thing? We’ll create a chocolate masterpiece that will have you and your friends in a chocolate frenzy! Learn to make all the components of this triple threat: a rich buttery chocolate cake that we'll slice into layers and fill with a decadent chocolate filling, then enrobing the entire cake with even more chocolate and dust the top with cocoa powder just for good measure. $125. www.bakewithzing.com.
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
Culinary Bootcamp II Series. 6-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Culinary Bootcamp II is a three-class intensive journey taking what was previously learned in Bootcamp I to the next level. We're going to expand on what you've already learned, add to it some basic butchery skills, talk a lot about flavors, textures, and plating. Then... we're going to take you out of your comfort zone and let you channel your inner-Top Chef and let your skill and creativity shine! Oh yeah, and we're going to eat a lot of great food and laugh a lot, as usual. Prerequisite: Culinary Bootcamp I (no exceptions). This class meets consecutive Wednesday evenings, March 7, 14 and 21. $300 for three-class series. 734-645-1030.
Ooh La La Croissants. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. There are very few places in the world outside of France where you can get a good truly flaky, buttery croissant. Zingerman’s Bakehouse is one of them. There are some tricks but it’s mostly about taking the time to do it right. And when you smell and taste these treats, you’ll be happy that you did. In this class you’ll get the history and basic techniques of creating traditional laminated doughs and make croissants in butter, almond and chocolate versions. $125. www.bakewithzing.com.
Amber Waves of Grain: American Breads. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. For most people, the phrase “American bread” conjures some unfortunate stereotypes: white bread is bland, wheat bread is dry, cornbread is just for sopping up chili. In this class, you’ll taste just how good American breads can be. You’ll learn how they make their succulent Bakehouse White and you’ll discover a 100 percent whole wheat bread so sweet, Bakehouse founder Frank Carollo named it after his daughter Margaret. The cornbread recipe comes certified by a true southern baker. You'll leave with the knowledge to make these breads at home, three recipes and four loaves of bread you made in class. $100. www.bakewithzing.com.
The Wonderful World of Tea. 7-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor District Library - downtown branch, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor. TeaHaus of Ann Arbor presents a tea-tasty, educational event. Learn about the ever-expanding world of tea from black, green, white, herbal and fruit to the hot new "tea" Rooibos. You will get to taste some exquisite samples, too. TeaHaus is a small business owned by Lisa McDonald and her husband Marc Hewko. Their mission is to provide experience and education along with the highest quality tea available on the market. They work with Europe’s most reputable and highest-quality tea company, located in Germany the the only tea company with its own testing facility for both pesticides and heavy metals residues. This company does not use tea brokers or buy in the markets, but goes straight to the source —the gardens. Germany is the world’s largest tea purchasing country and has a long standing tie with the tea world. Free. 734-327-8301.
Tavernago Wine Tasting. 6-8 p.m. Vinology, 110 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Join us for a walk-around tasting of the fresh, honest and organic wines of Tenuta Villa Tavernago from Italy's North. Beautiful wines full of character will be sampled along with a selection of gourmet, regional meats and artisanal cheeses. $30, plus tax and gratiuity. 734-222-9841.
Wednesday Wine Tasting. 6:30 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.
Wednesday and Thursday
Rustic Italian Cooking: A Taste of Southern Italy with Francesca Giarraffa 5:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Travelers to Italy may be surprised at the diversity of its regional cuisine. We invite you to spend two delicious culinary evenings with our native Italian cooking instructor exploring dishes from southern Italy. Each night a rustic Italian meal featuring an entree and side dish will be prepared and enjoyed together. Night one includes hands-on making of two types of fresh sausage (one spicy, with hot chilies, and one mild, seasoned with fennel). Dinner on the first night will be the spicy sausage (sauteed in white wine and served with a garlic and gorgonzola dressed spaghetti), and accompanied by a seasonal vegetable side dish. Dinner on the second night will include homemade gnocchi (dumplings) served with the mild fennel sausage (prepared as a ragu - simmered in red wine and tomatoes), sauteed broccoli rabe (with garlic and chilis), and ricotta cheese tart (baked with almonds and orange zest). This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. Tuition: $79. Mandatory Fee: $19. Register on-line through www.wccnet.edu.
Thursday, March 1
Stout Beer Tasting. 7-9 p.m. Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington, Ann Arbor. Arbor Brewing Beer Tastings are a year-long celebration of the rich and varied tastes and traditions of beers from across the globe. This month's feature is Stouts. The stout tasting was the first tasting we ever held back in 1997. And it is a dark beer lovers dream come true! We hand-pick 25-30 of our favorite stouts - Irish stouts, milk stouts, chocolate stouts, coffee stouts, Russian imperial stouts, some Belgian and experimental stouts when we can get our hands on them. $25 in advance, $30 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, at the wine bar. Each Thursday evening, experts lead an exploration of wine, cheese and appetizers. This week’s topic: World Chardonnay. 734-997-7500.
To submit events for this calendar, e-mail calendar@annarbor.com