Olive oil basics: Rick Petrocelly, founder of the Olive Tap, presents a lecture, “Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegars: The Culinary Dynamic Duo.” $37, $29 garden members; 1 p.m. Thursday; Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe; register, 847-835-8261 or chicagobotanic.org/school
The art of noodle-making: Takashi Yagihashi, author of “Takashi’s Noodles” and owner of Takashi Restaurant in Bucktown, demonstrates some of his French/American cuisine with Japanese influences and signs his cookbook. Free. 1 p.m. Saturday; Bloomingdale’s Home & Furniture Store, Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook; information, 312-440-4393
Smoking and grilling: Chef Greg Darden teaches “Bourbon, BBQ & Two Smoking Barrels” cooking class on the secrets of grilling and smoking. $50; 2 p.m. Saturday; The Chopping Block, 4747 N. Lincoln Ave.; register, 773-472-6700 the
choppingblock.net
French classic: Chef Madelaine Bullwinkel teaches the French techniques of the classic ham and cheese sandwich in “Meet the Croque Monsieur Family.” $85, $75 members; 10 a.m. Saturday; Alliance Francaise, 810 N. Dearborn St.; register, 312-337-1070 or af-chicago
.org
Ancient pies: Learn about the pies of the 1890s and techniques to make them. Recipes provided. Free; 12:30 p.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday; Kline Creek Farm, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, 1N600 County Farm Road, one mile south of North Avenue, West Chicago; register, 630-876-5900
E-mail event items at least one month before publication to elizabethschiele@sbcglobal.net.
— Elizabeth Schiele
