Best bet: Chocolates for vegans
Chef Amanda Snouffer teaches a hands-on class showing how to make vegan chocolate desserts.
Details: $85; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy, 600 W. Chicago Ave., Suite 860; register, 866-443-0437 or at chocolate-academy.com
Steak and more: Victor Newgren, executive chef of Lawry’s Prime Steakhouse, conducts a cooking demonstration on grill specialties. Free; 2 p.m. Saturday; Bloomingdale’s Home & Furniture Store, 600 N. Wabash Ave.; information, 312-324-7678.
Uncovering oysters: Rowan Jacobsen signs his book, “A Geography of Oysters,” during a wine and oyster tasting and four-course luncheon. $45; 11:30 a.m. Monday; Shaw’s Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard St.; register, 708-383-7543 or chicagourmets.org
Taste of Italy: Cooking with the Best Chefs presents Juan Ortiz, chef and owner of Napolitano’s Italian Mediterranean Cuisine, South Elgin, for a demonstration class exploring Tuscan entrees. $40, $30 members; 7 p.m. Jan. 25; The Urban Grille, 524 W. State St., Geneva; registration, 224-353-3300 or bestchefs.com
Fancy cakes: Instructor Gloria Nedbala teaches how to make a chocolate artistry cake in a hands-on class. $53; 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26; Country Garden Cuisine, 3N369 LaFox Rd., St. Charles; register,
countrygardencook@sbcglobal.net
Seed to table: Les Dames d’Escoffier Chicago hosts a dinner discussion on food businesses featuring chef Charlie Trotter, Tony Dreyfuss, co-owner of Metropolitan Coffee, and Joshua Kaiser, CEO of Rishi Tea. $125, 6 p.m. Feb. 7, Charlie Trotter’s, 816 W. Armitage. Information, lesdameschicago.org/2010/12/from-seed-to-table; tickets at vanillepatisserie.com
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