Food & Grocery: Ann Arbor food and drink calendar

The Baker’s Pantry: Sweeteners 101 with People’s Food Co-op Head Baker Keegan Rodgers. 7-8:30 p.m. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom, 114 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Learn everything you wanted to know about sugar but were too overwhelmed to ask. PFC’s expert baker in residence will share the history and chemistry behind all types of sweeteners used in baking; different types of sugars, honey, maple syrup, and others, as well as their qualities and applications for various recipes. Free. www.peoplesfood.coop.

Health Starts Here 28 Day Challenge with healthy eating specialist Jan Kemp. 6-8 pm. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Make a fresh start in spring 2012. Whether you’re just getting started on a healthy eating path or have been on the road to wellness for years, join us for this exciting, life-changing challenge. We will explore the Four Pillars of Healthy Eating through a series of classes that offer cooking demos, samples, menu planning, short lectures and educational materials. The fee for the five-class series is $35. Visit the customer service desk or call 734-975-4500.

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: Sparkling wines. 734-997-7500.

Friday

Date Night! 6:30-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Bring your special someone and have some fun in the kitchen cooking up this entire menu. And please feel free to bring a bottle of wine to enjoy with your meal. May’s menu: Goat cheese and scallion ravioli with black olive-tomato butter; herb-crusted tuna with lemony cracked wheat salad; grilled summer vegetables; molten center chocolate cake. $130 per pair. 734-645-1030.

Mind Body Soil I. 6:30-8 p.m. Tilian Farm Development Center, 4400 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor. Join friends and fans of local food, movement and music at Tilian Farm Development Center for Mind Body Soil I. Kick off your weekend in a community (all levels) yoga class with Lisa Gottlieb from 6:30-7:30, then join Tilian farmers to walk around the 44 acres Tilian is leasing from Ann Arbor Township to incubate five new farm businesses and our own Farmer Residency Program. Back in the barn we celebrate this beautiful community with a buffet of local food and music by Wire in the Wood. Cost: $15-25 sliding scale donation suggested. http://tiliancenter.wordpress.com andrea@tiliancenter.org.

Spaghetti dinner. 5-8 p.m. American Legion Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for children 9 and under. 734-878-9522 or 734-341-4249.

Saturday

Mother’s Day Brew Tour. Noon-5:30 p.m. Starts at Wolverine State Brewing Co., 2019 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor. Ale, lager, porter, stout, pilsner; come discover the distinct flavors of Michigan made beer. Tours begin at Wolverine State Brewery and spend the day visiting various breweries and/or festivals throughout Michigan. $90. www.goldenlimo.com/brewtours or 800-300-5151.

Build Your Own Custom Cupcakes. Noon-3 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Surprise mom or another special someone with a delicious treat that you helped decorate! We’ll provide the cupcakes, butter cream frosting and edible toppings - you bring the creativity. Two cupcakes for $5. 734-975-4500.

Ladies’ Tea. 1 p.m. St. Andrew's United Church of Christ, 7610 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. The tea will feature Deb Mantel, a Christian speaker, singer and musician who will entertain the ladies and present an inspirational message. Since this is a "tea," women and girls are urged to wear a hat — one in keeping with the season — gloves are optional, but a prize will be awarded to the lady with the best hat. The church's Fellowship Committee is in charge. Food and beverages will be provided. Free-will donations will be accepted. Reservations appreciated: call Becky Deanhofer at 734-426-5043.

Kids' Mother's Day Gift Class: Bake fruit tarts. 1-3:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Express your love and gratitude this Mother's Day by baking up a batch of the tastiest cookies and the most impressive fruit tart as a take-home gift for who else: Mom. Menu: Classic fresh fruit tart with vanilla bean pastry cream and glazed fresh fruit paired with lavender heart cookies. $45 per child. 734-645-1030.

Incredible Edibles. 1:30-3 p.m. Gerald Eddy Discovery Center & Waterloo Recreation Area, 17030 Bush Road, Chelsea. Come walk with wild edibles expert Tom Jameson and get acquainted with samples from Mother Nature’s kitchen. Afterwards Tom will share some of his recipes and his gourmet cooking. $2 per person or $5 per family. Advance registration requested at 734-475-3170.

Russian Dinner. 5-7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, 1432 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Come and enjoy an authentic Russian meal sponsored by the Russian Task Force. The evening will include a brief presentation on a 2011 trip to Russia. Proceeds will help fund mission work in Moscow and the village of Davydovo. $12 for individuals, $25 for families. 734-662-4466.

Paint the Town: Ann Arbor Art Center Annual Fundraiser. 6-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor. This ritzy gala usually draws more than 600 people and features live and silent auctions, tours of the Art Center, artist demos, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and dancing under a big outdoor tent (in the parking lot behind the Art Center) to live music by the 15-piece swing band Rhythm Society Orchestra. Attire is “urban chic.” Preceded at 5:30 p.m. by a patron reception ($200, includes "Paint the Town" ticket) with food prepared by Vinology chef Jim Leonardo. $100 in advance only at annarborartcenter.org/reg/tickets.phpor by calling 734-994-8004, ext. 120.

Sunday

Mother’s Day Tea. 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. TeaHaus, 204 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. A full English tea with finger sandwiches, scones, and dessert. $28. Reservations required: lisa@teahaus-annarbor.com or 734-622-0460.

Preserving Traditions: Crepes. 2-4 p.m. Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor. Patrick Haggood teaches how to make a selection of sweet and savory crepes. Free for Grange members. Non-members: $5-10 sliding scale. Reservations requested: 734-997-8844 or http://www.eventbrite.com/org/814998331.

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

Butternut Ravioli with Francesca Giaraffa. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Join Francesca in this hands-on vegetarian class to make homemade ravioli stuffed with butternut squash and covered in a creamy sage sauce. Francesca will pair it with asparagus tips dressed with sautéed breadcrumbs, chopped boiled egg and fresh herbs. Top off this lovely meal with a fresh fruit parfait topped with a honeyed mascarpone cheese sauce. This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $45. Pre-registration required: 734-994-2300 x 53203 or www.aareced.com.

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

Craft Beer & Burger Pairing Dinner for Craft Beer Week. 7:30 p.m. Frenchie's, 54 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti. We are hosting this evening of great beer, awesome food and sweet tunes in celebration of Craft Beer Week, so be ready for some special brews and other surprises. The meal consists of five courses: three mini-burgers, an appetizer and dessert, all lovingly paired with five craft beers. There will be live music by Nick Bertsos and the Little Traps and pairing commentary by resident beer geeks. $25 per person, $40 per couple. 734-483-5230.

Tuscan Countryside Supper. 7-9 p.m. Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson, Ann Arbor. Zingerman’s Roadhouse chef Alex Young is joined by Peggy Markel, a renowned culinary adventurer who specializes in the cultures of the Mediterranean and North Africa, to host a meal featuring traditional Tuscan specialties. $60 for food only, additional $30 for wine pairings. Reservations required at 663-3663.

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

Tips with Tips: Basic Cake Decorating. 5:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Before people find out how good the cakes taste, they comment on how good they look. Decorating might be the funnest part of cake making and it’s your chance to really put your personal touch on what you’ve baked. Learn the basics for a finished cake. We’ll split several cakes, crumb coat and ice them, and then add borders and a few flowers. Practice makes perfect so you’ll get plenty of that. You'll leave with basic knowledge to decorate cakes at home and 1 decorated cake you made in class. $100. Register at http://www.bakewithzing.com.

Neapolitan Style Pizza with Francesca Giarraffa. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods Market, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Learn to create homemade pizza using the freshest ingredients available. Guided by an instructor born into the Italian cooking tradition, you'll learn to prepare fried pizza dough (topped with a red pizzaiola sauce, mozzarella and parmigiano cheese and fresh basil) and calzone (filled with ricotta and parmigiano cheese and prosciutto). Both will be served with a seasonal vegetable or salad and strawberry sorbet. This class is taught "hands on." This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $39 Mandatory Fee: $15. Students Register online through www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning.

The Art of the Soufflé. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Sweet or savory, soufflés are a sure way to impress your guests. It's all about technique for this one! So join us for an evening mastering the process and you'll see just how easy this crowd pleaser can be. Get ready for the ooohhs and aaahhs. Menu: Asparagus soufflé, Roquefort soufflé, lemon soufflé, chocolate soufflé, and Grand Marnier soufflé. $65. 734-645-1030.

Wednesday Evening Farmers Market. 4:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor. Join the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on May 2 for the kickoff of the second season of the Wednesday Evening Farmers Market. You'll find local produce and food from some of your favorite farmers and vendors from the Saturday 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. Buy your groceries from local farmers and enjoy yourself while you're at it at the Wednesday Evening Farmers Market. The evening market runs from 4:30-8:30 p.m. each Wednesday, May 2-Sept. 26. Free admission; price of purchases. 734-794-6255 or www.a2gov.org/market.

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.

Thursday, May 17

Leonardo LoCascio Wine Tasting. 6-8 p.m. Vinology, 110 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. The evening features strolling tastings of Italian wines, introduced by Winebow Imports chairman and Italian wine expert LoCascio. $30 (plus tax & tip). Reservations required at 734-222-9841.

Coney Dog and Root Beer Float Night. 5-8 p.m. American Legion Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $1. For more information call 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, at the wine bar. Each Thursday evening, experts lead an exploration of wine, cheese and appetizers. This week’s topic: Pacific Northwest reds. 734-997-7500.

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