Zen Chef Offers Meatless Gems

Edward Espe Brown, a pioneer in the California vegetarian movement, will make a series of Spokane appearances at the end of this month.

Brown, who was head cook at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and manager at Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, wrote “The Tassajara Bread Book” and co-authored “The Greens Cookbook.”

He’ll read from his latest book, “Tomato Blessings and Radish Teachings,” which explores a meditative, spiritual approach to everyday cooking, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main.

A vegetarian cooking class and dinner is scheduled March 29 at 2 p.m. at the Tum Tum Retreat Center. Cost is $60; preregistration is required, and space is limited.

Brown, a Zen priest, also will give a Zen lecture the evening of March 27 and a day-long meditation workshop March 28. For information, call Daya Goldschlag at 328-6215.

Silver-medal menu

If you’ve been reading about that team of young Spokane and Coeur d’Alene cooks who won a silver medal in a recent regional competition in California, you may have wondered what their creations taste like.

This week, Beverly’s in The Coeur d’Alene Resort, where two team members work, is offering the four-course competition menu as a dinner special: Palouse Lentil and Wild Mushroom Napoleon With Red Onion Confit; Mesclun Greens With Dijon Vinaigrette, Herbed Salt Cracker and Marinated Tomatoes; Braised Veal Shank With Chateau Potatoes and Root Vegetables, and Huckleberry Stone Cream With Hazelnut Crisp, Apple Anglaise, Poached Apples and Huckleberry Merlot Sauce.

Cost is $35, with $10 going to support the team.

Hungry for knowledge

The cooks weren’t the only team of young adults representing Spokane at the California competition.

A group of Spokane Community College culinary students placed third in a “Jeopardy”-style Knowledge Bowl contest that covered the culinary arts, sanitation, nutrition and management topics.

Team members included captain Robert Kelly Soth, April Nieding, Dawn Kleis, Aaron McEachran and Stephanie Arnst.

Multicultural menu

Whitworth College’s International Club will present its annual International Banquet on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Spokane school’s Campus Center.

Cost is $10 for adults, $7 for students with I.D. and free for children 7 and under. Tickets must be purchased in advance; for information, call 777-4571.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing