Culinary calendar

Christmas Tree Elegance 2013 - The 31st annual fundraiser to benefit Spokane Symphony. View and purchase raffle tickets for 12 trees at the Davenport Hotel on the mezzanine through Dec. 15 and another six trees at River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave., on the second floor corridor. Tickets sales are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at both locations. Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Christmas Tree Elegance Fashion Show and Luncheon in the Grand Pennington Ballroom, emceed by KHQ’s Kjerstin Ramsing, $50/person. 3:30 p.m., Afternoon Tea/Fashion Show in the Grand Pennington Ballroom, $35/person. Friday, 11:30 a.m., Holiday Luncheon in the Grand Pennington Ballroom sponsored by the Davenport Hotel, $25/person. Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m., “An Evening with Eckart and Friends,” one-hour concert with Spokane Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor Eckart Preu and a quartet of SSO musicians in the Isabella Ballroom, $15. Dec. 14, 9:30 p.m., ticket drawings for hotel trees in lobby; winners notified that evening. Dec. 15, 4 p.m., ticket drawings for mall trees at River Park Square, winners notified that afternoon. Reservations are required. The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Raffle tickets are $1 each. (509) 458-8733.

Cooking Classes at the Cooking Engine – Today, 5:30 p.m., Authentic Mexican Cooking, $45; Sunday, 2 p.m., Prime Rib, $50; Monday, 5:30 p.m., Puff Pastry, $45; Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Be Your Own Barista, $15; Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m., Fish Tacos and Mexican Grilled Corn, $39. Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. (509) 328-3335.

Holiday Fundraiser - Benefits the Spokane Lion Pride Blind Baseball Team. Festivities include open mic, caroling, holiday trivia and a silent auction. Shakey’s will donate 25 percent of the menu price of any food purchase when mentioning the group. Today, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, 9602 N. Newport Highway. (509) 263-3281.

Tasteful Thursdays - Enjoy live music, seasonal offerings and samples. Thursday, Sticky Fingers Farm and Harvester Brewing; Dec. 12, Ninkasi Brewing Company and Whiskey Barrel Cider Company; Dec. 19, Sticky Fingers Farm and Clearwater Canyon Cellars. All tastings 5-7 p.m. Moscow Food Co-Op, 121 E. Fifth St., Moscow. Free. (208) 882-8537.

Author Paula Marie Coomer - Sample dessert recipes from her new cookbook, “Blue Moon Vegetarian,” as part of Moscow First Thursday. Come meet the author, listen to live holiday music from the Palouse Choral Society and enjoy a dessert and warm beverage. Thursday, 5-8 p.m., BookPeople, 521 S. Main St., Moscow. (208) 882-2669.

Walla Walla Holiday Barrel Tasting – Friday-Sunday. Winemakers and cellar staff provide samples of future releases straight from the barrel. Visit www.wallawallawine.com or call (509) 526-3117 for more information.

Peace on Earth: A Christmas Luncheon - Menu items include a mixed salad, glazed ham, scalloped potatoes and organic green beans accompanied by bread and butter. For dessert, Royal Plaza will provide Christmas cupcakes, served by employees of the Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Entertainment includes the Bell Choir from Palisades Christian Academy and pianist Kirk Smich, from Gonzaga University. Santa will also make an appearance, and you may get your picture taken with him. Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Corbin Senior Center, 827 W. Cleveland Ave. $15/advance; $18/door. (509) 327-1584.

Dickens of a Dinner – Friday-Dec. 14. A four-course dinner accompanied by a performance of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.” Don’t miss the new, expanded, dramatization of this beloved story. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 6 p.m. Lion’s Share, 1627 N. Atlantic St. $45. (509) 327-1113.

Wine and Cheese at the Market - Tastings include: Friday, Global Bubbly, $20; Dec. 13-14, Small Vineyards Spain, $20; Dec. 20-21, Red Blends, $20; Dec. 27-28, Top 100 Wines of 2013, $29. All events at 7 p.m. Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. (509) 343-2253.

Buck for Kids Day – All Dutch Bros. Coffee locations will donate drink proceeds to local youth programs on Friday. For more information, visit www.dutchbros.com/news/ 2013-buck-for-kids.

Annual Cheese Extravaganza – Saturday; Sample cheese from around the world and get recipe suggestions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Huckleberry’s Natural Market, 926 S. Monroe St. (509) 624-1349

Flapjack Breakfast Fundraiser for ICARE - Support ICARE, a child abuse prevention program. Also during event will be an Ugliest Holiday Sweater contest, bring your family for a $5 Awkward Family Photo, homemade gifts for sale and drawings. Purchase tickets at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift stores in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls. Saturday, 8-10 a.m., Applebee’s, 280 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d’Alene. $10/adults; $7/age 10 and younger. (208) 676-1515.

Breakfast with Santa – Enjoy pancakes, games, crafts and activities for the entire family. Have your picture taken with Santa. Hosted by Spokane Valley Rotary Club. Proceeds benefit Rotary College Scholarships, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and other Rotary service projects. Registration is encouraged. Saturday, 8:30-11 a.m., CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. $5/person. (509) 688-0300.

Mobius Kids Santa Breakfast Fundraiser - The 10th annual event featuring breakfast, festive activities and a visit with Santa. Purchase tickets at Mobius Kids Children’s Museum or by calling (509) 321-7121. Saturday, 8:30-10:30 a.m., the Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, 10 S. Post St. $25/per person; free/age 12 months and younger.

Winter Market - Indoor market featuring local foods, crafts and music. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Jacklin Building, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. Free admission. (208) 765-4969.

47th Annual Crab Feed and Auction - Benefiting local children’s organizations including Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, Support Care and Networking and the Children’s Home Society of Washington. Purchase tickets online at www.dsxc.org. Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. $65. (509) 340-0477.

Liberty Lake Holiday Ball - Evening features a champagne reception, three-course dinner, auctions and live music with dancing. The event is the sole fundraiser for Friends of Pavillion Park. Saturday, 5 p.m., The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. $75/person. (509) 475-5674.

Shalena’s Breakfast with Santa - All-you-can-eat sausage and eggs, pancake, biscuits and gravy, with orange juice and coffee. Annual event hosted by the Hauser Lake Fire Department with proceeds benefitting a child diagnosed with a serious illness. This year’s recipient is 1-year-old Brodie, of Post Falls, who has neuroblastoma. Sunday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Hauser Lake Fire Station, 10728 N. Hauser Lake Road, Hauser, Idaho. $3/person; or $10/family. (208) 659-4922.

Holiday Appetizers - Joanie’s Magic Spoon will present a cooking class on appetizers for the holidays and all year round. To register, call (509) 624-6564 or email joaniesmagicspoon@gmail.com. Dec. 11, 6 p.m., Joanie’s Magic Spoon, 10307 N. Prairie Drive. $45.

Cooking With Love: Beyond Eggnog - Two Cooks With Love will present a cooking and mixology class on Christmas recipes from around the world. Dec. 11, 6-8:30 p.m., 11712 E. Boone Ave. $35/person; $60/couple. (509) 891-5980.

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build-Off - Ninth annual gingerbread house build-off from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Hall of Doges. Culinary teams decorate enormous gingerbread structures in three hours as the public watches. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Grand Pennington Ballroom, children can make their own mini-gingerbread house for $7, with proceeds benefiting Christ Kitchen. No reservations required. Dec. 15, Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Viewing is free. (509) 325-4343.

Community Potluck - Held the third Sunday of each month for delicious food and time to connect with others. Potlucks always feature a guest speaker on topics such as nutrition, animal rights or cooking. Dec. 15, 5 p.m., Community Building, 35 W. Main Ave. Free; donations welcome. (509) 607-0409.

Bread Making - Joanie’s Magic Spoon presents a class on varieties of yeast bread and holiday bread stuffed with candied fruits and nuts. Call (509) 624-6564 or email joaniesmagicspoon@gmail.com to register. Dec. 17, 6 p.m., Joanie’s Magic Spoon, 10307 N. Prairie Drive. $45.