Culinary Calendar

Naked Lunches: Stripping the Pretense off Food - Related Issues - Presented by Spokane Community College faculty and staff and other area experts. Weekly sessions connecting academic disciplines with the passion for food; Today , Somewhere Between the Mediterranean and South Beach Diets; next Wednesday, Geology of Wine; Nov. 3, Let Them Eat Cake: Food and Revolution in History; Nov. 17, Talking Turkey: Food and Interpersonal Communication. Each lecture is held at 11:30 a.m., SCC Center for the Humanities, second floor of the Learning Resource Center, Building 16, 1810 N. Greene St. Free. 533-7382.

How Wines Age - Flavors, tannins and acids: how do they change over time, how long should you “hold” a red or white wine? Today, 6:30 p.m., Vino, 222 S. Washington St. 838-1229. $35/prepaid.

Eating in America: Cultural Identity and Food - Sponsored by Spokane Community College, experts share their insights about the power of food to affect individual and society as a whole; Thursday, 12:30 p.m., SCC Center for the Humanities, second floor of the Learning Resource Center, Building 16, 1810 N. Greene St. Free. 533-7382.

Winemaker’s Dinner - With award-winning winery Cougar Crest; Thursday, 7 p.m., Di Luna’s, 207 Cedar St., Sandpoint. Call (208) 263-0846 for details or reservations.

Wine Tasting Classes - Learn about the history, geology and explore the flavor differences influenced by many factors, taught by Dr. James Hoffman. Classes held Thursdays through Nov. 11, 5-7 p.m., St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. $50/class, proceeds benefit St. Luke’s. 473-6746.

The Dark Side of Red - Reservations requested; Friday, 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave., $20. 343-2253.

Fall Festival of Wines - Including a silent auction; Saturday, 7-9:30 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Resort, Coeur d’Alene, $40/advance, $50/door. 838-1247.

Vintners’ Dinner – The Davenport Hotel will hold its first “Vintners’ Dinner,” featuring executive chef Matthew Young, winemaker Frederique Spencer, of Sagelands Winery, and vineyard manager Michael Means, of Canoe Ridge Winery. The five-course meal is $65 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Seating is limited to 45, Sunday, 5:30 p.m., The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. For reservations call 789-6949 or e-mail wine@thedavenporthotel.com.

Apple Festival - Come up to Green Bluff and enjoy a large variety of apples, fresh-pressed cider, produce, live music, food, craft booths, antiques, farm mazes and animals. Saturday and Sunday, through Oct. 31. Green Bluff.

United Nations Day Celebration and Dinner - Featuring Sen. Lisa Brown as keynote speaker. Social at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., program begins at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, 4000 W. Randolph Road. $22/general, $10/students. 448-0762.

Spaghetti Dinner - Proceeds benefit Shriner’s Hospital Burn Center and Transportation Fund. Menu consists of spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread, dessert, coffee and lemonade. Oct. 28. 4:30-7 p.m., North Hill Masonic Lodge #210, Garland at Wall. $5/adults, $3/under age 12. 484-1486.

Will Work For Food: Careers in the Food Industry - Sponsored by Spokane Community College, experts share their insights about the power of food to affect individual and society as a whole; Oct. 28, 12:30 p.m., SCC Center for the Humanities, second floor of the Learning Resource Center, Building 16, 1810 N. Greene St. 533-7382.

Wine Tasting Symposium - Presented by Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation and the Spokane Winery Association to benefit the SCC Center for the Humanities. Wine Spectator columnist Matt Kramer will speak and lead a full-audience tasting of Spokane-made wines. Cost includes three wine flights, accompanied by wine-friendly appetizers; Oct. 28. 7-9 p.m., Spokane Community College, Lair Student Center, 1810 N. Greene St., $75. 434-5123.

Feast of the Arts - Four-course meals and wines presented by WSU School of Hospitality Business Management chef Gene Fritz and students. Visit with alumni vintners from across the state, WSU’s finest musicians and vocalists and see art exhibits from WSU’s Museum of Art. Early reservations are suggested. Oct. 29 and Nov. 19; 6 p.m., Washington State University, Todd Hall Dining Room 268, Pullman, $50/includes gratuity. 335-DINE.

Winefest 2004 – Twenty-first annual event with silent auction and two sessions to choose from for wine tasting, 5-7 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. Each guest will receive up to 10 one-ounce samples of wines, a catered buffet of hearty Italian hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Spokane’s Spaghetti Factory, commemorative wine glasses and entertainment by Rachel Bade. Proceeds benefit Sigma Iota for scholarships, educational opportunities and special student programs; Oct. 29, Gladish Community Center, Pullman, $25/session. 335-3581.

Washington Boutique Red - Reservations requested; Oct. 29, 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave., $35. 343-2253.

OctoBREWfest - Ninth Annual Microbrew Tasting and Auction to benefit the Inland Northwest Chapter of National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Oct. 30, 5:30 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, Havana at Broadway, $12/advance, $14/door. 482-2022.

Fox Theater Benefit - Fund-raiser to restore the performing arts center, with dinner and music performances including scenes from Phantom of the Opera. Costumes are optional; Oct. 31. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Steam Plant Grill, 159 S. Lincoln St., $50. 777-3900.

Vines of Dionysus - Tasting and vintage wine auction. Tasting from 7-8:30 p.m., auction from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 6. St. George’s School, Davenport House, 2929 W. Waikiki Road. $40.