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‘Flavors’ finalists square off

Fresh sheet Lorie Hutson

Check out the Inland Northwest’s best appetizers this Saturday at the first cook-off in the Flavors of the Inland Northwest Recipe Contest.

Finalists in the Flavors of the Inland Northwest Super Bowl Appetizers with Cheese category will whip up their recipes for an audience and judges at noon at Everyday Gourmet, 2829 E. 29th Ave. It is sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Washington. The amateur cooks will compete against the winner of last year’s nacho recipe contest Jamie Severson. The winner of Saturday’s cook-off will receive a $500 gift certificate to Everyday Gourmet.

The appetizer category winner also will demonstrate his or her recipe at the Spokesman-Review’s Cooking Expo on Feb. 25 at the Spokane Convention Center. We’ll also host cook-offs in the entrees and desserts categories. The winner of the sides/salads category will demonstrate their dish during the show.

The four winning recipes will become the Ultimate Inland Northwest Menu. We’ll have professional chefs demonstrate the menu at the Cooking Expo on Feb. 26.

You can find coupons for $2 off admission for the Cooking Expo at all Rosauers locations and Everyday Gourmet. Tickets are available at the door for $7.

Cooking classes

Did you resolve to learn some new kitchen tricks in 2005?

There is still time to sign up for an array of continuing education classes offered by the Institute for Extended Learning.

If you’re cooking alone for the first time or simply sick of eating leftovers for weeks on end, consider the class “Cooking for Singles.” The class focuses on pasta on Feb. 2, and the March 8 class will walk you though favorite beef dinners for one.

You could also learn about simple homemade desserts, East Indian or Mexican cooking, the secrets of delicious casseroles, jerky making, or learn from the finest local chefs in the Best Chef series, featuring chef Don Rey from the Red Lion Hotel Inn at the Park.

Enrollment in all of the food and cooking classes closes three days before the class starts.

For more information, call 279-6000. A course schedule is available online at http://ielhp.spokane.cc.wa.us/.

Festival of Foodies

Satisfy your inner foodie with an afternoon of gourmet foods and samples from area restaurants, bakeries, bistros and wineries.

Tickets for the Fourth Annual Festival of Foodies are on sale now. For just $10 you can graze your way through an afternoon of the best offerings from our area. (If you wait to buy tickets at the door they are $15.) Admission includes an array of samples that will test all of your new year’s resolutions. It also includes two beverage coupons.

Exhibitors also will showcase culinary tools and gifts, appliances and cutlery, and even culinary travel destinations and artwork.

Spokane Community College will host the annual extravaganza at the Lair Building on Jan. 29 from 2 to 8 p.m.

Tickets are available at Vino! A Wine Shop, 222 S. Washington St.; Hallett’s Chocolate Factory 1419 E. Holyoke; Everyday Gourmet, 2829 E. 29th Ave.; University Appliance, 9907 E. Sprague Ave.; and 6960 Government Way in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.