Culinary calendar
Benefit Dinner and Auction - With live and silent auctions to benefit the family of injured Coeur d’Alene police officer Michael Kralicek. Tickets available at Coeur d’Alene fire stations and police station, Wells Fargo Bank on Appleway, Kootenai Fire Administration Building. on Seltice Way, Northern Lake Fire Station in Hayden; today, 6 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Inn, 415 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d’Alene, $20. (208) 664-4663.
Intro to Wine Tasting - Taste and learn about seven basic wine styles, discussing what professional tasters are looking for and why they swish and swirl; Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Vino, 222 S. Washington St., $35/prepaid. 838-1229.
Festival of Foodies - Fourth annual event featuring samples from area restaurants, bakeries, bistros, wineries, microbreweries, and specialty gourmet shops. Also, includes exhibitors showcasing culinary tools and gifts, appliances, art and travel destinations. Tickets available at Vino! A Wine Shop, Hallett’s Chocolate Factory, Everyday Gourmet and University Appliance; Saturday, 2-8 p.m., Spokane Community College, Lair Building, 1810 N. Greene St. $10/advance, $15/door.
Coffee Tasting - On Sacred Grounds: Coffee, Tea, and Specialty Shoppe is hosting a coffee tasting class. The 45-minute class will discuss how brewing affects coffee flavor; Saturday, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations required and seating is limited. A $1 donation is requested. Call 230-7648.
Lutefisk Dinner - Lutefisk, with white sauce and butter, meatballs with gravy, boiled potatoes, vegetables, coleslaw, and for dessert tapioca pudding with whipped cream and krumkake; Sunday, noon-3 p.m., Sons of Norway Lodge, 6710 N. Country Homes Blvd., $15. 326-9211.
Seventh Annual mARTi Gras Party and Cajun Cook-off - Proceeds of the event benefit Art on the Edge, an organization operated through St. Vincent de Paul that offers free art classes to area at-risk youth. Guests will enjoy all the traditional festivities of Mardi Gras, from beads to king cake to live jazz music. The event includes a no-host bar and performances by the Sisters of Selket Bellydancers. Tickets available at St. Vincent de Paul, Brix Restaurant, Capone’s, Coeur d’Alene Cellars Winery or Enoteca in Post Falls; Feb. 5. 6:30 p.m.-midnight, Brix Restaurant, 317 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene, $30. 773-1725.
Big-Time Red Wine Styles - Taste the dominant red grape varietals cabernet, merlot, pinot noir and others; Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m., Vino, 222 S. Washington St., $40/prepaid. 838-1229.
Black Tie and Blue Jean Benefit Dinner and Auction - Changing Our Lives Together will host its third annual dinner and auction to benefit an effective prevention program that heads off youth substance abuse and gang violence with the use and reward of an equine experience; Feb. 26., 5 p.m.-midnight, Red Lion Hotel at the Park, $28/person, $200/table of 8. 926-2276.
Send news about upcoming food or wine-related events at least two weeks in advance to: Culinary Calendar, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, WA 99201 or send an e-mail to marybethd@spokesman.com.