Culinary Calendar

How to Start a Wine Collection at Home - Class presented by Vino. Thursday. 6:30 p.m., 222 S. Washington St. $40. (509) 838-1229.

Champagne at Rocket Market - Sample eight champagnes from France and receive a Riedel Vinum Series champagne flute. Friday. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $55. Reservations and prepayment required. (509) 343-2253.

Fish Fry - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Friday. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $6.50. Reservations required. (509) 926-2328.

Sixth Annual Festival of Foodies - Savor signature dishes from area restaurants. Taste wines, champagnes, microbrews and spirits. Visit a variety of retailers who specialize in culinary products. Enjoy live music, and watch and learn how chefs create their culinary masterpieces. Tickets available at Vino! A Wine Shop, 222 S. Washington St., Hallett’s Chocolate Factory, 1419 E. Holyoke Ave., and University Appliance locations, 9907 E. Sprague Ave., 3916 N. Division St. and 6960 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. Saturday. 2-6 p.m., Spokane Community College, Lair Building, 1810 N. Greene St. $15/door, $10/advance, includes two adult beverage coupons, additional coupons can be purchased for $1 each through the Spokane Restaurant Association. (509) 242-2668.

Robert Burns Supper and Social Dance - An evening celebrating the birth of Scotland’s most favored son and an evening of haggis, whiskey, dinner and dancing, presented by The Scottish St. Andrew’s Society of Spokane. Saturday. 6 p.m., Mukogawa Fort Wright Commons, 4000 W. Randolph Road. $35. Reservations required. (509) 535-4079.

Wild Game Feast - Eighth annual event presented by the North Idaho College Alumni Association. Five-course meal of wild game delicacies. The menu consists of a Northwest cheese and fruit display, braised elk and jalapeño sausage in sweet Guinness and honey and caribou meatballs in a spicy garlic tomato coulis for starters. A buffalo oxtail soup with Idaho lentils and a mixed winter greens salad with granny smith apples, candied walnuts, bleu cheese crumbles, sweet craisins and a poppy seed vinaigrette will be served. The main course features pan-seared, bacon-wrapped quail breast paired with Jack Daniel’s peppercorn kangaroo medallion, served with pesto mashed potatoes and vegetable garni. The final course is a dessert of espresso chocolate flourless cake with chocolate ganache and raspberry coulee. There will be a silent auction and classical guitar music provided by NIC alums Andy Booth and Mike Volk. Proceeds of the event benefit the NIC Alumni Association and student scholarships. Saturday. 6 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Inn, 414 W. Appleway, Coeur d’Alene. $55. (208) 769-5978.

South African Dinner - A six-course dinner with South African food and five wines. Seating is limited. Monday. 6 p.m., Di Luna’s Cafe, 207 Cedar St., Sandpoint. $50/all inclusive. (208) 263-0846.

Spaghetti Feed and Silent Auction - Benefits band, choir and orchestra to help pay for trips, music, uniforms and more. Tuesday. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Salk Middle School cafeteria, 6411 N. Alberta St. $5/general, $4/ages 5-12, free/age four and younger. (509) 354-5600.

Food for Fines in Whitman County - Library users can exchange nonperishable food items for up to $10 in outstanding library fines. All food will be distributed to the food bank in the community where it is collected from Feb. 1-28. Nonperishable food items may be donated to library branches in Albion, Colfax, Colton, Endicott, Farmington, Garfield, LaCrosse, Oakesdale, Palouse, Rosalia, St. John, Tekoa and Uniontown. (509) 397-4366.

Fruit of the Vine Wine Tasting - Proceeds benefit St. Mary’s Catholic School. Feb. 2. 7-10 p.m., Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, 10 S. Post Street. $50/person, purchase in advance through the school. Tickets also available at the door. (509) 226-2120.

Navy Beans and Ham Hocks Dinner - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Feb. 2. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $6.50. (509) 926-2328.

Cross Country Ski or Snowshoe and Dinner in the Moonlight - For ages 18 and older. Sponsored by Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. Feb. 3. 6-9 p.m., Mt. Spokane. $27, with own equipment, $34, includes rental equipment. (509) 625-6246.

Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Cooking - Class sponsored by City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. Feb. 3. 6-8 p.m., Tullia’s Sauce House, 1407 W. Mansfield Ave. $21, pre-registration is required. (509) 625-6200.

Valentine’s Dinner at the VFW - Hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 51. 5-7 p.m., dinner; 6-10, country music by Mavericks. Feb. 3. 300 W. Mission Ave. (509) 327-9847.

Elks Breakfast - Have breakfast with the officers. Feb. 4. 9-11 a.m., Elks Lodge, 2605 N. Robie Road. $5. (509) 926-2328.

Oshogatsu New Year’s Celebration - Features a light Japanese New Year’s lunch. Reservations required. Feb. 5. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Japanese Cultural Center, Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, 4000 W. Randolph Road. Free. (509) 328-2971.

Big Red Wines of the World - Tasting - Class presented by Vino. Feb. 8. 6:30 p.m., 222 S. Washington St. $55. (509) 838-1229.

Chili Dinner - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Piano bar for dancing. Feb. 9. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $5. (509) 926-2328.

Dinner in Tuscany - Six-course dinner paired with five wines. Feb. 10. Di Luna’s Cafe, 207 Cedar St., Sandpoint. $65. (208) 263-0846.

VFW Dinner - Hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 51. 5-7 p.m., dinner; 6-10, country music by Mavericks. Feb. 10. 300 W. Mission Ave. (509) 327-9847.

Valentine’s Eve Wine Dinner - Sparkling and other lovely wines matched with each course, plus brief wine commentary and an elegant menu. Feb. 13. 5:30 p.m., Spokane Club, 1002 W. Riverside Ave. $70, all inclusive. (509) 838-1229.

Chinese Dinner - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Feb. 16. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $7. (509) 926-2328.

Winter Wine Dinner - Presented by the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a four-course meal featuring cuisine from Italy. Fine Italian wines from Tuscany and Piedmont will be selected by a panel of experts. Educational commentary will be provided by John Allen, proprietor of Vino! A Wine Shop; Charlie Martin, INCA Instructor; and a special guest expert. Prepayment is required; tickets will be mailed to participants. Feb. 16. 6:30 p.m., Spokane Community College, Inland Northwest Culinary Academy, 1810 N. Greene St. $70. (509) 533-7283.

“Mostly Merlot” Winemaker’s Dinner – 12th annual benefit for Spokane’s Cancer Patient Care. Epicurean experience pairing a gourmet five-course meal with the finest wines of Washington. Feb. 17. 5:30 p.m., Spokane Club, 1002 W. Riverside Ave. $150. (509) 456-0446.

Art on the Edge mARTi gras Benefit and Cuisine Cajun Cook-off - To benefit Art on the Edge Children’s Program. Taste Cajun cuisine delights prepared by professional chefs at Cricket’s, Iron Horse, Coeur d’Alene Cellars Barrel Room No. 6 and Brix Restaurant. Feb. 17. 6 p.m.-midnight, Brix Restaurant, Cricket’s Steakhouse and Oyster Bar, Barrel Room No. 6, Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza and Iron Horse restaurants, Coeur d’Alene. $45 in advance, $50 at the door. (208) 773-1725.