Culinary calendar

Healing Foods Kitchen Cooking Class - Cooking classes for cancer survivors and their family and friends. This month’s topic is “Taste of Tofu.” Thursday. 5:30-7 p.m., Holy Family Hospital, 5633 N. Lidgerwood St., Education Center 1. Free. Call to register. (509) 474-5490.

Intro to Wine Tasting - Class presented by Vino. Thursday. 6:30 p.m., 222 S. Washington St. $35. (509) 838-1229.

Spokane Valley Newcomers Club - The women’s social group hosts its monthly luncheon. Thursday. 11:30 a.m., Conley’s Restaurant, 12618 E. Sprague. (509) 928-1047.

Que Syrah, Shiraz, Petite Sirah - Sample eight wines, cheese and La Brea bread. Friday. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $22. Reservations and prepayment required. (509) 343-2253.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration - Designed for adults age 50 and older. Irish lunch of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and Shamrock milkshakes, with Irish music. Friday. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., East Central Senior Center, 500 S. Stone St. $3/suggested donation. (509) 625-6693, reservations required.

Taste Spokane Wine with a Bling - Treat yourself to a sample buffet of Spokane’s most acclaimed restaurants, wineries, elite chocolatiers, desserts, coffee, and spa treatments. Benefiting Wishing Star, the evening will be filled with live music from Night Cap Jazz Band, great food and nine Spokane area wineries, along with pampering spa services. Friday. 5-9 p.m., Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights. $5 admission. Sampling tasting tickets will be sold for $2. Pampering tickets are only $10 for the first three spa treatments and $5 for additional tickets. (509) 744-3411.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner - Welcoming St. Patrick’s Day. Saturday. 5-7 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 51, 300 W. Mission Ave. $5.50. (509) 327-9847, reservations required.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Dancing to Rain Shadow. Reservations required. Saturday. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $8. (509) 926-2328.

Ferry County Co-op Banquet and Auction - Italian dinner with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and dessert included. Silent and live auctions along with live music. Saturday. 5 p.m., Ferry County Fairgrounds, Carousel Building, Republic, Wash. $12/adults, $7/children. (509) 775-3754.

Save The Day - The American Red Cross in Spokane is celebrating 93 years of service. The event showcases the multiple facets of the local Red Cross and its impact on our local community as well as surrounding areas. A full breakfast will be served, and keynote speaker Neal Sealock, director of Spokane International Airport, will share his own experiences with the Red Cross. March 21. 7:30-9 a.m., Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, 10 S. Post St. $93. (509) 326-3330 for reservations.

Child Abuse Prevention Box Lunch Day - Presented by Spokane Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Center and Children’s Home Society. Invite staff and co-workers to enjoy lunch and help children strive in the community. Minimum order of five lunches per location. Two lunch choices: Turkey Pesto Sandwich with sliced turkey and Genoa salami with sun-dried tomato pesto and cream cheese on a focaccia roll; or Gourmet Vegetable Wrap with hummas, roasted peppers, eggplant, grape leaf and lemon rice-filled tortilla. Both lunches include pasta salad, fruit, cookie and bottled water. Box lunches catered by the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy at Spokane Community College. Orders and full payment must be received by today. Lunches delivered by noon on March 22. $12 each. Download order form at www.childrenshomesociety.org. (509) 747-4174.

A Tour of Spain - Sample eight wines, cheese and La Brea bread. March 23. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $20. Reservations and prepayment required. (509) 343-2253.

Fish Fry - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. March 23. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $6.50. Reservations required. (509) 926-2328.

Girl Scouts Cookie Sale - Booth and direct sales March 23-April 15. Varieties include: All Abouts, Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Cafe Cookie, Do-Si-Do’s, Trefoils, Samoas and new sugar-free Little Brownies. $4. (509) 747-8091, ext. 228.

Italian Dinner and Auction - Sponsored by Hillyard Senior Center. Dinner seatings at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Entertainment provided by director Jerry Unruh. March 23. Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St. $10/adults, $5/ages 7-12, free/ages 6 and younger. (509) 482-0803, reservations required.

Farm Day at the Moscow Food Co-op - Taste free samples, enjoy live music by local bluegrass band Forgotten Freight, free children’s activities and door prizes. March 24. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 121 E. Fifth St., Moscow. Free. (208) 882-8537.

Vermonster Eating Contest - Benefits Wishing Star of Spokane. Sixteen teams of four high school or college students will compete by eating 20 scoops of ice cream, four bananas, four ladles of hot fudge, three chocolate chip cookies, one fudge brownie, 10 scoops of nuts, two scoops of toppings and tons of whip cream. The event takes place March 27 for “Sweet 16” at 6 p.m.; March 28 for “Elite 8” at 6 p.m.; and March 29 for “Final 4” at 6 p.m. Championship round is March 31 at noon. Each member of the winning team will receive ice cream for a year. Ben and Jerry’s, River Park Square. (509) 455-8500.

Chocolate Festival and Auction Fundraiser - “Reigning Cats and Dogs” event to benefit Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) programs at the shelter and the Animal Medical Fund. March 30. 6:30-9:30 p.m., CenterPlace Mirabeau Point. $15. (509) 477-2752.

Easy and Elegant Desserts for Seniors - Easy dessert that can be prepared at home. Classes held Mondays and Fridays, March 30-April 20. Noon-2 p.m., North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene. $20. Registration required. (208) 769-3320.

Pizza Night at the Elks - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. March 30. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $1.50/slice. Reservations required. (509) 926-2328.

Taste of LIfe – To Benefit Hospice of Spokane. Features beverages from Spokane area wineries and breweries, along with unique culinary fare. March 30. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Spokane Club. $75. Tickets available at Vino or at www.hospiceofspokane.org/taste. (509) 456-0438.

The Great American Cabernet Challenge - Blind! - Sample eight wines, cheese and La Brea bread. March 30. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $25. Reservations and prepayment required. (509) 343-2253.

Interplayers Annual Dinner and Auction - To benefit the theatre. March 31. 5-9:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive. $50. (509) 495-2436.

April Fool’s Breakfast - All-you-can-eat breakfast of pancakes or French toast. Served with your choice of bacon/sausage and scrambled eggs (not all you can eat). Sponsored by Edgecliff SCOPE. April 1. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., VFW Post #1435, 212 S. David Road. Advance: $4/general, $3/children younger than age 12; at the door $1 more for general admission. (509) 535-9315.

Palm Sunday Breakfast - For all ages. April 1. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Mary Queen Parish, 3423 E. Carlisle Ave., near Freya. $6/adults, $4/ages 6-12, free/age five and younger. (509) 483-4384.

Wild Game Feed - Sponsored by North Star Church. Wildlife education and exhibits, free games and door prizes. April 7. Noon-4 p.m., Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Building 3, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. $5/dinner. (208) 691-5587.

Festival of Wine and Flowers - Rare tasting of ultra-premium Washington wines benefiting St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. Enjoy fabulous cuisine and desserts prepared by award-winning chef Ian Wingate of Moxie. Bid on both live and silent auction lots of allocated wines, unique experiences and more. April 21. 6-10 p.m., St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, 711 S. Cowley St. $125/person. (509) 789-4969.

Spaghetti Feed, Silent Auction and Bake Sale - Benefits the Austan Pierce family. Austan is a student at Adams Elementary School in the Valley who has battled Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare childhood soft tissue/bone and its effects. May 3. 5:30-7 p.m., Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Road. $5/person, $20/family. (509) 228-4000.