Culinary calendar

Girl Scouts Cookie Sale - Booth and direct sales through 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.

Vermonster Eating Contest - Benefits Wishing Star of Spokane. Sixteen teams of four high school or college students are being invited to 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 continues today for “Elite 8” at 6 p.m.; and Thursday for “Final 4” at 6 p.m. Championship round is Saturday at noon. Each member of the winning team will receive ice cream for a year. Ben and Jerry’s, River Park Square. Entry per team is a minimum $100, top 16 fundraising teams earn right to compete. (509) 455-8500.

Chocolate Festival and Auction Fundraiser – “Reigning Cats and Dogs” event to benefit Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service programs at the shelter and the Animal Medical Fund. Friday. 6:30-9:30 p.m., CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point, 2426 N. Discovery Place. $15. (509) 477-2752.

Easy and Elegant Desserts for Seniors - Easy dessert that can be prepared at home. Classes held Mondays and Fridays through 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. Reservations required. Friday. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $1.50/slice. (509) 926-2328.

Taste of Life - To benefit Hospice of Spokane. Features beverages from Spokane area wineries and breweries, along with unique culinary fare. Friday. 5:30-8:30 p.m., The Spokane Athletic Club, 1002 W. Riverside Ave. $75, tickets available at Vino! A Wine Shop. (509) 456-0438.

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

Ahana Eighth Anniversary Gala – “Celebrating Success” dinner and dance with guest speaker Gen. Neal Sealock, Spokane International Airport Executive Director. Entree choices are prime rib, chicken marsala, or vegetarian. Saturday. 5:30 p.m., Northern Quest Casino Pavilion, 100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights. $40. (509) 838-1881.

Interplayers Annual Dinner and Auction - To benefit the theatre. Saturday. 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 Sunday. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars 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.

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

Palm Sunday Breakfast - For all ages. Sunday. 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.

Sausage Feed - 22nd annual event by St. John’s Lutheran Church of Sprague. Menu includes smoked sausage, mashed potatoes, vegetable, sauerkraut, applesauce and dessert. Sponsored by Thrivent. Sunday. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sprague Community Hall, Third and C Street, Sprague, Wash. $9/adults, $4/ages 6-12, free/age five and younger. (509) 257-2806.

Spring Market - Downtown Spokane - Held Thursdays, April 5-May 3. Fresh baked goods, flowers, pasta, wooden treasures, fresh eggs and more farm fresh goods. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Community Building lobby, 35 W. Main Ave. (509) 232-1950.

Chicken Fried Steak - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. April 6. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. Reservations required. $6.50. (509) 926-2328.

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. Free admission, $5/men’s game dinner at 5 p.m. (208) 691-5587.

Crazy Cooking - For girls age 14 to 18, learn great Italian recipes. April 11. 3:30-5:30 p.m., Girl Scout Program Center, 1404 N. Ash St. $10. (509) 747-8091.

Healing Foods Kitchen Cooking Class - Cooking classes designed for cancer survivors and their family and friends. This month’s topic is “Great Whole Grains.” April 12. 5:30-7 p.m., Holy Family Hospital, 5633 N. Lidgerwood St., Education Center 1. Free. Registration required. (509) 474-5490.

Sushi Classes - Advanced class, April 12. 6 p.m., Japanese Cultural Center, 4000 W. Randolph Road. $20. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. (509) 328-2971.

Spaghetti Dinner - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Reservations required. April 13. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $5. (509) 926-2328.

The Golden Years of Hollywood - Annual charity auction and dinner buffet. Sponsored by Children’s Village Foundation Inc. Doors open at 5 p.m. All proceeds to benefit the youth residing at Children’s Village. April 13. 6 p.m., The Coeur d’Alene Inn, 414 W. Appleway, Coeur d’Alene. $47/person, $90/couple, $400/table of eight. (208) 667-1189.

Youth Cooking Class - Baked ziti pasta. For ages 9-13. Registration required. April 13. 6-8:30 p.m., Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave. $19. (509) 625-6200.

“Through the Grapevine: An Illustrated Guide to Wine Grapes” - A lighthearted, well-informed look at choosing and enjoying wine with Candace Ann Frasher. April 14. 2-3:30 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore cafe, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206.

Coffee Class - Seed to Cup - Explore the world of specialty coffee with Dave Rier, roast master and Green Coffee buyer for Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters. Learn where your cup of coffee comes from, the art of coffee roasting and various brewing methods. Sponsored by Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. April 14. 10 a.m.-noon. $19, includes 1 pound bag of coffee. (509) 625-6200.

Elks Inaugural Ball - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Semiformal attire, chicken cordon bleu dinner and dancing. April 14. 7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $15. Reservations required. (509) 926-2328.

Fashion in Bloom - Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest’s 23rd annual fashion show, luncheon and sale. The sale will be held in the Hall of Doges immediately following the show. Proceeds benefit Goodwill programs. April 14. 11:30 a.m., Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, 10 S. Post St. $40, lunch included, $370/table of 10, $50/Diva ticket holders receive seating next to the runway and a preview of the sale at 11 a.m. (509) 444-4382, reservations required.

Whitworth College Hawaiian Club Lu’au - 37th annual event. This year’s theme is “Changes in Music.” Presented by the Whitworth College Hawaiian Club, Na Pu’uwai o Hawai’i (The Heart of Hawai’i), with Polynesian food and culture with the Spokane community. Menu includes kalua pork (roasted pig), chicken long rice, poi, macaroni salad and pineapple. 11 dances will be featured, including hula. April 14, doors open and dinner begins at 5 p.m.; entertainment begins at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Hixson Union Building, Sundays-Thursdays, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Whitworth College Fieldhouse, 300 W. Hawthorne Road. $15/general, free/ages 5 and younger. (509) 777-3796.

Welcome Spring Picnic - Fundraiser for the Spokane Valley Museum. Raffles and silent auction. Music provided by the Valley Fiddlers Group. April 19. 6-8 p.m., Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Road, Spokane Valley. $7/adults, $6/seniors, $5/age 12 and younger. (509) 922-4570.

Pizza Night at the Elks - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Reservations required. April 20. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $1.50/slice. (509) 926-2328.

Festival of Wine and Flowers - Rare tasting of utra-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. (509) 789-4969.