Culinary calendar

Inland Northwest Business Alliance Luncheon - Featuring Barrie Ryan, reporting on the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce National Leadership Conference held Thursday-Saturday. 11:30 a.m.-noon, social networking; noon, lunch; 12:30, speaker. Catacombs, 110 S. Monroe St. $18/at the door. (509) 455-3699.

Food Drive - Nonperishable boxed and canned donations accepted through next Wednesday. Benefits low income and homeless families. Logan Elementary School, 1001 E. Montgomery Ave. (509) 354-3434.

Gay Spokane Awards Dinner and In-Town/Out-of-Town Show - Sponsored by The Imperial Sovereign Court of Spokane. Awards dinner at 6:30 p.m., line-up at 7, show at 8. Friday. Dempsey’s Brass Rail, 909 W. First Ave. $12/dinner, $10/show, $20/both.

Grape and Grain 2008 - Spokane’s Premiere Wine and Beer Tasting event. Presented by the Spokane Advertising Federation, a nonprofit group that raises funds for advertising scholarships, fully supports and advises the Northwest District of Advertising College Students for the annual national competition, and sponsors a nationally recognized teenage drug awareness advertising contest T.A.S.C. in the Great Spokane area. Featuring more than 20 Northwest wineries and breweries, a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets may be purchased at Vino! A Wineshop, Huckleberry’s, and at www.spokaneadfed.com. Friday. 7-10 p.m., Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, 4000 W. Randolph Road. $30/advance, $40/door. (509) 325-0701.

Picks o’ the Month - Sample eight new wines, cheese and La Brea bread. Reservations and prepayment required. Friday. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $20, plus tax. (509) 343-2253.

Bosch Wishful Kneads Cooking Classes - “Century of Recipes” all-time favorites. Saturday. Noon, Wishful Kneads-Bosch Kitchen Center, 296 W. Sunset Ave., Suite 25. $5. (208) 676-1500.

Rhubarb Festival - Third annual event. Saturday. 900 W. Fourth, Newport. (509) 447-9277.

Gay Spokane Victory Brunch - Sponsored by The Imperial Sovereign Court of Spokane. Ages 21 and older only. Sunday. Noon, Dempsey’s Brass Rail, 909 W. First Ave. $13.

Taste of Washington - 100 Washington wineries and nearly 30 area restaurants. Sunday. 5-8:30 p.m., The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. $85. (509) 838-1229.

Bosch Wishful Kneads Cooking Classes - Panini sandwich and pasta recipes. Tuesday. 6 p.m., Wishful Kneads-Bosch Kitchen Center, 296 W. Sunset Ave., Suite 25. $5. (208) 676-1500.

Push for Youth Dinner - Dempsey’s Drag Divas will serve you lasagna, salad, a roll and dessert. Dempsey’s is sponsoring the event and will donate the food and the funds made from the dinner to Odyssey Youth Center. Tuesday. 6 p.m., Dempsey’s Brass Rail, 909 W. First Ave. $7.95. (509) 747-5362.

Saunders Staff Favorites - Joining the staff of Vino’s to pair our favorite cheese with their favorite wines. Prepay only; reservations may be made up to three days before the scheduled class. Tuesday. 6-8 p.m., Saunders Cheese Market, 210 S. Washington St. $45. (509) 455-9400.

Vanessa’s Promise Benefit Breakfast - All proceeds benefit the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. Hear from a family helped by the nursery and find out more about all that the nursery does for the community. Tuesday. 7:30-8:30 a.m., Red Lion Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. Free, donations accepted. (509) 535-3155.

10 Greats Under $10 - Fantastic red and white wines, with cheese and LaBrea bread. Reservations and payment in advance required. June 13. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. $20, plus tax. (509) 343-2253.

Mom and Pop Breakfast - All you can eat pancakes, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, coffee, and juice. Proceeds benefit GLBTQ youth scholarships. Sponsored by PFLAG Spokane. June 14. 9-11 a.m., Dempsey’s Brass Rail, 909 W. First Ave. $5.

Saturday Cookbook Club - Discuss favorite cookbooks, cooking techniques and cooking opinions. Discuss favorite grilling ideas for hot weather cooking. June 14. 2 p.m., Barnes & Noble Cafe, 15310 E. Indiana Ave. Free. (509) 922-4104.

Bosch Wishful Kneads Cooking Classes - Back to Basics food storage class. June 17. 6 p.m., Wishful Kneads-Bosch Kitchen Center, 296 W. Sunset Ave., Suite 25. $5. (208) 676-1500.

Bosch Wishful Kneads Cooking Classes - Basic 100-percent whole wheat bread. June 19. 1 p.m., Wishful Kneads-Bosch Kitchen Center, 296 W. Sunset Ave., Suite 25. $5. (208) 676-1500.

Endowment Dinner - The first annual event is presented by Spokane Civic Theatre, honoring long-time Civic supporters, Robert and Margot Ogden. Attendees will be served a meal on the Main Stage, catered by Europa Restaurant and Bakery. Following will be a preview showcase of the musical line-up for the 2008-09 Season, including numbers from upcoming musicals “Oklahoma!”, “A Christmas Carol,” “The Musical: No, No, Nanette,” “Godspell,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “Sweeney Todd.” Limited seating is available for those who wish to attend only the showcase, with dessert and one glass of champagne included. Dinner at 6:30 p.m., show at 8. June 20. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. $75/person for dinner and showcase, $20/person for showcase only. (509) 325-2507.