This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Highlights
Saturday, February 18
Get a jump on Mardi Gras and warm-up for summer festival season with a fundraiser feast in support of Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 5:30-10:30 p.m., $20. Please call 257-4576 to RSVP and for more info.
Mount Horeb hits the sweet spot with Death by Chocolate Bake Off. This seventh annual fundraiser for the Mount Horeb Public Library, 105 Perimeter St., 6:30 p.m., free. See Facebook and call 608-437-5021 for more info.
In these days of the craft cocktail, the products of American distilleries are in high demand. Learn and taste at Distill America: A Celebration of American Distilling. This fourth annual , and will serve to benefit the Edgewater Hotel, 666 Wisconsin Ave., 5-9 p.m., $55 general admission and $65 VIP admission. See Mad City Mardi Gras is a kid-friendly Fat Tuesday celebration that also benefits the opens with a variety of children's activities over the midday, with evening offering more good times for adults with live jazz, a silent auction, and more Mardi Gras festivities. Liliana's Restaurant, 2951 Triverton Pk., Fitchburg, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Call 442-4444 for more info.
More events this week
Tuesday, February 14
Valentine's Day Bake Sale, a benefit in support of UNIDOS, 128 E. Olin Ave., Ste. 201, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 256-9195 for more info.
Faith-Labor Breakfast, the 12th annual celebration hosted by First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave., 8-10 a.m., $25. Call 256-5111 for more info.
Green Tuesdays, an educational series organized by Fresh, a 2009 documentary by Ana Sofia Joanes that "celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system." Monona Library, 1000 Nichols Rd., Monona, 6:30 p.m., free. Call 663-2459 for more info.
Valentine's Day dinner, with special menus and items at various restaurants in and around the city. See the Madison restaurants listing for more info.
Wednesday, February 15
Rooftop Seedlings, a weekly session for kids to explore gardening, composting, and cooking. Madison Children's Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., 3:30 p.m., free with $8 admission. Call 256-6445 for more info.
Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 4:30-6 p.m., $10. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Kombucha I class, with instructors Vanessa Tortolano and Alla Shapiro demonstrating the basics of preparing the lacto-fermented soft drink, complete with a homebrewing kit with a SCOBY, sugar, tea, jar and cover. Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 6-7 p.m., $30 owners and $40 all others. Call 251-6776 for more info.
Kombucha II class, with instructors Vanessa Tortolano and Alla Shapiro discussing intermediate techniques in preparing the lacto-fermented soft drink, including continuous brewing, vinegar, infusions, and other uses of the SCOBY. Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 7:15-8:15 p.m., $10 owners and $20 all others. Call 251-6776 for more info.
Thursday, February 16
preparing a menu of hazelnut-crusted rack of lamb, polenta, and roasted root vegetables. Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 6:30-8 p.m., $25. Call 204-0300 for more info.
Demystify Grains, a class with instructor Rebecca Pozorski demonstrating how to prepare multiple vegan and vegetarian dishes with millet, amaranth, buckwheat, and barley. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Six Spices with Neeta Saluja class, with the chef preparing a menu of samosa, tamarind chutney, and chaat paapri. Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 6-8:30 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 251-6776 for more info.
Green Thursdays, an educational series organized by Fresh, a 2009 documentary by Ana Sofia Joanes that "celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system." Sector 67, 2100 Winnebago St., 6:30 p.m., free. Call 886-3379 for more info.
Friday, February 17
Cake Making & Decorating for Teens class, with instructor Jennifer Jones demonstrating how to make and decorate a cake from scratch. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-7:30 p.m., $10 owners and $20 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Saturday, February 18
"Taste of the Market" breakfast at the Brasserie V preparing a menu of breakfast hash (with mushrooms, onion, ham, and potatoes), a fried egg topped with Swiss cheese, mixed greens with a creamy garlic vinaigrette, and carrot cake pancakes with maple butter and apple compote. Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St., 8 a.m.-noon, $8 adults and $4 kids and smaller portions. Call 455-1999 for more info.
Free community meal prepared by volunteers. Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 11:15 a.m., free. Call 257-4576 for more info.
Think Spring Fling, featuring appetizers and dessert, raffles, and live music by Lou and Peter Berryman. Mazomanie Community Building, 9 Brodhead St., 6 p.m., $10. Call 608-795-4460 for more info.
Pakistan Flood Victims Fundraiser, a benefit hosted by Mideast by Midwest (Salaam Shalom) and the World Student Association at Madison College in support of two small villages in the Sindh region of Pakistan, featuring international cuisine and musical dance performance. Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St., 6-8 p.m., $20. Call 241-1574 for more info.
Sunday, February 19
Savory Sunday, with volunteers need to prepare and serve a fresh, hot meal for the hungry. Lutheran Campus Center, 325 N. Mills St., 11 a.m. Call 233-6967 for more info.
Pork Hock and Sauerkraut Dinner, an annual fundraiser meal hosted by the St. James Catholic Church, 1128 St. James Ct., 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., $9 adults with $8 seniors and $4 kids. Call 271-1571 for more info.
Sowing the Seeds of Peace & Justice, a community celebration hosted by the Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St., 4:30-7:30 p.m., bring a dish to pass, free with donations accepted. Call 250-9240 for more info.
Monday, February 20
Sneaker Soiree, the fifth annual fundraiser for Sardine, 617 Williamson St., 6 p.m., $30 advance and $40 door. Call 227-4687 for more info.
Family Dinner Night, a weekly meal hosted by The Crossing, 1127 University Ave., 6:30 p.m., $5. Call 257-1039 for more info.
Save the date
Wednesday, February 22
Help Your Vegetable Garden Produce Like a Vegetable Farm class, with instructors Megan Cain and Claire Strader of Madison FarmWorks at Troy Community Farm covering intermediate and advanced gardening skills, including design and layout, planting schedules, crop rotation, cover cropping, and succession planting. Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., 6 p.m., $38. Please RSVP by February 15, and call 246-4550 for more info.
Sunday, February 26
Member Appreciation Pizza Party hosted by the pizza bar serving pies from the Greenbush Bar, Bunky's, Ian's, Lombardino's, Pizza Brutta, and the Roman Candle. Greenbush Bar, 914 Regent St., 4-7 p.m., $5 per REAP member households for up to five persons or $10 per person for non-members. Please register online by February 17, and call 310-7836 for more info.Wednesday, March 7
An Evening of the World Championship Cheese Contest, a celebration and tasting hosted by Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr., 6:30-8:30 p.m., $25. See Facebook and call 358-7837 for more info.
