This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Wednesday, February 24
Chef Huma Siddiqui of White Jasmine is teaching a Pakistani cooking lesson at Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 6-8:30 p.m., $25. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Chef Derek Rowe of are teaming up again for another craft beer dinner, the second in a series of four collaborations this winter. This meal will highlight the beers made by Harvest, 21 N. Pinckney St., 6 p.m., $45. Call 255-6075 for reservations.
Thursday, February 25
The Madison-Cuzco Sister City Project, Hatari Peru, and Mad for Cuzco!, a fundraiser to help those affected by flooding throughout southern Peru. Heavy rains in January triggered widespread flooding and landslides around the region, displacing tens of thousands of people in villages and rural areas. Working with the University of San Antonio Abad del Cuzco, these local organizations hope to raise money to help rebuild a clinic or school. The benefit will food from Inka Heritage, along with feature Peruvian music by Trio Gavilanes, Afro-Peruvian creole Peruvian music by Eva Villavicencio, and crafts and games for kids. Cardinal Bar, 418 E. Wilson St., 5 p.m. Call 658-6588 for more info.
The dinner and dance fundraiser this evening. This charitable organization raises and distributes money to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities and groups around south-central Wisconsin. The event will feature a silent auction, a speech by William McConkey (the plantiff in a challenge to the state's anti-gay marriage and civil union referendum), an improv performance by GayCo Productions, and music from DJ Cheng Vue. Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr., 5:30-10 p.m., $100 per person or $750 for a table of eight. Call 256-4204 to RSVP.
Friday, February 26
March Madness starts early at Hy-Vee this weekend with a marathon session of cheese carving in honor of local sports teams. Wisconsin native and self-proclaimed "nationally recognized cheese sculptor" . They will include a Bucky Badger, various high school mascots, and a bovine basketball named Bessie. The cheese will be cut into smaller blocks on Friday, with the actual carving set for Saturday and Sunday. Hy-Vee Grocery, 3801 E. Washington Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. Call 244-4696 for more info.
As warm weather beckons with increasing insistency, so too does the lure of open water for legions of anglers. They can get a jump on the season at the 25th annual Madison Fishing Expo, a trade show featuring a broad array of boats, tackle, and other equipment that could help catch the big one. Running all weekend, the show includes an antique lure display and appraisal, a casting contest, and various other activities for kids. The expo is a volunteer-based, non-profit that raises funds to improve fishing conditions in Wisconsin. Exhibition Hall, Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, 4-9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, $8 and free for kids 12 and under. Call 245-1040 for more info.
Saturday, February 27
Chef Tory Miller and staff from L'Etoile and Cafe Soleil will be joined by teens from Ironworks Cafe to prepare the Taste of the Market breakfast at the Dane County Farmers' Market this morning. The menu will include: a Valley View Farms beef or Blue Valley Gardens spinach breakfast burger topped with an egg and drizzled with Hook's cheddar cheese sauce and on bread from Sylvan Meadows Farm; Butter Mountain and Driftless Organics rainbow potato hash; fresh Dons Produce mixed greens with Renaissance Farm lemon pesto vinaigrette; Sutters Ridge and Lefeber Farm mixed berry coffee cake; and, organic fair trade Just Coffee and tea, Greens Orchards apple cider, cranberry juice, and milk. Folk fiddler Paul Kienitz will perform through the meal. Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St., 8 a.m.-noon, $7.50 adults and $3.75 kids. Call 455-1999 for more info about the market.
Harvest for Haiti benefit this morning, which consists of a winter farmers' market and accompanying breakfast and lunch. The market will feature foods and other goods grown and produced on family farms and small co-ops around the Midwest, including preserves, honey, cheeses, eggs, meats, soaps, and woolens. Both meals will be prepared using products sourced directly from participating farmers; the menu for breakfast includes an egg dish, seasoned wedge potatoes, and applesauce, while the lunch features pulled pork sandwiches with chips, coleslaw, and more applesauce. Proceeds from the meals will go to is holding its 20th annual chili cook-off fundraiser this morning for its scholarship program. Contestants will start prepping their chili in the morning, with judging set to commence at 1 p.m., followed in turn with live music by the cover band Rollin Rock. Attendees can sample any of the dozen-plus competing chilis for $0.25 a cup, as well as partake in bottomless bowls of house chili, hot dogs, raffles, and a silent auction. East Side Club, 3735 Monona Dr., 10 a.m., free. Call 222-9131 for more info.
Renowned across Wisconsin and beyond as a particularly raucous late-winter party, the beer-soaked bacchanal known as Bockfest will once again be rocking the grounds of Blonde Doppelbock, this blowout is infamous for its crowds and boisterous atmosphere. It should be no surprise that all 2,500 early entry tickets to the event were scooped up long ago, so those looking to join the party will want to line up early outside the gate, even though the brewery does not guarantee admission. For those who are able to get in, there will be one free pint of the 2010 vintage along with food for sale, the Running of the Blondes, live music by Pupy Costello & His Big City Honky Tonk, a Bockstume contest, and the indelible Fish Fly. Capital Brewery, 7734 Terrace Ave., Middleton, 12-5 p.m., free. Call 836-7100 for more info.
book reading this afternoon by Cathy Erway, the publisher of supper club. She will be discussing her new book Rainbow Bookstore, 426 W. Gilman St., 2 p.m., free. Call 257-6050 for more info.
Sunday, February 28
pork hock and sauerkraut dinner today. Along with the title dishes, the menu also includes various sausages and wieners, potatoes, and cream corn. St. James Catholic Church, 1128 St. James Ct., 11:30 a.m., $9 and $8 for seniors. Call 271-1571 for more info.
workshop titled "Introduction to Permaculture Design Principles" this afternoon. The class, taught by Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St., 1 p.m., $40. Register online, and all 223-9571 for more info.
fundraiser dinner this evening in order to raise funds to send its staff to New York City for a special Farm to Table dinner on April 6. The restaurant's owner and wine director Tammy Lax and Chef Derek Rowe were invited by the Harvest, 21 N. Pinckney St., 5 p.m., $25. Call 255-6075 for reservations.
Monday, March 1
After reading from her new cookbook, Cathy Erway will be hitting the kitchen over the following two days. A special Bradbury's that is presented jointly by has long been sold out, but she will be back in action tonight on campus. This week's Family Dinner Night hosted by The Crossing, 1127 University Ave., 6:30 p.m., $5. Call 257-1039 for more info.
Upcoming eats events
It's worth knowing about some events that require reservations farther in advance.
Saturday, March 13
Two floors of craft beer selections will be on tap at the third annual FestivAle, a benefit for the East Side Club, 3735 Monona Dr., 12-1 p.m. special session and 1-4 p.m. open tasting, $20 advance registration, $45 special session registration, $100 six-pack registration with $25 multiplier for special session, $10 designated driver registration, and $25 at the door. Call 222-9131 for more info.
Monday, March 15
Teachers, parents, and students in the Madison area are invited to submit an application for a pair of school garden project grants of $500 awarded by Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave. Call 233-9566 for more info.
