Cooking
Dinner Party on the Bayou: Load up on skills that allow you to make Shrimp Etoufee, Andouille Sausage, Chicken, Shrimp and Okra Gumbo, Paul Prudhomme-style Blackened Steak, and Bread Pudding With Plum Sauce; 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Well Done Cooking Classes, 1208 E. 29th; 832-782-3518.
Tour of France: You and your date will spend an evening creating elegant French cuisine; 6:30 p.m. Friday; Sur La Table, 2210 Lone Star Dr., Sugar Land; 281-242-2238.
American Summer Classics: Gazpacho, Watermelon Feta Salad, Ceviche, Roast Cornish Game Hens With Warm Potato Salad, Fresh Lemonade and Homemade Ice Cream. A perfect menu for your backyard party, taught in a hands-on class by Sarah Finster, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday; Urban Chef Cooking Classes, 3651 Weslayan; 713-504-1700.
Events
Peel the Love: Dole’s take on the food-truck craze is touring the country and will be in the Houston area Thursday-July 21 for you to sample bananas and other Dole products in smoothies, salads and desserts. The Peel the Love Truck will be in Conroe 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at HEB, 3601 FM 1488; and 4-7 p.m. at HEB, 2108 N. Frazier. It will be in Houston 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday at HEB, 5225 Buffalo Speedway; and 4-7 p.m. at HEB, 1701 W. Alabama. It will head to Clear Lake Saturday-Sunday, where it will be at Space Center Houston, 1601 NASA Parkway, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Then it returns to Houston at the Aquarium, 410 Bagby, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 20 and 21.
Starters to Dessert with Vitamix: In this demonstration, you will see up close the way a Vitamix works to create nut butters, soups, purees, smoothies, desserts and more, 9-10 a.m. Sunday at Sur La Table, 2210 Lone Star, Sugar Land; 281-242-2238.
Say Cheese!: The Pinewood Cafe in Hermann Park, 6104 Hermann Park Drive, is hosting a grilled cheese competition through July. Visit the cafe and order a grilled cheese sandwich from the build-your-own menu. Then snap a picture and share it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pinewoodcafe, with your ingredients listed in the caption. The winner will receive a free party for four, and a sandwich bearing the winner’s name will go on the menu.
Wine
Sip and Stroll: Taste the diversity of seven countries as you stroll through the aisles of Central Market and learn about wine pairings; 4-8 p.m. Friday; Central Market, 3815 Westheimer; 713-993-9860.
Beer
Brew Off benefit: The ATO Alumni Association of Houston will host its Houston Summer Brew Off, benefiting Homes for Our Troops, at Hughes Hangar, 2811 Washington, 1-5 p.m. Saturday; $40 per person (at the door). Participating breweries include Saint Arnold’s, No Label, Lone Pint, Southern Star, Galactic Coast and Wasatch. Information: atohouston summerbrewoff.splashthat.com.