Culinary calendar

Cherry Pickers Trot and Pit Spit – Green Bluff growers will hold the 26th annual cherry pit spit, dinner and fun runs on Thursday. The Cherry Pit Spit will be held at 5:30 p.m. The Tot Trot, for kids ages 5 and under, begins at 6:15 p.m. The Cherry Pickers’ Trot, a four-mile run through the orchard country, begins at 7 p.m. There will be a hamburger dinner, with proceeds to benefit the Green Bluff community fire station, until 9 p.m. Park at the huge parking area off Green Bluff and Sands roads. Green Bluff maps are available from any grower, at area libraries, any Yoke’s Market or online at www.greenbluffgrowers.com. The Green Bluff Cherry Festival continues Saturday and Sunday. For more information call 238-4709 or 238-1258 or 238-4902.

Johnsonville Big Taste Grill – Raising funds for local nonprofits, this 53,000 pound, 65-foot-long grill can cook more than 750 brats at a time. The giant grill will be at the Rosauers Open, Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane on Thursday, from 3-7 p.m., to benefit Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery; at Tidyman’s parking lot in Post Falls at 1501 E. Seltice Way on Friday, from 3-8 p.m., to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association; and Saturday, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at Yoke’s Foods parking lot, 15111 E. Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley, to benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Pancake Feed – To benefit Fairfield Skate Park, Saturday, 7-11 a.m., at Fairfield Grange/Community Center. Cost is $5 for all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, eggs, milk, juice and coffee.

Herbology Field Trip – Sponsored by Community Colleges of Spokane, Saturday , 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring notebook, pen, self-sealing bag, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, camera, sack lunch and water. Cost is $26 (includes guides). Pre-registration is required by calling 279-6000.

Preserving Summer’s Bounty – Washington State University’s Food Safety Advisers will provide demonstrations and answer questions for home preservers on Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 222 N. Havana, lower level, Rooms A and B. Experts will be available to demonstrate safe and healthy basics of canning, freezing and dehydration of foods, including jams, jellies, pickles and relishes. Open to the public at no charge and you can come and go as you wish. Call 535-2848 for more information.

Gourmet Gardening – As part of the Spokane in Bloom Garden Tour, Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Caterina Winery, 905 N. Washington. Speakers will be “Wine Appreciation” by Ron Krueger at 10:30 a.m., discussing the history of wine etiquette and great food-wine pairings; 11:30 a.m. features Gerry Krueger with “Cooking with Roses;” 1:30 p.m. will be “Pruning Fruit Trees” with Joe Zubaly; 2:30 p.m. will be “Growing Garlic” with Dave Swett; and 3:30 p.m. is “Vegetarian Cooking Demonstration” by Dean Huggins. Admission of $7 includes the garden tour. Call 535-8434.

Wine Class – “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Wine But Were Afraid To Ask,” sponsored by Niko’s, learn the approaches and principles to wine pairings, wine choosing and wine in general, Monday, 7 p.m., 725 W. Riverside. Call 599-4021 or wine@nikosspokane.com for reservations.

All About Wine – Sponsored by Community Colleges of Spokane, July 23, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Huckleberry’s Bistro, 926 S. Monroe. Cost is $29 and includes wine steward, plus samples of eight wines and four foods. Age 21 and older, ID required. Call 279-6000.

Joel Cooking Class – With John Pearce, Le Cordon Bleu chef, July 24, noon, 165 S. Post St. Free admission. Call 624-2354 for reservations.

Winemaker Dinner – Featuring Pend Oreille Winery and winemaker Steve Meyer, July 24, 7 p.m., at DiLuna’s Cafe, 207 Cedar St., Sandpoint. Cost: $55. Call (208) 263-0846.

Wine Dinner – July 27, 6:30 p.m., at Twigs North, 9820 N. Nevada, behind Northpointe Shopping Center. Menu consists of Pan-Seared Scallops in Ginger Beurre Blanc, Maple-Glazed Cream of Carrot Soup, Cast-Iron Seared Lamb Chops with a Black Mission Fig-Lamb Reduction, Twigs’ Signature Salad with gorgonzola and dried cranberries, Bermuda Triangle Hazelnut Nougat, Banana Mousse and Creme Anglaise. Cost is $55/person and includes tax and gratuity. Call 838-1229 for reservations.

A Taste of the Coeur d’Alene’s – Food vendors, arts and crafts and live music, July 30, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., July 31, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Aug. 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Coeur d’Alene City Park in Coeur d’Alene. Call (208) 664-4808.

Prosser Wine Gala – In conjunction with the Gallery Walk, July 31, 4-9 p.m., downtown Prosser. Join local wineries and artists for a night of art and wine. Admission includes four tastings, additional tastings for $2/script. Cost is $10. Call (509) 727-0215.

Send news about upcoming food-related events at least two weeks in advance to: Culinary Calendar, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201; or www.marybethd@spokesman.com.